Lansing - House Republicans prohibited state Rep. Lisa Brown from speaking on the floor Thursday after she ended a speech Wednesday against a bill restricting abortions by referencing her female anatomy.
Brown, a West Bloomfield Democrat and mother of three, said a package of abortion regulation bills would violate her Jewish religious beliefs that pregnancy be aborted to save the life of the mother.
"Finally, Mr. Speaker, I'm flattered that you're all so interested in my vagina, but 'no' means 'no,'" Brown said Wednesday.
Brown's comment prompted a rebuke Thursday by House Republicans, who wouldn't allow her to voice her opinion on a school employee retirement bill.
"What she said was offensive," said Rep. Mike Callton, R-Nashville. "It was so offensive, I don't even want to say it in front of women. I would not say that in mixed company."
Brown's comments were published in Thursday's Detroit News.
Majority Floor Leader Jim Stamas, R-Midland, determined Brown's comments violated the decorum of the House, said Ari Adler, spokesman for the Republican majority.
"If I can't say the word vagina, why are we legislating vaginas?" Brown asked Thursday at a hastily called Capitol press conference. "What language should I use?"
Brown noted "vagina" is the "medically correct term."
"We're all adults here," she said.
The House tabled a bill Wednesday that would ban all abortions after 20 weeks with a narrow exemption for the life of the mother after passing a bill with new regulations for abortion providers.
House Republicans also wouldn't let state Rep. Barb Byrum speak on the House floor today.
Byrum, D-Onondaga, caused a disturbance on the House floor Wednesday when she wasn't allowed to introduce an amendment to the abortion regulations bill banning men from getting a vasectomy unless the sterilization procedure was necessary to save a man's life.
"If we truly want to make sure children are born, we would regulate vasectomies," Byrum told reporters Thursday.
This is a wonderfully telling example of the general zeitgeist within the Republic party, harkening back to outmoded pre-victorian ideas that a woman's body is a source of evil and vulgarity.
The really ironic part is that they are also the most staunch opponents of the burka or hijab, despite the fact that those garments are basically just the next links in the misogynist chain that the GOP has been constructing lately.
azazel the cat wrote:This is a wonderfully telling example of the general zeitgeist within the Republic party, harkening back to outmoded pre-victorian ideas that a woman's body is a source of evil and vulgarity.
The really ironic part is that they are also the most staunch opponents of the burka or hijab, despite the fact that those garments are basically just the next links in the misogynist chain that the GOP has been constructing lately.
QFT though I think their opposition to hijab is really just a manifestation of their dislike of Islam.
I just don't understand why the medical terms are vulgar and considered wrong. But using other word which do not get through the filter here are ok?
Is it that america has not come to term with sexuality yet?
Maude Lebowski: Does the female form make you uncomfortable, Mr. Lebowski?
The Dude: Uh, is that what this is a picture of?
Maude Lebowski: In a sense, yes. My art has been commended as being strongly vaginal which bothers some men. The word itself makes some men uncomfortable. Vagina.
The Dude: Oh yeah?
Maude Lebowski: Yes, they don't like hearing it and find it difficult to say whereas without batting an eye a man will refer to his dick or his rod or his Johnson.
The Dude: Johnson?
Also, completely underwhelmed. Guys who get genuinely uptight about this kind of stuff I swear are so completely removed from the rest of humanity. I recommend the Hour of Slack podcast where Suzie and the other women start talking about their mucus membranes in an effort to creep out the guys. Or maybe that's removed from humanity...
I think it might be in a bill the Republicans are drafting somewhere to actually get the scientific term changed from "vagina" to "stammer ineffectually for 15 seconds before calling it your... you know....".
I'm pretty sure this is an example of why 99.9% of politicians should be rounded up and dumped on an island far away from people with brains and left to argue until they die of starvation, exposure etc (which seems most likely given most politicians), or learn how to ditch their petty differences and figure out how to work together for the betterment of the group.
Politicians disgust me more than any anatomical term.
Also love the amendment about men getting the snip
What really makes this sad is that it isn't even the first time it's happened.
In March last year a Democrat in the Florida house made a one-liner that Republicans are only in favour of rights when they're for corporations, saying his wife should "incorporate her uterus". Republicans freaked out over that one, with the Speaker chastising him, stating that such language was inappropriate for children and guests.
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hotsauceman1 wrote:I just don't understand why the medical terms are vulgar and considered wrong. But using other word which do not get through the filter here are ok?
Is it that america has not come to term with sexuality yet?
It's really just about one political party, long since abandoning any kind of honest party platform, and filling up at least part of that void with a vague kind of faux decency.
I'm with the woman here. Why should you be able to legislate and control something if somebody who it directly affects can't even say what it is? Hardly like all those biology classes in school were horrifically offensive. It's just a body part.
Meh its just another body part. If the congressmen are getting all wound up about that then maybe they should try having a "mens" conversasion with me and my freinds. Then again maybe not-theyd probably die of over excitement.
As it is i dont see whats wrong with it. Shes perfectly comftable with her sexuality as i am with mine. Whats wrong with it.
SlaveToDorkness wrote:I would say the offense was more in the implication of rape more than the word vagina.
Certainly not what I read there, they were offended by the word. If there was outrage at it being about rape, that would have been the first thing they'd have said 'mocking the terrible crime of rape' or somesuch. They got all flustered because she said vagina.
SlaveToDorkness wrote:
But don't let me stop the "ooooh Lausy look how crazy doze Publicans is!" show...
That reads as racist, if your intention was to write in 'black patois'... So, prudish and prejudiced?
Frazzled wrote:That was offensive, but it was funny, I don't care who you are.
Well it was from the fast show and was made in the nineties, that great decade where we had political correctness but it had not "gone mad" yet. The fast show took the piss out of everyone though, gay police in Amsterdam, Greek kebab van owners, socially awkward Germans apologising for the war, Scousers, the rich, the poor, the old, teenagers, anyone they could think of really.
Frazzled wrote:That was offensive, but it was funny, I don't care who you are.
Well it was from the fast show and was made in the nineties, that great decade where we had political correctness but it had not "gone mad" yet. The fast show took the piss out of everyone though, gay police in Amsterdam, Greek kebab van owners, socially awkward Germans apologising for the war, Scousers, the rich, the poor, the old, teenagers, anyone they could think of really.
It has hardly been silenced by PC gone mad.
The Bleak Old Shop of Stuff made a number of similar jokes, and that was on BBC2. At Christmas!
“Ah, men cannot hear women when they talk about business, due to their high-pitched weak-brained voices. It is a true fact of Victorian science."
Most people are clever enough to recognise a parody when they see one.
I now call for a moratorium on the word vagina and suggest the less offensive descriptor moochie cat. That way when debating public heatlh on the floor of the senate, or other serious arena, we will not offend others.
Ahtman wrote:I now call for a moratorium on the word vagina and suggest the less offensive descriptor moochie cat. That way when debating public heatlh on the floor of the senate, or other serious arena, we will not offend others.
I vote for Innie-Wang. And ovaries will be called Stealth Nards.
dæl wrote:
Well it was from the fast show and was made in the nineties, that great decade where we had political correctness but it had not "gone mad" yet. The fast show took the piss out of everyone though, gay police in Amsterdam, Greek kebab van owners, socially awkward Germans apologising for the war, Scousers, the rich, the poor, the old, teenagers, anyone they could think of really.
It has hardly been silenced by PC gone mad.
The Bleak Old Shop of Stuff made a number of similar jokes, and that was on BBC2. At Christmas!
“Ah, men cannot hear women when they talk about business, due to their high-pitched weak-brained voices. It is a true fact of Victorian science."
Most people are clever enough to recognise a parody when they see one.
Never saw Bleak Old Shop of Stuff, was it any good?
I personally don't think PC has gone mad, I quite like that we treat people with respect, but it seems people these days are all far too easily offended, like an army of Mary Whitehouses. Which is kind of why people are debating the offensiveness of the word vagina. I mean that seems a parody in itself.
Bleak Old Shop was a bit patchy but overall pretty good.
The thing that annoys me above all else is people on the internet who get annoyed about people on the internet who get annoyed about people on the internet who get annoyed about people on the internet get annoyed about things.
Actually I don't give a rat's arse about them but I can't stand their moaning.
Ahtman wrote:I now call for a moratorium on the word vagina and suggest the less offensive descriptor moochie cat. That way when debating public heatlh on the floor of the senate, or other serious arena, we will not offend others.
Moochie caat has "kid show host" written allover it.
I think we should change the names of Space Marine chapters to vagina names to protest Congress. The Ultravaginas, the Blood Vaginas, Vagina Angels, Vagina Scars, Vagina Fists, Vagina Guard, Iron Vaginas, Vagina Wolves and Salamanders... they don't quite work...
SilverMK2 wrote:I'm pretty sure this is an example of why 99.9% of politicians should be rounded up and dumped on an island far away from people with brains and left to argue until they die of starvation, exposure etc (which seems most likely given most politicians), or learn how to ditch their petty differences and figure out how to work together for the betterment of the group.
Politicians disgust me more than any anatomical term.
Also love the amendment about men getting the snip
It's why I like the Queen so much mate. Politicians are such utter slime, such vile oxygen thieves, that by default I support anything that looks even slightly like an alternative.
Seriously, she could dissolve parliament and rule with an iron fist as far as I am concerned. Before
Big Lebowski quotes, exactly what I first thought of too when I read this.
Nice.
There is no offense over the wording, it was offense to demeanor, they felt slighted, like she making jokes at thier expense, and she was.
Also politicians of every stripe and party affilliation will try such methods to silence thier opposition. That is the nature of the work. Flush them all out the nearest airlock with the lawyers and bankers and let's get on with life.
Surtur wrote:I think we should change the names of Space Marine chapters to vagina names to protest Congress. The Ultravaginas, the Blood Vaginas, Vagina Angels, Vagina Scars, Vagina Fists, Vagina Guard, Iron Vaginas, Vagina Wolves and Salamanders... they don't quite work...
All these chapters would have to fall under the Red Rage special rule though, and once a month all of them will run around yelling "Blood for the Blood god!"
Surtur wrote:I think we should change the names of Space Marine chapters to vagina names to protest Congress. The Ultravaginas, the Blood Vaginas, Vagina Angels, Vagina Scars, Vagina Fists, Vagina Guard, Iron Vaginas, Vagina Wolves and Salamanders... they don't quite work...
All these chapters would have to fall under the Red Rage special rule though, and once a month all of them will run around yelling "Blood for the Blood god!"
JohnnoM wrote:dear god, vagina scars, blood vaginas and iron vaginas sound like horrible, horrible chapters.
There are also the Vagina Tearers, Vaginas of Damnation, Vaginas of Ecstasy, Vagina Claws, Berserker's of Vaginas, Vagina Hunters, Emperor's Vaginas, The Flawless Vaginas, Vaginakillers, Vagina Drinkers.....
There is no limit to horrible Vaginal puns you could make with Space Marine Chapter names.
Probably shouldn't leave the Choas Legions out of the fun. Sons of Vagina, Death Vaginas, Vagina Legion, Vagina Bearers, Vagina's Children, Thousand Vaginas, Vagina Lords, Vagina Warriors, and Vagina Eaters.
There are times when the pride I have for my state knows no bounds. This is not one of them.
Remember this is State Government, not Federal, so it is a bit different.
That said: To send support to Rep. Lisa Brown send email to lisabrown@house.mi.gov
Surtur wrote:Probably shouldn't leave the Choas Legions out of the fun. Sons of Vagina, Death Vaginas, Vagina Legion, Vagina Bearers, Vagina's Children, Thousand Vaginas, Vagina Lords, Vagina Warriors, and Vagina Eaters.
I'm most worried about the Vagina Eaters and Vagina Fists chapters. I feel like those are the ones most likely to cause Republicans to have heart attacks and keel over into a dirt nap....
LONG LIVE THE VAGINA EATERS AND VAGINA FISTS CHAPTERS!! MAY THEIR WORK NOT GO UNTHANKED!!
Im suddenly reminded ot the king of the hill episode where Peggy had to teach sex-ed and couldnt say the proper terms, and when she could Hank got upset.
SlaveToDorkness wrote:I would say the offense was more in the implication of rape more than the word vagina.
But don't let me stop the "ooooh Lausy look how crazy doze Publicans is!" show...
Except that excuse is complete nonsense, and obviously so given the quote in the article from Rep Mike Carlton;
"It was so offensive, I don't even want to say it in front of women. I would not say that in mixed company."
And as I pointed out earlier it's happened before over the word 'uterus'.
But don't let me stop the 'ooh here's a contrived argument that lets me pretend the Republican party doesn't have a significant loonie faction in various state congresses'
It is also entertaining that he would not speak about female reproductive systems with women while trying to pass laws about what women can and cannot do with said reproductive rights. Clearly he must be well informed on what it is women want and expect with regards this whole issue and is not just pushing his own prejudices on people...
So, for what duration of time are the people of her district effectively no longer being represented? If she permabanned, or was it just for the day, or what?
I hope you would not say that in mixed company my good sir! If you would I fear that I would have to see you with pistols at dawn! The honour of ladies everywhere demands it!
Surtur wrote:I think we should change the names of Space Marine chapters to vagina names to protest Congress. The Ultravaginas, the Blood Vaginas, Vagina Angels, Vagina Scars, Vagina Fists, Vagina Guard, Iron Vaginas, Vagina Wolves and Salamanders... they don't quite work...
Melissia wrote:Vaginamanders.
d-usa wrote:
JohnnoM wrote:dear god, vagina scars, blood vaginas and iron vaginas sound like horrible, horrible chapters.
There are also the Vagina Tearers, Vaginas of Damnation, Vaginas of Ecstasy, Vagina Claws, Berserker's of Vaginas, Vagina Hunters, Emperor's Vaginas, The Flawless Vaginas, Vaginakillers, Vagina Drinkers.....
There is no limit to horrible Vaginal puns you could make with Space Marine Chapter names.
Surtur wrote:Probably shouldn't leave the Choas Legions out of the fun. Sons of Vagina, Death Vaginas, Vagina Legion, Vagina Bearers, Vagina's Children, Thousand Vaginas, Vagina Lords, Vagina Warriors, and Vagina Eaters.
Dear gods this means my marines would either be called "Vagina Guard" or "Dragon Vaginas"
and then thered be the black vaginas, vagina templars, howling vaginas, vagina griffons, vaginas encarmine, vaginas eradicant, vaginas penitent, vaginas redeemed, vaginas repentant, angels vaginas, vaginas of fury, apocalypse vaginas, vaginas of pain, brazen vaginas, vaginas of a thousand, vagina tusks, vagina strike, vagina watch, vaginas hands, flawless vaginas, grey vaginas, hammers of vagina, vaginatallers, vagina hearts, vagina lords, vaginas unyeilding..........
Dear gods its insane! ..........Vagina overload, clitoral error, hard drive failing,......
Just thinking what about the adeptus soritas....... the order of our martyred vagina, order of the bloody vagina(or order of the vagina rose), order of the vaginas militant, order of the valorous vaginas, order of the argent vagina, order of the vaginitaller, order of the vagina adoration...... cmon someone else think of some.
Just thinking what about the adeptus soritas....... the order of our martyred vagina, order of the bloody vagina(or order of the vagina rose), order of the vaginas militant, order of the valorous vaginas, order of the argent vagina, order of the vaginitaller, order of the vagina adoration...... cmon someone else think of some.
I almost married a member of the vaginas militant...
..........Vagina overload, clitoral error, hard drive failing,......