For those of you on the women's choice side of the reproductive fence, Monday's ruling by a federal judge to make Plan B available to 17-year-olds without a prescription was a big, bad liberal success.

Plan B—known as the "morning after pill"—is to be taken within 72 hours after unprotected sex in hopes of warding off an unwanted pregnancy. Regardless of the fact scientific evidence proved the pill perfectly safe for 17-year-olds, before yesterday's ruling the drug was only available behind pharmacy counters to women 18 and up.

Judge Edward R. Korman of the federal district court in New York didn't understand why this was, and even went so far as to speculate that members of the FDA were "bowing" to the conservative leanings of the Bush administration and knowingly appointed anti-abortion members to the review panel. 

He accused the FDA of dragging their feet and avoiding lifting restrictions even after their team of scientists gave the pill the thumbs up for use in minors.

The article goes on to say that "officials of the agency had repeatedly delayed action on the petition, moving only when members of Congress threatened to hold up confirmation hearings on acting FDA commissioners." Which, of course, violates the FDA's own code of ethics.

Scandal!

Conservative groups have long warned that Plan B will open the flood gates of female sluttiness, with some even going so far to say it's a form of abortion. Liberals on the other hand think this is crazy talk and accused the agency of promoting "politics, not science."

In fact, former FDA director Susan F. Wood says this is the first step in restoring the "scientific integrity" of the agency.

Bravo!