The Supreme Court on Tuesday heard the case brought by crafts superstore Hobby Lobby. While the women of the Court were understandably pro-women and came out swinging, Justice Scalia seemed to think birth control is no big deal for women, even if they have to pay for something they already pay for out of the company premium. It's depressing that the men on the court don't seem to fathom the way insurance works - we saw that in the debate over Obamacare as well.
But even more distressing is that the religious right is predicting victory in this case and so are many in the media. The right-wingers are equating ANY birth control with abortion now, and any woman who uses it is some kind of cold-hearted killer. I saved their nonsensical pronouncements for another post:
To the Far Right, Hobby Lobby Proves Women are Baby Killers
So proud to stand with so many fierce leaders & activists at #SCOTUS fighting for our healthcare! #NotMyBossBusiness pic.twitter.com/pau8NfYAR6
— PPNYC Action Fund (@PPNYCAction) March 25, 2014
It's true that Hobby Lobby may win their case, but this is hardly a win for the GOP, who seems hell-bent on insulting and alienating women until the party goes extinct. And I'm not sure even the most anti-Left of the Supremes will say business owners can just flout any law they choose in the name of religion - rather they may rule in some narrow way instead of a sweeping generality about all businesses and religions. We won't know until June when the verdict is read, since another medieval thing about SCOTUS is the length of time it takes them to write up decisions. Stay tuned.
From Washington Post
On the one side is the Hobby Lobby arts-and-crafts chain and Conestoga Wood Specialties cabinetry company, both owned by devout families. On the other is the federal government, which argues that the landmark 2010 health care law gives women a statutory right to choose among 20 methods of birth control.
The court, judging from the justices’ questions, is clearly divided on this potential earthquake of a religious rights case. It could be yet another instance where Justice Anthony Kennedy provides the swing vote — in this case whether a corporation has religious rights, and whether those rights in this case have been trampled.
Hobby Lobby, owned by the Green family, and Conestoga, owned by the Hahns, object to paying for the full range of birth control drugs and devices as required by the Affordable Care Act. To them, a handful of the methods they must cover could cause abortion. Including these methods in their companies’ insurance package is, in their eyes, sinful.
From the LA Times
A key moment came near the end of the argument when Kennedy and Roberts raised the issue of abortion.
"Under your view, a profit[-making] corporation could be forced in principle to pay for abortions," Kennedy said.
That is true in principle, Verrilli said, but he added that no law "requires for-profit corporations to pay for abortions."
Roberts sounded surprised. "I thought that's what we had before us," he said.
The exchange made clear that the administration faces an uphill fight. If Roberts and Kennedy decide to view the case as a test of whether the government can ignore a business owner's religious beliefs and force him to provide for abortions, the government would likely lose.
Very true. #NotMyBossBusiness #hobbylobby pic.twitter.com/GCEX5Gbth3
— Louise Slaughter (@louiseslaughter) March 13, 2014
RT#@randyprine: Please Note: The Bible is not a Health Plan and #HobbyLobby is not a Church pic.twitter.com/GDUCVe5ywQ”AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! :)
— James Martinelli (@Mlaj1591) March 25, 2014
@SenPatRoberts Filed Court Brief in SUPPORT of #HobbyLobby’s #SCOTUS Lawsuit
Women's Privacy
http://t.co/8iT7g7vhJC pic.twitter.com/7yp1f4BDao
— Larry (@crazylary51) March 25, 2014
The owners of Hobby Lobby believe birth control is abortion, yet they only have three kids after 51 years of marriage.
— TBogg (@tbogg) March 25, 2014
For surely, the good Lord" Jesus spoke thusly, "Don't pay for that slut's birth control." #HobbyLobby
— $1.75 (@MinusAQuarter) March 25, 2014
When a Hobby Lobby store closes, is that abortion?
— David Waldman (@KagroX) March 25, 2014
@KagroX No, when a Hobby Lobby store closes and angel gets her wings
— Peter Lotto (@60slib1) March 25, 2014
Dear Hobby Lobby,
If women take contraception~ it eliminates abortion.
<You are anti-abortion.>
You have all this scrambled in your head.
— NO! GOP! NO! (@NoGOPNo) November 26, 2013
If men got pregnant #HobbyLobby #tCoT pic.twitter.com/bnkq9s64j4
— vanillathehun (@JenD1974) March 26, 2014
#HobbyLobby: For when you want posterboard, but can't go to Michael's b/c the sluts working there are aborting babies by the cash registers
— Virally Suppressed (@SuppressThis) March 26, 2014
#HobbyLobby's is just using religion as a pretext to attack Obamacare. #ReproRights are easy target because, you know... sluts. #Reprochat
— Gyno-Star (@GynoStar) March 24, 2014
"(Women's) entire sexual freedom and rights rest in the hands of one 77-year-old man..." | Wonkette #HobbyLobby http://t.co/YFX1mDLJGt
— Maureen Barlow (@pixelgem) March 25, 2014
"My beliefs matter, and my religion tells me to make my own decisions!" #NotMyBossBusiness pic.twitter.com/bLO3TQZHD3
— Planned Parenthood (@Latinos4PP) March 25, 2014
When people try to tell you to find common ground on abortion, remind them the anti side calls birth control an abortion. #TheEnd
— Lizz Winstead (@lizzwinstead) March 25, 2014
Dear Dr Decoupage, You can't be pregnant before you are pregnant. #HobbyLobby #MindYourOwnGlueGun #NotMyBossBusiness
— Lizz Winstead (@lizzwinstead) March 25, 2014
Boycott Hobby Lobby! Hate is Hate! pic.twitter.com/jrvfg6mWJl
— Hen Dems (@Hendems) March 25, 2014
It's the separation of church & state, stupid.
#HobbyLobby #p2 pic.twitter.com/VzMIspUIA8
— Eric Wolfson (@EricWolfson) March 25, 2014
H, #HobbyLobby - their cheap #Chinese stuff
From land of abortions - is that crass enough?
— cassandracarolina (@cassandra17lina) March 25, 2014
The Hobby Lobby isn't a person. It does not have religious beliefs. It will never be a person with religious beliefs.
— David Atkins (@DavidOAtkins) March 26, 2014
@coat_gs they don't see that they're promoting Sharia law - Hobby Lobby wins, Sharia becomes acceptable.PHOTO pic.twitter.com/KWbdhqqa5n
— Fair and Balanced! (@The_Anti_Fox) March 26, 2014
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