The Obama Economy: The True War on Women

Last month, a record 93.8 million Americans weren't working.  Of that number, 60% or 56.2 million were women.  Another record. 

The simple fact is that women are being disproportionately hurt by a slow economy under this President's watch.  As such, the women that were such a strong part of Obama's winning coalition are now turning away from Hillary Clinton. A surprising fact when you think that she might be this nation's first woman President.  There is no enthusiasm. In a recent survey, 56% of women polled say they voted for Obama in 2012.  Now, only 49% of those polled say they are interested in voting Democrat again in 2016.


References:

Record 93,770,000 Americans Not In The Labor Force: http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/08/07/record-93770000-americans-not-in-labor-force/

Record 56,209,000 Women Not In The Labor Force: http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/08/07/record-56209000-women-not-in-labor-force/

President Obama has presided over an economic recovery — now more than six years old — that is far worse than all the previous 10 stretching back 70 years: http://news.investors.com/ibd-editorials/073015-764333-tepid-gdp-growth-leaves-economy-even-further-behind-the-pace.htm

2016: Obama coalition of blacks, women, GenX, losing interest in voting: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/2016-obama-coalition-of-blacks-women-genx-losing-interest-in-voting/article/2566950

The True War On Women: ObamaCare

For years, Democrats have claimed that Republicans have waged a war on women; primarily over the so-called "reproductive rights" of abortion and contraception.  As if this is all women care about when they enter the voting booth. 

But, an important issue that should be on every woman's mind when they enter a voting booth should be ObamaCare.

Now, granted, ObamaCare gives them free access to some contraception and four free morning-after abortive meds but, that's where it ends.

First of all, the healthcare law is forcing many women, especially those with families, to lose their existing insurance.  As a result, they are being forced into new plans that may cost them little to nothing on a monthly basis; assuming they qualify for federal subsidies, but the real problem is that almost all ObamaCare health insurance policies are actually catastrophic policies.  Meaning that they have a low monthly cost but carry a hefty deductible of several thousand dollars per year.  And, if they don't qualify for a subsidy, they not only have to pay a high deductible, but also get nailed with high premiums.

Then, too, when enrolled in ObamaCare, it is very possible that women will lose their current doctor if they are not in the network of any of the insurers in the exchange.  At the same time, this new doctor may be miles away and only have admitting and treating privileges with a hospital that is also miles away.  As a result, people needing care are going to emergency rooms rather than travel to an ObamaCare doctor.  In addition, because reimbursement rates are lower under ObamaCare, the quality of care may also suffer.

Finally, there is the expansion of Medicaid under ObamaCare.

Democrats will argue that millions of low income Americans, who are above the poverty level, will get free healthcare under the expansion of Medicaid.  But, the problem here is that too few doctors and hospitals will accept Medicaid patients because the reimbursement rates are so low.  In fact, only 46% of doctors, in a recent study, said they would accept Medicaid patients; down 10% from just 4 years ago.  It is quite possible that we could get to a point where only a third, or less, of this nation's doctors will treat Medicaid patients as states continue to slash reimbursement rates in order to keep their budgets in balance. This will be seen in mostly Democratic states where high union pensions must be dealt with; such as California.

So, ask yourself this, isn't ObamaCare a major part of the real war on women since it fights against their natural instinct to care for themselves and their families?


References:

Another 25 million ObamaCare victims: http://nypost.com/2014/01/14/another-25-million-obamacare-victims/

Obamacare Sticker Shock Found in Deductibles, Not Premiums: http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Articles/2014/02/03/Obamacare-Sticker-Shock-Found-Deductibles-Not-Premiums

Obamacare website won’t reveal insurance costs for 2015 until after election:  States with key Senate races face double-digit premium hikes: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/oct/14/obamacare-website-wont-reveal-insurance-costs-for-/?page=all

Doctors Begin To Refuse Obamacare Patients: http://dailycaller.com/2014/08/04/doctors-begin-to-refuse-obamacare-patients/

More patients flocking to ERs under Obamacare: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/06/08/more-patients-flocking-to-ers-under-obamacare/10173015/

Losing Patience, and Patients, With Medicaid: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-04-10/doctors-shun-patients-who-pay-with-medicaid

California Cuts Medicaid Payments Amid Wave of New Users: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-10-04/california-cuts-medicaid-payments-amid-wave-of-new-users.html

2012: 13 States Cut Medicaid To Balance Budgets: http://kaiserhealthnews.org/news/medicaid-cuts/

States Can Cut Back on Medicaid Payments, Administration Says: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/26/us/politics/states-can-cut-back-on-medicaid-payments-administration-says.html

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ObamaCare's Free Contraception Mandate

What if I told you that you could buy any new car, from any lot,  and I'll pay for it.  Do you think you'd pick the cheapest thing you could find?  Of course not.  Well, the same is true with ObamaCare's free contraception mandate.

Currently, women using contraceptives pay between $40 a year for the generic "pill" to as much as $1000 for other more convenient and newer forms of contraception.  The decision as to what form of contraception a woman uses is typically based on a doctor's recommendation, medicinal tolerance, efficacy, convenience, and, most importantly, affordability. 

The problem with ObamaCare is that, like the new car example, it puts no limits on costs.  As a result, women will gravitate to many of the more expensive products that had once been out of their financial reach.  The result will be ever rising costs for contraception; and, the insurers will be forced, by mandate, to cover it.  But, ultimately, those higher costs will be passed on to you and I in the form of higher insurance premiums.

There is also a more sinister possibility behind any increased expense associated with free contraception. The manufacturers of contraceptives, knowing full well that the insurers can't balk on  any increases, are now free to raise prices without impunity.
So, by the time the bureaucrats in Washington realize what a mess they've made with contraceptive costs spiraling out of control, it will be too late.  Many of the cheaper or generic birth control manufacturers will have stopped producing their products for lack of sales. Then, too, the politicians, especially those on the left, won't want to rein in prices and cut back on higher priced contraception because it might cost them votes.

The decision to go with free birth control was solely based on garnering the woman's vote with no regard as to what would happen down the road, and, if the Republicans balked, the Democrats would just use that as proof that the GOP are conducting a war on women.  But, the true war on women will be exposed when single mothers or women in traditional family settings have to pay more and more for the health care needed to protect their families.

Obama's War On Woman Theme Loses Steam

According to the Democrats and President Obama, the GOP is waging a war on women.  So, for the last four months, the Obama campaign and the Democratic National Committee have constantly tried to hammer that message home with millions upon millions of dollars worth of campaign ads, and through numerous interviews.  Unfortunately for Obama, this supposed campaign on behalf of women has actually backfired.  In a recent ABC/Washington Post poll, women's preference for Obama over Romney is now down to a 6 point spread; less than the 7 point spread that handed Reagan the win over Jimmy Carter.  Well down by the 13 point margin that gave Obama his win over McCain. What's worse, in the Spring, the President had a favorable versus unfavorable approval among women of 57% to 39%; respectively.  That same ABC/Post poll now says the numbers have flipped "to the negative" with Obama only getting a 46% approval from women while 50% of are disapproving of his presidency.

This is a big thing, and I believe that the "war on women" campaign actually infuriated some women by implying that their "only" election concerns are reproductive in nature.  I'm quite sure that many found this quite demeaning and a slap against the intelligence of women.  This is more proof that politicians should tread lightly in trying to divide the country along class -- this time gender -- lines.

ABC Polling Commentary: http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/09/obamas-popularity-dips-underwater-for-romney-a-faint-favorability-bounce/

Gender and Voting Behavior (study results): http://grounds-strategy.com/files/gender-and-voting.pdf

The Demcrats Are Conducting The Real War On Women And All The American People

If you listen to Obama and the Democrats, the Republican's stance on abortion, their wish to de-fund Planned Parenthood, and their objection to forcing religious groups to provide free contraception is an outright war on women.  But, is it?

The Republican view of abortion is really an issue of protecting the life of an unborn child who has no rights at all in the Democrat's argument.  Republicans know they can't stop abortions.  After all, the Supreme Court has made it legal.  But, hopefully, by objecting to it, women will become more sensitive to it. Then, when it comes to Planned Parenthood, abortion is again at issue. It sponsors nearly a quarter of the 1.2 million abortions conducted in this country every year and gets nearly $100 million a year in federal funding.  Now, under the law, federal funds cannot be used for abortion and, because those federal funds are fungible, there is no way that Planned Parenthood can guarantee that these funds aren't being used for abortions.  Further, the new women's mandates under ObamaCare, replace much of the "free" services that Planned Parenthood provided.  Lastly, free contraception was simply a campaign tactic.  It could have been declared part of ObamaCare when the law was passed in 2010, but of course, Obama and Sibelius waited until this, an election year.

All these issues are small potatoes when you consider what Obama and the Democrats have done to women's lives in the last three years.   Based on a recent study, the average American family has lost more than $4,000 in purchasing power since Obama took office; with the median income moving from $54,983 in 2009 to $50,964 this year.  That's a larger loss of income than under any of the Bush years; including the peak recession years of 2007 and 2008.

As I have contended all along, Obama's massive spending spree has caused this situation.  The weak dollar  is inflationary and hurts everyone's pocketbook.  For a woman trying to tend to the needs of her family, any loss of income can be devastating; especially those living in poverty and at low income levels.  That, to me, is the real war on woman.

Source of Chart:  Wall Street Journal article: Negative $4,019. The Obama years have been brutal on middle-class incomes: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303822204577468750027784434.html#