Thank you VA State Senator Janet Howell (D-Fairfax Co) for introducing an amendment to require a digital rectal exam and a cardiac stress test to men seeking an RX for erectile dysfunction. Her reasoning? Simple; “The Virginia senate is about to pass a bill that will require a woman to have a totally unnecessary medical procedure at their cost and inconvenience. If we’re going to do that to women, why not do that to men?” She was making the point that a little gender equity might go a long way; Howell’s amendment was defeated 21-18. The GOP Bill that requires an ultrasound before an abortion was passed in the Senate and now comes to R-Gov Bob McDonnell’s desk.
Now besides my firm opinion that our government has no more need of sticking its rules and regs between the sheets in our collective bedrooms or the stirrups in our OB-GYN office, I rise today in opposition of the right’s tendency to hijack our language…we Democratic women are “Pro-Choice” and you, Republican led legislators are “Anti-Choice.” Who gave you the right to call yourself “Pro-Lifers?” Many of you are for the death penalty. Isn’t that a contradiction in terms? This VA bill also instructs a provider (insert Doctor or NP or Planned Parenthood) to ask the woman seeking an abortion if she would like to see the ultrasound!!?? It also requires that the medical professional performing the ultrasound “…obtain written certification from the woman that she was offered the chance to see the image….(and)…to record whether the woman chose to see the ultrasound image or hear the fetal heartbeat.” Oh and then wait some number of days to actually have the abortion.
If I am not hearing a collective gasp from blue and red women everywhere…really? Margaret Atwood help us please! Thank you Sen Janet Howell for pointing out the folly of this horrendous attack against women. Why not play by their rules and submit the old pay to play amendment – if you mandate such a procedure VA, then you get to pay for it! Whoops, the government paying for an abortion procedure?
I think not. Hold onto your pen Gov Bob, bend over and cough!
MountainMornings 