Fundies ignoring that their god probably wouldn’t be too keen on Viagra

At XX Factor, I joked that Gingrich and other anti-choice nuts are going to rethink their opposition to stem cell research in record time if, as hoped, a cure for a certain form of erectile dysfunction is created. Really, it was only half a joke. The ugly truth of the matter is right wingers’ utterly different approach to women’s reproductive health care and men’s access to ED drugs demonstrates that contrary to their claims of simply acting on devotion to Jesus, these folks are using religion as a cover for a deep-set misogyny. From the Catholic Church to most info you can find on religious websites to the anti-choice members of Congress, when asked about Viagra, they are supportive. Republicans like John McCain have routinely voted against bills that would require insurance companies that cover Viagra to cover contraception. The reason for this is simple: plain misogyny. Anti-choicers tend to see contraception as a “party drug” that allows dirty sluts to go slut it up. But they see Viagra as allowing men their god-given erections. That this is a hypocrisy is glossed over with an argument I’ve seen all over religious websites, but is best voiced by Bill O’Reilly:

The argument is that erectile dysfunction is a condition that needs to be cured, but since pregnancy is “natural” (actually, so is erectile dysfunction, as it’s often just part of aging), preventing it is dirty slutdom. It’s the thinnest of excuses for naked misogyny, especially if you consider that the worst that will happen physically to a man who doesn’t get an erection is that he doesn’t get an erection, but a pregnant woman is going to suffer weight gain and severe pain no matter what, and some of the more serious side effects of pregnancy are diabetes, stroke, and even death.

Read the rest of this post at Pandagon.