Barbara Boxer twists the truth on the abortion debate

Sometimes, I wonder if Barbara Boxer ever listens to herself speak. While debating an amendment to the health care bill which would block women receiving subsidies for a public health plan from having abortions covered, she had this to say:

“Why are women being singled out here? It’s so unfair,” Boxer said on the Senate floor Tuesday. “We don’t tell men that if they want to … buy insurance coverage through their pharmaceutical plan for Viagra that they can’t do it.”

Will someone please tell Barbara Boxer that this isn’t an attack on women. If someone were trying to block payments for hysterectomies, then she would certainly have a point, and the Viagra comparison would be suitable. However, her comparison of of abortions to Viagra is laughable. If an abortion isn’t performed in the case of rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother, then the procedure is nothing but birth control for the wreckless. Viagra is used by men attempting to restore a function that has been lost. How can she compare the two?

She could have made the comparisons due to stupidity, or intellectual dishonesty. You can make that decision. To me, she is just trying to scare her colleagues into being labeled an anti-woman sexists who is trying to take away women’s rights. Of course, this amendment wouldn’t take away a woman’s right to choose, it would merely require her to pay for her choice. I don’t see how this is a problem.

I’m strongly prochoice, yet I don’t want my tax dollars being used to pay for abortions unless they are required due to rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother. I think this is a rather popular position, and Barbara Boxer knows it. As a result, she is trying to distort the argument to cover the true intent of the amendment. It’s a lot easier to demonize someone for being a sexist than it is for making sure tax dollars are not being used to pay for irresponsible behavior.