John McCain has gotten a smidge of heat recently for joking about killing Iranians with cigarettes and his senility inability to remember that Czechoslovakia doesn’t exist any more but what may deserve a little more attention is his response to a simple question.
See, John McCain and his former colleague Bob Dole have the benefit of being men and being men their health insurance will usually cover drugs that give old men with trophy wives erections but most health insurance plans won’t cover birth control pills for women of any age, or for any reason.
John McCain was asked a simple question about this, “… health insurance companies cover Viagra, but not birth control, do you have an opinion on that?” and the awkward silence was deafening (I can only figure it would be inappropriate to wonder “If he was this awkward talking about birth control, who gave the little McCain’s the birds and the bees talk? And more importantly, how can we trust a guy who looks visibly uncomfortable talking about it to actually do something about it?”).
From Planned Parenthood:
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A very bad thing to be confused on.
Also this afternoon, Steve Benen compiled a long list of other things McCain is alarmingly confused on as well. [via]
Can someone explain WHY health insurance companies should pay for birth control? I’ve heard this story a lot but no one ever says why it is such a contradiction for insurers to pay for Viagra and not birth control. As I understand it, Viagra is a treatment for a medical condition…is that not the purpose of health insurance? I understand some birth control pills have ancillary benefits other than preventing pregnancy, healthier skin and such, but you can buy lotions and stuff for that. What medical condition is birth control treating?
Fertility. Not all medical treatments are for pathological processes.
The point is that McCain knows NOTHING about a bill which he voted upon.
Ummmmmm…..you’re JUST getting to this? This has been like a burning issue among women for a while (and the tape came out last week).
Yes, more radioactive than the stupid comments of Phil Graham. What could be more illustrative of how out of touch this man is? Let’s see: if men can’t have sex it is a health issue, but women should only be allowed to have sex if they face potential reproduction. Nice. Fair. What is the cost of an unplanned pregnancy? Or an unplanned pregnancy with complications? How about an unplanned pregnancy with complications and a premature infant? How much is that all going to cost you?
If the ability to have sex is a health issue for men, it is for women too. And women shouldn’t have this “cost” associated with it - unless they choose to.
This discrepancy exists solely because men run insurance companies. Most women of any political persuasion would make paying for birth control a requirement, if in charge.
This is pure discrimination.
Birth control was originally developed to help women who had extreme dysfunction with their reproductive cycles. Sensitively put, an out of wack cycle can mean instead of a few days a month it can mean weeks. And instead of every 30 days or so, it can mean every 14. Severe cramping, migraines, back ache and even becoming anemic due to excessive blood loss and loss of iron stores can be the outcomes when untreated. By reducing the overabundance of hormones, it can also help to control the incidence of endometriosis, a cause of infertility. Some women need the help of these drugs to help their bodies to regulate themselves. I am probably poorly explaining this, but I am not a doctor, just a patient, daughter of a patient and mother of a patient.
It was only realized after usage over a period of time that the medication also prevented pregancy.
As for why insurance companies should pay for birth control, 98% of American women use some form of birth control during their reproductive years. If you are antichoice, then you should be willing to support a practice that reduces the incidence of unwanted pregnancy and abortion.
Of course, just because a man takes viagra does not mean a woman should uncross her legs. Perhaps if every woman said no for a month, you men would be more receptive to providing equal treatment when it comes to health care.
And, unless a man wants to explain to the pharmacist, in public at the counter, why he needs to fill a prescription for viagra, a woman should not have to justify a legally written prescription for birth control. And it should be covered. It’s healthcare.
Thanks southwestdem, that was very informative and thought provoking. This topic definitely needed an informed woman’s perspective. I work for a health insurer and this issue does need to be addressed. I certainly won’t be supporting any democrats, but I would support health insurers paying for both Viagra and birth control.
All I can say is wow. Since when did cheap birth control become a federal issue? My gosh, gas is $4 a gallon and most Americans are gravely concerned about this issue and all you can do is whine about birth control??? Give me a break!
Discrimination based on gender is an issue. You folks may not care (obviously, you don’t) but lots of people do.
It’s really hard to know where to start when someone asks why birth control pills should be a covered medical expense. It’s a prevention, like a vaccination. It prevents a medical condition called pregnancy.
We are at a point in our society where pregnancy should be a voluntary condition. Is that so hard to understand?
Well, if career politicians like McCain and Erik Paulsen get elected, there certainly won’t be any support for equal healthcare for women. And, the teen pregnancy rate is going up for the first time in 15 years. I fear the abortion rates will be the next statistic we see on the rise. Conservative policies on reproductive health and education don’t work. Just telling kids “no” is not educating them to the realities of choices and consequences.
I taught my kids about abstinence, and I also taught them about consequences. I also made sure they sat through the school classes on sex education.
Legislators that keep their heads in the sand do not serve our nation’s healthcare system very well.
Just something for you to think about.
lojasmo and blueJ,
It’s amazing what you people label discrimination. As others have pointed out, impotency is a medical condition, which requires medical treatment. Vaccination prevents people from becoming infected with disease. I certainly hope you’re not comparing having children or not having children with contracting deadly diseases. I honestly don’t know why this is even an issue. Birth control pills cost from $20-$50 a month depending on which pill is prescribed. That’s hardly unreasonable or unaffordable. What next, are you going to whine for your insurance company to pay for condoms too? It’s amazing with gas at $4 a gallon, you would all get the vapors over such a trivial issue. No wonder Congress’ approval has fallen to 9% since the Democrats took over.
Chris, I agree 100%,
Moonbats are all a bunch of whiners.
They do not appreciate the 20+ years of bounty Reaganomics has given them. They do not see the benefits that all the legislation passed by the Republican controlled Senate, Congress and Whitehouse have given them. For 16 years we controlled the House and Senate, and passed legislation again and again that made their lives better.
For 6 years we Republicans controlled two, arguably three branches of government. Nobody seems to appreciate that, and little is said about it by the drive by media. We passed every bill, Bush vetoed almost nothing, and we moved America forward in the right direction on every issue.
The whiners don’t care about our Republican accomplishments as legislators.
All the whiners see are their pathetic empty wallets. They are lazy, and have made poor decisions, every one of them, otherwise they would be doing very well.
This nation of whiners is what we Republicans simply HATE, don’t we, high IQ Chris.
But we love America, only because of the people who agree with us 100%. We Republicans hate everyone else, right Chris.
Luckily everybody knows here are no Republicans whining about anything, not on talk radio, not on FOX, not on the Republican blogs, not anywhere. That is common knowledge.
Only Democrats whine. We Republicans fight. The difference between the two is how we Republicans correctly define the terms. Because we are 100% right on every issue, we Republicans get to do that. You moonbats don’t.
Great Job Republican With Superior Intelligence Chris
P.S. Sean,
I would be remiss if I didn’t comment on the personal attacks and cheap shots you’ve taken at McCain. What’s with this site taking shots at candidates’ spouses all the time? If you want to go down that road, then fine. Answer me this question: when was the last time Bill and Hillary Clinton slept in the same bedroom?
P.P.S. Let me amend my comment to say slept in the same bedroom at the same time.
Oh — and the real elephant in this room — John McCain claims that he can’t remember all of his votes. Are you aware that he only votes less than 40% of the time?! And that’s not just this year.
So you might think there is whining about birth control when gas is so expensive, but do you really want to elect someone that is so old he can’t remember the very few times he has voted in the senate? He constantly touts his long record of working for the American People, but he isn’t there often enough to do anything for us. He voted twice against covering birth control over viagra, but did not vote on the FISA bill.
And what about Medicare? 2 weeks ago the vote fell short by only 1 vote, and the only 2 senators missing were McCain and Kennedy (brain tumor- a good excuse). He has failed to show up and vote 76 times since April 8th, and his record for the 110th Congress is abysmal.
McCain missed 374 votes or 61.8%
Obama missed 263 votes or 43.5%
I understand campaigning, but at some point you have to do the job you were elected to do.
And you should remember it.
Oh — and waterboarding isn’r really torture either.
Methinks Chris has very little experience with women and doesn’t spend much time in their company. It is quite obvious he doesn’t respect them, much less understand that they have brains and can execute free will. Not understanding contraception to be an important part of a woman’s health care is the epitome of ignorance. I remember an old Northern Sun bumper sticker reading, “If men could get pregnant, you could get an abortion at the gas station.” McCain’s just so damn old, thats another elephant in the room. I don’t think the Viagra is even working for him anymore. BTW Repubs, women are equals, this is 2008 people!
Zach,
You’re ridiculous. Just because I think a woman should be able to dish out $20 a month for an elective prescription doesn’t mean I don’t think women have brains. Although, after your post I wonder where your brains are. I think it’s hilarious you’re claiming McCain is old. You act like this is 40 years ago when Griswold v. Connecticut was decided. The notion that the pill should be a campaign issue today is patently asinine. My God, a prescription for the pill costs less than a half a tank of gas. If you think you’re going to reach women by pandering to them over this, then I can understand why Congress’ approval rating has fallen to 9% since Democrats took over.
“The notion that the pill should be a campaign issue today is patently asinine.
Well, sure - to you, but then again, you’re an angry white republiCon male who apparently has the goal of making the small tent smaller.
“…then I can understand why Congress’ approval rating has fallen to 9% since Democrats took over.”
No, you can’t understand it, because you’re a bootlicker who’s job it is to listen, while El Druggo gives you your marching orders.
Those that can understand, however, understand that prior to the 2006 midterms, (say, Chris? That’s just two years ago…) the congressional approval rate was at 25%, but that was only because of Jack Abramoff and Mark “What’s Your IM Name, Little Page?” Foley and other republiCon miscreants. Well, the public was beginning to think Cheney and his “in fact” was in fact BS. Well, and “Brownie, You (cheney)ed up” with regards to Katrina. Well, and a whole buncha stuff, because republiCons basically broke everything they touched. And while the 9% approval rating is correct, The Maja Druggie must have left this part out of the Rassmussen Report:
Despite these negative attitudes towards Congress, Democrats continue to enjoy a double digit lead on the Generic Congressional Ballot. Also, Barack Obama holds a modest lead over John McCain in the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll.
Oh, and what does Rasmussen say, about that double-digit lead?
Republicans have gained some ground this week, but Democrats continue to lead by double-digits in the Generic Congressional Ballot. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that, if given the choice, 46% of voters would choose their district’s Democratic candidate, while 36% would vote for the Republican candidate.
The two parties are even among men but Democrats enjoy an eighteen point lead among women.
So “keep it up”, Chris - you’re the base.
Chris-
Many people see erectile dysfunction as a normal process of aging. The base issue is sexual discrimination. Despite your opinion that the cost of OBC is trivial, for a lot of people, it is not.
At the bottom of the issue is the fact that old white guys are being helped by legislation that McCain supported, while women are being denied the benefit. How much do two or three viagra pills cost, Chris?
Beyond that, John McCain doesn’t ‘know enough about the subject to give an informed answer.’
Generic sildenafil costs less than five bucks per month for the average user.
So does sildenafil treat my erectile dysfunction or my fertility?
I get my healthcare at the VAMC, so pay $8 per prescription for non-disability related meds. Birth control pills come pre-packaged, and Viagra (or generic equivalent) is ‘metered’ at the rate of four doses per month. Wonder how VA arrived at that dosage? Was it decided by a vote of Congress? Or a panel headed by Bob Dole?
Anyway, SWD has a good idea. I hereby declare the rest of the Campaign Season to be a Time of Abstinence so we voters can ponder these healthcare issues without the distractions of Hot August kNights.
At the press conference on Monday with Senator Amy Klobuchar at Methodist Hospital in Saint Louis Park for us seniors and senior wannabees, the Senator talked about Ted Kennedy returning to the Senate for another vote on the Medicare issue. When it became apparent that the Senior Senator of Massachusetts’ vote was going to carry the bill for the Majority Party, nine senators changed their vote to vote on the winning side. Amy said they were Republicans facing re-election in November. (well, most of them anyway. I think retiring John Warner (R-VA) was also in the group of Republicans voting with the Majority Party, so he did it as a matter of principle, and not to get votes.)
Anyway, while we’re talking about healthcare and medicines, it’s a good time to mention that Military Women may need some healthcare that is not available to them. For example, if women serving in a combat zone like Iraq get raped, what is available to them for contraception? If the woman is not expecting to be exposed to sperm and is not taking birth control pills, she cannot get the ‘morning after pill’ from the American military medics and doctors in Iraq. So I guess praying with the Chaplain is all the military has to offer to a woman in that situation.
When a group of Republican women like Michele Bachmann and Virginia Foxx in the 110th Congress put together a bill for healthcare for military women, they totally ignored this need.
So I urge you all to take your sisters and daughters and your wives and girlfriends to the nearest recruiting station and sign them up to fight the war on terrorism so they can give their all to make the world safe place for freedom and democracy and become heroes.
“So I urge you all to take your sisters and daughters and your wives and girlfriends to the nearest recruiting station and sign them up to fight the war on terrorism so they can give their all to make the world safe place for freedom and democracy and become heroes”
I especially encourage DtM, Swiftee, Chris, and MoN to do so….that is if they know any actual women.
And when their women become pregnant, I am sure they will love and raise those babies as if they were their own.
Chris, I read down and most peoples responses framed my points well. It is plain to see in your ideas and ideals how you truly feel about women. And any self respecting woman knows for herself that the Republican agenda includes their own degradation, one of second class citizenship. The cost of the drug is not the issue, though the women who need contraception the most are among the poorest of the lot, and yes half a tank of gas is a lot of money, to more people than you might think. And the fact that Viagra is covered and birth control is not only makes sense in the bizzaro world you inhabit, where Republican Rule has somehow made this country better in the last 22/30 years. I also think SWD has a great idea there, but not just for the election season. Women would hold a lot of power if they held out sexually until their rights were acknowledged and upheld. It wouldn’t even take that long! One more thing, next time you are out on a date, or maybe hanging out with your mother, sister, or a female co worker or friend who you respect, bring up your views on viagra vs contraception in health care coverage. That way the women in your life will know what kind of ignorant toad they are dealing with. Mothers the world over are ashamed of people like you.
Old Italian saying… “Bed is the poor man’s opera.” I assume that most people using viagra are past the kid-making part and most birth-control users are right smack dab in the middle of it. So I guess the issue is for Republican’s being poor is the problem… so by encouraging poor people to have more children how does this help the country?
These Republicans sure are hard to figure out.
Regarding the subject of John McCain and erections …. ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.
Yeah, if God would have wanted old men to have babies, She would not have created erectile dysfunction . . .
Zach,
So if you disagree with a federal mandate to require health insurance companies to provide coverage for birth control pills, you’re degrading women? Wow, I can’t believe someone would say something so idiotic. That rates right up there with comparing becoming pregnant to contracting such diseases as polio, whooping cough, measles, mumps, tetanus, and a whole host of other diseases we’ve vaccinated for over the years. The pill costs about $20 a month. That’s less than a half a tank of gas. You people say that the right is old fashioned and backwards, but you’re still fighting a fight that was settled 43 years ago. What are you saying about helping working mothers be able to afford to fill their gas tank and take their kids to soccer practice, the mall or a whole host of other activities? Nothing. It’s shocking how out of touch the far left is with real Americans.
lojasmo,
Wow, so I guess you think old people should just curl up in a corner and die as soon as possible. Impotence is not just a normal part of aging. It’s a medical condition for which there is a treatment. Pills like Viagra cost about $10-$15 a piece (depending on how many a prescribed at one time. There is only one way to cure impotence and that’s with a prescription. There are many ways to prevent pregnancy and the pill is only one of them. I honestly hope you guys run on a bash the old and free birth control for everyone agenda. It’s amazing how out of touch you are with the lives of ordinary people who can’t afford to buy gas.
“Pills like Viagra cost about $10-$15 a piece (depending on how many a prescribed at one time.”
Wow! Spoken with the authority of someone with acutal experience!
But, hey - just more proof you really ARE a republiCon!
“There is only one way to cure impotence and that’s with a prescription.” Where did you get that well researched piece of info? Fatso Rush Limbaugh? Did you ever hear of penile implants for diabetics with impotence, ya gas bag? I’m sure Big Pharma is making a killing on the Viagra — your buddy Rush likes his Viagra, too. Birth control is also used for women with “female problems” like irregular menses, etc. We all know McCain was feeling “fiesty” when he chased Cindy around while still being married to his first wife…hmm…not sure how fiesty he is feeling now.
Chris-
I’m a nurse, you dumb ass. As I said before, E.D. is a natural part of the aging process.
Even at $10 each (which is NOT what sildenafil costs…as shown above) the cost of sildenafil, at the rate that old people fuck (pardon the french) is STILL cheaper than what you claim the cost of BC to be.
You LOSE.
Caveat: Sildenefil has legitimate medical uses: Treatment for pulmonary hypertension is the most legitimate use for the drug. Of course, sildenafil should be covered for those cases…not that I’m opposing coverage for limp-dickedness.
From the DSM:
“Approximately 85% of the cases of erectile dysfunction are psychogenic. Anxiety seems to be the most likely psychological cause of erectile dysfunction.”
So 85% of men with ED just need to ‘loosen up.’
Chris: You really suck at this.
lojasmo,
Thanks for showing your compassion to the elderly. Btw, old people vote and I hope they know how well they are appreciate by people like you. I’m really sorry to hear you’re a nurse. I hope you treat your patients better than your post would indicate.
Ruthie,
Who makes money off the penile implants? It’s funny how you demonize “big pharma” but want to push free birth control pills on people. I guess big pharma is only good when they make the pill and are evil when they make Viagra. And who wants to have surgery when you don’t need it? I sure as hell wouldn’t put you in charge of national health care. Yeah, I understand birth control pills are prescribed for other reasons, but my god at $20 a prescription can’t you people find something relevant to bitch and moan about?
Chris-
As indicated by the DSM 85% of Ed is caused by people being uptight. Viagra is only indicated in 15% of cases.
Since you obviously don’t know shit about the subject, I’d suggest you slink the hell out of the thread.
Perhaps you could take up yoga.
Or, Chris…perhaps if you simply stopped arguing several levels above your ability, you could relax.
lojasmo,
If I was a member of the MN Nurses Assn. I surely wouldn’t have you be the poster child for my industry. It’s really shocking how little you think of the elderly. You say that old people are just “uptight” and that’s what causes ED. What about diabetes? Kidney disease? Prostate surgery? MS? Heart disease? Smoking? Depression? It’s really amazing someone would claim to be an expert about medicine and treat a condition in such a cavalier way.
Chris-
Who gives a flying fuck what you think.
I never said the elderly are ‘uptight’ I quoted the DSM which stated that 85% of erectile dysfunction cases are caused by anxiety or other psychosocial disorders, which are not treatable by sildenafil.
Those other factors account for 15% of cases, and if you look back, I don’t advocate for the discontinuation of coverage for sildenafil, only for parity for coverage of birth control.
Really, you don’t get out of a hole by digging deeper. ABANDON SHIP!
Furthermore, I am not a member of MNA, so the chance of me being their ‘poster child’ is slim to none.
Again. A further loss for you.
Chris, I agree 100%,
If you don’t continue to show everyone here at this Liberal blog your superior intellect, then Republicans might lose elections.
I urge you to continue to argue with Liberals. When you take down moonbats, then Republicans win.
Great Job, Republican Intellectually Superior Chris
Chris posted:
“Ruthie,
Who makes money off the penile implants? “
Say, Chris? Scrotee does. He’s got pictures of ‘em, and he places links to ‘em on rightwing “family values” websites. You wouldn’t believe what google is payin’ for eyeballs these days (although, it’s just “balls” that Scrotee is into…)
I am tired of reading that Chris thinks birth control only costs $20 a month. There are many formulations of the drug, and some cost as much as $120 a month. And if the person taking the drug has problems with certain formulas, or the fillers used, they do not have a choice but to take the drug that is right for their body chemistry. So it can be costly, and insurance doesn’t care if a woman is taking it for birth control or other reasons.
Yes, there are other forms of birth control, but tell me the guy who enjoys the other stuff as much as the carefree use of birth comtrol pills. They don’t have to worry about anything more than their momentary pleasure, and certainly don’t have to take any responsibility- it’s all on the woman’s shoulders.
So, you want to have fun, but you don’t want to pay to play. Hope the women in your life learn how to keep their legs crossed.
southwestdem
“Hope the women in your life learn how to keep their legs crossed.”
That statement is making a lot of assumptions about Chris.
You’re right. Sorry.
OK … just to carry this one ewwwww factor further …
There are ways to have sex without needing either birth control or Viagra.