What a remarkable bit of political jujitsu this has been. “Okay, you can have your godless socialism, but there’s a price. It can’t include the wemmins. To bring American healthcare into the 21th century, you’ll have to dial the murdering bitches’ rights back to the 19th.”
And our fearless liberal leaders? Our “fierce advocate” first-minority President? Our “far left” first-female Speaker?
“Oh, well, what can we do? We don’t have the votes... But isn’t it wonderful? No (penis-endowed) American will be denied coverage for pre-existing conditions!! Yes, you’ll be able to tell your grandchildren you were there on this new St. Crispins Day!!”
And, of course, that’s not even taking into the account the economic boost from the revived wire-hanger industry.
Update: Several pieces today -- e.g., here and here -- explain the jujitsu -- with women's rights being sold out in order to get the healthcare bill passed. Clever, eh? "You want universal? I'll give you something else universal -- universal unaffordable reproductive care." Who needs to attack Roe v. Wade through the front door? The back door is swinging in the breeze.
And who's protecting the women of the house? Well, here's our fearless leader, the hope of a generation, the embodiment of change. (In his defense, I guess "change" could include "moving backward...")
Update 2: Yup.
Update 3: The rewriting of personal history marches on. Just as Villagers have been airbrushing their performance during the Clinton and Bush presidencies -- as Somerby regularly reminds us -- so the putatively "progressive" columnists, commentators and A-listers are now publishing all manner of critiques of their Precious, to make sure the record shows that they weren't besotted or deluded. "We're shocked, shocked," they stomp, "that there is no emperor inside all those nice clothes!" So self-congratulates-and-whitewashes MSNBC. So Obotitude-ignores Jeffrey Toobin in this week's New Yorker.
"Yes, it's quite an outrage, isn't it, that we don't have a staunch defender of women's equality in the White House? Who could have known in 2008 that the candidate to become Democratic president had written in The Audacity of Hope about 'the middle-aged feminist who still mourns her abortion'? How was I to foresee that he would soft-pedal the importance of abortion rights as 'vexing'? And how sharp, terse and clear I am being now about this, yes, fundamental moral issue! Look at me -- I'm a reg'lar PUMA!!"
I'll ask it again: How long before we apply Somerby's signature trope to the 2008 primaries?
Update 4: And another thing... I remind you of the moment when the misogynistic Beast of the Left let loose one of its most ferocious, ecstatic roars. The party of President Stupak may talk all nerdy and quiet-like, but they're right spry in their slouch toward Bethlehem.
