From the files of “Things That Would Be Different With More Women in Politics”:
Republican members of the Florida House of Representatives chastised a Democratic colleague today for uttering the word ‘uterus’ on the House floor during debate. Not that it should matter, but the context was a titillating discussion about deregulation. State Rep. Scott Randolph told the St. Petersburg Times that “I always say their philosophy is small government for the big guy and big government for the little guy. And so, if my wife’s uterus was incorporated or my friend’s bedroom was incorporated, maybe they would be talking about deregulating.”
A spokeswoman for the House GOP said the (male) Republican Speaker was concerned about “language that would be considered inappropriate for children and other guests,” particularly underage congressional pages. (This is where the obligatory Mark-Foley-was-from-Florida reference should go, of course.) Why is ‘uterus’ considered inappropriate? It’s an internal organ. No one blushes at the word ‘appendix.’ Oh, is it because it’s involved in the MAKING OF BABIES?
Sigh. Women, by the way, make up just a little over 20% of the Florida House of Representatives. Now they know the rules. Saying the word ‘uterus’=bad. Showing a uterus and birth canal and vagina in a graphic illustration depicting a D&X abortion=totally acceptable.