Meet Susan Orr, the new acting deputy assistant secretary for population affairs in the Department of Health and Human Services. Given that her title includes "population affairs," one would correctly surmise that she has responsibilities involving contraception. And hey -- you'd be right! So I'm sure that it won't be a problem that she thinks that contraceptives are part of the "culture of death," right?
In a 2000 Weekly Standard article, Orr railed against requiring health insurance plans to cover contraceptives. “It’s not about choice,” said Orr. “It’s not about health care. It’s about making everyone collaborators with the culture of death.”
Of course, that's not all she believes!
Orr authored a paper in 2000 titled, “Real Women Stay Married.” In it she wrote that women should “think about focusing our eyes, not upon ourselves, but upon the families we form through marriage.”
That's right, ladies! Your happiness, self-respect, dreams and aspirations? Secondary to your families'. Now get me a beer, damn it!
Now, I'm not asking for my dream appointee to this position, and I'm not surprised that Orr believes that Bush's support of the Mexico City Policy is proof that he's pro-life "in his heart." But someone who thinks that health plans should not cover birth control because "fertility is not a disease" and "It’s not a medical necessity that you have it" -- are you kidding me? 98 percent of women will use birth control in their lifetimes. And if you do not want to become pregnant then it damn well is a medical necessity that you have the ability to prevent conception. Orr thinks child protection is “the most intrusive arm of social services.” And she was a member of the Family Research Council -- yes, that Family Research Council. She's not just anti-Roe -- she's anti-Griswold.
Yes, George W. Bush has found a female Dr. Keroack. I know that we're probably going to be playing whack-a-mole until January of 2009, but still, it's important to continue to oppose anti-contraception appointees to a position that is all about contraception. Given the stakes, I don't think we have much of a choice.
