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Cover the Children’s Ears!

By Amy Sullivan | @sullivanamy | March 31, 2011 | +

From the files of “Things That Would Be Different With More Women in Politics”:

Republican members of the Florida House of Representatives chastised a Democratic colleague today for uttering the word ‘uterus’ on the House floor during debate. Not that it should matter, but the context was a titillating discussion about deregulation. State Rep. Scott Randolph told the St. Petersburg Times that “I always say their philosophy is small government for the big guy and big government for the little guy. And so, if my wife’s uterus was incorporated or my friend’s bedroom was incorporated, maybe they would be talking about deregulating.”

A spokeswoman for the House GOP said the (male) Republican Speaker was concerned about “language that would be considered inappropriate for children and other guests,” particularly underage congressional pages. (This is where the obligatory Mark-Foley-was-from-Florida reference should go, of course.) Why is ‘uterus’ considered inappropriate? It’s an internal organ. No one blushes at the word ‘appendix.’ Oh, is it because it’s involved in the MAKING OF BABIES?

Sigh. Women, by the way, make up just a little over 20% of the Florida House of Representatives. Now they know the rules. Saying the word ‘uterus’=bad. Showing a uterus and birth canal and vagina in a graphic illustration depicting a D&X abortion=totally acceptable.

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  • Ivy_B

    They will likely ban uvula as well because it sounds dirty.

  • deconstructiva

    Feh. Imagine if Stephanie Miller, Kathy Griffin, or Sarah Silverman got elected to office. The guys in Congress would blush. (But would Amy? Other teammates?) Hey, Franken’s in office and is doing a damned good job, so maybe they could… ? Oh, if only Richard Pryor had ever pursued politics while alive, RIP. His observations about society were soooo accurate.

  • hippooath

    And we’re the PC crowd?

  • Ivy_B

    Unless it concerns women’s naughty bits.
    .
    The GOP — government out of your life except if it has to do with a woman’s body.

  • http://grapemusing.blogspot.com/ grape_crush

    Why is ‘uterus’ considered inappropriate?
    .
    Because it makes the Speaker think about womens’ hoo-has…which in turn makes his own bad parts feel all nice and tingly…which may lead to uncontrollable diddlin’ on his part.
    .
    That, or he just didn’t like the point that was being made.

  • sacredh

    Look out Uranus. I smell legislation coming down the pike. Your days are numbered.

  • apr2563

    When they play to their base, their is no limit to their stupid.
    I think our reactionary friends on this site may avoid commenting on this subject. They might not know what a uterus is (but they are against them) or can’t defend the crazy this time.
    Maybe we need to send them to Planned Parenthood for some consuling.

  • apr2563

    Don’t know if you ever watched Seinfeld. He forgot the name of a girl he had dated. He thought it rhymed with uvula.

  • http://gum0nshoe.wordpress.com gumOnShoe

    I don’t know what a uterus is, but it sounds too much like terrorist to my ears. I think we should screen for them in airports. Its sounds like something you might hide a bomb in. Anyone caught with a uterus is subject to a strip search for the good old red, white, and blue.

  • sacredh

    “Anyone caught with a uterus is subject to a strip search for the good old red, white, and blue.”
    .
    It wasn’t mine. I was just holding it for a friend.

  • nflfoghorn

    Be careful – our governor, Rick Sc–er, Bull Shannon, might hear you!
    .

  • fhmadvocat

    Can I say this? Liberals want to stick their hand in your pocket. Conservatives want to stick their hand up your “uterus”.

  • nflfoghorn

    Tragicomical, ain’t it? Abortion clinic protestors can hold up signs of “mutilated” fetuses in public but you can’t say “uterus”???

  • nflfoghorn

    You just did.

  • sacredh

    It’s all bad press and misinformation.

    Nothing is as cute to us as a peek at your uterus.

  • sacredh

    Even my keyboard groaned at that one.

  • sue_n

    Thanks, Florida! So nice to laugh at someone else’s state lege for a change.

  • chupkar

    Rusty? Freep? Anyone?

    *crickets*

  • sacredh

    You ever get the feeling that the GOP is playing the role of the straight man and just feeding us lines?

  • sacredh

    I remember the testimony when Clinton was getting impeached about the blow jobs and cum stains on Monica’s dress and the GOP lapped it up like they were hearing the gospel for the first time but now they get upset over a clinical word like uterus? Amazing.

  • nflfoghorn

    I have to shower after reading your post ;)

  • sacredh

    A couple of the threads have gotten pretty loose today. I’d swear today was tomorrow. Tomorrow is my fifth favorite holiday.

  • apr2563

    Since it seems we are comment friends on this post, I just want to share this with you. It seems to be that kind of day. Enjoy.
    .

  • apr2563

    By the way, it is from the old, pot smoking, bandana wearing, hippie.

  • hippooath

    RDW will gladly tell you that he don’t know what a uterus is but he’s against it. Which I think is a good thing.

  • sacredh

    LOL. Those were the days my friend. I thought they’d never end. At least I think I thought they’d never end. At least I think I thought I thought they’d never end. I’d like a bag of Oreo cookies and a gallon of milk.

  • formerlyjames

    My comment is awaiting moderation. Stand by.

  • formerlyjames

    Test, am I blocked here?

  • formerlyjames

    Help me out here. Somebody tell me you see my posts.

  • deconstructiva

    Maybe that newly discovered tenth planet (temp name Tyche) can be officially named Uterus. Or ninth, depending upon if the IAU (or IUD or whatever) changes its mind on Pluto.

  • deconstructiva

    I see “test”, “help” and “moderation” ones, two 17.1 posts. Was there a hidden bad word or link? Sometimes certain sites’ links get eaten. We need a list of approved / disapproved bad words like George Carlin’s Seven Words. Amy, can you post that list for us, please?

  • chupkar

    We can hear you now.

  • formerlyjames

    Thanks decon. I used a potty word. It will be ok I think.

  • http://milascurtains.wordpress.com milascurtains

    TrashPublicans are just Morons.

    There are moments, when I think – they are Domestic Terrorist – that’s how much bad they did for America.

  • http://milascurtains.wordpress.com milascurtains

    yes, You can.
    But it does not mean You made true statement.
    Keep repeating – only GOP’s parrots are listening You.

  • http://milascurtains.wordpress.com milascurtains

    stay if there is nothing else sensible to do in Your stupid life.

  • http://tisias.wordpress.com tisias

    April Fool’s! It’s a uterus!

  • kbanginmotown

    That’s twice you’ve diddled in the same day, grape. What would Freud say? ;)

  • kbanginmotown

    OMG! And ‘Venus” rhymes with…

  • kbanginmotown

    I see comments without numbers where #20 should be. Did something get deleted?

  • bobell

    Actually, April, the name Seinfeld tried was “Mulva.” (She’d told him her name rhymed with a female body part, He remembered that, but not the name itself.) But the first syllable as he pronouced it rhymed with “hull,” not “bull.”
    .
    It turned out her name was “Dolores.” (Jerry remembered, but too late.) This confused British fans of the program. It turns out that the word that Americans rhyme with “Dolores” is accented on the first syllable in the UK — and, I think, by members of the American medical establishment as well. The online Merriam-Webster offers a choice of pronunciations.

    I know what day today is, but this comment is intended to be factually correct anyway.

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