Did Big Ugly name WV town after anti-Barbie state delegate?

Charleston (WV) Daily Mail ^ | staff writer

[Sergeant Tim]

As others on Free Republic noted today and yesterday, a state delegate wants to outlaw the sale of Barbie dolls in West Virginia:

West Virginia state lawmaker Jeff Eldridge proposed a bill Tuesday that would ban sales of the busty Mattel doll, and others like her, in the state, just days before the doll officially logs a half century on March 9.

“I just hate the image that we give to our kids that if you're beautiful, you're beautiful and you don't have to be smart," Eldridge told West Virginia Media. "I'd like to send a message to not only our children but parents and educators that let's push education over the importance of beauty.”

Which is interesting when you compare it to Jeff Eldridge's mug, the town he hails from, and personal story:

Jeff Eldridge never had access to an indoor bathroom growing up poor in Big Ugly. His family used an outhouse. He said there were times he had to fend off his three brothers and a cousin in order to eat his two hot dogs. "If you didn't protect yourself, you didn't get to eat your two hot dogs. You got one of them," Eldridge said. "They took the other one."

Eldridge has come a long way. The 42-year-old has served in the House of Delegates since 2004 as a Democrat representing Lincoln County. His upbringing and young adulthood likely wouldn't mirror those of many of his cohorts in the Legislature.

As he continued to struggle economically through college, Eldridge latched onto underground fight clubs a source of extra cash. Yes - the sort of gritty places depicted in the 1999 film "Fight Club" starring Brad Pitt and Edward Norton. "Someone saw me fight, maybe it was a bar fight, and asked me if I would be interested in competing," said Eldridge, an 18-year-old attending Marshall at the time.

...

His father, now 72, never got his driver's license. He would never visit his son or check on him while he was attending Marshall, Eldridge said. His mother, however, showed up a couple of times. His parents divorced when he was 11. "Neither one of them could send money to me at Marshall," Eldridge said. "I had to borrow money for college." Eldridge became accustomed to going a few days without food from time-to-time as he pursued a teaching degree. He would later earn a master's degree in counseling and a license in social work.

At least he wasn't tossed out like he had been several times in public schools earlier in life. The 7th graders would attend the same school in Harts with the 12th graders and everyone in between. Eldridge admits he got suspended frequently for fighting. "You would be locked in lockers, put in garbage cans and hit in the head with class rings," he said. "I didn't take no junk from the senior class. I defended myself and my younger friends."

Scrapping in an unsanctioned fight club was a little different. All Eldridge remembers about his first underground brawl was the rush of adrenaline bursting through his body. "If I have to tell you about a fight, I can't," he said. "It's like a blur unless I can go back and see it." Eldridge said he won most of his approximately 100 fights. There came a few losses along the way. "In one, I got my butt kicked, basically," he said. "There's always someone that can take you.

"In another fight, I threw it so my friends would make more money (off the bets)."

[Sergeant Tim]

Exit questions:

Did they name his hometown after him?

Could Jeff Eldgridge be suffering from a Ken-envy or perhaps even a Barbie-envy complex?

If the sale of dolls is banned in West Virginia, is it too much to wonder how Eldridge's current friends might profit from the loss of that free market enterprise?

[Sergeant Tim]

correction to first link: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,504456,00.html

[Sergeant Tim]

Ping!

[WildcatClan]

[the OlLine Rebel]

Barbie is not “busty”. She’s pretty average.

And how is she stupid? I see no real indication there. Besides, she’s shuffled a whole LOT of jobs, from steer-roping to executive officer. Not too many can handle all that.

[Sergeant Tim]

See exit questions in comment one ;-)

[xp38]

My nieces have almost every Barbie animated movie dvd which have been released in recent years. Just wondering if this idiot is going to attempt to ban those as well?

[Sergeant Tim]

Probably.

[smokingfrog]

Don’t these idiots have anything better to do?

[swatbuznik]

whole LOT of jobs, from steer-roping to executive officer. Not too many can handle all that.

..and ASTRONAUT!

[jenk]

uh, 38, 24, 30 is not average

[Sergeant Tim]

It is a doll. But, no problem; the libs will get around to the real thing, mandatory breast reduction surgery, eventually.

The real issue is this is another attempt to legislate away the free market.

[Carolina_Thor]

This nation is going to hell on rails... While I can appreciate the idea of how magazines, dolls, etc. can lead women and young girls to having esteem issues, it’s patently ridiculous to outlaw something for this reason. It’s not the parent’s responsibility to provide psychological well being of their children, so let’s blame mattel. If the people of WV ever wonder why their state is in the shape it find itself, they would need to look no further than the idiots they are electing.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

Will they allow Helen Thomas dolls?

[the OlLine Rebel]

A 38 is hardly different from 36. Trust me. I’ve been through those.

[the OlLine Rebel]

I guess I didn’t have issues because I didn’t play with dolls (as a rule; although I liked “adult” dolls like Barbie better than baby dolls). I just played with cars and PlaySkool people and Tinker Toys and animals and so on.

[the OlLine Rebel]

ROFL!

Perhaps some of our Helen fans can provide pix of the Helen doll.... ;D

[SWAMPSNIPER]

Got the head, don’t have a clue where to find a body like that!

[jenk]

I’m just saying that barbie was called ‘busty’ in this thread. You said she’s pretty average. I said the measurements of Barbie are not average, meaning the bust/waist/hip measurement. I am a seamstress, and for the waist and the hips, the bust measurement of Barbie is not average. That’s all I was pointing out.

[the OlLine Rebel]

I guess you’re right if you’re talking proportions. The hips seem ridiculously small, I’d say, more than anything else. Almost boy-like.