Sebelius Asked For Questions. And Boy Did She Get Them.
On Facebook today, Healthcare.gov posted a note that said, "HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius will be available exclusively to WebMD readers to answers [sic] questions. Please post your questions on this Facebook page or you can post them on the WebMD blog. Tune in to watch Secretary Sebelius share her answers with us live on Wednesday, Aug. 1 at 1:30 p.m Eastern time."
The first few questions were along these lines:
Tony Hausnerwhat can we do to maximize getting this message out? and getting the message out as to the incredible accomplishment President Obama has made in passing the Affordable Care Act
But then, around question 11, there was a dramatic change. All of a sudden there were 300+ questions from women that went more like this:
Brenda True Just a few questions for Ms. Sebelius: • How is the Administration working to address the concerns this mandate brings for women and families who value religion?
• Why has the HHS refused to engage the enormous body of data showing a correlation between increased rates of unintended pregnancies and non-marital birhts, and government driven birth control programs?
• How are you working to accommodate religious employers and private employers who conscientiously object to covering contraception, abortifacients, and sterilizations?
• Why does the Administration continue to ignore what this mandate means for women and families who value religion?
I embedded above just one page-length of dozens that you'll find if you go the link above. Nearly all of the questions were about the health care law's threats to religious liberty.
I'm listening to the actual Q&A now. I'll update the post once we find out how she answered the deluge of questions about religious liberty threats caused by the HHS mandate requiring people to provide insurance that covers abortion drugs, contraception and sterilization even if their conscience forbids it.
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Comments:
Aug '11
Re: Sebelius Asked For Questions. And Boy Did She Get Them.
Wow! What I find most interesting if you look at the 50 most recent questions at that link (I haven't tried to load more yet) is that all of those questions are from people who object to the mandate, and 49 of those 50 objectors are women! (EDIT: That ratio seems to hold up the farther back you go.)
(Remind me again who is conducting this war on women? )
Edited on August 2, 2012 at 3:26amSep '10
Re: Sebelius Asked For Questions. And Boy Did She Get Them.
Since so many of the questions on that screenshot are worded identically, It seems these people are following a script. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but some variations would make them more convincing. On the other hand, this suggests some religious organization was well organized in advance--good!
Dec '10
Re: Sebelius Asked For Questions. And Boy Did She Get Them.
Huh. Someone in my diocese forgot to send me the memo.
Apr '12
Re: Sebelius Asked For Questions. And Boy Did She Get Them.
Wait a second...conservatives have figured out this computer thing too?
Apr '12
Re: Sebelius Asked For Questions. And Boy Did She Get Them.
Facebook shows their identity too. I noticed and agree about the script bit but it is better than nothing. Getting women to speak up is hard to achieve. They certainly get across the key points. I wonder if this surprises Sebelius? My Facebook friends were so wrapped up in the war in woman story and that no women to,d the Republicans view when that was not the case. This is encouraging to see. I was irritated that business was. Being told to pay for birth control and by a 30 year old law student. Better stop now...feel a rant coming on.
Re: Sebelius Asked For Questions. And Boy Did She Get Them.
I only saw the link because my husband sent it to me. And I wrote a question that probably sounded very similar the ones that you see above.
It might not be a script so much as that religious liberty issues here are pretty clear.
Or it might be a script. But from whom? And how did they get the message out only to women?
I've been covering this debate for months and the pro-religious liberty side has not exactly been savvy on the public relations front. The Soros-funded groups on the other side? Very savvy. Amazingly so.
Again, though, maybe someone figured something out. If anyone knows, please let me know.
Aug '11
Re: Sebelius Asked For Questions. And Boy Did She Get Them.
Only saw this now but have a bit more insight into the explosion of comments post - 11am. Helen Alvare (law professor at George Mason & praciticing Catholic) started an organization called Women Speak for Themselves. About 30,000 women have signed the petition (myself included; it's still open for those who are interested) and Helen updates us via email on how the HHS Mandate issue is progressing, as required. At about 11am yesterday, the organization got notification that this webcast would be happening and sent out an email asking women to post questions. This is the second time Women Speak for Themselves has participated in this type of discussion and the second time we've been virtually ignored (at least from what I hear - Mollie you probably know better since you listened to the webcast.
Sorry for not getting out the word sooner - Ricochet women, join the fight!
Re: Sebelius Asked For Questions. And Boy Did She Get Them.
Jenn B.: Only saw this now but have a bit more insight into the explosion of comments post - 11am. Helen Alvare (law professor at George Mason & praciticing Catholic) started an organization called Women Speak for Themselves. About 30,000 women have signed the petition (myself included; it's still open for those who are interested) and Helen updates us via email on how the HHS Mandate issue is progressing, as required. At about 11am yesterday, the organization got notification that this webcast would be happening and sent out an email asking women to post questions. This is the second time Women Speak for Themselves has participated in this type of discussion and the second time we've been virtually ignored (at least from what I hear - Mollie you probably know better since you listened to the webcast.
Sorry for not getting out the word sooner - Ricochet women, join the fight! · 17 minutes ago
Thanks for the update! I'm a big fan of Alvare.
Aug '11
Re: Sebelius Asked For Questions. And Boy Did She Get Them.
So it was an organized effort to Question-Bomb Sibelius.
But also note that the pro-Obamacare left didn't even bother to show up. That can't be a good sign. : )
Sep '11
Re: Sebelius Asked For Questions. And Boy Did She Get Them.
Mollie:
The White House is staging a similar event today. Here's the note I just saw on their "We The People" site:
If you wanted to pass that along to "Women Speak for Themselves," I think it might be of interest.