Today marks the two year anniversary of the day Attorney General Mike DeWine made national headlines by endorsing former Senator Rick Santorum for president in the 2012 Republican primary. The endorsement symbolized DeWine’s embrace of Santorum’s outdated and sometimes bizarre views of women—a vision that DeWine has enthusiastically pursued in the courtroom as Attorney General, using Ohioans’ taxpayer funds.
Peter Koltak, Communications Director for David Pepper for Attorney General, made the following statement:
“Not only did Mike DeWine endorse Rick Santorum two years ago, he has spent his term as Attorney General filing lawsuits against women’s health, particularly targeting their access to birth control coverage. What’s worse, these lawsuits are taking place in other states, and being financed with Ohioans’ hard-earned tax dollars, when few of them have any connection whatsoever to actual Ohioans.”
“Even Ohio Republicans rejected this out-of-touch agenda in 2012. It’s time we had an Attorney General who stands up for Ohio’s women, their health and their families. We should be focused on fighting foreclosures and crime in Cleveland rather than wasting time and taxpayer dollars fighting birth control in Omaha.”
Background
DeWine has Engaged in a Nationwide Battle Against Women’s Healthcare:
Since taking office in 2011, Mike DeWine has used his office to fight women’s access to quality healthcare. He has led the charge nationally, filing or joining lawsuits emanating from Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Michigan, North Carolina, and Illinois (and losing almost every case).
DeWine even co-wrote the brief recently submitted to the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing that even in the case of private, for profit companies, a female employee’s decisions over health care coverage (including birth control) should be subject to the religious approval of that company’s CEO.
DeWine Embraced Santorum’s Vision For a “Better” America:
On Feb. 17, 2012, DeWine embraced Santorum on the Statehouse steps and said:
“You have to give the American people a reason to vote for you — a reason to hope — a reason to believe that under your leadership, America will be better. Rick Santorum has done that.” – ABC News, Feb. 17, 2012
Santorum On Women’s Access to Birth Control:
“One of the things I will talk about, that no president has talked about before, is I think the dangers of contraception in this country….It’s not okay. It’s a license to do things in a sexual realm that is counter to how things are supposed to be.” – Caffeinated Thoughts, Oct. 18, 2011.
“I think it’s harmful to women.” – Night Beat, CN8, July 28, 2005
Santorum On Working Women:
“Radical feminists have been making the pitch that justice demands that men and women be given an equal opportunity to make it to the top in the workplace.” – It Takes a Family: Conservatism and the Common Good, 2005
Santorum on Single Mothers:
“Look at the political base of the Democratic Party: it is single mothers who run a household. Why? Because it’s so tough economically that they look to the government for help and therefore they’re going to vote.” – Today’s Issues, American Family Association, Oct. 14, 2011
“The notion that college education is a cost-effective way to help poor, low-skill, unmarried mothers with high school diplomas or GEDs move up the economic ladder is just wrong.” – It Takes a Family: Conservatism and the Common Good, 2005