So Disappointed In Patricia Heaton…

Everybody might still love Raymond, but Patricia Heaton isn’t coming across so lovable these days. Patricia Heaton, a long time conservative, decided to go on a tweeting rant agreeing with Rush Limbaugh’s comments concerning Sandra Fluke and then making a few of her own. She has since deleted the comments and apologized when fans took to a rant of their own and tweeted her back. If you’ve been reading my blogs, you know where I stand on this issue already. I think all women should be able to get birth control from their insurance providers and no one should determine whether a doctor’s prescription for treatment is moral, before filling that prescription. Birth control is used to treat many medical conditions that women suffer from and in addition, prevents pregnancy. Preventing pregnancy is the responsible thing to do if the alternatives are abortion, bringing a child into the world that one cannot afford to provide for, having a child and becoming dependent on society to finance its needs etc. 

I am surprised that Sandra Fluke, who is speaking out in behalf of women’s health issues, is being so harshly condemned. The criticism against Sandra Fluke has become a very personal attack. What she says is intelligent and valid. I find it impossible to see the viewpoint of her opponents. Some are saying that the birth control is being paid for by taxpayer dollars from the government. That is not my understanding. President Obama wants insurance companies to provide free birth control to all women. My understanding is that religious institutions and their insurance companies will decide if they will cover certain prescribed medication, such as birth control, based on whether or not it is moral. That is outrageous. All women should be able to fill their prescriptions without being judged and often the prescription for birth control has nothing to do with being promiscuous or the government footing the bill for sex. Attacking Sandra Fluke’s moral character, because she is speaking on behalf of the 99% of women who have used birth control at one time or another in their lives, is beyond wrong. Here is what Patricia Heaton had to tweet to Sandra Fluke:

"Hey G-Town Gal: Plz let us also pay for your Starbucks, movie theater tickets and your favorite hot wings combo deal at KFC! Anything else?"

"Hey G-Town Gal: If your parents have to pay for your birth control, maybe they should get a say in who you sleep with!" Instant birth control!"

"If every Tweaton sent Georgetown Gal one condom, her parents would have to cancel basic cable, & she would never reproduce -- sound good?"

"Hey GTown Gal: How about only having sex on Wednesday? (Hump day!)."

"Hey G-Town Gal: turn your underwear inside out! Then u only have to do laundry every 2 weeks—saves on detergent & trips to Laundromat!"

 "G-Gal: you’ve given yer folks great gift for Mother’s/Father’s Day! Got up in front of whole world & said I’m having tons of sex- pay 4 it!"

And then she had some insight: “Tweatons...I crossed the line w/@SandraFluke. Don't agree w/her views, but I was not showing Christ's love.”

Gee ya think? I think this is appalling. Now Heaton is also apologizing, not because she is sorry, but because she has to do damage control. She doesn’t want advertisers pulling out of her television show, “The Middle.” No. Neither she nor Rush Limbaugh want their shows pulled off the air, so they are backing down from their comments. Will it work? I know I don’t accept insincere apologizes. Anyway, I hope that Patricia Heaton’s daughter, if she has one, doesn’t one day need birth control for severe menstrual cramps, heavy bleeding or irregular cycles, severe acne, unwanted excessive facial hair, ovarian cysts, mood swings or migraines related to PMS and other health issues. Maybe Patricia can afford to provided birth control for her, but would she want her daughter so harshly judged? She may find herself singing a different tune. 

Now can we get back to discussing the economy, gas prices and creating jobs?