Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal is calling for over-the-counter contraceptive sales, arguing that such a move would take a potent political issue away from Democrats.
“As a conservative Republican, I believe that we have been stupid to let the Democrats demagogue the contraceptives issue and pretend, during debates about health-care insurance, that Republicans are somehow against birth control,” Jindal wrote in the Wall Street Journal. “It’s a disingenuous political argument they make.”
Republican objections to mandatory birth control coverage in health insurance coverage were a major part of Democratic messaging toward women in the 2012 election cycle. Republicans wanted an exemption to the mandate for religious organizations. Jindal argues over-the-counter sales to those over 18 years of age would make this debate irrelevant.
“Democrats have wrongly accused Republicans of being against birth control and against allowing people to use it. That’s hogwash,” Jindal wrote.
That's a fresh look at an old controversy. If the current crop of emerging conservative leaders (like Jindal) are capable of that kind of thinking, it will at least keep the political debate lively. I'm not sure about it taking the issue off the table, though. People willing to believe that opposing mandatory birth control coverage in insurance is somehow a "war on women" will not be easily removed from the flummoxed-by-demagoguery casualty list.
But it's hard to argue against choice -- put the stuff out there, and let the women make up their minds about using it. Maybe I should be able to get Viagra over the counter, as well. Of course, there are valid medical issues involved in taking it -- some tickers might not be able to take it -- recommending a doctor's supervision, but there are medical issues with birth control, too. Tell us what the risks are and let us decide if they're worth taking.
The only argument I can think of with merit is that over-the-counter birth control would be more available to those under 18 who care to fake an ID or enlist the aid of an accomplice. But the same thing is true of alcohol and anything else we wish to restrict to adult use.
