I don’t know if you caught this or not, but the Republicans in the Michigan State House of Representatives banned a female Democratic rep from speaking on the floor of the House after her speech on an anti-abortion bill. The offending remarks?

“Finally, Mr. Speaker, I’m flattered that you’re all so interested in my vagina, but ‘no’ means ‘no,’” Rep. Lisa Brown (D) said to cap her remarks in which she expressed stark opposition to a series of bills regulating abortion, including one that would ban the procedure after 20 weeks unless the woman’s life was in danger….

Yes, she used the “V” word, much to the horror of male Republicans.

House Republicans called the remarks over the line and barred her from participating in a subsequent debate on education.

“It was so offensive, I don’t even want to say it in front of women,” one state representative said. “I would not say that in mixed company.”

No doubt he’d be happy to say it behind their backs (and I doubt he’d use the word “vagina” either. But, um, I’m pretty sure most women know they have them, buddy, so it’s OK to say it out loud (I mean, in an appropriate context, of course). And I’m no medical expert, but I’m pretty sure that’s what you call those things (I mean, I’ve heard them called a few other things as well, but I believe that’s the “technical” term).

“If I can’t say the word vagina, why are we legislating vaginas?” Brown said at a press conference. “What language should I use?”

Maybe she should have said “…interested in my Coulter.”

Republicans also ignored another MI State rep (who happens to be a woman; pure coincidence – there is no Republican war on women).

A second lawmaker, Rep. Barb Byrum (D), was also gaveled down after introducing a bill that would require men to prove that their life was in danger before they were allowed to receive a vasectomy.

“I was ignored by the majority floor leader and not allowed to speak on my amendment, which would have held the same standards for men and women when it comes to legal, voluntary procedures in reproductive health, and now I am being silenced for standing up for women….”

Hey, lady, keep you hands off my, um, thingie.

There’s a sentence I never thought I’d write.