Stunning insights on the GOP view of women and contraceptive rights
February 17, 2012 6:40 AM Subscribe
Foster Friess, the billionaire backer of Rick Santorum’s campaign, became an instant celebrity when he went on Andrea Mitchell’s MSNBC show and said,
“Back in my day, they used Bayer aspirin for contraceptives. The gals put it between their knees and it wasn’t that costly.”
“Back in my day, they used Bayer aspirin for contraceptives. The gals put it between their knees and it wasn’t that costly.”
This post was deleted for the following reason: Ridiculous bit of crusty sexism, but it's not really post material. -- cortex
But what if a woman tapes it to the inside of one knee? WHAT ABOUT THAT, MR. FRIESS?!
posted by valrus at 6:42 AM on February 17, 2012 [7 favorites]
posted by valrus at 6:42 AM on February 17, 2012 [7 favorites]
Couldn't his campaign have self destructed after the primary?
posted by Blasdelb at 6:44 AM on February 17, 2012
posted by Blasdelb at 6:44 AM on February 17, 2012
Oh, I think he knew there was [more inside].
posted by Kirth Gerson at 6:45 AM on February 17, 2012 [8 favorites]
posted by Kirth Gerson at 6:45 AM on February 17, 2012 [8 favorites]
Foster Friess, the billionaire backer of Rick Santorum's campaign, would appear to be a huuuuge fucking idiot, but then you'd almost have to be, wouldn't you?
posted by Ipsifendus at 6:47 AM on February 17, 2012 [29 favorites]
posted by Ipsifendus at 6:47 AM on February 17, 2012 [29 favorites]
I wish I was in fact stunned by this.
posted by Shutter at 6:48 AM on February 17, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by Shutter at 6:48 AM on February 17, 2012 [2 favorites]
Maybe I'm too young, or naive, or kind-hearted, but could someone explain the aspirin in the knees thing?
posted by Think_Long at 6:49 AM on February 17, 2012 [5 favorites]
posted by Think_Long at 6:49 AM on February 17, 2012 [5 favorites]
Sounds like a huge abstinent idiot. If he's fucking, you can add the hypocrisy charge.
posted by stevis23 at 6:50 AM on February 17, 2012
posted by stevis23 at 6:50 AM on February 17, 2012
Guys he was just joking... by the way did you hear the one about the black guy, the lesbian, and the atheist? You have to be over 71 years old to get it.
posted by RolandOfEld at 6:51 AM on February 17, 2012 [16 favorites]
posted by RolandOfEld at 6:51 AM on February 17, 2012 [16 favorites]
Dear Mr Friess,
When those nice girls told you they weren't going to have sex with you because they had a headache, it wasn't because they kept their aspirin between their knees.
posted by MuffinMan at 6:51 AM on February 17, 2012 [7 favorites]
When those nice girls told you they weren't going to have sex with you because they had a headache, it wasn't because they kept their aspirin between their knees.
posted by MuffinMan at 6:51 AM on February 17, 2012 [7 favorites]
Maybe I'm too young, or naive, or kind-hearted, but could someone explain the aspirin in the knees thing?
The only way to keep the aspirin in place between the knees is have your knees closed together.
posted by NoMich at 6:51 AM on February 17, 2012 [2 favorites]
The only way to keep the aspirin in place between the knees is have your knees closed together.
posted by NoMich at 6:51 AM on February 17, 2012 [2 favorites]
I wish I was in fact stunned by this.
Yeah. This.
I'm, frankly, more stunned it didn't come from an actual candidate.
...but could someone explain the aspirin in the knees thing?
Try holding an aspirin between your knees. Now, try to have sex while holding the aspirin between your knees.
I believe it was something Ann Landers or Dear Abby first said in one of their columns.
posted by Thorzdad at 6:52 AM on February 17, 2012 [2 favorites]
Yeah. This.
I'm, frankly, more stunned it didn't come from an actual candidate.
...but could someone explain the aspirin in the knees thing?
Try holding an aspirin between your knees. Now, try to have sex while holding the aspirin between your knees.
I believe it was something Ann Landers or Dear Abby first said in one of their columns.
posted by Thorzdad at 6:52 AM on February 17, 2012 [2 favorites]
Meanwhile, a young intern at Bayer AG puts together a prospectus for a new ad campaign just in case...
posted by robocop is bleeding at 6:52 AM on February 17, 2012 [18 favorites]
posted by robocop is bleeding at 6:52 AM on February 17, 2012 [18 favorites]
"And we wore an onion on our belt, which was the style at the time..."
posted by obscurator at 6:52 AM on February 17, 2012 [44 favorites]
posted by obscurator at 6:52 AM on February 17, 2012 [44 favorites]
If you're a rich, white guy in the United States, everything is just a joke and people shouldn't be too offended when you crack wise, regardless of the context.
posted by jsavimbi at 6:52 AM on February 17, 2012 [21 favorites]
posted by jsavimbi at 6:52 AM on February 17, 2012 [21 favorites]
And it now lives-on as holy-writ "common sense" among social conservative.
posted by Thorzdad at 6:53 AM on February 17, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by Thorzdad at 6:53 AM on February 17, 2012 [3 favorites]
Thanks, NoMich, I too had no idea what Foster Friess was talking about.
posted by a womble is an active kind of sloth at 6:54 AM on February 17, 2012
posted by a womble is an active kind of sloth at 6:54 AM on February 17, 2012
Pedantic derail: I like how he called it "Bayer aspirin." If I'm not mistaken, in the United States, "Bayer aspirin" was just "aspirin" in the period of time after the First World War (when Bayer lost their trademark status) and before 1994 (when Bayer reacquired their trademark status).
If they really did call it Bayer aspirin back in his day, this man is either much older, or much younger, than he appears.
posted by Sticherbeast at 6:55 AM on February 17, 2012 [2 favorites]
If they really did call it Bayer aspirin back in his day, this man is either much older, or much younger, than he appears.
posted by Sticherbeast at 6:55 AM on February 17, 2012 [2 favorites]
Side effects include sore knees, gait disturbances, unintended pregnancy, and poor sexual satisfaction. Ask your doctor if Friessaprin is right for you.
(tm) Bartfast Pharmaceuticals
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 6:57 AM on February 17, 2012 [16 favorites]
(tm) Bartfast Pharmaceuticals
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 6:57 AM on February 17, 2012 [16 favorites]
"Maybe I'm too young, or naive, or kind-hearted, but could someone explain the aspirin in the knees thing?"
The crude concept being conveyed is that if your knees are busy holding the aspirin they cant be open enough to require contraception. My feeling I think are actually best conveyed by the horrified republican staffer quoted in the article,
“Some will see it as reinforcing the impression a lot of people have of Rick Santorum as the candidate straight out of the 1950’s. I bet it gets played up that way,” she said. “I think most of us know you can keep your knees together and still, um, do it.”
This of course ignores the over half a million women who use birth control for non-contraceptive purposes, or the fact that while conservative men might not think about the consequences of how they actually have just as much sex as liberals, conservative women do.
posted by Blasdelb at 6:57 AM on February 17, 2012 [4 favorites]
The crude concept being conveyed is that if your knees are busy holding the aspirin they cant be open enough to require contraception. My feeling I think are actually best conveyed by the horrified republican staffer quoted in the article,
“Some will see it as reinforcing the impression a lot of people have of Rick Santorum as the candidate straight out of the 1950’s. I bet it gets played up that way,” she said. “I think most of us know you can keep your knees together and still, um, do it.”
This of course ignores the over half a million women who use birth control for non-contraceptive purposes, or the fact that while conservative men might not think about the consequences of how they actually have just as much sex as liberals, conservative women do.
posted by Blasdelb at 6:57 AM on February 17, 2012 [4 favorites]
Try holding an aspirin between your knees. Now, try to have sex while holding the aspirin between your knees.
Whoa, that was fun!
Next time I'll have her try it!
posted by Floydd at 6:57 AM on February 17, 2012 [51 favorites]
Whoa, that was fun!
Next time I'll have her try it!
posted by Floydd at 6:57 AM on February 17, 2012 [51 favorites]
This is a pretty good joke if you're not try to deprive people of medical care
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 6:58 AM on February 17, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 6:58 AM on February 17, 2012 [2 favorites]
Republicans: Some of the finest minds of the 13th century.
posted by Benny Andajetz at 6:59 AM on February 17, 2012 [18 favorites]
posted by Benny Andajetz at 6:59 AM on February 17, 2012 [18 favorites]
What if Bayer came out with a hip-width plush "aspirin" pillow, complete with corny massage oils, candles, etc.?
posted by Sticherbeast at 7:00 AM on February 17, 2012 [9 favorites]
posted by Sticherbeast at 7:00 AM on February 17, 2012 [9 favorites]
With Romney, Gingrich, et al, you always get the sense that they'll pretty much say anything to get elected. That they really are just hollow stand ins for ideas who want to grasp and hold power and don't much care what the consequences are.
With Santorum you actually get the sense that he believes what he says. And somehow that's a million times more horrifying.
posted by lumpenprole at 7:02 AM on February 17, 2012 [11 favorites]
With Santorum you actually get the sense that he believes what he says. And somehow that's a million times more horrifying.
posted by lumpenprole at 7:02 AM on February 17, 2012 [11 favorites]
The Republicans don't need contraceptives -- they want to fuck us all up the arse. Which is why a frothy mixture of fecal matter and lube gives the candidate his brand name.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 7:04 AM on February 17, 2012
posted by PeterMcDermott at 7:04 AM on February 17, 2012
If you're a rich, white guy in the United States, everything is just a joke and people shouldn't be too offended when you crack wise, regardless of the context.
This. This a thousand times. This is the mindset of SO MANY white dudes (myself included, more often than I'd like to admit), and it's the bread and butter of conservative outrage. "WE'RE not offended, so why should anybody be?"
posted by Jon_Evil at 7:06 AM on February 17, 2012 [3 favorites]
This. This a thousand times. This is the mindset of SO MANY white dudes (myself included, more often than I'd like to admit), and it's the bread and butter of conservative outrage. "WE'RE not offended, so why should anybody be?"
posted by Jon_Evil at 7:06 AM on February 17, 2012 [3 favorites]
The Republicans don't need contraceptives -- they want to fuck us all up the arse.
ASSprin, amirite?
posted by chavenet at 7:07 AM on February 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
ASSprin, amirite?
posted by chavenet at 7:07 AM on February 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
I was wondering what all the "contraceptive" chatter was yesterday. There's a reason "abstinence only" education leads to higher birthrates, and this is a prime example.
posted by symbioid at 7:07 AM on February 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by symbioid at 7:07 AM on February 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
This reminded me of a TV commercial that used to run all the time a few years ago, it was for their Bayer Back and Body Ache formula. The way it was said sounds just like "bareback" which made me laugh every time. Like a teenager.
posted by Threeway Handshake at 7:08 AM on February 17, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by Threeway Handshake at 7:08 AM on February 17, 2012 [3 favorites]
Sister Margaret told the same joke back in high school. We didn't listen to her, either.
posted by Capt. Renault at 7:08 AM on February 17, 2012
posted by Capt. Renault at 7:08 AM on February 17, 2012
"It's the women's fault" Is quickly becoming the Republicans new unofficial slogan...
posted by littlesq at 7:08 AM on February 17, 2012 [3 favorites]
posted by littlesq at 7:08 AM on February 17, 2012 [3 favorites]
I still want Santorum to win the primary. Obama could be caught with Monica Lewinsky's hamster and still get a second term.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 7:09 AM on February 17, 2012 [4 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 7:09 AM on February 17, 2012 [4 favorites]
Is he a wide-stance Republican?
posted by hal9k at 7:10 AM on February 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by hal9k at 7:10 AM on February 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
More trademark pedantry: Bayer lost its trademark on Aspirin (capital A, along with capital H Heroin) in a number of countries, including the US, as a result of the Treaty of Versaille.
posted by jdfan at 7:11 AM on February 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by jdfan at 7:11 AM on February 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
Joking aside, this is just another in a long line of examples that clearly show that the Republican anti-abortion/anti-birth control/anti-contraception is NOT about "preventing the loss of innocent life" or any of their stated reasons, because the purpose of all of these things is to prevent women from having unapproved sex.
posted by Threeway Handshake at 7:13 AM on February 17, 2012 [18 favorites]
posted by Threeway Handshake at 7:13 AM on February 17, 2012 [18 favorites]
Holy Moly, I used to be a big fan of this guy's Mutual Funds. I don't think I own any anymore, but if so it's time to put in a sell order. What an idiot.
posted by alms at 7:13 AM on February 17, 2012
posted by alms at 7:13 AM on February 17, 2012
If they really did call it Bayer aspirin back in his day, this man is either much older, or much younger, than he appears.
"They" (we) did call it that "back in the day," and I'm not even as old as Foster Friess, believe it or not. In fact, it was called that in Bayer advertisements.
posted by blucevalo at 7:14 AM on February 17, 2012
"They" (we) did call it that "back in the day," and I'm not even as old as Foster Friess, believe it or not. In fact, it was called that in Bayer advertisements.
posted by blucevalo at 7:14 AM on February 17, 2012
Okay, how do you get to be a billionaire if you are that stupid? What am I doing wrong that I'm not even a millionaire yet?
posted by DreamerFi at 7:14 AM on February 17, 2012 [5 favorites]
posted by DreamerFi at 7:14 AM on February 17, 2012 [5 favorites]
littlesq: ""It's the women's fault" Is quickly becoming the Republicans new unofficial slogan..."
Becoming?
posted by zarq at 7:15 AM on February 17, 2012 [5 favorites]
Becoming?
posted by zarq at 7:15 AM on February 17, 2012 [5 favorites]
Okay, how do you get to be a billionaire if you are that stupid? What am I doing wrong that I'm not even a millionaire yet?
I don't know about this guy, but Step One is usually "be the son of a billionaire".
posted by Legomancer at 7:15 AM on February 17, 2012 [11 favorites]
I don't know about this guy, but Step One is usually "be the son of a billionaire".
posted by Legomancer at 7:15 AM on February 17, 2012 [11 favorites]
The bubble world that these people live in is astounding that they think saying that sort of thing on public television is OK.
posted by codacorolla at 7:16 AM on February 17, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by codacorolla at 7:16 AM on February 17, 2012 [2 favorites]
What baffles me is really that... I get being a social conservative. I'm not, but I basically get where it comes from. But I cannot even vaguely see how a guy like this cannot conceive of why a married, heterosexual, monogamous couple might not want to have a dozen children.
Except, uh. He's only got four. So... was his wife pulling that aspirin trick a lot, then? Because four is not the typical number of children you have when you're not using some form of birth control and you got married at 22.
posted by gracedissolved at 7:17 AM on February 17, 2012 [6 favorites]
Except, uh. He's only got four. So... was his wife pulling that aspirin trick a lot, then? Because four is not the typical number of children you have when you're not using some form of birth control and you got married at 22.
posted by gracedissolved at 7:17 AM on February 17, 2012 [6 favorites]
My "favorite" part was after the clip made the rounds, and he was called upon to defend his statement. He said that it was a joke that the complainers didn't understand.
I can't help but imagine him imagining someone hearing his explanation and thinking, "OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH, so you meant sluts should keep their legs together! I didn't get it! Well now THAT'S funny! The sluts! They should keep their legs together! Ha!"
posted by Flunkie at 7:17 AM on February 17, 2012 [18 favorites]
I can't help but imagine him imagining someone hearing his explanation and thinking, "OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH, so you meant sluts should keep their legs together! I didn't get it! Well now THAT'S funny! The sluts! They should keep their legs together! Ha!"
posted by Flunkie at 7:17 AM on February 17, 2012 [18 favorites]
The one shred of hope I have is that, according to the NPR news report I heard this morning that told this tale, there was "a stunned silence for a few seconds" after he said this.
I am clinging to that tiny shred of hope for dear life. Please, don't anyone try to take it away from me.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:22 AM on February 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
I am clinging to that tiny shred of hope for dear life. Please, don't anyone try to take it away from me.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:22 AM on February 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
Because four is not the typical number of children you have when you're not using some form of birth control and you got married at 22.
It is when you're married to Rick Santorum.
"They" (we) did call it that "back in the day," and I'm not even as old as Foster Friess, believe it or not. In fact, it was called that in Bayer advertisements .
Whoops, my mistake! However, it is worth pointing out that Bayer did not own the trademark to Bayer during that time; Bayer itself did not reacquire its trademarks in the US until 1994.
posted by Sticherbeast at 7:23 AM on February 17, 2012
It is when you're married to Rick Santorum.
"They" (we) did call it that "back in the day," and I'm not even as old as Foster Friess, believe it or not. In fact, it was called that in Bayer advertisements .
Whoops, my mistake! However, it is worth pointing out that Bayer did not own the trademark to Bayer during that time; Bayer itself did not reacquire its trademarks in the US until 1994.
posted by Sticherbeast at 7:23 AM on February 17, 2012
"It's the women's fault" Is quickly becoming the Republicans new unofficial slogan...
Genesis 2:16
posted by Jehan at 7:23 AM on February 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
Genesis 2:16
posted by Jehan at 7:23 AM on February 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
Friess on Lawrence O'Donnell last night:
“Back in my days, they didn’t have the birth control pill, so to suggest that Bayer Aspirin could be a birth control was considered pretty ridiculous and quite funny. So I think that was the gist of that story, but what’s been nice, it gives an opportunity to really look at what this contraceptive issue is all about."posted by scalefree at 7:25 AM on February 17, 2012 [2 favorites]
"I have been blessed by contraceptives,” Friess went on, inexplicably. “It’s an important thing for many women. It’s allowed them to advance their careers and make their own choices. That’s what’s special about America. People can choose. That’s what’s so annoying about this idea that President Obama forcing people to do something that is against their religious beliefs and that’s what the issue’s about, where Rick Santorum, as I said earlier, you know what his position is, but yet he’s never had any attempts, in fact, has even funded contraceptives to fight aids in Africa.”
> because the purpose of all of these things is to prevent women from having unapproved sex.
The thing I don't understand is how these loose women get pregnant all by themselves. A mystery, it is.
posted by The Card Cheat at 7:26 AM on February 17, 2012 [4 favorites]
The thing I don't understand is how these loose women get pregnant all by themselves. A mystery, it is.
posted by The Card Cheat at 7:26 AM on February 17, 2012 [4 favorites]
"I have been blessed by contraceptives,” Friess went on, inexplicably.
BEST. POPE HAT. EVER.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 7:28 AM on February 17, 2012 [9 favorites]
BEST. POPE HAT. EVER.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 7:28 AM on February 17, 2012 [9 favorites]
I still want Santorum to win the primary. Obama could be caught with Monica Lewinsky's hamster and still get a second term.
I wish. If the Euro(zone) completely collapses and/or Israel vs Iran get into a shooting war (which will both spike gas prices for several months and force us to get involved), the US goes back into a second recession, and then the likelihood of any GOP candidate winning the general shoots to 60%+.
posted by zombieflanders at 7:29 AM on February 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
I wish. If the Euro(zone) completely collapses and/or Israel vs Iran get into a shooting war (which will both spike gas prices for several months and force us to get involved), the US goes back into a second recession, and then the likelihood of any GOP candidate winning the general shoots to 60%+.
posted by zombieflanders at 7:29 AM on February 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
When I was a teenager, my called it a nickel. Whenever I left the house (friends around or no) she would call out loudly,"Do you have your NICKEL?!"
I had to explain to my friends what she meant, but it was horrifying.
Now she's divorced and goes on dates...so paybacks a bitch!
posted by Sweetmag at 7:30 AM on February 17, 2012 [3 favorites]
I had to explain to my friends what she meant, but it was horrifying.
Now she's divorced and goes on dates...so paybacks a bitch!
posted by Sweetmag at 7:30 AM on February 17, 2012 [3 favorites]
I wish we could have a constitutional amendment or supreme court ruling establishing that attempting to control the personal choices of others does not constitute religious expression.
posted by clockzero at 7:31 AM on February 17, 2012 [5 favorites]
posted by clockzero at 7:31 AM on February 17, 2012 [5 favorites]
What if Bayer came out with a hip-width plush "aspirin" pillow, complete with corny massage oils, candles, etc.?
I would love them forever?
posted by atrazine at 7:33 AM on February 17, 2012
I would love them forever?
posted by atrazine at 7:33 AM on February 17, 2012
I'm pretty sure an aspirin between the knees wouldn't stop "doggie style", ahem. But it would be a bit awkward. And that might be a turn on.
posted by Splunge at 7:33 AM on February 17, 2012
posted by Splunge at 7:33 AM on February 17, 2012
The thing I don't understand is how these loose women get pregnant all by themselves. A mystery, it is.
It obviously doesn't matter to them. "Boys will be boys."
It is always the woman's fault. Women tempt the men. The men are then forgiven by their invisible cloud man. The women are then supposed to bear the pain of the original sin.
posted by Threeway Handshake at 7:33 AM on February 17, 2012 [4 favorites]
It obviously doesn't matter to them. "Boys will be boys."
It is always the woman's fault. Women tempt the men. The men are then forgiven by their invisible cloud man. The women are then supposed to bear the pain of the original sin.
posted by Threeway Handshake at 7:33 AM on February 17, 2012 [4 favorites]
Controversy erupted Thursday evening when Foghorn Leghorn, a major backer of the Fudd presidential campaign, went on the Chris Mathews show and said,
"I sah, I say, these women today should just try keeping that in thar pants, yah heah. Back in mah day, youngin, when a hen was throwing her feathers at'cha, yah'd just, I sah, I say, yah'd just get her to put it betwixt her beak, yah heah? And don't even get me started on these uppity minori-"
Leghorn was then pulled off the set by a comical hooked cane, leaving a cloud of feathers in his wake. Fudd has said that Leghorn was obviously joking, and that we should be "vewwy, vewwy," careful about attributing the comments to his campaign. President Bunny was asked for comment, and said "Whatta maroon," as he leaned on the lectern and nibbled a carrot. Fudd is currently tied with Wiley Coyote to face the President in November's general election.
posted by codacorolla at 7:33 AM on February 17, 2012 [65 favorites]
"I sah, I say, these women today should just try keeping that in thar pants, yah heah. Back in mah day, youngin, when a hen was throwing her feathers at'cha, yah'd just, I sah, I say, yah'd just get her to put it betwixt her beak, yah heah? And don't even get me started on these uppity minori-"
Leghorn was then pulled off the set by a comical hooked cane, leaving a cloud of feathers in his wake. Fudd has said that Leghorn was obviously joking, and that we should be "vewwy, vewwy," careful about attributing the comments to his campaign. President Bunny was asked for comment, and said "Whatta maroon," as he leaned on the lectern and nibbled a carrot. Fudd is currently tied with Wiley Coyote to face the President in November's general election.
posted by codacorolla at 7:33 AM on February 17, 2012 [65 favorites]
Friess as quoted in scalefree's post: "That’s what’s special about America. People can choose. That’s what’s so annoying about this idea that President Obama forcing people to do something that is against their religious beliefs and that’s what the issue’s about..."
UGH. [from here] Is the world trying to make me hate it this week?
posted by six-or-six-thirty at 7:36 AM on February 17, 2012 [2 favorites]
UGH. [from here] Is the world trying to make me hate it this week?
posted by six-or-six-thirty at 7:36 AM on February 17, 2012 [2 favorites]
I would like to believe that there are ideas that can be exchanged back and forth across the political divide, that there can be something learned and grown from by working with political opponents and forming productive compromise. This is an ideal I would like to have.
But the republicans seem to have made it clear that they will accept nothing less than the complete erosion of the United States of America, ruin for the overwhelming majority of the population, and if they can pull a lucky hat trick, the complete environmental destruction of the planet. This should be hyperbole; in a more sane world my statement would just be partisan bitching. But it has become clear that conservatives are more than just 'folks that I disagree with', they are complete ideological enemies, who must be stopped at all costs.
This is the kind of extreme polarized viewpoint that I used to hate, and now I see exactly why it exists. I am worried for myself, and the future of this entire country.
posted by FatherDagon at 7:38 AM on February 17, 2012 [6 favorites]
But the republicans seem to have made it clear that they will accept nothing less than the complete erosion of the United States of America, ruin for the overwhelming majority of the population, and if they can pull a lucky hat trick, the complete environmental destruction of the planet. This should be hyperbole; in a more sane world my statement would just be partisan bitching. But it has become clear that conservatives are more than just 'folks that I disagree with', they are complete ideological enemies, who must be stopped at all costs.
This is the kind of extreme polarized viewpoint that I used to hate, and now I see exactly why it exists. I am worried for myself, and the future of this entire country.
posted by FatherDagon at 7:38 AM on February 17, 2012 [6 favorites]
Reporters just need to ask, in loud voices, "So do you think women who use birth control are sluts?"
posted by LobsterMitten at 7:39 AM on February 17, 2012 [10 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten at 7:39 AM on February 17, 2012 [10 favorites]
That’s what’s so annoying about this idea that President Obama forcing people to do something that is against their religious beliefs and that’s what the issue’s about, where Rick Santorum, as I said earlier, you know what his position is, but yet he’s never had any attempts, in fact, has even funded contraceptives to fight aids in Africa. said Friess "inexplicably" and ungrammatically, and nonsensically.
Conservatives like Santorum are trying to say that Obama, unlike Santorum (who is now positioned as being PRO-contraception - at least in Africa), is forcing anti-contraception religious fundies to take contraceptives against their will.
Thanks for trying to clarify things, Friess, but you are still Mr. Inexplicable to me.
posted by kozad at 7:39 AM on February 17, 2012
Conservatives like Santorum are trying to say that Obama, unlike Santorum (who is now positioned as being PRO-contraception - at least in Africa), is forcing anti-contraception religious fundies to take contraceptives against their will.
Thanks for trying to clarify things, Friess, but you are still Mr. Inexplicable to me.
posted by kozad at 7:39 AM on February 17, 2012
Also: an amendment to the constitution rendering any referenda on the exercise of rights void. So people can stop attempting to vote on whether or not the government should intervene and deny liberty to certain groups.
posted by clockzero at 7:40 AM on February 17, 2012
posted by clockzero at 7:40 AM on February 17, 2012
That’s what’s so annoying about this idea that President Obama forcing people to do something that is against their religious beliefs and that’s what the issue’s about
Oh yes, some day we will look back and rue the day that President Obama signed the bill into law which declared that all sexual partners must use two forms of birth control during every sexual encounter...
Wait, what?
posted by muddgirl at 7:40 AM on February 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
Oh yes, some day we will look back and rue the day that President Obama signed the bill into law which declared that all sexual partners must use two forms of birth control during every sexual encounter...
Wait, what?
posted by muddgirl at 7:40 AM on February 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
It's amazing just how badly everybody who isn't a rich white man has fucked up this world for the rest of us, isn't it?
posted by Naberius at 7:40 AM on February 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Naberius at 7:40 AM on February 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
That’s what’s special about America. People can choose.
So then, it's fair to say that you are pro-choice, Mr. Friess?
Huh.
posted by malocchio at 7:41 AM on February 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
So then, it's fair to say that you are pro-choice, Mr. Friess?
Huh.
posted by malocchio at 7:41 AM on February 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
The Republican party - just, the most punk-rock fuck you nihilistic in your face bunch of assholes ever to shit all over the body politic. I like to think I'm kinda jaded and I've, you know, seen some shit, really all kinds of shit, i mean all kinds of shit short of actual guerilla warfare. But these fuckIng guys, these fucking Repblicans... You know what they are? You go dig up the absolutely most horrifying, scary, so excessive it is simply not funny at all telling of That Famous Joke and at the end instad of giving it the normal punchline, "The Aristocrats!" you let fly with a real Mel Brooks inflected, "The Republicans!" and then spit on your host.
Then tomorrow read in the paper how your own attempt at crude offensive moral outrage is utterly outclassed by some asshole who doesn't even get that you take offense.
posted by From Bklyn at 7:41 AM on February 17, 2012 [3 favorites]
Then tomorrow read in the paper how your own attempt at crude offensive moral outrage is utterly outclassed by some asshole who doesn't even get that you take offense.
posted by From Bklyn at 7:41 AM on February 17, 2012 [3 favorites]
More of this please!!!! It's the Terry Schiavo moment for the 2012 GOP!
Loving it.
posted by spitbull at 7:42 AM on February 17, 2012
Loving it.
posted by spitbull at 7:42 AM on February 17, 2012
The Republican party antics make me so very very angry. I think it's partly because there really isn't anything I can do about it. But also I think it is because I'm utterly shocked that anyone ever could ever ever vote for them.
I think FatherDagon, you've hit the nail on the head. I should be able to learn something from people who hold an opposing political view, but these guys are so out there that I am just shocked that they even exist.
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 7:42 AM on February 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
I think FatherDagon, you've hit the nail on the head. I should be able to learn something from people who hold an opposing political view, but these guys are so out there that I am just shocked that they even exist.
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 7:42 AM on February 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
On the plus side, might be fun to try (no fair using coated, less-easily crushed aspirin.)
posted by Lesser Shrew at 7:44 AM on February 17, 2012
posted by Lesser Shrew at 7:44 AM on February 17, 2012
Also, Bayer is made by IG Farben, the company that made Zyklon B for the Nazis. No wonder right wingers are so eager to plug the brand.
posted by spitbull at 7:44 AM on February 17, 2012
posted by spitbull at 7:44 AM on February 17, 2012
And one last point: why aren't the Catholics up in arms about insurance coverage for vasectomies? Huh?
posted by spitbull at 7:45 AM on February 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by spitbull at 7:45 AM on February 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
Renewed attacks on Roe v. Wade in Virginia and Oklahoma by personhood legislation.
posted by Talez at 7:46 AM on February 17, 2012
posted by Talez at 7:46 AM on February 17, 2012
And one last point: why aren't the Catholics up in arms about insurance coverage for vasectomies? Huh?
Uh, they are. But go ahead and take shots instead of trying to understand other people's positions.
posted by Jahaza at 7:46 AM on February 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
Uh, they are. But go ahead and take shots instead of trying to understand other people's positions.
posted by Jahaza at 7:46 AM on February 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
I wish we could have a constitutional amendment or supreme court ruling establishing that attempting to control the personal choices of others does not constitute religious expression.
We don't need any amendments. We just need to keep in mind that "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness," in the words of that deist founder, are "inalienable rights," no?
But I hear you, clockzero. I too am more than sick of the way so-called "religious expression" translates into "we know what's best for everyone else." But then I do think that religion is the source of much "evil," and in my not always humble enough opinion ours is not a "christian" country. Its not being one was kind of the whole point from the very beginning.
posted by emhutchinson at 7:47 AM on February 17, 2012
We don't need any amendments. We just need to keep in mind that "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness," in the words of that deist founder, are "inalienable rights," no?
But I hear you, clockzero. I too am more than sick of the way so-called "religious expression" translates into "we know what's best for everyone else." But then I do think that religion is the source of much "evil," and in my not always humble enough opinion ours is not a "christian" country. Its not being one was kind of the whole point from the very beginning.
posted by emhutchinson at 7:47 AM on February 17, 2012
I've been re-reading "V for Vendetta" and that line out of Friess's mouth sounds exactly like something Moore would have put in one of the background TV or radio snippets produced by the regime to reinforce their world-view. I guess what's horrifying is that it makes sense in that context, because America Prevails is pretty much where they'd like things to go.
posted by seanmpuckett at 7:49 AM on February 17, 2012
posted by seanmpuckett at 7:49 AM on February 17, 2012
Uh, they are. But go ahead and take shots instead of trying to understand other people's positions.
Better to be informative without the smarm.
posted by josher71 at 7:49 AM on February 17, 2012
Better to be informative without the smarm.
posted by josher71 at 7:49 AM on February 17, 2012
In my perfect world, at the next GOP debate, some enterprising citizen or journalist will ask Rick Santorum if he ever masturbated, and remind him that telling a lie is a sin.
posted by spitbull at 7:50 AM on February 17, 2012
posted by spitbull at 7:50 AM on February 17, 2012
Let me clarify. They object just as strongly to vasectomies. NPR:
It's not a clearcut conservative vs. liberal issue for the bishops by the way. They've been pro-universal healthcare for DECADES.
posted by Jahaza at 7:50 AM on February 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
Vasectomies, on the other hand, are banned by Catholic-sponsored health insurance. "We have the same objection to male sterilization as to the female variety," [spokesman for the Bishops' Conference] oerflinger saysBut, it's not a big public policy issue because, as far as I know, the HHS hasn't mandated vasectomy coverage. But they have mandated birth control coverage.
It's not a clearcut conservative vs. liberal issue for the bishops by the way. They've been pro-universal healthcare for DECADES.
posted by Jahaza at 7:50 AM on February 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
Also, Bayer is made by IG Farben, the company that made Zyklon B for the Nazis. No wonder right wingers are so eager to plug the brand.
I'm not ready to declare the contest for "craziest thing I've heard today" over, but we've got a clear front runner.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 7:50 AM on February 17, 2012
I'm not ready to declare the contest for "craziest thing I've heard today" over, but we've got a clear front runner.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 7:50 AM on February 17, 2012
Keeping the aspirin between the knees does sound like a kinky game.
"If you drop the aspirin, I'll take it out."
"If you can hold for 5 minutes, you'll get that special thing you like"
"You've been a bad, bad boy and I only get on Christian rides. If you can hold it between your knees while I'm on the...ride, I'll keep riding. But if you drop it...well, it won't be as fun for you, Bill."
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:51 AM on February 17, 2012 [2 favorites]
"If you drop the aspirin, I'll take it out."
"If you can hold for 5 minutes, you'll get that special thing you like"
"You've been a bad, bad boy and I only get on Christian rides. If you can hold it between your knees while I'm on the...ride, I'll keep riding. But if you drop it...well, it won't be as fun for you, Bill."
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 7:51 AM on February 17, 2012 [2 favorites]
The beautiful thing about this is that this won't hurt Santorum an iota in the primary. Do you think Romney and Gingrich are going to go an inch to the left of him on this?
posted by empath at 7:51 AM on February 17, 2012
posted by empath at 7:51 AM on February 17, 2012
I'm not excusing his remark, but I remember reading this same "joke" in either Dear Abby or Ann Landers' advice columns back in the 1950s or 1960s. Most Mefiers are too young ro recall those days.
posted by Carol Anne at 7:51 AM on February 17, 2012
posted by Carol Anne at 7:51 AM on February 17, 2012
And one last point: why aren't the Catholics up in arms about insurance coverage for vasectomies? Huh?
Well, all these Old Testament laws were poorly worded, so there are many workarounds.
The contraception is bad idea comes from the rule that "you have to spill your seed into a vagina." They literally say "seed," which creeps me out just typing that. People like Onan were put to death for "pulling out." A vasectomy still lets you "spill your seed properly," so those are OK.
Obviously the intenet of that one is "Don't fuck unless it is to make a baby," but it doesn't say exactly that, so you can still get snipped and follow the rule.
Another one is that "no blade should touch your skin" which obviously means "you need to have a beard," but people get around this by using electric shavers that have a foil so there's no blade-skin contact. Most people don't even care about that one anymore, though.
But again, even the no-seed-spilling Onanism thing isn't about following depricated bible rules, it is to stop and punish girls from unapproved fucking.
posted by Threeway Handshake at 7:52 AM on February 17, 2012
Well, all these Old Testament laws were poorly worded, so there are many workarounds.
The contraception is bad idea comes from the rule that "you have to spill your seed into a vagina." They literally say "seed," which creeps me out just typing that. People like Onan were put to death for "pulling out." A vasectomy still lets you "spill your seed properly," so those are OK.
Obviously the intenet of that one is "Don't fuck unless it is to make a baby," but it doesn't say exactly that, so you can still get snipped and follow the rule.
Another one is that "no blade should touch your skin" which obviously means "you need to have a beard," but people get around this by using electric shavers that have a foil so there's no blade-skin contact. Most people don't even care about that one anymore, though.
But again, even the no-seed-spilling Onanism thing isn't about following depricated bible rules, it is to stop and punish girls from unapproved fucking.
posted by Threeway Handshake at 7:52 AM on February 17, 2012
Vasectomies, on the other hand, are banned by Catholic-sponsored health insurance.
I saw this too but it hasn't been cited. St. Norbert College, for example, is a Catholic institution with the following insurance policy:
I saw this too but it hasn't been cited. St. Norbert College, for example, is a Catholic institution with the following insurance policy:
"Deductible/90% for tubal ligations and vasectomies covered for employees and dependent spouses only. Birth control pills or devices not covered."- with no bolded disclaimer about medical necessity accompanying itposted by muddgirl at 7:52 AM on February 17, 2012
Better to be informative without the smarm.
This is true, however I've often seen polite informative statements met with return smarm in here, so NOW what?
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:52 AM on February 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
This is true, however I've often seen polite informative statements met with return smarm in here, so NOW what?
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:52 AM on February 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
Uh, they are. But go ahead and take shots instead of trying to understand other people's positions.
Stick it. I'm sure some Catholics are, but have have you heard the word "vasectomy" mentioned in this current debate? Was it discussed by the bishops and priests at Issa's phony little hearing? This is not about vasectomies or viagra, because the GOP and the Church are both terrified of alienating working class white men with less than a college education, AKA "their base."
And as for your condescending tone, I was baptised and confirmed a Catholic, although I'm an atheist now. So yeah, I will go ahead and take shots until you show me Rick Santorum making a speech about how vasectomies are immoral and men who get them should just keep it in their pants instead. Where has any major Catholic or GOP figure come out in the current debate on the subject of vasectomies (or even tubal ligation)? Official policy aside, we all know this is about slut-shaming women, and that if they got even close to slut-shaming men, it would be the end of both the GOP and the Catholic Church as forces in American politics.
posted by spitbull at 7:53 AM on February 17, 2012 [6 favorites]
Stick it. I'm sure some Catholics are, but have have you heard the word "vasectomy" mentioned in this current debate? Was it discussed by the bishops and priests at Issa's phony little hearing? This is not about vasectomies or viagra, because the GOP and the Church are both terrified of alienating working class white men with less than a college education, AKA "their base."
And as for your condescending tone, I was baptised and confirmed a Catholic, although I'm an atheist now. So yeah, I will go ahead and take shots until you show me Rick Santorum making a speech about how vasectomies are immoral and men who get them should just keep it in their pants instead. Where has any major Catholic or GOP figure come out in the current debate on the subject of vasectomies (or even tubal ligation)? Official policy aside, we all know this is about slut-shaming women, and that if they got even close to slut-shaming men, it would be the end of both the GOP and the Catholic Church as forces in American politics.
posted by spitbull at 7:53 AM on February 17, 2012 [6 favorites]
"Back in my day they used a punch to the balls for contraceptive. the gals even used their knees and it wasn't that costly"
FTFY Friess.
posted by edgeways at 7:55 AM on February 17, 2012
I'm not ready to declare the contest for "craziest thing I've heard today" over, but we've got a clear front runner.
posted by Bulgaroktonos
Oh really?
I didn't make it up.
posted by spitbull at 7:56 AM on February 17, 2012
posted by Bulgaroktonos
Oh really?
I didn't make it up.
posted by spitbull at 7:56 AM on February 17, 2012
Stick it. I'm sure some Catholics are, but have have you heard the word "vasectomy" mentioned in this current debate? Was it discussed by the bishops and priests at Issa's phony little hearing? This is not about vasectomies or viagra, because the GOP and the Church are both terrified of alienating working class white men with less than a college education, AKA "their base."
No, it's not about those things because the government has just mandated contraception coverage. If the government had mandated vasectomy coverage as well, it would also be about that, but the government didn't do that.
And as for your condescending tone, I was baptised and confirmed a Catholic, although I'm an atheist now.
Having been baptized and confirmed a Catholic doesn't give you any special dispensation from actually having to argue based on the facts and not some imagined version of them.
posted by Jahaza at 7:56 AM on February 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
No, it's not about those things because the government has just mandated contraception coverage. If the government had mandated vasectomy coverage as well, it would also be about that, but the government didn't do that.
And as for your condescending tone, I was baptised and confirmed a Catholic, although I'm an atheist now.
Having been baptized and confirmed a Catholic doesn't give you any special dispensation from actually having to argue based on the facts and not some imagined version of them.
posted by Jahaza at 7:56 AM on February 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
Foster Friess explained his comments to Lawrence O'Donnell last night. "I love the expression, 'It’s not so much what people say, it’s what people hear,' and obviously a lot of people who are younger than 71 didn’t get the context of that joke," the leading Rick Santorum backer said. "Back in my days, they didn’t have the birth control pill, so to suggest that Bayer Aspirin could be a birth control was considered pretty ridiculous and quite funny." But on his website today, Friess went further and actually apologized, saying that even his wife "didn't like" the joke.
Last night, added that he isn't against contraception—he's just opposed to government mandates requiring religious groups to fund them, Mediaite reports. Meanwhile, over at Fox News, Greta Van Susteren asked Santorum himself about the comment, wondering whether he'd "correct" Friess. "Foster is known in political circles as telling a lot of jokes and some of them are not particularly funny. This one was not," Santorum said, adding that it was Friess' "business" and thus doesn't "reflect on the campaign."
posted by Postroad at 7:56 AM on February 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
Last night, added that he isn't against contraception—he's just opposed to government mandates requiring religious groups to fund them, Mediaite reports. Meanwhile, over at Fox News, Greta Van Susteren asked Santorum himself about the comment, wondering whether he'd "correct" Friess. "Foster is known in political circles as telling a lot of jokes and some of them are not particularly funny. This one was not," Santorum said, adding that it was Friess' "business" and thus doesn't "reflect on the campaign."
posted by Postroad at 7:56 AM on February 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
The contraception is bad idea comes from the rule that "you have to spill your seed into a vagina." They literally say "seed," which creeps me out just typing that. People like Onan were put to death for "pulling out." A vasectomy still lets you "spill your seed properly," so those are OK.
Obviously the intenet of that one is "Don't fuck unless it is to make a baby," but it doesn't say exactly that, so you can still get snipped and follow the rule.
Another one is that "no blade should touch your skin" which obviously means "you need to have a beard," but people get around this by using electric shavers that have a foil so there's no blade-skin contact. Most people don't even care about that one anymore, though.
But again, even the no-seed-spilling Onanism thing isn't about following depricated bible rules, it is to stop and punish girls from unapproved fucking.
I'm not sure that any part of that is a correct description of Catholic theology. Catholics don't believe in vasectomies. Period. From the Catechism:
"In contrast, "every action which, whether in anticipation of the conjugal act, or in its accomplishment, or in the development of its natural consequences, proposes, whether as an end or as a means, to render procreation impossible" is intrinsically evil."
That clearly covers vasectomies in addition to hormonal birth control, condoms, etc. The Catholic position on birth control is also not based on some technical reading of the story of Onan, so that's fairly irrelevant.
I don't agree with the Catholic position, I should say, but let's represent it accurately, please?
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 7:57 AM on February 17, 2012 [3 favorites]
Obviously the intenet of that one is "Don't fuck unless it is to make a baby," but it doesn't say exactly that, so you can still get snipped and follow the rule.
Another one is that "no blade should touch your skin" which obviously means "you need to have a beard," but people get around this by using electric shavers that have a foil so there's no blade-skin contact. Most people don't even care about that one anymore, though.
But again, even the no-seed-spilling Onanism thing isn't about following depricated bible rules, it is to stop and punish girls from unapproved fucking.
I'm not sure that any part of that is a correct description of Catholic theology. Catholics don't believe in vasectomies. Period. From the Catechism:
"In contrast, "every action which, whether in anticipation of the conjugal act, or in its accomplishment, or in the development of its natural consequences, proposes, whether as an end or as a means, to render procreation impossible" is intrinsically evil."
That clearly covers vasectomies in addition to hormonal birth control, condoms, etc. The Catholic position on birth control is also not based on some technical reading of the story of Onan, so that's fairly irrelevant.
I don't agree with the Catholic position, I should say, but let's represent it accurately, please?
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 7:57 AM on February 17, 2012 [3 favorites]
Here, I'll save you the trouble of clicking a wikipedia link:
The Bayer company then became part of IG Farben, a German chemical company conglomerate. During World War II, the IG Farben used slave labor in factories attached to large slave labor camps, notably the sub-camps of the Mauthausen-Gusen concentration camp.[2] IG Farben owned 42.5% of the company that manufactured Zyklon B,[3] a chemical used in the gas chambers of Auschwitz and other extermination camps. After World War II, the Allies broke up IG Farben and Bayer reappeared as an individual business. The Bayer executive Fritz ter Meer, sentenced to seven years in prison by the Nuremberg War Crimes Tribunal, was made head of the supervisory board of Bayer in 1956, after his release.[4]
posted by spitbull at 7:58 AM on February 17, 2012
The Bayer company then became part of IG Farben, a German chemical company conglomerate. During World War II, the IG Farben used slave labor in factories attached to large slave labor camps, notably the sub-camps of the Mauthausen-Gusen concentration camp.[2] IG Farben owned 42.5% of the company that manufactured Zyklon B,[3] a chemical used in the gas chambers of Auschwitz and other extermination camps. After World War II, the Allies broke up IG Farben and Bayer reappeared as an individual business. The Bayer executive Fritz ter Meer, sentenced to seven years in prison by the Nuremberg War Crimes Tribunal, was made head of the supervisory board of Bayer in 1956, after his release.[4]
posted by spitbull at 7:58 AM on February 17, 2012
New rule: anyone who says "back in my day" gets a pie to the face.
posted by backseatpilot at 7:59 AM on February 17, 2012
posted by backseatpilot at 7:59 AM on February 17, 2012
Oh really?
I didn't make it up.
I wasn't arguing about the relationship between Bayer and the manufacturers of Zyklon B; the crazy part is the idea that a modern conservative would be trying to plug the brand of a related company's aspirin because they made Zyklon B. That part is what's nutso.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 7:59 AM on February 17, 2012 [3 favorites]
I didn't make it up.
I wasn't arguing about the relationship between Bayer and the manufacturers of Zyklon B; the crazy part is the idea that a modern conservative would be trying to plug the brand of a related company's aspirin because they made Zyklon B. That part is what's nutso.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 7:59 AM on February 17, 2012 [3 favorites]
Was he really doubting the veracity of your link? I read it as he was just amazed at the crazy happenstance information behind the situation.... Either way, I don't think there's any need to turn this into a Nazi industrial sidetrack.
posted by RolandOfEld at 8:00 AM on February 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by RolandOfEld at 8:00 AM on February 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
spitbull, I think a lot of people are aware of Bayer's / IG Farben's connection to Nazi war crimes. It's just not at all relevant to the topic at hand.
posted by weinbot at 8:00 AM on February 17, 2012 [2 favorites]
posted by weinbot at 8:00 AM on February 17, 2012 [2 favorites]
Having been baptized and confirmed a Catholic doesn't give you any special dispensation from actually having to argue based on the facts and not some imagined version of them.
posted by Jahaza at 10:56 AM on February 17 [+] [!]
The "fact" I am discussing is the current topic of debate in American politics. *If* the ACA mandated Catholic institutions to provide vasectomy coverage, my point is the GOP would not touch this (so to speak) as an issue of "religious freedom."
posted by spitbull at 8:00 AM on February 17, 2012
posted by Jahaza at 10:56 AM on February 17 [+] [!]
The "fact" I am discussing is the current topic of debate in American politics. *If* the ACA mandated Catholic institutions to provide vasectomy coverage, my point is the GOP would not touch this (so to speak) as an issue of "religious freedom."
posted by spitbull at 8:00 AM on February 17, 2012
Nearly 100 comments and no one has brought up Jack Nicholson on holding things between your knees?
posted by TedW at 8:01 AM on February 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by TedW at 8:01 AM on February 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
Back in my days, they didn’t have the birth control pillAnd that's not even true. My mother is 72, and was an early user of the pill. Freiss would've been around 16 when it hit the market.
posted by MrMoonPie at 8:02 AM on February 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
spitbull: "Also, Bayer is made by IG Farben, the company that made Zyklon B for the Nazis. No wonder right wingers are so eager to plug the brand."
Could we have less of this smug bullshit, please? Thanks.
Signed, someone who lost family in the Nazi concentration camps.
posted by zarq at 8:04 AM on February 17, 2012 [7 favorites]
Could we have less of this smug bullshit, please? Thanks.
Signed, someone who lost family in the Nazi concentration camps.
posted by zarq at 8:04 AM on February 17, 2012 [7 favorites]
I was more shocked by what Friess said after the aspirin comment.
From Daily Kos:
Mitchell was understandably shocked by Friess' remarks, and temporarily moved on to other topics, but she circled back to ask Friess about Santorum's statements against birth control. Friess answered:
"I didn't realize he said he's against contraceptives ... has he made that statement?"
Well, actually, yes he has. ... Santorum not only says contraception is "not okay" because it lets men and women have sex for pleasure, but he says he'll talk about his opposition to contraception as president.
Informed of this by Andrea Mitchell, the best Friess could do was stick his head in the sand:
"Well, who cares. Why's this going to have anything to do with what happens to our country going forward? [...] Do you honestly think the if Senator Santorum becomes president that we're going to get rid of contraceptives?"
He doesn't even know the positions of the candidate he's spending millions on. How fucking funny is that.
And how funny is it that Republicans are rearing up to have this fight? Against something that even this dickhead realizes 99.99% of people use?
posted by fungible at 8:06 AM on February 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
From Daily Kos:
Mitchell was understandably shocked by Friess' remarks, and temporarily moved on to other topics, but she circled back to ask Friess about Santorum's statements against birth control. Friess answered:
"I didn't realize he said he's against contraceptives ... has he made that statement?"
Well, actually, yes he has. ... Santorum not only says contraception is "not okay" because it lets men and women have sex for pleasure, but he says he'll talk about his opposition to contraception as president.
Informed of this by Andrea Mitchell, the best Friess could do was stick his head in the sand:
"Well, who cares. Why's this going to have anything to do with what happens to our country going forward? [...] Do you honestly think the if Senator Santorum becomes president that we're going to get rid of contraceptives?"
He doesn't even know the positions of the candidate he's spending millions on. How fucking funny is that.
And how funny is it that Republicans are rearing up to have this fight? Against something that even this dickhead realizes 99.99% of people use?
posted by fungible at 8:06 AM on February 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
Given that it seems pretty likely that this is nothing more than a (very very) stupid joke, and one not even made by an actual candidate I think the FPP should be axed.
posted by edgeways at 8:06 AM on February 17, 2012
posted by edgeways at 8:06 AM on February 17, 2012
In my perfect world, at the next GOP debate, some enterprising citizen or journalist will ask Rick Santorum if he ever masturbated, and remind him that telling a lie is a sin.
Why lie? He's made it a virtual policy to position himself as a complete wanker at every opportunity.
posted by MuffinMan at 8:08 AM on February 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
Why lie? He's made it a virtual policy to position himself as a complete wanker at every opportunity.
posted by MuffinMan at 8:08 AM on February 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
The Republican party - just, the most punk-rock fuck you nihilistic in your face bunch of assholes ever to shit all over the body politic. I like to think I'm kinda jaded and I've, you know, seen some shit, really all kinds of shit, i mean all kinds of shit short of actual guerilla warfare. But these fuckIng guys, these fucking Repblicans... You know what they are? You go dig up the absolutely most horrifying, scary, so excessive it is simply not funny at all telling of That Famous Joke and at the end instad of giving it the normal punchline, "The Aristocrats!" you let fly with a real Mel Brooks inflected, "The Republicans!" and then spit on your host.
Then tomorrow read in the paper how your own attempt at crude offensive moral outrage is utterly outclassed by some asshole who doesn't even get that you take offense.
I would say the Republican party is more like Black Metal. A nostalgia for a fantasy of a past that never existed, a Satantistic credo of "Do What Thou Wilt", a general hatred of the middle class 'common folk', and a predilection for drinking blood.
posted by codacorolla at 8:08 AM on February 17, 2012 [2 favorites]
Then tomorrow read in the paper how your own attempt at crude offensive moral outrage is utterly outclassed by some asshole who doesn't even get that you take offense.
I would say the Republican party is more like Black Metal. A nostalgia for a fantasy of a past that never existed, a Satantistic credo of "Do What Thou Wilt", a general hatred of the middle class 'common folk', and a predilection for drinking blood.
posted by codacorolla at 8:08 AM on February 17, 2012 [2 favorites]
The "fact" I am discussing is the current topic of debate in American politics. *If* the ACA mandated Catholic institutions to provide vasectomy coverage, my point is the GOP would not touch this (so to speak) as an issue of "religious freedom."
Unfortunately, that's not what you said. Your hypothetical is perhaps arguable, but what you actually wrote was this:
But the simpler explanation that vasectomies are not at issue in the HHS mandate makes much more sense. You might be right, though I doubt it, about the reaction of the GOP to a vasectomy mandate, but it's not part of the current debate, because it's not at issue.
posted by Jahaza at 8:08 AM on February 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
Unfortunately, that's not what you said. Your hypothetical is perhaps arguable, but what you actually wrote was this:
Stick it. I'm sure some Catholics are, but have have you heard the word "vasectomy" mentioned in this current debate? Was it discussed by the bishops and priests at Issa's phony little hearing? This is not about vasectomies or viagra, because the GOP and the Church are both terrified of alienating working class white men with less than a college education, AKA "their base."You said that the reason they haven't mentioned vasectomy's "in this current debate" not in some hypothetical future debate was because they are terrified of alienating their base.
But the simpler explanation that vasectomies are not at issue in the HHS mandate makes much more sense. You might be right, though I doubt it, about the reaction of the GOP to a vasectomy mandate, but it's not part of the current debate, because it's not at issue.
posted by Jahaza at 8:08 AM on February 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
New rule: anyone who says "back in my day" gets a pie to the face.
That sounds sorts kinky, but not real kinky. Back in my day, people really knew how to be freaky.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 8:08 AM on February 17, 2012
That sounds sorts kinky, but not real kinky. Back in my day, people really knew how to be freaky.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 8:08 AM on February 17, 2012
There's plenty in the Bible about punishing wayward girls.
However the story of Onan is really about punishing men who would violate a somewhat convoluted set of family laws. The story in a nutshell: Onan's brother dies. Onan, as per the custom, takes his brother's widow as a wife. He is expected to impregnate her. However, any child she has will be considered the progeny of Onan's brother and will inherit the brother's name, property, reputation, etc. Onan, legally speaking, will essentially only be the sperm donor despite the fact that in practice, Onan would have to spend time and money raising this child.
So Onan decided he wanted to fuck his new wife but wanted no part of this silly system. So he uses the pull-out method. God is offended that Onan would not do this favor for his dead brother and therefore decides Onan and his late brother need to spend more time together, and thus kills Onan.
The story is purely about the importance of putting family first and fulfilling your legal obligations. How the Catholics somehow twisted it into "every sperm is sacred" I'll never quite understand. As far as I know, the Bible doesn't even mention birth control other than this one case, which is limited enough to be essentially useless as a legal precedent.
posted by honestcoyote at 8:09 AM on February 17, 2012 [7 favorites]
However the story of Onan is really about punishing men who would violate a somewhat convoluted set of family laws. The story in a nutshell: Onan's brother dies. Onan, as per the custom, takes his brother's widow as a wife. He is expected to impregnate her. However, any child she has will be considered the progeny of Onan's brother and will inherit the brother's name, property, reputation, etc. Onan, legally speaking, will essentially only be the sperm donor despite the fact that in practice, Onan would have to spend time and money raising this child.
So Onan decided he wanted to fuck his new wife but wanted no part of this silly system. So he uses the pull-out method. God is offended that Onan would not do this favor for his dead brother and therefore decides Onan and his late brother need to spend more time together, and thus kills Onan.
The story is purely about the importance of putting family first and fulfilling your legal obligations. How the Catholics somehow twisted it into "every sperm is sacred" I'll never quite understand. As far as I know, the Bible doesn't even mention birth control other than this one case, which is limited enough to be essentially useless as a legal precedent.
posted by honestcoyote at 8:09 AM on February 17, 2012 [7 favorites]
backseatpilot: "New rule: anyone who says "back in my day" gets a pie to the face."
I'm waiting for someone to say, "All of those young women should stop having sex on my lawn, dagnabit."
posted by zarq at 8:10 AM on February 17, 2012
I'm waiting for someone to say, "All of those young women should stop having sex on my lawn, dagnabit."
posted by zarq at 8:10 AM on February 17, 2012
Nobody else thought this part of the interview was more disturbing?
Friess: I get such a chuckle when these things come out. Here we have millions of our fellow Americans unemployed, we have jihadist camps being set up in Latin America, which Rick has been warning about, and people seem to be so preoccupied with sex.
Santorum is warning people about jihadist camps in Latin America? I tried to Google it but only found a ridiculous Sean Hannity piece on jihadist camps in the US.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 8:11 AM on February 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
Friess: I get such a chuckle when these things come out. Here we have millions of our fellow Americans unemployed, we have jihadist camps being set up in Latin America, which Rick has been warning about, and people seem to be so preoccupied with sex.
Santorum is warning people about jihadist camps in Latin America? I tried to Google it but only found a ridiculous Sean Hannity piece on jihadist camps in the US.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 8:11 AM on February 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
The contraception is bad idea comes from the rule that "you have to spill your seed into a vagina." They literally say "seed," which creeps me out just typing that. People like Onan were put to death for "pulling out." A vasectomy still lets you "spill your seed properly," so those are OK.
And even the case of Onan is open to interpretation. What portion of his coitus interruptus specifically caused God's wrath -- ejaculating without intent to procreate, having sexual intercourse without intent to procreate, or disobeying his father's orders by refusing to impregnate his brother's widow because the child would not be considered his heir?
There's a lot of interpretation going on there over three lines of Scripture.
posted by delfin at 8:12 AM on February 17, 2012
And even the case of Onan is open to interpretation. What portion of his coitus interruptus specifically caused God's wrath -- ejaculating without intent to procreate, having sexual intercourse without intent to procreate, or disobeying his father's orders by refusing to impregnate his brother's widow because the child would not be considered his heir?
There's a lot of interpretation going on there over three lines of Scripture.
posted by delfin at 8:12 AM on February 17, 2012
The gals put it between their knees and it wasn’t that costly.”
That's how your friends did it, heh? Here's how my friends did it, they went one step further. They avoided procreation with misogynistic, racist assholes whose balls were all tied up in knots. Good contraceptive practice, and protection for the gene pool to boot!
This guy's stance is stupid and laughable. Not laughable at all: Issa's all male panel on contraception. These people are sick, fucked up and freaking scary. Now I get all the anti-Sharia initiatives ... they don't want any competition for thier own brand of religious tyranny.
posted by madamjujujive at 8:13 AM on February 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
That's how your friends did it, heh? Here's how my friends did it, they went one step further. They avoided procreation with misogynistic, racist assholes whose balls were all tied up in knots. Good contraceptive practice, and protection for the gene pool to boot!
This guy's stance is stupid and laughable. Not laughable at all: Issa's all male panel on contraception. These people are sick, fucked up and freaking scary. Now I get all the anti-Sharia initiatives ... they don't want any competition for thier own brand of religious tyranny.
posted by madamjujujive at 8:13 AM on February 17, 2012 [1 favorite]
Well, actually, yes he has. ... Santorum not only says contraception is "not okay" because it lets men and women have sex for pleasure, but he says he'll talk about his opposition to contraception as president.
Cite? I don't doubt that he's said contraception is "not okay," but I doubt he said it was "because it lets men and women have sex for pleasure."
How the Catholics somehow twisted [the Onan story] into "every sperm is sacred" I'll never quite understand.
You'll never understand it because it's not true as Bulgaroktonos noted above.
posted by Jahaza at 8:16 AM on February 17, 2012
Cite? I don't doubt that he's said contraception is "not okay," but I doubt he said it was "because it lets men and women have sex for pleasure."
How the Catholics somehow twisted [the Onan story] into "every sperm is sacred" I'll never quite understand.
You'll never understand it because it's not true as Bulgaroktonos noted above.
posted by Jahaza at 8:16 AM on February 17, 2012
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posted by Malor at 6:42 AM on February 17, 2012 [14 favorites]