On today’s Inside Politics, Jacki Schechner gave us our 15 minutes… well, ok, 15 seconds … of fame.

WOODRUFF: According to a new report, dozens of convicted sex offenders in New York are taking Viagra, and Medicaid is paying the bill. The story is sparking a great deal of anger and getting a lot of attention in cyberspace.

Let’s check in now with CNN political producer Abbi Tatton, and Jacki Schechner, our blog reporter.

Hi, Jacki.

JACKI SCHECHNER, CNN BLOG REPORTER: Hi, Judy.

What does this mean? It means a lot of high-level sex offenders are getting Viagra, and you are paying for it. It’s outrage on all sides of the blogs.

We start today at MyopicZeal.blogsome.com. This is Eric, who is a programmer in the Midwest. Named his blog, by the way, for the phrase “myopic zeal” that came out in the Rather-gate report. But he has a roundup of blog reaction to issues, and today he links to one blog called ondogriver.net.

This is Mark Jones, who is a political Independent. He’s a Navy veteran and has a story which he admits might be too much information, but says at one point he did need Viagra after surgery and he was unable to get it paid for because he’s a veteran under the care of the Department of Veteran Affairs Medical. Says that his doctor did give him a private prescription, but wondering if this means that America’s veterans are of a lower priority than convicted sex offenders.

A Newsweek (Japan) cover is making the rounds of the web. Rick Adams has a translation, though I don’t read Japanese so can’t verify it. Here is the photoshopped translation. Click through to LGF for the original.

His overview of the story:

From the editorial staff

“Since Newsweek is an American magazine, why would it tell us of problems with Bush?” we are occasionally asked in an ironic tone. However, we do not take sides, but only analyze the meaning of events from various viewpoints. Perhaps this has led to misunderstandings.

What have Americans lost due to the Bush administration in the last four years, and what will the world lose in the next four years? Verified facts, not opinions from any viewpoint, are laid forth in the special report in this issue.

Riding Sun has more, including a link to the source file.

And Aaron has done some creative photoshopping too…

More from Charmaine Yoest:

The cover Newsweek issued that week here in the US was entitled “Oscar Confidential” and featured Hilary Swank, Jamie Foxx and Leonardo DiCaprio.

Blind Mind’s Eye does more PS’ing:

Unfortunately we have yet to find a good use for Newsweek since no discerning puppy would ever stoop so low as peeing on this rag. Therefore we have only one choice left:

Amazing.

Convicted rapists and other high-risk sex offenders in New York are getting Viagra paid by Medicaid, according to state Comptroller Alan Hevesi, who has asked the federal health secretary to stop the practice.

Paxalles:

Meanwhile our elderly choose between meds and food…

The Bull has this to say, which he backs up with an anecdotal personal account:

Meanwhile, America’s Veterans - with no other care but the Dept. of Veterans Affairs - can’t get it at all! … So, America’s Veterans are of a lower priority that convicted sex offenders. I wish I could say I am surprised, but I’m not.

The Urban grind is outraged too, but from a different perspective.

Now maybe I’m missing something, but if a person is so poor as to be on Medicaid, shouldn’t something like erectile dysfunction be the least of their worries? But then again, liberals are experts at inventing rights — in this case, the right to whore around.

Lawrence Auster gets on his soapbox with this:

That’s the way liberalism works. It takes us so far into sickness and evil that people can only react to the latest, most extreme stage of the sickness and evil, thus implicitly normalizing all the stages leading up to it. Anything less sick than the sickest thing anyone has ever heard of, is ok.

Dave Lucas observes this, but thinks there is yet a crazier story. Click through to see it.

It gets crazier by the New York Minute!

Rob at Say Anything:

…the massive prescription drug entitlement President Bush pushed through congress and signed into law has tax payers doling out dollars for Viagra as well.

CitzCom titles his post:

Here is Your Sex Offender Registation, Ankle Braclet, and Your Viagra

Michelle Malkin and Drudge are linking too this morning.

Dean defends his mocking of Rush Limbaugh on NBC:

“Democrats have strong moral values. Frankly, my moral values are offended by some of the things I hear on programs like “Rush Limbaugh,’ and we don’t have to put up with that.”

Don’ t have to put up with what? Being offended by someone speaking freely? I’m not quite following his point other than that he is broadcasting an incredible degree of intolerance for those with whom he disagrees.

One might even go so far as to conclude that mocking Rush’s drug addiction (by a former physician, no less), is hateful. //gasp!

And once again, I stand slack jawed that this guy is the leader of the DNC. The spokesperson for all the democrat leadership is and stands for. Nutty. It’s time for the average Joe democrats, the hard working flyover country blue collar union guys, to stand up for what they really believe and let their party know what they think of this irresponsible leadership.