The level of stupid in the GOP is now up to their noses. Over the weekend this troglodyte Congresman by the name of Todd Aiken said the following:
“From what I understand from doctors, that’s really rare. If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down. But let’s assume maybe that didn’t work or something. I think there should be some punishment, but the punishment ought to be on the rapist.”
Of course this is utter nonsense, and he’s clearly never spoken with a physician, but when it comes to issues of women’s health and women’s rights the GOP lies and lies and lies.
And what the fuck is a “legitimate rape”? Maureen Dowd had an equally pithy response when she wrote:
“Ryan helped pay for W.’s endless wars while pushing endless anti-abortion bills, like one undercutting an exemption from the ban on using federal money for abortions in cases of rape or incest, and narrowing the definition of rape to “forcible rape.”
“What on earth is nonforcible rape? It’s like saying nonlethal murder. Why redefine acts of aggression against women as non-acts of aggression?”
In my relatively small circle of friends I know three women who were raped. Try telling them that a bunch of GOP men get to decide what constitutes a “real” rape. I’m angry enough to bite through nails over this.
And while we’re on the subject of stupid take a look at these “personhood” bills and amendments that are being pushed by the GOP. If passed they would ban in-vitro fertilization, and most forms of birth control. And lest you think it’s just whack jobs in state legislatures people who push this kind of extreme legislation folks should know that Paul Ryan, Romney’s running mate, has pushed a federal personhood bill in Congress. Take note young women, the rights you take for granted are under assault.
Then we’ve got Bobby Jindel spending tax dollars so home schoolers can teach their kids that there used to be dragons, and the Great Depression really wasn’t all that bad. You can find the article in Mother Jones here.
And let’s hear it for discounting the work and research of 97% of the worlds scientists when it come to climate change.
GOP stands for “Grand Old Party”. That has certainly changed.
Aiken’s comment is indeed pretty much the stupidest thing I’ve heard voiced in a very long time. On multiple levels. It would be nice to think this would be enough to make him lose badly.
Yeah, it was astounding. Where are they finding these people? Wouldn’t you have to work hard to find a candidate this stupid? I don’t want this man in the U.S. Senate. I want bright, educated people setting policy for the country.
Yes, the fact that people who are so obviously ignorant can reach such political heights is disturbing. What is even more disturbing is that this guy is actually on the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology. Really!!?
Clearly, the GOP really wants to force reality to conform to its political ideology.
I am reminded of the whale falling towards the planet in “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.” As the planet nears, the whale thinks: “That’s it! Ground! Ha! I wonder if it’ll be friends with me? Hello, Ground! ”
Unfortunately, willful ignorance in the case of people who are setting policy can result in all of us riding the whale with predictable dire consequences.
FYI, the House Republicans add adjectives to “rape” because last year, Akin, vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan, and most of the House GOP cosponsored a bill to further narrow the laws banning federal funding for abortion
I had meant to make the point that if you end up pregnant, it ipso facto means it was not actually a rape by this cretinous analysis. I seemed to have thought I wrote it up, but actually didn’t. I think I said it when I was visiting with Connie Willis this afternoon, and thought I had it in my post. Thanks for bringing up this point.
What a great metaphor! To extend it further, I am the angry bowl of petunias, forced to come along for the ride, thinking “Oh no, not again!”.
I love it, Debbie. You’re just trying to hang onto your petals, and not have them all stripped away in the crazy.:)