Hillary to Bush: Contraception is Not Abortion

The Bush Administration's Department of Health and Human Services tried to pull a fast one, re-defining abortion to include many forms of contraception. From The New York Times:

In the proposal, obtained by The New York Times, the administration says it could cut off federal aid to individuals or entities that discriminate against people who object to abortion on the basis of "religious beliefs or moral convictions."

The proposal defines abortion as follows: "any of the various procedures - including the prescription, dispensing and administration of any drug or the performance of any procedure or any other action - that results in the termination of the life of a human being in utero between conception and natural birth, whether before or after implantation."

But Hillary Clinton struck back yesterday, issuing a scathing rebuke in protest. From Huffpo:

The Bush administration is up to its old tricks again, quietly putting ideology before science and women's health. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is poised to put in place new barriers to accessing common forms of contraception like birth control pills, emergency contraception and IUDs by labeling them "abortion." These proposed regulations set to be released next week will allow healthcare providers to refuse to provide contraception to women who need it. We can't let them get away with this underhanded move to undermine women's health and that's why I am sounding the alarm.

This is a vivid example of why Hillary Clinton should be Vice President, and why no-one who cares about women should vote for John McCain. This is an assault on women's health and reproductive freedom, and it didn't require a single judicial appointment, or referendum, or legislative action.

Having a Democrat in the White House, particularly with Hillary Clinton as the VP, will mean cleansing every level of government of the ideological mildew that has grown there for 8 years.

Senator Clinton concluded her piece with a plea for help:

We've seen this kind of ideologically driven move from the Bush administration before. Senator Patty Murray and I went toe to toe with the Bush administration to demand a decision on Plan B by the FDA. We won that fight and we need to win this one too.

When I learned about these proposed rules, I immediately joined with Senator Murray to call on the Bush administration to stop these dangerous plans. I am joining with New York family planning and healthcare advocates to spread the word. Now is the time to raise our voices. I will continue to press HHS and I hope you will join me. I have posted information on how to get involved here.