# Birth Control Foe in Charge of Family Planning **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 17, 2007, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birth-control-foe-in-charge-of-family-planning/423095 "2007-10-17T21:47:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2007, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birth-control-foe-in-charge-of-family-planning/423095/1 "2007-10-17T21:47:54Z")
I already mentioned this in the College Co-Eds debate, but motherfucking gods this is [fucked up](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/16/AR2007101601762.html?hpid=moreheadlines). Even if you’re against abortion, how can you not be absolutely OUTRAGED by this? I guess it makes sense, though – if you’re dumb enough to think abstinence-only education works, then why would anyone even need contraception? (except for maybe a few women with killer cramps, but they’re probably secretly whores anyway) > [@](#): > > Foe To Run Office on Family Planning > > The Bush administration again has appointed a chief of family planning programs at the Department of Health and Human Services who has been critical of contraception. > > Susan Orr, most recently an associate commissioner in the Administration for Children and Families, was appointed Monday to be acting deputy assistant secretary for population affairs. She will oversee $283 million in annual grants to provide low-income families and others with contraceptive services, counseling and preventive screenings. > > In a 2001 article in The Washington Post, Orr applauded a Bush proposal to stop requiring all health insurance plans for federal employees to cover a broad range of birth control. “We’re quite pleased, because fertility is not a disease,” said Orr, then an official with the Family Research Council. > > Critics panned the appointment last year of Eric Keroack, a physician who worked at a Christian pregnancy-counseling organization that opposed the use of birth control. He resigned in March. > > “We have another appointment that just truly politicizes family planning,” said Mary Jane Gallagher, president of the National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association. “The last time I looked, both Republicans and Democrats used contraception in America.” > > HHS spokesman Kevin Schweers said Orr’s “breadth of programmatic and managerial experience makes her highly qualified to serve as acting director.” ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2007, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birth-control-foe-in-charge-of-family-planning/423095/2 "2007-10-17T21:51:02Z")
Worst. President. Ever. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2007, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birth-control-foe-in-charge-of-family-planning/423095/3 "2007-10-17T22:05:15Z")
[I’m way ahead of you sistah!](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=396695) He can sure pick 'em. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2007, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birth-control-foe-in-charge-of-family-planning/423095/4 "2007-10-17T22:53:40Z")
Might one of the testosterone-impaired inquire as to what contraception has to do with “killer cramps”? Does sex relieve such? If that is the case, please be assured that I speak for my brethren in volunteering ourselves, if stern duty demands. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2007, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birth-control-foe-in-charge-of-family-planning/423095/5 "2007-10-17T22:56:55Z")
[QUOTE=Cervaise] Worst. President. Ever. [/QUOTE] He’s still not quite as bad as Buchanan. So, hey, there’s only 40 guys ahead of him. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2007, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birth-control-foe-in-charge-of-family-planning/423095/6 "2007-10-17T22:57:23Z")
[QUOTE=elucidator] Might one of the testosterone-impaired inquire as to what contraception has to do with “killer cramps”? Does sex relieve such? If that is the case, please be assured that I speak for my brethren in volunteering ourselves, if stern duty demands. [/QUOTE] Sex could relieve them, but the Pill is usually prescribed. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2007, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birth-control-foe-in-charge-of-family-planning/423095/7 "2007-10-17T22:59:43Z")
> [@luc](#): > > Might one of the testosterone-impaired inquire as to what contraception has to do with “killer cramps”? Oral contraceptives are sometimes prescribed for some forms of “dysmenorrhea”, i.e., extremely heavy periods and/or severely painful menstrual cramps. Even if you don’t use the hormone pills for birth control, they tend to make menstrual periods more stable and mild for many women. > [@luc](#): > > Does sex relieve such? It varies from individual to individual, but yes, in many cases sex does ease the pain of menstrual cramps. But it can be rather, um, messy, so you and your brethren might want to bear that in mind before deciding to volunteer. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Icerigger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icerigger/32/432_2.png) [@Icerigger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icerigger)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2007, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birth-control-foe-in-charge-of-family-planning/423095/8 "2007-10-17T23:11:02Z")
But…Conservatives keep reassuring us that they really support women. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carol_the_Impaler)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2007, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birth-control-foe-in-charge-of-family-planning/423095/9 "2007-10-17T23:23:59Z")
They do. They just don’t support whores. See the distinction? ---
**Author:** ![Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4da419/32.png) [@Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gala_Matrix_Fire)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2007, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birth-control-foe-in-charge-of-family-planning/423095/10 "2007-10-17T23:44:09Z")
Good God, I hate to even imagine what my life would have been like from age 18 to age 40 if I hadn’t been able to take birth control pills to relieve painful cramps and short menstrual cycles. ---
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birth-control-foe-in-charge-of-family-planning/423095/11 "2007-10-18T00:20:06Z")
I like that she’s a foe. More political appointments should go to supervillains. “ **Hahahaha!** Whimper beneath the mighty boots of **Abstinencia**!” “Not so fast, evildoer! Birth Control Man (and his ever-ready sidekick Rubber Johnny) shall foil your despicable plans!” ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birth-control-foe-in-charge-of-family-planning/423095/12 "2007-10-18T02:10:17Z")
I dunno. She’s against requiring insurance companies to pay for birth control. That’s not being against birth control. I don’t understand why insurance should cover something that pretty much every woman is going to use. In cases where they are prescribed for an actual illness, yes. Now, it certainly makes sense for insurance companies to provide BC pills if they are going to pay for maternity costs. But that should be up to the insurance company, not the government. And it might be that this woman is a “birth control foe”, but the article in the OP doesn’t support that claim. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birth-control-foe-in-charge-of-family-planning/423095/13 "2007-10-18T02:16:07Z")
> [@](#): > > She’s against requiring insurance companies to pay for birth control. That’s not being against birth control. Imposing morality on people is all well and good. But not when it’s an issue of corporate profits. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birth-control-foe-in-charge-of-family-planning/423095/14 "2007-10-18T02:27:43Z")
[QUOTE=Little Nemo] Imposing morality on people is all well and good. But not when it’s an issue of corporate profits. [/QUOTE] It needn’t be a matter of morality. Insurance is something you have to pay for the unexpected. For most women, using birth control is as expected as taking a shower every day. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birth-control-foe-in-charge-of-family-planning/423095/15 "2007-10-18T02:31:04Z")
[QUOTE=John Mace] It needn’t be a matter of morality. Insurance is something you have to pay for the unexpected. For most women, using birth control is as expected as taking a shower every day. [/QUOTE] So, insurance shouldn’t cover medications if you know you’re going to need them? Interesting. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birth-control-foe-in-charge-of-family-planning/423095/16 "2007-10-18T02:35:28Z")
[QUOTE=John Mace] …And it might be that this woman is a “birth control foe”, but the article in the OP doesn’t support that claim. [/QUOTE] > [@](#): > > …In a 2000 _Weekly Standard_ article, Orr railed against requiring health insurance plans to cover contraceptives. “It’s not about choice,” said Orr. “It’s not about health care. It’s about making everyone collaborators with the culture of death.”… (This quote is “as is”, lifted from ThinkProgress’ discussion of her. No link is provided. You are welcome to disdain the source, if you see fit, pending someone who wants to go digging in the Weekly Standard archives. I pass…) ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birth-control-foe-in-charge-of-family-planning/423095/17 "2007-10-18T02:44:46Z")
[QUOTE=John Mace] It needn’t be a matter of morality. Insurance is something you have to pay for the unexpected. For most women, using birth control is as expected as taking a shower every day. [/QUOTE] I’m confused by your use of “expected.” A person with a chronic illness can expect to take medication regularly. I don’t have a problem with insurance not paying for birth control on the basis that it has nothing to do with treating an illness or condition, and is entirely voluntary/not medically indicated.\* \*Unless, of course, it IS being used to treat an illness or condition, and therefore is medically indicated (such as for the afore-mentioned cramps), in which case, insurance should pay for it like any other medication. ETA: Of course, there’s also the POV that insurance shouldn’t pay for “routine” medical care, which may be what you’re getting at, here? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birth-control-foe-in-charge-of-family-planning/423095/18 "2007-10-18T03:03:55Z")
If the whole issue of her appointment is whether or not she opposes such payments, then its a pretty small beer. The larger question of her attitude towards contraception in general is not. What I would expect from the Bushiviks is a cramped and puritanical attitude, and the surface impression does nothing to dissuade. I think this approach to sexual/contraceptive issues is at best counterproductive, even destructive. I remain open to evidence that such is not the case. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birth-control-foe-in-charge-of-family-planning/423095/19 "2007-10-18T04:08:21Z")
[QUOTE=Sarahfeena] I’m confused by your use of “expected.” A person with a chronic illness can expect to take medication regularly. I don’t have a problem with insurance not paying for birth control on the basis that it has nothing to do with treating an illness or condition, and is entirely voluntary/not medically indicated.\* [/QUOTE] “Expected” in the sense that the vast majority of women who are sexually active use some sort of birth control. Insurance companies need to decide whether it’s more cost effective to pay for birth control or to pay for unexpected maternity costs (assuming they pay for the latter). But frankly, I expect most women (or couples) will pony up and pay for their own birth control expenses. I would consider that just one of many normal expenses that pretty much every adult has. Insurance shouldn’t pay for those types of things. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2007, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birth-control-foe-in-charge-of-family-planning/423095/20 "2007-10-18T04:10:36Z")
[QUOTE=John Mace] It needn’t be a matter of morality. Insurance is something you have to pay for the unexpected. For most women, using birth control is as expected as taking a shower every day. [/QUOTE] Do check-ups count? Pap smears? Mammograms? Most women get them yearly, albeit voluntarily. I’d lump birth control in the same group as preventive care. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/birth-control-foe-in-charge-of-family-planning/423095.md?page=2)