Archconservative Corbett Aide Resigns After Questions Raised About His Warped Writings About Women

[JPZenger]

Last edited Thu Jan 19, 2012, 09:33 AM - Edit history (1)

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/20120117_Corbett_aide_who_edited_conservative_journal_resigns.html

Over the last week, we have read of major cutbacks in the programs of the Dept. of Public Welfare, including slashing 100,000 children from medical assistance (20,000 of whom were returned so far after the state admitted errors). The Dept. will also soon cut off food stamp benefits to most people who have $2,000 in assets. So who was the brains behind these cutbacks???

Robert W. Paterson was serving as a $104,000 a year top advisor for the PA. Dept. of Public Welfare. He has a long history of writings in archconservative magazines that attacked the very idea of public assistance. His writings also show extremely outdated and warped views of women. Once questions were raised, he resigned today. He sounds like the insane general from Dr. Strangelove who was always talking about his 'precious bodily fluids'.

Excerpts from today's Phil. Inquirer article:

"The Inquirer began asking about Patterson's side job as editor of The Family in America... In the journal, Patterson has weighed in on ... what he described as a woman's ideal role in society: married and at home raising children. For instance, he wrote about research that he said showed that if women wanted to find "Mr. Right," they should shun birth control pills; and if they wanted to improve their mood, they should not insist that their men wear condoms lest they miss out on beneficial chemicals found in semen.

In last year's spring issue of the journal, Patterson co-authored a piece summarizing and reviewing recent studies related to families.
Among them: a recent study suggesting condom use robs a woman of "remarkable" chemicals found in semen that have been shown to elevate mood and self-esteem. What's more, the study found that "semen-exposed women" perform better on concentration and cognitive tasks, Patterson reported.

He also referenced a 2004 study that suggested birth- control pills weakened a woman's "natural sense of attraction to men who would be a good biological match and enable her to conceive easily and bear healthy children." And should the "pill-popping young lady" go off the pill, she may no longer be attracted to the man she chose when she was on it, the study said.

In the journal's summer issue, Patterson ... advocated scaling back assistance programs such as Medicaid, food stamps, the children's health insurance program, and cash assistance for the poor."
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Here's a great follow-up column about this story:

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/inq-blinq/Is-Tom-Corbett-running-a-state-or-a-circus.html

Excerpts:

"I refer to the brief, righteous reign of Robert W. Patterson, a $104,470 official at the Department of Public Welfare who moonlighted at a conservative faith-based journal, where he wrote stories about semen as a mental health elixir for women. The one who likened sperm to a no-cost and plentiful antidepressant and said women who take birth control pills do so at the risk of winding up spinsters...

I am also super-interested in finding therapists who prescribe unprotected sex for depressed female patients. Anyone? Anyone? Patterson, my colleagues found, also wrote that "semen-exposed women" [his phrase, fabulous isn't it?] perform better on concentration and cognitive tasks. If that's an established fact of science, why aren't parents injecting girls with the good stuff before crucial standardized tests and the SATs?

And, not to question Patterson's homophobic street cred, but women aren't the only people who can "absorb" semen. So can't gay men benefit from this miracle drug, too?"

[Curmudgeoness]

1. I can't say "good riddance" fast enough.

I can't even figure out what this guy is thinking. Stop using the pill and condoms, but no help for a woman who has children??? This is a most bizarre character.

It makes me wonder how many others are in the Corbett administration who belong in an asylum instead of a public office.

[PA Democrat]

4. Look for the most vile lobbying efforts and you will find

one of their own in a prominent position in the Corbett administration. EVERYTHING is for sale in Pennsylvania!!!!

[Curmudgeoness]

5. Too bad it is a garage sale.....I guess we come cheap.

[ge626dfil]

6. +1

[PRETZEL]

2. The article was e-mailed to me by my boss

the other day.

Dude was a complete whack job and he more than likely was the archetict of the shit hitting the fan now.