LA Dems Call Out Coburn On Viagra Amendment -- Why Not Throw In Prostitution As Well?

[babylonsister]

:spray:

http://tpmlivewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/03/la-dems-call-out-coburn-on-viagra-amendment----why-not-throw-in-prostitution-as-well.php

LA Dems Call Out Coburn On Viagra Amendment -- Why Not Throw In Prostitution As Well?
Jillian Rayfield | March 24, 2010, 4:20PM


The Louisiana Democrats released a snarky little statement today, calling out Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK), who has introduced a health care amendment to the try to prevent states from providing drugs like Viagra to convicted sex offenders.

Said the Dems of Coburn: "Surely he would agree that anyone who has admitted or been found guilty of involvement with prostitution should not be covered either."

Coburn's amendment seeks to cut off federal funds to those on Medicaid who are "convicted sex offenders, child molesters, and rapists," because sexual enhancement drugs are covered under the program.

We reported earlier that the Republican strategy to derail the reconciliation bill is to force Democrats to vote down politically juiced-up amendments so that they can paint Dems as sympathetic to sex offenders and fraudsters in November.

And Louisiana Democrats are wondering why prostitution wasn't included in there:

If Senator Coburn believes that federal law should not allow coverage of erectile dysfunction medications to folks whose impulses have led them to break the law, then surely he would agree that anyone who has admitted or been found guilty of involvement with prostitution should not be covered either.

Then they get really snarky:

Of course, there's a slight chance that Senator Coburn's amendment is simply a partisan ploy aimed at neutering health care reform. In which case, our only suggestion to Senator Coburn is to stop playing games and get serious.

Perhaps the LA Dems had Sen. David Vitter (R-LA), who has been known to dally with prostitutes in the past, on their minds when crafting that statement.

[BeyondGeography]

1. Gloves.officially.off.

:thumbsup:

[DoBotherMe]

2. I was hoping we'd come up with an equivalency

This one works! So sit down and shut up Coburn. Dana ; )

[cynatnite]

3. Senator Bennett from Colorado is introducing this as separate legislation...

It gives the Dems some very good cover. Good man and an excellent idea.

[babylonsister]

4. ?? Prostitution? I'm not understanding; this was the first amendment

Coburn offered yesterday, but I don't know what happened today.

[cynatnite]

7. Sorry, I should have explained...here you go...

Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) plans to announce this afternoon that he plans to offer legislation that would resemble an amendment by Republican Tom Coburn that would prohibit coverage of Viagra for child molesters and rapists.

Since Coburn announced the amendment last night, Democrats have cringed at having to oppose such an amendment since they want to keep the reconciliation bill free of any changes so they can send the measure swiftly to President Barack Obama’s desk for his signature.

But Bennet – who faces a tough primary fight in Colorado this year - may have found a way to help shield Democrats from the political attacks that would almost certainly ensue from opposing such measures.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/3/24/850336/-Coburns-Dysfunction:-His-Health-Proposal-Doesnt-Contain-Viagra-Ban

[babylonsister]

8. Thank you! nt

[cutlassmama]

10. how is a physician supposed to know if someone is a rapist before

they write a Rx?

[Bucky]

5. I dunno, as I understand it, Viagra laws are authorized under the Pursuit of Happiness clause

And how can you pursue happiness if you can't point to it first?

Maybe the right strategy is to demand that Coburn recuse himself from voting on this issue due to conflict of interest.

[aquart]

6. This is picky, I know, but has any doctor EVER done that?

Given Viagra to a sex offender?

[babylonsister]

9. Probably not, but it doesn't matter. That's not the rethugs' point;

their point is to try to put Dems in a bind and to embarrass. I don't think they'll accomplish either.

[JoeyT]

11. Actually given how screwy the sex offender laws are now, prostitutes

would be prevented from getting Viagra in states that register them as sex offenders. Some of Louisiana and Kansas would be included in that. Anyone that patronizes a prostitute is registered as a sex offender too. I know it's a bit off topic, but one should never miss a chance to point out how utterly stupid our sex offender lists have become. The majority of the people on those lists aren't child molesters and rapists, no matter what the original intent was. They're dumbass teens that were sexting or streaking and consenting adults that got on the wrong side of the Talibornagains.

Of course the Democratic objection isn't that the sex offender lists are now more like a "Offended the sensibilities of the community" list. That wouldn't be "Tough on crime".

[CaliforniaPeggy]

12. I believe that Viagra is not covered by Medicare now...

It's a moot point.

:shrug: