Sunday, February 19, 2012

Separation between Church and State

Rick Santorum is getting way, way out of hand.  He's criticizing Obama for having the 'wrong theology', whatever that means.  I didn't know one could read the Bible wrong.  Santorum seems to think his interpretations of the Bible are the one and only correct ones.  This really isn't surprising - but it's getting out of control.

Santorum Sanctimonious has let his newfound power, after winning three non-binding caucuses/primaries, go to his head.  The only good thing about it is he seems to have knocked Gingrich out of the contest, becoming the evangelical alternative to Mitt Romney.  There's something rather scary about him, and it's not just his Tea Party backers.  It's that he truly seems to believe he is a Chosen One.

I don't want any Republican to win - but if Santorum becomes the nominee, the truest thing one could say is 'expect the unexpected'.  The far right fringes will have a candidate front-and-center, and that is just damn scary.

Friday, February 3, 2012

The Right Thing

You got to hand it to them - the Komen Foundation did the right thing by reversing their truly awful decision to suspend grants to Planned Parenthood.  And it only took three days (and $2,000,000 unsolicited dollars to P.P.). I may be naive, but I think it has something to do with it being run by a woman (if not naive, at least sexist, but the right way :).  Women work more collaboratively together, tending to seek cohesion.

It's the right decision, hopefully for at least some of the right reasons.  The Foundation took a body blow and definitely bruised their stellar image.  What were they thinking.  It's scary to think how strong the "pro-life" (read: pro-birth, not life, because once born, quickly abandoned by the policymakers, especially if born to a family in poverty) movement has become.

I hope this is a lesson to other organizations about the power of people to organize and speak out, non-violently.

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Say it ain't so!!!

the susan g. komen foundation announced yesterday that they would no longer provide funds (just under one million dollars last year) to planned parenthood for breast cancer services to clients.  the announced reason is that they now have new eligibility standards for funded programs, and that cuts out any agency under federal investigation.

planned parenthood is being investigated by congress (you know, the place with a 13% approval rating), initiated by the tea party congressional caucus.  it's a thinly veiled attempt by the tea party to push their "pro-life" agenda.  pro-life until the fetus emerges and becomes a living baby.

what insiders say is that komen is bowing to right-wing political pressure - hedging their bets that donations won't be affected by this cynical step, may actually increase now that they've ended the relationship with this vital organization.

as a long-time komen supporter and volunteer, i am extremely disappointed and will have to re-think my support of the foundation.  i received an email from the local foundation "explaining" their actions.  the explanation rang hollow.

the political is personal.  it just is, and komen made a major mis-step.