Rep. Julia Brownley (D-CA), one of the most vulnerable Democrats in the 2014 midterm elections, has blamed “MEN” (original caps) for the Supreme Court’s 5-4 decision in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Monday. The majority held that the federal government violated the Religious Freedom Restoration Act when it required owners of a closely-held corporation to provide insurance coverage for abortifacient contraceptives against their faith.
Pro-choice groups have characterized the Hobby Lobby decision as a blow to “women’s rights,” although the decision does not prevent a woman from obtaining or using contraceptives–it simply releases family-owned businesses like Hobby Lobby from the obligation to pay for some of them.
Brownley sent a fundraising email to supporters in which she blamed the gender of the Supreme Court justices for their decision in the case:
Friends —
Just hours ago, five MEN on our Supreme Court decided the fate of women’s health care rights in our country.
Now, for-profit companies can impose their personal beliefs — on a whim — on their employees and deny them basic contraceptive care.
Contrary to her assertion, the decision does not necessarily apply to all for-profit companies. (Oddly, Brownley refers to companies as having “personal beliefs” while arguing they are not, in fact, persons.) Brownely added (original emphasis): “My Republican opponent received a ZERO rating from Planned Parenthood and he’s funded by the same groups and individuals jubilantly celebrating today’s decision.“
Brownley is referring to the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), which considers Brownley a target for 2014. She is facing Republican Jeff Gorrell, a veteran and California State Assemblyman, in the November election. Last week, the NRCC demanded that Brownley return campaign donations from Democrat “mega-donor” Kareem Ahmed, who has been indicted for insurance fraud and involuntary manslaughter.
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