Another Star in the Republican Party

[Content Note: Consent issues reproductive coercion.]Meet Republican Congressional Representative in the great condition of Tennessee Scott DesJarlais:Ten years before calling themself "a regular supporter of professional-existence values," Tennessee physician and Republican U.S. Repetition. Scott DesJarlais supported his ex-wife's decision to obtain two abortions before their marriage, based on the congressman's sworn testimony throughout his divorce trial.Acquired through the Knoxville Occasions Free Press, the couple's 2001 trial transcript also verifies DesJarlais had sexual associations with a minimum of two patients, three colleagues along with a drug representative as they was chief of staff at Grandview Clinic in Jasper, Tenn. ...DesJarlais, a household-values conservative who rode 2010's tea party wave to Washington, claimed his ex-wife's earlier abortion turned from medical concerns."...[She] was with an experimental drug known as Lupron and wasn't designed to have become pregnant. There have been potential risks. It had been a therapeutic," he stated.DesJarlais backed another abortion after she came back from the military stint in Saudi Arabia a couple of years before they married in 1995."[It] was after she'd become back from Desert Storm and things weren't running smoothly between us also it would be a mutual decision," he stated.Now, it had been at this time within the linked story which i thought: Mutual decision, my ass. Reproductive coercion red-colored flags all of the fuck within the joint. After which, later within the story, this:The 679-page transcript discloses new particulars about DesJarlais' interactions having a 24-year-old-patient, who stated she grew to become pregnant with DesJarlais' child throughout a brief fling in 2000 which the physician later pressed her with an abortion.Sexual connection with patients isn't basically seriously dishonest it indicates quite a distant relationship with significant consent. Sexual coercion red-colored flags all of the fuck within the joint. After which, later within the story, this:In further proceedings, DesJarlais acknowledged the lady was only some of the patient he'd a sexual relationship with this year.DesJarlais mentioned in testimony he transported on the four-month sexual affair with another patient, a lady he recommended pills for throughout their relationship. He stressed that there is "no problemInch using the medications he authored, which incorporated the painkiller Darvocet, and was indignant when requested about claims he'd handled medication incorrectly."I do not feel real obligated to reply to that. I believe it's ridiculous," he stated. "I have never been challenged or asked when it comes to my integrity before."Wow. The reality is I believe it's problematic for any physician to become participating in sexual connection with someone with whom he's recommended an opioid drug.This story will likely engage in as yet another "Moral Values Hypocrite" tale, however this guy is really a predator who at the minimum has involved in emotional abuse. Will the Republican Party close ranks for this misogynist nightmare? They actually did throughout the election.DesJarlais "cruised to re-election past Democratic challenger Eric Stewart, persevering through October media reviews of sleeping with patients and advocating someone to have an abortion. The Tennessee Democratic Party had attempted to get the transcript prior to the November. 6 election, however the court postponed the procedure since the document wasn't typed in its complete form."Huh.This person is presently relaxing in the united states Congress making reproductive choices for ladies and folks with uteri. He should not be. Contact the Republican National Committee and nicely find out if they'll still let a guy who preys on, exploits, and abuses women to take part in their caucus. Send them a note here. Leave them a note on their own Facebook page here. Tweet their way here.[H/T to my friend Richard.]