Mike Gatto

Rep. Mike Gatto

Mike Gatto of California (Democrat), endorsing circumcision.
Benefactors:
Brad Sherman
Daniel Halperin
Edgar Schoen

Mike Gatto was born in the Franklin Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles, to Joseph and Isolde Gatto.

Gatto is a member of the following organizations: Democrats for Israel; The Sierra Club; The Burbank Democratic Club; The California League of Conservation Voters; The Silver Lake Improvement Association; and The Stonewall Democratic Club.

Pro-Circumcision Bill

In reaction to a proposed measure to ban circumcision in minors under 18 years in the city of San Francisco this year, Mike Gatto gutted and amended Assembly Bill 768, which was supposed to be a carbon emissions regulation law, and re-wrote it into one that "protects" circumcision under false claims, under the direction of Congressman Brad Sherman, who is trying to pass the similar "Religious and Parental Rights Defense Act of 2011" at the federal level.

The new law attempts to dictate the medical validity of circumcision, declaring that "Male circumcision has a wide array of health and affiliative benefits," and that thus "No local statute, ordinance, or regulation, or administrative action implementing a local statute, ordinance, or regulation shall prohibit or restrict the practice of male circumcision, or the exercise of parental authority with respect to the same." It is being presented as an "urgency bill necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety," where, if signed into law, would take effect immediately.

By codifying statements that no medical organization in and outside of the United States has ever dared to make, Gatto's law takes an unfounded position against the best medical authorities of the West, within and outside of the United States. The trend of opinion on non-therapeutic male circumcision is so overwhelmingly negative in industrialized nations that it would be quite surprising were male circumcision to be recommended in the United States. No respected U.S. based medical board recommends circumcision for U.S. infants, not even in the name of HIV prevention. They all point to the risks, and they all state that there is no convincing evidence that the benefits outweigh these risks.

Hypocrisy

Mike Gatto is working with other Democrats to make it harder for Californians to pass their own laws at the ballot box, claiming that the initiative process has been "hijacked by special interests." This, after he guts and amends Assembly Bill 768, which was supposed to be a carbon emissions regulation law, and re-wrote it into one that "protects" circumcision under false claims, under the direction of Congressman Brad Sherman, who is trying to pass the similar "Religious and Parental Rights Defense Act of 2011" at the federal level. Apparently, "direct democracy" has "gone wild," and Gatto et al. intend to "moderate." Truly it is the process of slamming measures through the Assembly and Senate which needs to be moderated in order to keep politicians with "special interests," such as Mike Gatto, from abusing the sytem. Aside from being Brad Sherman's protege, Mike Gatto is also a beneficiary to the ADL.

"Belief" and historical inaccuracy

In an interview with the Jewish Journal, Mike Gatto said "there are a lot of Christians, too, who believe that circumcision dates back to the origins of our faith." He seems oblivious, or willfully ignorant to the fact that one of the very dividing factors between Jews and Christians was in fact, circumcision. The Bible expressly forbids the ritual circumcision of gentiles.

“

2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. 3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. 4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. (Galatians 5:2-5, Holy Bible)

Brad Sherman

Gatto has represented the Los Angeles-area 43rd district since 2010; previously he worked for Sherman, a Democratic congressman from Sherman Oaks, for five years. Sherman is Jewish and an ardent supporter of Jewish causes. Gatto had this to say about Sherman:

“	He talked to me about how important the issue [circumcision] was, and it was, quite frankly, an easy sell – Mike Gatto (JewishJournal)

“	there are a lot of Christians, too, who believe that circumcision dates back to the origins of our faith. – Mike Gatto (JewishJournal)

Sherman said he did not consult the text of the Federal Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation Act of 1995 in composing the bill he will put forth in Congress. When asked about the similarities between male and female circumcision, and the 1996 ban on female circumcision, Sherman said:

“	I think people who make that analogy are so wrong that their thinking does not color my thinking – Brad Sherman (JewishJournal)

Sherman added that he...

“	...would angrily denounce anyone who thought I should consider any talk of female circumcision and male circumcision in the same conversation. They are not analogous. – Brad Sherman (JewishJournal)

Female circumcision (ritual nicking) is less harmful and invasive than male circumcision, yet has been illegal since 1996. Apparently, Sherman doesn't think boys deserve the same kind of legal protection from harm that girls deserve.

See also

• Brad Sherman — A Democratic Congressman in which Mike Gatto worked for (5 years).
• Committee for Parental Choice and Religious Freedom — A group dedicated to Gatto's cause.
• Daniel Halperin — Spoke in support of Gatto's bill.
• Edgar J. Schoen — Spoke in support of Gatto's bill.

External links

• Mike Gatto, The Face of Genital Cutting in America — Blog.
• Assemblyman Mike Gatto is blasted by KFI's John & Ken on 9/1/11. — Not related to circumcision.