The Season of Ideological Wardrobe Malfunctions
As Frank Cocozzelli writes here at Talk to Action, the backlash to a mean-spirited campaign to overturn the marriage equality law in Maine has cost the Catholic Church in the state dearly, in longtime members, contributions, and parishes. Similarly, the U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops revealed how deeply out of touch it is with the Catholic laity across the country in the way it has handled its disagreement with the Obama administration over insurance coverage for contraception. Joe Conason writes at The National Memo:
A debacle that may signal an important change in the wider culture is the backlash against the Susan G. Komen Foundation's announcement that they would no longer make grants to Planned Parenthood to fund breast cancer screening programs for low-income women around the country. This effort, (part of a long-term campaign by the antiabortion movement to defund, damage, and ultimately destroy Planned Parenthood) was seen for the despicably political act that it was. It profoundly damaged Komen's image as an apolitical actor trying to prevent breast cancer and to find a cure. Komen was forced to publicly apologize and reverse itself. Karen Handel, the Vice President for Public Policy seen as most responsible for the institution's spectacularly bad judgement, resigned. This episode revealed much about the character of the leadership of the antiabortion movement, their supporters -- and the pols who pander to them. Indeed, Mitt Romney, the formerly professed prochoice, moderate Republican governor of Massachusetts who is now trying to present himself as "severely conservative" to skeptical conservatives got caught up in the controversy. Asked by reporters if he agreed with Komen's decision to end breast cancer screening grants to Planned Parenthood, Romney said he did, and that there should be no government grants to Planned Parenthood either. The Huffington Post reported:
Romney has a long way to go to convince conservatives of his anti-abortion credentials. He emphasized in the interview... that he is a "pro-life individual" and was a "pro-life governor." Nevertheless, he sought Planned Parenthood's endorsement during his 2002 gubernatorial campaign, attended a Planned Parenthood fundraiser, and answered in a Planned Parenthood questionnaire that he supported state-funded abortions. Unfortunately for Romney, he announced that he agreed with Komen's decision to defund breast cancer screening programs even after Komen had publicly apologized and announced the restoration of the grant program. As far as I know, Romney has not joined Komen in reversing his view, thus completing his fashion statement.
The Season of Ideological Wardrobe Malfunctions | 3 comments (3 topical, 0 hidden)
The Season of Ideological Wardrobe Malfunctions | 3 comments (3 topical, 0 hidden)
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