This one vibrated all over the internet and the mainstream media. And it deserved the exposure. But, as always, this tale was told best by Kevin Underhill at Lowering the Bar:
Male Legislator Asks If Swallowed Camera Could Be Used for Gynecology – Lowering the Bar. Who (bless you, Kevin) began his report thusly:
This has stunned me into a near-silence so I’m going to rely mostly on the Associated Press (thanks, Adam):
BOISE, Idaho — An Idaho lawmaker received a brief lesson on female anatomy after asking if a woman can swallow a small camera for doctors to conduct a remote gynecological exam.
The question Monday from Republican Rep. Vito Barbieri came as the House State Affairs Committee heard nearly three hours of testimony on a bill that would ban doctors from prescribing abortion-inducing medication through telemedicine.
Dr. Julie Madsen was testifying in opposition to the bill when Barbieri asked the question. Madsen replied that would be impossible because swallowed pills do not end up in the vagina.
And the following day, Kevin published this:
Followup to the Camera-Comment Controversy – Lowering the Bar. Which, in its turn, begins thusly:
Here’s an update to yesterday’s item on the Idaho legislator who asked whether a swallowed camera could be used for a gynecological exam.
This clip from a local news report (thanks, J) includes some video from the hearing in question, although sadly the camera stays on Rep. Barbieri during the awkward silence:
I’m considering a whole new sub-category, under my Global War Against Women one. I’d call it …Waged By Stupid Men.