“While stopping short of designating “Ladies Night’’ at the convention, the long lineup of female convention speakers makes it clear that the Democratic Party is putting issues like abortion, birth control, Planned Parenthood funding and equal pay at center stage. But the offensive aimed at peeling off female swing voters and exciting the party faithful could come with the risk that the convention appears narrowly focused at a time when the economy is paramount in voters’ minds.”
Democratic Convention To Highlight Abortion Rights, Women’s Health, Equal Pay
Speakers include:
Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Action Fund
Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America
Lily Ledbetter, the inspiration for the equal pay law signed by President Obama
Sandra Fluke, the former law school student that advocated for health insurance coverage of birth control.
“Under the rule, women will still have access to free preventive care that includes contraceptive services -– no matter where they work,” President Obama said on Friday.
“But if a woman’s employer is a charity or a hospital that has a religious objection to providing contraceptive services as part of their health plan, the insurance company -– not the hospital, not the charity -– will be required to reach out and offer the woman contraceptive care free of charge, without co-pays and without hassles.”
“But if a woman’s employer is a charity or a hospital that has a religious objection to providing contraceptive services as part of their health plan, the insurance company -– not the hospital, not the charity -– will be required to reach out and offer the woman contraceptive care free of charge, without co-pays and without hassles.”
White House Plan Requires Insurers to Pay for Contraception
By Meghan McCarthy
“I think the White House made a good decision in including a mandate for contraception coverage in the Affordable Care Act insurance policy but I think they made a bad decision in not allowing a broad enough religious employer exemption,” said Former Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine.”
Obama Facing Breaks From Base On Contraceptive Mandate
“And based on yesterday’s reactions from senators and Senate candidates to the Obama administration’s policy requiring some religious institutions to provide coverage for prescription contraceptives, President Obama faces plenty of road mines ahead.”
By Kevin Brennan and Sean Sullivan
