Health & Fitness
The Republicans Are Akin
The Republicans are aching over Akin. Why should we care about their platform planks regarding women's rights in general and abortion in particular?
Both parties' platforms, and candidates, are stews of many ingredients -- comfort with, commitment to, and membership drawn from the over- and under-privileged; ideology, including sense of noblesse oblige, support of unions and social programs, proportions of individualism and communitarianism; the demands of special interest advocates and contributors; factions within the party; and historical positions.
There are many differences between the parties on the issues. Most will be saved for future blog entries.
But when it comes to women's issues there is good news and bad news. The good news is the progress -- having just celebrated the anniversary of women's constitutional right to vote (first proposed 1848, finally granted in the Nineteenth Amendment, August 26, 1920), Title IX (40th anniversary), women bringing home more Olympic medals than the men (thank you Dr. Christine Grant!), and even the Augusta Country Club finally admitting at least two women to membership.
The bad news? The Republicans didn't get the memo.
There are two ways in which the Republicans are Akin at their Republican National Convention in Tampa this week. Click here for more.