A Citizen's Guide to Indiana

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Rep. Morris continues to attack the Girl Scouts

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Rep. Bob Morris is a glutton for punishment it appears. Not being content to simply not vote for an innocuous resolution congratulating the Girl Scouts on its centennial, Morris wrote a letter to his colleagues to inform them about his “web-based research.” He took a public beating.

Well, apparently Rep. Morris isn’t here for the hunting. He has written a column for the Washington Times entitled Shut up and sign. If your culture war makes you the enemy of the Girl Scouts, perhaps you should re-think your strategy and take a moment to figure out what the hell you’re so mad about. Quoth the Morris:

Nothing short of the destruction of our faith and values would satisfy progressives. We have been left with no choice but to refuse to cede even one more inch of ground in this bloody culture war. The time for resolve is now.

Paranoid much?

Things change and the past was never as good as you remember it. But, no matter how tingly it makes you, that doesn’t mean you’re a brave warrior in some kind of existential struggle. You’re a small cog in a vast, ever-changing universe. Hubris, arrogance, and wishing it were otherwise doesn’t change that. Show some adaptability and some humility and realize you have fellow travelers with concerns and lives every bit as valid as your own. And for goodness sake, quit picking on the Girl Scouts.

Sheila Kennedy on the Abortion Wars

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Sheila Kennedy has a good post entitled Be Careful Who You Piss Off on the subject of Komen’s ill-advised attack on Planned Parenthood. I encourage you to read the whole thing, but this especially caught my attention:

When the “abortion wars” were seen as genuinely limited to the question of abortion, most women–even the most pro-choice among us–could recognize and respect the deep moral ambivalence many people feel about the issue. But recent political assaults have torn the mask off of much of the “pro-life” movement, displaying a profoundly anti-woman agenda. It is one thing to oppose abortion; it is quite another to attack women’s right to contraception and reproductive health as a violation of the religious prerogatives of those whose theologies subordinate women.

Conservatives aren’t monolithic and, like other groups, often come to agree on policy ideas for disparate reasons. I think Sheila might be correct that the energy for limiting access to abortions and resisting any government subsidy or assistance to accessing birth control probably does come from groups whose theological traditions subordinate women. A lot of conservatives I know, who don’t embrace such theological traditions, are uncomfortable with abortion. And, they don’t like government subsidies of birth control or policies that force expanded availability of birth control — but not because it’s birth control, but because it’s the government. That said, absent the presence of their more theologically minded brethren, I don’t get the sense that these other conservatives would make any particular effort to single out birth control or abortion.

But, because they’re willing to go along for the ride, they give the theologically motivated a lot more momentum than they would have going alone. And, for good or bad, as fellow travelers they’ll probably get caught up in the backlash when it comes if Sheila is correct when she suggests “if Mama ain’t happy, ain’t NOBODY happy.”

BMV Spokesman Lubsen Fired in Retaliation for Commenting on Indiana Youth Group Double Secret Probation

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The continuing saga of the Indiana Youth Group License Plate. Unable to stop the scourge of pro-gay license plates through the democratic process; some legislators seized on a work around. They would put the Indiana Youth Group on double secret probation – subjecting the group to scrutiny, ostensibly for violating contract provisions by giving out low numbered license plates to preferred individuals. That this rationale is pretense becomes immediately obvious when one looks at the other plates doing the same thing with no consequence.

When investigating this maneuver, Indy Star journalist, Mary Beth Schneider spoke with BMV spokesman Graig Lubsen who must not have gotten the memo that the fix was in for the Indiana Youth Group. He was unexpectedly candid about the situation:

Graig Lubsen, communications director for the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, said no decision has been made about the Indiana Youth Group contract. He said someone from the Senate had contacted the BMV about the contract issue this morning.

Lubsen said the contract bars groups from auctioning or selling the plates. But he added that traditionally, the BMV has allowed group to give out low-numbered plates as thank-you gifts to donors.

This is totally not what you want your guy to say if you want to maintain the pretense that this is totally not about politics and is not about treating one group differently but is totally about neutral enforcement of a generally applicable contract provision and gee, isn’t it unfortunate that your group happens to be unpopular among some people in well-connected political circles.

And, so, according to Jim Shella, Mr. Lubsen was fired the next day.

Graig Lubsen was a spokesman for the BMV who last week told a reporter that someone from the Senate had contacted the BMV about cancelling the youth group license plate. He told 24 Hour News 8 that he was fired the next day. Lubsen declined an on camera interview.

I had some interaction with Mr. Lubsen back in 2010 when I vented my spleen in my blog post entitled, “The Indiana BMV Sucks . . . But You Already Knew That.” He reached out to me and worked pretty diligently to help me with my particular situation and investigate what had gone wrong.

Doubling Down on the Slut-Shaming

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John Cole has a good analysis on the lies Rush Limbaugh had to tell before he could conclude that Sandra Fluke was a slut and a prostitute who should provide sex videos for the enjoyment of Rush and his audience.

1. Ms. Fluke was testifying about her sex life. No, she discusses a variety of reasons women might need contraceptives; prominently discussing the health needs of a friend of hers.

2. Birth control expenses were contingent on the amount of sex Ms. Fluke was having. This betrays a startling ignorance. Birth control pills have the same dosage whether you’re a virgin managing menorrhagia or Lisa Sparks having sex with 919 men in a day.

3. She wants taxpayers to pay for her birth control. In fact, the issue is about whether an individual’s insurance policy has to cover contraception.

4. Ms. Fluke wants to be paid to have sex. A repugnant spin-off of #3. Again, no, she wants an individual’s insurance policy to cover contraception.

5. This was an unfortunate word choice. No. Limbaugh spent three days hurling venom at a college student who wanted to testify about the need for women to have insurance coverage for their reproductive health.

Which brings us to Warner Todd Huston at Hoosier Access. He looks at all this and concludes, it’s hard to argue with Rush. What else do you call such a woman? [His broader point was that we should boycott Carbonite for boycotting Rush because liberal talk show host Ed Schultz called conservative talk show host Laura Ingraham a right-wing talk slut; and Carbonite didn’t boycott Schultz.]

I used to think left-wing feminist types were hyper-sensitive about seeing patriarchal slut shaming everywhere. I probably owe them an apology. Females having sex for enjoyment is apparently intolerable to more people than I thought; so intolerable, apparently, it’s acceptable that some women endure medical problems if necessary to limit other women from having sex for enjoyment.

“This is just about religious freedom.” “This is just about the proper role of government in the health care market.” No, this is about a lot of things. Judging from the commentary of America’s highest paid and most widely heard conservative commentator and his acolytes; a real problem with female sexuality is one of them.

The Wingnuttery: It Burns!

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Niki Kelly, writing for the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, has a post entitled Lawmaker won’t honor ‘radicalized’ Girl Scouts. Rep. Bob Morris (R-Fort Wayne) has offered an explanation for his refusal to sign on to House Concurrent Resolution 17.

[Rep. Morris] said he did some web-based research and found allegations that the Girl Scouts are a tactical arm of Planned Parenthood, allows transgender females to join and encourages sex.

Morris also said the fact that First Lady Michelle Obama is honorary president “should give each of us reason to pause before our individual and collective endorsement of the organization.”

“I challenge each of you to examine these matters more closely before you extend your name and your reputation to endorse a group that has been subverted in the name of liberal progressive politics and the destruction of traditional American family values.”

He sounds like a crank calling into a right-wing radio program of the sort which the host usually finds nuts but deftly gets off the phone while neither endorsing the caller’s ideas or alienating like-minded listeners.

You know, I’ve done some web-based research and found allegations that Glenn Beck raped and killed a young girl in 1990. I assume those allegations are not true, but we should all examine this matter more closely before tuning into any of Mr. Beck’s current or former television and radio networks.

The Journal Gazette has made available the full text of Rep. Morris’ letter here.

[A]bundant evidence proves that the agenda of Planned Parenthood includes sexualizing young girls through the Girl Scouts, which is quickly becoming a tactical arm of Planned Parenthood.
. . .
Liberal progressive troop-leaders will indoctrinate the girls in their troop according to the principles of Planned Parenthood[.]
. . .
Many parents are abandoning the Girl Scouts because they promote homosexual lifestyles.
. . .
Of the fifty role models listed [in a Girl Scout seminar, 47 of the 50] are feminists, lesbians, or Communists.

Feminists, lesbians, and communists, oh my!

I think the resolution speaks for itself on why Rep. Morris picked the wrong paranoid conspiracy on which to hitch his political wagon:

#The Girl Scouts helped girls emerge from isolated home environments and enter into the world of community service and the open air;

#[Girl Scouts Founder] Juliette Gordon Low encouraged girls to prepare for traditional homemaking, for possible future roles as professional women in the arts, sciences, and business, and for active citizenship outside the home;

#The Girl Scouts organization welcomed girls with disabilities with open arms at a time when they were often excluded from many other activities;

#For 100 years, participation in the Girl Scouts has helped girls “develop their full individual potential, relate to others with increasing understanding, skill, and respect, develop values to guide their actions and provide the foundation for sound decision-making, and contribute to the improvement of society through their abilities, leadership skills, and cooperation with others”

#The Indiana General Assembly wishes to congratulate the Girl Scouts on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the organization’s founding and to thank the group for the strong positive influence it has had on the American woman.

The antipathy toward Planned Parenthood and contraception is just reaching a fever pitch these days. Perhaps the General Assembly could convene an all-male study committee to research the Girl Scout/Planned Parenthood connection.

Anthony Comstock: Weeder in God’s Garden

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Erik Loomis on Anthony Comstock at Lawyers, Guns, and Money. Sounds familiar:

Comstock pushed through Congress in 1874 the notorious Comstock Law, which made illegal sending “obscene, lewd, and lascivious” material through the U.S. mail. Examples of such material included information on birth control and biology textbooks that showed accurate representations of the human body. Comstock believed the birth control devices caused lust to rise in the human body and lewd behavior to follow.

In a previous post, I became reacquainted with my distaste for Augustine. His Greek-inspired notions of spirit/flesh dualism mixed with Christianity has been pernicious. The flesh is seen as an affliction to be subjugated. Fervent believers in that worldview like Comstock become ascendant from time to time and cause all kinds of misery. Comstock used to brag that he drove fifteen people to suicide through his efforts.

RTW: They’re Not Even Pretending Anymore

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From a story by Eric Bradner in the Evansville Courier Press entitled GOP crams ‘right to work’ through Indiana House panel, it appears that Right to Work proponents have given up even the pretense that they are engaged in a deliberative process. This is now a naked display of political muscle.

In less than six minutes and with no debate, an Indiana House committee passed a controversial “right to work” measure Tuesday morning.

Majority Republicans who control the committee denied Democratic attempts to offer amendments, and allowed for no debate. They forced an immediate roll call vote, which Republicans won on party lines, 8-5.

A metaphor involving a refusal to consider lubrication comes to mind, but it’s probably too coarse for these pages.

Rep. Culver wants to fiddle with the State Constitution

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Maureen Hayden, writing for CHNI, has an article quoting Rep. Wes Culver as supporting another try at getting a gay marriage ban into the Indiana Constitution.

Conservative state lawmakers say they expect to re-introduce legislation in the next session that would clear the way for a constitutional amendment to define marriage as a union between one man and one woman.

Indiana already has a law that bans gay marriage, but supporters of a constitutional amendment say it would offer protection against court action.

“I’m all for it,” said state Rep. Wes Culver (R-Goshen), co-author of a bill that was blocked by House Democrat leaders when they were in control.

The Indiana Supreme Court already upheld the law in 2005 (under, I believe, specious reasoning having to do with reproduction but not explaining the right of, say, post-menopausal women to marry.) The real urgency these folks are probably facing is that public support for giving gays the same rights as everybody else seems to be steadily on the rise.

It’s always a danger to project your own experience onto the world at large, but I believe polling data supports my doing so in this case. I’ve gone from homophobic to indifferent to supportive of gay rights over the last 20 years. I think the world is headed in that direction; and I wouldn’t be surprised if guys like Rep. Culver see that trend as well.

Either way, I’m not a fan of mucking about with the state Constitution absent some great need. The inclusion of the tax cap legislation, I suppose, has diminished the document as a statement of guiding principles and pushed it down the road to more of a supplemental version of the Indiana Code. Still, we should do what we can to keep soon-to-be obsolete crap out of there. We should avoid sending the signal (any more so than we already do) that we’re an intellectual backwater, hostile to progress, by deliberately injecting discriminatory language into our founding document. Otherwise, we’ll likely reaffirm the notion that we’re just the big middle finger of the South sticking up into the Midwest.

Government & Religion: Two Great Tastes That Taste Great Together

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I try to be respectful of religion, and I know that this guy is not necessarily representative, but the problem is that he’s not an isolated case, either.

Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL) is taking a run at becoming the chair of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Apparently he’s going to skip the science stuff and go with a more Biblical approach to environmental policy. He says that climate change should not bother us because God has already promised not to destroy the earth.

Shimkus already serves on the committee. During a hearing in 2009, he dismissed the dangers of climate change and the warnings of the scientific community by quoting the Bible.

First, he noted God’s post-Flood promise to Noah in Genesis 8:21-22.

“Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though all inclinations of his heart are evil from childhood and never again will I destroy all living creatures as I have done.

“As long as the earth endures, seed time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, will never cease.”

“I believe that’s the infallible word of God, and that’s the way it’s going to be for his creation,” Shimkus said.

Then he quoted Matthew 24:31.

“And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds from one end of the heavens to the other.”

“The Earth will end only when God declares it’s time to be over. Man will not destroy this Earth. This Earth will not be destroyed by a Flood,” Shimkus asserted. “I do believe that God’s word is infallible, unchanging, perfect.”

I hope the more religious minded among you can appreciate my problem with this sort of thing. It’s no longer a personal belief that helps you with day-to-day problems. Now it’s being used as a blinder, causing a public official to ignore scientific evidence that contradicts his religious belief in matters directly related to his role in shaping public policy. It’s when religious belief of others has the potential to make my world and my children’s world a worse place that I start getting agitated. (And, this post shouldn’t be about whether or not climate change is man-made or real; rather the idea of ignoring scientific evidence — even evidence ultimately outweighed by other evidence — because it’s incompatible with your religious belief.)

I had similar thoughts yesterday afternoon listening to an NPR report on an Iraqi girl who had been kidnapped and possibly raped and was facing the prospect of being killed by her family for bringing shame on them by getting herself raped. I don’t know that this is an arbitrary religious standard or merely an arbitrary cultural standard, but it’s just another example of people making their world worse for no good reason.

The Tea Party & Rugged Individualism

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I came across two posts today that paint startling different portraits of the Tea Party movement’s relation to government. One, featured on the site of the conservative Pajama’s Media (h/t Tipsy Teetotaler) says that the Tea Party features individualism, self-sufficiency, an antipathy to government control, and a belief that human nature is innate and unchangeable (there is even a handy chart that plots the Tea Party in relation to, among others, hobos, bums, Nazis, and “Trustafarian Anarchists.”) The bit about innate human nature is contrasted with other ideologies which contend that human nature changes with the environment and culture surrounding the particular individual.

The other post is from Matt Taibbi from Rolling Stone who isn’t apparently, seeing a lot of the anti-government self-sufficiency in practice among the Tea Partiers. He cites Alaska’s Senatorial candidate, Joe Miller, “who appears to have run virtually the entire gamut of government aid en route to becoming a staunch, fist-shaking opponent of the welfare state.” Among other things, he and his family took state medical aid, unemployment insurance, and farm subsidies. Taibbi also points to Rand Paul, whose patient base is 50% state insured, to Sharron Angle whose husband is covered by Federal Employee Health Plan insurance, and to any number of Tea Party rank & file who were Medicare beneficiaries or enjoying a government pension or the like.

Taibbi suggests that the concept of “good welfare” and “bad welfare” is really at the heart of the Tea Party ideology. They and those they support, goes the rationalization, took government money for good reasons; not like “those other people.” Taibbi also points out that it would be unfair to pick on a politician for having benefited from the government in some fashion at some point; we all have. But the Tea Party makes itself fair game with its absolutist language:

If you call Obamacare radical socialism and unemployment insurance a parasitic welfare state program—well, guess what, asshole, you’re going to get rung up when we find out you had your whole family living off state medical aid and farm subsidies.