Paul Revere by Cyrus Dallin, North End, Boston

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Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Michigan GOP: We Have the Right to Regulate Your Sexual Relationships




Incredibly, the party that bellows the loudest about keeping government out of our lives is at it again, trying to insert the government into our most private and personal activities.

What is it about the GOP and its pols that make them so hot to regulate what consenting adults do with each other's reproductive parts?

These are the same folks who are apoplectically against the government making sure that American citizens have the opportunity to afford health care, but who happily propose all sorts of initiatives that are none of their business.

I'm betting we won't see anything about this government intrusion on the usual conservative blogs [see, this isn't about sodas and firearms], because this latest absurdity doesn't fit their narrative that the GOP is a freedom-loving, anti-intrusive government party.  Of course we know it is nothing of the sort.  

When it comes to women's bodies and sexual relationships, the GOP is right up there with other repressive groups telling everyone what they can or cannot do with their bodies, and they are shameless about their hypocrisy.


"On September 9, 2013 Attorneys for the state of Michigan filed paperwork in District Court asserting the state’s right to “regulate sexual relationships.” 

The court filing is in response to a civil action filed earlier this by Plaintiff  Deboer. Deboer filed a suit against the state’s unconstitutional same sex marriage ban, which denies same sex couples the right to marry or to adopt children. 

In the state’s response, filed on behalf of Republican Governor Rick Snyder, the Michigan attorney general claims: “One of the paramount purposes of marriage in Michigan — and at least 37 other states that define marriage as a union between a man and a woman — is, and has always been, to regulate sexual relationships between men and women so that the unique procreative capacity of such relationships benefits rather than harms society.” 

 Far from being a casual statement made off the cuff, this is a statement that has been carefully crafted by the state’s attorneys, and undoubtedly reflects the position held by [Republican Governor] Snyder ['s] administration."



This is what a TeaPublican-run country would look like: Tax-cuts forever for the 1%, no universal health care--the end of providing food stamps for the hungry--the hell with the middle class and the poor--no marriage equality, reinstituting DADT, strict regulation of sexual relationships for everyone--especially you homos!, and tattooed, AR-15-toting blondes with large hooters representing our American values! 

32 comments:

Anonymous said...

As a Michigan resident (who voted straight Dem ticket) I am disgusted with the carnage that the GOP government (control all three chambers AND the MI Supreme Court) has wrought since taking power. They turned MI into a right to work state, RAISED TAXES on retirees and the middle class so they could cut taxes on the rich and corporations, damn near didn't pass Medicaid expansion, eliminated the Earned Income Credit, and the cherry on top (although I will give them that there was probably no other alternative) put Detroit into bankruptcy. I predict a massive Democratic route in the next state wide election.

Tim

Shaw Kenawe said...

My condolences to you, Tim. Unhappily, it's not just your state, Michigan, that's been devastated.

Wisconsin's poor job growth [I believe they're No. 44--on of the lowest in the country's recovery] as well as Rep. Gov. Walker's attacks on unions and women are disgraceful.

And don't get me started on a state I used to live in, Florida.

okjimm said...

and don't get me started on Walker. Just thinking about him makes my scalp itch....he is a fungus that defies treatment. gees...now I need to go rinse my mouth out with beer just to restore a good taste.

Capt. Fogg said...

I'm reading Reza Aslan's book about Islam and one of it's central themes and apparently something that came out of a growing wealthy class and growing poor class in 6th century Mecca, was the notion that morality centered around taking care of the poor and helpless, the sick, the elderly, the orphans, the widows.

No wonder the GOP hates Muslims so much.

But the central theme of the degenerate pseudo-Christians that infest the GOP like intestinal parasites is sexual perversion, pure and simple. They're obsessed with sex and reproduction because it terrifies them. They're terrified of that sick pervert God they invented who doesn't think you should feed the poor or cure the sick and cares most about sex - how and why and when and with whom. They're not too particular about that for their own part - toilet stall trysts being so common, but they sure want to control loving relationships and make sure you don't enjoy anything without their permission.

Perverts. Sickos. Creeps and assholes - all of them.

Les Carpenter said...

As far back as I can remember, well, actually that is a misstatement.

As far back as I have been politically in aware I always said the libs (dems) want to put their hands deep into your pockets and the cons (rebubs) want to put presence deep into your bedroom.

Not much has changed.

There is something to be said for common sense and respect for anthers property and their right to privacy.

Anonymous said...

I agree with Rational Nation USA:

Demicans and Republicrats, two wings of the same statist pterodactyl.

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Nah. Dems don't want to tell you who you can have sex with.

Infidel753 said...

You can shoot them, but you can't shag them. Plain and simple.

Ducky's here said...

" ... tattooed, AR-15-toting blondes with large hooters representing our American values!"
------
Did I miss something?

Ducky's here said...

Capt. Fogg, in defense of the Christian god, we should recognize that the Baggers, or was it Ronnie Raygun, tossed out the Sermon on the Mount and started passing off this religious perversion.

Shaw Kenawe said...

"Did I miss something?"

The reference is from Capt. Fogg's post "Here he is, Mr. America" below this post.

Mark S. said...

The right to regulate procreation? Regulating procreation means deciding who can have children, and how many. Under this theory, the state could make it illegal for single women to have children, could limit the number of children a couple could have. And since by Michigan`s definition the purpose of marriage is procreation, those incapable of procreating have no reason to marry, and the state has no legal interest in sanctioning such a marriage......

Infidel753 said...

Mark S: Under this theory, the state could make it illegal for single women to have children

Please don't give them ideas!

Thayer Nutz said...

Seen on a frightwing blog:

C'mon, anti-gun statists, you can do it. Tell us your real agenda. You've opened up on other topics...

President Obama ushered in a bright new age where his fans could openly advocate socialism and trash American free market capitalism. Progressives freely damn the constitution as standing in the way of "Progress." There is no shame or stigma in advocating for abortions. Indeed, it is a badge of honor, as is throwing mudballs and dirtclods at traditional morality and religion, organized and otherwise (excluding Islam. No liberal is so brave as to risk having her throat slit).

So tell us your anti-gun end-game.



you were correct shaw...nothing about the frightwing governments intrusion into people's reproductive and sex lives...the nutter are only worried about the gummint taking away their AR-15s...hypocrital goons...all of them....

Anonymous said...

-- Nah. Dems don't want to tell you who you can have sex with. --

But they do force the rest of us to get up in the stirrups so government can play doctor.

Dems also believe in jailing nuts who burn korans or who make crappy movies criticizing islam and violating their First Amendment rights.

Leo T. Lyon said...

30,000 gun deaths each year in Amerika and the crazies don't get the connection between the number of firearms in circulation and the number of firearm deaths each year. Their solution to gun violence is more guns and less regulation.

Mind numbing idiocy.

Vickie O. S. said...

"So PROUD to be a Michigander. NOT. What a shameful display of hate and power over women's and men's decisions about their own bodies and who we can sleep with. Following the logic of this proposed legislation, I'd be ineligible for marriage based on the fact that I'm "of a certain age" and no longer able to reproduce. Keep telling me the Republican party is the party of freedom, because there's nothing very free about them wanting to legislate with whom I choose to--gasp--have sex. Shame on anyone who supports these power-grabbing jug heads."

Shaw Kenawe said...

Anonymous@9:11 AM,

"But they do force the rest of us to get up in the stirrups so government can play doctor."

Wrong. You're talking about GOP state governors and legislatures that want to force girls and women who seek abortions to have a trans vaginal probe that has no medical purpose except to frighten or shame the girl or woman seeking the abortion. That's government sanctioned rape in the legal sense, since the girl or woman would have to endure that forced probe AGAINST HER WILL.

I googled your second claim and found that people who burned the Koran in the UK were jailed. Can you provide links to where that happened in the US? Thanks.

(O)CT(O)PUS said...

FYI,
Last week, Terry Jones was arrested for a planned burning of almost 3,000 copies of the Koran. Although arrested on technicalities, there are serious questions raised regarding Jones' first amendment rights.

Nevertheless, the man is a dangerous kook. Knowing that burning a Koran inflames people of the Moslem faith, such actions put Americans everywhere at risk - business people, travelers, tourists, diplomats, military personnel, etc, etc. Why put fellow citizens at risk! Jones' actions are stupid, reckless and, most of all, pathologically narcissistic.

Speaking of pathologically narcissistic, the anonymous commenter is merely a partisan troll - more deserving of a 'delete' action than a reply.

Anonymous said...

From US News:

Jones was arrested before he could torch 2,998 Qurans on the 12th anniversary of 9/11

http://www.usnews.com/news/newsgram/articles/2013/09/12/quran-burning-pastor-terry-jones-arrest-could-be-unconstitutional-experts-say

He also got a phone call from the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Anonymous said...

Shaw Kenaw,

Your eight-legged friend's justification for violating citizens' rights is scary

Anonymous said...

If you can't defeat it,
You must delete it.


Dass ist der treuer Amerikannischer Lebensweg, nicht wahr?

Don't brook any opposition, just make it DISAPPEAR.

How Stalinesque!

How Hitlerian!

How Demonic!

How sadly predictable!

FreeThinke said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
(O)CT(O)PUS said...

Anon-y-Mouse (at 1:44 PM): "Your eight-legged friend's justification for violating citizens' rights is scary

Who? Me? Violating citizen's rights? You see, here are first five words of the First Amendment:

"Congress shall make no law ..."

... which is exactly what we have, i.e. a Congress that makes no laws. However, I am NOT Congress. As the estimable Wednesday Addams says: “Be afraid. Be very afraid.

Anonymous Anonymous said...

If you can't defeat it,
You must delete it.


Right. We saw that put into action during the BUSH administration on the Plame scandal. Funny how your kind notices it only when Dems are in office...hypocrite...

Anonymous said...

Octopus: I was referring to your justification of our government violating the rights of kooks who burn korans.

Dictatorial governments need good true believers like you.

Anonymous said...

re the Plame scandal. She and her husband freely told their whole story and were feted. No jackboots visiting them in the middle of the night, or jailing them on false pretenses.

And speaking of jail, Scooter Libby was sentenced over it.

I would say that is a triumph of personal liberty over shady government.

Shaw Kenawe said...

Anon: "re the Plame scandal. She and her husband freely told their whole story and were feted. No jackboots visiting them in the middle of the night, or jailing them on false pretenses."

Their lives were irrevocably disrupted. She lost her job, which otherwise would NOT have happened had the BUSH administration (Rove) and VP Cheney not put a contract out on her ("Fair Game"). Other agents' lives were placed in danger as well. Joe Wilson was vilified by the Right.

Other than that, it was a walk in the park for the Plame family.

Anonymous said...

" Joe Wilson was vilified by the Right. "

That's a badge of honor in our progressive society.

The Plames are materially better off thanks to that scandal.

Shaw Kenawe said...

Anon: "The Plames are materially better off thanks to that scandal."

So Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have been in touch with you to tell you they give thanks to the Bush Administration for the great thing it did to them?

Tell us about your close friendship with these folks and how often they give you an update of their materially better off lives.

(O)CT(O)PUS said...

Anon (at 11:31 AM): "The Plames are materially better off thanks to that scandal."

Since no one here is actually privy to their tax returns, the statement is bogus (anyone can make up unsubstantiated crap these days).

Valerie Plame was also a senior and highly experienced operative assigned to the Iran Intelligence Unit. Did her loss make the U.S. better off, the CIA better off, or American citizens safer and better off? I think not. Funny how some folks can rationalize a partisan hatchet job that seriously compromised national security interests.

With patriots like you, who needs anemones!

(O)CT(O)PUS said...

Anon (at 9:34 AM): "Dictatorial governments need good true believers like you."

During WWII, America was at war and citizens were called upon to make sacrifices on behalf of their country. In the 1940s, there was this oft used phrase: "Loose lips sinks ships."

As mentioned in my earlier comment: "such actions put Americans everywhere at risk - business people, travelers, tourists, diplomats, military personnel, etc, etc. Why put fellow citizens at risk!"

In burning Korans, Terry Jones is a loose lip putting American lives at risk. There is virtue in exercising judgement and self-restraint; but when people such as you justify the actions of a dangerous crackpot, then you paint yourself as one too.

I sometimes think the terms "liberal" and "right wing" are reversed; a traditionalist such as myself understands and appreciates what Thomas Jefferson called "unwritten rules, customs, and courtesies" that are the foundations of polite and civilized society.

In contrast, you are simply crass and devoid of class.