“When you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything. Grab ’em by the pussy.
-Donald Trump
Trump found Guilty of Sexual Abuse
The Rebuplican Party’s continues to support Donald Trump in the face of a mountain of evidence regarding his mistreatment of women. The acceptance of his behavior combined with neanderthal policies regarding reoproductive rights has resulted in the Repulbican Party becoming the anti-women party. The jury’s ruling that Donald Trump is liable for sexual abuse and defamation in E. Jean Carroll case further confirms that the former President has a history of sexual abuse and violence against women. In the past, the slightest evidence that a presidential candidate was a womanizer or had an affair was enough to end a candidate’s aspirations. The far more serious charges of sexual abuse would have ended any other candidate’s political career. Their Party would have denounced them and donors would have abandoned them. But the Republican Party repeatedly has chosen to support Donald Trump, which, in turn, is support for his abhorrent behavior and extreme policies.
No Republican Outrage
The Republican Party’s active and tacit support of Donald Trump has transformed them into the anti-women party. The Party has not held him accountable for his sexual abuse of women. By not calling out his behavior as unacceptable, the Party perpetuates the idea that men can use the power that comes from notoriety or position to grab, touch, and force themselves on women without consequences. The current Republican Party will not protect women from sexual abuse. This ultimately will affect women in their personal relationships and in their positions at work.
Republican Focus is on Anti-Abortion Movement
In contrast to their blasé response to sexual abuse, the Republican Party is motivated and mobilized to take away women’s reproductive rights. While protecting women from sexual predators gets virtually no attention from the Party, outlawing abortion is a driving passion for many Republicans. For many of the anti-choice activists, striking down Row v. Wade to allow states to outlaw abortion is not the end goal. Instead, they seek to remove abortion as choice anywhere in the United States. Thirteen states have passed legislation that makes abortion illegal and enforces the ban with criminal penalties (reproductiverights.org). In some states, such as Missouri and Louisiana, abortion has been banned in all cases include rape and incest. (NY Times ).
The anti-abortion movement has also crossed into issues concerning birth control availability (https://politicaleye.org/2022/06/25/the-supreme-cour…-to-being-afraid/) . In particular, they have taken aim at contraceptives like IUDs and Plan B because they intervene post-conception and prevent the fertilized egg from attaching to the womb. The argument made is that life begins at conception so contraceptives that work by preventing the fertilized egg from turning into a pregnancy should be outlawed as it is a form of abortion. This argument is predicated on basically a religious belief regarding when life begins. In striking down Roe V. Wade, Justice Clarence Thomas wrote that “the Supreme Court should reconsider other past rulings, including Griswold v. Connecticut, a 1965 case that granted married couples the right to buy and use contraceptives. The majority opinion, however, said the decision should not call into question other precedents.” (nbcnews)
Women’s Protections and Freedoms are At-risk
Republican initiatives are fast tracking us back to the 1950’s. Some falsely remember this decade through rose colored glasses as care free. But women had few choices and most got married, had children, and stayed at home. They had the responsibility of raising children and no income source of their own. In the 1960’s, the availability of effective birth control and changes in social attitudes altered the opportunities for many women. They delayed getting married and having children, they obtained higher education, and they entered the work force. In 1940, only 3.8 percent of women (and 5.5 percent of men) completed college. By 2021, women out pace men with 39.1 percent of women (as compared to 36.6 percent of men) completing college. In parallel, women’s participation in the labor force skyrocketed (statista.com). While in 1950 about one-third of women participated in the labor force by the end of century, participation among women rose to 60 percent (BLS).
With money comes power. Over the past 70 years, women have gained power. When you vote for president in 2024, please do not squander this hard earned power.