Comments on: Todd Akin apologizes for "legitimate rape" remark http://boingboing.net/2012/08/21/todd-akin-apologizes-for-leg.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sun, 26 May 2013 00:45:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Jamie Norwood http://boingboing.net/2012/08/21/todd-akin-apologizes-for-leg.html#comment-1517089 Jamie Norwood Fri, 24 Aug 2012 16:07:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=177442#comment-1517089 I vote now in two countries, the USA and Australia. In one, voting is a 'right' and everyone may do it, but is encouraged by various factors (like it being meaningless) not to. In the other, it is a responsibility and you get fined if you don't vote. I support the latter. It also has a nice preferential voting system that makes non-duality parties possible and effective since you don't end up saying 'I can't vote for the people I like because I have to vote against the people who are insane, want to kill me, take my children away, and institutionalise me for being a trans lesbian.' Not that it matters any more, as since I am a PA resident who is trans and has incomplete documents, I am no longer permitted to vote in the US. Just being a citizen is no longer enough. I vote now in two countries, the USA and Australia. In one, voting is a ‘right’ and everyone may do it, but is encouraged by various factors (like it being meaningless) not to. In the other, it is a responsibility and you get fined if you don’t vote.

I support the latter. It also has a nice preferential voting system that makes non-duality parties possible and effective since you don’t end up saying ‘I can’t vote for the people I like because I have to vote against the people who are insane, want to kill me, take my children away, and institutionalise me for being a trans lesbian.’

Not that it matters any more, as since I am a PA resident who is trans and has incomplete documents, I am no longer permitted to vote in the US. Just being a citizen is no longer enough.

]]> By: Erin Altomare http://boingboing.net/2012/08/21/todd-akin-apologizes-for-leg.html#comment-1516489 Erin Altomare Thu, 23 Aug 2012 23:40:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=177442#comment-1516489 Exactly - these are the same people who tell kids at abstinence rallies that condoms have a high failure rate (blatant lie). They thrive on ignorance and fear. Exactly – these are the same people who tell kids at abstinence rallies that condoms have a high failure rate (blatant lie). They thrive on ignorance and fear.

]]> By: the damned fool http://boingboing.net/2012/08/21/todd-akin-apologizes-for-leg.html#comment-1515691 the damned fool Thu, 23 Aug 2012 05:32:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=177442#comment-1515691 LIBERAL MEDIA!!  LIBERAL MEDIA!! 

]]> By: cycle23 http://boingboing.net/2012/08/21/todd-akin-apologizes-for-leg.html#comment-1515579 cycle23 Thu, 23 Aug 2012 01:14:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=177442#comment-1515579 Very sorry but that last bit just made me giggle uncontrollably just imaging the look of wtf on the face of any person who heard this Gweilo telling them "Jesus loves you" in crappy Chinese. It probably sounded how this looks: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-19349921 Very sorry but that last bit just made me giggle uncontrollably just imaging the look of wtf on the face of any person who heard this Gweilo telling them “Jesus loves you” in crappy Chinese.

It probably sounded how this looks: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-19349921

]]> By: Gyrofrog http://boingboing.net/2012/08/21/todd-akin-apologizes-for-leg.html#comment-1514865 Gyrofrog Wed, 22 Aug 2012 15:15:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=177442#comment-1514865 Someone once suggested to me (and I think I've said this here before) that this is the ultimate goal of political campaigns.  The public becomes so overloaded that, come election day, large numbers of them (don't) vote with their feet and stay away.  Those who do show up and vote are less likely, or unlikely, to be swayed. Someone once suggested to me (and I think I’ve said this here before) that this is the ultimate goal of political campaigns.  The public becomes so overloaded that, come election day, large numbers of them (don’t) vote with their feet and stay away.  Those who do show up and vote are less likely, or unlikely, to be swayed.

]]> By: Jonathan Roberts http://boingboing.net/2012/08/21/todd-akin-apologizes-for-leg.html#comment-1514841 Jonathan Roberts Wed, 22 Aug 2012 14:30:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=177442#comment-1514841 I have US Republican in-laws, it is infuriating to see how many people will look at someone like this and say "well, at least he's opposing abortion / encouraging public prayer / not a Muslim like Obama". Recently my in-laws gave an older American guy our name so that we could help him try to find a job in our city in China. Last week he complained that Obama was destroying the economy by considering the environment in deciding on the Alaska-Texas pipeline, and wondered out loud *in front of an English-speaking Chinese person* why god would bless a Communist country with rain and reject America. Earlier we had taken him to an island which had a Buddhist shrine, at which point he came out with the only Chinese I've heard him use - "Jesus loves you", which he repeated to everyone around. Needless to say, my opinion of US Republicans has not improved over the past few weeks. I have US Republican in-laws, it is infuriating to see how many people will look at someone like this and say “well, at least he’s opposing abortion / encouraging public prayer / not a Muslim like Obama”. Recently my in-laws gave an older American guy our name so that we could help him try to find a job in our city in China. Last week he complained that Obama was destroying the economy by considering the environment in deciding on the Alaska-Texas pipeline, and wondered out loud *in front of an English-speaking Chinese person* why god would bless a Communist country with rain and reject America. Earlier we had taken him to an island which had a Buddhist shrine, at which point he came out with the only Chinese I’ve heard him use – “Jesus loves you”, which he repeated to everyone around. Needless to say, my opinion of US Republicans has not improved over the past few weeks.

]]> By: IronEdithKidd http://boingboing.net/2012/08/21/todd-akin-apologizes-for-leg.html#comment-1514822 IronEdithKidd Wed, 22 Aug 2012 13:47:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=177442#comment-1514822 Worse - the USA is full of apathetic people who don't vote at all.  Worse – the USA is full of apathetic people who don’t vote at all. 

]]> By: MaTTLoughlin http://boingboing.net/2012/08/21/todd-akin-apologizes-for-leg.html#comment-1514697 MaTTLoughlin Wed, 22 Aug 2012 07:41:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=177442#comment-1514697 You know I woundn't normally give a shit about what one man says, but this man happens to be representative of a big-ass cross-section of whackjobs who have a say in how American society operates on a day-to-day basis. You know I woundn’t normally give a shit about what one man says, but this man happens to be representative of a big-ass cross-section of whackjobs who have a say in how American society operates on a day-to-day basis.

]]> By: Jim http://boingboing.net/2012/08/21/todd-akin-apologizes-for-leg.html#comment-1514638 Jim Wed, 22 Aug 2012 05:11:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=177442#comment-1514638 Todd Akin:  "Please let me be a Senator because stupid misogynists deserve representation in our Federal Government." Todd Akin:  “Please let me be a Senator because stupid misogynists deserve representation in our Federal Government.”

]]> By: StanChaz http://boingboing.net/2012/08/21/todd-akin-apologizes-for-leg.html#comment-1514618 StanChaz Wed, 22 Aug 2012 04:37:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=177442#comment-1514618 "Legitimate" rape?? If the Republicans win, the rich will abort Medicare and Social Security, as they rape this COUNTRY...."legitimately". Lyin' Ryan and More-mon-ey Romney are the Conservative Caviar Candidates.  They're the DREAM team for the super-rich - they want it ALL!   But they're the NIGHTMARE team for seniors, the middle-class , women’s rights, students receiving Pell grants, and the rest of us who are struggling .... while the big corporations send jobs and profits overseas, and the super-rich like Romney avoid paying their fair share.  Romney-Ryan can fool some of the people some of the time. But no more - we’re ON to you guys! “Legitimate” rape??
If the Republicans win, the rich will abort Medicare and Social Security,
as they rape this COUNTRY….”legitimately”.
Lyin’ Ryan and More-mon-ey Romney are the Conservative Caviar Candidates. 
They’re the DREAM team for the super-rich – they want it ALL!  
But they’re the NIGHTMARE team for seniors, the middle-class , women’s rights, students receiving Pell grants, and the rest of us who are struggling …. while the big corporations send jobs and profits overseas, and the super-rich like Romney avoid paying their fair share. 
Romney-Ryan can fool some of the people some of the time.
But no more – we’re ON to you guys!

]]> By: Alissa Mower Clough http://boingboing.net/2012/08/21/todd-akin-apologizes-for-leg.html#comment-1514599 Alissa Mower Clough Wed, 22 Aug 2012 04:01:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=177442#comment-1514599 I am not a duck. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhwXVDi496E Can we sing "Orgy in the zoo"? <i>...Akin's in the zoo...</i> I am not a duck.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhwXVDi496E
Can we sing “Orgy in the zoo”?
…Akin’s in the zoo…

]]> By: Ambiguity http://boingboing.net/2012/08/21/todd-akin-apologizes-for-leg.html#comment-1514485 Ambiguity Wed, 22 Aug 2012 01:33:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=177442#comment-1514485 <blockquote>By simultaneously ending all avenues of contraception and spreading the rumor that rapees can't get preggers they hope to induce women to tolerate rape.</blockquote>Huh? I'm not a fan of the GOP, but... huh?

By simultaneously ending all avenues of contraception and spreading the rumor that rapees can’t get preggers they hope to induce women to tolerate rape.

Huh?

I’m not a fan of the GOP, but… huh?

]]> By: cellocgw http://boingboing.net/2012/08/21/todd-akin-apologizes-for-leg.html#comment-1514356 cellocgw Tue, 21 Aug 2012 23:15:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=177442#comment-1514356 Exactly.   Akin and King are in trouble not for their position but for speaking it out loud.  What they said is precisely what nearly all the Repub Congresscritters firmly believe.    But as usual,  the USA is full of registered voters too damn stupid to understand this. Exactly.   Akin and King are in trouble not for their position but for speaking it out loud.  What they said is precisely what nearly all the Repub Congresscritters firmly believe.    But as usual,  the USA is full of registered voters too damn stupid to understand this.

]]> By: millie fink http://boingboing.net/2012/08/21/todd-akin-apologizes-for-leg.html#comment-1514296 millie fink Tue, 21 Aug 2012 22:32:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=177442#comment-1514296 Oh I already have no doubt that the U.S. has regressed over the past two decades. In this and many other ways. Oh I already have no doubt that the U.S. has regressed over the past two decades. In this and many other ways.

]]> By: snagglepuss http://boingboing.net/2012/08/21/todd-akin-apologizes-for-leg.html#comment-1514252 snagglepuss Tue, 21 Aug 2012 21:55:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=177442#comment-1514252 What I find almost as repellent as Akins' comments is this: NOW Romney finds the guts to chastise an appallingly ignorant, republican Missouri dirtclod, a CONGRESSMAN even, for his stupid and bigoted insensitive comments - Not just for "the questionable language he used". NOW he finds the guts to do so. NOT when it was fellow appallingly ignorant republican Missouri dirtclod Rush Limbaugh calling a woman who dared to disagree with him a "slut".. Fuck Todd Akins. He's small potatoes. Mitt Romney makes Todd Akins look like Gloria Steinem. What I find almost as repellent as Akins’ comments is this:

NOW Romney finds the guts to chastise an appallingly ignorant, republican Missouri dirtclod, a CONGRESSMAN even, for his stupid and bigoted insensitive comments – Not just for “the questionable language he used”.

NOW he finds the guts to do so. NOT when it was fellow appallingly ignorant republican Missouri dirtclod Rush Limbaugh calling a woman who dared to disagree with him a “slut”..

Fuck Todd Akins. He’s small potatoes. Mitt Romney makes Todd Akins look like Gloria Steinem.

]]> By: voiceinthedistance http://boingboing.net/2012/08/21/todd-akin-apologizes-for-leg.html#comment-1514202 voiceinthedistance Tue, 21 Aug 2012 21:15:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=177442#comment-1514202 RAPE TOLERANCE There's a platform plank the GOP can run with!  Just like the oppressed 1%, misunderstood rapists need a little slack as well, eh?  Let the chips fall as they may.  We can always count on the uteruses to sort things out for us. RAPE TOLERANCE
There’s a platform plank the GOP can run with!  Just like the oppressed 1%, misunderstood rapists need a little slack as well, eh?  Let the chips fall as they may.  We can always count on the uteruses to sort things out for us.

]]> By: Ty Myrick http://boingboing.net/2012/08/21/todd-akin-apologizes-for-leg.html#comment-1514141 Ty Myrick Tue, 21 Aug 2012 20:32:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=177442#comment-1514141  In the 1990 Texas gubernatorial race, Clayton Williams made a joke comparing rape to bad weather. Despite an 11-point lead, he lost the election to Ann Richards. If Akins wins, I think we will have to agree that this country is actually regressed over the past two decades.  In the 1990 Texas gubernatorial race, Clayton Williams made a joke comparing rape to bad weather. Despite an 11-point lead, he lost the election to Ann Richards. If Akins wins, I think we will have to agree that this country is actually regressed over the past two decades.

]]> By: Aric Vance http://boingboing.net/2012/08/21/todd-akin-apologizes-for-leg.html#comment-1514101 Aric Vance Tue, 21 Aug 2012 20:01:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=177442#comment-1514101 And the corrected version of Akin's "apology"... http://youtu.be/JDR4-4WHQmo And the corrected version of Akin’s “apology”… http://youtu.be/JDR4-4WHQmo

]]> By: traalfaz http://boingboing.net/2012/08/21/todd-akin-apologizes-for-leg.html#comment-1514039 traalfaz Tue, 21 Aug 2012 19:23:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=177442#comment-1514039 Think about this - This guy got exposed on this one thing.  How many other people, people who are in positions of power and decision making, people who make the rules that we all live by, have completely wrong, idiotic, and even dangerous ideas founded in folklore hundreds of years old and make their decisions based on that? This is the sort of thing that should keep us awake at night.  And it's the reason that people in these sorts of positions that state opinions on any subject that runs counter to observed evidence should have all of their opinions scrutinized carefully. Yes, I'm talking about creationists.  IMO it's a red flag for "wrong and proud of it but still thinks he can make the rules for the rest of us." Think about this – This guy got exposed on this one thing.  How many other people, people who are in positions of power and decision making, people who make the rules that we all live by, have completely wrong, idiotic, and even dangerous ideas founded in folklore hundreds of years old and make their decisions based on that?

This is the sort of thing that should keep us awake at night.  And it’s the reason that people in these sorts of positions that state opinions on any subject that runs counter to observed evidence should have all of their opinions scrutinized carefully.

Yes, I’m talking about creationists.  IMO it’s a red flag for “wrong and proud of it but still thinks he can make the rules for the rest of us.”

]]> By: Preston Sturges http://boingboing.net/2012/08/21/todd-akin-apologizes-for-leg.html#comment-1514012 Preston Sturges Tue, 21 Aug 2012 19:11:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=177442#comment-1514012 Not to mention statutory rape.... Not to mention statutory rape….

]]> By: shnarg http://boingboing.net/2012/08/21/todd-akin-apologizes-for-leg.html#comment-1513981 shnarg Tue, 21 Aug 2012 18:57:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=177442#comment-1513981 This is part of the process to outlaw all contraception and allow the twisted  members of the GOP inner circle to get laid.  By simultaneously ending all avenues of contraception and spreading the rumor that rapees can't get preggers they hope to induce women to tolerate rape.  In this way the said GOPers will be free to exercise their twisted practices with great success. This is part of the process to outlaw all contraception and allow the twisted  members of the GOP inner circle to get laid.  By simultaneously ending all avenues of contraception and spreading the rumor that rapees can’t get preggers they hope to induce women to tolerate rape.  In this way the said GOPers will be free to exercise their twisted practices with great success.

]]> By: Finnagain http://boingboing.net/2012/08/21/todd-akin-apologizes-for-leg.html#comment-1513959 Finnagain Tue, 21 Aug 2012 18:45:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=177442#comment-1513959 And the RNC just doubled down on their No Abortion Under Any Circumstances plank. Nice timing guys. Dear remaining lady republicans: Please wake the fuck up! And the RNC just doubled down on their No Abortion Under Any Circumstances plank. Nice timing guys.

Dear remaining lady republicans: Please wake the fuck up!

]]> By: Jim Saul http://boingboing.net/2012/08/21/todd-akin-apologizes-for-leg.html#comment-1513904 Jim Saul Tue, 21 Aug 2012 18:20:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=177442#comment-1513904 Some real geniuses are weighing in on his side, like this Rep. Steve King: http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/08/steve-king-statutory-rape.php And this brain trust reporter from Politico: https://de.twitter.com/davecatanese/status/237395095115153408  <blockquote>So perhaps some can agree that all rapes that are reported are not actually rapes? Or are we gonna really deny that for PC sake? [...] The left is often 1st to shut down debate as "off limits" when it deems so. Aren't these moments supposed to open up a larger debate?</blockquote> Some real geniuses are weighing in on his side, like this Rep. Steve King:

http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/08/steve-king-statutory-rape.php

And this brain trust reporter from Politico:

https://de.twitter.com/davecatanese/status/237395095115153408 

So perhaps some can agree that all rapes that are reported are not actually rapes? Or are we gonna really deny that for PC sake?
[...]
The left is often 1st to shut down debate as “off limits” when it deems so. Aren’t these moments supposed to open up a larger debate?

]]> By: GawainLavers http://boingboing.net/2012/08/21/todd-akin-apologizes-for-leg.html#comment-1513898 GawainLavers Tue, 21 Aug 2012 18:18:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=177442#comment-1513898 No wonder he's ahead in the polls. No wonder he’s ahead in the polls.

]]> By: benher http://boingboing.net/2012/08/21/todd-akin-apologizes-for-leg.html#comment-1513895 benher Tue, 21 Aug 2012 18:17:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=177442#comment-1513895 INAW (I'm not a woman), but for what it's worth coming from a man who at least believes that women should be counted as human-beings: The GOP ticket is going to repeal a century of suffragette struggle. It's time we speak out as a nation and recall them all without compromise. INAW (I’m not a woman), but for what it’s worth coming from a man who at least believes that women should be counted as human-beings: The GOP ticket is going to repeal a century of suffragette struggle. It’s time we speak out as a nation and recall them all without compromise.

]]> By: chenille http://boingboing.net/2012/08/21/todd-akin-apologizes-for-leg.html#comment-1513894 chenille Tue, 21 Aug 2012 18:16:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=177442#comment-1513894 Also: <a href="http://www.theonion.com/articles/republicans-condemn-akins-comments-as-blemish-on-p,29259/" rel="nofollow"> Republicans Condemn Akin's Comments As Blemish On Party's Otherwise Spotless Women's Rights Record</a>. Also:
Republicans Condemn Akin’s Comments As Blemish On Party’s Otherwise Spotless Women’s Rights Record.

]]> By: Conan Librarian http://boingboing.net/2012/08/21/todd-akin-apologizes-for-leg.html#comment-1513888 Conan Librarian Tue, 21 Aug 2012 18:13:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=177442#comment-1513888 I hope you realize Todd Akin wasn't addressing the same, socio-economic voting category most of you would fall under in their marketing research. He was clearly pandering to the only electoral base that votes for him anyway; 12th century time travelers who are confused and fearful of this 'demon realm'.  I hope you realize Todd Akin wasn’t addressing the same, socio-economic voting category most of you would fall under in their marketing research. He was clearly pandering to the only electoral base that votes for him anyway; 12th century time travelers who are confused and fearful of this ‘demon realm’. 

]]> By: Taylor Jessen http://boingboing.net/2012/08/21/todd-akin-apologizes-for-leg.html#comment-1513875 Taylor Jessen Tue, 21 Aug 2012 18:03:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=177442#comment-1513875 Statistically, of course, we find that 99.98% of the world's population does shut up and go away forever. Statistically, of course, we find that 99.98% of the world’s population does shut up and go away forever.

]]> By: Avram Grumer http://boingboing.net/2012/08/21/todd-akin-apologizes-for-leg.html#comment-1513874 Avram Grumer Tue, 21 Aug 2012 18:00:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=177442#comment-1513874 <i>The Onion</i>'s been all over this. See also <a href="http://www.theonion.com/articles/pregnant-woman-relieved-to-learn-her-rape-was-ille,29258/" rel="nofollow">"Pregnant Woman Relieved to Learn Her Rape Was Illegitimate"</a> (trigger warning for rape descriptions) and <a href="http://www.theonion.com/articles/congressman-pregnancy-rarely-results-from-legitima,29249/" rel="nofollow">"Congressman: Pregnancy Rarely Results from 'Legitimate Rape'"</a>.  The Onion‘s been all over this. See also “Pregnant Woman Relieved to Learn Her Rape Was Illegitimate” (trigger warning for rape descriptions) and “Congressman: Pregnancy Rarely Results from ‘Legitimate Rape’”. 

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