In a downpour of Republican Anti-Choice and Anti-Women bills that drench the news, a ray of truth shines through.

Rep. Doug Cox of Oklahoma, a rare Republican lawmaker who supports a woman’s right to choose, responded to a new onslaught of Oklahoma laws that aspire to deny women birth control, contraception and abortion. Cox, who is also a physician, wrote to Oklahoma’s NEWSOK. In his letter he made some pretty bold statements, which are quite contrary to the majority of his party:

“As a practicing physician (who never has or will perform an abortion), I deal with the real world. In the real world, 15- and 16-year-olds get pregnant (sadly, 12-, 13- and 14-year-olds do also).” Yet I cannot convince my Republican colleagues that one of the best ways to eliminate abortions is to ensure access to contraception. “Denying access to this important contraceptive is a sure way to increase legal and back-alley abortions.”

His quote below surely ruffles the feathers, as well as exemplifies the hypocrisy, of Anti-Choice lawmakers, extremists and religous zealots. Cox talks about his own experiences dealing with the issue of abortion:

“Experiences like having a preacher, in the privacy of an exam room say, “Doc, you have heard me preach against abortion but now my 15-year-old daughter is pregnant, where can I send her?” “Where did the (Republican) party go that felt some decisions in a woman’s life should be made not by legislators and government, but rather by the women, her conscience, her doctor and her God?”

This is not the first time Cox has spoken out for women’s reproductive rights, as well as expressed disdain for Republican policies that betray women. He supports Planned Parenthood, to the extent that Cox recently received the Barry Goldwater Award. I imagine this does not sit well with party members known for going to extreme measures to defund Planned Parenthood.

Photo: Batesline.com

Deep down, I think many of us ‘leaning to the left’, realize not all Republicans have signed on to the current right wing insanity. Several of my sane Republican friends (Yes, they do exist – And I have some) cringe, with the rest of Americans, after hearing of the GOP’s latest antics/attacks against women. Perhaps Doug Cox will serve as a precedent for change. He says some of the members of his party agree with him:

“I have people who tell me they feel the way I do, but are afraid to vote the way I do.”

Oh, the many wonderful things we could all do if we only acted out of strength, rather than fear. Thank you, Rep. Doug Cox. You are an inspiration to all.

The author, Leslie Salzillo, is a political commentator, pro-choice activist, diarist, and visual artist. Salzillo writes diaries in Daily Kos and began contributing to AddictingInfo.org in March 2013.

Original Source: National Memo