Republican politicians and pundits are goose-stepping in lock step to condemn Todd Akin. But Akin is not alone. What frightens Republicans is that America will come to realize that Akin is the face of the new Republican Party. Sarah Seltzer and Lauren Kelly put together eight examples.
Within hours of Akin’s remark, journalists were producing detailed accounts of similarly absurd comments on abortion, rape and birth control from GOP officials and pundits, all of which showed a complete callousness toward science and women’s autonomy. To put Akin-gate in context, here are eight of the worst that we at AlterNet could find, past and present, but the full gamut of this sort of talk goes far, far beyond the following short list.
1. Other absurd Republican contributions to the “rape doesn’t lead to babies” myth. As Anna North reported earlier this year, other Republicans paved the way for Akin’s recent statements. In 1995, Republican Henry Aldridge stated that when a woman is raped, “the juices don’t flow,” and in 1988 another Republican congressman stated that women emit “a certain secretion” that stops pregnancy when they are raped. (Which has led many of us to wonder, which is it, guys? Do these mythical juices flow, or do they stop flowing, when a woman is raped?)
2. The daddy of all these rape theories. The National Right to Life Committee’s John C. Willke’s claims in an article that the “trauma” of rape prevents pregnancy — i.e., he “basically just makes shit up,” writes Katie J. M. Baker at Jezebel.
3. GOP donor asks, “Want contraception? Put an aspirin between your knees.” This line, now a total cultural punch line, came from Foster Friess, who was a big donor to Rick Santorum before moving on to support Romney. The video clip featuring Friess’ comments and Andrea Mitchell’s flummoxed response went viral this spring… [emphasis original]
Inserted from <Salon.com>
I shared three of the eight. I urge you to click through to the other five.
Romney is desperately etching his sketch and now claims that he supports exceptions for rape, incest and to save the life of the mother. Should you believe him?
Absolutely NOT!
16 Responses to “Akin Is Not Alone”
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When it comes to women's rights (and many other things!), the Republican/Teabagger politicians and pundits are Neanderthals, from the top of the pile to the bottom. Why must they goose-step in lock step to the pronouncements of the party? This sounds so much like the old USSR, Nazi Germany, and the PR of China, just to name a few. Can none of them use their God given brains to think independently and logically? As my mother used to remind us as children, "if so and so told you to jump off a bridge, would you do it?"
Personally, I'd rather jump off that bridge than goose-step with a bunch of idiots that have their knickers in such a twist that they are cutting off the circulation to their brains!
Isn't that an insult to Neanderthals?
A Handy-Dandy Guide showing just how closely the "birds" Akin, the GOP & Romney-Ryan have flocked together:
http://inlinethumb46.webshots.com/49325/2884659080082084340S500x500Q85.jpg
Thanks for the graph, sharing it on Facebook!
Great graph!
It's sad that Akin isn't the exception, he's the norm for the Greedy Old Pharts.
Excellent. In the sole divergence, the R$money campaign is lying.
The Wingnuts are in control of what was once at least a real political party-
Let it be the death throes, and the GOP follow the Whigs into oblivion.
I am stunned at the number of women who support these nuts, and wondering if any of them had a simple biology class in school. I can't believe any woman would vote republican after all these attacks and anti=women bills they have tried to pass. If Missouri re elects Akin, they should secede.
Most probably don't know that these attacks and bills exixt.
I guess I am naive, because I just can't get my head around what the Republicans/Teabaggers say and I guess believe. As a life long Democrat, if my party was anything like the Pubs/Baggers, I would be standing on the bridge beside Lynn. I could not be in a party that thrives on lies and propaganda. I will be so happy when November comes.
There are links to check if you are registered to vote in the election. To be safe, I suggest you check to see if you are registered. If you have ever gone by a nickname, you could be off the rolls. Let us be up to date and safe, please.
Gypsy, I'm a life long independent who turned Democrat in 2001. I could not abide being in the GOP.
Thanks. I have.
My daughter was informed by me her dad, "There is nothing a man can do that a woman can't do… I will vote this election and spread the word for equality and no discrimination…
Good!
Now that is some scary shit coming out of Mitt's pie hole. An amendment on abortion? What is this 1973 all over again?
Only if we win.