Todd Akin and the perils of ‘personhood’
Two weeks ago, Missouri’s Todd Akin took a big step in his quest to go from the U.S. House to the U.S. Senate by winning the state’s Republican primary for the seat. Instead of moving toward unseating incumbent Democrat Claire McCaskill, however, Akin may have taken an even larger step back this weekend with his remarks about rape and abortion during an interview with a St. Louis TV station:
First of all, 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 that maybe that didn’t work or something. I think there should be some punishment, but the punishment ought to be on the rapist and not attacking the child.
From his bizarre distinction between “legitimate rape” and, well, I’m not sure what (maybe Whoopi Goldberg could help him out with that?) to his crackpot notion that the female body “has ways to try to shut [pregnancy by forcible rape] down,” Akin has created a hot, offensive mess. There are calls from conservative commentators and at least two Republican senators (Scott Brown of Massachusetts and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin) for Akin to drop out of the race and let someone else fight the general election against McCaskill.
Whatever becomes of Akin’s candidacy — he indicated in an interview this afternoon on Mike Huckabee’s radio show that he doesn’t plan to quit the race — I really hope the backers of the so-called personhood amendment have been watching.
Akin might have found the most offensive, least intelligent way of stating opposition to one of the three most common exceptions that many pro-life people would make for abortions (the other two being incest and a threat to the life of the mother). The problem with the personhood approach, which would eliminate at least the rape and incest exceptions, is that there really isn’t a way to put it that persuades most Americans.
Gallup has perhaps the longest record of tracking public opinion about abortion. While the trend over the past couple of decades is clearly in an anti-abortion direction, one consistency is that the position with the most adherents — by far — is for abortion to be “legal only in a few circumstances.” That’s “a few,” not “one” or “none.”
Add the “few circumstances” group to the “no circumstances” tally, and three in five Americans support much stricter regulation of abortion than has been in place since Roe v. Wade. But only one in five supports making it completely illegal.
There is a certain inconsistency to the personhood approach: Why make it OK to take a life in certain circumstances, but not others. Life is life, right?
It’s far from clear, however, that consistency is the top priority for Americans on this issue. It’s more likely the case that Americans want to strike a balance among the sometimes-competing interests of protecting the innocent, personal responsibility and personal liberty.
My guess is the rape exception remains an imperative for most people because a woman doesn’t choose to be raped and cannot possibly be deemed responsible for that action or a resulting pregnancy. However pro-choice and anti-abortion people differ about the question of responsibility in other cases, this one seems beyond debate.
That’s probably a big reason personhood failed in statewide referendums in Colorado and Mississippi. It’s a big reason I’m convinced, despite its showing in a non-binding vote on last month’s Georgia Republican primary ballots, it would fail in Georgia if there were a statewide vote for a personhood amendment to the state constitution.
The vast majority of elective abortions in this country have nothing to do with rape or incest. Right-to-life groups — and aspiring politicians — should focus on those.
– By Kyle Wingfield
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137 comments Add your comment
md
August 20th, 2012
1:38 pm
Yes, he stepped in it big time. And if he stays in the race he is doing it for himself, not his constituents.
sheepdawg
August 20th, 2012
1:43 pm
RTL groups and their aspiring politicos should just go away, please. This is not a government issue.
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
August 20th, 2012
1:45 pm
He’s a dummycrat plant. Notice how he speaks of their issues and not America’s issues?
Beverly Fraud
August 20th, 2012
1:48 pm
He couldn’t have said something THAT stupid on his own. He’s obviously “juicing” like a Marion Jones was in her heyday.
Clearly, he needs to be tested for using PED.
Performance Enhancing Dumb.
Beverly Fraud
August 20th, 2012
1:51 pm
Well he is right about one thing: the body DOES seem to have a way to “shut that whole thing down.”
In his case, it shut down his brain. Bet he wishes it had shut down his mouth instead.
jd
August 20th, 2012
1:53 pm
The GOP has a history of promoting “bad science” From 2003 in the Georgia Senate (check the morgue files Kyle)
In the debate over SB 23, [Sen. Don] Thomas was one of the senators who voted to remove a section of the bill that would have provided an exception for women who become pregnant as a result of rape or incest. Thomas contended that women who are raped rarely get pregnant because their bodies are “unprepared” for intercourse.
Cutty
August 20th, 2012
2:02 pm
If the RTLers were so focused on lowering the number of abortions, they woulsnt be so against health insurance covering birth control. But people like Akin believe insurance paying for viagara is a right, while insurance paying for birth control such as the pill, is an abomination and goes against the Will of God. Go figure.
Lightnin
August 20th, 2012
2:04 pm
How does this compare to Obama’s voting FOR Partial-Birth Abortion and AGAINST the Born-Alive Infant Protection Act, which prevents babies that survive abortion attempts from being killed or left to die? Akin’s comments hardly matter compared to that!
SlickRick - glad to no not have to worry about suffering through Myth Robme and The Boy Wonder's ineptocracy
August 20th, 2012
2:05 pm
I’m absolutely shocked that a conservative said something so completely and utterly stupid, ignorant, offensive, insulting and completely at odds with well-established science!!!
Oh, wait. Never mind. He was just being . . . well, a fine, upstanding example of what passes for conservatism today.
Dare I say: “Obama/Biden 2012!!!!” and “locking up the victory”?
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
August 20th, 2012
2:08 pm
He completely made up that lie about “what he’s hearing from doctors.”
liar.
md
August 20th, 2012
2:08 pm
“believe insurance paying for viagara is a right, while insurance paying for birth control such as the pill, is an abomination ”
Just to clarify, but this comparison is quite faulty within the framework of medicine. Birth control pills for medicinal purposes should be covered, as the intent is to fix/repair. The same intent lies behind the coverage of viagra (although many providers still do not cover it), it is a medicinal “repair”, no different than repairing the other two legs.
Birth control to prevent a child is a choice…….not a medical necessity to fix/repair.
Will
August 20th, 2012
2:09 pm
Sounds right in line with republican thought.
Remember the reality tv star who was elected governor of Alaska but quit less than two years into the job so that she could make some money?
She thinks that dinosaurs, IF they ever really existed, are no more than 2000 years old because the Bible tells her so! Republicans also believe NOTHING on earth is more than 2000 years old because the Bible tells them so.
southpaw
August 20th, 2012
2:10 pm
“From his bizarre distinction between “legitimate rape” and, well, I’m not sure what…”
One of Jay’s bloggers went off Jay’s topic and coined the term “illegitimate rape,” apparently as the counterpoint to “legitimate rape,” but wondered what it is. I’ll repeat my definition here.
Illegitimate rape – sex that is consensual at the time, before one party regrets it a day or two later and decides that it was forced, after all.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
August 20th, 2012
2:10 pm
Legitimate vs illegitimate?
This fits well with the conservative notion that a large percentage of rape victims are lying about the rape.
The compassionate conservatives are everywhere, aren’t they?
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
August 20th, 2012
2:11 pm
Southpaw also thinks many rape victims are just lying about it???
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
August 20th, 2012
2:13 pm
not a medical necessity to fix/repair.
an erection is a medical necessity? The individual’s life would be in danger if they couldn’t have that? Other than sex, what does the erection do for the owner? Point directions?
Beverly Fraud
August 20th, 2012
2:18 pm
From Todd “the Genius” Akin
“I think there should be some punishment, but the punishment ought to be on the rapist and not attacking the child.”
Notice he has to qualify the word punishment with “some.”
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
August 20th, 2012
2:18 pm
Yes, he should immediately drop out of the Republican primary and join up in the dummycrat race, where he can babble all day long about mindless garbage with the rest of them, sort of like where this blog is headed.
Fiddle away, Neros.
BW
August 20th, 2012
2:19 pm
Lightin
One suspects he will be held to account for his comments just the President would for his “comments”. I put that in parentheses because I don’t see any attribution of the comments to a link. Anyway quit deflecting….this is about Akin and how Missouri voters will see his comments…his unforced error was egregious…it’s ok to call someone out on your side
BW
August 20th, 2012
2:20 pm
I Report
I like the deflection to “dummycrats”
…funny how he won a three way GOP primary by majority in his state and now you think something’s wrong with Missouri Republicans.
Glenn
August 20th, 2012
2:20 pm
Really though I think if you are running for office the best thing you can do is stay away from the abortion argument . Its a suckers argument that isn’t winnable . Whats the line……Just don’t get it on me .
BW
August 20th, 2012
2:22 pm
Kyle
Do you agree with Ron Johnson and Scott Brown that he should step aside by the withdrawal deadline?
southpaw
August 20th, 2012
2:23 pm
Finn McCool @2:11
Southpaw also thinks many rape victims are just lying about it???
“Many?” Probably not. More likely just a few. Do I think it doesn’t happen at all? No, I don’t. What do you think?
Sandra
August 20th, 2012
2:23 pm
@ Finn McCool,
Amen to your questions! If we can’t support birth control then pray tell me why would insurance ever supposed to support this stupid stuff? Could it have anything to do with the old white men who make the laws? Hypocrites everyone of them!
SlickRick - glad to no not have to worry about suffering through Myth Robme and The Boy Wonder's ineptocracy
August 20th, 2012
2:24 pm
I’m thinking the GOP has been legitimately raped by Mr. Akin and the whole party now needs to aborted. That way perhaps it can be reborn with some semblance of saneness.
Beverly Fraud
August 20th, 2012
2:25 pm
Right now there are MILLIONS of science teachers saying “Thank GOD this guy isn’t in my class, and I’m not responsible for his test scores.”
Hillbilly D
August 20th, 2012
2:25 pm
There’s no shortage of political loons, left, right, or center. In a week or two, we’ll be on to the next one and this guy will fade back into obscurity, where he belongs.
southpaw
August 20th, 2012
2:27 pm
Too late, SlickRick. Since you suggest the party be “reborn,” it’s already been born. Aborting it is no longer an option.
Up Up and Away
August 20th, 2012
2:28 pm
I Report
You know that Akin stepped in it, but as usual you have nothing more than your usual “dummycrat” blather.
If you know how that name calling reflects on your thinking skills and you as an individual, you probably would not care, but would be nice if you actually knew it
Lynnie Gal
August 20th, 2012
2:28 pm
Aiken’s comments were way beyond the pale, but his statements accurately reflect the general attitude of Republican men about women’s health issues, including Aiken’s co-sponsor of anti-women legislation, Paul Ryan. These white Republican men think they are the best people to decide whether women should have access to birth control, mammograms, pap smears and safe and legal abortion. It is increasingly obvious to many women as well as men who love their wives, daughters and sisters that this crop of white Republican men who took control of the U.S. House of Representatives is incredibly hostile to women to the point of being misogynistic. They have attacked Planned Parenthood, proposed “Personhood Amendments” and tried to force women to have vaginal probes. Any woman who votes for one of these Republican men votes against her own health and self-interest. Now, Republicans need to figure out a way to create more voter restrictions and special photo ID requirements for women in addition to the plan they have in place to restrict voting rights of students, minorities and the elderly. Hurry, guys! Time to make voting only available to white male property owners, circa 1659.
InAtl
August 20th, 2012
2:29 pm
I think he’s a moron and should drop out of the race, and I’m a Republican. Taxpayers should NOT be footing the bill for contraceptives or Viagra, period. People, at some point you have to spend your own money on this stuff. We’ve turned into a nanny state.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
August 20th, 2012
2:29 pm
Akins — Doin’ ma best to keep the Senate blue!
JF McNamara
August 20th, 2012
2:29 pm
“That’s probably a big reason personhood failed in statewide referendums in Colorado and Mississippi.”
…or maybe its because women showed up in droves from both sides of the aisle and voted against it. Men want this. Women do not, and they will show up to vote against it.
It’s a horrible thing to do so instead of focusing on forcing women to do something, why not focus on the reasons women get abortions? If you solve those, then you’ve solved the problem without a shouting match.
detritusUSA
August 20th, 2012
2:31 pm
Apparently intelligent republican is an oxymoron!
InAtl
August 20th, 2012
2:32 pm
Lynnie Gal engaging in her usual hyperbole:
“These white Republican men think they are the best people to decide whether women should have access to birth control, mammograms, pap smears and safe and legal abortion”
What a load of &*%$. I’ve never in my life heard a Republican candidate call for restrictions on women’s access to birth control, mammograms or pap smears. Get real.
Beverly Fraud
August 20th, 2012
2:32 pm
Apparently this is big news even outside the United States:
From the St. Peter Herald
When asked about his remarks, Mrs. Schiavo was quoted as saying, “And I thought I was brain dead.”
Matz
August 20th, 2012
2:32 pm
In the War on Women, you’re either WITH us, or AGAINST us.
Choose wisely, as we will remember your choice.
SlickRick - glad to no not have to worry about suffering through Myth Robme and The Boy Wonder's ineptocracy
August 20th, 2012
2:34 pm
southpaw – Mr. Akin has now forcefully (and without first obtaining consent) impregnated the GOP with even more wackiness (much more so than already, in other words). Per Mr. Akin, since it was a ‘legitimate raping’, the GOP can, without any moral restrictions, about the fetid foetus. Perhaps the GOP can then be reimpregnated with something more normal.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
August 20th, 2012
2:35 pm
Taxpayers should NOT be footing the bill for contraceptives
If you’re a Right Winger, let’s think this through. You don’t want to provide contraception to the poor people who can’t afford it? Aren’t those people the “takers”? Aren’t the takers the ones who vote Democrat?
Here you have a chance to provide contraception to the one group that po’s you more than any other – the one that helps the Dems get elected. Providing this tool slows down the Dem voters from making more Dem voters…..but NOOOOOOO. Short term thinking is what gets you Cons into this party of atrophy.
An Observer
August 20th, 2012
2:37 pm
I do not think that any sane voter in Missouri will vote for Todd Akin after hearing what he just said. He might as well withdraw now and let another candidate run against McCaskill. Maybe the republican party can withdraw their nomination of his candidacy and have the person who came in second in their primary run against McCaskill.
InAtl
August 20th, 2012
2:38 pm
Finn, you may adjust your principles to suit your owns interests, but I don’t. Taxpayers shouldn’t be paying for stuff that goes on in the bedroom, no exceptions.
Tiberius - pulling the tail of the left AND right when needed
August 20th, 2012
2:39 pm
Not only one, but two face palms for the soon-to-be former GOP nominee for the U.S. Senate in Missouri.
southpaw
August 20th, 2012
2:42 pm
SlickRick @2:34
“impregnated the GOP”?
Not possible. There’s nothing female in the GOP. See, for example, Matz’ “War on Women” at 2:32 and LynnieGal’s 2:28 post.
Stonethrower
August 20th, 2012
2:43 pm
He did offer an apology.
Road Scholar
August 20th, 2012
2:45 pm
Once again, if you do not want an abortion, do not get one! My religion (and I am a Christian) is not your religion! People who get an abortion will meet our maker when they die, just like you!
Beverly Fraud
August 20th, 2012
2:52 pm
I hope he had the decency to buy all his campaign workers “I’m with Stupid” T-Shirts.
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
August 20th, 2012
2:54 pm
Yeah, some Republican this guy is, let’s the libs sucker him into the trivial, or better known as the outer limits of their comprehension, instead of just blasting them on their mountain of ridiculous economic ideas.
Up Up and Away
August 20th, 2012
2:57 pm
I report
Keep spinning
Mandingo
August 20th, 2012
2:58 pm
Johnny Reb Rebublicans work hard to take our nation backwards one step at a time. If he had any intregrity what so ever he would step aside . He reminds of what comes out of Mitt R-money’s mouth in the sense his party has no room for men of good moral character. Team politics will bring our nation to its knees in suffering and prayer.
Rockerbabe
August 20th, 2012
2:58 pm
Kyle: you are such a willfully ignorant person at times. Reproductive rights that women take for granted are the same rights men have for the most part. The main right, is the right to make your own decisions regarding medical care and the directionof one’s life without interference from a 3rd party. The fact is, most folks do not care about anyone else’s reproductive rights, except the ones they are personally involved with at the time. Abortion is a private matter, as is childbrith and all other medical issues. It simply is none of your business.
As for the personhood bills; these are doomed to fail. These personhood bills deny women their own personhood and ownership of their own bodies. No one or anything is entitled to use my body for their purposes without my permission. That’s why rape, is rape, be the victim male or female.
Telling women or 51% of the population that they do not have ownership of their bodies is a stupid thing. Telling women who are pregnant that they are the only persons on the planet who are not entitled to the right to defend their own right to live against a situation that will kill them or make them disabled is a denial of a women’s human rights. Not to mention constitutional rights to not be subject to forced labor against their will, etc. Akins is just the latest GOP idiot to talk about women and their issues with such ignorance and stupidity that it befuddles the mind. I hope he goes down in flaming fashion.
East Lake Ira
August 20th, 2012
2:58 pm
This is why Sex Ed is so important folks.
And also too, his current committee assignments:
Committee on Armed Services
Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces
Subcommittee on Seapower and Expeditionary Forces (Chairman)
Committee on the Budget
Committee on Science, Space and Technology
Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics
Subcommittee on Energy and Environment
td
August 20th, 2012
2:59 pm
Road Scholar
August 20th, 2012
2:45 pm
“Once again, if you do not want an abortion, do not get one!”
Using your same logic then if you do not chose to beat your children then do not do it but leave me alone when I do because they are mine and it is none of your business.
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
August 20th, 2012
3:00 pm
instead of just blasting them on their mountain of ridiculous economic ideas
yeah, unlike trickle down economics, starting two wars while handing out tax cuts, or getting soooo absorbed with concern for public debt that everything else must halt. Sound principles those!
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
August 20th, 2012
3:01 pm
without interference from a 3rd party.
Unless, of course, they are forced to pay for it, then the libs have a much greater tolerance of the 3rd party, for some odd reason.
po dunk
August 20th, 2012
3:02 pm
td
Within the limits of each state’s laws his abortion illegal?
Can you say the same for beating your children?
You are way up front for most stupid post of the day. Outside of yourself, I doubt anyone can “beat” that one
Finn McCool (The System isn't Broken; It's Fixed)
August 20th, 2012
3:04 pm
Subcommittee on Seapower
Glad Missouri is so concerned about our seapower….. But I guess if they keep voting in Republicans, Global Warming will bring the ocean to a Missouri shore sooner rather than later?
F. Sinkwich
August 20th, 2012
3:06 pm
Before hyperventilation kicks in for some of you, try this:
Close your eyes, pretend you’re floating in air, then imagine that these offensive words were uttered by our VP.
Now this becomes a non-issue; just Joe being Joe. No media outrage except just at those who express outrage about the comment. Excuses made and accepted on all the Sunday shows.
Feel better?
Beverly Fraud
August 20th, 2012
3:08 pm
Subcommittee on Seapower and Expeditionary Forces (Chairman)
Can this guy even SPELL “SEAL”?
Hopefully, they let him play with the GI Joes while the grownups make all the important decisions.
Beverly Fraud
August 20th, 2012
3:10 pm
“Close your eyes, pretend you’re floating in air, then imagine that these offensive words were uttered by our VP.”
I tried to, for a good two hours in fact, but not even the LSD allowed me to picture something THAT stupid.
BS Aplenty
August 20th, 2012
3:10 pm
Huge gaffe. Where do they get these candidates, Retard’s Bar & Grill, Joplin, MO? For those victims of rape there is Plan B from your pharmacist. It’s generally effective against unwanted pregnancy, reasonably priced and only causes a little nausea in some.
Ernest T Bass
August 20th, 2012
3:10 pm
If you make abortion illegal you will not stop one abortion in this country.
You will just push it underground and the criminals will take it over.
Back alley clinics will pop up and the rich will just go overseas.
Its better where it is. Out in the light.
Potential mothers can be counseled and offered other avenues such as adoption.
No one who is pro-choice ( such as myself ) is pro-abortion. I wish it didn’t happen. Unfortunately it does and we have to deal with it as a society.
Educate kids on sex and condoms. Trash the abstinence programs ( which don’t work. Newsflash kids are going to have sex. They might as well have a condom on ) and watch the unwanted pregnancies go down.
Making abortion illegal will have the same effect prohibition had. It wont stop it. It will just make it a lot more dangerous.
kelly
August 20th, 2012
3:11 pm
Ryan is joined at the hip with this guy legislatively. Wake up people. This is the kind of crap you will get from a republican administration.
Ernest T Bass
August 20th, 2012
3:12 pm
Excuses made and accepted on all the Sunday shows.
Just not Fox.
I love how we always hear about the biased liberal media. But never a peep about the biased conservative one.
And believe me there is one.
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
August 20th, 2012
3:14 pm
Anybody else figure out what’s up with the latest lib tactic, from a people wholly incapable of independent thought and mindlessly awaiting their next set of instructions, of criticizing obozo?
I’m confused on this one. The sycophants have turned against der fuehrer?
Is this some sort of sympathy ploy?
InAtl
August 20th, 2012
3:14 pm
Ala Kelly: “Ryan is joined at the hip with this guy legislatively. Wake up people. This is the kind of crap you will get from a republican administration.”
You’re a little short there on details, Kelly. Biden is joined at the hip with Obama, and we get plenty of crap from both of them on a daily basis, and we’ve already woken up to that fact.
Ernest T Bass
August 20th, 2012
3:16 pm
You’re a little short there on details, Kelly. Biden is joined at the hip with Obama, and we get plenty of crap from both of them on a daily basis, and we’ve already woken up to that fact.
Have you got any details ?
oldfart
August 20th, 2012
3:16 pm
I shudder to think how someone who would utter something this stupid got elected to public office in the first place.
SlickRick - glad to no not have to worry about suffering through Myth Robme and The Boy Wonder's ineptocracy
August 20th, 2012
3:16 pm
I Report – Please either refill the prescription or see a doctor about increasing the dosage; pronto. You’re starting to sound about how I’d think Mr. Holmes sounded just before he decided to lose it completely.
stands for decibels
August 20th, 2012
3:18 pm
three in five Americans support much stricter regulation of abortion than has been in place since Roe v. Wade.
Strange then that so many Americans continue to stand behind R v W.
http://pollingreport.com/abortion2.htm
(Ok, not so strange when you consider the traditional pro-Republican house effect over at Gallup.)
stands for decibels
August 20th, 2012
3:19 pm
The vast majority of elective abortions in this country have nothing to do with rape or incest. Right-to-life groups — and aspiring politicians — should focus on those.
Yes, you should make sure that those dirty girls who’ve had sex for enjoyment’s sake should be punished.
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
August 20th, 2012
3:20 pm
Rick – Read the syntax errors in your screen name for an apt example of someone fixin to blow.
Were you heavy panting as you typed?
stands for decibels
August 20th, 2012
3:20 pm
Akin’s views on the evil, lying nature of women are basically the standard views of the anti-choice right. He just made the mistake of being too blunt about it.
Tom
August 20th, 2012
3:22 pm
Bass-ackwards idiots like Akin (not to mention the state legislators in KY who are still trying to get evolution taken out of the science curriculum) are the main reason we have such a hard time attracting more independents/moderates into the GOP.
L'il Aynie
August 20th, 2012
3:26 pm
The anti-choice people are are so bogged down in their silliness they can’t think straight!
They have redefined the language so that zygotes and fetuses are “babies”, anti-abortion is the same as anti-choice, and forcing a woman to carry a fetus to term is protecting her God-given rights.
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
August 20th, 2012
3:28 pm
Speaking of silly liberal ideas, how long before Lucy, the ape we all “evolved” from, joins Julia on the government dole?
Shouldn’t the beasts have social security numbers?
Beverly Fraud
August 20th, 2012
3:33 pm
They say you can’t fix stupid. But Akin just proved you can SQUARE it.
SlickRick - glad to not have to worry about suffering through Myth Robme and The Boy Wonder's ineptocracy
August 20th, 2012
3:33 pm
I Report – sore loser, huh?
retired early
August 20th, 2012
3:35 pm
……….makeup, wigs, false eyelashes and provocative apparel.
“They asked for it…”. Break out the “burkus” guys…cover up these sluts…I mean females. It’s only natural for a man to act “manly”…right!!!
These were the thoughts going thru Todd’s head that he edited to reflect a more “acceptable” discourse about rape and abortion.
William Wilberforce
August 20th, 2012
3:36 pm
Not an eloquent quote, but acting like the murder of 1.5 million preborn children is a right is WAY crazier, and I don’t see any reports about that.
Also, rape is wrong for exactly the same reason that abortion is wrong. They are both violations of another person.
And Mr. Wingfield, you don’t strike a balance with murder, you don’t poll whether people support murder, there is only one thing to be done with abortion, and that is abolish it, just like we did with slavery. The rest is playing games.
po dunk
August 20th, 2012
3:37 pm
Slick
Just wait until the election?
Beverly Fraud
August 20th, 2012
3:38 pm
@Wilberforce they don’t call it murder if you kill in self-defense.
SlickRick - glad to not have to worry about suffering through Myth Robme and The Boy Wonder's ineptocracy
August 20th, 2012
3:39 pm
Regressives fighting for a majority in the Senate. Akin wins the Regressive nomination for Missouri.
Muwahahahahahahaha
And: I’m lovin’ it.
And: Schnirt
SlickRick - glad to not have to worry about suffering through Myth Robme and The Boy Wonder's ineptocracy
August 20th, 2012
3:41 pm
po dunk – Yeah, I’m thinking that post-election I Report will be a TNT-cloud laying motherf—–r; that’s if he doesn’t have a heart attack on the night of the election.
InAtl
August 20th, 2012
3:46 pm
From Ernest T Bass: “You’re a little short there on details, Kelly. Biden is joined at the hip with Obama, and we get plenty of crap from both of them on a daily basis, and we’ve already woken up to that fact.
Have you got any details ?”
Boy, have I ever. But let’s just start with a few of the zingers:
Obamacare, executive order to gut Clinton’s welfare work requirements, recess appointment of union guys to the NLRB, blocking the Keystone Pipeline, failing to allow permits to go forward to drill in the Gulf of Mexico despite being slapped down by a federal judge for this, bailing out automakers to preserve union contracts while cherry picking dealerships he wants to close. This list goes on and on.
po dunk
August 20th, 2012
3:47 pm
Slick
I just hope that he doesn’t kick the dog as he stomps around and pouts
SlickRick - glad to not have to worry about suffering through Myth Robme and The Boy Wonder's ineptocracy
August 20th, 2012
3:48 pm
InAtl – You forgot targeting OBL for a kill and succeeding. And saving the world from The Second Great Depression. To name but two.
Bob Loblaw
August 20th, 2012
3:49 pm
Funny, if a fertilized egg is a person, then Atlanta’s fertility clinics have cities the size of Columbus in their freezers. People: the Egg ain’t going nowhere without a uterus.
md
August 20th, 2012
3:53 pm
“an erection is a medical necessity? The individual’s life would be in danger if they couldn’t have that? Other than sex, what does the erection do for the owner? Point directions?”
Yes, no, basic need, and possibly.
From a medical perspective, that organ was designed to get hard….believe it or not. And also, believe it or not, sex is a basic need of the human mammal. And in regards to the life in danger part……what has that got to do with anything? We fix broken people all the time that are never in danger of dying.
As for the necessity of birth control pills as a paid option……..it’s no different than condoms, and believe it or not every generation prior to this one has managed to pay for their own…….but this gimme generation seems to want it all……..for “free”.
atler8
August 20th, 2012
3:57 pm
InAtl
There’s no delicate way to say this but you are a talking-points regurgiating liar at 3:46.
I Report (-: You Whine )-: mmm, mmmm, mmmmm! Just sayin...
August 20th, 2012
3:58 pm
Republican Source: Akin Moving To Withdraw
atler8
August 20th, 2012
3:58 pm
That should be “regurgitating’.
po dunk
August 20th, 2012
4:00 pm
Republican know this dude will go down
Senate Republicans are urging Rep. Todd Akin to drop his U.S. Senate bid in Missouri after the candidate told a local news show that women “rarely” become pregnant through “legitimate rape.”
The National Senatorial Campaign Committee has pledged to pull the $5 million it had planned to spend in Missouri if Akin stays in the race, a Republican with knowledge of the committee’s activity confirmed to RealClearPolitics. Crossroads GPS, a super PAC that has been running ads against Akin’s Democratic opponent, Sen. Claire McCaskill, plans to withhold additional ads if Akin does not drop out, spokesman Nate Hodson said.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2012/08/20/akins_rape_remark_echoes_beyond_missouri_race.html
Ralph
August 20th, 2012
4:02 pm
I’m an old white guy who does not trust other old white guys to make intimate decisions for young women.
po dunk
August 20th, 2012
4:03 pm
“Republican Source: Akin Moving To Withdraw”
Translation: He is being pushed very hard at this very moment
Hillbilly D
August 20th, 2012
4:03 pm
Looks like it’s time for a new topic.
po dunk
August 20th, 2012
4:07 pm
HillBilly D
Agreed. Dude f’d up and he will be gone soon.
That in itself doesn’t change anyone’s position on abortion, however from a political view, Akin rendered himself to be toxic.
md
August 20th, 2012
4:09 pm
“Funny, if a fertilized egg is a person, then Atlanta’s fertility clinics have cities the size of Columbus in their freezers.”
And that may not be too far off the mark……..most geneticists will tell you that every human has a very distinct starting point based on their dna…….and that starting point is in the beginning. Couple that with the ever changing viability through technology, and who knows.
Currently, the definition is quite fluid as technology changes, and if one really thinks about it that definition is only there for one purpose……to justify an action.
Kyle Wingfield
August 20th, 2012
4:17 pm
William Wilberforce @ 3:36: As I’ve written before, I would rather take a chance now to abolish 95% of it than to wait years, if not decades, in order to get all 100% in one fell swoop. In my view, moving the goal posts before you’ve ever made a kick is what amounts to “playing games.”
InAtl
August 20th, 2012
4:17 pm
Atler8: “InAtl
There’s no delicate way to say this but you are a talking-points regurgiating liar at 3:46.”
Wow, I’m sure you were trying to be delicate. Since when are legitimate issues and policy difference “talking points”? These are things we conservatives are really frosted over. And where’s the lie, Atler8? You failed to point it out as you were spewing with your keyboard.
atler8
August 20th, 2012
4:25 pm
InAtl
You’ve been spewing a venomous mixture of lies & talking points all day & I finally had to call you on them.
I’d need to go back & present citations on nearly every one of your posts of today to be thorough & I don’t have the stomach or inclination to do that. .
In the meantime, I have a ride home from work that I’ll go catch instead of wasting any hopeless time on you. See ya!
InAtl
August 20th, 2012
4:27 pm
In other words, atler, you got nuthin’.
Rafe Hollister, suffering through Oblamer's ineptocracy
August 20th, 2012
4:33 pm
Man, I hope he drops out; he is dumber than a turnip or a Biden. That McCaskill lady sure looks like she needs a few days in a spa somewhere, the pressure seems to have worn on her. The GOP needs to nominate someone, who can relieve her.
ByteMe
August 20th, 2012
4:40 pm
Rep. Denny Rehberg, the Republican candidate for Senate in Montana, will donate $5,000 that he received from Todd Akin’s PAC to a teen pregnancy center, Politico reports.
Good and just response.
jconservative
August 20th, 2012
4:48 pm
Today the right to an abortion is a constitutional right. For those of us on the pro-life side this should be the issue. All of this other stuff, i.e. person hood, # of weeks, only takes our eye off of the ultimate target. Some pro-life people spend a majority of their time jousting with windmills.
And, as Kyle points out, the “reproductive rights of women” holds the upper hand in public opinion.
Bhorsoft
August 20th, 2012
4:49 pm
an erection is a medical necessity? The individual’s life would be in danger if they couldn’t have that? Other than sex, what does the erection do for the owner? Point directions?
For some men (particularly politicians), a lack of an erection would impair their thinking…
@@
August 20th, 2012
4:56 pm
First of all, from what I understand from doctors
Akin needs to bring those doctors forward. Surely they didn’t receive their medical license in the U.S..
Michael H Smith
August 20th, 2012
4:57 pm
The vast majority of elective abortions in this country have nothing to do with rape or incest. Right-to-life groups — and aspiring politicians — should focus on those. – (Or pose a threat to the life of the mother or involved gross malformation of a fetus.)
I agree.
snoqualmiefalls
August 20th, 2012
4:59 pm
Can anyone still maintain there is “no war on women”
HMMM let’s put on our thinking caps and spend some time connecting the dots with critical thinking skills, something Mr. Akin lacks.
Michael H Smith
August 20th, 2012
5:02 pm
the “reproductive rights of women” holds the upper hand in public opinion.
It holds the upper hand in the opinion of the Supreme Court. If public opinion were the reason, abortion would have been passed as legislation rather than “SETTLED” by Roe -v- Wade.
fultonrighty
August 20th, 2012
5:05 pm
Kyle, as long as the pro-life movement focused on the “95%” as you call it, politicians gave only lip service to being pro-life and nothing much got enacted into law in GA. Since 2000 when the standard was raised (goal posts moved, as you would say), we have had significant legislation here and more will come. Personhood is bigger than abortion–it deals with the dignity of those who are handicapped physically or mentally, the terminally ill and all the biotechnology that sacrifices human dignity. Pro-human personhood protection is required to deal with animal-human hybrids, cloning, transhumanism, genetic manipulation, and eugenic customized embryos/designer babies.
Akin made a foolish, uninformed comment, and deserves to be replaced by a wiser one, but his respect for nascent human life is valid. Severely upping the punishment for the rapist when his crime results in a pregnancy sounds pretty good too. Perhaps hefty compensation to the woman?
Jefferson
August 20th, 2012
5:12 pm
Spin it so you win it, eh ?
Michael H Smith
August 20th, 2012
5:13 pm
Oh boy, guess now we have a war on everything or anything, since a few fringe extremists in society is all that is needed for a “war on something” to be declared.
How about a “war on WARS”?
OMG! Then we’ll only have peace to make war on!!
Michael H Smith
August 20th, 2012
5:16 pm
Reality needs no spin.
Archibald Leach
August 20th, 2012
5:19 pm
I dont see why people are surprised by Akin’s comments. This is what most of the Republican party thinks. He just said it out loud. Akin and Paul Ryan share the exact same views. Thats why Ryan and Akin co-sponsored a “personhood” bill.
Whatsamattau With Republicans? How Do You Misplace Sanity?
August 20th, 2012
5:24 pm
Legitimate rape?
“Only the most brutal form of rape — inflicted at gunpoint or after a physical beating — constitutes “real” rape?
O M G!
In all matters of opinion, our adversaries are insane.
Whatsamattau with Republicans?
They have gone STARK RAVING MAD.
SlickRick - glad to not have to worry about suffering through Myth Robme and The Boy Wonder's ineptocracy
August 20th, 2012
5:26 pm
@@ – he’s on your ‘team’; he ‘believes’ in the same ‘things’ you do. own it!
SlickRick - glad to not have to worry about suffering through Myth Robme and The Boy Wonder's ineptocracy
August 20th, 2012
5:27 pm
Michael H Smith – How’s about you seek to control your own wife, k? But leave other women alone.
When Jesus comes back, these crazy, greedy, capitalistic Republicans are gonna kill him again
August 20th, 2012
5:37 pm
@Rafe Hollister, suffering through Oblamer’s ineptocracy
August 20th, 2012
4:33 pm
Man, I hope he drops out; he is dumber than a turnip or a Biden. That McCaskill lady sure looks like she needs a few days in a spa somewhere, the pressure seems to have worn on her. The GOP needs to nominate someone, who can relieve her.
_________________________________________________________________
Whatsamattau with YOU Republicans?
How do you Republicans misplace sanity?
Dave
August 20th, 2012
5:38 pm
“The vast majority of elective abortions in this country have nothing to do with rape or incest. Right-to-life groups — and aspiring politicians — should focus on those.”
Absolutely true; so, you counsel imposing your views on the circumstances where it’s easier to get support for intruding on a personal decision.
I understand morality, I try to be moral; but, morality is almost always the basis for bad law.
You Kyle seem to be accepting immorality in your view where you can’t win and imposing your morality on others when you think you’ve got a shot at winning. Bad idea in my view.
SlickRick - glad to not have to worry about suffering through Myth Robme and The Boy Wonder's ineptocracy
August 20th, 2012
5:44 pm
When Jesus comes back – I’d submit it is very easy to misplace that which you never had in the first place.
Dusty
August 20th, 2012
5:55 pm
KYLE
Just ’cause we have a rare crazy Republican does not mean we need to advertise him.. The DNC will take care of that. You are focusing on the mishaps, not the magnificence of moderate conservative government. ..
Sensible folks will run that ignoramus Akin off the ticket. He got loose before they knew it.
.
@@
August 20th, 2012
6:04 pm
And your side, Rick?
They support terminating life for convenience sake.
Own THAT!
When Jesus comes back, these crazy, greedy, capitalistic Republicans are gonna kill him again
August 20th, 2012
6:51 pm
Life is life, right?
Then why is it Okay to not feed the millions of children who go to bed HUNGRY.
Life is life, right?
Then why is it Okay to CUT FUNDING for the poor.
Life is life, right?
Yet CONS are more interested in the unborn THAN THE ALREADY BORN.
Life is life. Right?
SUCH HYPOCRITES.
That is why God is EXPOSING CONS EVERYDAY.
md
August 20th, 2012
6:58 pm
“For some men (particularly politicians), a lack of an erection would impair their thinking…”
Actually the other way around…..man was blessed with a brain and the other brain, but only enough blood to power one at a time
bu2
August 20th, 2012
7:13 pm
“Before hyperventilation kicks in for some of you, try this:
Close your eyes, pretend you’re floating in air, then imagine that these offensive words were uttered by our VP.
Now this becomes a non-issue; just Joe being Joe. No media outrage except just at those who express outrage about the comment. Excuses made and accepted on all the Sunday shows.
Feel better?”
Then there was our own Hank Johnson wondering if the island of Guam would capsize if we put too many soldiers on it.
Is there something about politics that draws total idiots? Or maybe its just the ego involved encourages them to open their mouth and remove all doubt.
too much
August 20th, 2012
7:32 pm
Dusty
It is called fair reporting. Those who do not like to see the good and bad on both sides are usually individuals of all political stripes who are best kept in the shallow end of the pool.
Place where one doesn’t have to think much.
You might want to sit on the edge of the shallow end for now and just get your feet wet
Ted
August 20th, 2012
8:25 pm
“Ryan is joined at the hip with this guy legislatively. Wake up people. This is the kind of crap you will get from a republican administration.”
Yeah he is and Kyle didn’t mention this at all.
Ted
August 20th, 2012
8:30 pm
The other aspect of the personhood amendments (especially the one in MS) is that they would ban birth control. That was another ridiculous aspect of that amendment and another reason why it went down in flames. Even the voters of Mississippi found that to be too extreme. I love how the Republicans are wringing their hands about Akin. He’s an absolute disgrace.
Whatsamattau With Republicans? How Do You Misplace Sanity?
August 20th, 2012
9:05 pm
@bu2
August 20th, 2012
7:13 pm
“Before hyperventilation kicks in for some of you, try this:
Close your eyes, pretend you’re floating in air, then imagine that these offensive words were uttered by our VP.
Now this becomes a non-issue; just Joe being Joe. No media outrage except just at those who express outrage about the comment. Excuses made and accepted on all the Sunday shows.
Feel better?”
_______________________________________________________
In view of the fact that God limited the intelligence of man,
it seems unfair that he did not also limit your stupidity.
Whatsamattau With Republicans? How Do You Misplace Sanity?
August 20th, 2012
9:10 pm
It is awfully quiet tonight on this blog.
I guess the CONS are hiding in shame.
Shameonya……………………………………
God is taking names.
Whatsamattau With Republicans? How Do You Misplace Sanity?
August 20th, 2012
9:15 pm
It costs to be stupid. The stupider you are, the more it costs.
IT IS GOING TO COST THE CONS DEARLY.
fair and balanced
August 20th, 2012
11:09 pm
Great editorial Kyle- one more reason to vote against Romney since his vp choice and Mr. Aiken have identical viws on abortion, personhood and rape. Did you check on how many anti-abortion bills those two co-sponsored. Whatever Aiken’s views on rape are, they are also Paul Ryan’s aside from his typica; flip flop like every other issue he has gotten called on in the past week. Hee is going for Olympic gold in the summersault contest.
bu2
August 20th, 2012
11:22 pm
@Whatssamattau
You should read my post more carefully. You might learn something.
fultonrighty
August 21st, 2012
6:50 am
Sorry, @Ted,
In MS the opponents said it banned “birth control.” Some of what they call “birth control” operates by preventing conception (the Pill, condoms), but others don’t (Ella, RU486). Does it control the uniting of egg and sperm (conception) or does it control birth? Because of these new technologies, there is now a distinction is between “contraception” and “birth control.” [Ultimately all abortions could be called "birth control," because they control birth.]
In MS Planned Parenthood used the confusion between the two to scare pro-life people out of voting for it. That and Haley Barbour’s waffling tv clip.
gm
August 21st, 2012
10:37 am
Just wait till all the facts come out on the rich golden boy Ryan another women hater who has voted against every bill from the Ledbetter act equal pay for women to voting against Parent Planning Hood.
The GOP really believe all rights are for white males and women and minorities have no role, yet rep women are out there supporting these women haters, makes you wonder whats wrong menally with these rep women???/
Old white men making health decisions for women
August 21st, 2012
11:41 am
Yeah, that makes sense. Especially when old white men have understood from doctors that a woman’s body can shut that whole thing down when it wants to.
Or that old white men have understood that abortions are over 90% of what Planned Parenthood does.
Old white men need to stay focused on things they know: Matlock reruns and growing ear hair long enough to braid.
SBinF
August 22nd, 2012
10:03 am
Akin said what millions of GOPers really think.
What’s wrong with that?