Responding To Pam Dent

Jon Geeting posts Pam Dent's letter to the Morning Call yesterday. I'll respond to it here, right after I post it.

I rarely respond to attacks against my husband, U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent. I accept that his position exposes him to criticism, even unfounded attacks. However, a recent letter regarding women’s health was so offensive I wanted to respond.

Charlie’s record on women’s health is strong. Suggesting he opposes contraception and access to women’s health services because he respects institutions that oppose federal regulations compelling them to act in violation of their basic tenets is dishonest.

Charlie strongly supports our freedoms guaranteed in the First Amendment. Consider the outrage that would ensue if the Pentagondemanded all schools — including Quaker and Mennonite schools — distribute materials at their own expense to inform students of military career opportunities. Nearly all would consider this an unconscionable violation of religious liberty.

The writer smeared my husband by saying he was part of a “war on women” and claimed his defense of religious liberty would lead to all women wearing burkas. That’s offensive. Actually, we recently opened our home to a refugee whose father, uncle and grandfather were killed in Afghanistan by zealots who would have forced her to wear a burka and denied her the most basic human rights.

My husband stands up for women’s rights. He understands that a coercive government is the greatest threat to individual rights, religious freedom and women.

I kind of get annoyed with the whole "this will lead to women wearing burkas" thing, because it's likely that most Congressmen on both sides aren't for that, per se. The problem for Mrs. Dent is, Charlie has a record. It's not about whether he hates women or not, I'm sure he doesn't, it's what he's done in Congress.

Dent's record on votes regarding women's issues is horrible. He voted against the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. He voted for the Stupak Amendment. He voted to defund Planned Parenthood. He voted for the Blunt Amendment to let a woman's boss decide if she can get contraception under her health insurance plan, or deny any other care they "morally" (or say so, at least) oppose. Charlie's voting record on these issues of importance to women is no different than that of Eric Cantor, of Joe Pitts, of Allen West, or of any other right-wing lunatic in Congress who does think women need to be put "back in their place." Is Charlie as crazy as them? I doubt it. Is he as bad of a Congressman, and therefore subject to being called part of the "War On Women." Yes, yes he is. I respect that he took an Afghani woman in, I do. That doesn't change that his job performance stinks.

Bernie and others say votes don't matter. I disagree. That's the job these guys have. His performance on issues to women stinks.