We couldn't make this stuff up if we tried. Congressman Mike Kelly compared the implementation of the Affordable Care Act to Pearl Harbor and September 11. To be fair, the notoriously anti-woman Kelly was speaking specifically about the women's health component of what he calls "Obamacare." Kelly objects to the idea of women having access to birth control wherever they work.
Here's what he said:
"I know in your mind you can think of times when America was attacked. One is December 7th, that's Pearl Harbor day. The other is September 11th, and that's the day of the terrorist attack. I want you to remember August the 1st, 2012, the attack on our religious freedom. That is a day that will live in infamy, along with those other dates." (Click here to view the video)
It's one thing to disagree about public policy. It's quite different when you equate access to birth control at work to Pearl Harbor or September 11th. It diminishes the value of the lives lost in both of those attacks, and it insults the tens of millions of women who use birth control.
Kelly needs to apologize for his outrageous insult to all Americans. This kind of vitriol is not acceptable for an American Member of Congress. Click here to tell Kelly what you think.
Kelly's inexcusable remarks overshadow his objection to letting Pennsylvanians have access to quality, affordable healthcare. Mike Kelly, like most of his GOP congressional colleagues, is obsessed with undermining women's health. His objection to the Affordable Care Act means he opposes:
· 2,121,806 Pennsylvania women who will now have access to birth control, diabetes screening, HIV tests and mammograms;
· Pennsylvania women being granted access to potentially life-saving tests and services, without having to worry about costs;
· Pennsylvania women being able to take control of their well-being and make decisions to keep them healthy, catch possibly serious conditions at an earlier state and protect themselves and their families from colossal medical bills.
Kelly can oppose the Affordable Care Act and its benefits to Pennsylvania's working families, but he should argue based on facts, not comparing his opponents to terrorists and enemies of America. He needs to apologize now.
The Keystone Progress Team
