March Badness ---vote for the most outrageous right wingers

March Badness is a way to vote for the most outrageous actions or statements by right wingers.

Click HERE to see who is in the running and to vote through April 7, 2014

Small-minded Metcalfe

One of my votes goes to Darryl Metcalfe (unfortunately my own state representative) for preventing an openly gay state house representative to speak.  I guess Darryl forgot we have a Bill of Rights that includes free speech.  

Darryl is one of those little men who can't see beyond his own image in the mirror. He votes against anything that would benefit anyone who is not like him.  He is, of course, white, male, straight, and Christian.

After last June’s landmark Supreme Court ruling in United States v. Windsor, which overturned most of the Defense of Marriage Act, Pennsylvania’s first openly gay state representative, Brian Sims, wanted to share his joy in the decision on the House floor.  As soon as he began speaking his mic was cut off by Republican Rep. Daryl Metcalfe.

Why? Metcalfe said:

“His talking about that [marriage equality] on the House floor would have been an open rebellion against Almighty God and God’s word, against God’s law. And as a Christian, if I would have sat there and been silent, it would have violated my conscience because of my beliefs as a Christian.”

Metcalfe has risen to a leadership position in the GOP-controlled House, serving as the chair of the powerful State Government Committee.  This is despite (or because of) his history of attacks on LGBT, immigrant and non-Christian Pennsylvanians.  Metcalfe has even called veterans “traitors” for supporting cap and trade.

Vote in the #MarchBadness Bracket - #18 (PA) State Rep. Daryl Metcalfe http://www.marchbadness.org/?year=2014&rnd=2&seed=1

Should Your Employer Control Your Birth Control Options?

If we allow employers to control birth control options based on their own religious beliefs, what else will some be able to control based on their personal belief system?

Some religions don't believe in blood transfusions. If you need one, will your employer's religious beliefs determine if your health insurance will cover a necessary transfusion?

If your employer were a Christian Scientist, could s/he decide you don't need to have any health coverage at all?

Shouldn't all medical options be covered ---and then if an individual chooses not to use birth control or have a transfusion, the individual could refuse to use that benefit, not that person's boss?

I'm a senior citizen who will never need to use birth control again. I'm willing to have it in my health plan if it means that those people who want it or need it will have the option of using it or refusing to use it themselves.

Religious freedom should be an individual choice, not mandated by anyone else, not an employer, not anyone.

Medical decisions should be made by a patient with input from a doctor, not an employer.

Read more HERE.