Republicans hellbent on defunding Planned Parenthood, pushing their war on women into 2016

Kerry Eleveld for Daily Kos

Daily Kos Staff

Thursday July 30, 2015 · 9:00 AM PDT

2015/07/30 · 09:00

U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) pauses to look at the crowd as he confirms his candidacy for the 2016 U.S. presidential election race during a speech at Liberty College in Lynchburg, Virginia March 23, 2015. Cruz, a conservative firebrand who frequently clas

God, I love myself.

Congressional and presidential politics are on a collision course as GOP social conservatives and 2016 hopefuls promise to defund Planned Parenthood or else ... shut down the government! Of course! The charge is being led by none other than Sen. Ted Cruz, who's desperate to infuse a little social conservative mojo into his flailing presidential bid.

In a Wednesday interview, Cruz said the GOP should go as hard as it can to block funding for Planned Parenthood, including the same strategy he tried to use to defund Obamacare in 2013: force the issue by blocking funding in a government spending bill that must pass by Sept. 30.
Asked whether he would support such a maneuver again, Cruz replied: “I would support any and all legislative efforts to defund Planned Parenthood. We do not need a legislative show-vote.”

That 2013 government shutdown worked out great for him and the GOP last time, let's do it again!

Naturally, the House crazy caucus is also itching for the fight.

Rep. Mick Mulvaney (R-S.C.) said dozens of House Republicans will back his effort to oppose any spending bill — whether a continuing resolution stopgap or longer-term funding package — that includes any money for Planned Parenthood.

It's sure to be high noon on the Hill. Democrats will not back down on this one—single women are far too important a part of their voting coalition. Not to mention the policy implications of depriving millions of low-income women of critical services like cancer screenings, STD tests, and birth control.

But on the politics alone, this is a disaster for the GOP. Without Democratic help, Mitch McConnell won't be able to get the 60 votes to advance a funding bill. Government shutdown = GOP incompetency. And better yet, Republicans will be shutting down the government at the expense of yet another group of voters whom they desperately need to win in order to take back the White House: women.

Genius, just go ahead and add single women to that ever growing list of constituencies that Republicans will never be able to win in 2016. Cuz they've already written off Latinos, blacks and the House crazies are working to do the same with LGBT voters and their allies (i.e. millennials). Perfect.

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