TheAgitator.com
No Boobs on Base. Except When Paul Broun Visits
Tuesday, April 22nd, 2008Rep. Paul Broun, R-Ga., (profiled by reason’s 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.
“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.”
Sounds like a bad episode of “Dragnet”.
Cool, so Broun is saying we have the right to approve or disallow any purchases he makes in his private life with his tax-payer-funded salary, right?
I think the idea that even after they have earned it, a soldier’s salary is STILL the tax-payer’s money, would really hurt recruiting.
From the NavyTimes article:
Broun “is a medical doctor and ‘addictionologist’ who is familiar with the negative consequences associated with long-term exposure to pornography…
How is he familiar? He lose a GF or two along the way due to his own issues?
If anything, porn helps relationships. Could you imagine how many more men would be having affairs if they never had an opportunity to at least SEE another naked woman other than their wives?
oh yeah, women never look at naked pictures…..
So Broun thinks it should be illegal for government employees to buy, say, Bibles?
Wait. Just so I understand. This dickhead is saying that Playboy is having a negative influence on our troops? Compared to what? Learning the art of efficient killing? Being sent half way around the world, away from wives and kids for many months, risking death or crippling injury in a concocted war, putting those skills to work in a terrifying environment where you can’t tell who is your friend and who is trying to kill you?
It would be so refreshing if running for Congress actually required an IQ that stretches up into the double digits. But, of course, that would be an almost insurmountable challenge for southern states.
Basically the relationship is as follows:
Your salary is based on tax payers dollars, therefore we, politicians–i.e. some of the smarmiest, slimiest, and depraved people out there–can tell you how to spend your salary.
Anyone want to guess what kind of porn Broun is into? In fitting with a recent Hit & Run post, I’m guessing milk enemas.
So, pornography is bad for families, but separating mothers and fathers from their families to go serve overseas in combat zones for extended periods of time is just fine and dandy.
I’ll go one step further. Not only should men and women in the armed forces have porn available for purchase when they’re overseas, but they should be allowed to drink alcohol off duty, whether they’re 21 or not.
Let the soldiers drink and fap in peace.
First of all — f-you, Dave Krueger, for your elitism. Where are you from — New England? The West? Midwest? Ya, I’m really impressed with the guys you come up with in all those enlightened places of the country.
More importantly: I had to read the title of this post about 10 times before I got it. I thought Radley was callling Broun a woman or saying that it was OK to have porn on post as long as he was there or something.
I remember back in the 90s when the Republicans in Congress went on a kick and took the harder porn magazines out of our PXs…that was an unpleasant experience for any soldiers stationed in countries where we had no women and no Internet access. That ranked right up there in popularity with the military’s decision to deny troops access to real beer while we’re stationed in Middle Eastern war zones…so we don’t offend Muslim sensibilities while we’re blowing up their country for no good reason, apparently.
Strict constitutionalist my ass. Try crackpot pseudo-doctor and chirpy Jesus freak.
As I once heard an officer remark, the Republicans seem really obsessed with turning the military into a bunch of warrior-monks…too bad they care more about the monk part than the warrior.
Dave,
Stupidity in politicians is not restricted to the Southern states- it’s at least a nationwide problem (if not global).
DR,
According to his web-link, Dave Kruger is from Alabamastan. Maybe you should check things out before flying off the handle. Maybe de-caf would help.
“oh yeah, women never look at naked pictures…..”
It’s a well known fact that all women hate sex and only use it to get what they want from men.
/sardonic sexism
Oh, and the fact that soldiers are required to pay income tax on their earnings means that their salaries are not taxpayer money…at least no more than anyone else’s salary is.
And coincidentally, the funds raised from “pornographic” magazines in the PX system generate a disproportionate amount of the revenue for AAFEEs. That money often goes into the Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) programs that provide entertainment of all types for soldiers (sports equipment, facilities, games, etc.). By cutting off the “filthy” forms of entertainment, Broun will also be hurting soldiers who use “acceptable” forms of entertainment as well…unless he plans to hike taxes on citizens to make up for it (which I doubt).
Unsurprising, by the way, that Broun never served in the military (or in a war zone) either. Just like almost every other chickens**t member of Bush’s faithful neocon flock.
I’m sure you’re right, but being a Southerner, I didn’t feel I could speak with any authority about politicians in other parts of the country. Well, either that or I was being intentionally inflammatory because I’m short on interpersonal skills.
Disappointing. I thought Broun was above BS like this.
Despite all the preaching about morality, I’ve always considered the crusade against porn, prostitution, and strip clubs to be a vicious attempt to deny sex to ugly guys. So, for me, it’s like a personal attack.
“I think the idea that even after they have earned it, a soldier’s salary is STILL the tax-payer’s money, would really hurt recruiting.”
You say that like it’s a bad thing.
Still, people like Broun are why we desperately need a ‘New Texas’ amendment to the constitution, not that it ever would be allowed.
Clue for the Clueless:
Back in 1960, H. Beam Piper wrote a novella called “Lone Star Planet”, which was also published as “A Planet For Texans.” The State of Texas had gotten honked off at Earth and moved, lock, stock, and Alamo to a new planet. Among other things, they enshrined the ‘he needed killing’ defense into their new constitution and applied it specifically to politicians. It’s a great story, even today, if you can find it.
“Apparently on New Texas, killing a politician wasn’t regarded as _malum in se_, and was _malum prohibitorum_ only to the extent that what the politician got was in excess of what he deserved.”
“Anyone want to guess what kind of porn Broun is into? In fitting with a recent Hit & Run post, I’m guessing milk enemas.”
Gay Leather BDSM with Llamas is my guess.
Being a southern boy, I’d say he got taught the art of stump-training early on…
“I remember back in the 90s when the Republicans in Congress went on a kick and took the harder porn magazines out of our PXs…”
I recall it, too. IIRC, the old “it’s for the children” canard was thrown out more than a few times, too, for good measure.
This is all probably a lot of thunder without much rain but Congress isn’t above petty little nitnoid stuff like this when it suits them. It was only a few years ago that AAFES was allowed to sell televisions with screens larger than 42″. Seems the retail lobby (Wal-Mart, Best Buy, et al.) had convinced Congress that such sales on base would cause them significant financial harm in lost sales. All it will take to… um… ram… this legislation through is for the porn retailers of the country to argue successfully that on-base sales of adult material is hurting them.
Scott,
On the plus side, I seriously doubt that this bill’s going anywhere. It doesn’t appear that Broun was even able to find a co-sponsor for it, so now he has the Christian Coalition of America out shilling for him to see if they can nag someone else to get on board. Doubt that’ll happen either…it’s the middle of a war and the last thing any sane politician probably wants is to go on record as having taken something away from the troops, and nobody gives a damn about Playboy except the hard-core crazies anyway.
Broun’s just one of those creepy little trolls that seem to pop up in Congress every few years because they happened to slip through the cracks. Hopefully he’ll alienate enough people in his district to get booted out quickly.
In fairness to the private companies, the PX does sell stuff tax free so in some places they do have a tough time competing for troops’ dollars because government gives the PX and commissary system an advantage. When I was at Fort Campbell, however, I remember that there were quite a few items that I was able to buy out on the economy cheaper than on base, even with the lack of sales tax in the PX.
I believe people like Braun believe, honestly believe, that one less dollar that goes to them nudie mag companies is one victory for Christianity and wholesomeness. It doesn’t matter what the law is, or what people feel, or what the majority says, or what color the sky may be, it is that they, as Christians, feel it is their right, their one purpose in living, to bring onto this country what they interpret a 2000 year old work of fiction to say.
And it scares the living daylights out of me. Because it involves no conscious thinking. You can cover up the word Christian and insert any religion into the argument and it still holds true. The zealous ones already have.
I am also surprised no one has posted a Heston-esque rant about prying mags out of their hands. For shame.
I lived in Georgia for awhile… I was on the “decadent” coast… a line from the wonderfull book “Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil” captures it best… when the gay murder trial was to be moved to upstate georgia and the lawyer said… “Those people upstate think married people having sex with the lights on is a sin”.
I like the coast the best.
It’s *PLAYBOY*, for Chrissakes. Compared to what’s out there on the newsstands and the Net, PLAYBOY is positively *tame.*
As for Broun…all I can do is echo the words of my hero, Mr Bugs Bunny:
“What a maroon! What a ta-ra-ra *goon* de-ay!”
Not to hijack, but the H. Beam Piper tale mentioned above is actually public domain, and a Free Download. (if anyone cares…)
“Addictionologist”? You’ve got to be kidding me.
I wonder why the addictionologist doesn’t realize that religion is really just another form of addiciton? I myself know more than one former substance addict who are now annoying jesus addicts…I liked most of them better on drugs.
“…but they should be allowed to drink alcohol off duty”
Waaay back when I was in, the base had the drinking age of whatever country it was in.
UCrawford - All sales on military bases are state tax free.
I am also surprised no one has posted a Heston-esque rant about prying mags out of their hands.
Now, this woman knows nothing of the subject of tittie mags and fapping, but I would expect that one can’t have the former in one’s hands while actively pursuing the latter. Don’t you need the non-active hand to hold the towel?
/Not sure I really want to be enlightened on the subject
//Also can’t believe that The Dem Rep didn’t understand the headline. Sad.
Paratrooper JJ,
I know…that’s what I said
I was just noting that in some areas the on-base tax free status causes competition problems for off-post businesses (although in others it doesn’t). I saw it go both ways when I was in the service.
Airborne
#15 | Kennedy | April 22nd, 2008 at 5:41 pm
“oh yeah, women never look at naked pictures…..”
It’s a well known fact that all women hate sex and only use it to get what they want from men.
/sardonic sexism
I always suspected this!
If no Boobs are allowed on base, why was HE let in?
Dave K.: My sincerest apologies; after so many years of being from the South and hanging around Yankees, I’m just a little overly sensitive.
Bronwyn: I was trying to make a joke about the title (and, yes, my comical slowness); sorry it didn’t make you laugh.
Oohhhhhh! I see. Well then I won’t be so sad anymore.
I think we should all support this bill on the condition that this idiot disclose every single expenditure he made over the past 16 months. He was spending our money afterall. I’m sure he will agree and turn over all of the details for those purchases within a month or two.
I can’t believe my last comment got a thumbs down from somebody. It was a sincere, honest-to-goodness apology for being rude. Maybe I got voted down for the “Yankee” part. I apology to the Yankees in the area. You guys are A-OK with me. Still, to be voted down when the sexist jokes aren’t…that’s harsh, man.
No problem. I’ve been bitter about southern politicians ever since they banned sex toys.
My other website: http://www.realitythinking.org/
We have recourse…give money to whomever is running against this prick…(I am trying to find out who his opponent is for this cycle)
In RVN my team hut was decorated with centerfolds put up by each successive team…dating back to 1963…(I got there in 1969)
We loved it…thank the fates that we didn’t have a God-bothering, vote sucking idiot like this (and his aide who doesn’t seem to grasp commerce and GI salaries), to stop the simplist of pleasures…
CKDexter,
Of course soldiers can’t have those posted anymore anyway because it’s a mixed-gender work environment
http://www.reason.com/news/show/123900.html
Well…. Reason did call him a Strict Constitutionalist back in Feb …
Thanks, dmoynihan. I care, and I’m looking forward to an interesting read.
“Thanks, dmoynihan. I care, and I’m looking forward to an interesting read.”
Ditto!
what an asshole
I hear there’s an alternative to Broun outside of his Democratic rivals.
I heard him on the radio. His name is James P. Mason from Jefferson.
I think his site is http://www.jamespmason.com, but I don’t know when it’s gonna be up.
Anybody know anything about this guy? I just know what I herd on the radio