Remember, the Democrats Are the Party of Sex, Drugs, and Free Speech!

Except when they're not. Which is every day.

[A] handful of legislators are just saying no to TV commercials for prescription drugs. The politicians are taking aim at the 60-second spots that have made viewers familiar with maladies like male urinary urgency and deficient eyelashes — not to mention side effects like four-hour erections.

Representative James P. Moran, Democrat of Virginia, is sponsoring a House bill that would ban ads for prescription sexual aids like Viagra and Levitra from prime-time television, on decency grounds. Representative Henry A. Waxman, Democrat of California, has said he favors empowering the Food and Drug Administration to bar consumer advertisements for new drugs for an initial period after the F.D.A. approves them — until there has been more real-world experience with the medications.

Meanwhile, Representative Jerrold Nadler, Democrat of New York, has introduced a bill called the Say No to Drug Ads Act. It would amend the federal tax code to prevent pharmaceutical companies from deducting the cost of direct-to-consumer drug advertisements as a business expense.

"You should not be going to a doctor saying, 'I have restless leg syndrome' — whatever the hell that is — or going to a doctor saying, 'I have the mumps,'" Mr. Nadler said in an interview. "You should not be diagnosed by some pitchman on TV who doesn't know you whatsoever."

Buried within the New York Times story is this quick to-be-sure:

Some academic studies have indicated that such advertising can help people who do need treatment to start taking, and stay on, appropriate drugs, said Julie M. Donohue, an assistant professor of health policy and management at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health.

Yeah, but a congressman got annoyed watching television!

A selection from Reason's rich (and question-mark heavy) archive on the subject:
* "Is Drug Company Marketing Evil?" by Ronald Bailey, February 2008
* "Is Industry-Funded Science Killing You? The overrated risks and underrated benefits of pharmaceutical research 'conflicts of interest,'" by Ronald Bailey, October 2007
* "Fever Pitch: Do Drug Ads Make Us Sick?" by Kerry Howley, May 2007
* "Goddamn the Pusher Man: Why does everybody seem to hate the pharmaceutical industry?" by Ronald Bailey, April 2001

Comments

[John]

"Representative Henry A. Waxman, Democrat of California"

I think the proper term is "Representative Henry A. Waxman, evil, hideous, mole-man, Democrat of California."

[John]

I don't like old people sex commercials anymore than anyone else. But, that is why God created DVRs and the fast forward button.

[Tomcat1066]

Some of these ads have made people aware they might have a condition that they didn't even know existed. Of course, that's irrelevant since Obamacare is on the way, which would destroy our ability to be part of the process in the first place.

If a patient goes to a doctor and says "I have restless leg syndrome", the doctor asks a series of questions and makes a diagnosis based on his own examination. Who gives a shit if the patient self diagnosis or not? The doctor is going to do their own exam and tests anyways, so what's the harm?

Oh. Right. Those evil doctors who take tonsils out for no cause, just to get more money according to the fee schedule.

Dipshits.

[Jeff P]

Between his government paycheck and his assorted kickback and grift payments, you'd think the dude could buy a jacket that fits.

[John-David]

Looks like he's hiding a baby bump.

[dbcooper]

Is that the worst suit ever? Yes it is.

[T]

Is that the worst suit ever? Yes it is.

I think that suit is doing a heroic job of covering up what is undoubtedly a disaster of epically porcine proportions. You should cut the suit a break. It's working harder than the buffoon wearing it.

[R C Dean]

The mistake he's making with that suit is going with the three-button jacket. A two-button suit gives a longer line to the front, helping to disguise a massive gut. And would it kill him to wear a tie?

If a man can't even dress himself, why should I listen to what he says about, well, anything?

[PR]

I'm sure ol' slim voted for cap and trade though since we're all consuming too much

[JasonL]

In the spirit of negotiating on the margins of liberty for the benefit of humankind, I'm willing to accept this proposition if I never again have to see commercials featuring: poo encrusted animiated bears who by golly can't seem to get the hang of tp, anthropomorphized diapers, or any product benefit discussion about mitigating the effects of Aunt Flo's visit. I never thought I'd yearn for the days of merely being voyuristically privy to a 'not so fresh' discussion between mom and daughter as they walk on the beach, but for the love of man we now have ads with women kung fu kicking a water tower, aieeee!

Anyway. I think I'm willing to make that trade.

[Ben]

Jim Moran is a asshole of the highest order and I say that as a man of the left.

[Ben]

"In the spirit of negotiating on the margins of liberty for the benefit of humankind, I'm willing to accept this proposition if I never again have to see commercials featuring: poo encrusted animiated bears who by golly can't seem to get the hang of tp, anthropomorphized diapers, or any product benefit discussion about mitigating the effects of Aunt Flo's visit. I never thought I'd yearn for the days of merely being voyuristically privy to a 'not so fresh' discussion between mom and daughter as they walk on the beach, but for the love of man we now have ads with women kung fu kicking a water tower, aieeee!"

JasonL, +1 for you, sir. No, +1,000.

[Warty]

More repulsive: Nadler or Waxman?

[Ben]

Oh, and I'd give my left nut if they'd forever ban the fucking FreeCreditReport.com ads.

[comrade]

Nadler can lose weight. Waxman can't lose ugly.

[hmm]

I wonder how many of them are for banning attorneys advertising again.

This line should read.

"You should not be diagnosed by some politician in DC who doesn't know you whatsoever."

[J sub D]

I'll finish the article right after the obligatory Waxman is fucking retarded comment.

Representative Henry A. Waxman, Democrat of California, has said he favors empowering the Food and Drug Administration to bar consumer advertisements for new drugs for an initial period after the F.D.A. approves them - until there has been more real-world experience with the medications.

If FDA approval is meaningless and we only are aware of the efficacy and safety of prescription drugs after "real-world experience", why in the name of saanity do we fund those useless boobs at the FDA?

Your turn Rep. Waxman

[XMan]

It seems as though a certain congressman has some erectile issues and doesn't like to be reminded of the fact every 15 minutes while he watches golf* on the weekend.

*The only advertisements I see while watching golf are for financial planning services and drugs for prostate and erection problems. Apparently old rich dudes who can't get it up or piss properly watch a lot of golf...

[T]

The only advertisements I see while watching golf

There's your mistake right there, watching golf. If you're going to voluntarily subject yourself to that level of boredom, I would think the commercials are a welcome break from the monotony. Either that, or punishment.

[bigbigslacker]

He's fighting for the little guy by keeping big pharma from effectively marketing drugs they just spent millions to have approved. The little guy couldn't afford those shiny new drugs anyway.

Hooray for stupidity.

[wbrco]

I guess Tampon ads are next???

[dbcooper]

The mistake he's making with that suit is going with the three-button jacket.

And it's cut so high! The lapels only come down to the 3rd shirt button. Even bean poles struggle in jackets like that.

[JB]

Here is Jim Moron on "people have this simplistic notion that they are entitled to the wealth they make":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJyS1WJNisM

Considering he is my rep, he better hope and pray everyday that I don't run into him. I may just decide to cave his face in and redistribute the wealth of his organs.

[Episiarch]

That suit is making me want to claw my eyes out. Christ, fashion isn't that hard, dude.

[hmm]

Someone should probably redistribute that suit to a fire. Leaving the human in it is optional, but encouraged.

At 175K a year you would think a guy could afford a decent tailor. Maybe he redistributed that portion of his budget to someone.

[Rich]

"Mommy, what's an erection?"

We can never have too many teaching moments.

[John C. Randolph]

AFAIK, Jim Moran's been a tax-sucking parasite for his entire adult life. Since he has no idea what it takes to actually earn money, he's quite cavalier about taking it from the people who earn it and use it to buy votes.

Fuck Jim Moran, and I've been saying that since he was a the idiot mayor of Alexandria.

-jcr

[John C. Randolph]

Jim Moran is a asshole of the highest order and I say that as a man of the left.

He certainly doesn't do anything to improve the left's PR standing.

-jcr

[Warty]

Is that a suit? I thought it was a poncho.

[bruce]

I hate hypocrisy as much as anyone, and the democrats are certainly full of it (though not as much as the Republicans are these days).

However, I simply refuse to accept the idea that commercial speech is protected free speech. Threatening people (which is what 99% of advertisements are - threats) and selling remedies for restless leg syndrome is not the sort of thing the framers had in mind when they drafted the First Amendment.

Commercial speech is given less constitutional protection than other forms of speech. However I do not think commercial speech should receive ANY constitutional protection whatsoever. The only legitimate form of advertising is word of mouth, and if sellers had to rely solely on word of mouth, the quality of products would be infinitely superior to what it is now. Allowing advertising is against public policy. In addition to letting sellers get away with crappy quality because of slick, expensive, coercive ads, most ads these days are too coercive. We're bombarded by good-looking people constantly threatening us with loneliness and rejection for not buying the product they're selling. If you want to be attractive and if you want attractive people to like and have sexual intercourse with you, you need to chew this gum, buy this toothpaste, drink this beer, drive this car, use this MP3 player, etc.

I love free speech, I despise advertising, and I think it's an insult to the concept of free speech to say restless leg syndrome commercials deserve protection as free speech. I don't care if ads will increase profits and raise the DOW. It's NOT free speech. Ban it all, not just drug commercials. It should be illegal to show a Coca-Cola logo in public (other than on the product itself) as far as I'm concerned.

[T]

Is that a suit? I thought it was a poncho.

It's just cut roomy to cover up his adult diapers.

[SugarFree]

Y'all leave David Bryne alone. I think he's aged quite well.

[Ben]

Bruce, how the hell would TV shows be paid for then? And I'm saying this as someone who really hates ads/product placement, but I see them as a necessary evil.

[T]

I love free speech, I despise advertising, and I think it's an insult to the concept of free speech to say restless leg syndrome commercials deserve protection as free speech.

The level of cognitive dissonance on display here is absolutely stunning.

[Ben]

"He certainly doesn't do anything to improve the left's PR standing."

Yeah, but I'll take he and Elliot Spitzer over Michelle Bachmann as the worst my party has to offer any day.

[SugarFree]

how the hell would TV shows be paid for then?

By the government, of course. Pare TV back to 4 channels and only let series produce 6 episodes per year. We can't leave something as important as TV in the hands of greedy, for-profit corporations.

[+]

a congressman got annoyed watching television!

Wait till he hears about the intertubes.

[Jennifer]

When the birth control pill was invented, bans of medical ads made it very difficult for women to learn of this new invention that greatly improved their lives.

"You should not be going to a doctor saying, 'I have restless leg syndrome' - whatever the hell that is - or going to a doctor saying, 'I have the mumps,'"

But what if I DO have the mumps? Am I supposed to pretend abysmal ignorance about what's happening to my own body?

[hmm]

Threatening people (which is what 99% of advertisements are - threats)...

I just watched a NyQuil commercial. I felt so threatened I found myself getting a gun and blockading the door. I'm considering a 911 call, but I still fear the cops more than the NyQuil.

[J sub D]

However, I simply refuse to accept the idea that commercial speech is protected free speech. Threatening people (which is what 99% of advertisements are - threats) and selling remedies for restless leg syndrome is not the sort of thing the framers had in mind when they drafted the First Amendment.

Because none of the newspapers back then even had advertising, there was no way the founding fathers could have factored that in.

(which is what 99% of advertisements are - threats)

That's beyond hyperbole. In fact, it's bullshit.

[Ben]

Old school NyQuil kicks ass, but that stupid shit without the Sudafed they sell in front of the counter now is bullshit. Doesn't do anything for a cold.

You have to ask the pharmacist for the real stuff like you're buying vicodin or something.

[Warty]

However, I simply refuse to accept the idea that commercial speech is protected free speech.

Oh, fuck off.

BTW, restless leg syndrome is pretty fun. Make sure to sleep on your side facing your girlfriend.

[Warty]

Am I supposed to pretend abysmal ignorance about what's happening to my own body?

You are supposed to allow your superiors to decide what's best for you. If there's one thing liberals can't stand, it's an informed populace.

[Episiarch]

bruce, that is some hilarious shit. Well done.

[James Ard]

Bruce reminds me of my billboard hating brother-in-law. I love billboards, especially the ones advertising the strip joint at the next exit.

[Ben]

"Bruce reminds me of my billboard hating brother-in-law. I love billboards, especially the ones advertising the strip joint at the next exit."

You must love those dumbass Evony ads then.

Its gotten to the point where the ads for a game, that has nothing to do with women at all, shows a big pair of tits and says PLAY DISCRETELY!!

[T]

Its gotten to the point where the ads for a game, that has nothing to do with women at all, shows a big pair of tits and says PLAY DISCRETELY!!

What, you have something against tits?

[Ben]

"What, you have something against tits?"

If an ad has tits in it (especially if that is all they show), the product better be porn and not some crappy strategy game, that's all.

[Marshall Gill]

"What, you have something against tits?"

If an ad has tits in it (especially if that is all they show), the product better be porn and not some crappy strategy game, that's all.

Science, Ben, WTF difference does it make WHAT is being advertised, when tits are being shown? Female titties, especially big ones, make everything better. Without the cleavage, that add completely sucks. Who cares what they are selling?

[Silentz]

Waxman must lead a very sad and angry life. It seems everything that creates joy or modern conveniences runs counter to every moral fiber of his being. If we're lucky, he'll find a few more atrocities and have himself an aneurysm. Anyone want to start a letter writing campaign to make him aware of some of them?

[alan]

Science, Ben, WTF difference does it make WHAT is being advertised, when tits are being shown? Female titties, especially big ones, make everything better. Without the cleavage, that add completely sucks. Who cares what they are selling?

Titties are the visual equivalent of butter.

bruce,

I hope you are trollrolling there because the distinctions you are making are entirely arbitrary and serve no social purpose beyond satiating a personal prejudice, hence making for a terrible bases for law. Unfortunately, a lack of principle is all too common in courts and legislatures so we get terrible and disruptive laws that ignores fundamental rights all the time.

[PantsFan]

Moran lookes like Uncle Lenny

[PantsFan]

er Uncle Teddy.. where's that preview again?

[Dagny T.]

PLAY DISCRETELY

An even better tip than advice promoting the better part of valor.

[alan]

disruptive laws that ignores fundamental rights all the time.

For our good buddy MNG, rights, purely in the legal doctrine sense, not arguing in the metaphysical sense. I'm agnostic about the later.

[Xeones]

If we're lucky, he'll find a few more atrocities and have himself an aneurysm.

This is assuming he has no mirrors in his house, because if he does, he sees the many atrocities heredity has inflicted on his own visage every day.

Which may be why he is such an angry, joyless, shitty parody of a human being. Waxman really is a book you can judge by its cover.

[T]

Which may be why he is such an angry, joyless, shitty parody of a human being.

Unfortunately, he's not a parody. Unless his entire career is a long running piece of performance art and he's going to pull of his mask and reveal Karen Finley or Nina Hagen or somebody at his retirement presser.

[R C Dean]

Commercial speech is given less constitutional protection than other forms of speech. However I do not think commercial speech should receive ANY constitutional protection whatsoever.

I mean, its right there in the First Amendment "Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of non-commercial speech . . ."

[sage]

Man that's a bad suit. Get a brain, Moran!

[alan]

sage | July 27, 2009, 1:42pm | #
Man that's a bad suit. Get a brain, Moran!

Obviously Moran was an asshole to his tailor, who dicked him over in reponse. Compliments to the tailor!

Compliments to the hair stylist who gave him granny locks, while I'm at it.

To the advisor who told him, 'open top button, no tie, that is the style these days.', and 'light to medium tan is dominant to dark blue. Makes you look Statesmanly.'

Oh, yeah, too the people at the instant tan salon for dialing it up to orange.

Being an asshole isn't easy, most days.

[G.M. Palmer]

Sorry folks, but if someone is dumb enough to need a commercial to tell them they have a need for medication, I would prefer they not get it and die quickly.

[Paul]

Remember, the Democrats Are the Party of Sex, Drugs, and Free Speech!

One of out three ain't bad...

[Xeones]

Unfortunately, he's not a parody.

I meant "parody" in the sense that Satan crafted him as a mockery of, you know, us.

[T]

I meant "parody" in the sense that Satan crafted him as a mockery of, you know, us.

I'm still holding out for performance art piece by some crazy German art chick. But rubber suit controlled by diminutive aliens would work for me, too.

[Bill Hickys]

You see, I think capitalism has done some good things for us. I really do. And if you don't believe capitalist have done good things for us, do me a favor. Go home tonight. Take all your albums, all your tapes and all your CDs, all of your food supplies, your tv, couch, sofa, and every possession you now own and burn them. 'Cause you know what, the entreprenuers that made all that those things that's enhanced your lives throughout the years were rrreal money grubbing motherfuckers.

[John C. Randolph]

I'll take he and Elliot Spitzer over Michelle Bachmann as the worst my party has to offer any day.

You should be so lucky.

As we speak, your party is continuing and compounding everything that Bush did wrong, that the left was complaining about for the last eight years.

-jcr

[John C. Randolph]

I hate hypocrisy as much as anyone,

So, are you going to off yourself, then?

-jcr

[John Thacker]

"You should not be going to a doctor saying, 'I have restless leg syndrome' - whatever the hell that is - or going to a doctor saying, 'I have the mumps,'" Mr. Nadler said in an interview. "You should not be diagnosed by some pitchman on TV who doesn't know you whatsoever."

No one advertises for the mumps, just like they don't for whooping cough. That's because if you have those you're probably going to realize that something's wrong, that you should go to a doctor, and that they can do something about it.

Drug companies advertise for conditions that people aren't aware that they have or aren't aware that they can be treated (often more cheaply than people think). Viagara and Cialis and all advertise a lot because many people are (still) likely to consider erectile issues a natural part of getting older that they can live with instead of something that can be treated. In any case, the more something is consider an optional lifestyle treatment, the more it will be advertised.

[John Thacker]

Sorry folks, but if someone is dumb enough to need a commercial to tell them they have a need for medication, I would prefer they not get it and die quickly.

1) You're the dumb one for making that idiotic assumption. Things advertised are mostly for conditions that people would otherwise let go untreated because they wouldn't kill them, from erectile dysfunction to cold sores. The exceptions that prove the rule are for preventive drugs that treat conditions that might kill people in the far future (like cholesterol drugs). I'd suppose you rather that people not take preventative medicine and instead cost way more to insurance when they get treatment?

2) Supposing it weren't that, and it actually was for something possibly fatal and highly contagious like the mumps, as Nadler suggests. You'd rather the person in question spread it around to everyone? (Yes, people get vaccinated, but vaccines wear off. Just ask my friend who got whooping cough, probably from some co-worker who didn't immunize their kids.)

[Chuck Pelto]

TO: Matt Welch, et al.
RE: Heh

"Remember, the Democrats Are the Party of Sex, Drugs, and Free Speech! Except when they're not. Which is every day." -- Matt Welch

Why am I reminded of the character in charge of Las Vegas in The Stand?

Regards,

Chuck(le)
P.S. Anyone else here 'getting a clue'?

[Randy Andy]

I keep waiting for the commercial where the Valtrax girl rides her bicycle across the beach behind the Viagra couple in the bathtubs.

[el polacko]

get a brain, moran !!

[CJ]

The poster and commenters haven't even scratched the suface of the weirdness that is Jim Moran. Here's a partial recap:

Moranic Record

[ilovebenefits]

The politicians will say what gets them re-elected. They will raise taxes to provide more opportunity to give to their constituents. Follow the healthcare debate at http://www.ilovebenefits.wordpress.com

[mad_as_H]

LIBERAL PROGRESSIVE SENATORS UP FOR RE-ELECTION IN 2010
BOXER, Barbara (CA) ENVIRONMENT
OPPONENT: Devore, Chuck (chuckdevore.com)
DODD, Christopher (CT) BANKING & PENSIONS
OPPONENT: Simmons, Rob (joinrobsimmons.com)
FEINGOLD, Russell (WI) FOREIGN RELATIONS & HUMAN RIGHTS
INOUYE, Daniel K. (HI) APPROPRIATIONS & DEFENSE
OPPONENT: not announced as of 7/26
LEAHY, Patrick (VT) JUDICIARY & APPROPRIATIONS
OPPONENT: not announced as of 7/26
LINCOLN, Blanche L. (AR) FINANCE & ENERGY
OPPONENT: Hendren, Kim (Yuck, how about a younger GOP candidate?)
MIKULSKI, Barbara A. (MD) APPROPRIATIONS & JUSTICE
OPPONENT: Rutledge, James (47 yr. old; first time for political office)
MURRAY, Patty (WA) APPROPRIATIONS & VETERANS
OPPONENT: Salazar, Dr. Sean (Veteran; sean4senate.com)
REID, Harry (NV) SENATE LEADER
OPPONENT: not announced as of 7/26
SCHUMER, Charles E. (NY) BANKING & JUDICIARY
OPPONENT: not announced as of 7/26
WYDEN, Ron (OR) BUDGET & AGING
OPPONENT: not announced as of 7/26

[TmjUtah]

It's pretty obvious that the pharmaceuticals didn't cough up enough contributions last cycle, isn't it?

[24AheadDotCom]

What about banning ads like this?

On a more important note, here's a brief video of Howard Kurtz misleading his viewers.

[Rex]

If Representative Jerrold Nadler, Democrat of New York had restless leg syndrome he would know what the hell it was. He would also be grateful to the pharmaceutical companies for coming up with something besides narcotics and benzodiazapiens to treat it with.

[rrr]

What's hilarious is that Bruce never noticed all that irony in that long diatribe.

Anyway, shorter Bruce: "The only speech that should be protected is the speech I think should be protected."

See how short that was Bruce? You could've done that in ten seconds and we'd have all understood your point just as well!

[B]

Christ, is his fucking jacket made out of cardboard?

[B]

"Yeah, but I'll take he and Elliot Spitzer over Michelle Bachmann as the worst my party has to offer any day."

Worst your party has to offer? Not by a fucking longshot. How about John Murtha, Charlie Rangel, William Jefferson, Sheila "I looked into Castro's eyes" Jackson Lee, Pete Stark. Nothing Michele Bachmann ever said can fucking come close to the Congressional Black Caucus and their annual junkets to Cuba to worship at the feet of Fidel. If you are gonna start naming "the worst your party has to offer" you might not to forget the ones who think left-wing dictators are just fucking swell.

[B]

"However, I simply refuse to accept the idea that commercial speech is protected free speech. Threatening people (which is what 99% of advertisements are - threats) and selling remedies for restless leg syndrome is not the sort of thing the framers had in mind when they drafted the First Amendment."

You are so right. Why just the other day I saw a Ford Commercial that said "You better buy this Taurus, motherfucker, or we will kill you." Seriously, 99% of ads are threats? What the fuck are you talking about? I have never once in my life felt threatened by a product ad. Either you are a pussy or... well I can't think of anything other way to end that sentence.

And frankly, what you "refuse to accept" is fucking irrelevant.

"I love free speech, I despise advertising, and I think it's an insult to the concept of free speech to say restless leg syndrome commercials deserve protection as free speech. I don't care if ads will increase profits and raise the DOW. It's NOT free speech. Ban it all, not just drug commercials. It should be illegal to show a Coca-Cola logo in public (other than on the product itself) as far as I'm concerned."

Yeah, you love free speech so much, you wanna ban a whole fucking category of it. And why exactly should a Coca-Cola logo be banned in public? Because you don't fucking like it? Man, you are a fucking pussy. It is an insult to everyone here to have to read your retarded fucking drivel, yet here we are. If you don't fucking like it, ignore it. But don't pretend the government outlawing the advertisement of products and services would not be an infringement of the First Amendment, you ignorant fucking nitwit. As far as I am concerned, you need to grow a pair of balls you fucking crybaby.

[richard mcenroe]

Tragic Henry Waxman News!

[richard mcenroe]

More Congressional Challengers

[richard mcenroe]

"Yeah, but I'll take he and Elliot Spitzer over Michelle Bachmann as the worst my party has to offer any day."

Suck it, Benny. Our mistresses are WAY hotter than yours... and our wives kick way more ass when we get caught. Compare and contrast Hillary ("How could you do this to me?") Clinton with Mrs. Governor Sanford ("These are your testicles. I'll just hold onto them until I think you can play nice with them...").

[Boomer]

Just remember this about Moran: This is the same son of a bitch who said that "people with money are under the mistaken impression that they're entitled to keep it.", and had the nerve to get angry when someone questioned him about that.

After that, anything this prick says reminds me that tar and feathers are a sadly bygone relic.

More's the pity.

[Mike Argiro]

Can anyone tell me what I can add to Trip2night to make it taste better? It works good, but my girlfriend does not like to taste. The company says it is sugar free; yeah I believe them. LoL. I personally do not care about taste because I am used to it from back in the day with the renutrient. P.S. she can not use sugar because she is not the anabolic diet.