Biden/Akin: Vive la Différence!!!

By Ross Kaminsky  (I've added some additional quotes that have recently been released, Soph)

Last week, Democratic Vice President Joe Biden uttered an idiotic, offensive, race-baiting statement, telling a mostly black audience that Mitt Romney wants to "put y'all back in chains."

This week, Republican Congressman and candidate for US Senate Todd Akin uttered an idiotic, offensive, rape-baiting statement, making the insane suggestion that a woman's body can naturally prevent pregnancy following a "legitimate rape."

For your perusal, an example of the different reactions from members of each offender's political party:

Democrats in response to Biden:

• From Obama Deputy Campaign Manager Stephanie "Never Heard of Joe Soptic" Cutter, "The bottom line is that we have no problem with those comments."

• From rap music mogul Russell Simmons: "Joe Biden's truthful comment that Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan would put "y'all back in chains" sat fine with me."

• From Al Sharpton: Republicans "don't have the moral standing" to criticize Biden because they call Barack Obama "the food stamp president."

• Georgetown University Professor Michael Eric Dyson, on the Ed Schultz radio show: Biden's statements can't be criticized by the GOP because we have "a Republican Party that has played dog whistle politics and whose expertise is in racial codes calling President Obama a monkey, an ape, an un-American, a Kenyon, somebody who was not born in America, a communist, and on and on and on."

• And from President Obama himself: "His phrasing is a distraction from what is at stake....We don’t spend a lot of time worrying about the chatter and the noise and this and that... It doesn't mean anything, just fills up a lot of airtime."

 

  

Republicans in response to Akin:

• From presidential candidate Mitt Romney: “[Akin's] comments on rape are insulting, inexcusable, and, frankly, wrong.  Like millions of other Americans, we found them to be offensive."

• From Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), head of the Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee: "Congressman Akin’s statements were wrong, offensive and indefensible.  I recognize that this is a difficult time for him, but over the next twenty-four hours, Congressman Akin should carefully consider what is best for him, his family, the Republican Party..." (In other words, Cornyn is calling on Akin to drop out of the race.)

• From Senator Scott Brown (R-MA):  “As a husband and father of two young women, I found Todd Akin’s comments about women and rape outrageous.  There is no place in our public discourse for this type of offensive thinking. Not only should he apologize, but I believe Rep. Akin’s statement was so far out of bounds that he should resign the nomination for US Senate in Missouri.”

• From Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI):   "Todd Akin’s statements are reprehensible and inexcusable. He should step aside today for the good of the nation."

• From Montana Republican Senate candidate and fellow member of the House of Representatives, Denny Rehberg:  “As a pro-life conservative, a husband, and a father of two young women, I find Representative Akin’s remarks to be offensive and reprehensible.  There is no such thing as a ‘legitimate rape.’ I condemn Representative Akin’s statements in the strongest possible terms.”

• From New Mexico Republican Senate candidate, Heather Wilson:  "As a woman and a mother, I found Representative Akin’s comments this weekend to be sickening and deeply offensive.  There is no such thing as ‘legitimate rape.’ His remarks undermine his ability to command the respect necessary for leadership and he should step aside.”

• From American Spectator columnist Quin Hillyer, "Todd Akin's statement on rape, etcetera, are wrong on at least three fronts at once -- and so wrong as to be politically disqualifying...Akin should step aside and let the Missouri Republican Party replace him on the ballot."

• From the editors of National Review: "Step Aside, Todd Akin." "While Akin is a stalwart conservative and an honorable man, we regret to say that he inspires no such confidence. That is one reason why Senator Claire McCaskill, the sitting Democratic senator, boosted him during the Republican primaries with ads calling him a “true conservative.” She knew that she is the weakest Senate incumbent on the ballot this year and that her only hope was to draw a weak opponent…McCaskill’s strategy is now paying off.   Akin has backed off from his remarks, albeit with the politician’s excuse of “misspeaking.” People who make such remarks on television are typically capable of making more like them, or rather incapable of exercising the judgment to refrain. We suspect that this same lack of judgment will cause Akin to blow past tomorrow evening’s deadline for him to leave the race and allow the Republicans to select a better nominee. We hope the congressman, who surely wants to see a Senate with as much conservative strength as possible next year, will prove us wrong."

• Crossroads GPS has removed its Senate race ads from the Missouri airwaves.  When asked to comment by Politico if its removal of the ads had anything to do with Akin's comments, Crossroads Spokesman Nate Hodson said, “The act speaks for itself.”

• From PjMedia:  "Akin Must Go." 

• From Sean Hannity to Congressman Akin during an interview this afternoon:  "As a political observer I see it differently here. I think for the next week all you're going to hear from Democrats is your comments. And, look, I'm a Christian so I believe in forgiveness. And I can just tell by the sound of your voice that you're very sincere in your apology. But I also -- I think there is one political reality that I think has to be faced by you and your campaign and that is that you know, the reality here is that Democrats now have a ton of ammunition and they are now going to try to use these remarks to hurt everybody they can. And if I was put in that position, I would at least be thinking about what is in the best interest of the party.  That is in the best interest of, you know, Mitt Romney in this case. What is in the best interest of the people of Missouri, are they going to be able to hear a campaign about issues or is this going to be the distraction of the campaign. Are you -- you're not even considering that?"

• From Ann Coulter:   "We will rally around Akin as GOP hero if he withdraws for the good of the country. Roe is at stake!"

• From American Spectator columnist, Jeffrey Lord:  "Mr. Akin sounds like a very nice man. But his appearance on Sean Hannity's radio show a few minutes ago was almost painful to listen to. Hannity was 100% correct to gently point out to Akin that the political environment is such that he will never be able to discuss the issues with McCaskill. Akin's thoughts on rape, regardless of whether he apologizes hourly until November, guarantees the focus will be removed from McCaskill's devotion to all things Obama. Bluntly put, Akin will be a drag -- an avoidable drag -- on the ticket.  Hannity gently prodded Akin to do the right thing, and he was right to do so.  This is no time for distractions.  Mr. Akin should change his mind and allow the Missouri GOP to replace him. Pronto."

The difference between Democrats and Republicans in these two back-to-back examples of foot-in-mouth disease simply serves to highlight what readers of these pages already know: While Republicans sometimes deviate from their stated principles, at least they have some principles; and when they do deviate, they tend to be punished by their own as much as by the media, who offer no such scolding to Democrats in similar situations.

 

PS from Soph:  As a reminder, in her 22 March 1998 Op/Ed piece in the New York Times, Steinem essentially gave support to the notion that a man may:  1)  open-mouth kiss a woman uninvited; 2) fondle a woman's breast without prior consent; and 3) uninvited, take a woman's hand and place it on his genitals; and as long as the man retreats once the woman says "no" that this does not constitute sexual harassment.  This has become known in popular parlance as the "One Free Grope" rule.

The idiot, Akin, has apologised for his idiocy -- good, but he should still step aside.  When, however, will Liberals, especially FEMINISTS, stop defending actual rape and sexual harassment perpetrated by Lefty men...or women, as the case may be relative to the unfolding "Caged Heat" drama over at Big Sis' Department of Homeland Security?

Rape is rape and it doesn't matter if the rapist is a lefty or a righty.

Rape is rape and there is no such thing as "rape-rape," except when you are a Progressive hack trying to excuse the abhorrent behaviour of a fellow Progressive hack.

Sexual harassment and assault are wrong and illegal...even when you are the Lyin' of the Senate and his sidekick, the Senator from the Great State of MBNA, and like to make "sandwiches" out of working class waitresses.

Leaving a woman to die in a submerged car while you "go for help" a/k/a "sleeping off your drunk, consulting with your legal advisers, and concocting a story to save your political career" should result in imprisonment, not a 40 year Senate career followed by a near State Funeral, burial at Arlington National Cemetery, and enshrinement in the Pantheon of Progressive Gods, especially when said purport to champion the rights of women.