I found conservative pundit Michelle Malkin’s theory that women should “vote with your lady smarts, not your lady parts” both puzzling and troubling.
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I didn’t quite get her logic and how she could attach herself to a party that declared war on women’s reproductive rights. Somehow, she disconnected herself from the GOP’s push to pass legislation that would make women forfeit their rights over their own bodies, even in the cases of rape and incest. Instead, she convinced herself, and others alike, that the economy was a separate issue that took precedence over a woman’s right to choose. But for most women in the US, these issues run hand-in-hand.
Today, women only get paid 77 cent to every one dollar that a man makes, while black women earn 64 cents and Hispanic women make 56 cents to the male dollar. As a result, many women take into account how the gender pay gap will affect their finances and job security if they decide to have children. On top of that, many businesses treat women who have children or who are child bearing as a liability who need more time off from work than men.
As a woman who was raised by a strong single mother, I’m a firm believer that a woman knows when it is the best time to start a family according to her own life experience, financial situation, etc. I also believe women’s rights are a nonpartisan issue that affect females regardless of their party affiliation or skin color. That’s why I, and women across America, rejoiced at Barack Obama’s re-election, which means that Roe vs. Wade won’t be overturned, the Affordable Care Act, which provides many women with free access to birth control and GYN checkups will remain intact, and the Planned Parenthood, a champion organization for women’s health, won’t be defunded.
But the vagina victory dance doesn’t stop there!
During the congressional campaigns, a number of GOP candidates made repulsive remarks using baseless facts to justify their agendas to limit a woman’s right to have an abortion.
We heard it all from Todd Akin’s “legitimate rape” comment and inference that “the female body” can prevent pregnancies during rapes, to Richard Mourdock’s statement that rape pregnancies are what “God intended,” to Joe Walsh who declared that “the life of the woman is not an exception” for a woman to have an abortion.
VIDEO: Really?! Rep. Joe Walsh Says “Life Of A Mother” Is Not An Option For Abortion
Though most people were angered, or perhaps in awe by these ignorant remarks, it was even more nauseating to think that not only did these men believe their flawed theories, but they were close to actually enforcing them.
But women struck back! Through voter awareness and campaigns, we stopped these men from taking office and taking control of our anatomy.
On Tuesday, it was declared that Todd Akin and Richard Mourdock lost their run in the Senate and Roger Rivard, who’s infamous for saying “some girls rape so easy,” lost his re-election bid in the Wisconsin State Assembly.
In addition, Joe Walsh lost his congressional race in Illinois and John Kosher, a GOP candidate who was recorded dismissing the idea that women should decide what to do with their bodies when “the rape thing” happens, was defeated in Illinois.
AUDIO: Not Again! Another GOP Candidate Rejects Abortion Rights During “The Rape Thing”
Congratulations to all the women and men who took time to vote these Right Wing nuts out of office. At least for now, we know that vaginas will be a little safer!
Selena Hill is the Special Election Coverage Reporter at GlobalGrind.com. She’s also a radio host at Let Your Be Heard! Radio where you can hear more of her views and opinions. Follow her at @MsSelenaHill and @BeHeard_Radio.
