Statement of NOW President Toni Van Pelt:

Donald Trump’s hypocrisy and cruelty knows no bounds. The Administration of our Playboy-in-Chief, who famously said that avoiding STDs while he was dating models was his “personal Vietnam,” has issued a ruling that takes affordable contraceptive care away from scores of women. Women’s health will suffer as a result, and lives could even be lost.

The new regulation, issued by a zombie Health and Human Services Department operating without leadership at the top, will have a devastating effect on women’s health. Contraception is life-saving medical care. Unintended pregnancy is highly associated with infant and maternal mortality. Unintended pregnancy is also a significant risk factor for domestic violence.

The Trump Administration is reviving the old canard, which opponents of the Affordable Care Act’s contraceptive mandate litigated before the Supreme Court in the Hobby Lobby case, that a for-profit corporation can possess religious beliefs that justify withholding contraception coverage from employees.

But as Caroline Mala Corbin, a law professor at the University of Miami, has said, “For-profit corporations do not and should not have religious rights. They have no soul, and they certainly don’t have a relationship with God.”

Some 99 percent of sexually active women, including 98 percent of sexually active Catholic women, use contraception at some point. According to the National Partnership, an estimated 17.4 million women need subsidized services and supplies because they are unable to access or purchase contraceptive services and supplies on their own. And more than half of young adult women say cost concerns have led them to not use their birth control method as directed.

Today’s cruel and dangerous action by the Trump Administration must be challenged in the courts and blocked from implementation. Once again, we see the appalling truth–the Trump Administration is harmful to women’s health.

Contact
M.E. Ficarra, press@now.org, 951-547-1241

Statement of NOW President Toni Van Pelt:

Today Senate leaders announced they would not vote on the Graham-Cassidy bill–the latest attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Once again, we’re breathing a sigh of relief, and gearing up for the next challenge ahead.

Since Donald Trump’s inauguration, ultra-conservative lawmakers have tried over and over again to push disastrous health care bills through Congress. They have continued to fail because the people of the United States–especially women–do not want their health care taken away. Slashing access to abortion, birth control, maternity care, and a host of other services that women rely on would devastating. This victory is owed to the grassroots activists across the nation who got on the phone, or got out the door, and told their senators just how devastating it would be.

We’re thrilled this bill has failed, but we know the GOP isn’t planning to give up. Neither are we. Grassroots activism has defeated every attempt to repeal the ACA, and we’re ready to organize and mobilize to make sure everyone has access to the health care they need.

Contact
M.E. Ficarra, press@now.org, 951-547-1241

The gif showing Hillary Clinton being knocked down by a golf ball that Donald Trump released earlier this week is almost beyond outrage.

“Trump’s continued attacks on his former opponent reveal Trump’s true nature – that of an ignorant bully stuck in adolescence,” NOW President Toni Van Pelt said, “and he needs to stop it”

His actions give permission to aggressors who would abuse women. It is not okay for him to suggestively depict a violent action against anyone, let alone Hillary Clinton, a person of respected public stature. Trump’s offensive utterances clearly contribute to the climate of increased divisiveness and hatred the country is experiencing. His long record of demeaning and assaulting women has a pervasive spread that increases a risk of physical or verbal violence aimed at women. Trump’s endorsement of sexual assault on the Hollywood Access videotaped incident conveys the message that it’s alright for men to sexually abuse women.

Underlying this appalling behavior is the ugliness of white male supremacy that characterizes the attitudes of many officials in the current administration and many Republican legislators. If anyone thought that white male supremacy with its dangerous strain of misogyny was receding, Trump and his friends have brought it back bigtime. Right wing Republicans know that intimidation is a useful tool to ram through a harmful Affordable Care Act replacement bill, tax cuts for the rich and other regressive policies.

Trump’s offensive words and vulgar behavior has undercut the nation’s authority and reduced our status internationally. Elements of his speech before the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday displayed the Trump brand of bullying at the highest level. Many in the audience were stunned and embarrassed for the United States.

Finally, it’s astounding that the First Lady apparently ‘Does Not Get It.’ On Wednesday, Melania Trump returned to her earlier campaign promise of working against cyber bullying in a speech at a UN luncheon, saying that adults need to stand up and protect their children from such abuse via social media.

The twitter world exploded with sharp criticism. One comment: “Melania Trump talking about cyber bullying when her husband is the absolute worst offender is just Twilight Zone worth. Disturbing family.”

Another wrote, “Melania’s speech at the UN has to be a joke. HAS TO BE! She CANNOT be serious. Melanie (sic), go home and give this speech to your husband!!!”

We agree. Melania, please work on your husband. The country does not need a bully in the White House.

Contact press@now.org, 951-547-1241