“Where Are The Women?” Dems Walk Out Of GOP All-Male Contraception Hearing

Today, Darrell Issa, Chair of the House government oversight committee, hosted an “inquiry” into the Obama administration’s decision to ensure contraception services and preventative healthcare are available free of charge to all women, regardless of their employer.

As we posted earlier today, this image shows only men testified at the hearing. Later this morning, Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) asked, pointedly, “Where are the women?” And Rep. Eleanor Holmes-Norton (D-DC) raised a ruckus, as did Elijah Cummings (D-MD)  — watch all three heroes on this video:

Igor Volsky at Think Progress writes:

Ranking committee member Elijah Cummings (D-MD) had asked Issa to include a female witness at the hearing, but the Chairman refused, arguing that “As the hearing is not about reproductive rights and contraception but instead about the Administration’s actions as they relate to freedom of religion and conscience, he believes that Ms. Fluke is not an appropriate witness.”

And so Cummings, along with the Democratic women on the panel, took their request to the hearing room, demanding that Issa consider the testimony of a female college student. But the California congressman insisted that the hearing should focus on the rules’ alleged infringement on “religious liberty,” not contraception coverage, and denied the request. Reps. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) walked out of the hearing in protest of his decision, citing frustration over the fact that the first panel of witnesses consisted only of male religious leaders against the rule. Holmes Norton said she will not return, calling Issa’s chairmanship an “autocratic regime.”