He-Man Woman Haters Club Report: Women in Combat, Planned Parenthood, and Birth Control

With classism, racism, and homophobia already in the mix, why wouldn't the GOP add in some sexism too:

• This week the Pentagon announced it was easing the ban on women serving in combat zones.  This did not sit well with Rick Santorum who's concerned that "people naturally may do things that may not be in the interests of the mission because of other types of emotions that are involved. And I think that’s probably, you know, it already happens, of course, with the camaraderie of men in combat. But it’s, but it’s, I think it would be even more unique if women were in combat. And I think that’s probably not in the best interests of men, women or the mission."  When someone in his campaign later realized that accusing women of having hysteria might not be the greatest soundbite, he clarified that he was worried that the men would be too distracted by the women to do their jobs, and that women are perfectly capable of "flying small planes" (presumably the big ones need to be left to the men though).

• Just so you don't think that Santorum is alone in holding these reprehensible opinions, they're pretty mainstream on the Right.  Take for example Bryan Fischer of the American Family Association who believes that "Women are not wired, either by evolution or by God, whoever is responsible for this difference, they are not prepared by DNA and innate personality characteristics to be in those positions."  And lets face it, when religious extremists start roping in evolution to further their war on women, you know it's bad.  Not to leave it there, Fox News commentator Liz Trotta thinks that women in the military should expect to be raped and that it's ridiculous that we "have this whole bureaucracy upon bureaucracy being built up with all kinds of levels of people to support women in the military who are now being raped too much."

• Speaking of violence against women, not a single Republican on the Senate Judicial Committee voted to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act which exists only to stop domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

• Virginia Republicans are moving to require women to get a transvaginal ultrasound before being allowed to have an abortion.  What's that mean? "This bill will require many women in Virginia to undergo vaginal penetration with an ultrasound probe against their consent in order to exercise their constitutional right to an abortion, even for nonsurgical, noninvasive, pharmaceutical abortions."  I'm pretty sure there's a word for vaginally penetrating a woman against their consent. And I'm pretty sure that no one should ever vote for another Republican in Virginia again.

• Senator Orrin Hatch claimed this week that 95% of what Planned Parenthood does is abortion.  Now his staff is claiming he misspoke.  Kind of like how Senator Jon Kyl claimed last year that abortion was 90% of what Planned Parenthood did before his staff had to claim that "it was not intended as a factual statement."  Of course the reality is that abortion accounts for only 3% of Planned Parenthood does.  And the thing is, Senators Hatch and Kyl and whoever spreads this lie next time know that.  Despite their best efforts to convince us otherwise they're not idiots, just willing to lie in order to score points in their "moral" crusade against women.

• Meanwhile Iowa and Oklahoma are well on their way to passing unconstitutional Personhood Amendments

• And last, but certainly not least, Republicans have decided to declare war on birth control:
• Fox News Host Neil Cavuto: Accomodation over contraception coverage has a "Pontius Pilate feel to it."
• House Majority Leader Tom Price: "Bring me one woman who has been left behind. Bring me one. There’s not one."(And he's right, there's not just one woman who can't afford birth control, it's 1 in 3)
• Fox News Host Greg Gutfield: "It's about getting rid of the poor."  (Mind you Martin Luther King thought that was a good thing.)
• Rick Santorum: "I think it's harmful to women and it's harmful to society."