Thu, Oct 14, 2004 page9

• American women are in need of some prayer

  • By Marina Hyde / THE GUARDIAN
  • • 
    • 
    • 

  In a recent edition of the genius internet cartoon strip Get Your War On, two anonymous office workers discuss US President George W. Bush's policy on stem cell research.

  "If Bush is gonna keep arguing against science," says one, "why not go all the way and argue against gravity? I bet he could convince some of his supporters they were floating."

  Whether or not Karl Rove, Bush's political strategist, is focus-grouping the weightlessness claim is unclear. What we do know is that Bush seems to have opened up a War on science, and that women are likely to be among its earliest casualties. Over the summer, Bush revealed plans to appoint another Dubya -- David Hager -- to the reproductive health drugs advisory committee of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This distinguished panel -- whose advice is traditionally adhered to -- makes crucial decisions on matters relating to contraception, infertility treatment, drugs used in obstetrics and gynecology (including hormone therapy) and medical alternatives to surgical procedures for sterilization and abortion.

  The fact that the committee's recent 24 to 3 vote in favor of selling the morning-after pill without prescription was mysteriously -- and against almost all precedent -- rejected by the FDA is bad enough. But Hager's appointment is a real shocker.

  For those of you unfamiliar with his work, Hager is the author of a book called As Jesus Cared for Women: Restoring Women Then and Now.

  It exploits the latest in scientific advances to promote ever more sophisticated female healthcare. It blends biblical accounts of Jesus healing women with case studies from Hager's practice. And what a practice it sounds. Come to David with chronic premenstrual pain and, along with your inferior Earth medicine, he will prescribe you specific Bible readings and prayers to treat the problem. He's not one of your crazy futurists -- he won't dole out contraceptive medicine to anyone unmarried, say, and despite being an ob-gyn, he's a staunch pro-lifer.

  All in all, a cracking appointment, and proof of Laura Bush's claim that "the W stands for Women."

  But it's not Dubya's only blow for womankind. Last month, at a supporters' rally in Missouri, he bemoaned the spate of "frivolous lawsuits" which had resulted in various medical practitioners being struck off.

  "Too many good docs are getting out of business," he opined. "Too many ob-gyns aren't able to practise their love with women all across this country," he said.

  What can you say? Other than how heartening it is to see this chap racing ahead of Senator John Kerry in polls of women voters, with the most recent of them suggesting he has a lead of 48 percent to 43 percent, and climbing.

  Bush, among other things, has been at pains to point out that it could be so much worse for the ladies: They could be living under the Taliban.

  "Young girls were not allowed to go to school," he recalled, misty-eyed, at a recent rally in New Hampshire. "Their mothers were executed in sports stadiums if they stepped out of line."

  No mention of the fact that the US military is now attempting to flush out militant warlords in Afghanistan by driving Humvees through their territory, blaring out the ultimate insult, "The Taliban are women! They're bitches!" But hey -- why cloud the issue?

  Two weeks ago, the Guardian's New York correspondent Gary Younge wrote an article which analyzed the ways in which both candidates were attempting to appeal to women, married and single, with varying degrees of success. Now, with the Bush lead among female voters seemingly opening up, the incumbent's personal view of women is becoming clearer. The more speeches you hear, the more Laura Bush is wheeled out to talk about national security being the bedrock of family life, and the more he appoints people such as Hager to scientific policy bodies, the more suspiciously weirdo it all sounds. What emerges is a quasi-mystical view of women, as beings in need of special protection, of rules where their own bodies are concerned, of a firm but loving hand. Hell, in need of prayer.

  There was a telling little exchange in the televised debate with Kerry last week, in which the Democrat acknowledged that he and Bush were fathers of two daughters, and that he had chuckled at some of the Bush twins' less guarded comments.

  "I'm trying to put a leash on them," smiled Bush.

  Suddenly, an edge crept into the room. "I've learned not to do that," shot back Kerry.

  You have to wish him all the best.
• Most Popular

  • 1

    First person arrested as Danjiang Bridge opens

  • 2

    TSMC shares stumble on report, but losses minor

  • 3

    Navy needs 12 subs for modern fleet: CSBC head

  • 4

    Police identify man who engaged in indecency at park

  • 5

    HIMARS to be deployed to islands