Today's theme?  Pills, pills, pills...

Perhaps one of the most astute comments to come out of the debate over the eventually tabled Nelson-Hatch amendment was the issue that if women's reproductive health was being prohibited, surely male reproductive enhancements like Viagra and Cialis should be, as well.

“Imagine if the men in this chamber had to fill out a form and get a rider for Viagra or Cialis and it was public.” Sen. Barbara Boxer said during debate on the Nelson-Hatch amendment. “Forget about it. There would be a rage in this chamber.”

Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) also used the comparison, saying that he wanted his daughters and granddaughters to have access to all “reproductive health care.”

“What if we were to vote on a Viagra amendment and it had the same limits would apply for abortion?” Lautenberg said during Tuesday’s debate, adding that the reaction would be “outrage.”

Clayton Cramer of the Spokesman-Review disagrees with the analogy.

Viagra helps men (and presumably their wives) achieve sexual satisfaction. This is not truly necessary from a health standpoint, but has no other morally worrisome aspects to it. Is Boxer arguing that abortion is some sort of sexual satisfaction procedure?

Besides the fact that Mr. Cramer is assuming that only married men are using the drug (and oh, how I would love to see a card check for THAT one!), his own analogy falls flat as well.  Viagra coverage was granted because drug companies argued it as a necessity for promoting male self-esteem.  That sounds eerily like a "mental health" argument to me...

But "male self-esteem" pills aren't the only ones being debated these days.  In Italy, RU 486 has just been approved to be made available in the country. Italy was one of the last countries in Europe to approve the drug.

Finally, in Memphis a lawfirm is working on a class-action suit against the makers of the birth control pill Yaz.  The suit claims an increase in blood clots by "dozens" of women who have previously not had an issue with them, although at this point there is no evidence of wrongful death. The Faster Times takes a look at the alleged increase in risk here.

Mini roundup: Reporters are still analyzing the Nelson-Hatch fallout, but some feel mighty Casey has struck out.

12/10

Birth Control Lawsuits Affecting Memphians Memphis Daily News

The pheromone phenomenon University Daily Kansan

No hypocrisy in pro-life movement Chicago Daily Herald

Nativity scene gives birth to controversy Toronto Star

Ireland abortion: Your comments BBC News

A Health Care Battle on Many Fronts New York Times

Abortion pill gets final approval in Italy BBC News

County eyes renewing deals with abortion providers Houston Chronicle

Abortion foes seek to limit subsidies for insurance premiums The News Journal

12/9

Nigeria: Kampala Conference And Maternal Mortality AllAfrica.com

Women challenge Irish abortion ban in European court guardian.co.uk

Fam Planning for County Uninsured Up for Vote Austin Chronicle

Population: In the family way Financial Times

Decades into pandemic, HIV thrives — even here The Keene Sentinel

Blogs Comment On Nelson, Stupak, Mikulski Amendments In Health Reform Bills Medical News Today

Health Reform Is No Place For An Abortion Fight Huffington Post

Senators Backed By Pro-Choice Interests Block New Abortion Restrictions Center for Responsive Politics

Public options and women's choices guardian.co.uk

Reid: Abortion should not scuttle health care bill Washington Post

Abortionist's business dwindles OneNewsNow

Senate 'Ignored the Concerns of the American People' in Rejecting Amendment  CNSNews.com

Casey's Lack of Courage Paves Way for Abortion Funding True/Slant

Democrats Liken Federally Funded Viagra to Federally Funded Abortion CNSNews.com

Feinstein Says It's 'Morally Correct' to Force Taxpayers to Fund Abortion CNSNews.com

Report: Two-Thirds of Abortion Clinics Closed Since 1991 Christian Post

Undercover Video Shows Planned Parenthood Staff Lying to Woman About Abortion LifeNews.com

Clayton: Abortion, Viagra Not Equal The Spokesman Review

Erbe: Anti-abortion idealogues go too far Scripps News

5 Unresolved Questions on Abortion in Healthcare Debate U.S. News & World Report

Guest columnist On health care, Bishops forfeit high ground Seattle Times

Berkeley council sends hangers as abortion message San Francisco Chronicle

Catholics vs. Kennedys New York Times

Stupak-Pitts Vs. Bubble Boy Huffington Post

District funding of abortions gets panel's approval Washington Post

Couple wins praise for adoption Port Huron Times Herald

Lawyer offers help with boy's adoption Austin American-Statesman