And there I thought it was just us simple Northeast Tennesseans thinking Tony Shipley is way extreme.  He has taken up the issue of doctors' not being able to release childrens' test results to their parents - especially if those parents may have molested or abused the children.  Personally, I have never had a doctor refuse test results and don't know anybody that has had this happen.  On the other hand, there are those who a doctor may have severe reservations about handing test results over to.  And this is certainly in the best interest of the child.

It looks like those in Nashville are thinking that maybe Shipley is going off the deep end, and alienating those in the State Health Department and the Tennessee Medical Association who might possibly have been of some help to his cause.  Read on...

Tony Shipley to the Devil Democrats: 'I Will Fight Them Until I Have No Air Left in My Body'

Rep. Tony Shipley

House Democrats are showing signs of life, sending a press release attacking Rep. Tony Shipley, R-Kingsport, over his Christian Right-backed bill denying patient-doctor confidentiality to teens. We guess conservatives are trying to stop kids from keeping secrets from their parents (like the fact that they're sexually active). But as the state Health Department and the Tennessee Medical Association points out, it'll probably also stop some teens from seeking treatment for STDs or other embarrassing illnesses. And oh yes, there's another thing: The bill might give child molesters access to their victims' medical records.

The Kingsport Times News' Hank Hayes was so stunned to hear from Democrats on this issue that he wrote a story about it this morning. See how this works, guys? From the release:

Democratic caucus chair Mike Turner: "What Tony Shipley showed with this bill is that ideology and partisanship is more important than serving the people of Tennessee."

The release also quotes Nathan Vaughn, the Democrat who narrowly lost to Shipley in 2008:

"As a legislator, we have a responsibility to make sure we review every piece of legislation to ensure that it is necessary and proper. Forcing through bad legislation leads to detrimental consequences that later General Assemblies must fix."

As you might imagine, the blustery Shipley isn't taking this lying down: "I will fight them until I have no air left in my body." That's a lot of fight! He refrained from threatening Democrats with God's wrath.