Lawmaker targets ED commercials

NEW YORK - One Congressman is tired of erectile dysfunction ads and thinks the spots should only run late at night.

Rep. Jim Moran, a Democrat from Virginia, introduced the " Families for ED Advertising Decency Act " last week, which would ban erectile dysfunction commercials from TV between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m.

The bill states that its aim is "to prohibit as indecent the broadcasting of any advertisement for a medication for the treatment of erectile dysfunction, and for other purposes."

"This [the advertisements] is an intrusion into our daily lives that I believe has become inappropriate," Moran said in an interview with CNN . "There is a saturation of the television airwaves with these ED ads, and they have gotten more pervasive, more blunt and less subtle."

Moran is seeking to reel in the ads, not the drugs, as Austin Durrer, an aide to Mr. Moran, told Ad Age . "The Congressman does not have a problem with the drugs -- only the advertising. His feeling is that they're not appropriate for family viewing hours and some of the advertising makes for uncomfortable situations."

Pfizer, the maker of Viagra, defended their commercials in a statement to CNN : "Our goal in advertising our products is to reach the people who would be most likely to benefit from them."

Rep. Robert Brady (D-Pa.) has signed on to cosponsor the legislation.

Many people agree with Moran citing uncomfortable experiences trying to explain the ads to young children. Commenter Frank added his experience to the comments on Ad Age : "Talk to me when I don't have to answer questions like 'Daddy, do you have sex for four hours? (12 year old girl)' 'Daddy I thought erections were for presidents every 4 years not every four hours (8 year old boy).'"

Former Congressman and presidential candidate Bob Dole (R-Kan.) went on to appear in Viagra commercials.