On August 21, 2008, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services proposed a federal regulation that would redefine abortion. The regulation is a Provider Conscience Regulation which is designed to protect the moral and religious convictions of health care providers. The regulation is controversial because it leaves the term abortion undefined for personal interpretation. That means a health care provider -- a doctor, nurse, receptionist, etc. -- has the legal right to deny services because it conflicts with their beliefs.

While many are unaware of this regulation, I came across it in September. I have already written a story about it because it's an issue that can greatly affect women's health and reproductive rights. If enacted, the regulation can affect more than 600,00o health care entities. It also can affect rape victims. For example, a rape survivor can be denied access to the morning-after-pill if the hospital staff on duty doesn't believe in emergency contraceptives because it conflicts with their morals.

The deadline to comment on the regulation has already passed, but it's a given that McCain is 100 percent for it. I'm not sure what the title is, but on YouTube there's a video of a reporter asking McCain his stance on birth control. He told the reporter that she stumped him and he would have to get back to her on that. Geez if you are about to be the president of the United States of America, you better be ready to address the needs of more than half the U.S. population (which is women).