Rick Perry Blasts Obama Over Women's Health Program
Gov. Rick Perry joined the rising commotion on Thursday over the expected demise of the Texas' Women's Health Program, firing off an editorial accusing the Obama administration of putting abortion politics over health care. It's the same charge that abortion rights activists have made against Republican Texas lawmakers, who banned Planned Parenthood clinics from participating in the program, a move the feds have said prevents them from renewing it.
In his editorial, Perry said it's the Obama administration, not the state, that plans to cancel the 5-year-old program, which provides contraception and well-woman exams for more than ...
Comments (36)
Karen Spivey-Cummings via Texas Tribune on Facebook
The blame for this lies squarely on Rick Perry and the other anti-abortion idiots that have been after PP for a very long time. Anybody who can't see through this is blind. This is their religious/political agenda at the expense of women's health care/reproductive rights in Texas. Shame On You Rick Perry and the Texas Legislature! Rick Perry is still embarrassing Texas.
Jeff Beutel via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Oh, I had almost forgotten about Goober Bush... How's he doin'???
Tim Thomas via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I imagine this is what it must have been like in the South during the civil rights era. Politicians making more and more ridiculous claims to try to defend their outdated thinking.
Melody Ball
Unmitigated, lying gall, that's our Rick Perry!
Luisa Inez Newton via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Gol darn, Texas women want RIck Perry outta their pussies!
Nancy Baughn via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Rick Perry's an idiot. Plain and simple.
Tammy Washere via Texas Tribune on Facebook
All of this would make more sense if these clinics were doing something ILLEGAL, but they are not! Stop the war on women's health care! If you don't have a vagina, it ain't none of your business!
Amy DeAnn Smith via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Rick Perry was also pushing Gardasil like a crack dealer. As with most politicians, he has his own agenda and doesn't give a damn about women.
David Huang via Texas Tribune on Facebook
That's rich, Perry. That's real rich.
Renee E. Babcock via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Rick Perry certainly knows about blatant pandering.
Jim Hsu via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Wow Rick. Did YOU write all those big words? Even some four-syllable words? Without looking up stuff on Wiki? Good boy, Rick. You've come a long way from not being able to remember what comes after "one, two, and...." just a few months ago.
Jason Kendall via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Rick who?
ruth jones
Women's health depends on freedom of choice. I had an abortion many years ago when it was illegal and it was in the back of a garage, and I almost died. When abortion is illegal, poor and disadvantaged women lose their lives, but when a privileged woman/girl has an unwanted pregnancy, she gets an appendectomy....at least that's what her private physician writes on her chart. I know that to be a fact!!! More education about adopting and contraception keeps abortion numbers low. They are lower now than ever before!!
Peter Stern
Simply put, Rick Perry is a worm who does NOT like women. He has a history of denying women their individual rights, e.g., mandatory PPV injections, the mandatory sonogram law, etc. In the next election, Texans need to put Rick Perry out of their misery. Perry may very well be the worst Governor Texas ever had.
Jo Ann Metz via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Boo! Y'all! All the language and bashing Rick Perry when he's NOT where the vote stops is plain ridiculous and frankly somewhat childish! You can make your point without vulgarity. If you use the vulgar language it shows you don't have a high IQ! I have seen WAY too much vulgar language on blogs where people are trying to get their point across and it doesn't make me want to side with you, as if I ever could anyway. Life begins at conception and that's the way it is, NO man made law is going to change that!
Alexandra Richmond via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Too bad Perry has to bash Obama instead of do anything positive for anyone in the state of Texas. It isn't Obama's fault the Texas legislature is cutting back on health care and budgets and schools while Perry collects a pension and salary.
Eric Dana Jensen via Texas Tribune on Facebook
This bobbled headed SOB is a real spokesmans for women's health.
Audrey Fisher via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Jo Ann Metz: Vulgar language, really? Maybe you should be talking to the RWinger's, ie RL - women who want Birth Control are SLUTS! You don't want to know about the invasive TransVaginal Ultrasounds - too vulgar? So you are arguing that freedom of speech should be limited so as not to "vulgar". Obviously, reading the TOS is beyond your IQ?
Gary Brewton
Republicans, pointing guns at poor women who need health care and their providers, say to Obama: "If we kill these people it will be your fault."
JC DemocratofTejas
Perry wrote an editorial. Unbelievable. Well, we all know what a fine intellect rick has. NOT!
Marc Kivel
I find myself wondering how it is that the party of freedom and liberty goes around unilaterally deciding what is in womens' best interests when it comes to healthcare? Wasn't part of the big hoopla over Affordable Healthcare government intrusion into the relationship between healthcare providers and patients? Or are folks who vote for Tricky Ricky oblivious to the hypocrisy of their own position?
JC DemocratofTejas
Perry's painful attempts to stay in the news is embarrassing. What will he not do to be in the limelight? I know he hates women and blacks. The man has no scruples and will do anything for a dime. Hey Rick, where's my failed presidential campaign at taxpayers expense refund dude? I know where the laughing stock of the nation is...back in Austin to my total disgust.
Bonnie McGuire
Ruth, you are a very brave woman to give insight on what it's like when abortion is illegal. So glad you're still here. I totally agree with yours, Petes' and Melodys' comments. Hopefully after the next election, RP will be drawing his pension for real, as a "retired" governor!
Bea McGuire via Texas Tribune on Facebook
@ Amy- bwhahahaha! Awesome metaphor!
Wally Parnel via Texas Tribune on Facebook
“Goober”Bush is probably helping his bro, “Jethro” Jeb Bush, run in the upcoming brokered GOP Convention, for President.
Beverly Nuckols via Texas Tribune on Facebook
TT makes no mention of the 4 illegal PP abortion clinics shut down. No mention that limited funds were prioritized by the Legislature and PP was never mentioned. No mention that other contracts have been made with other providers. BTW, All who want to donate to PP are free to do so.
JC DemocratofTejas
Makes no mention of the fact that the Texas Lege required tons of production of emails from a "certain" school at a local university, again wasting taxpayer dollars, simply to ensure they were not funding abortions or teaching procedures. Leave it to Rick to screw us all, and for what! Keep it up repugs, and Mother Nature will likely send you a message.
I have no words for Metz. IQ is a factor here.
Ginni Watson Robinson via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Perry adding his own voice from the recliner next to the pool.
Beverly Nuckols
We've had the prohibition for years, received the waiver. The difference is that this year, the Legislature prioritized funds so that they go to hospitals, clinics, and doctors who can provide comprehensive, continuing care. PP was never mentioned, but lost out because they only offer a limited range of services. They don't treat high blood pressure, diabetes or even do mammograms. Now, the State has already made contracts and arrangements with other providers for a more efficient use of the limited funds we have.
However, the Obama admin chooses to focus on one "provider." The same organization that had 4 illegal abortion clinics shut down in San Antonio. The one that gives directions to facilities that do mammograms, but doesn't even write prescriptions.
There is no federal law that says that Texas has to make contracts with anyone and the Social Security Act specifically gives the right to set preconditions for contracting with the State to provide Medicaid.
Anya Khan
And it is a pity the children killers cannot argue without cussing.
JC DemocratofTejas
No bid contracts right Bev?
JC DemocratofTejas
Oh yeah, and f-off Anya.
Jim Sharp
I have been ashamed and sad about our governor for a long time. His run for nominee for president was comical.
His return to Texas with these comments about women's health is just another example of his dumbness.
karen Browder
Rick Perry would do anything to get his name back in the news. He's is a scum bag that has sold his soul to big dollars. I! Wish he would have stayed in longer so the real dirt on him would have emerged instead of him self destructing on his own
Beverly Nuckols
Lowest bid, Dem?
Joe Pojman
Kudos to Perry. He is doing the right thing by implementing state law that requires excluding Planned Parenthood from the Women's Health Program while he seeks to continue the program. While Perry is actively pursuing an extension through 2013, the Obama Administration is threatening to terminate the entire program if Planned Parenthood is excluded.
If the program dies, we can blame the Obama Administration and Planned Parenthood, not Texas.
There are ample alternate WHP providers in Texas who are not involved in abortion. Many of those non-Planned Parenthood providers are community health centers officer comprehensive primary and preventative care in addition to family planning where women and their families will actually see a physician. The Texas Tribune’s interactive map of providers makes this case very well by showing that each Planned Parenthood site is surrounded by a sea of alternate providers (http://www.texastribune.org/library/data/texas-womens-health-program-providers).
Planned Parenthood is unwilling or incapable of providing comprehensive primary and preventative care at any of its facilities. A woman will not see a physician at Planned Parenthood anywhere in Texas unless she is there for an abortion, which Planned Parenthood is more than willing to provide for a fee as they promote abortion as a method of birth control. They offer no prenatal care or treatment for breast cancer. They have no mammogram machines. Low-income women deserve better.
Planned Parenthood should not be trusted with our tax dollars. For example, Planned Parenthood of San Antonio operated four abortion facilities illegally without a license for as long as four years until they were discovered by the State in 2009 and fined more than $100,000. They were required to return thousands of dollars illegally billed to the WHP.
Surely Texas has a right to provide preventative health care to women without funding Planned Parenthood, the largest abortion provider in Texas.