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No Boobs on Base. Except When Paul Broun Visits.
Rep. Paul Broun, R-Ga., (profiled by Dave Weigel here) wants to ban the sale of Playboy on military bases.
“Allowing sale of pornography on military bases has harmed military men and women by escalating the number of violent, sexual crimes, feeding a base addiction, eroding the family as the primary building block of society, and denigrating the moral standing of our troops both here and abroad,” Broun said.
Broun said he wants to bring the Defense Department into compliance with the intent of the 1997 law “so that taxpayers will not be footing the costs of distributing pornography.”
Except taxpayers aren't actually funding it:
Exchange officials noted that tax dollars are not used to procure magazines in the system’s largely self-funded operations.
Which triggered this stunner from Broun's office:
But Broun’s spokesman John Kennedy contended that taxpayer dollars are involved — “used to pay military salaries, so taxpayer money is, in effect, being used to buy these materials,” he said.
That line of argument would open up all sorts of other possibilities.
robc|4.22.08 @ 3:03PM|#
Ummm...yeah, once the salary is paid, it aint taxpayer money
anymore.
Congressman really arent clear on ownership, are they?
|4.22.08 @ 3:04PM|#
I'd like to say that I am stunned and shocked at Rep. Brouns logic. I'd also like to say that Andy Dufresne fought the good fight and won. I'd like to say them both but I can't.
|4.22.08 @ 3:05PM|#
robc,
I'd be interested in how Rep. Broun spends his, I mean "our" money
after cashing his Senatorial Stipend. I am pretty damned sure I can
find something to gripe about there.
lunchstealer|4.22.08 @ 3:05PM|#
The liquor sold in PXes causes far more of those sexual assaults than pr0n. But if you want to see some violent crime, take liquor out of the PXes. The 82nd is armed, and likes its booze.
Guy Montag|4.22.08 @ 3:07PM|#
But Broun's spokesman John Kennedy contended that taxpayer
dollars are involved - "used to pay military salaries, so taxpayer
money is, in effect, being used to buy these materials," he
said.
Great, so if I ever go back on paid military duty he is going to
have a list of otherwise legal contraban that I can't buy with my
pay check?
BTW, this stupid argument is a modified one that has been made for
ages by some of my fellow Soldiers as an excuse to get Soldiers to
buy stuff the units are supposed to be buying, like special
stencils for vehicles, paint, etc.
Bad enough General Order #1 (in Theater) prohibits porn from
soldier-owned personal computers, now the Congress has to jump in
too.
Guy Montag|4.22.08 @ 3:11PM|#
Ska,
If they would just hurry up and surrender we could save a lot of
ammunition and life too.
|4.22.08 @ 3:12PM|#
Why does it not fucking surprise me that Mark Souder is one of
the co-sponsors. Holy shit, I swear that fucking moralist gets hard
by banning anything other people might enjoy.
Forgive my language but Rep. Souder irks me like few others
can.
The Democratic Republican|4.22.08 @ 3:18PM|#
This is another gem from the full article:
"Kennedy said Broun "is a medical doctor and 'addictionologist' who
is familiar with the negative consequences associated with
long-term exposure to pornography," especially women in the
military "who have to deal with this."
I am about to become one of his constituents and was actually quite
excited about it. Until I started reading about this crap.
Abdul|4.22.08 @ 3:26PM|#
Doesn't anyone here think it's hypocritical for PX's to sell Penthouse, which prominently features lesbians, while the military bans open lesbians from service?
Nephilium|4.22.08 @ 3:26PM|#
Ok... what the hell is an "addictionologist"?
Why am I suddenly tempted to say I'm a master of nameology?
Nephilium
|4.22.08 @ 3:27PM|#
Speaking of moralist pols, (or ex-pols). anybody notice that rick santorum is now a political correspondent for Fox News?
|4.22.08 @ 3:28PM|#
"Playboy" what is that...oh, that soft core porn magazine.
Didn't they go out of business?
Porno mags? Who buys them, especially, "Playboy", (the softest and
the worst)when you get it free on the net?
Nnnooowww I know. How much did "Playboy" pay Broun for the free
advertizing? It has to be.
PS How many service men(and women)now know, thanks to Broun, that
Playboy is actually sold on base? Probably thousands.
You go Broun, you go.
|4.22.08 @ 3:29PM|#
"Allowing sale of pornography on military bases has harmed
military men and women by escalating the number of violent, sexual
crimes, feeding a base addiction, eroding the family as the primary
building block of society, and denigrating the moral standing of
our troops both here and abroad," Broun said.
[sputters] But. but, but, the GOP is "more libertarian" than the
Democtats.
robc|4.22.08 @ 3:29PM|#
looking back at Weigel's profile of Broun, I dont think this
bill fits his 4 part test.
3 of 4 at the most, and not sure about 2 of the 3.
Other Matt|4.22.08 @ 3:30PM|#
"Kennedy said Broun "is a medical doctor and
'addictionologist' who is familiar with the negative consequences
associated with long-term exposure to pornography," especially
women in the military "who have to deal with this."
Next we'll hear about how he's been doing research at prisons in
Western Oklahoma.
PC|4.22.08 @ 3:30PM|#
It's an excellent idea. It will enhance their technical skills. It's about time our soldiers get it off the internet like everyone else.
Naga Sadow|4.22.08 @ 3:32PM|#
Pornorgraphy contributes to sexual assualt? My brothers tales of
being a Ranger made several compelling arguments that belies this
line of thought.
1. Soldiers are easily bored, sex or masturbation are apparently
the preferred ways to pass the time.
2. When soldiers are in a co-ed enviroment, sex is the greater
result.
3. Pregnancy is rampant in the military.
Ben|4.22.08 @ 3:33PM|#
Am I the only one that is suprised that Paul Broun, supposed lover of the Constitution and compatriot of Ron Paul, sponsored tripe like this? I thought he was supposed to be one of the good guys.
|4.22.08 @ 3:35PM|#
"feeding a base addiction"
Young men wanting to see attractive young women with no clothing
on, I'd call that human nature.
Guy Montag|4.22.08 @ 3:38PM|#
Doesn't anyone here think it's hypocritical for PX's to sell
Penthouse, which prominently features lesbians, while the military
bans open lesbians from service?
No, I think it is beautiful.
Elemenope|4.22.08 @ 3:40PM|#
Doesn't anyone here think it's hypocritical for PX's to sell
Penthouse, which prominently features lesbians, while the military
bans open lesbians from service?
No, I think it is beautiful.
A rare occasion where both comments are completely correct.
Kolohe|4.22.08 @ 3:41PM|#
This is sorta old news, in the sense that in the 90's most of
the porno mags were removed from base exchanges by congressional
fiat. The only ones that were allowed IIRC, were Playboy, Easy
Rider, Tatoo, and one or two other 'soft' ones. Penthouse was
specifically removed, but I think as been put back on the
'approved' list once some pubah was convinced that Penthouse and
Playboy were not all that distinct.
But as was said above, it's all more or less a moot point because
"The Internet is For Porn."
Naga Sadow|4.22.08 @ 3:44PM|#
Sorry . . . I was day dreaming about the post from Guy.
Whats the percentage of women in the military? I see a lot of them
from Keesler AFB and the Seabee base. I'm assuming from my narrow
perspective that the air force and navy attract the greater
share.
T|4.22.08 @ 3:45PM|#
The fact that they have to keep bringing this up means they have
yet to succeed in getting pr0n out the PX.
But if you want to see some violent crime, take liquor out of
the PXes. The 82nd is armed, and likes its booze.
Smokebomb Hill PX used to sell more beer than any other retail
outlet in the country. I can't imagine that going over well if they
up and stopped.
|4.22.08 @ 3:50PM|#
They should get the Maine legislature to give them advice. We should ban THINKING about naked women! That would surely make things better, right?
Paul|4.22.08 @ 3:51PM|#
But Broun's spokesman John Kennedy contended that taxpayer dollars are involved - "used to pay military salaries, so taxpayer money is, in effect, being used to buy these materials," he said.
It's the 'commerce clause' of logic.
|4.22.08 @ 3:53PM|#
But Broun's spokesman John Kennedy contended that taxpayer
dollars are involved - "used to pay military salaries, so taxpayer
money is, in effect, being used to buy these materials," he
said.
Is that logic really any different than "We print the money, so we
can dictate where it is spent"?
|4.22.08 @ 3:53PM|#
The Army saw fit to kick me out 20 years ago for smoking cannabis, so I'm getting a kick out of these comments.
Paul|4.22.08 @ 3:57PM|#
"Allowing sale of pornography on military bases has harmed military men and women by escalating the number of violent, sexual crimes, feeding a base addiction, eroding the family as the primary building block of society, and denigrating the moral standing of our troops both here and abroad," Broun said.
Right, our military men should only be buying...bodybuilding
magazines, replete with pictures of oiled up, muscular men in
speedos. They should be thinking of...muscular chests, heaving, hot
breath in your ear, whispering, "c'mon, give it to me soldier, one
more rep!". Brawny hands, grazing against a grizzled chin. Hot,
rippled thighs, squeezing out one more leg-press.
These are the things that are on Paul Broun's mind, no doubt. These
is what Rep. Broun is thinking about. Not Playboy.
Oh, I have it on good authority that my Dad's B-17 had a scantily
clad woman on the nose. Pin-up girls were common. Just thought I'd
throw in that historical note. You know, from when days were better
and morals were higher.
Naga Sadow|4.22.08 @ 3:59PM|#
Well of course zig zag man! We can't put weapons in the hands of potheads! Haven't you read the news? Drug dealers have weapons and therefore, are given to violence.
Guy Montag|4.22.08 @ 4:01PM|#
But if you want to see some violent crime, take liquor out
of the PXes.
Try the Class 6 store, silly. But, yea, it is run by AAFES too.
|4.22.08 @ 4:01PM|#
But Broun's spokesman John Kennedy contended that taxpayer
dollars are involved - "used to pay military salaries, so taxpayer
money is, in effect, being used to buy these materials," he
said.
So, how do we do this with some recipients of taxpayer dollars
(soldiers), and not all recipients of taxpayer dollars (all
government employees and government contractors)?
Because if he's willing to pursue this to its logical extreme, I
might could get behind it. Platonically speaking, of course.
Guy Montag|4.22.08 @ 4:02PM|#
What if the soldiers promise to read it only for the
articles?
Then they get reassigned to the Combat Service Support
branches.
Guy Montag|4.22.08 @ 4:04PM|#
Oh, I have it on good authority that my Dad's B-17 had a
scantily clad woman on the nose.
Others migh be sceptical, but I assure you, a B-17 can certainly
get up enough speed to rip almost all of the clothes from any woman
riding on the nose.
T|4.22.08 @ 4:05PM|#
Because if he's willing to pursue this to its logical
extreme, I might could get behind it. Platonically speaking, of
course.
Can I demand the same thing? I mean, the feds took a whole bunch of
money from me this year. So by this logic, I should be able to
request the money be spent on what I think is appropriate, which
today is hardcore porn for the troops. Failing that, I don't want
any of my money going to the National debt. Think Rep. Broun will
sign off on that?
|4.22.08 @ 4:05PM|#
Abdul: Doesn't anyone here think it's hypocritical for PX's
to sell Penthouse, which prominently features lesbians, while the
military bans open lesbians from service?
Well, see, you can't catch the Gay from a magazine.
emmajane|4.22.08 @ 4:05PM|#
so glad to see that our boy Virgil Goode of Virginia is co-sponsoring. Sheer and utter loathing.
Guy Montag|4.22.08 @ 4:06PM|#
Because if he's willing to pursue this to its logical
extreme, I might could get behind it. Platonically speaking, of
course.
Watch out for projectile milk.
|4.22.08 @ 4:14PM|#
Re: The link Kwix graciously supplied
Since I'm TLTG, does anyone know the party affiliation of the
co-sponsors?
|4.22.08 @ 4:15PM|#
Ho-hum - just another Christ-Fag Republican masquerading as
a Libertarian.
Not a very convincing disguise, however.
|4.22.08 @ 4:16PM|#
And I thought the government should care about the welfare and
health of its troops:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/po/20080421/co_po/masturbationmaypreventprostatecancer;_ylt=AmrXqwUInoWP52TXmScSvFgDW7oF
|4.22.08 @ 4:23PM|#
Doesn't anyone here think it's hypocritical for PX's to sell
Penthouse, which prominently features lesbians, while the military
bans open lesbians from service?
The women in Penthouse are authentic homosexuals,
right?
J. P. Carlo|4.22.08 @ 4:29PM|#
Arggggh! I had such high hopes for you, Rep. Broun.
Wasn't he described in Reason some time back as "Ron Paul
without the crazy?"
Well, we all now know that just ain't true.
Bill Cooke|4.22.08 @ 5:19PM|#
In a blog posting a long long time ago I tried to warn you all he was bad news based on his odd opposition to the Sirius/XM merger.
T|4.22.08 @ 6:05PM|#
Ron Paul with EXTRA crazy! Woo hoo!!
We'll control the house in no time with friends like this, baby!
Then we can get Silver Nitrate Man elected to something and really
show the populace libertarian crazy!
|4.22.08 @ 6:07PM|#
J sub D,
I have no idea what TLTG means, but
here is a listing of the representatives in the 110th Congress.
The answer to your question is, all co-sponsors are
Republican.
EDIT: Too Lazy to Google??
|4.22.08 @ 6:09PM|#
The only thing I have to give this bill is that it directly
covers what can and cannot be sold on Government property. Say what
you will, so long as we allow the government to own property, that
is within Congress' purview.
I still think it stinks of moralized bigotry though.
Paul|4.22.08 @ 6:18PM|#
a B-17 can certainly get up enough speed to rip almost all
of the clothes from any woman riding on the nose.
Shyeah, and that's nothing compared to the picture of the woman on
the nose.
|4.22.08 @ 6:25PM|#
What a surprise, Republicans, the Jesus party.
And if anyone thinks Playboy is porn, they live a sheltered
life.
Nreguy40|4.22.08 @ 7:06PM|#
Personally, I think that any inductee to the US Armed Forces
should automatically get a subscription to Playboy (or Playgirl).
Call in regular GI issue...
Secondly, I worked at a PX in the late 70's and I am here to tell
you that the top purchases were not Playboy or the other 25 or so
whack books that were on the shelves, it was 1.) Cheap Cigarettes,
2.) Cheap Beer and 3.) Candy
|4.22.08 @ 7:11PM|#
There seems to be a weird disconnect between how people see the military and what the military actually does. On the one hand folks want church-going, fresh-faced soldiers who spend their weekends sipping lemonade and helping orphans, and on the other they want a killing machine that can go days without sleeping or eating and will happily bayonet the enemy in the neck.
Colonel_Angus|4.22.08 @ 7:14PM|#
Just regular Playboy is not porn, it's like Time or Newsweek. Now they publish ones without any stupid articles.
Kolohe|4.22.08 @ 7:33PM|#
One other random comment on this:
But Broun's spokesman John Kennedy contended that taxpayer dollars are involved - "used to pay military salaries, so taxpayer money is, in effect, being used to buy these materials," he said.
He's wrong for the reasons people mentioned above, but what's weird
is that he could have been 'right' if he just knew what the hell he
was talking about.
In general, base exchanges are self funding for operating costs,
(i.e. the money they take in from selling stuff covers the cost of
buying the stuff in the first place and paying the salaries of the
workers, and whatever's leftover - millions of dollars - goes into
the 'morale, welfare, and recreation' fund for stuff like gyms,
outdoor equiment rentals, etc.)
However, unlike say walmart or costco, the capital expenses such as
the land, buildings, and in some cases operating expenses like the
lights and heat are all covered by the DOD out of the facilities
budget.
So if he would have just said "taxpayer dollars are used to
construct the buildings, so taxpayer money is being used, in
effect, to subsidize the materials" he might have not come off as
an ignorant sanctimonious busybody, but rather just an
sanctimonious busybody.
|4.22.08 @ 8:05PM|#
How old IS this news? Playboy disappeared out of the Navy
Exchanges back in the early 1980s. At least in Virginia it did. Has
it made a comeback and then disappeared again? Or is this idiot
congresstoad's grasp of current events on a par with his grasp of
military personnel literary preferences?
I'll say this about his grasp of economics: If the NEX is selling
Playboy AT A PROFIT, then this is doing the opposite of "using
taxpayer dollars." Paul Broun is a retard.
|4.22.08 @ 9:42PM|#
But Broun's spokesman John Kennedy contended that taxpayer
dollars are involved ,,,
Fine. As a taxpayer, I demand Rep. Broun put a stop to the purchase
of bibles for military chaplains. If he'll agree to that...
|4.23.08 @ 12:48AM|#
Good. Maybe if we make serving in the military miserable enough, they'll all quit and leave Iraq.
-|4.23.08 @ 1:22AM|#
I don't think porn nor alcohol are allowed on the bases in Iraq; at least they can't be offered for sale.
LarryA|4.23.08 @ 1:35AM|#
Ummm...yeah, once the salary is paid, it ain't taxpayer
money anymore.
Congressman really aren't clear on ownership, are they?
Depends. I doubt you'd get far restricting what congresscritters
purchase with their taxpayer-provided salaries.
|4.26.08 @ 9:15AM|#
Exactly how stupid are you? Do you have nothing better to do
with your life than to try to make life miserable for someone else?
As a doctor, (of What) you are a complete idiot to think this is a
contributing factor to the rise of crime. Crime Where? Commited by
who?
Your problem in the military isn't a book it is the education level
of those in the military. Right now anyone can join and pass the
Army's ASVAB test, a monkey can pass it.
Marines requirement is slightly higher than that of the Army, and
the Navy's requirement is even higher, but the Air Force has the
highest ASVAB test reqirements of all the services... Also Look at
the racial diversity, it has to be a factor, and being a
Congressman from Georgia, well that should say it all.......
|4.26.08 @ 12:22PM|#
Well Rep. Broun. Boys will be boys and girls girls, even women like payboy, You are in a position of power and the military can not fight people like you (congress) When I served; you f*****s dictated our lives and pay, think of a payraise or benefits, then crime will also go down. Our military is still mostly man and with physical and psycological needs, quite a few female soldiers also buy them, we don't need your kind of help. I am sure that lady and her son were shocked, but the benefits are far greater that the harms, she will also be shocked with communal showers, 24hrs Staff duty, the sound of a 50 Cal, jumping and landing out of airplanes, killing the enemy, try to ban that and see what happens, go please your civilians. who cares about soldiers anyway.
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