Fox Nation vs. Reality: A Full-Blown Akin? That’s Disgusting!

Last November the GOP lost two senate seats that Republicans should have won easily. In both Missouri and Indiana GOP candidates made shockingly ignorant and insensitive comments about rape that cemented the anti-woman attitude that permeates the party. It wasn’t enough that they oppose a woman’s right to choose, they voted against the Violence Against Women Act, they resist efforts to secure pay equity, etc., they also felt it necessary to reveal that they regard rape-induced pregnancies as blessings and that they know nothing about the reproductive system that they so feverishly wish to regulate.

Having been incapable of countering their obvious disdain for half of the electorate, Republicans, with the help of Fox News, are now trying fabricate an equivalent controversy by a Democrat. Unfortunately, they are only further demonstrating their pitiful lack of understanding. Here is the Fox Nation headline story this morning: “Democrats Have A Full-Blown Akin On Their Hands.”

Fox Nation

First of all, could they have come up with a more disturbing way to say that? More to the point, the Fox Nationalists seem to have no idea what the original controversies were about. To refresh the record, it was Missouri’s Todd Akin who said that womens’ bodies had a magical ability to distinguish between friendly and unfriendly sperm. It was Indiana’s Richard Mourdock who opined that babies resulting from rape were God’s gift to the rape victim.

However, the comments by a Democratic state senator in Colorado are not remotely similar. Joe Salazar was engaged in a debate over arming students at Colorado universities. He opposed the measure and stated his reasons to his legislative colleagues:

“It’s why we have call boxes, it’s why we have safe zones, it’s why we have the whistles. Because you just don’t know who you’re gonna be shooting at. And you don’t know if you feel like you’re gonna be raped, or if you feel like someone’s been following you around or if you feel like you’re in trouble when you may actually not be, that you pop out that gun and you pop … pop around at somebody.”

Salazar was not making any absurd statements regarding the physiology of women or the ancillary benefits of rape. He was simply noting that armed civilians might possibly misinterpret the intentions of someone else and that such a mistake could lead to the tragic shooting of an innocent person (remember Trayvon Martin?).

Nevertheless, Fox Nation saw fit to compare this perfectly reasonable argument against the proliferation of guns to the Akin affair, to which it has nothing in common. To make matters worse, the issue was also taken up on Fox News when Laura Ingraham visited the Kiddie Krew at Fox & Friends. Ingraham twisted the matter to imply that Salazar was opposed to women defending themselves from known rapists. But his remarks were clearly directed at situations where there was no actual threat and the suspected assailant was actually innocent.

That little complexity apparently made the Fox gang incapable of understanding Salazar’s comments. But it didn’t keep them from exhibiting their feeble-mindedness and leading their viewers down another blind alley of ignorance.

Pundit Ignoramus: Dick Morris Says Todd Akin Story Is A Big Plus For Romney

The prostitute toe-sucking Fox News contributor, Dick Morris, has once again put his idiot brethren to shame by publicly making remarks that are so over-the-top stupid that it boggles the mind. Internationally known as the “World’s Worst Pundit,” Morris spoke yesterday with Bill O’Reilly guest host Laura Ingraham to discuss the Todd Akin affair. Morris said

Morris: “I think that story is a big plus for Romney right now. Because the story is not that some kooky Republican congressman running for the senate said something stupid. That was the first story. Now the story is that the responsible leaders of the Republican Party, Romney and McConnell and Ryan and all of them are piling on Akin’s withdraw and he won’t. And that really sends a message to pro-choice women that they don’t need to be afraid of Mitt Romney, that they don’t have to vote for Obama because of that.”

Dick Morris

The stupid is so thick it’s hard to know where to begin. Let’s start with Morris’ contention that the story is not about “some kooky Republican.” Yes it is. Akin’s defiant insistence on staying in the race insures that he will continue to be a lightening rod for controversy. However, the story is not just about him. It is also about the rest of the Republican Party who share his views. That includes Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan who have both endorsed legislation and constitutional amendments that would ban abortion for any reason, including rape, incest, and the health of the mother. The Republican Party this week voted to include in their party platform a ban on abortion with no exceptions.

Morris goes on to assert that Romney will somehow benefit because he eventually tried to distance himself from Akin. Morris specifically notes the unsuccessful attempts of Romney and the rest of the GOP leadership to get Akin to withdraw and cites that as “a message to pro-choice women.” Indeed it is. It’s a message of failure. It’s a message that Romney et al are incompetent and have no influence, even over “kooky Republican congressmen” who see no need to comply with Romney’s demands. Contrary to Morris’ claim that women “don’t need to be afraid of Mitt Romney,” the reality is that they do need to fear Romney. and not just because he is unable to strip his party of its most extreme positions, but also because he holds those positions himself. The notion that it’s safe for pro-choice women to vote for Romney is just plain delusional.

Finally, if Morris thinks that the Akin story is a plus for Romney, then why is Romney avoiding it so strenuously? This morning Romney held a series of interviews with local media in Colorado. In order to be granted an interview, Romney forced the reporters to agree not to ask any questions about abortion or Akin. That’s an admission of fear on Romney’s part. It’s also a concession that he won’t get away with when talking to the national press.

Dick Morris seems to come up with new embarrassments every time he opens his mouth. He is a lazy thinker and a transparently biased hack. Last year he openly admitted that he was going to refrain from criticizing Romney, even when he disagreed with him.

Morris: “I decided a couple of – a month or two ago to stop dumping on Mitt Romney, for example … Not because I approve of Romneycare, not because I approve of his flip-flops, flip on abortion, but because I may have to be one of those who carries this guy for a couple of months when he’s running against Obama and I don’t want to make my own task harder.”

So Morris has confessed that he is operating as a shill for Romney, even though he privately objects to Romney’s positions and his tendency to flip-flop on issues. Yet Fox News continues to employ him as a “fair and balanced” political analyst. That says something about both Morris and Fox.

Sarah Palin Silent On Todd Akin’s ‘Legitimate Rape’ Comments

Sarah PalinSarah Palin fancies herself a modern conservative advocate for women. She frequently postures on issues that impact the role of women in public life and demands apologies from perpetrators of perceived sexism. Despite opposing equal pay, Planned Parenthood, insurance coverage for contraceptives, affirmative action, and other matters generally found in the pro-woman agenda, the Mamma Grizzly steadfastly maintains that she is the future of feminism.

That makes it all the more curious that in the past 24 hours, as Todd Akin’s revolting remarks about “legitimate rape” have stirred rock-solid Republicans to unite in calling for his withdrawal, the only thing Sarah Palin has had to say on the matter is…

Palin:

That’s right. Palin has courageously stepped out of the shadows to say absolutely nothing about Todd Akin. She has not condemned his remarks, She has not called for his withdrawal. She has not stood up for the thousands of women who are victims of rape, many of whom became pregnant as a result. Palin has left them all in the lurch as Akin continues to insist that his campaign will proceed.

It’s not as if Palin has to hold back because she was a supporter of Akin and it would be embarrassing to turn on him now. During the Missouri GOP primary Palin endorsed Akin’s opponent, Sarah Steelman. Palin did reference Steelman in the post-Akin affair with a self-serving Tweet that was more of an I-told-you-so than a statement of principle:

So Palin found the time to praise herself and her political foresight, but she’s been unable to bring herself to criticize Akin or defend the women he insulted. It seems to be a pattern with Palin. She also never spoke out after Fox News commentator Liz Trotta asserted that women in the military should expect to be raped.

Perhaps Palin just has a problem with issues of sexual assault that prevent her from supporting the victims. But her silence on the Akin affair is particularly disturbing for someone who pretends to be concerned about the welfare of women.

[Update:] Leading from behind, Palin finally spoke up about Akin and called for him to “take one for the team,” which is ironic coming from Palin who was never exactly a team player and has repeatedly harmed her party’s electoral prospects. And as if to illustrate that point, she suggested that Steelman mount a third party run for the senate seat against the GOP nominee.

The GOP Is Fighting For Legitimacy

The comments of GOP senate candidate Todd Akin regarding “legitimate rape” are not out of place for conservative Republicans. He was expressing a view that is commonly supported by his colleagues, albeit in a uniquely distasteful manner.

Akin has been an outspoken advocate of banning abortion in all circumstances, including rape, incest and the life of the mother. It’s a position that is also held by Mitt Romney, Paul Ryan, and many others in the Party. In fact, both Akin and Ryan cosponsored a bill to redefine rape so that only cases where it was determined to have been “forcible” would be approved for federal funds for victims.

But on an even larger scale, the GOP conservative cabal has long aspired to be the authority that certifies what is legitimate in America. They want to rule over legitimacy in patriotism, religious faith, scientific credibility for evolution or climate change, citizenship, and even what constitutes personhood.

Republicans have appointed themselves the martinets of virtue and all Americans must pass their test to be considered legitimate. Submit to their judgment, ye heathens.

GOP Fighting For Legitimacy

Calls for Akin to withdraw from the Senate race are pouring in. The Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee, Tea Party Express, the National Review, and more are among them. Even Karl Rove has announced that his Super PAC is pulling all funding from the Missouri senate campaign. As a GOP candidate, if you’ve lost Karl Rove you are in deep manure.

However, I am pulling for Akin to hold firm. He was the candidate that the Republican voters of Missouri chose to represent them in the campaign and their voice should not be canceled out by a political machine who would replace Akin with an unelected crony chosen by party insiders. That’s simply undemocratic. In 2000 a Democratic candidate for the senate, Mel Carnahan, died during the campaign and his name was not taken off the ballot. So why should Akin be forced out if Missouri is OK with running corpses? By the way, Carnahan went on to a posthumous victory over former Attorney General John Ashcroft.

To be frank, I really would like to see Akin continue his candidacy and fight to defend his views for another couple of months. After which he will likely lose to incumbent Claire McCaskill. The last thing I want is for Akin to be replaced by a candidate who will fare better in November. So hang Tough, Todd. Democrats are rooting for you. You bring much needed attention to the despicable agenda of the right.

Update: Congressman Allen West has joined the chorus of Republicans condemning Akin. He wrote on his Facebook page: “I found Congressman Todd Akin’s comments about rape to be…simply unacceptable.” That’s the same Allen West who said that half the Democrats in Congress are Communists and compared them to Joseph Goebbels. You’ve sunk pretty low when someone like West thinks your comments are unacceptable.