Bill Calls for Ban on Barbie

[The Straight Story]

Bill Calls for Ban on Barbie

Lincoln County delegate wants certain dolls out of WV stores


CHARLESTON -- Barbie has been around for decades, but is it time for the blond to be banned?

It may sound silly, but it's a serious issue for one West Virginia delegate.

"I just hate the image that we give to our kids that if you're beautiful, you're beautiful and you don't have to be smart," said Del. Jeff Eldridge, (D) Lincoln County.

Delegate Jeff Eldridge introduced a bill to the house on Tuesday asking lawmakers to stop the sales of Barbie in the mountain state.

Delegate Eldridge isn't trying to target just Barbie but any doll that puts too much importance on physical beauty.

"I knew a lot of people were going to joke about it and poke fun at me. I couldn't get anybody to sign on the bill with me but I said I'm still going to introduce it," said Eldridge.

http://wowktv.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=53544

[ReliantJ]

1. Delegate Eldridge isn't trying to target just Barbie but any doll that puts too much importance on p

Well add any TV show kids watch. One step back

[Botany]

2. I'll sell Bootleg Barbies from OH

[Donnachaidh]

3. the ban may seem silly, but he's got an important point to make

"I just hate the image that we give to our kids that if you're beautiful, you're beautiful and you don't have to be smart,"

He's dead on the MARK with that. Barbie causes real problems for the girls who *aren't* blonde bimbettes with big boobs.

Don't think banning will do much, except cause a run on the dolls. But if he gets people talking about the ISSUE -- more power to him.

[paulsby]

13. regardless of his important point

it is the height of govt. nannystatism (which i detest from dems and repubs when they do it), to BAN a doll for this reason.

it is incredibly paternalistic and a gross abuse of govt. power.

if barbie sends out a "bad" message, then you counter that message with a positive message and/.or positive message dolls and you give consumers a (god forbid) choice.

he is free to start a doll company to compete with barbies, not to ban them.

it's absurd govt. nannystatism.

[Donnachaidh]

15. oh please

rw talking points. *Paternalism*??? :rofl: :rofl:

[paulsby]

17. it IS paternalism

i don't want govt. to be my daddy or mommy.

i don't want govt. banning "he man" dolls because they cause body dysmorphia (with their bulging pecs, and narrow waist) either.

it IS paternalism, and it IS wrong.

it is also disgusting when members of ANY party do it.

and the most odious and freedom suppressing legislation almost always starts with "let's do it for the children"
i don't care if something is a "talking point" if it's true

do you think govt. should ban dolls that (allegedly) cause body image problems amongst young girls?

[TBF]

20. He's right. You may not like the words he used, but it is absurd for

government to get involved in what kind of doll is sold. Sound like the gentleman from WV could use some tutoring on what he should be focusing on right now.

[paulsby]

31. thank you

the reason i used Paternalism is because it fits. i don't see it as a word exclusive to RW. not to mention that hopefully REASONABLE right and left wingers could agree that there's a lot of stuff that we might find objectionable for OUR particular kids, but that should not be the job of govt. to control.

when i was a kid, i went to a quaker school. many quakers would not let their kids play with GI Joe dolls for example. good. as pacifists, that's their CHOICE. but should a govt. official BAN "toy soldiers?" out of perceived harm to our kids? no

what if paris hilton releases a doll (maybe she has one. nothing would surprise me).

should govt. ban that?

how about risk or diplomacy (games of war)?

etc.

govt. should have (or at least should exercise) VERY limited power in regards to what consumers can buy when it comes to things like dolls, books, etc. (iow, i certainly think govt. should regulate drugs so that adulterated dangerous drugs aren't sold, or should limit porno sales to adults, etc.). i would hope we could agree on that.

NON-statists in both the RW and the left wing should band TOGETHER (or at least not be afraid of using the terminology of the other side) when it comes to smackin' down legislators who propose such crap legislation.

especially when it comes to issues that should be left to PARENTS.

i will decide what dolls my kid does or doesn't play with. not the govt.

i will decide what books i read to them, what TV shows i let them watch, etc.

[TBF]

32. I'm with you on parents being the responsible

parties for choosing their kids' toys and books. Adults can make their own choices, and I'd even legalize drugs (take away the market & tax them). But things like drugs/porn certainly are fair subjects for adults to debate and I'd expect people would hold differing opinions. I respect that. But focusing on dolls is inane - with the economic pressures out there you'd think he'd have bigger fish to fry.

[paulsby]

36. right

i'm for decrim/legalization as well fwiw.

in regards to porn, there is nothing to prevent a parent from showing their kid nudity, etc. it just means the PARENT has to buy it and then decide.

in the case of this ban, the legilsator is proposing the SALE (PERIOD!) of these dolls, thus taking away parental control.

[Posteritatis]

29. Figure out what the word means before you dismiss it. This counts (nt)

[Lost in CT]

34. It is paternalism.... You know just because it is occasionally a right wing meme

doesn't make it incorrect all the time.

[Raskolnik]

49. It is very nearly the definition of "paternalism." The government choosing what toys

are appropriate for children, not based on public safety but on the "message" being sent?

What would that be, if not paternalism?

[Quantess]

27. Agreed. Nanny state paternalism.

[KittyWampus]

16. who says Barbie isn't smart? She's come a long way.

[October]

24. I respectfully disagree

The doll did me no harm...

When I was a kid, I saw Barbie as an adult. My mom had breasts...she didn't look like Barbie, but I didn't realize Barbie's proportions until decades later when adults brought it to my attention. lol!

I loved my Barbies, and here I am at DU -- as is my daughter (18).

[InvisibleTouch]

26. I had a few Barbies as a kid...

...they weren't my favorite toys, and I didn't play with them in the "traditional" way (I was more of a rubber-snakes-n-alligators kind of girl), but I had them. I'm not a "blond bimbette with big boobs," but somehow my self-image survived. Wonder why?

I think this is silly, quite honestly. Do G.I. Joe toys threaten the self-image of boys who aren't muscle-bound action heroes?

Toys are supposed to be about creativity and fantasy. If somebody's reading an unattainable socially-dictated ideal into them, well, that can only mess up your self-image if you buy into it!

[Lost in CT]

33. So dolls that celebrate ugliness are okay???/

And fro that matter considering all the various scientific pursuits Barbie has had over the years how exactly is she stupid.

I hate seeing something this stupid coming from any politition... But it is inexcusable coming from a D.

[backscatter712]

41. I'll give you that one.

Wasn't the original designer of Barbie some ultra-creepy freakazoid sex addict?

/me googles...

Yes, yes he was!!!

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/barbie-creator-was-a-sex-addict-1297581.html

Am I in favor of banning Barbie? No. This is an issue that parents should deal with individually with their kids - make them understand that Barbie is a toy, not a role-model, and to have realistic expectations about their bodies.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

4. Gah! No more Barbie!

I'm still recovering from the discussion on the Diane Rehm show yesterday.

P.S. I had Barbies as a tall, skinny, bespectacled, auburn-haired kid, yet somehow survived.

[Deja Q]

5. Why? Did Mr Eldridge undress Barbie and discover she's not anatomically correct after all?

He'd have a better case going after the Bratz bimbos...

[JuniperLea]

6. Gee, when I was a little girl...

My Barbie was a doctor, a veterinarian, a flight attendant, a scientist, a teacher... now when you see her in the stores, she's dressed like a ho.

I guess things are running pretty smooth there in WV since Eldridge has so much time to worry about dolls. How about putting some of that time, money and effort into a program to advance the actual minds of young women?

[TK421]

21. I was just thinking the same thing..this is a real fucking emergency, isn't it?

I find it hard to believe this guy can't focus his efforts on more pressing issues

[JuniperLea]

22. My first thought was a mentoring program...

Professional women in the area mentoring young women. Not a new idea, but a winner IMHO.

[TK421]

25. Agreed, and I bet it is something they could use!

:thumbsup:

[Mari333]

7. good lord what a waste of taxpayers time and money.

geez.

[dustbunnie]

8. So women who are beautiful, men who are good-looking, can't be smart? n/t

[Thickasabrick]

9. I think there should be an ugly Barbie sister who is the wealthy one

that helps Barbie out with her clothes and car payments and stuff. We'll call her "Darby".

[Posteritatis]

10. Pretty sure there's more important things to work on there.. (nt)

[NoPasaran]

11. Some politicians will do anything to get on Colbert

[Deja Q]

12. Sounds kinky

[NeedleCast]

30. Haha, excellent response

[seabeyond]

14. i for one am glad that he is willing to say it out loud, though i would be opposed to a ban

on barbie.... i am glad that a man is speaking out. i hope he raises his eyebrows at palin

[ConcernedCanuk]

18. OMG - Barbie is now a political issue in the USA? - fricken kids dolls are an issue ???

.
.
.

now if KEN was marketed sporting a hard-on

I could possibly see a concern

But Barbie is TOO PRETTY????

Delegate Jeff Eldridge should maybe spend more time on the poor and homeless or a thousand other issues

But BARBIE DOLLS ??

JEFF - - get a grip!

[The Straight Story]

19. Yeah, it is pretty sad when puritans get into power

I hate it when people limit choices...

[tanngrisnir3]

23. His party needs to drop-kick this clown for the next election

[Lost in CT]

37. Well any doll that has all here teeth and lives in a "Dream House"

maybe "Too Pretty" for West Virginia

[NeedleCast]

28. Sweet Baby J

This is why we lose. It's a doll FFS.

[Jennicut]

35. Barbie works jobs now like being an astronaut, teacher, vet

My kids like to play with barbies and they still like to learn and be smart. Go figure, this is a waste of time.

[AZBlue]

38. Apparently he hasn't seen Physician / Veterinarian / Dentist / Astronaut / Presidential Candidate/

Teacher / Surgeon / Pediatrician Barbie! Or does he think she got all those degrees by sleeping with the professors?

[defendandprotect]

39. I've never understood anyone finding enjoyment in playing with those

dolls --- Long skinny legs -- ugly hair ---

[Fuzz]

40. Good. I'm trying to quit.

[TBF]

43. DUzy! n/t

[Dr Fate]

42. Glad to know he has time for such important manners.

It's a good thing we are not in a war or a depression or anything.

[upi402]

44. Ugh

Barbie's getting too fat, she needs a diet and shorter hotpants.

Ane WV needs a life.

[mentalsolstice]

45. I call for a ban on GI Joe

He encourages little boys to 'roid up, so they can have his exceptional 6-pack abs and pecs.

[Withywindle]

46. Well, I call for a ban on Star Wars action figures.

My own lack of a lightsaber has left me feeling inadequate for life.


(And I'm female! Oh, Dr. Freud, you were born too early.)

[ozu]

47. Good to hear that West Virginia is all set on actual issues. n/t

[Vinca]

48. Now, I'm no fan of Barbie, but . . .

this has got to be one of the stupidest wastes of a lawmaker's time I've ever seen. How about he work on more funding for education so little girls will look at Barbie and see a plastic doll with gigantic boobs and know she's a made-up character that means absolutely nothing. First Barbie, then Ken, then poor Skipper . . . it'll never end.