For the last several days there has been an absolute furor over the Obama administration's decision to require employer health insurance plans to cover birth control. Republicans went so far as to claim that the Obama administration is “at war with religion” — and worse. The media is covering and covering and covering Republican condemnations of the Obama administration.
Meanwhile . . .
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has also called for extending unemployment benefits, calling it “a moral obligation.” This comes as Republicans in Congress are working to cut back the amount of time that people receive unemployment compensation. From Catholic Bishops, Other Religious Groups Lobby For Unemployment Insurance Extension,
On Monday, Bishop Stephen E. Blaire sent a letter to members of the House of Representatives urging them to focus on the economic security of workers at year's end.
“When the economy fails to generate sufficient jobs, there is a moral obligation to help protect the life and dignity of unemployed workers and their families,” Blaire wrote. “Therefore, I strongly urge you and your colleagues to find effective ways to assure continuing Unemployment Insurance and Emergency Unemployment Compensation to protect jobless workers and their families.”
Compare And Contrast
Here we have two similar situations. One has the Catholic Bishops upset over an Obama administration ruling on birth control. The other has the Catholic Bishops upset over Republicans cutting unemployment benefits. Compare and contrast the furor, the corporate media coverage, the Republican statements, the conservative outrage machine, etc . . .
Help us Prepare for Trump’s Day One
Trump is busy getting ready for Day One of his presidency – but so is Truthout.
Trump has made it no secret that he is planning a demolition-style attack on both specific communities and democracy as a whole, beginning on his first day in office. With over 25 executive orders and directives queued up for January 20, he’s promised to “launch the largest deportation program in American history,” roll back anti-discrimination protections for transgender students, and implement a “drill, drill, drill” approach to ramp up oil and gas extraction.
Organizations like Truthout are also being threatened by legislation like HR 9495, the “nonprofit killer bill” that would allow the Treasury Secretary to declare any nonprofit a “terrorist-supporting organization” and strip its tax-exempt status without due process. Progressive media like Truthout that has courageously focused on reporting on Israel’s genocide in Gaza are in the bill’s crosshairs.
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