Lieberman: rape victims can find another hospital if denied dayafter pill

[splat@14]

Apparently, people are required to shop hospitals to find a political match before checking in. My apologies if already posted..
Splat


"Lieberman vs. the Day After Pill"
Joe Lieberman supports the approach of the Catholic hospitals when it comes to contraceptives for rape victims (as reported in The New Haven Register, by Gregory B. Hladky on 03/13/2006, via KissJoeGoodbye.Com).

Lieberman said he believes hospitals that refuse to give contraceptives to rape victims for "principled reasons" shouldn't be forced to do so.

"In Connecticut, it shouldn't take more than a short ride to get to another hospital," he said.

Well Joe, that's not very helpful. I mean, I know that you'll never need emergency contraception at two o'clock in the morning after having been brutally raped. So I guess it's easy for you to disregard any woman who is unlucky enough to have gone through that trauma.
http://ctbob.blogspot.com/2006/05/lieberman-vs-day-afte...

[davidinalameda]

1. oh my goodnes

he just doesn't get it does he

[The Backlash Cometh]

83. Oh, he's going to get it alright. Come election day.

[Lisa0825]

85. I hope your username applies to his defeat! (nt)

[RedStateShame]

2. While we're at it

It shouldn't take much to find a new congressman, Joementum. Possibly, a Democrat this time.

[MissB]

9. Exactly!

Welcome to DU!

[Occulus]

3. Oh, this jerk just HAS to GO

Joe Lieberman: the best Democrat that ever happened to Republicans.

Aside from Zell.

[Orsino]

90. He can go find another Senate...

...when the voters choose not to reinstall him.

[gollygee]

4. Ok so she's just been raped

and even with the related physical and emotional trauma, she should just hop in the car and find another hospital.

Hopefully she lives in a town big enough to have two.

[dogday]

8. She would be in bad shape

and I suspect would not want to go around town finding a hospital that will do that... How much is a rape victim supposed to take????

[noonwitch]

18. I have mixed feelings about it, because of the situation you describe

I have a problem with the government telling a private hospital that they have to provide the morning after pill to rape victims. Yet, because of the type of situation you describe, I also think that no woman who has been raped should be denied this treatment.

It's unfortunate that the GOP is in charge at this moment, because ideally, the solution would be that if a private hospital chooses not to provide this treatment, than they are choosing to not receive government money. That means no medicaid patients, no medicare patients and no grants for new wings or equipment.

[Mandate My Ass]

21. It's not an abortifacient so there is no quandary here

You're either a church or you're a hospital and science says pregnancy begins when a fertilized egg implants on the uterine wall. Period.

EC prevents that primarily by blocking the release of the ovum. If taken within 72 hours it prevents pregnancy but cannot affect a pregnancy in progress. They have no leg to stand on here.

[philosophie_en_rose]

77. Right. And how many private hospitals are really private?

Most hospitals have some sort of government subsidies and all have licenses.

[American Tragedy]

86. There is a quandary for a *Catholic* hospital

since they're opposed not only to abortion, but to any form of birth control at all, including contraceptives. Whether that is a remotely acceptable or even sane stance is another issue altogether.

[Mandate My Ass]

87. Well they're trying to make the quandary the patient's

It is *NOT* an infringement on anybody's freedom of religion to demand that they provide FDA approved medical service to those that need/want it. Nobody would force a Roman Catholic rape victim to take contraceptives if she didn't want them. Now that would be a clear case of infringing on someone's freedom of religion. But in medicine, pregnancy does not occur until implantation and women have a right to contraceptives and EC if they want them and it's medically appropriate to offer it to them.

They're not practicing medicine in their pulpits, they're doing it in a licensed medical facility and they should be bound by the rules and ethics of medicine and medicine only.

We need a separation of Church and healthcare as well as a separation of Church and state.

[Clark2008]

88. And, in some instances, it takes longer than 72 hours to

implant.

[WinkyDink]

42. I have a problem with private hospitals, then.

[jumpoffdaplanet]

54. Then whoever owns the hospital should sell it

And let someone run it for everyone in the community equally.

Let the former owners join the priesthood.

[gollygee]

66. Hospitals are licensed

and as long as they're licensed, the state can tell them what to do to protect the public's health. That's the whole point of having licenses.

[CAcyclist]

78. And their doctors didn't get their medical schooling at a public medical

school (because, no matter how much medical school costs individuals, the actual cost of training is much , much higher) and their doctors don't have a publically - provided license to practice medicine from the state - oh, wait, then that would make them unlicensed and they couldn't practice , either.

Not providing emergency contraceptive services is unethical. Doctors have a duty to serve the public, not impose their religious beliefs on others. The morning after pill is not an abortifacient, either, because a fertilized egg is still 16 days away from becoming an embryo and if the woman hasn't ovulated yet, it hasn't even reached the fertilized egg stage.

[arcane1]

51. and that's assuming she even has a car

[lolly]

69. Or clothing . . .

Atrios had this a while back. Several posters noted that, in a rape case, the victim's clothing has probably been taken away as evidence. She may be beaten, may have arrived in an ambulance (hence, no car) may have no money. At worst, she may not be physically capable of moving to another hospital--if she has severe, debilitating injuries and is in, say, Intensive Care for a few days, the window of opportunity for Plan B will close before she can do anything about it.

For people who defend private hospitals as following beliefs--you really shouldn't open a hospital if you can't provide medically necessary care. Medical facilities must be licensed by the state as capable of providing care. Christian Scientists, for example, could never be licensed to open a hospital and then refuse to give any medication to anyone.

[BlueIris]

106. Or use of her limbs.

Or is in any sense able to be moved from the hospital she was taken to AFTER BEING RAPED. Think: potential head, neck, spinal cord injuries. Think: massive and grotesque psychological trauma. THINK.

Jesus H. Christ.

The ignorance of people who would play "devil's advocate" with those who would deny a woman the right to prevent pregnancy even in cases of rape or incest astounds me. It's so sad that the sane posters on this board have to try to reason with them to get them to bring their misogynist abstractions out of Anti-Choice Fantasy Land and actually think about how those policies brutalize real women when allowed to exist in reality. A reality the rest of us--here in Non-Asshole World--would like to resemble civilization. The idea that those defending Joe or the hospitals who are trying to justify denying adequate medical care to women have never considered the real-world consequences of their bullshit "attempts to be fair" makes me nauseated.

Fellas? Picture it happening to your mother, your sister, your girlfriend or spouse. Then see how you feel about the idea that she, possibly while in a state of physical and emotional incapacitation as the result of rape would--in Senator Dipshit's America--be denied the right to prevent a pregnancy caused by the assault. If there's room in your shallow, woman-hating, one-dimensional minds for feelings, that is, or the feelings of anyone who is YOU. Then familiarize yourselves with the concept of human rights, perhaps? Civil liberties--you know, those things you obviously think you're so entitled to, while no one else (or no one else with a uterus, anyway) is? Consider not posting about serious, complex legal and healthcare issues you obviously haven't spent two fat seconds ruminating meaningfully about in your lives. And finally--turn the power on. Mom and Dad dumped you into a country full of ways for you to access information about the rest of humanity. Avail yourself of them.

[Horse with no Name]

107. Not only that

But the next hospital won't be able to dispense the medication without doing their own examination because of legal liability. She will have to be admitted AGAIN.
Not only that, but her insurance carrier will NOT cover 2 visits within 24 hours for the same problem.
So it will be money out of her pocket.
Neither Medicaid NOR Medicare will cover this either.
So this woman was violated by a rapist, then subjected to an initial evidence-collecting exam which is extremely humiliating, and then Joe thinks it isn't a big deal to subject her to yet ANOTHER exam?

As far as your statements about private hospitals...I totally agree.
If a healthcare facility accepts any type of 3rd party payment or any type of government funds...they should have to provide any legal service without prejudice.
They shouldn't get to pick and choose unless they want to run a cash only business. But when a person many times doesn't have a choice of where to go because of reimbursement, they shouldn't have to go somewhere else AFTER that to get appropriate treatment.

[Botany]

5. What about a new Senator?

Say good bye to your female support.

[nickinSTL]

6. You, know, I've never liked Lieberman...

even when Gore chose him, I thought it was a mistake, and I didn't know much about him then.

With this...there is no way in HELL I'd support him for ANY office.

This is an incredibly hateful, callous thing to say, and the Dems should pound him for it. Why doesn't he just drop the (D) after his name? This kind of insensitivity to victims is exactly what I'd expect from bile-filled rw radio hosts, not a politician representing the Democratic party.

[tabasco]

96. Gore allowed republicans to set the agenda.

Gore bought into the fake moral outrage over the Clinton inquisition.

He picked Holy Joe to show what a moral administration he would have.

What a huge mistake.

[BlueEyedSon]

7. What an ASS

Cant wait til he's out of a job

[CottonBear]

10. Most counties in my state (GA) don't have a hospital. n/t

[MissB]

11. Gah.

What a jerk.

[Mandate My Ass]

12. feckin asshole

What an insensitive and downright stupid position.

Another blow for rape victims, i.e. the citizens he's supposed to be representing.

A hospital denying EC isn't doing so for "principled reasons" since it flies in the face of established science that says EC is not an abortifacient but a method of birth control. If the fundies want to believe a fertilized egg is "life" let them, but don't force that fallacy down the throats of traumatized patients in a health care setting and call it principled. It's far from principled and far from established medical science as well.

[coffeenap]

13. OMG--get him the HELL out of the Senate!!!!!!!!! nt

[Jack Rabbit]

14. Well, Joe, what about Wyoming or Nevada?

Or even parts of California? We have a saprsely populated county here that is geographically larger than Connecticut.

[Ohio Joe]

15. Good thought joe

Lets just keep persecuting the victims. WTF could be a "principled reasons" not to give contraception to a rape victim?

[KansDem]

16. Hey, Joe! Maybe you could introduce legislation guaranteeing cab fare...

So the rape victim could get to "another hospital."

After all, it would be the least you and this Congress could do...

[Fleshdancer]

17. the perfect thing to do after getting raped!

Hey ladies, can you think of anything MORE fun? If I'm sexually tortured, I hope I can go on a breathtaking tour of the various hospitals in MY city (or county or state depending where I can get the morning after pill). What are the differences? How accommodating are they? Just think of ALL the fun stuff we'll find out by doing this!

Gawsh, we are so fortunate to have a smart man like Lieberman to show us the fun side of rape! Thank you Lieberman! Thank you!






I'm not going to bother with the sarcasm smilie. I think my point is pretty obvious without it.

[splat@14]

25. Difficult to take people that make laws that they don't have to live by..

[MadHound]

19. Hey Joe, how about us out here in the boonies?

You know, those places west of the Appalachias? Those small towns out here in the Midwest where the only hospital in town is Catholic, and the next one available is two, three, even five hundred miles away? What, are the poor victimized women out here just supposed to go ahead and have the rapist's child?

Dumb, stupid, short sighted, self involved little prick, Lieberman is

[truebrit71]

20. Hey Joe, Fuck you and your "principled reasons"....

What an ass-half....

[Dora]

22. I almost hate to say this, but I will anyways.

Hearing Lieberman say things like this make me grateful that he's not our Vice President. He's a shame and an embarassment, and if Gore/Liebermann had taken office in 2000 as was their right, I daresay he would have been an Achille's heel to the Gore White House.

[rodeodance]

23. I have 'tolerated" Joe last few years. NO MORE! this does it!

[Gormy Cuss]

24. Well, maybe the Catholic hospitals should be allowed to refuse treatment

to Protestants and Muslims and Jews. Fair's fair.

[Tom Joad]

44. Fine, let them go without federal funds.

[Divernan]

110. Show us your insurance card & Certificate of Baptism! (sarcasm)

nt

[Lisa0825]

26. That damned asshole!!!!

He is NO Democrat!!! he should just go ahead and make the announcement, because he no longer stands for the ideals that Democrats hold.

That man is a disgrace to the party. I am as ASHAMED of him calling himself a Democrat and spewing this crap about EC as I was the day I watched Zell Miller give his raving lunatic speech to the GOP.

Both of those men should have their credentials shoved up their asses!

[porphyrian]

27. What a douche. - n/t

[WestHoustonDem]

28. Why does that asshole want a D after his name anyway?

What part of his policies make him a Democrat?

[foreverdem]

29. What a freak!

Yeah Joe, after being brutally raped, I'll just hop off the examining table and go hail myself a cab to another hospital, no biggie..

What an ass!

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

30. So, it's not just foreign policy. Surprise, surprise. NOT. -nt

[warrens]

31. (looks around frantically for a baseball bat...)

Ah, here is is. Now hold still, Joe. SMACK!

[Lisa0825]

32. Has Planned Parenthood or any other women's organization

ever held a major "education" drive for him? He needs to be bombarded with response for this!!!

[bigbrother05]

33. Should a Baptist hospital refuse to treat a dancing injury?

Guess they could refuse a battered wife too? Doesn't the bible say she should obey hubby? What a worthless twit.

If the hospital accepts emergency victims, they should provide emergency care (period).

[Lisa0825]

34. Contact him here:

http://lieberman.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm?regarding...

or here:

One Constitution Plaza
7th Floor
Hartford, CT 06103
[phone] Voice
[phone] In CT
[phone] Fax

[Lisa0825]

37. My email to Lieberman:

You, Mr Lieberman, are NOT a Democrat! Why not quit pretending and just join the Republican party full time?

How DARE you take the stance that rape victims should have to shop for another hospital if the one they are taken to does not provide emergency contraception! You obviously have NO COMPASSION for victims of rape whatsoever! Depending on whose statistics you believe, anywhere from 1 in 4 to 1 in 6 women in this country has been a victim of rape or attempted rape. It is reprehensible to put the burden on the victim to seek out a hospital willing to provide this approved and LEGAL medical treatment, especially since in many cases, the woman is likely otherwise injured and time is of the essence.

I am truly ashamed that you claim to be a member of my party. I sincerely wish you would fully abandon us, since you already have in word, spirit, and action.

You are an embarrassment and a disappointment to women, to this party, and to our nation.

SINCERELY,

Lisa

[splat@14]

43. Go Lisa!

[Mad_Dem_X]

55. Excellent!

I can't believe that a--hole said that! We should kick him out of the party.

[Hekate]

116. Thanks, Lisa! I think the Senator needs a little DU smack. Shall we?

Hekate

[IndigoE]

35. Lieber-Con

This guy gets elected in the state by pandering to the environmental segment of the Dems... he always votes on the green side of those issues. In all other respects he's a right wing maneuvering Bush-ite. He can not be trusted and should be EJECTED!! While in the state, I wrote so many letters to his office to argue with his positions it felt like we were (poison) pen pals. We've moved out of Connecticut but are temped to move back just to vote against him. He is slime.

[WhoWantsToBeOccupied]

84. Like voting for the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and not filibustering Alito?

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 was the single most anti-environmental piece of legislation to pass in many years. Lieberman voted "Yes." Alito has a horrible environmental record (not to mention anti-women's rights and anti-checks-and-balances). Joe voted to give him an up-or-down vote. How's that protecting the environment?

[YankeyMCC]

36. Wow!

I mean that raises to an astounding level or stupidity and arrogance even for him. I'll bet Rove and Shrub are so proud.

[femrap]

38. Just called his office.....

and the person who answered now has a couple of new assholes.

If others feel inclined to call....1-800-828-0498 and ask for the Sadist from CT...they'll know who to ring.

How can he be so cruel? How? How do Catholics justify this to themselves and to their God? How sadistly cruel.

The senator doesn't even seem to mind if one of his three daughters were raped and had to drive around town to find a hospital to provide Emergency BC.

Please let Lamont win. PLEASE.

[Tom Joad]

50. Ned Lamont. Ned Lamont. Ned Lamont. Ned Lamont. Ned Lamont. Ned Lamont

http://nedlamont.com /
Fill that Hat. Get those petitions out. End this madness.

[Lisa0825]

58. I just used my donation sticky for the KissJoeGoodbye site!

I'm mad as hell!

I hope Lamont can do it!

[liberalhistorian]

113. Imagine being a staffer

for Holy Joe right now! The poor things must dread it every time he opens his mouth. I know I'd want to call in sick every damned day if I worked for him right now.

[Tom Joad]

39. Joe is the choice of the 15th century. Pro-War, Anti-Woman rights

Anti-Abortion leader running on the Dem ticket in PA.
Joe running after the religious right in CT.
Joe is even letting the door open for denying contraceptives.

Joe, the choice of the 15th Century!

[Warpy]

40. Yeah, let's make brutalized, injured and in shock women

traipse around from hospital to hospital looking for a simple PILL that will PREVENT AN ABORTION.

Jesus, what the hell is wrong with these MEN?

If a hospital can't DO ITS JOB for half the human race, IT NEEDS TO ADVERSTISE ITSELF AS A MENS' HOSPITAL ONLY!!!

[femrap]

97. Maybe these hospitals should just take

care of rapists. They seem to think that rapists are cool and should be able to force women to carry their child to term. GRRRRR!

Guess I'll frame Lieberman as 'pro-rapist.'

[WinkyDink]

41. "In Connecticut, .....

it shouldn't take more than a short ride to get to another hospital," he said.

This is the most revolting thing he has ever said, surely. Gore must be kicking himself 6 ways to Sunday.

And anyway, he's wrong, at least what I've seen of CT. There are some fairly rural patches, no?

[splat@14]

46. Wonder how long the ride is in S. Dakota? n/t

[lolly]

70. Joe "Short Ride" LIeberman

I always refer to him now by this name.

Lamont needs to take him up on this.

[liberalhistorian]

114. What REALLY needs to be done

is to coordinate an effort to have rape victims, or someone representing a victim, call Mr. NO-mentum himself whenever they need a ride to a different hospital. Seriously, Connecticut DUers should start an "educational" program for this, to call Holy Joe if you need a ride to a different hospital! After all, it'd only be a short ride, so it shouldn't inconvenience him TOO much, now, should it?

[Jigarotta]

45. that damned little twerp.

fuck you, asshole joe!
I'm seeing crimson brilliant red right now!!!

[Ganja Ninja]

47. Suppose the hospital turned you away for being a Jew Joe?

I guess you could always find a hospital that's compatible with your religious views or die trying.

[Lisa0825]

48. How many people here who are pissed off have contacted him?

If you haven't done so yet, what's holding you up? My email is posted above. If you also spoke to his office, tell us what yo usaid! if you emailed or faxed, post it here too!

[Tom Joad]

49. And H. Reid, who leads the Senate Dems, also opposes abortion

rights.

Let me get this straight. Pelosi says the Iraq war was wrong, but this is a personal decision (actually, this is political survival for Pelosi representing San Francisco, but let's take it at face value).

Dems now say that a woman's right to abortion is not a Party position, but up to each officeholder. They might go up to leadership positions.

So, does the Democratic Party stand for anything anymore????

[femrap]

98. If Dems don't stand up for a woman who has survived rape,

then as far as I am concerned that Dem is 'pro-rapist' and sadistically cruel.

Shit, what are these assholes looking for...the rapists' vote??? WTF has happened to supposed sane people?

When are Dems going to stand up for WOMEN? Shit....women are their biggest supporters. No wonder so many women I canvassed in '04 said they weren't going to vote. These women said....'why bother? The Dems don't care about me.'

[Tom Joad]

52. Is Gore still supporting this POS?

[debbierlus]

53. We just went through this in MA

Fortunately, there was such OUTRAGE, ALL hospitals are required to provide emergency contraception.

Lieberman is an idiot.

[Vinca]

56. IMHO, if a hospital does not want to offer a legal treatment

because of some sort of moral indignation, it should close the door and go out of business. Same for pharmacists who refuse to fill the prescriptions. Rape victims should not be subjected to the ordeal of hospital shopping. Shame on Lieberman.

[lolly]

74. Publicize it

I always wonder why, if these pharmacies and hospitals are so proud of their moral stance, they aren't required to publicize it.

Any pharmacy that won't give out birth control pills should be required to have a large sign, visible from the road, stating clearly that "WE DO NOT FILL PRESCRIPTIONS FOR CONTRACEPTIVES."

Hospitals should have to do the same--it should be in all their pretty glossy advertising brochures, in a sign visible from the road, and posted in every doctor's office and ambulance in the area "ST. SO-AND-SO HOSPITAL WILL NOT PROVIDE EMERGENCY BIRTH CONTROL FOR RAPE VICTIMS."

[ContraBass Black]

57. I'm looking for the full original quote.

Does anyone have it?

[Lisa0825]

61. Here is the article:

But it doesn't say more than was quoted here:

U.S. Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman, who often takes a conservative line on social issues, is facing a liberal Democratic primary challenge from wealthy Greenwich businessman Ned Lamont. But that hasn’t stopped Lieberman from supporting the approach of the Catholic hospitals when it comes to contraceptives for rape victims.

Lieberman said he believes hospitals that refuse to give contraceptives to rape victims for "principled reasons" shouldn’t be forced to do so. "In Connecticut, it shouldn’t take more than a short ride to get to another hospital," he said.

http://www.nhregister.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=16292372...

If yo uneed to login, try this:

userid: biteme
pw: biteme

Courtesy of bugmenot.com

[etherealtruth]

59. shameful and disgusting ...

I guess there are no limits to the pain, suffering and indignities a rape victim should have to endure ... right Joe?

[LuCifer]

60. ATTENTION CT PEOPLE!!!!!!

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE VOTE THIS SACK OF CRAP OUT IN NOVEMBER!!!!!!!!!

And Joe, shouldn't you be worried about MORE "important" things, you know, like how many times Howard Stern said BUTT on the air today?

[Theres-a]

89. We're workin' on it

Nedmentum?

[Zorra]

62. Wow. Maybe hospitals that refuse to give treatment to Jewish

Senators that suffered a heart attack for "principled reasons" should not be forced to do so, eh, Joe?

Not.

Joe seems to have the same deficiency in consciousness as republicans do - the complete inability to empathize with other human beings.

[BlooInBloo]

63. gw's favorite Democrat can find another Senate seat!

fuck Lieberman.

C'mon Conn. voters - please be smart!

[DrunkenMaster]

64. He Must be Building "Joementum"

as he is hurtling off the cliff ot total f**king idiocy.

[Deb]

65. Clueless on rape or cruel to women

Final straw, he HAS to go. American women can't afford this type of "representation".

[robbedvoter]

67. Just when I think he hit bottom, he finds a new low...

[Maraya1969]

68. My head just exploded. eom

[bobbieinok]

71. my impression: he only knows CT, which from OK looks very small

and maybe crowded with hospitals

this geographical 'excuse' for his statement does not, of course, excuse his incredible inability to even minimally enter into the reality of a rape victim who has such devasting things to deal with that it's disgusting to even suggest she has time to shop for a hospital to treat her

[Lisa0825]

72. NOW PAC Endorses Ned Lamont for U.S. Senate In CT

Posted by flblu2 in GD Politics:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[Media_Lies_Daily]

73. Incredibly insensitive. What an ass.

[CAcyclist]

75. I think it's important to make sure your friends know that taking a double

dose of regular birth control pills works as a "morning after" pill. Of course that still means having access to birth control pills.

[Lisa0825]

76. That's not quite accurate....

Different prescriptions work with different dosages. All women should have this info handy for themselves or for friends:

http://www.fwhc.org/birth-control/ecinfo.htm

[CAcyclist]

79. Thank you .nt

[Lisa0825]

81. Thank YOU!

Thank you for mentioning that, because most people are not aware of what dosages to take. Since you reminded me, I went ahead and posted it in a new topic, because it is important information!

[Triana]

80. Mysogenist DINO

Progressives can also shop around and find a REAL Democrat to better represent their core values. This man ought to be ousted from the party, IMO.

[Yavin4]

82. What If A Hospital Was Run By PETA Devotees or Scientologists?

Should they be allowed to not stock medicine that was tested on animals? Thus, when someone came to them in an emergency, they could refer them to another hospital? Or what if a hospital was run by Scientologists, should that hospital be allowed to pick and choose what medicines and treatment they offer?

Where do you draw the line?

[BR_Parkway]

91. So Catholic hospitals are only funded with Catholic money?

[mtnester]

92. Joe needs to become the victim of a rape

or his daughter or granddaughter or his wife....

then, we can talk to him about this again.

Until then, he need to keep his mouth shut on this topic.

You good folks in Connecticut work on getting this asshole out, and we will keep punching away at the shenanigans and general Repub crime family based here in Ohio.

I thought I was done, but you know what? This is about the worst thing, I mean, this is a supposed DEM saying this? I know he was about as close to being a Dem as I am of being the Pope, but this shows a general lack of respect for women in general.

I believe Joe has lived just a tad too long inside the beltway, and has succumbed to the "alternate reality" mentality. Now, off to pen my poison Email to this cad.

UPDATE/EDIT - the text of my Email to his office:

I am wondering, just how many feet CAN you fit in your mouth? Here is your quote regarding rape victims and ANY hospital's refusal to offer Plan B medication:

"In Connecticut, it shouldn’t take more than a short ride to get to another hospital," he said.

Any hospital providing emergency care should be required to provide the morning after pill to rape victims...emergency medicine is not about principles, it is about healthcare and medical treatment. It is not an opinion, it is not a discussion, it is not about religion nor about personal beliefs. It is about doing what is right for the patient. Making it a political statement, callous though it may be, is just as reprehensible. Your comments show an appalling lack of contact with the realities of a rape victim. Perhaps you have been inside the beltway just a little too long.

Word is out and by the second you are losing support of whatever female voters you may have had left.

Thank you for giving me another fantastic reason to donate AGAIN to an out of state candidate. It won't be you.

My final words to you..shame, shame shame

[CTLawGuy]

93. are you pissed about this?

If so, this man needs your money. https://secure.nedlamont.com/page/contribute

Let's show this asshole who rules this party and country.

[Usrename]

94. I hope the people of CT show you what an ass you are.

Worthless traitor!

[gordontron]

95. what is the procedure for kicking someone out of the party?

I know the democratic party is a big tent, but seriously this is the last straw. what does he support the democrats on?

[BlueIris]

99. So, Senator Asshole is in favor of increasing the abortion rate?

And further endangering the health of women who have had already their bodies brutalized as the result of SEXUAL ASSAULT by increasing the likelihood they will wind up forced to face being pregnant with fetuses "fathered" by their RAPISTS?

THIS MAN IS AN EMBARRASSMENT TO OUR COUNTRY.

Not Congress, not the Senate, not politics or the concept of public service in general, THE ENTIRE NATION.

What a tragedy. Connecticut (and Connecticut's rape victims)? I WEEP (even more) FOR YOU. Good luck chucking this guy.

[killbotfactory]

100. How fun! They can go shopping!

I'm sure it will be a blast!

Lieberman disgusts me.

[Erika]

101. His insensitivity is astounding

You sure he's not changed his political designation to "R"?

[bling bling]

102. I'm probably the last person here who still gave Joe a break.

I didn't necessarily love the guy but I held out hope that he would do some good things for environmental issues.

But he just blew it with me. On top of everything else, his position on this matter is unforgiveable and actually borders on misogynistic. I agree that he needs to be replaced.

[BlueIris]

104. Um, "borders on misogynistic"??

Hon, he feels comfortable characterizing his callous view that a woman's right to contraception is a luxury, as if the risk that she might become pregnant against her will is simply a minor irritation or inconvenience, EVEN IF THIS PREGNANCY IS THE RESULT OF RAPE.

Rape does violence to a victim's body and mind, as does pregnancy and as, for too many, does the process through which this society (still as misogynist as Senator Dipshit here) forces women who need to end pregnancies to end them. The statements from the Honorable Horror Show from Connecticut frame his actions as if they are acceptable simply because Republicans have politicized women's health issues for their sick agendas or because...I don't know...no one has yet held him accountable for his unconscionable behavior?

Don't misunderstand--I'm glad you've changed your mind about him; he's appalling. Hopefully, others will see the light. But I think you need to brush up on the definition of misogyny.

[CatFelyne]

103. short ride

Well, Joe if it's not more than a short ride, then you won't mind at all if rape victims in CT call you for a lift?
I'm sure you'll be happy to give out your home number to help out a constituent in need, right?

1-800-CALL-JOE


Man, what an ignorant uncaring SOB - you're an embarrassment to my home state and the Democratic party

I'm sooo looking forward to voting against this POS come August

Go Ned Lamont

[BlueIris]

105. Have a GREAT August, my friend.

Enjoy!

And be sure to send lots of goodbye cards to Joe before and after casting your vote!

[IndianaGreen]

109. and don't forget to vote early and often against Holy Joe

I am beginning to think that Holy Joe wasn't kidding when he suggested he might run as an independent in the Fall.

[Mythsaje]

108. I think Lieberman would make a fine

assistant principal somewhere. Kinda like the guy who used to be on Boston Public.

As a "representative" he's reprehensible.

[farmbo]

111. Gee Joe...Ain't it great to be a Guy!

Let's get right with God and make those harlots-- so-called rape "victims" who were probably provocatively dressed in the first place-- motor over to RI for their morning after pill.

[kiteinthewind]

112. Get the F**K outta here, Lieberman. Unfreakingbelieveable!

[Hekate]

115. Someone should inform the Senator how many hospitals have closed down...

... because they weren't making a _profit_ which, pardon me, makes it damned difficult to go shopping around for one, especially if you've been raped (as stipulated by the Senator) and are being transported by other people, like cops or paramedics.

"Excuse me officer (sobs hysterically), please don't take me to Saint Francis. Please take me to General Public, even if it is 50 miles in the other direction."

(Officer writes in report: "Victim seemed to have an awful lot of presence of mind. Wonder if she just regrets the liaison?")

Oh yeah.

And I suppose the unlucky housewife or girlfriend whose partner's condom broke is just flat out of luck.

Joe Lieberman has just lost me, permanently.

Hekate

[Hekate]

117. My letter to Clueless Joe

Dear Senator Lieberman:

I was extremely distressed to read of your interview at http://www.nhregister.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=16292372... in which you stated categorically that hospitals that don’t want to give contraceptives to rape victims should not be forced to. You were quoted as saying, "In Connecticut, it shouldn’t take more than a short ride to get to another hospital."

(1) As a US Senator, you should be acutely aware that community hospitals all over the country are closing down because they are in debt or because they fail to show a profit. Connecticut may be a geographically small state well-supplied with hospitals and emergency rooms, but I assure you most other places are hurting.

(2) Have you ever conversed with a rape victim? Are you not aware of the extreme emotional and often physical trauma that rape victims undergo?

(3) They don’t drive themselves to the hospital, as a general rule. They are transported in ambulances, accompanied by police because a crime has been committed. It’s a one-way trip — the police and paramedics are not going to drive someone from place to place.

(4) Does it truly seem reasonable to you to suggest that a woman, the victim of a violent crime, should have to direct her own medical care?

(5) Are you aware of the difference between contraceptives and abortifacients? Contraceptives prevent the meeting of sperm and egg, sir. They prevent pregnancy. No pregnancy, no abortion.

The medication given to rape victims is not an abortifacient and will not affect a pregnancy already in progress. This medication prevents a pregnancy from occurring. Any woman who objects to such a medication need not take it. However, any doctor, hospital, clinic, pharmacy, or emergency room that refuses to offer or supply it to any woman in need should have their license lifted.

Refusal to provide necessary medical care to women should be considered in the same legal category as refusing necessary medical care to people because of their race or religion.

(6) 25,000. Twenty-five thousand. That’s the number of pregnancies caused by rape each year in the US. Would you want your wife or daughter to go through such an ordeal because the only hospital or doctor in the area was religiously opposed to preventing a pregnancy due to rape?

Sincerely yours,
XXXXXXXXXX

[liberalhistorian]

118. Please let us know what, if any, kind

of response you get from Holy Joe. It would be interesting to see how he tries to spin this, if he isn't already.

[Hekate]

119. No reply as yet.

It's funny, but in my meanderings through American literature from about 1850 - 1950, there's a reference to Catholic hospitals that crops up as the plot requires: "Don't send your wife (or daughter) to that Catholic hospital when she has her baby. If anything goes wrong, they'll try to save the baby and let the mother die" -- the reason given as: the baby is a new soul that must be baptized and brought to God, while the mother has already had her chance. This was always presented as a direct or implied contrast to the original largely Protestant American population, who valued the woman's life more highly than that of an unborn child. You see the husband pacing frantically, saying, "Doctor, save my wife, save my wife!"

The current situation is nuts. We used to take for granted that the overall American culture would indeed choose a woman's life over a fetus in case of emergency childbirth. Without question, that attitude would support the idea that OF COURSE a rape victim would be given EC.

The world is topsy-turvey when religous doctrine is given government sanction here, overruling good medical practice.

Two final points -- Jewish tradition, as Senator Lieberman knows, also values the woman's life above that of her actual or prospective fetus. Also, I mean no disrespect to Catholicism or Catholics by referencing literary passages that struck me by their repetition and uniformity so long ago.

Hekate