THE REAL “BIRTHERS” STEP FORWARD

Listening to the babble that came from the House floor on Saturday, the so-called “debate” that was nothing but partisan rhetoric, I was fascinated by the hatefulness and contempt that spewed forth each time a female member attempted to make her case against the Stupid Stupak Amendment. Talked over, shouted down, interrupted by assholes who refused to allow them to finish a sentence in framing their argument.

Rumors that the final vote would eventually defeat this amendment were just that. In the end the Repubs voted exactly as I would have suspected but were joined by feckless Dems who were acting on behalf of – wait for it – the Catholic Church! This religious body of men, the same men who oppose condoms to prevent the spread of AIDS, the same group who played “shuffleboard” in the assignment of pedophile priests some years back,the same enclave who threatened excommunication to members of congress, or candidates running for office who stood in favor of choice, declared “war” on the separation of church and state by advising and directing the outcome. When they received praise from a congressperson for their support, I knew then and there that theocracy was gaining ground throughout this nation. No longer can we turn away from this insidious implosion, nor can we stand firmly behind the fact that the “fundies” have gained ground in their attempts to turn this country into “a Christian nation” on their own. With the assistance of those congressional officeholders of both parties, women have been relegated to the dung heap of history by fiat.

Make no mistake about it: this is where we have been heading for a long time. Roe v Wade is no longer the issue it once was. Step by step, in each and every state across this nation, the fundies have united to seek legislation that would ban outright, or hamper widely, the right of a woman to choose her own destiny. States rights has trumped the Supreme Court selection through immediate and determined efforts to withhold equality towards women from the grass roots on up. It is truly frightening to watch as there seems to be little “push back” to these tactics and we cannot look to the White House to speak out on behalf of the population. The Right has not lost its edge as has been reported, but gained strength from this inaction instead.

The blogs are alive with varied reactions. The Left, for the most part, is celebrating this vote as a win for the Obama administration and Nancy’s ability to overtake the opposition by a mere 4 votes. Hurray for us! Yet overlooked in this debacle are the sights and sounds of open discrimination against women who have fought for decades in their quest for equality. The muted silence and the soft declarations emanating for groups like NOW and NARAL is revolting. These so called feminist brigades have been absent for years and continue to be so. They actively supported Obama as the “new face of feminism” and he did what he usually has done by turning his back on them just as he has with other groups who looked to him for the “change” he promised when seeking their support.

The Right is decrying the outcome as would be expected but they are mollified in the solace that the Stupak Amendment has provided. Their ranks have been so infiltrated by the religious nutjobs we have all come to loathe, nonetheless their message has resonance. Where else can these disaffected women go than to turn rightward the next time an election is held, particularly if a woman candidate is presented by the GOP, regardless of her ideology or positions? Is this not the way to send the “message” to the Democratic Party that we have been let down? It is not too farfetched to imagine this happening especially from those who see Sarah Palin as the future standard bearer of the GOP owing in large part the cult of personality that surrounds her. Cult of personality was what got us Obama in the first place, a man whose background signified little by way of equality or defense of women’s rights. Instead we were supposed to climb onboard and “hope” that the blank page he exhibited would be enough to guarantee those rights would be upheld. A Palin presidency would be the last chapter for the total disaster this nation should seek to avoid. But I fear it could happen.

What occurred in the well of the House was a prediction of what we can expect going forward. The stranglehold of the GOP by intimidation and the loosening of the Dems resolve to protect human rights as their platform has proclaimed.

The last chance is the Senate who will hopefully extract that amendment but don’t hold your breath. When was the last time we have been treated to a policy that actually acted on behalf of the nation that has not been corrupted or rammed down our throats?

Obama, the leader of this administration, is a dud! When leadership calls he is usually absent. We can no longer look to the Dems as protectors. They are too busy selling their souls. They have abandoned the principles of what that party once stood for. Guaranteeing this wishy washy president a “win” at any cost is what this amounts to.

A very vocal and a very big “Fuck you” from me to all those who wish to defend this “empty suit” as he meanders through history doing as little as possible to effect those whom he leads. The pretzel twisting of logic, the myriad of excuses, the “give him time” effort to make him into something he has never been or never will be has lost the magic.

He has opened the door to the Right who will make the most of his weaknesses and they will climb back into the power seat with little effort the next time around. My biggest fear will be realized and for that we can thank this indifferent congress and the hopeless man elected to lead.