Big Fat Liars: Oklahoma Senator Shortey's fetus sandwich

Earlier this month Oklahoma State Senator Ralph Shortey introduced Senate Bill 1418 that would outlaw the use of “aborted human fetuses” in food.  Before you start thinking about fetus finger soup or tossed umbilical cord salads, Mr. Shortey was just trying to be provocative of course.

According to an NPR post this gets to the bottom of SB 1418:

The senator says that his research shows there are companies in the food industry that have used human stem cells to help them research and develop products, including artificial flavorings.

“I don’t know if it is happening in Oklahoma, it may be, it may not be. What I am saying is that if it does happen then we are not going to allow it to manufacture here,” Shortey tells KRMG’s Nicole Burgin.

To that end, his proposed statute reads, “No person or entity shall manufacture or knowingly sell food or any other product intended for human consumption which contains aborted human fetuses in the ingredients or which used aborted human fetuses in the research or development of any of the ingredients.”

Coupla things I like here:

1. The senator claims to have done “research”
2. “I don’t know if it is happening in Oklahoma…” but introduced a bill anyway.  Excellent use of taxpayer money – erroneous legislation.

There is a huge bullshit leap between Shortey’s research turning up companies using stem cells for product development and “aborted human fetuses” in the produce aisle.

Clearly, Shortey wanted you – and the religious right base – to flip out and think that a diner in Oklahoma City was frying up placenta and infant omelets.  But, like other anti-choice zealots, Mr. Shortey is a big fat liar.

I contacted Mr. Shortey but haven’t heard back yet.  You can try too here if you like.

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