As a woman, I find Sandra Fluke’s testimony particularly distasteful — and not just because of the way she chooses to conduct her personal life. That is of course her business, but that doesn’t mean I can’t formulate an opinion about it, especially since Fluke had no problem (not to mention, shame) in divulging the most intimate details of her life in a public forum. If she chooses to sleep with every guy on the planet, it’s her prerogative to do so. But it’s entirely offensive that 1.) a woman who claims to be so “empowered” cannot take responsibility for managing the consequences of her own choices, and 2.) that this same woman expects taxpayers to fund her lifestyle when said taxpayers already fund Planned Parenthood (where Fluke can easily obtain birth control) to the tune of $500 million annually.
Naturally, none of this would be an issue had our political overlords in Washington D.C. not saddled us with the economy-and-healthcare destroying albatross known as Obamacare — whose latest dire consequence is an all-out assault on religious liberty. A planned set-up by Democrats, Fluke’s testimony and Rush Limbaugh’s poor choice of words seem to have overshadowed the heart of the matter. So now, instead of talking about the right of religious institutions to obey their conscience, the media narrative is contraception as a “women’s health issue” (never mind that the Pill is actually detrimental to a woman’s health), framed in such familiar lefty terms as an “attack” on women’s rights.
Where's the "tolerance" and "sisterhood", sister?
Should Rush Limbaugh have apologized? While I respect and understand his decision to do so, I want to know where all of the so-called feminists were when Sarah Palin and her daughters were at the receiving end of vile character assaults that went far beyond the use of the word “#”. Why no outcry over T-shirts worn by Palin’s political opponents (who no doubt were completely ignorant of her actual record, but that’s beside the point) clearly stating, “Sarah Palin is a C_ _ _?”
And Palin is in good company: other intelligent, thoughtful and prominent women have also been at the receiving end of such filth: Michelle Malkin, Laura Ingraham and Dana Loesch (who asks, “Where’s My Presidential Phone Call?”) just to name a few.
Aside from being smart, independent, self-sufficient, strong and beautiful what do all of these women have in common that consigns them to endless sexual bigotry and unadulterated vitriol? Well, they’re conservative women who oppose feminist liberal orthodoxy, so therefore unlike Sandra Fluke, they do not merit apologies from misogynistic bomb-throwers like Ed Schultz, Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews.
But it almost feels pointless to highlight this blatant hypocrisy since it’s the typical M.O. of the left. Much in the same way their hypocritical cries of “Government stay out of our wombs!” (Or ovaries. Or bedrooms. Or uteruses, or whatever terminology they’re using these days) ring hollow when you consider they have no problem with government interference when it suits their own needs and entitlement mentality. Thus, Sandra Fluke can “testify” to the need for taxpayers to foot the bill for her sexual choices without irony and in spite of the fact that she can easily obtain birth control at an aforementioned Planned Parenthood clinic or as John McCormack at the Weekly Standard notes, at places like Target for a mere $9 per month (without insurance).
Furthermore, Fluke had a “choice” when it came to her higher education, yet she chose a Catholic institution — and a very expensive one at that. Seems to me if she can afford Georgetown’s tuition, then $9 a month for birth control should be a drop in the bucket. Perhaps she could sacrifice two lattes a month to fund her sexual appetites. Regardless, as a Catholic institution, Georgetown has the right to refuse to cover the cost of contraception, which runs counter to Catholic teaching (although I lost all respect for them when they covered the crucifix at the Obama White House’s request in 2009 when the current occupant gave a speech there).
While many of us believe the right has lost the messaging war, James Taranto at The Wall St. Journal “respectfully dissents”:
But whereas distractions are evanescent, the religious-liberty issue hasn’t gone away. In fact, on Thursday the Democrat-controlled Senate passed up an opportunity to blunt the issue, rejecting by a 51-48 procedural vote, with only four senators crossing party lines, an amendment that would have allowed conscience exemptions to the ObamaCare contraception mandate. At least four vulnerable Democratic senators seeking re-election–Bill Nelson of Florida, Claire McCaskill of Missouri, Jon Tester of Montana and Sherrod Brown of Ohio–are now on record against religious liberty.
Make no mistake — this is about religious liberty, which is why the fix was in by Democrats with respect to Fluke’s testimony:
The kerfuffle was no fluke but a left-liberal set piece. It started 2½ weeks ago, when the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee held hearings on the ObamaCare contraception mandate and its implications for religious liberty. The Washington Examiner’s Byron York reports that Democrats originally chose Barry Lynn of Americans United for Separation of Church and State over Fluke to testify for the anti-religious-liberty side.
Then they sandbagged the Republicans. They asked, too late, for Fluke to be subbed in for Lynn, then told Lynn not to bother showing up. When the hearing took place, Rep. Carolyn Maloney (this columnist’s congressman, but don’t blame us) demanded: “Where are the women?” Although it was the Dems who chose Lynn over Fluke and the second panel of witnesses included two female members, liberal media dutifully propagated the “Republican sexism” charge. A week later, House Democrats held a mock hearing where Fluke testified.
Of course the liberal media perpetuated the myth of “Republican sexism”. Because you see, the two female members of the second panel were on the side of religious liberty; therefore they are not really women in the eyes of those Rush Limbaugh rightfully terms “Feminazis”. Just like Sarah Palin, Michelle Malkin, Laura Ingraham, Dana Loesch and other prominent female conservatives are not really women and therefore fair game for personal smears from lefty pundits, journalists, activists and new media members.
So much for “choice”. Deviation from liberal/progressive dogma disqualifies you from the bonds of politically driven “sisterhood”. On a much smaller scale, I’m very familiar with this mentality, having confronted it over and over again in my years as a grassroots conservative activist. So be it.
Have we lost the messaging war? I hope Taranto is right, but I’m not convinced. It’ll be up to the Army of Breitbarts to refocus the issue where it belongs — because God knows, the Obama-slobbering media and even some elected Republicans lack the integrity and guts to do so.
Daria DiGiovanni is an accomplished writer, author, blogger, internet radio host and social media professional. She released her first novel, Water Signs: A Story of Love and Renewal in 2008 and is currently at work on a sequel, Sea To Shining Sea, due out in 2012. In addition to her blog, she contributes content to a variety of sites including Parcbench.com and regularly co-hosts Conservative Republican Forum with Steven Rosenblum every Saturday at 6 p.m. Eastern on Blog Talk Radio. Daria also manages a weekly twitter chat for authors, readers and writers called #Writestream, which takes place every Thursday at 11 a.m. Eastern.
Daria DiGiovanni Dariadigiovanni.com, is an accomplished writer, author, blogger, internet radio host and social media professional. She released her first novel, Water Signs: A Story of Love and Renewal in 2008 and is currently at work on a sequel, Sea To Shining Sea, due out in 2012. In addition to her blog, she contributes content to a variety of sites including Parcbench.com and regularly co-hosts Conservative Republican Forum with Steven Rosenblum every Saturday at 6 p.m. Eastern on Blog Talk Radio. Daria also manages a weekly twitter chat for authors, readers and writers called #Writestream, which takes place every Thursday at 11 a.m. Eastern.
