Letter: All we want is freedom

Dear Editor,

In response to Maria Nelson’s letter two editions ago, she is purposely clouding the real issue and in her hysteria has intentionally misrepresented the Blunt Amendment.

The entire contraception issue was started by President Obama when he attempted to force the Catholic Church to provide free contraception to its employees. When he met too much resistance in this assault he changed course and mandated health insurance providers do his will. Think about this: the president is bullying the Catholic Church, yet in her first paragraph Nelson claims “Republicans are escalating their war against our rights.” Really? Did the Republicans really force President Obama to attack the moral beliefs and conscience of the Catholic Church?

Senator Blunt’s amendment is precise in stating “health care stakeholders retain the right to provide, purchase, or enroll in health coverage that is consistent with their religious beliefs and moral convictions without fear of being penalized…” It should concern all of us that this didn’t pass. Nowhere in the bill does it mention birth control, prenatal care, immunizations, HIV screenings, etc. Ms. Nelson only cites these things to distract you from the failings of President Obama and disguise who really intends to infringe on our rights.

Senator Blunt and the Republicans are not trying to restrict any woman’s right to healthcare or contraception. They are objecting to Obama’s rule that something, anything, must be provided as part of your health care benefits, or else… even when doing so violates the conscience, principles, and fundamental beliefs of religion.

This action strikes at the very heart of our liberty. Thomas Jefferson said (as noted in Senator Blunt’s bill, S.1813) “no provision in our Constitution ought to be dearer to man than that which protects the rights of conscience against the enterprises of civil authority.” The fact you are in favor of government mandating whatever it wants in the name of “preventative care” should frighten each of us. What possible barriers can exist between oppressive government and our liberties when any president can deem something “preventative care” as a means of forcing their agenda? Remember, someday soon a Republican will be president again. Do you really want them to have this power?

Ms. Nelson, the only ones infringing on rights here are you and President Obama trying to force your ideology and intolerance on the rest of us. All we want is freedom and choice.

Tags: opinion, letters, politics