Insane Sex Laws Inspired by Republicans 8MAR12 & Lawmaker: Men Who Want Viagra Should Have To Watch Graphic ‘Side-Effects’ Video 2MAR12 & PRIAPISM TREATMENT VIDEO (EXTREMELY GRAPHIC)

I admire the moxy of the legislators who introduced these bills in response to the male dominated legislatures attacks on women. My favorite is from IL state Rep Kelly Cassidy D requiring men who want a prescription for viagra to first watch a video about the treatment of priapism. The story on her legislation and the video are followed by the story from Mother Jones....WARNING, THE VIDEO IS EXTREMELY GRAPHIC AND MAY BE DISTURBING TO SOME, VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED!!!!!

Lawmaker: Men Who Want Viagra Should Have To Watch Graphic ‘Side-Effects’ Video

Viagra (file; CBS)

Reporting Mike Parker
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2012/03/02/lawmaker-men-who-want-viagra-should-have-to-watch-graphic-side-effects-video/ 

CHICAGO (CBS) — Want a prescription for Viagra? You may have to sit down and watch a horrific video about the drug’s possible side effects.
A battle over that idea is brewing in the Illinois state capital. It’s linked to a controversial anti-abortion bill, CBS 2’s Mike Parker reports.
If an Illinois lawmaker gets her way, men seeking Viagra prescriptions for erectile dysfunction, will be required to watch a graphic video first.
“They need to see a visual depiction of the treatment for the most common side effect to Viagra use, which is priapism, and it’s not a pretty procedure to watch,” state Rep. Kelly Cassidy, a Chicago Democrat, says.
Cassidy says she came up with the idea because of another Springfield proposal that would require physicians, before any abortion, to offer to perform an ultrasound examination and allow the patient to view it if she chooses.

That measure came from another Chicago Democrat, State Rep. Joseph Lyons.
“There might be a little fraction of women who might want to see that ultrasound, who might change their minds. If it saves one life in Illinois, I’m for it,” he says.
Cassidy counters: “It is inappropriate to insert the legislature into a medical decision in this way. It just isn’t right.”
Asked if her proposal on Viagra is equally wrong, Cassidy replied, “If we are going to do this, we need to do it in a way that is applied equally.”
Lyons says Cassidy is merely coming up with “an unfriendly amendment to cause confusion and a diversion.”
Cassidy says she is tired of politicians deciding that “women are incapable of making their own decisions.”
PRIAPISM TREATMENT VIDEO (EXTREMELY GRAPHIC)

Insane Sex Laws Inspired by Republicans

—By Hannah Levintova

The Doctr/Flickr

As Republican lawmakers have pushed ever more intrusive and expansive uterus-related legislation, some of their colleagues across the aisle have fired back with intentionally and equally ridiculous counterproposals. From mandatory rectal exams for guys seeking Viagra to prohibitions on sperm-stifling vasectomies, most of these male-only provisions have, unsurprisingly, flopped. But they've scored big as symbolic gestures, spotlighting the inherent sexism of laws that only regulate lady parts.
Some of the tongue-in-cheek ideas introduced across the country:
Delaware: By an 8 to 4 vote, the Wilmington, Delaware, city council recognized the personhood of semen because "each 'egg person' and each 'sperm person' should be deemed equal in the eyes of the government."
Virginia: As the state Senate debated requiring transvaginal ultrasounds for women seeking abortions, Sen. Janet Howell proposed mandating rectal exams and cardiac stress tests for men seeking erectile dysfunction meds. Her amendment failed by just two votes.
Georgia: Responding to a Georgia house bill banning abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, Rep. Yasmin Neal wrote a bill outlawing most vasectomies because they leave "thousands of children…deprived of birth."

Does Limbaugh think birth control pills work like Viagra? Plus: our handy calculator shows how much you'll spend on birth control over a lifetime.

Ohio: A bill introduced by state Sen. Nina Turner would compel men to get psychological screenings before getting prescriptions for impotence meds. "We must advocate for the traditional family," Turner said, "and ensure that all men using PDE-5 inhibitors are healthy, stable, and educated about their options—including celibacy as a viable life choice."
Illinois: State Rep. Kelly Cassidy proposed requiring men seeking Viagra to watch a video showing the treatment for persistent erections, an occasional side effect of the little blue pill. As she explained, "It's not a pretty procedure to watch."
Missouri: Protesting the legislature's vote to reject Obama's contraception coverage mandate, nine female lawmakers cosponsored a bill restricting access to vasectomies except for men risking death or serious bodily harm. "In determining whether a vasectomy is necessary," the bill reads, "no regard shall be made to the desire of a man to father children, his economic situation, his age, the number of children he is currently responsible for, or any danger to his wife or partner in the event a child is conceived."
Oklahoma: When a zygote-personhood bill came before the state Senate, Sen. Constance Johnson penned an amendment declaring that ejaculating anywhere outside a woman's vagina constitutes "an action against an unborn child." Bonus: Johnson also suggested that any man who impregnates a woman without her permission should pay a $25,000 fine, support the child until age 21, and get a vasectomy, "in the spirit of shared responsibility." In response to the same bill, state Sen. Jim Wilson proposed an amendment requiring the father of an unborn child to be financially responsible for its mother's health care, housing, transportation, and nourishment during pregnancy.

Texas: Contesting a bill mandating sonograms before abortions, Rep. Harold Dutton unsuccessfully offered three amendments in a row. The first would have required the state to pay the college tuition of children born to women who decide against an abortion after seeing a required ultrasound image. The second would have subsidized the children's health care costs until age 18. When that failed, he lowered the age to 6. That didn't fly, either.

Hannah Levintova

Editorial Fellow

Hannah Levintova is an editorial fellow at Mother Jones. For more of her stories, click here. Follow her on Twitter or send her an email at hlevintova[at]motherjones[dot]com. RSS | Twitter

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TIM KAINE STANDS UP FOR VIRGINIA WOMEN; GEORGE ALLEN CONTINUES TO OPPOSE WOMEN’S INTERESTS 1MAR12

george allen is a woman hater, as evidenced by his support of legislation that would deny women access to birth control and the ability to make their own decisions concerning their health. george allen also hates children, as evidenced by his support of Virginia's "personhood" legislation and proposed national "personhood" legislation while opposing full funding of children and family programs for health care, housing, nutrition, and education. Tim Kaine supports women's rights in Virginia and nationally, will defend a woman's access to birth control through her employer provided insurance, and will work for full funding for programs that support and benefit all children and families. As our Senator he will represent all Virginians and the nation and not just those who's plans are to send george allen to D.C. signed, sealed and delivered with their campaign contributions. 

http://www.kaineforva.com/news/tim_kaine_stands_up_for_virginia_women_george_allen_continues_to_oppose_wom#When:23:13:54Z

Richmond, VA – In recent weeks, George Allen has refused to stand up for Virginia women and has instead sided with Republicans in Richmond and Washington, D.C. who have repeatedly attempted to restrict women’s rights to make their own health care choices.  Today, George Allen told Virginians he’d support legislation that could jeopardize women’s access to contraception and life-saving preventive health care.
“George Allen has proactively supported measures that could limit women’s access to contraception as well as critical preventive services like cancer screenings," said Kaine for Virginia Communications Director Brandi Hoffine.  "Whether or not he talks about it on the campaign trail – and we can see why he would want to downplay his support for these measures – Allen has made it clear that he’d be a vote to repeal decades of progress on women’s health care if he's reelected.
“Supporting divisive legislation that could deny access to contraception won’t put a single American back to work, won’t reduce our deficit, and won’t make our economy more globally competitive.  In fact, it does exactly the opposite.  Fortunately for Virginia voters, Tim Kaine has a record of rejecting divisive social battles and instead finding common ground on the types of policies that made Virginia Forbes' Best State for Business all four years of his term as Governor. That's the kind of leadership he'd bring to the U.S. Senate."
Background:

George Allen Supports Federal Personhood Legislation, And Endorsed Virginia’s Personhood Bill Which Did Not Include Language Protecting Access to Contraception
Allen Said He Supported The Personhood Legislation Passed By Virginia’s House Of Delegates And Would Push For Similar Legislation In The U.S. Senate.In an interview on WLNI’s Brian and Mari Show, Allen was asked: “The Virginia House of Delegates has passed the so-called fetal personhood bill that defines life as beginning at conception. You said that you support this measure. Would you push for the same kind of measure in the U.S. Senate?” Allen responded: “Well, I think that human life does begin at conception and I think that we ought to have policies that try to protect innocent unborn life – one of the more - yes and I would at the federal level as well for national policy.” [WLNI, The Brian and Mari Show, 2/15/12]
Real Clear Politics: “Allen Said He Would Support A Federal Version Of The [Personhood] Measure As Well.” Real Clear Politics reported, “Allen supports the [personhood] measure. ‘My commitment to protecting innocent human life is firm,’ he said in a statement. ‘I believe that life begins at conception and support legislation declaring the personhood of every individual life.’ In a radio interview this week, Allen said he would support a federal version of the measure as well.” [Real Clear Politics, 2/18/12]
George Allen Supports Blunt Amendment That Could Prevent Women From Accessing Contraception And Life-Saving Preventive Health Care

Washington Post: “George Allen Backs ‘Blunt Amendment’ On Health Coverage.” The Washington Post’s “Virginia Politics” blog reported, “The contraception coverage legislation that divided the Senate Thursday also split the candidates in Virginia’s marquee U.S. Senate race, as former governors Timothy M. Kaine and George Allen came down on opposite sides of the issue. The Senate voted 51 to 48 to table an amendment, sponsored by Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), that would have rolled back the Obama administration’s health coverage rule by allowing insurance companies and employers to opt out of covering prescriptions, such as contraceptions, or procedures they object to on religious or moral grounds. . . . Allen supports the Blunt amendment, campaign spokeswoman Katie Wright said…” [Washington Post, “Virginia Politics” Blog, 3/1/12]

George Allen Has Refused To Speak Out Against Unnecessary Ultrasound Legislation in Virginia
The Hill: “George Allen Refuses To Take Position On Va. Abortion Bill.” The Hill reported, “Former Sen. George Allen (R-Va.) has refused to take a position on the controversial bill working its way through the Virginia statehouse that would require women to have an ultrasound before they could have an abortion… While Allen came out in favor of another bill, now deferred until next year, that would redefine ‘personhood’ as beginning at fertilization in the state, he has carefully avoided taking a position on the ultrasound bill. ‘We're not going to take a position on every bill moving through the General Assembly,’ said Allen spokesperson Katie Wright when asked about his stance Monday.” [The Hill, Ballot Box Blog, 2/27/12]

Politico: “Allen’s Team Stayed Silent On A Bill Requiring A Woman To Submit To An Ultrasound Before Having An Abortion.”[Politico, 3/1/12]

Personhood legislation in the Virginia General Assembly 16FEB12

THIS personhood legislation passed by the Virginia House of Delegates is a disgrace. It is an obscene assault on a woman's choice concerning birth control and on women's health in general. The Virginia Senate must defeat this right-wing extremist attack on women and family planning, but unfortunately with a 20-20 split and a republican Lt Governor it will pass unless enough of us speak out and let our Senators in Richmond know we expect them to vote against it. Click the link to sign Tim Kaine's petition to the VA Senate, and then read my e mail to every Democratic Senator in Richmond suggesting an amendment to the bill.....

"Yes."
That was George Allen's one word answer when he was asked if he supports the personhood legislation that was passed by the Virginia House of Delegates this week and was championed by Delegate Bob Marshall, who is challenging Allen in the GOP primary.
Marshall's bill would grant "personhood" to a human embryo at the moment of conception -- which could ultimately make it illegal to terminate a pregnancy, under any circumstance, and outlaw contraception that prevents the implantation of a fertilized egg.
Yesterday George Allen had the same answer -- "Yes" -- when he was asked if he would support federal personhood legislation. This is just another example of George wasting time on divisive issues instead of focusing on what Virginia, and the nation, need -- jobs, economic stability, and a focus on the future.
Tim Kaine supports affordable and accessible contraception for all women. Sign the petition tell our State Senators that you do too.

And just in case you think that this isn't a battle over contraception -- Republicans in the House of Delegates rejected an amendment, sponsored by Democrats, which would have ensured that all forms of contraception remain legal.
It doesn't matter if the GOP nominee is Allen or Marshall -- both are willing to place a premium on extreme legislation that could jeopardize access to contraception and women's health.
We don't need their style of politics in the Senate at a time when elected officials should be rolling up their sleeves and getting to work finding the right balance of budget cuts and investments in programs like early childhood education, workforce development, and infrastructure.
Sign the petition today. Tell the State Senate that you and Tim Kaine support affordable and accessible contraception for all women.
Mike Henry
Campaign Manager

My e mail to every Democratic Senator in Richmond
Is there a Senator in Richmond brave enough to offer an amendment to the "personhood" legislation like Oklahoma state Senator Constance Johnson did? I hope so......just to slam home to the public just how obscene this intrusion into the personal lives of women really is.
Thank you,
Craig Schwanke

Constance Johnson, a bold senator of Oklahoma, reached her breaking point concerning “Personhood” bills and attempted to amend the “Personhood” Bill SB 1433 by adding her own clause to the bill.  Her clause read:

However, any action in which a man ejaculates or otherwise deposits semen anywhere but in a woman's vagina shall be interpreted and construed as an action against an unborn child.

She stated, in an article she wrote for the U.K. Guardian, that she is increasing offended by these “Personhood” bills, which focus mainly on the women and female reproduction.  She and another senator in Oklahoma are increasingly frustrated by the ridiculousness of these bills and their focus on the woman’s part in reproduction.

With Oklahoma's new, never-before-experienced Republican majority, we are seeing enactment of more and more measures that adversely affect women and their rights to access safe medical procedures when making reproductive healthcare decisions.

The Personhood bill would potentially allow governmental intrusion into families' personal lives by policing what happens to a woman's eggs without any similar thought to what happens to a man's sperm.

With her addition to the amendment, she seeks to show the absurdity in these bills concerning women.  With this current bill proposed in Oklahoma’s senate, women face criminal charges if their pregnancy ends in a miscarriage and in her opinion, fertilization of eggs outside the womb could violate the proposed personhood statute, therefore they should include a clause concerning men and their sperm, but only to show how absurd the bill is.
She stated she also seeks to draw humourous attention the hypocrisy, inconsistency, and the intrusion of privacy of the Republican proposal.  Johnson feels it is more important that we focus on health care, jobs, and education, rather than reproduction solely on the woman’s part.
According to Jezebel website, this bill seeks to call fertilized eggs “persons” before they implant to the woman’s uterus.

The bill sought to define human life as beginning at the moment of conception, before it’s even implanted in the womb, and offers full legal protection to those tiny multicelled lumps. In the words of the bill, “the unborn child at every stage of development (has) all the rights, privileges, and immunities available to other persons, citizens, and residents of this state.”

Johnson’s clause, as Jezebel pointed out, would mean that male masturbation, and anywhere else a man can think to place his sperm, other than the vagina, would violate this amendment.

WAY BIG WIN IN MISSISSIPPI 9NOV11 & 6 Reasons Mississippians Said No to "Personhood" Amendment 8NOV11

THIS is a huge victory! The hypocrisy of those supporting Amendment 26 in Mississippi are the same gop / tea-bagger right wing extremist who demand cuts in the government's social safety net programs providing for children and families in one of the poorest and least educated states in the nation. Fortunately the people of Mississippi were not fooled by the lies, deception, propaganda and blatant hypocrisy of the pro 26 campaign. This from the ACLU and Burns Strider of HuffPost......

Stand with the ACLU as we look to defeat "personhood" amendments wherever and whenever they surface. Last night, you helped win a huge victory for reproductive freedom in Mississippi. It came down to the wire, but the votes are in — and the voters have rejected Amendment 26, an outrageous effort to alter the Mississippi State Constitution to establish legal "personhood" at the moment of fertilization. As someone who's been on the ground here in Mississippi, I can tell you that we had our work cut out for us. But with your support and the work of countless volunteers, we were able to beat back this egregious ballot initiative. If it had prevailed, the measure would not only have banned abortion in Mississippi, but also put many forms of contraception off-limits. Women facing medically complex pregnancies would have been deprived of life-saving medical treatment. And women who have been raped would have been forced to carry the child of their abuser. Unfortunately, we know this fight is not over. "Personhood" amendments are the focal point in the 2012 strategies of anti-choice extremists. We won in Mississippi this year. Next year, we may have to wage battles in Arkansas, Montana, Florida, Oregon, Nevada and beyond. Affirm that you'll stand with us to defeat personhood amendments in 2012. Our victory in Mississippi has already sent a strong message to extremists who will stop at nothing to outlaw abortion. If we stand together, we can stop the escalating assault on reproductive rights. I hope you'll take a moment to celebrate this victory and stand with us as we look to defeat personhood amendments wherever and whenever they surface. 6 Reasons Mississippians Said No to "Personhood" Amendment http://www.huffingtonpost.com/burns-strider/personhood-amendment-_b_1083079.html?ref=daily-brief?utm_source=DailyBrief&utm_campaign=110911&utm_medium=email&utm_content=BlogEntry&utm_term=Daily%20Brief Only a few months ago strategists were urging their candidates in Mississippi to stay clear of the "Personhood" initiative they'd be sharing space with on the ballot. More than a few candidates, believing it was the only safe path, chose to take a public position in support of the measure defining human life as existing at the moment of conception (or cloning, or a twinkle in an eye). Disease, rape, incest not counting as exceptions. Nothing would. Felonies for everyone. Mississippi has a massively conservative voting base and heavily entrenched conservative politicians and institutions. Polling showed white and black voters overwhelmingly favored the initiative. In January, I sat in the lobby of a Washington, DC hotel with a group looking for ideas on how to defeat Personhood. My advice, partly, based on my experiences with races in the South, polling data and my personal knowledge as a native Mississippian was to assume its passage, run a singularly grassroots operation and craft a campaign that would look beyond Election Day. Fortunately, I did suggest a flexible campaign with data collection and growth capacity in case the unexpected happened and defeating the measure came into play. The unexpected happened. Mississippians defeated "Personhood" driving a stake in the heart of a movement that was planning on sweeping, state by state, through the nation. Why did they lose in arguably the most conservative state in the Union? Why did the anti-Personhood forces win a majority of the vote in Mississippi? Here are six reasons Personhood failed in Mississippi: 6.) The Personhood Initiative language was poorly crafted and made for bad policy. Doctors, for instance, became concerned about the legality of carrying out their oath to save lives. Medical groups organized. This created a foundation for thoughtful people to begin speaking out. Policy generally doesn't win elections but it does create the intellectual depth political passion and message need to prevail. 5.) Clergy stood up and said no. The Episcopal and Methodist Bishops for Mississippi publicly opposed the measure. The Catholic Bishop would not support it instead offering a critical critique. This empowered other ministers to begin speaking out. By the numbers, nothing trumps Southern Baptists in Mississippi, and their leaders remained lividly in support of Personhood. But, Methodists are the second largest denomination in the state, the Episcopal bishop and his family are legendary profiles in courage for Mississippians and the Catholic bishop's pro-life credentials brought attention to his refusal to support the measure. The clergy who spoke out provided a moral framework for the bad policy argument and an even larger moral foundation for voters. 4.) Haley Barbour, the Guv himself, publicly raised concerns about the implications of the measure; right before saying would vote for it. But, he chose to share his concerns. Why? I have no idea. He's an excellent political strategist. Like President Clinton, he's his best strategist. I find it hard to believe he didn't speak out knowing he would have an impact against the measure. He did. Haley "green lighted" many to do what they wanted to do. Vote no. 3.) The Mississippi NAACP announced their opposition to the measure. Derrick Johnson is the president. He is about as courageous and shrewd as they come. He took a stand. And, you know what? The large percentage of black Mississippians supporting Personhood began to crumble. It was leadership in action. And, it changed the outcome. A voting majority began forming of African Americans, white Democrats and upper middle class, educated white conservatives. 2.) "Mississippians for Healthy Families" organized; then they organized the state around defeating personhood. It was this group that brought together the policy concerns, messaging and grassroots organizing that synergized the opposition. Prior to the existence of "Mississippians for Healthy Families" there were only voices in the wilderness throughout the state in search of a movement. This gave them a movement. They connected these voices and brought depth, know-how and resources. Basically, they turned the opposition into a campaign; a winning campaign. Perhaps, "Mississippians for Healthy Families" has a second legacy in creating the largest and most powerful progressive database and organization in Mississippi. 1.) The forces who brought Personhood before the public insulted the intellectual and cultural sensibilities of thousands of Mississippians. They assumed Mississippi would be a cake walk. They provided grandma's 1970's abortion language that didn't speak to many younger, yet conservative, Mississippians. They were sloppy in their organizing and flippant about their opposition; condescending. Their official Personhood website looks like my child's 4th grade class designed it. I talked to many Mississippians leading up to Election Day; acquaintance after acquaintance, folks I grew up with and know as devout social conservatives. And, to the last one they were voting NO on Personhood. They were turned off by those leading the Personhood campaign. They were insulted by the assumptions of how they thought and that they were supposed to follow the leader without question. They didn't. There's a lesson here about showing up in Mississippi without your game face on. As the Ford Expedition set grows in the 'burbs with their venti bolds in the cup holders so does the sophistication. Don't bet the farm unless you've invested in the crops. Otherwise, you will lose. Ask the people of Personhood.