Michigan State Rep Barred From Speaking After 'Vagina' Comments

During a heated debate on the floor of the Michigan state House, Rep. Lisa Brown made an impassioned speech against a bill that seeks to put new regulations on abortion providers and ban all abortions after 20 weeks.

"I have not asked you to adopt and adhere to my religious beliefs. Why are you asking me to adopt yours?" she said. But what came next is what got her in trouble: "And finally, Mr. Speaker, I'm flattered that you're all so interested my vagina, but 'no' means 'no.'"

The Detroit News reports today the House Republican leadership did not allow Brown to speak on a bill about the retirement of school employees.

The News reports:

"'What she said was offensive," said Rep. Mike Callton, R-Nashville. 'It was so offensive, I don't even want to say it in front of women. I would not say that in mixed company.'

"Majority Floor Leader Jim Stamas, R-Midland, determined Brown's comments violated the decorum of the House, said Ari Adler, spokesman for the Republican majority."


"Regardless of their reasoning, this is a violation of my First Amendment rights and directly impedes my ability to serve the people who elected me into office," Brown added in a statement released by her office.

Brown was not the only woman silenced on the floor today. Rep. Barb Byrum was also not allowed to speak on the floor.

"Byrum, D-Onondaga, caused a disturbance on the House floor Wednesday when she wasn't allowed to introduce an amendment to the abortion regulations bill banning men from getting a vasectomy unless the sterilization procedure was necessary to save a man's life," the Detroit News reports.

Quote from ASG : "'What she said was offensive," said Rep. Mike Callton, R-Nashville. 'It was so offensive, I don't even want to say it in front of women. I would not say that in mixed company.'

Did you cut out half of the speech or something? :-)

Surely Callton cannot be for real

This is ridiculous...
Let the woman talk about her vag all she wants.

That Mike Callton sounds like a farking tool.

I'm guessing it deals with her vague allusion to him raping her that's upsetting. Surely she can invoke her vagina without making it seem like he wants to get all up in it.

Quote from paperboy05 : I'm guessing it deals with her vague allusion to him raping her that's upsetting. Surely she can invoke her vagina without making it seem like he wants to get all up in it.

I agree. Lord knows humor has no place in government.

Quote from bonkman : Lord knows humor has no place in government.

So that was meant to be a joke? Do you have a video showing her saying it, because the article makes no mention of it being a lighthearted comment.

But even so, do we really want representatives joking about how the speaker is trying to rape them?

Quote from paperboy05 : I'm guessing it deals with her vague allusion to him raping her that's upsetting. Surely she can invoke her vagina without making it seem like he wants to get all up in it.

Was it an allusion to rape?

Seemed to me that she was equating the Speaker's desire to limit when a woman can have an abortion to a personal interest in her lady parts.

Personally, I'd find the comment offensive directed something like that to me at my place of business.

Considering that women's vaginas are involved in what causes pregnancy and may lead to an abortion, I don't have a problem with her pointing that out. She should, IMO, be allowed to speak.

Quote from Danman114 : Was it an allusion to rape?

Haven't you ever heard the "No means no" comment in terms of rape? I guess that's the first thing I thought of when I read that. If that's not as common as I've made it out to be, consider me incorrect.

Quote : Seemed to me that she was equating the Speaker's desire to limit when a woman can have an abortion to a personal interest in her lady parts. Personally, I'd find the comment offensive directed something like that to me at my place of business.

Forgive me for the confusion, but do you consider her comments offensive, or something else?

Quote from paperboy05 : Haven't you ever heard the "No means no" comment in terms of rape? I guess that's the first thing I thought of when I read that. If that's not as common as I've made it out to be, consider me incorrect.

I have heard that, I guess I didn't come to that conclusion.

Quote from paperboy05 : Forgive me for the confusion, but do you consider her comments offensive, or something else?

I'd say it's offensive in a work atmosphere.

Quote from paperboy05 : So that was meant to be a joke? Do you have a video showing her saying it, because the article makes no mention of it being a lighthearted comment. But even so, do we really want representatives joking about how the speaker is trying to rape them?

Yeah, that's a line to say in all seriousness at the end of a speech.

That said, I don't think he's referring to that at all: "'It was so offensive, I don't even want to say it in front of women. I would not say that in mixed company."

what's offensive about "no means no?" Nothing. "Vagina" is offensive if you're....I don't know -- afraid of biology?

Quote from bonkman : Yeah, that's a line to say in all seriousness at the end of a speech.

With politics now a days, it wouldn't surprise me if someone felt that was a serious way to end a speech.

Quote : That said, I don't think he's referring to that at all: "'It was so offensive, I don't even want to say it in front of women. I would not say that in mixed company." what's offensive about "no means no?" Nothing. "Vagina" is offensive if you're....I don't know -- afraid of biology?

Fair enough, if he solely meant that word, I think he's an idiot, but still agree with Danman that's it's not proper in a work environment.

Quote from Danman114 : I'd say it's offensive in a work atmosphere.

I agree.

vaginas are grody, girls pee from there.

Quote from paperboy05 : With politics now a days, it wouldn't surprise me if someone felt that was a serious way to end a speech. Fair enough, if he solely meant that word, I think he's an idiot, but still agree with Danman that's it's not proper in a work environment.

Yeah, who'd have thought the word vagina could come up when discussing a bill on abortion?