This picture aptly summarizes precisely what is wrong with the on-going reproductive rights debate in America. This is a panel put together by Republican Rep. Darrell Issa, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee which is holding a circus hearing titled “Lines Crossed: Separation of Church and State. Has the Obama Administration Trampled on Freedom of Religion and Freedom of Conscience?” today. Notice how not a single person on this first panel has a uterus? This group of men consists of a Catholic Bishop, a Lutheran Reverend, a rabbi, and two professors who will never have to worry about an unwanted pregnancy feel that their personal religious liberties are being threatened by Obama's mandated birth control coverage. 

Democrats were allowed to include one person on that panel, but Sandra Fluke, a Georgetown student who planned on speaking about the consequences of losing contraceptive coverage, was rejected by Issa because she was "not qualified". Duh, Democrats, obviously a young woman has absolutely no place on a panel regarding affordable access to birth control.  The second panel was made up entirely of men also. The hearing has featured 0 women, 0 medical experts on contraceptives, and 0 dissenting viewpoints. It's been so offensive that women Democrats on the committee have reportedly left the proceeding. 

Foster Friess, the man who funds the super PAC the Red, White, and Blue Fund which has single-handedly kept Rick Santorum's presidential campaign afloat, has a clever solution to this whole pickle. He told Andrea Mitchell Reports viewers that back in his day, contraception was inexpensive because they used a different pill. "The gals put [Bayer Aspirin pills] between their knees and it wasn't that costly," he said.  If only we could all keep our knees together, ladies, then the GOP wouldn't have to intervene with legislature that controls our bodies. 

Ugh. Some days the patriarchy is just too much to stomach. Here are some happy Shiba Inus. 

Image sources Maddow Blog and Buzzfeed