Breaking news -- a fetus is now an organ!

[Penny Lane 8,159]

Alabama state Rep. Mary Sue McClurkin ® is pushing legislation that would impose restrictions on abortion clinics -- a move that she argues is necessary because the procedure is a major surgery that removes the largest "organ" in a woman's body.

“When a physician removes a child from a woman, that is the largest organ in a body,” McClurkin told the Montgomery Advertiser on Thursday. “That’s a big thing. That’s a big surgery. You don’t have any other organs in your body that are bigger than that.”

A "child" is not a bodily "organ." Indeed, children have organs of their own. The largest human organ is actually the skin. According to National Geographic, adults carry about eight pounds of skin, which is slightly above the average weight of a newborn baby.

McClurkin's argument actually undermines the "personhood" bills being pushed around the country by other like-minded Republican lawmakers. Those pieces of legislation argue that undeveloped zygotes are people too and should therefore be given full legal rights, thus making abortion -- and even certain forms of birth control -- illegal.

McClurkin's bill would impose stringent requirements on abortion clinics that could make it hard for them to keep their doors open. It would, according to the Montgomery Advertiser, "require physicians at abortion clinics to have admitting privileges at local hospitals; require clinics to follow ambulatory clinic building codes and make it a felony -- punishable by up to 10 years in prison -- for a nurse, nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant to dispense abortion-inducing medications."

There are five remaining abortion clinics in the state of Alabama. McClurkin and her allies have argued that the bill is not meant to stop abortions, but rather to make sure that patients who do undergo the procedure are kept safe. (lol, yeah right)

Opponents, however, note that studies have shown that abortion is already safe, and McClurkin's bill would likely shut down clinics.

"The real purpose of this bill is to make safe and legal abortion in Alabama unavailable under any circumstance," Nikema Williams, vice president of public policy for Planned Parenthood Southeast, told the Montgomery Advertiser.

Hospitals, for example, aren't required to extend admitting privileges to doctors at abortion clinics, which would make it impossible for those doctors to comply with the bill's restrictions. According to Williams, Mississippi physicians were rejected at seven hospitals.

In the 2012 elections, the Republican Party stumbled after some of its candidates put forward unscientific claims in order to argue against abortion. The most high-profile, of course, was former Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.) -- then a candidate for U.S. Senate -- who said that women are physically able to stop themselves from getting pregnant after a "legitimate rape."

[Karee 4,190]

Alabama state Rep. Mary Sue McClurkin ® is pushing legislation that would impose restrictions on abortion clinics -- a move that she argues is necessary because the procedure is a major surgery that removes the largest "organ" in a woman's body.

"When a physician removes a child from a woman, that is the largest organ in a body," McClurkin told the Montgomery Advertiser on Thursday. "That's a big thing. That's a big surgery. You don't have any other organs in your body that are bigger than that."

A "child" is not a bodily "organ." Indeed, children have organs of their own. The largest human organ is actually the skin. According to National Geographic, adults carry about eight pounds of skin, which is slightly above the average weight of a newborn baby.

McClurkin's argument actually undermines the "personhood" bills being pushed around the country by other like-minded Republican lawmakers. Those pieces of legislation argue that undeveloped zygotes are people too and should therefore be given full legal rights, thus making abortion -- and even certain forms of birth control -- illegal.

McClurkin's bill would impose stringent requirements on abortion clinics that could make it hard for them to keep their doors open. It would, according to the Montgomery Advertiser, "require physicians at abortion clinics to have admitting privileges at local hospitals; require clinics to follow ambulatory clinic building codes and make it a felony -- punishable by up to 10 years in prison -- for a nurse, nurse practitioner or physician's assistant to dispense abortion-inducing medications."

There are five remaining abortion clinics in the state of Alabama. McClurkin and her allies have argued that the bill is not meant to stop abortions, but rather to make sure that patients who do undergo the procedure are kept safe. (lol, yeah right)

Opponents, however, note that studies have shown that abortion is already safe, and McClurkin's bill would likely shut down clinics.

"The real purpose of this bill is to make safe and legal abortion in Alabama unavailable under any circumstance," Nikema Williams, vice president of public policy for Planned Parenthood Southeast, told the Montgomery Advertiser.

Hospitals, for example, aren't required to extend admitting privileges to doctors at abortion clinics, which would make it impossible for those doctors to comply with the bill's restrictions. According to Williams, Mississippi physicians were rejected at seven hospitals.

In the 2012 elections, the Republican Party stumbled after some of its candidates put forward unscientific claims in order to argue against abortion. The most high-profile, of course, was former Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.) -- then a candidate for U.S. Senate -- who said that women are physically able to stop themselves from getting pregnant after a "legitimate rape."

I'm moving to Alabama. That way I can be the smartest person in the state. Doesn't seem like the bar is too high.

[Penny Lane 8,159]

I'm moving to Alabama. That way I can be the smartest person in the state. Doesn't seem like the bar is too high.

It amazes me how eager these people are to say the most ridiculous things.

[Karee 4,190]

It amazes me how eager these people are to say the most ridiculous things.

Yeah they're not doing much to refute the "dumb southerner" stereotype.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Clearly, Jindal's message isn't sinking in...

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Clearly, Jindal's message isn't sinking in...

If the Democrats only relied on the votes of intelligent voters, they would never be elected to office.

[JimandChristy 1,689]

What a stupid thing to say, no wonder the Republican party is losing voters left right and center from independents.

[Penny Lane 8,159]

What a stupid thing to say, no wonder the Republican party is losing voters left right and center from independents.

It is arrogant to outline the flaws of the Republican party. Please don't.

If the Democrats only relied on the votes of intelligent voters, they would never be elected to office.

What does this post have to do with Democrats?

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

What does this post have to do with Democrats?

Why do you feel like my reply was directed toward you?

[Penny Lane 8,159]

Why do you feel like my reply was directed toward you?

I didn't imply that it was. I must have missed the rule where we're only allowed to reply to posts directed at us.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

I must have missed the rule where we're only allowed to reply to posts directed at us.

I see.

[Penny Lane 8,159]

I see.

Thanks for, once again, failing to answer simple questions. You're becoming a pro.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

If the Democrats only relied on the votes of intelligent voters, they would never be elected to office.

I think it's painfully clear which party is the stupid party. Need a hint? Elephant.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

I think it's painfully clear which party is the stupid party. Need a hint? Elephant.

There is plenty of stupidity to go around.

"When I meet with world leaders, what's striking -- whether it's in Europe or here in Asia..." -mistakenly referring to Hawaii as Asia while holding a press conference outside Honolulu, Nov. 16, 2011

"We're the country that built the Intercontinental Railroad." —Cincinnati, OH, Sept. 22, 2011

"The reforms we seek would bring greater competition, choice, savings and inefficiencies to our health care system." --in remarks after a health care roundtable with physicians, nurses and health care providers, Washington, D.C., July 20, 2009

"Let me be absolutely clear. Israel is a strong friend of Israel's. It will be a strong friend of Israel's under a McCain...administration. It will be a strong friend of Israel's under an Obama administration. So that policy is not going to change." --Amman, Jordan, July 22, 2008

"I've now been in 57 states -- I think one left to go." --at a campaign event in Beaverton, Oregon

"The point I was making was not that Grandmother harbors any racial animosity. She doesn't. But she is a typical white person, who, if she sees somebody on the street that she doesn't know, you know, there's a reaction that's been bred in our experiences that don't go away and that sometimes come out in the wrong way, and that's just the nature of race in our society."