Tomi Lahren says she agrees with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez about birth control: 'Doesn’t make me feminist'
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s likening of migrant detention centers to concentration camps may have conservatives seeing red, but she’s getting support on another matter from an unexpected source: Fox Nation host Tomi Lahren.
A month after she surprised followers by calling Alabama’s abortion ban “too restrictive,” the conservative commentator has announced that she agrees with Ocasio-Cortez that birth control should be available over the counter and without a prescription. The freshman congresswoman is among the co-sponsors of the “Affordability Is Access” bill created by Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) to make oral contraception more readily available and covered by insurance.
Though Lahren typically delights in throwing barbs at those with liberal views, she admitted that making birth control easier to access would be “helpful.” In true Lahren fashion, however, she added a caveat: “Acknowledging that doesn’t make me feminist, makes me a realist!”
Never thought this would happen, but I agree with @AOC birth control should be available over-the-counter.
Working women don’t have a lot of spare time-removing the doctor’s visit burden would be helpful. Acknowledging that doesn’t make me feminist, makes me a realist!— Tomi Lahren (@TomiLahren) June 18, 2019
Lahren isn’t the first so-called strange bedfellow to take up the birth control cause. Earlier this month, Republican Sen. Ted Cruz offered to team up with Ocasio-Cortez on a “simple, clean bill.” Rep. Pressley then swooped in to remind him that said bill was already in the works.
Hi there @tedcruz hit up our girl @pattymurray she and I have already written the bill, album dropping tomorrow 😉 @AOC's vocals (& original co sponsorship) = on point. @KatieHill4CA’s an original too. Just call it the Destiny's Child of OTC birth control https://t.co/Ri2q1Viez4
— Ayanna Pressley (@AyannaPressley) June 12, 2019
Lahren’s tweet got a lot of criticism, for a variety of reasons. Many followers voiced concerns that using over-the-counter contraceptives without the green light from a doctor could put women at risk of health complications. Others objected to Lahren’s jab at feminism.
This whole tweet was going so well and then you had to write that last sentence...
— Aaron Reid (@reidaa31) June 18, 2019
They’re necessary for her to stay in character.
— ˉ\_(ツ)_/ˉ YATT (@the_wyatt_act) June 19, 2019
(feminism is just being honest about real problems and real equality Tissue Labrum)
— Brandon Bradford (@BrandonLBradfor) June 19, 2019
Realism and feminism aren’t mutually exclusive??????????
— Robin Baudreau (@wonderlostme) June 19, 2019
Some liberals were surprised to find themselves agreeing with the Republican TV personality.
“Stop saying s*** I can agree with, it makes me feel gross,” quipped one commenter.
One of the few things I agree with you. It’s OTC in every civilized country.
— Vote Dem for the Planet (@Brasilmagic) June 18, 2019
My goodness I agree with you for once, perhaps there’s more to all of us than our politics?!
— Elizabeth McCarten (@McC_Beth) June 18, 2019
Tomi is WOKE. 🙌🏽
— Kelly Hernandez (@astoldbykells_x) June 18, 2019
Lahren’s more conservative fans, however, pushed back against her proposal. Several suggested that women rely instead on abstinence or use condoms with a sexual partner, though many women use birth control for a variety of health issues, not merely to prevent pregnancy.
Go to any health department near where you live, any woman will receive an exam and bc that is right for her, very dangerous to just hand out medication over the counter with some of the side effects that can cause...also there are condoms and “gasp” abstinence.....
— Kelly Thomas Griffin (@KAT0426) June 19, 2019
It’s available now, they are called condoms.
— Jpullen (@Jpullen20) June 18, 2019
Condoms?
— John Ulzheimer (@johnulzheimer) June 18, 2019
All of these people being like "derp condoms!" You know they can break, right? That happened to me twice in the past. Or women taking control of her own reproductive choices and not leaving it up to the guy to put a condom on?
— Sarah, one of many in the world 🌲🌴🌵 (@slyminx) June 18, 2019
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