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We Have Some Bad News And Some Good News

which do you want first?

By: streiff (Diary)  |  April 7th, 2010 at 02:11 PM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

During the so-called debate on the federal takeover of the American system of health care, Senator Tom Coburn offered an amendment that would have prohibited federal funds from being used to purchase Viagra, Cialis (as well as presumably matching clawfoot bathtubs in scenic locations), etc for rapists and child molesters. (I’m not sure if Enzyte is covered under ObamaCare but it would be surprising if it weren’t.) This was derided as nothing more than a tactic designed to derail Obama’s legacy. The amendment failed.

Now, admittedly, had the Senate passed Coburn’s amendment it would have created an interesting vote in the House but the tactical use of the amendment doesn’t detract from its truthfulness. From Roll Call:

The Congressional Research Service confirmed in a memo Wednesday that rapists and sex offenders may get federally subsidized Viagra and other sexual performance enhancing drugs under the recently passed health care reform law — information that Republicans charge will haunt Democrats in upcoming elections.

So that is the bad news, at least it is if you are living in the vicinity of a currently incapacitated rapist or child molester or if you are a Democrat senator in a Red or purple state who voted against Senator Coburn’s amendment.

Now for the good news.

If you are raped Obamacare will cover the cost of your abortion and any mental health counseling you may require. When life gives you lemons, etc.

On a serious note, the next time you hear death panels pooh-poohed, keep this story in mind and pray neither you nor a loved one ever needs expensive medical care to stay alive.

(h/t to Aaron Gardner for the inspiration)

COMMENTS

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  • ryan_8287

    Honestly? This is a debate? Is the population of erection-dysfunctional rapists and pedophiles really large enough to make this an issue? What are the added costs of doing a background check on every single person who buys one of these products?

    More importantly, is lack of access to Viagra really a dealbreaker in sexual violence? If a sexual predator can’t get his state-subsidized happy pills, is he really gonna throw in the towel and find a new hobby? Take up quilting or something? I doubt it.

    This is unproductive — childishly contratrarian — and seems to fly directly in the face of limited-government principles.

    • streiff

      1. You may be in favor of giving sex aids to rapists and pedophiles, sane people aren’t.

      2. If there is one person in that category, either now or potentially in the future, then the amendment was justified.

      3. What are the added costs of doing background checks on school employees?

      4. Do you have proof that an impotent person can commit rape? I’d like to see the study.

      5. Your opinion about productivity might possibly be of interest to you. To others, not so much.

      6. As to limited government principles, those were already dead when this bill was passed. Senator Coburn was merely trying to add sanity.

      7. I’d hasten to point out there is nothing in your record on Twitter or as an alleged journalist that indicates you could pick a limited government principle out of a one-person line up.

      8. Go troll some other place.

      • cabanon

        rape most definitely can be committed by an impotent person.

      • rj1913

        At 1st glance, it’s appalling to think that tax $ will pay for dental visits for rapist and pedophiles. But in reality, a humane society doesn’t pride itself on disregarding a desolate person with an abscessed tooth. There’s a moral obligation to sew flesh, set bones, and render basic medical needs regardless of the persons’ social standings or criminal record. So perhaps a better argument might be to ban coverage for Viagra for anyone. But that’s opening another door.

        Rape and child molestation for the most part and particularly with older offenders (those that would be a candidate for Viagra, Lavitra, et al.), is not an act requiring sexual gratification. Also, E.D. drugs such as Viagra are not sexual enhancing or stimulating. They have nothing to do with a persons “drive”.

        Realistically, people with such deranged objectives would be far less apt to strike with a festered tooth.

    • zroxx

      Will you concur that limited-government principles demand that taxpayer funds not be used to subsidize any purchases of Viagra, Cialis, Enzyte, etc for any citizens? And that central planners at the federal government should not have the authority to direct taxpayer funds in such a manner, let alone decide who is entitled to such a subsidy and who isn’t?

      If citizens are so concerned by their neighbor’s capacity for erection, then let them freely associate, form private charities, and persuade other citizens to kick in for the sake of subsidized Viagra. They can run it as they please, giving benefits out to who they please, without appropriating funds from citizens who would rather not direct their resources in that manner.

      • eastbaylarry

        but that’s an arguement for not having the government involved and we missed that train.

        Still, from the ‘sanity’ point of view, sex enabling drugs for sex offenders does NOT make sense. What would be next? Guns for armed robbery convicts?

        • zroxx

          There’s certainly no reason that train can’t be called back and re-routed. The question is, will the upcoming (R) congressional majority have the wherewithal to do the right thing?

          Or will they make excuses like, oh, that train, gone, sorry.

          • davesinsanantonio

            and not squishes. Real conservatives will have the backbone to de-fund this stupid law, and other such stupid laws, until such time as they can disband dangerous agencies altogether. The Rinos will not have such a backbone. Thus, we need to back conservatives in the primaries, then any Republican in the general election. At this point, any Republican is better than a Demrat. But, we need to support conservatives first.

    • Flagstaff

      The underlying point is that a “Health Care Plan” that sets the stage for the subject to come up (no pun intended) is a bad one. That’s the point. There will be more examples that will surface; this just happens to be the first one.

      A 2700 page law cannot possibly make much sense. It’s too big to succeed.

    • bobandruth2416

      It shouldn’t be a debate…common sense should be the rule, and when someone makes the effort to get it right, why is it voted down?

  • jedskillman

    I have to hand it to you, I didn’t expect a laugh at the end of this article but that’s the Power of Positive Thinking.

  • larryp
    • streiff

      but I’m sure it will eventually be covered by ObamaCare if not already.

      And this was a difficult response (oops, almost said hard) because I had so many witty things to say and it is a family site.

      • eastbaylarry
  • Menlo

    I’d be outraged that the government would fund such a thing for anyone. In NO way is that a form of “health care,” and even private insurance should not be allowed to cover it.

    What Republicans should have done is to propose taxing it.

  • ciscoguy

    Did anyone hear them? It was a clip from a town hall meeting when someone asked him about the Constitutionality of incarceration for failing to buy health insurance. He sounded like John McCain, for God’s sake. All this, what, 3 weeks after he professed to assoicate any new district appropriations with congressmen of flipped health care votes for purposes of negative campaign ads? -deals that presumably Pelosi would have been congnizant of or outright brokered. He sounded like a different person. Am I allowed to speculate that the left must have some dirt on him? He’s dodged all attempts for clarification on the matter.

    • treeofliberty

      Coburn’s comments on the fact of it seem very disappointing and strange given his previous positions on the HC takeover and sleazy backroom deals.

  • afellowpatriot

    it’s expensive. i can’t afford it. if i rape my neighbor can I have some for free? does my neighbor have to complain first, or can i walk into a prison and say i might have raped someone ( see, i’d be smart enough not to commit) and could i get some viagra pills? wouldn’t they rather give them to a non-convicted rapist instead or a convicted rapist? or is the convicted one better?

    Wow, i wish i could afford viagra.

  • Marcus_Traianus

    Does ObamaCare and thereby my fellow citizens cover bad eyesight?

    Frankly, I believe my night vision could use some improvement and an optical aide, such as a SpecterDR, may be helpful- you know, since we are extending (so to speak) the meaning of “Health and Welfare”.

    Added bonus- clearly seeing pedophiles jacked-up (again, so to speak) on Viagra at 800 yards.

  • rivahmitch

    The only good news I ever expect to see about BO or members of his communist cabal will be obituaries

    • weatherford

      But we have to keep pulling for him.

      • Beasley Beesmeal

        what’s your deal?

      • Jack_Savage

        …you know what I mean. I was hoping you would take the advice found in my intial responses to you – the part about hanging out, reading, getting to know us and avoiding pi$$ing contests, especially with very well respected posters who also happen to be moderators.

        You had some interesting things to say at times. And that is why I was hoping your better angels would prevail – i.e. “pulling” for you.

        All the best.

  • weatherford

    What planet are you on, man? It cant be in this solar system.

    • ocleverone

      Can you dismantle his argument? Is the premise a joking matter?

      Enlighten me.

      • weatherford

        If there is still any interest in this bizarre, pointlessly distracting absurdity after I get home, I’ll do my best.

        • ocleverone

          /snark

        • Beasley Beesmeal

          please treat him accordingly…

          • Bill S

            and this is just his way of throwing a hissy fit.

    • http://www.hakubi.us/ Neil Stevens

      Sorry Streiff, but it’s spreading and I have to steal your kill.

      • CincoSolas_del_Bronx

        Glow’ring storm amid
        bright weather, for days he railed–
        ’til he got Neiled. (nailed?)

  • bobandruth2416

    I attempted to look at the roll call vote via the included link, but one has to either work in Washington, or pay $310 a year to read this. Where is the roll call for us parsimonious folks?