In case you missed it, Todd Akin, Republican nominee, to represent Missouri in the U.S. Senate, said Sunday about rape and abortion:
“It seems to me, 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.”
Which of course, I am sure you already knew about, since I’m sure it baffles you as much as it baffles me.
Do you know what else baffles me? It baffles me that how hard some Republicans make it for women to want be a Republican.
I want to sit on the right. I truly do. I think their financial stances far outweigh the financial stances of the left. I think in business, it makes sense to vote Republican because the party lets you run your business with less regulation, something that works out for a capitalistic society.
But what slays me every single time, about the Republican party, is how they treat and think about women’s issues.
SHUT UP, ALREADY!
If you boys want more votes, stop weighing in on anything that has to do with being a female. You just don’t “get” it. And you don’t “get” it because your religion interferes with your politics.
If I want to take birth control, have an abortion if I am ever raped (because you really can get pregnant if you’re legitimately or even fake raped, that’s how legitimate sperm works), and be a giant lesbian who marries another giant lesbian… SO BE IT.
Please, tell me what any of those things do to interfere or hurt anyone else in this country?
They don’t! They don’t do anything! These are just social issues that bother certain Republicans because of their religion. And they voice their ridiculous opinions on television, and then bring the party down. OVER SOCIAL ISSUES.
Republicans, you have got to get it together over there. You have to realize this isn’t the 1950′s. You have to try harder to get the female voters to like you. Because right now? It isn’t looking too good.
Take your religion out of your politics. Or stop letting some of your party members talk about dumb things on television. Because coming out and saying you “mispoke”, is just insulting women more. Do you think we’re idiots?
Just shut up about women all together. Talk about things like taxes, unemployment, healthcare reform, and the national debt. I promise we’ll understand.
Oh, wait… I see the problem. You guys just didn’t know yet. Women are allowed to vote now. You can stop the war against us. I hope I’ve helped your party out, maybe now we can talk about some real issues now, and not just social ones that cause you to lose voters.
Please. I’m begging you. Stop your war against women. I want to vote on the right.
Are you with me, girls?
{ 35 comments… read them below or add one }
This Kool-aid-drinking, Obamacare-loving, near-Socialist liberal is giving you the s…l…o…w… c…l…a…p…
That koolaid was tasty! And slow. claps. all around!
You know, I almost prefer they keep talking. Keep doing interviews. Keep giving speeches.
Because then when you vote for them, you know exactly what your getting. Not cute sound bites about America and equality, actual ignorance and hate, right there on your television, wearing a flag pin.
Amen, sister.
But that’s just it…. There are moderate right wingers. But for some reason, we allow the extreme right to ruin the entire party. They have to get these guys out of office so people can actually can see the party for what it can be. (not what it is right now)
I agree, the hatred and ignorance of an elected official is sickening.
As women, we have to stop it. And if that means changing the party I vote for, I have no problem doing just that.
I think the idea is to get everybody to just roll their eyes and say “Gawd nobody would ever vote for these jackasses why do I need to bother voting against them?”
Wow…idiot. I second the s.l.o.w. c.l.a.p.
A-fucking-men Brittany. Exactly that. Social issues are driving my Republican voting husband further and further to the left, so let them keep spouting their hatred. Go on, justify voting for “less regulation”, oh except when it comes to your body, your household, your religion, and your bedroom.
“Like”!
Well when i hear about things like this guy’s statement and the House republicans not passing the Violence Against Women Act and Republican senator or governor quietly signing a bill to do away with equal pay for women it lets me know where I stand, so please let them speak on.
GMTA. You went “sperm” at the fork; I went “egg.” http://www.cantrememberdiddly.com/2012/08/20/our-eggs-are-just-that-smart-they-can-discern-between-consensual-sex-and-rape-ok-its-on/
Another Obama-lover giving you the slllooowww clllaaappp. While standing.
Also? Giving you slow clap, not clap clap. Friends don’t give friends the clap.
I totally agree with Brittany. The sad reality is that’s what they really believe! I don’t care about their economic policies. If they think I’m less a person because I happen to have a vagina they will never get even a second of consideration from me.
I love it when they tell the truth.
I pictured that guy’s publicists and spin doctors having a shit fit and near fainting when he said that. The after bomb shell back peddaling has been almost as bad as the original statement. Does that guy have daughters???
now, i’m pretty far left. like, socialism is a pretty neat idea on paper but probably wouldn’t work in practice far left. i have used the words ‘welfare’ and ‘abortion’ in the same sentence on numerous occasions. i fondly remember the days when clinton was president and the first presidential election i was able to vote in was bush 2 v. gore. i voted gore and watched our voting system go all wonky.
i am also a bisexual woman with a uterus that i enjoy being in control of. and the two things most republicans shout about the most are women’s rights and gay rights. two things that are incredibly important to me. and because of what i hear from them on women’s rights and gay rights, i basically refuse to listen to ANYTHING ELSE they say.
republicans have some great ideas. i’ve heard them. we’ve seen some of them in action from then-moderate republican mitt (romneycare in massachusetts. great idea.). my dad owns a small business and i hear what concerns he has with democratic ideas and plans.
but i can’t take anything they say seriously when they use terms like ‘legitimate rape’, or when they say gay marriage destroys the sanctity of marriage. i can’t understand the defunding of planned parenthood when approximately 4% of the services they provide to women are abortions. the other 96% are, you know. NOT ABORTIONS. i can’t get on board with people who think insurance companies covering drugs for erectile dysfunction is okay, but birth control is not.
i hear all of that crap, and i just go back to the democrats. sure, their shit stinks just as much as the right’s, but at least i know they aren’t trying to control my uterus or dictate who people can fall in love with. or using terms like ‘legitimate rape’.
oh, but i also am slow clapping, because i get it. i’ve not given the right as much of a chance as you have, meredith, but i totally agree with how they’re just driving people away.
all I keep saying is KEEP YOUR POLITICS OUT OF MY UTERUS!
Love every word of this!
You sound like a very smart lady!
SO SO SO with you on this!! And it’s time we get a fair say in the issues surrounding our bodies!
More disturbing is the fact that they are pretty much trying to “reclassify” rape into two different categories: Legitimate and Illegitimate. Meaning, someone else — a party not involved in the rape — gets to decide when a rape is legitimate or illegitimate?! And that determines the outcome over OUR bodies?! Are you kidding!??? Rape = Rape. No matter how many different ways you say it, dude. Ugh. These guys suck.
I agree with everything in this post!
) ). I DO care that my husband and I deserve good, stable jobs; and my mother is a small business owner. I want my children to be mindful and respectful of other people beliefs and lifestyles. I want everyone else to be mindful and respectful of my beliefs and lifestyle. I do care that we as a country are in more debt that I can even wrap my brain around. I do think that we need a change; because the one we had four years ago DID NOT WORK! I am sure that I am about to get blasted b/c I am not as knowledgeable as you ladies on here, but that is what my rambling brain thinks anyway.
I want to be a republican! I agree with most of what I hear them saying regarding turning our country around. But honestly, there is so much mudslinging and bullshit on both sides that I rarely listen to either of them, unless something like this happens to make me perk up a little. I think that our country is hemorrhaging and we need to do something before it completely collapses, and soon! But for the love of God – leave the social issues alone-EVERYBODY. Democrat, Republican, leave the social issues alone! I don’t care who sleeps with who, I don’t care if you take b.c. or not, I don’t care which God you pray to or if you don’t pray at all (my views on religion are a different paragraph all together
Can I start a FixtheEconomy/MindyourOwnLittleRedWagon party!
Meredith for President!
Like!
I’m with you Meredith, leave the religion out! I’ve always been an Independent, although I do fall slightly more left than right. I’ve always approached politics as voting for the person I sided the most with on important issues, be it Republican or Democrat. But this one issue has always plagued me… I honestly can’t support a man who wants to dictate what I can or can’t do with my body. As far as I’m concerned when HE can carry & birth a child, he can have a say. This issue just gets further under my skin when they try to define “legitimate” or “forcible” rape. Rape is Rape, no ifs, ands or buts. As a rape victim whose assault led to an unwanted pregnancy (even after failed PlanB), this is just going too far. I was drugged and raped by someone I knew and trusted. Was it “forcible”? …Maybe. Was it “legitimate”? Absolutely! I’ve always supported the right for women to choose and I thank GOD I had the option to not carry the child of a rapist.
But what I’d really like to know is what type of medicine are they practicing in Missouri…? Is in only in this state that biology and the physiology of conception differ from the world over? Mr. Akin was horribly misled by a quack, and is in desperate need of a second opinion.
I’m in the Obama loving camp giving you the slow clap. If you asked me about financial policies, I’d likely align somewhere in the middle, but because of all of the social issues (which hello, are basic HUMAN RIGHTS), I can’t even think about voting Republican, ever. I try my best to understand that their religion drives them to think that way (although of course I know many Christians who don’t), but the whole thing is separation of church and state. Why do people assume because their religion doesn’t like something, that means everyone shouldn’t do it?
I guess more than anything I’m still shocked that these things are even up for debate in today’s society. We still have a LONG way to go. So glad you posted this!!
Yes. What Adria said. Also, as a Christian I cringe, CRINGE! when I hear some of the pure crap that comes out of other so called Christians. My moral beliefs are sooo far from the hatred I see spewed.
I work for a small company and my boss and I have a running joke between us about our politics. He is a Republican through and through. I tell him I am a recovering Republican.
The whole thing is frustrating to me. I feel I am half Rep. and half Dem. but the moral side of things makes me vote Dem. generally.
I totally agree! I don’t care what party you are in, my love life/uterus has nothing to do the federal healthcare system or tax credits for the wealthy. I don’t give a rat’s ass who is in office – it could be Raul Castro, for all I care. I’d just like to see whoever-it-is talking about economic policy instead of what the Bible says about department stores having gay spokespeople.
This is supposed to be a free country – freedom of choice for all, freedom to live our lives our own way. We need all these old timer, religous fanatics out of office so that normal, real people who want freedom can run for office.
I co-sign what others have said. I am not 100% in love with my Barry right now (maybe about 75%), but I could never vote for someone who wants to restrict what I can and can not do with my body or that is against everyone having equal rights.
Aren’t you more Libertarian than Republican though?
Yes, this! Just. This.
Oh my, I am soo with you on this one. I am a small business owner and really can’t stand how much money our government wastes and really would like to side with the republicans on financial issues, but the stance on all the things you mentioned–abortion, birth control, gay marriage and now rape–just make it impossible. I can never vote for anyone, no matter how much I agree with their financial politics, who does not want to uphold Roe v. Wade. Period.
I can’t even believe they let that idiot speak.
Seriously…there’s nothing I hate more than listening to a MALE politician talk about rape, birth control, and abortion. Bumbling idiots doesn’t even cover it. Go you, Girl!
*you go. No uterus – no opinion!
I call this the “Howard Dean” era of the Republican Party. The problem is, he was one guy in the Democratic Party, and the Republicans are dealing with an entire segment, hardcore Christians. The liberal media is going to continue to shove the social issues down our throats to take away from the REAL damaging issues to the country.
News Flash: the President and Congress are unable to ban abortions since the Supreme Court stepped outside of the powers granted to them in the Constitution and created law. So why do these clowns keep talking about it? They’re losing more votes than they gain. Four years ago, Katie Choric (sp?) asked Sarah Palin about what her “favorite” Supreme Court cases were hoping she would bitch about Roe v Wade, thus pushing away some women votes. Instead she got a gem of an answer when Sarah didn’t take the bait but failed to name anything.
The abortion issue isn’t going away but should not be anywhere near the top of the issues.
My husband and I spent a lot of time talking about this. I was raped when I was 22. When you go to the hospital to have your exam done they give you the morning after pill which is a strong dose of birth control. I am a strong christian and I am pretty sure some people would think that was wrong, why I don’t know because at hat point there is not a baby, that you know of. I think what he ment was sever stress can prevent women from conceiving. Had I by some fluke gotten pregnate from my rapist I honestly don’t know what I would have done. But I do know I would not have wanted that child. I know that sounds absolutely horrible.
Anyways. I typically vote on the right because overall they line up with my political beliefs
I agree that this guy is a douche bag, but…
Don’t allow yourself to get sucked in by the democratic distraction that ignores the real problems of higher taxes, the national debt, unemployment, etc. No republican is changing the laws on abortion. As women, we should demand that no political party should be allowed to use abortion as an issue to distract from the real issues. Both parties can find another way to pander to their bases.
http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/314936/war-children-mark-steyn?pg=1
It seems like everything Meredith mentioned were Republican statements, not Democratic distractions. She clearly isn’t ignoring the “real problems” you mentioned. BUT, I think what the “real problems” are is a matter of opinion.
To me the “real problems” are more along the lines of…
how the idea of separation of church and state (one of this country’s founding principals) seems to be forgotten?
and why, if abortion was settled decades ago, these guys think it should be debated again?
and why we have so many hungry kids in this country?
and why gigantic corporations don’t pay taxes?
and why people can’t marry who they love?
and why we’re still spending way too much money on defense and not even close to enough on education?
and why food companies are fighting labeling so hard?
and so many other things that these religious politicians seem to be so up in arms about (or totally ignoring, as the case may be). I agree with Meredith when she mentioned the 1950s… This is 2012! Why does it seem like we are going backward on social issues?
I wasn’t suggesting that Meredith was ignoring the issues. She clearly states what she thinks the issues are. I was responding more to the comments, than to her post. But the whole topic of abortion is only brought up by any politician to polarize the bases and cause a media shit storm that distracts from the issues (thanks to an ever compliant MSM). Abortion is only ever an issue during an election.
I do think Republicans are hypocritical in their moral stance on abortion/birth control and their contradicting beliefs of a limited welfare state. I think when it comes to their moral position on abortion – it just means they don’t need to get one. You can’t legislate morality anyway. But if you want fewer people on welfare, from a purely fiscal perspective – you have to fund abortions and birth control!