How Do The GOP and Democratic Party Platforms Compare On Women's Health? (Hint: Terribly)

The 2016 Republican Party platform is the worst and most extreme we’ve ever seen. It’s full of hypocrisies, lies, insults, and bigotry — and, for the first time ever, a direct attack on the doctors and patients of Planned Parenthood health centers.

How far back would anti-women’s health politicians take this country? Just look at the GOP Platform side-by-side with the Democratic Party Platform. Comparing them is like day and dark, scary night.

Ready? Here we go.

GOP vs. Democratic Party Platforms on Planned Parenthood

While the Republican platform says ...

We oppose the use of public funds … to fund organizations like Planned Parenthood.

… the Democratic platform says:

We will continue to stand up to Republican efforts to defund Planned Parenthood health centers, which provide critical health services to millions of people.

Of course, we’re not surprised by this glaring contrast. After all, the party did nominate Donald Trump, who said that he’s “for defunding Planned Parenthood, very strongly.” To really drive his anti-woman message home and shore up “party unity,” Trump chose Mike Pence, one of the most vicious anti-abortion extremists in elected office, as his running mate. Pence is the guy who’s been on a yearslong crusade against Planned Parenthood. Yep, that guy.

GOP vs. Democratic Party Platforms on Abortion

While the Republican platform says ...

We salute the many states that … [with] laws requiring informed consent, parental consent, waiting periods, and clinic regulation. ...

[W]e call for codification of the Hyde Amendment and its application across the government, including Obamacare. We call for a permanent ban on federal funding and subsidies for abortion and healthcare plans that include abortion coverage.

… the Democratic platform says:

We will continue to oppose—and seek to overturn—federal and state laws and policies that impede a woman’s access to abortion, including by repealing the Hyde Amendment.

 

And while the Republican platform repeatedly denies that abortion is health care, the Democratic Party platform affirms this simple fact:

We believe unequivocally, like the majority of Americans, that every woman should have access to quality reproductive health care services, including safe and legal abortion—regardless of where she lives, how much money she makes, or how she is insured. We believe that reproductive health is core to women’s, men’s, and young people’s health and wellbeing.

But really — what more could we expect from the GOP platform on abortion? Remember: Trump has said there should be “some form of punishment” for women who have abortions, and Pence said he “long[s] for the day” when safe, legal abortion is “sent to the ash heap of history.”

GOP vs. Democratic Party Platforms on Safeguarding Health Care Providers

The Democratic platform also acknowledges the threats and violence women’s health care providers and their patients face from violent extremists, sometimes with tragic consequences, like the fatal shooting at a Planned Parenthood health clinic in Colorado last year.

The Democratic platform:

We condemn and will combat any acts of violence, harassment, and intimidation of reproductive health providers, patients, and staff.

The Republican platform?

[Crickets]

Fortunately, for those who believe we should have access to quality reproductive health care —, including safe and legal abortion, — which the majority of Americans do believe — the Democratic Party platform offers much better options than the gynoticians behind the GOP’s platform.

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Tell Trump and Pence: You Are #NotMyTicket!

The choice in this election couldn’t be clearer. One party offers a ticket and a platform dead set on denying our right to health care, and one party is determined to protect and expand our access to it. So if you’re one of the majority of Americans who doesn’t want to see gynoticians getting between women and their doctors, and values the quality health care Planned Parenthood provides to millions of patients every year, it’s an easy choice to make. Tell Donald Trump and Mike Pence: You are #NotMyTicket.

If we let Donald Trump and Mike Pence in the White House, it will be a nightmare for so many people. We have to stop them, but we need your help. Take action and tell them: You’re #NotMyTicket.

 

Tags: Donald Trump, Election 2016, Hillary Clinton