Your daily jolt: Gingrey open to limits on mag clips, says Todd Akin was ‘partly right’

Schmoozing with constituents in Smyrna on Thursday, U.S. Rep. Phil Gingrey, R-Marietta, had already made news when he said that he was open to some new restrictions on firearms. From the first five paragraphs written by Jon Gillooly of the Marietta Daily Journal:

“There are some problems, and maybe these huge magazines even for someone who says, ‘look, I just use an AR-15 for target practice,’ but do you really need to be standing there shooting at a silhouette a shot a second or even quicker with that kind of weapon? For what purpose?” Gingrey asked. “I would be willing to listen to the possibility of the capacity of a magazine.”

Gingrey, who took the time to praise Adventure Outdoors owner Jay Wallace as the gold standard for running a responsible gun retail business, said he is also open to revisions of the so-called gun show loophole.

But then the Marietta congressman decided to wax eloquent on the most egregious Republican misstep of 2012 – the concept of “legitimate rape.” Gingrey said today that his remarks have been misconstrued, but you can listen to the audio provided by Gillooly:

Said Gingrey, in Gillooly’s piece:

“And in Missouri, Todd Akin … was asked by a local news source about rape and he said, ‘Look, in a legitimate rape situation’ — and what he meant by legitimate rape was just look, someone can say I was raped: a scared-to-death 15-year-old that becomes impregnated by her boyfriend and then has to tell her parents, that’s pretty tough and might on some occasion say, ‘Hey, I was raped.’ That’s what he meant when he said legitimate rape versus non-legitimate rape. I don’t find anything so horrible about that. But then he went on and said that in a situation of rape, of a legitimate rape, a woman’s body has a way of shutting down so the pregnancy would not occur. He’s partly right on that.”

Gingrey pointed out that he had been an OB-GYN since 1975.

“And I’ve delivered lots of babies, and I know about these things. It is true. We tell infertile couples all the time that are having trouble conceiving because of the woman not ovulating, ‘Just relax. Drink a glass of wine. And don’t be so tense and uptight because all that adrenaline can cause you not to ovulate.’ So he was partially right wasn’t he? But the fact that a woman may have already ovulated 12 hours before she is raped, you’re not going to prevent a pregnancy there by a woman’s body shutting anything down because the horse has already left the barn, so to speak. And yet the media took that and tore it apart.”

Gingrey’s office this morning offered additional commentary. On the congressman’s comments about Akin:

“At a breakfast yesterday morning, I was asked why Democrats made abortion a central theme of the presidential campaign. I do not defend, nor do I stand by, the remarks made by Rep. Akin and Mr. Mourdock. In my attempt to provide context as to what I presumed they meant, my position was misconstrued.”

On firearm restrictions:

“As a father and grandfather, I am heartbroken at the tragedy in Newtown. No parent, child, or community should have to suffer such devastation and overwhelming grief. At the same time, as we begin a national dialogue on how to prevent future tragedies, it is of paramount importance to defend our Second Amendment rights. Throughout my political career, I’ve been a tireless advocate of Second Amendment rights and will continue to be one moving forward.”

***
House Speaker David Ralston didn’t sound like he’s willing to consider any gun restrictions, given these remarks to Scott Slade of AM750 and 95.5FM News/Talk WSB:

”Those who would advocate for control on guns and would restrict Second Amendment rights, I think have inappropriately capitalized on a horrific tragedy up in Newtown, Conn….

“If we take anything out of the Newtown tragedy, I think we ought to take a look at how we handle mental illness in our society. That seems to get lost in the discussion by those who want to use this to promote their anti-gun agenda.”

***
Georgia Right to Life on Thursday named Mike Griffin, a Hartwell pastor, as the organization’s vice president.

Griffin has long been associated with GRTL, but the promotion means he’ll be back at the Capitol as a lobbyist on Monday, when the 2013 session of the Georgia General Assembly begins. From the press release:

In his new role, Griffin will spearhead the organization’s legislative activities, which include establishing “personhood” protection for all innocent life from conception until natural death.

“I am looking forward to working with Dan Becker and the Board,” Griffin said. “And that work will be to continue to promote a “personhood” approach to Georgia Right to Life’s education, legislation and political action.”

Consider Griffin’s appointment to be a signal to the Legislature that GRTL, the most aggressive of pro-life organizations at the Gold Dome, has no intention of changing its stripes.

***
In the matter of the Rev. Louie Giglio and his withdrawal from the presidential inauguration program because of his 20-year-old remarks on homosexuality, the Christian Post offers this quote from Ed Stetzer, president of Lifeway Research:

chikfilalogo

“This Louie Giglio Moment, and the Chick-Fil-A moment that preceded it, and the Rick Warren moment which preceded that, raise the question: Where do people of faith with long-standing traditional religious/scriptural convictions go from here?”

But Giglio and Chick-Fil-A may share more than a commitment to faith and views on homosexuality. We haven’t confirmed it with the company, but friends of Giglio tell us that his dad, Louie Floyd Giglio Jr., was a graphic designer who had a hand in developing the Chick-Fil-A swirly logo.

***
A Politico.com piece on the shaky future of the tea party includes these paragraphs:

The tea party “is in disarray,” said Erick Erickson, the editor of RedState, a blog that helped crystallize the fiscally conservative ethos of the populist movement. Going forward, tea partiers will “either be within the conservative movement as part of that movement or they won’t be effective.”

Polls have shown Americans turning away from the tea party: 24 percent of likely voters considered themselves tea party members in April 2010, according to a Rasmussen survey. Now, only 8 percent say they’re tea party members.

***
Yes, “Lincoln” dominated those Oscar nominations that were released on Thursday. But politicos have their own Oscars – the Reed Awards sponsored by Campaigns & Elections magazine. And Georgia’s 2012 campaigners are finalists in several categories:

Best Use of Voice-Over Talent: Lee Anderson for Congress, The Strategy Group for Media, for its video depicting a “Bromance” between President Barack Obama and U.S. Rep. John Barrow, D-Augusta.

Mail: Independent Expenditure Campaign or Issue Advocacy: The Democratic campaign against state Rep. Doug McKillip, R-Athens, Mad Dog Mail, for a flyer comparing McKillip to a diaper in need of changing.

Best Radio Ad: Two ads by Franklin Communications/Peachtree Battle Group – “Dumb,” a turn-out spot for Black Men Vote; and “Obama Likes Charter Schools,” aimed at African-American voters in the November charter school campaign.

Toughest Radio Ad: A turnout spot by Franklin Communications/Peachtree Battle Group for Better Georgia, titled “Are There Any Patriots…”

Most Original/Innovative Collateral Item: John Lewis for Congress, for that campaign’s fund-raising decision to put a mugshot of Lewis after a Civil Rights-era arrest on T-shirts and posters.

Winners will be announced in Washington on Feb. 1.

***
The AJC’s Politifact Georgia today takes a look at U.S. Rep. Tom Price’s claim that this month’s fiscal cliff deal “ultimately raised taxes.”

- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider

For instant updates, follow me on Twitter, or connect with me on Facebook.

164 comments Add your comment

Buford T. Justice

January 11th, 2013
1:03 pm

Wasn’t it liberal “The View” member Whoopi Goldberg, who in defense of Roman Polanski for having illegal sex with a 13 year old girl stated, “I know it wasn’t rape-rape. I think it was something else, but I don’t believe it was rape-rape.” Didn’t hear a whole lot about that at the time. A little bit of fair and equal treatment would sure be nice, rather than deciding whose an idiot, or not, based only on their political affiliation. Plenty of idiots on both sides boys and girls. Those of you who show your ignorance in this regard in your postings are merely underscoring your bias and lack of objectivity. The unfortunate part is the press generally gives liberals a pass while they skewer conservatives, thus encouraging the sheep follow them. Same thing goes for Rush by the way.

honested

January 11th, 2013
1:06 pm

b.t.justice,

Do you accept the ‘rule of law’?

ML

January 11th, 2013
1:07 pm

What is this? I don’t even …Wharrgarbl

Gabhpr

January 11th, 2013
1:08 pm

So many rape supporting or rape apologist on this article
PEOPLE DO NOT CRY RAPE PERIOD.
Out of 10,000 reports only one to ten will be false.
I find it likely that the apple doesn’t fall far from this tree and that some people here have commited a crime

Gabhpr

January 11th, 2013
1:10 pm

And on a different note. A requirement to be republican is to be one of the following.
Misogynist, racist, classist, ageist..

[...] so to speak. And yet the media took that and tore it apart.”In a statement Friday to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Gingrey said he does not defend or stand by either Akin’s or Mourdock’s [...]

beanster

January 11th, 2013
1:16 pm

While I have never lived in his district, Phil Gingrey has always come across to me as a common sense Republican who well represents his constituents in Cobb and Cherokee. You may not share the same views as him or those who live north of I-285, but to lump him into the same category as Paul Broun or Todd Akin is unjustified, unfair, and uncalled for. I applaud him for having the guts to speak out in regards to gun control with a stance that is likely in opposition to the vast majority of those he represents.

KenFromCalifornia

January 11th, 2013
1:17 pm

2012 wasn’t a big enough defeat….republicans are just bent to keep on losing even more voters between now and 2016.

Declan Georgia

January 11th, 2013
1:21 pm

Any Republican Congressman in the great state of Georgia that considers gun control on any gun is a hypocrite and positioning for a cabinet position when Barrack declares himself dictator. Dr Gingrey, we don’t have modern, high-efficiency weapons to protect us from you; we have modern effective, weapons to defend Georgian’s from your Federal thugs. The only Georgian that wants the gun show loophole closed are those that are more salesman than Patriot.

honested

January 11th, 2013
1:22 pm

beanster,

You make a point.
Many, many, very many people do not agree with the distorted narrow focus gingrey represents.
Therefore I encourage him to continue to speak out along with his caucus cohorts.
The Voters of Georgia have two years to stiffen their spines and send the whole caucus back to whatever useful employ they may actually be qualified.

Glenn

January 11th, 2013
1:26 pm

Every Republican (and Democrat for that matter) who is withholding funding for the hurricane victims in the Northeast should IMMEDIATELY be recalled in EVERY State. They seem to forget this same type of natural event may happen to THEIR citizens (as it already has in many Southern States, and THEIR voters benefited IMMEDIATELY). What goes around comes around. In fact, the NE contributes more money to the fund than any other region in the Country, yet THEIR funds are being withheld by the Republicans. RECALL EVERY ONE OF THE NOW NATIONALLY.

The same thing goes for the ban on assault weapons. Over 90% of Americans WANT a ban on assault weapons, yet Republican, who are getting FUNDED by the NRA, are BLOCKING ALL attempts to get legislation introduced. 90% of ALL AMERICANS.

They have already held America hostage with the fiscal cliff, and are doing so yet again, which risks ALL WORKING CLASS AMERICANS, retirement accounts because the stock markets will TANK AGAIN if the Republicans pull their antics again THEY won’t be effected, nor will THEIR RICH SUPPORTERS.

RECALL ALL REPUBLICANS NATIONALLY. LET’S START HERE IN GEORGIA. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

Marlboro Man

January 11th, 2013
1:28 pm

Gingrey is a shill.

TerryK

January 11th, 2013
1:31 pm

There are magaInes and there are clips. But there is nothing called a mag clip!

How can you pretend to be a journalist when you don’t even take three minutes of time to look at amsictionary?

[...] a statement Friday to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Gingrey said he does not defend or stand by either Akin’s or Mourdock’s [...]

DJ Sniper

January 11th, 2013
1:31 pm

Wait, did I just read that the new VP for GRTL is trying to get the personhood amendment started back up? Do these people not learn from their past mistakes. When Mississippi rejects something like this, you know you’re barking up the wrong tree.

liberalefty

January 11th, 2013
1:32 pm

declan

isnt gingery a federal thug too… hes a federal guvment employee

beanster

January 11th, 2013
1:35 pm

honested – You do realize you live in the state of Georgia, don’t you? (Perhaps you don’t?) If you find it so intolerable, why don’t you move to Massachusetts or California?

My guess is you like the weather here, no?

And according to many of the credential-less posters on this blog, Dr. Gingrey isn’t qualified to be a OBGYN either. So I am not sure the latter portion of your post is even remotely plausible.

Reebok

January 11th, 2013
1:44 pm

What is it with Republicans? DO NOT TALK ABOUT RAPE EVER EVER EVER EVER. IT NEVER TURNS OUT WELL FOR YOU. To quote that great American philosopher Bob Newhart, “STOP IT!”

liberalefty

January 11th, 2013
1:47 pm

the ignorant republicans is still being trumped by the community organizer…lol..what fool will they trot out next

Cherokee

January 11th, 2013
1:47 pm

Is it a requirement that you be an idiot to practice medicine in the state of Georgia? Broun, Gingrey, and Price sure make it seem so….

Elisha

January 11th, 2013
1:48 pm

It would be nice if all you so called gun experts could at least learn the difference between a magazine and a clip – you sound like idiots.

liberalefty

January 11th, 2013
1:48 pm

cherokee

its called racism…plain n simple..

honested

January 11th, 2013
1:50 pm

Cherokee,
It makes me glad my physician is a proud, liberal Democrat.

I don’t have to be fearful or confirm his credentials!

john hayes

January 11th, 2013
1:50 pm

If there was any doubt as to why our country and state are in such horrible condition, you need look nor read any further than Gingrey and Ralston’s quotes. It simply proves any idiot can become a doctor or lawyer and any trash can become an elected politician. They make me want to vomit.

Cherokee

January 11th, 2013
1:51 pm

Yeah, and it just drives them CRAZY, doesn’t it, that the Kenyan Socialist Fascist won re-election, doesn’t it.

Jaime

January 11th, 2013
1:58 pm

If I want to target practice, I should be able to practice with whatever I wish. At some point would someone please separate me from a criminal. Criminals obtain their weapons illegally and will continue to do so no matter how many weapons you wrench from my legally obtained collection. Punish the law abiding citizens and let the criminals continue to run everything, oh, and since my rights were stomped on, can’t protect myself from the criminals and their guns. Mr. Gingery does not represent this Georgian.

kirbang

January 11th, 2013
1:58 pm

Don’t tread: And you are not a well regulated militia.

earl

January 11th, 2013
2:00 pm

how could anyone vote for this bozo going forward?

SB in ATL

January 11th, 2013
2:00 pm

@RGB;
You are a total neaderthal and really disgusting. Just because we don’t want old men telling women what to do doesn’t mean we are ‘pro-abortion’. You are really sickening and a waste of time trying to explain something to you.

clem

January 11th, 2013
2:06 pm

gingrey, once a goatroper….always

Declan Georgia

January 11th, 2013
2:09 pm

Phil & I love Democrats; if it weren’t for them, statistics would have to be factual. I’m 98.2345678% sure that if she had a 9mm w/ 30rd clip -there wouldn’t have been any rape, and if she’d been limited to a 10rd clip, it’s 99.8765654% that she’d gotten away, so let’s make a law….

SBinF

January 11th, 2013
2:09 pm

In my wildest fantasy I couldn’t have dreamed that the GOP would still be talking about rape after the results of the last election. Please, keep it up! It can only hasten the GOP’s descent into irrelevancy.

SBinF

January 11th, 2013
2:13 pm

Wasn’t it liberal “The View” member Whoopi Goldberg, who in defense of Roman Polanski for having illegal sex with a 13 year old girl stated, “I know it wasn’t rape-rape….”
—————————————–

Please tell me, to which public office has Whoopi been elected?

Oh, right…

Synonymous

January 11th, 2013
2:16 pm

Dear Congressman Gingrey:

I am a constituent. I voted for you. I will not be voting for you in 2014.

Please retire. You are beyond your useful shelf life, as your recent comments are making clear.

Lib in Cobb

January 11th, 2013
2:18 pm

The Republicans should really shut up about Akin and Murdock. The Democrats should not let anyone forget about Akin and Murdock.

kris

January 11th, 2013
2:18 pm

J Throckmorton Malcontent “Calling Dr.Howard, Dr.Fine, Dr.Howard, come to the Georgia Delegation Clue Phone, please…”"”

STAT “That means PDQ”

GaBlue

January 11th, 2013
2:18 pm

“Just relax. Drink a glass of wine. And don’t be so tense and uptight…”

They teach this line in predator school.

SBinF

January 11th, 2013
2:19 pm

“And according to many of the credential-less posters on this blog, Dr. Gingrey isn’t qualified to be a OBGYN either.”

I’m certainly no M.D., but I would be curious to know if other doctors also prescribe a glass of wine to treat infertility. Can anyone confirm that?

Jaynie

January 11th, 2013
2:20 pm

I simply cannot believe Phil Gingrey ever passed medical school and was allowed to practice medicine. I don’t know how anybody with a functioning brain cell can defend Akin’s “legitmate rape” comment in any way shape, form nor fashion. There are occasional false rape claims, but they are few and far between. Rape is one of the most UNDER reported crimes in the United States and the world. To cite one false rape claim from the Duke lacrosse case to make a point about false rape claims out the thousands of reported and unreported rape cases across the United States is lunacy.

yuzeyurbrane

January 11th, 2013
2:20 pm

Interesting how politicians are pro-life only before a child is born.

KenFromCalifornia

January 11th, 2013
2:27 pm

what medical school teaches such things?

if you can’t find any that do, then it appears someone is using his phd credentials to bear false witness.

Protect all children!

January 11th, 2013
2:46 pm

Wow, an insane person violates numerous laws that all already on the books to kill kids at a schoolhouse in Connecticut and some folks in America want to take away the rights of Americans enshrined in the 2nd Amendment of the Constitution. But just last year over 300,000 babies were aborted in Planned Parenthood Clinics and the silence all across America is deafening. How sad. Who will be the voice for those aborted babies who will never expereince LIFE, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?

Buckhead Boy

January 11th, 2013
2:50 pm

To those who suggest that Republicans “stop it”, consider that if the GOPers couldn’t wax foolishly on guns, ovaries and prayer, they’d be left to spouting their economic absurdities and science denials “ad nauseam”; and that would be really depressing.

the cat

January 11th, 2013
3:06 pm

Protect all children!

January 11th, 2013
2:46 pm
Wow, an insane person violates numerous laws that all already on the books to kill kids at a schoolhouse in Connecticut and some folks in America want to take away the rights of Americans enshrined in the 2nd Amendment of the Constitution. But just last year over 300,000 babies were aborted in Planned Parenthood Clinics and the silence all across America is deafening. How sad. Who will be the voice for those aborted babies who will never expereince LIFE, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?

You are exactly correct!!! Aborted babies will never experience life because they have not been born yet. Good grief.

DJ Sniper

January 11th, 2013
3:09 pm

Murder is illegal. Abortion is legal. Please stop trying to compare the two.

Aesop's Fables and other Lib Economic Theories

January 11th, 2013
3:17 pm

Other research indicates that stress may have an impact on other aspects of fertility beyond ovulation, including problems with fertilization and implantation in the uterus. One study from the University of California San Diego found that the most stressed women undergoing IVF had less success every step of the way (fewer eggs retrieved and fewer eggs successfully implanted) compared to women who were not as tense. Another study from Israeli researchers tested whether helping women de-stress while undergoing IVF could impact the success rate. They found that women who were entertained by a clown after they received the treatment (laughter is a known stress-soother) were more likely to conceive than those who were not.

So if you’re looking to get knocked up, come to this blog and read all the clown liberal comments, they’re a hoot.

Logical Dad

January 11th, 2013
3:19 pm

Please remember that the killer in Newtown, CT was a “law-abiding citizen” who took weapons from his mother, another “law-abiding citizen.” Please, proceed gun defenders.

Tonkysmalls

January 11th, 2013
3:37 pm

I am pro abortion.
All you hate filled woman hating sacks of crap would never take one of these children in. If you were abandoned by a worthless manchild and were going to have to raise a child on your own you would not even think twice about having one. You are like all other republicants. Hypocritical and a hate filled idiot. And for the record. Guns ONLY kill people. A patriot would never own a gun

Declan Georgia

January 11th, 2013
3:41 pm

Don’t be hate-ing Democrats, afterall they’ve come up w/ some awesome stuff; the Lil Angel selection process- 100% accurate & effective control for unwanted babies (up to 9 months to decide!); the Eggfooyoung mandate- give up your guns and they assure us the the Chinese won’t come to claim their lands forfeited for non-payment; and the Democrat Golden rule – when you’re being robbed w/ an illegal gun (howd dat ‘appen?) simply remind him that larceny is hard work, and when you just wait patiently at home, your check is on the way.

Keis

January 11th, 2013
3:44 pm

yuzeyurbrane “”””Interesting how politicians are pro-life only before a child is born.”””

Well said, then when the child is born (sadly into poverty) its out on the streets with no Government help…Yes I will say entitlement…the GOP slime Bags toss the baby out with the bath water…Enough to the GOP STFU pass legislation to make adoption EASY, Quick and less expensive…then you save money…

Stop the attack on omen….2014 will be here soon….Mark your calender natey.