Tit for tat
As the War on Women marches inexorably onward, Democrats are starting to fight back — cheekily.
In Virginia, state Senator Janet Howell attached a “rectal probe” amendment to the Virginia State-Sanctioned Rape bill. The amendment would have required men to have a rectal exam and a cardiac stress test before obtaining a prescription for erectile dysfunction medication. (It failed to pass.)
In Oklahoma, Constance Johnson attached an “every sperm is sacred” amendment to the GOP’s Personhood bill. The amendment would have construed any action in which a man ejaculates or otherwise deposits semen anywhere but in a woman’s vagina as an action against an unborn child. (Democrats voted to table the amendment in order to demonstrate that it was introduced in jest.)
And now Georgia Democrats are stepping up.
In Georgia, Republicans seek to pass HB 954, a bill that will tighten “life of the mother” exceptions to abortion by prohibiting abortions on women who are more than 20 weeks pregnant. (Current law prohibits abortions after the second trimester, or about 24 weeks.)
In response, Georgia Democrats led by Yasmin Neal (D-Awesometown) have proposed a bill that would ban Georgia males from seeking vasectomies:
House Democrats have scheduled a 3 p.m. Wednesday hearing at the state Capitol, to propose a bill that would ban Georgia males from seeking vasectomies. From the press release:
“Thousands of children are deprived of birth in this state every year because of the lack of state regulation over vasectomies,” said Rep. Yasmin Neal, author of the bill. “It is patently unfair that men can avoid unwanted fatherhood by presuming that their judgment over such matters is more valid than the judgment of the General Assembly, while women’s ability to decide is constantly up for debate throughout the United States.”
House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams added, “The Republican attack on women’s reproductive rights is unconscionable. What is more deplorable is the hypocrisy of HB 954’s author. If we follow his logic, we believe it is the obligation of this General Assembly to assert an equally invasive state interest in the reproductive habits of men and substitute the will of the government over the will of adult men.”
Perfect.
[cross-posted at Balloon Juice]
I love how these women are introducing these bills and amendments in the crazy states! Maybe if enough of them are introduced, some of the less crazy Republicans (hey, a girl can hope that there are such creatures) will start getting the message that the government doesn’t have any right to foist particular things upon We the Women of the United States of America.
YEEES!
Also, this: In Oklahoma, Constance Johnson attached an “every sperm is sacred” amendment to the GOP’s Personhood bill. The amendment would have construed any action in which a man ejaculates or otherwise deposits semen anywhere but in a woman’s vagina as an action against an unborn child. (Democrats voted to table the amendment in order to demonstrate that it was introduced in jest.) makes me think about defining bukaki in a bill, which makes me giggle.
I am sure that what you have said will definitely pierce the ears of your readers and make them think more deeply about it
Wow…
First of all.. sperm cannot servive on it’s own… niether can an egg. It takes both of them to form life. So, “children” are not deprived.. they have to exist before they can be deprived.
Secondly… abortions are irresponsible. In most cases, sex was the choice and the pregnancy was the results of that choice. Then, not wanting to be responsible for their own actions they chose to kill their child so as not to have to deal with the consequences of their original actions. You created life… then you destroyed life. What gives you the right to destroy another life? Own up to the responsibilty of your “choice” to have sex by being responsible for the new life you created…. both the woman AND the man. I would absolutely support laws that make a man financially responsible up to the age of 18 for “his child”. Right now… there is no consequences for the choice to have sex… if she becomes pregnant… no big deal…. just kill it, throw it out in the trash and…. let’s do it again!!
I have sex all the time with no possibility of pregnancy, because I’m gay. And every lesbian who ever went through insemination clearly embraces her responsibility to the child that is created. And countless gay couples stand by, ready and willing to adopt unwanted children.
I’m gratified to know that you must be a stalwart advocate for total LGBT equality, because we do such a good job of saying no to abortion.
allan for the block and win.
Needless to say, the Asshole to English translation of “consequences” in this comment is “punishment”.
So, I guess you’re for contraception, right? Contraception greatly reduces the need for abortion, duh? This is not a difficult concept to understand for most people. However, religious zealots and idiots like you are clueless.
So, since there are bozos who want to limit a woman’s access to birth control pills, why not ban vasectomies? Why not ban condoms too? That’s the point of Rep. Neal’s legislation.
It is irresponsible to have an unwanted child. It is irresponsible to have a child that you cannot support. New life is created when it can survive on it’s own. Get off your soap box. If you are so offended by abortions, don’t have on.
I’m certain that Monty Python had no idea that a song from one of their movies would be inspiration for real legislation.
Hurray to all of these women for fighting back!
WTF this is the dumbest biggest waste of taxpayers money. With this non sense lets throw all gays and lesbians in prison for having sex and wasting bodily fluids that could have made a baby! I want a tax refund over this dumb woman! All these pro abortion supporters are just trying to justify their own murderous thoughts and actions. Its simple science boys and girls if it has a heart beat its alive.
Tell me, where do you stand on “castle laws”?
You don’t get to hang out in my house without my permission, why should anybody get to hang out in my body without my permission? I might even invite you in and then tell you you have to leave, the horrors.
So, I guess you don’t have a problem with contraception, right?
If women’s access to contraception (which greatly reduces the need for abortions) is to be limited then why shouldn’t be the same for men?
If a heartbeat defines life, I guess pulling the plug when a person has no brain function would be illegal. It’s pro-choice, not pro-abortion.
Methinks TWC and WTF are the same asshole, and it’s probably in favor of the “life begins at conception” laws being considered by similar assholes in various states. You know – those laws that would define a miscarriage as manslaughter.
It disturbs me to see how many on the right talk about having a child as a consequence/punishment for sex. That is a really twisted way of thinking, and a sad one, too. Children should be wanted and loved – not forced upon someone and tolerated or endured.
So masturbation would be considered an “action against an unborn child”? And we thought the prisons were overcrowded before!!
http://www.notechmagazine.com/2011/12/castration-could-bring-us-better-politicians.html?fwcc=1&fwcl=1&fwl=1&_ft_=fbid.189651984483862%3Ainterface.m_faceweb_android%3Ac.m