Reacting to events in San Francisco where a group is attempting to legally stop male circumcision Rep. Brad Sherman is trying to address the issue using legislation at the federal level by citing the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment.
Here is his press release:
Sherman to Introduce Bill to Protect Male CircumcisionWashington, DC - Congressman Brad Sherman announced today that he will be introducing the Religious and Parental Rights Defense Act of 2011, a bill to prevent San Francisco and other municipalities from banning the circumcision of males under the age of 18.
Sherman's new bill is in reaction to a measure that has qualified for the November 2011 ballot in San Francisco that would make the performance of circumcisions on males under 18 a misdemeanor--with a possible $1,000 fine and one-year prison term.
Click on continue reading for the rest of the press release.
I expect his legislation to gain enough support to pass. San Francisco activists would better serve their communities by trying to work on issues like environmental sustainability, poverty, and education. Their medical claims will not legally overcome cultural and religious traditions.
"Male circumcision has been practiced for thousands of years and is a deeply important ceremony for two major religions," said Sherman. "Circumcision is obligatory for Jewish-born males -- it must be performed on the eighth day after birth and is only postponed in the case of threat to the life or health of the child. Muslim parents also circumcise their male children."Sherman expressed concern over the motivation of the provision. "To infringe the religious rights of so many Americans, San Francisco should have some compelling medical reason; however, the medical literature actually shows clear benefits of male circumcision."
According to a United Nation AIDS agency study, male circumcision offers a 60 percent reduction in HIV risk and the benefits are life-long.
"I agree with the American Academy of Pediatrics that parents should clearly have the right to freely decide whether circumcision is in the best interests of their male children," said Sherman. "In fact, American parents have chosen circumcision for over 75 percent of male children."
"Congress has a legitimate interest in making sure that a practice that appears to reduce disease and health care costs remains available to parents," Sherman said. "And, nothing in my bill prohibits statewide law ensuring that male circumcision occurs in a hygienic manner."
"Congress has historically legislated to protect the free exercise of religious rights from state and local intrusions," Sherman said. "In 2000, Congress passed the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, designed to protect religious institutions from unduly burdensome local zoning laws."
"The Religious and Parental Rights Defense Act of 2011ensures that Jewish and Muslim families will continue to be able to enjoy the free exercise of their religious beliefs," Sherman said.
Won't this proposition cut into the flagging support for Rep. Weiner?
So much for "freedom of belief" when you're imposing your beliefs onto a child's body with a knife.
Wow, Brian! No censorship of rjlebeck, on the Weiner comments, eh? I guess he's a member of the right party...
(Selective Censorship, aka Tea Party Tom, Breaking Wind, Nobody and 20 other fake names he hides behind) is still crying over the fact that Brian removed one of his many many rants about Former Rep Anthony Weiner whom Tea Party Tom is obsessed with, and now like a little boy who has been punished he continues to throw a little temper tantrum, but then again isn't this how conservatives operate these days like spoiled little brats who cannot man or woman up to their mistakes? No wonder only 30.9% of Californians are now registered republicans. Since he is so unhappy on this blog he should really hang out on the Inge Blog, then he could use all his different fake names and pretend to argue with himself since no one posts on that blog. He could live in the kind of fantasy world he lives in when he watches Fox News. (Of course given the spreading scandal of Rupert Murdoch Fox News may not be on much longer.)
Wow Brian! No censorship of this person's name-calling, including "dickhead," and the anti-Semitic comment about Daniel Goldberg and circumcisions? Unbelievable! The commenter must be a Democrat.
Same Person, Different Name,
You have been reading and posting on my blog for years. In that time I have told you over and over that if you see an abusive comment that should be deleted to email me. I have told other posters this same policy.
Yet you keep posting that I should delete a comment instead of emailing me. You can set up an alternative email address if you would like. But being that I have your IP address it isn't needed.
I hadn't read that comment as I wasn't sitting at my computer waiting to delete comments.
Since you know I delete comments if people email me I assume you are purposefully just trying to waste my time and/or attack my character. Being that I don't appreciate either stop posting complaints and email me.
I deleted a comment you refereed to but your actions and refusal to read my explanations have caused problems. I don't think the comment was racist. But now that I have erased it people are going to try to read the comments above it to figure out which comment you were referring to in your post.
That's distracting and disruptive. Follow the rules.
Yes I have deleted comments from you that wanted to discuss the size of Anthony Weiner's penis. That isn't because of ideology but because it is dumb and disruptive to entries I post. If you feel like discussing the size of Anthony Weiner's penis feel free to find a website that wants that traffic.
I appreciate Brian Dennert. I appreciate how he brings attention the things that don't get enough attention. The important things. I appreciate Brian Dennert's hard work and admire his talent. There are times I don't agree with his opinion but those instances are greatly shadowed by the knowledge this blog provided me.
It has never been my intention to harm this blog. There are times I have been too passionate about my stance on a issues and Brian Dennert has been very patient.
I could have phrased my last comment much better. For instance I could have said "If I was a penishead like Daniel Goldberg and Eric Ingemunson I would be afraid of circumcision too".
As a Democrat; I have the ability to experience guilt. I most certainly don't think my comment was anti-semitic. If the person complaining about my comment was intelligent and/or honest he would know most American's; no matter what their religion, are circumsized. This complainer also doesn't say anything about my comment being anti-Muslim. I believe that's because he doesn't care about all Americans like any typical republican punk.
Everybody you are soooooo correct on this topic! The GOP constantly attacks any group that is non-white to the point that demographics show the GOP as a whole to be about 95% caucasion. They have treated Obama in a way they never would have treated a white man or woman. Hopefully they will change their ways and learn from their mistakes.
Yeah right, "Everybody" (formally "Nobody" and a host of other fake names), you weren't being anti-Semitic in your joke about Daniel Goldberg's penis, huh? What a laugh. You were associating Daniel with circumcisions, which is extremely anti-Semitic given that Daniel is Jewish. You can't lie your way out of this one, bub, so don't even try.
And as for you, Dennert, you self-righteous hypocrite, there have been numerous instances where you have deleted posts of mine on your own volition without anybody saying anything about them - the Weener Dog comments notwithstanding. On the other hand, you seem to look the other way if the person who posted their racist or disgusting comments are in the same camp as you, politically-speaking.
I think you just don't like to be called out in public on your intentional oversights because it reduces your credibility, which is at an all-time low. You need to start practicing some of the things you preach - tolerance, respect of other people's viewpoints, and open-mindedness. You've been lacking in all three areas lately if you ask me.
This idiot just posted a racist statement about Obama under his other fake name of Breaking Wind, sorry jerk, but you can't hide! Quit wasting our time little boy, leave blogging to the grown ups!
Same person; different fake name,
Politics; as with many things, is about finding a need and fixing it. It's a matter of what needs fixing first. You think people need their yachts fixed. I think there are more important things. That's where we're stuck right now.
Also,
Why did you say to Brian: "You just don't like to be called out in public"... Brian Dennert runs the top political blog consisting of a very diverse population covering a large portion of California and not to mention internet searches from around the world. The issues he discuss not only affeat our future but that of future generations.
You really think Brian Dennert is afraid to be called out in public? Really?
I think Elton Gallegly is afraid to be called out in public because he hasn't held a town hall meeting in almost thirty years.
That's where we're stuck.
How about a compromise? Email me and if it stays call me out in public?
OK, Brian, I agree to your compromise. Good idea. I'm getting tired of arguing back and forth about this too.
As for you, Everybody, like most other Democrats, you believe that to be rich is to be evil. Were you aware that the top 5% on the income scale pay 60% of all taxes in this country? So, the "millionaires" that you are constantly decrying already shoulder a disproportionate share of the tax burden.
So, what happens when government imposes more taxes on the wealthy? They and their businesses flee the state (or even the country) to somewhere they know they'll pay lower taxes. It's happening in California every day. I would do the same and I'm sure you would too.
When companies and wealthy individuals fold up their tents and leave CA they take with them jobs, investments, and the high taxes they pay, so our State government is actually chasing away economic opportunity.
The F.B.I. announced today they are investigating Fox News for possibly hacking the phones of 9/11 victims and their families. The big question is what did the GOP know and when did they know it! Hopefully arrests will be made soon!
Breaking Wind,
These are the folks that already sent our jobs overseas. They visit our jobs with the yachts we give them tax breaks on. Why do you want to reward these people?
The oil companies are getting record profits. That's a sign they don't need tax breaks anymore.
The oil companies pay their fair share already. If you increase taxes on the oil companies, they will simply make it up at the pumps like they've always done. I don't know about you, but I don't want to be paying higher gas prices right now.
What would make gas prices go down would be our independence on foreign oil and the whims of OPEC (whose members mostly hate us). Open up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling. It is nothing more than a frozen tundra with huge oil deposits just waiting to be drilled. Re-open offshore oil drilling where again tons of untapped oil reserves reside.
There are many more opportunities to improve our economy, but Obama will hear none of it. He's completely satisfied with us becoming another third world country.
We should cut off the billions in corporate welfare going to the oil companies, why do they need our tax money when they are making billions in profits? Why are the oil companies dependent on the taxpayer? Cut them off and raise taxes on them big time!! The nanny state for big oil must end! Just because Boehner has millions invested in oil companies that is no reason for the taxpayer to be shaken down and robbed by big oil!
This fool's answer to all our problems is to raise taxes - yeah, raise them on the oil companies, raise them on computer manufacturers, raise them on individuals making over $250,000/year. Raise them on everyone. That will help grow our government into the government you and Curious George want it to become - a little more Socialistic than France.
No, quite the contrary, bonehead. We need to cut government spending, period, end of sentence. Margaret Thatcher's definition of Socialism is quite appropriate here - "The trouble with Socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money."
We need to cut through the fat. We need to cut into the muscle. And, finally, when we hit the bone, we need to keep cutting. Grover Norquist's classic statement rings so true here - "We need to shrink government down so that it's small enough to drown it in a bathtub." A-----friggin'----men!
We need to cut through the fat in your head. Look what the airlines do with no regulation. You sit on the runway for twelve hours they charge ridiculous baggage fees then they lose your luggage. They rip you off everyway they can. Look what the Republicans and President Bush's lack of banking regulations did to the world economy.
If this is Mike Gibson, Eric Ingemunson, or Daniel Goldberg or whoever you're a idiot just face it.
Cisco Systems is laying off 6500 people because their business ideas suck and they helped China violate their citizens human rights and real Americans don't like it.
Yes there are computer manufacturers that need to be taxed for aiding and abetting our enemies.
Cutting corporate welfare from multi-billion dollar oil companies is not a tax increase moron when the tax dollars they are getting come from the taxpayers pocket! "Duh, I in tea party, me know less about economics than a 3 year old, duh, that why tea partiers in Congress look like bunch of dummies, duh!"
Everybody, you're such a cry baby moron. I can barely contain my laughter when I read another one of your dumb remarks. There is such a thing as self-regulation, dimwit.
It works kind of like this: If the airlines are providing bad service and charging their customers higher fees then, invariably, the customers will revolt by taking their business to another airlines and/or limiting their travel by air. This will actually benefit consumers in the long run by forcing the airlines to provide better service and reduce their fees if they want to stay in business.
The government, as much as it thinks it needs to, doesn't have to be the arbiter in these situations (nanny) by regulating the hell out of everyone. The last time gas prices were approaching $5/gallon the oil industry saw something amazing happen. People started driving less by economizing their trips, walking more, riding their bikes more, and using other means of transportation to get from Point A to Point B.
And guess what happened? Yep, gas prices went down. The same is true of any other business that the consumer decides is gauging them. It will be corrected by the consumer, not Daddy Warbucks Obama. That's the trouble with you liberals. You're so enslaved to the notion that Big Brother Government needs to step in each and every time we feel that someone is taking advantage of us. You have other choices. You're just to dumb to think of them yourself, hence the over-reliance on Daddy Warbucks.
Maybe gas is down because President Obama released oil from our reserves.
People need to realize airlines pay their pilots $30,000 a year. The good mechanics and traffic controllers have been chased off. Safety is to the bone. All airlines do is get together and bilk people for things like luggage fees, pillows, ect..
In closing,
You're a idiot and it will take a disaster for someone as stupid as you to do the righ thing. Please use one fake name so I can just skip your ignorance... Please.
Everybody has to be the most complete idiot that ever walked the face of the earth. No wonder the Dimocrats are in such disarray, with the low IQ of guys like Everybody running the show. He thinks that government over-regulation can solve all the world's problems.
And, get this, he thinks that Obama's release of a trickle of oil from the nation's oil reserves could possibly influence gas prices. What an incredulous moron! I will just have to heave a heavy sigh and thank the Lord above that IQ-deficient morons like Everybody are working for the Dimocrats.
Breaking Wind is also Curious George and Tea Party Tom and Nobody and 14 other fake names he hides behind because he is a gutless little punk and a crybaby conservative male who must hide. Now to Breaking News. The L.A. Times reports today that the GOP/Tea Partiers in Congress have sunk to a new low in the polls over the debt ceiling and that Obama is rising quickly in the polls and now has a 95% chance of being re-elected-thank you TEA PARTY! In the opinion section they have a story about Michelle Bachmann's husband and his federally funded "Pray out the Gay" clinic and that bloggers on the left and right are now claiming he is a "deeply closeted gay man" and the article says both sides are being hypocritical. Last, Michelle Bachmann's thugs beat up on an ABC news reporter who asked her about her daily migranes. This reminded many of when Rand Paul "tea partier" had two of his thugs hold down a young girl, one held her down and the other jack booted thug stomped on her. More to follow!
President Obama released 30 million barrels to stabilize the gas prices and they stabilized.
Katie Teague doesn't like illegal immigrant workers now our food prices are high. Ron Bamieh doesn't like gays Americans are denied their civil rights. Rupert Murdock wants Republicans in power; people have their civil rights violated.
Republicans come up with ideas that are either "extremely stupid" or to deny people civil rights. You're scum it's as obvious as Daniel Goldberg's buck teeth.
George W. Bush put the stockpile at 110% of capacity on orders from Dick Cheney and Enron and was buying the oil when prices were at $110 in order to get the price up to $120 a barrel, they then received big campaign donations in return.
Breaking News/Everybody (same person) can only resort to racist name-calling because he can't think of any salient points to support his arguments, thus he reverts to his third-grade playground mentality. Witness the many times he has called people who disagree with him on this blog alcoholic Irishmen, buck tooth morons, circumcised Jews, and the list goes on.
I'm highly suspicious that Breaking News/Everybody is actually David Atkins based on his racist, stereotypical comments here. The comments he's making on the Dennert blog are reminiscent of some of the hate-filled, race-baiting remarks he's made on his Twitter site as well as the Daily Komunist.
Breaking Wind/Tea Party Tom/Curious George/Peggy Sue (same person) can only resort to racist name-calling because he can't think of any salient points to support his arguments, thus he reverts to his third-grade playground mentality. Witness the many times he has called people who disagree with him on this blog alcoholic Irishmen, buck tooth morons, circumcised Jews, and the list goes on.
I'm highly suspicious that Breaking Wind/Tea Party Tom/Curious George/Peggy Sue is actually a victim of an alien prob experiment that went terribly wrong!
It seems you've finally come to terms with the truth about yourself, Breaking News (and 10 other names). By repeating my comments verbatim, you've acknowledged the validity of them when it comes to defrocking you for who you are -- a bitter loser in the battle of the wits......LMFAO!!!!
It seems you've finally come to terms with the truth about yourself, Breaking Wind (and 20 other names). By repeating my comments verbatim, you've acknowledged the validity of them when it comes to defrocking you for who you are -- a bitter loser in the battle of the wits......LMFAO!!!! Remember everyone that when the stock market tanks and interest rates explode because the GOP/Tea Party defaulted on the nations debt that they will be to blame. We have now seen that the GOP/Tea Party knows less about the economy and creating jobs then a band of chimps in the jungle. In 2012 vote out every GOP/Tea Party loser who conspired to once again destroy the economy in order to serve the rich and their Dark Lord Grover Norquist.
This comment sounds like it might have come from that racist scum-bag, David Atkins. There is a racist mention of "chimps," which is obviously a reference to black Republicans or black Tea Party members. Nice going there, Atkins. You've passed on your racist, hate-filled diatribes to the other Dimocratic sheep that keep posting here under numerous fake names.