Who am I to talk about a war on women? Sure, I'm as outraged as most level-headed people would be when Michigan's Republicans not only take away women's right to choose what's best for their own health, but go so far as to even take away their right to speak out against these actions. But while I and my Y chromosome are happy to lend support, Michigan thankfully has some outstanding women who are doing a far better job than I ever could in speaking out this horribly misguided action by our Republican legislators.
Senate Democratic Leader Gretchen Whitmer and Senator Rebekah Warren released a video today to send a strong message that women are paying close attention to what's taking place, and that if all of us, men and women included, speak out against this together, we can send a strong message that we will be heard loud and clear in November when we walk into the ballot box.
Take a look:
Senator Whitmer also sent out an email to encourage Michigan residents to tell Speaker of the House Jase Bolger exactly what they think:
I’ve heard some people say that the “war on women” isn’t real, that it’s merely something being fabricated by the media.
Unfortunately, I can tell you that the war on women is all too real and nowhere is that more evident than at the highest levels of Michigan’s government.
This week, Republicans passed one of the most blatant attacks on women’s health seen anywhere in the country. It’s legislation designed specifically to shut down women’s health clinics that provide critical and life-saving services for thousands of women all across Michigan. It’s legislation that offends every bit of who I am as an elected official, a mother and a woman.
Their actions yesterday took away our right to choose what’s best for our own bodies, now today, they’ve even taken away our right to voice our opposition to their actions. Speaker of the House Jase Bolger informed House Democrats that female Representatives have been banned indefinitely from being able to speak on the floor of the House of Representatives, silencing their abilities to speak out for themselves, their constituents and women across the state.
Their actions today are, to put it simply, offensive.
They have proven beyond any measure that they are not only willing to play politics with the health of women throughout Michigan, but that they are willing to go so far as to take away our right to speak out for ourselves. The only question remaining is what’s next? Taking away women’s right to vote?
If you are as angry about their actions as I am, I hope you’ll join me in speaking out. Contact Speaker of the House Jase Bolger and tell him that this war on women must end. Email him at JamesBolger@house.mi.gov, call him at 877-BOLGER-1, tweet him @SpeakerBolger, or post a message on his Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/....
We must speak out together so that Republicans get the message loud and clear that we are paying attention and we will remember what they’ve done in November when their names are on the ballot once again. We can tell them today that they may have started this war on women, but we are the ones who will win it!
There you have it. Let's spread the word and make sure Jase Bolger hears it loud and clear!
