From the Florida House to national media, 'uterus' is runaway hit

[seafan]

I'm sure y'all have heard about this story that erupted last week in the hard right Florida GOP Legislature, as they're busily pushing 18 different anti-abortion bills through the Legislature.

The horror! A Democrat said the word 'uterus' during session.



Rep. Scott Randolph, D-Orlando
STEVE CANNON / AP


Here he is on Rachel Maddow's show last night. (5:20)


Aaron Sharockman writes in the St. Petersburg Times:

April 7, 2011

TALLAHASSEE — A little thing happened in the Florida House two weeks ago. A Democrat from Orlando said "uterus" during a floor debate.

No one much noticed, or cared, until word leaked that Republicans told Democrats they couldn't say the word.

.....

Randolph, 37, got the idea from his wife.

If she would incorporate her uterus, she said one night over dinner, maybe Republicans would drop 18 antiabortion measures they are considering during the legislative session.

Republicans, after all, are against business regulations.
.....

So, on March 25:

.....

"It's easy to practice an ideology of convenience," he said. "If my wife incorporated her uterus, you all would say hands off. If my friends incorporated their bedroom, you'd say hands off. But now we're standing here and we're saying we're going to increase regulation on a specific type of membership organization. And that's unions."

.....

Soon after, Randolph was told by the Republican House leadership — through Minority Leader Ron Saunders — that he was not to discuss body parts on the floor.

The reason? Because of the 12-to 14-year-old pages watching.

"The speaker believes it is important for all members to be mindful of and respectful to visitors and guests, particularly the young pages and messengers," said Katie Betta, a spokeswoman for House Speaker Dean Cannon.

.....

And from Janet Zink at Tampa Bay's The Buzz:

April 6, 2011

.....

On Wednesday, House Speaker Dean Cannon dismissed the controversy.

"This is silly," Cannon said. "Number one, I haven't spoken to Scott Randolph in many weeks. And I think one of the reasons he is probably one of the least effective members of the Democratic caucus is he substitutes things that have provocative value or shock value rather than making policy arguments. Not only have I not spoken to him or reprimanded him or had any conversation with him, we have not banned the word uterus from the floor."

.....

How classy of you, Mr. Cannon. Even as you are busily trying to restrict established reproductive rights of women in Florida.


Florida House Speaker Dean Cannon


In that acerbic comment toward his fellow legislator, Mr. Speaker Dean Cannon illustrates the mean-spirited, vicious personal slurs that so typify this bunch of hard right extremists. This is the plague that should be swept out of power in our state government. For all time.

Update: Randolph offered up a response to Cannon's charge that he is not effective: "I want to congratulate Dean Cannon on being the most effective legislator at destroying the middle class in this country," he said, adding that he himself has been effective at calling out Cannon on the GOP for their "radical agenda."

"He's been effective at attacking the uninsured, the unemployed, the underprivileged and, obviously, the uterus and a woman's right to choose," Randolph said.

Currently about 18 bills restricting abortion are moving through the legislature.

.....

Randolph also said he believes his comment was right on topic during the union dues debate and he was trying to point out the "ideology of hypocrisy."

"They're the deregulators. They're the anti-government people. And we're standing there and we're deciding to regulate one particular type of membership organization and that's unions. Just like they want regulate women's bodies," he said. "They're picking and choosing who to regulate. They're the anti-regulation people. They choose to regulate women. They choose to regulate unions. They choose to regulate people's bedrooms. That's what they do."

Ladies, incorporate your uterus. Perhaps then, the hard right Republicans running the Florida Legislature will leave it alone.



The Uterati strike back. (Hat tip to Mrs. Scott Randolph.)




{Edited for a few obvious typos)

[wtmusic]

1. Uteri are people too. nt

[ejpoeta]

2. notice cannon said he hadn't talked to randolph.... i believe randolph said the

leadership went to the head of the caucus or whatever and THEY went to him..... so technically he may not have 'spoken to' randolph, that doesn't mean he and his ilk haven't reprimanded him.

[deutsey]

3. Whereas without batting an eye a man will refer to his dick or his rod or his Johnson.

[Sal Minella]

4. But "Vagina . . ."

The word makes some men uncomfortable.

Particularly those who are trying to regulate/prohibit its use, apparently.

[provis99]

5. but those are cutesy names!

Maybe saying 'penis' is obscene to Republicans? :shrug:
Somehow, a guy talking about his 'penis' is grosser than a guy talking about his 'wang' or 'tool'?

[Marrah_G]

6. That house speaker is CREEPY looking

[dionysus]

8. he's got that serial killer look about him...

[Lint Head]

7. I am going to call the Florida State House and say uterus

over and over until they hang up on me. It is a clinical word.The Florida GOP can go to hell.

[louis-t]

9. Uh, if 12 to 14 year olds haven't heard the word 'uterus'

someone is not doing their job. Repugs, once again screaming "THINK OF THE CHILDREN!1!!1!1"

[Scuba]

10. Perhaps if I incorporate my colon, I can get free cancer treatment??? n/t