Republicans shift past support of women

The Republican Party has a proud history on women's issues.

More than three-quarters of the states that ratified the 19th Amendment, granting women's suffrage, were controlled by Republican legislatures. Barry Goldwater spoke in support of a woman's right to an abortion long before Roe v. Wade, and his wife, Peggy, was a strong supporter of Planned Parenthood.

Sen. Prescott Bush, from Connecticut, was also a strong supporter of Planned Parenthood and his son, George H.W. Bush, when a congressman, championed the Family Planning Act of 1970.

The Republican Party platform in 1972 supported federal assistance for day care and contained the phrase, “every woman should have the freedom to choose whatever career she wishes - and an equal chance to pursue it.” That statement was gone by 1980 and has not returned. In its place, a statement applauding mothers and homemakers was added to the platform that year.

Today, we have Republican state legislatures writing laws that mandate an invasive ultrasound be performed before having an abortion, even if there is no medical need for such a procedure. Another state has passed a law protecting doctors from lawsuits if they lie to a woman about the condition of her unborn child. Rick Perry has rejected Title X money in Texas, resulting in thousands of poorer women loosing needed health care.

The Republicans have a proud history on women's issues, but they should be ashamed of what they have become.

Richard Greer

Cedar Rapids