Not surprisingly, the whacked out opinions about rape in the GOP are widespread - New England Patriots Forums

Phokus · 08-21-2012, 11:49 PM

What, you didn't think Akin was some sort of aberration, did you? The conservative mind is a depraved and diseased mind. Now if only Republicans were more honest about their beliefs like Akin is, Republicans would never be elected again (outside of all of the backwards southern red states) and our country would quickly unscrew itself and maybe we could heal as a nation.

‘God’s Little Shield’: A Short History Of The False No-Pregnancy-From-Rape Theory | TPM2012

Quote:

Rep. Todd Akin is far from the only conservative to suggest women rarely get pregnant from rape. He’s not even the first lawmaker to make the assertion (which flies in the face of medical evidence).

A search of news archives by TPM shows a short history of Republican politicians espousing the idea of a biological defense against pregnancy in cases of rape, though there’s little consistency in their explanations of how such a mechanism works.

In 1988, Stephen Freind, a state representative in Pennsylvania, defended his no-exceptions anti-abortion stance — as Akin was doing Sunday — by claiming that it was virtually impossible for a woman who is raped to become pregnant.

“The odds are one in millions and millions and millions,” Freind said in a debate in March of that year. “And there is a physical reason for that.”

Freind said that women possess a “certain secretion” that kills sperm.

“Rape, obviously, is a traumatic experience. When that traumatic experience is undergone, a woman secretes a certain secretion, which has a tendency to kill sperm.”

Freind promised to provide scientific documentation of his theory and told a cheering crowd later that month, “If you’re expecting me to back off, the answer is no.”

Seven years later, a state legislator in North Carolina championed the same theory. Henry Aldridge, a Republican state representative, argued for the elimination of a public fund to help poor women pay for abortions by using a similar argument.

“The facts show that people who are raped — who are truly raped — the juices don’t flow, the body functions don’t work and they don’t get pregnant,” Aldridge told the House Appropriations Committee. “Medical authorities agree that this is a rarity, if ever.”

Aldridge was addressing the committee to apologize for “earlier remarks implying that victims of rape or incest are sexually promiscuous,” according to an Associated Press report at the time.

Aldridge, like Freind, did not back down. “To get pregnant, it takes a little cooperation. And there ain’t much cooperation in a rape,” he said.

In 1998, Republican Arkansas state Rep. Fay Boozman botched his own Senate bid against Sen. Blanche Lincoln when he said at a rally that pregnancy resulting from rape was rare. He denied having used the phrase “God’s little shield,” according to the Washington Post.

The next year, Mike Huckabee, then governor of Arkansas, appointed his good friend Boozman to lead the state’s Health Department. Upon becoming health director, Boozman apologized for the comments, saying they were “not statistically based.”

Huckabee, who opposes abortion even in cases of rape, endorsed Akin in the Missouri primary.

Akin, who earlier this month won the Republican Senate nomination in Missouri, said he “misspoke” in a follow-up statement, but he did not disavow the substance of his comments except to acknowledge that rape can in fact result in pregnancy.

One abortion-rights activist said publicizing the false theory can cause even further trauma to rape victims.

“The first time I heard it or saw anything about it it was in a chat room,” Terry O’Neill, president of the National Organization for Women, told TPM. O’Neill recalled that a woman in the chat room said she “struggled to deal with the shame of her sexual assault because she had heard that she was not supposed to get pregnant and that her body sort of had betrayed her.”

“It was a number of years ago,” O’Neill said, “But I just remember thinking, ‘Oh my God that poor woman, where did she hear this?’”

***IcyPatriot*** · 08-22-2012, 12:10 AM

the stupidity in all of this makes me shake my head. Let's suppose the GOP eased up on their abortion stance. let's say for the sake of argument rather than list all the issues I'll just say if they're stance is a 2 and the democrats is an 8 on a 10 scale.

So suppose they lightened it up to a 3 or a 4 ... does Obama get any defection votes? There's too much religion behind the platform of their abortion stance. Right now America as a whole is not high on religion being in politics. This is a disaster in stupidity.

it's their platform and they feel it's the right way to stand. Okay ... I'll give it to them on their core beliefs but your parties job is first and foremost to win the Presidency, the Senate and Congress. With this stance they could go back to losing out in all 3 areas. Republicans in close races just reached for their meds ... they're going to need them. A gift wrapped present for Obama and the democrats.

Aikin and Isaac both threatening to blow away the GOP convention next week in Tampa.

To prove a point based in religion no less. I won't lose sleep over it. Obama/ Romney ... romney/Obama ... whoever ... not much will change anyways.

PatsFanInVa · 08-22-2012, 12:28 AM

Well, you see how the local nut-jobs on this board wear their zealotry like a badge of honor. Those opinions ain't widespread enough anymore, but those who hold them want them to be widespread, and they're likely to scream them ever louder and more shrilly now that their zealotry has taken them into a blind alley they can't escape.

So, we'll see how easy or hard it is to "make this about Obama screwing up," as the game-plan seems to be. Seems to righties I talk to that Akin is all about how human a fetus is, blah blah blah, but people I talk to who aren't wedded to liberal/conservative or red/blue are like "that guy is creepy."

Also seems like downticket races are going to be influenced by this, not just top of the ticket.

What rank-and-file pubbies don't get is how wedge issues work. The reason abortion worked for them so well in the 80s and 90s is that people would go "well... I hate everything else the pubbies stand for but we should let them have their way on abortion because babies are cute and fetuses are almost babies."

They weren't thinking of the moment the sperm hit the egg. They weren't thinking their IUD would be considered a deadly weapon. They weren't thinking of pubbie blabbermouths slut-shaming on national radio. They weren't thinking of saying unless they wanted it, women can't get pregnant. In short, they weren't thinking of today's republican party.

Now the righty zombies will keep trying to talk about some tiny number of "partial birth abortions" and crap like that totally on the edges.

All people are hearing is blah blah blah blah, because the full implications of pubbie zealotry are on display. Pubbies are busted. Their message is basically "women are barely controlled cheatin' lyin' rape-cryin' bad children, and ladies, unless you're a whore you'll vote for us anyway."

Hey, it's workin' for Akin, right?

Their "wedge issue" used to be "but a fetus is just like a baby - awww, baby cute. Mommy, what are you doing mommy..."

Now it's "vote how we tell you to you fu(king whore."

Now then... which way does that wedge cut?

No wonder the few sober pubbies that are left want to keep their freakish views on women under wraps. But they can't help themselves... and whenever this stuff comes up, the base gets on their Red State Regular blazers and spring into action.

Once again, they've written into their platform no abortions, no women's rights to choose, evah, no exceptions... and of course, they figure they'll just have their fringie little plank in the platform, and nobody cares.

But now there's a news peg, it's fair game to talk about the platform this round. Wonder if that'll be in the spotlight.

If so, good luck pubbies.

PFnV

PatriotsReign · 08-22-2012, 12:56 AM

Hokus Pokus....I mean, Phokus!

***DarrylS*** · 08-22-2012, 04:09 AM

Poor Mitt, he does not know what to think.. may have to bring in Rove to help him figure it out...

Hebeill · 08-22-2012, 04:18 AM

The republicans go "medieval" and we thought they wanted to go back to the good ole '50's

'Legitimate rape'

'Legitimate rape' – a medieval medical conceptThe idea that rape victims cannot get pregnant is a very old medical theory

The idea that rape victims cannot get pregnant has long roots. The legal position that pregnancy disproved a claim of rape appears to have been instituted in the UK sometime in the 13th century. One of the earliest British legal texts, Fleta, has a clause in the first book of the second volume stating that:

"If, however, the woman should have conceived at the time alleged in the appeal, it abates, for without a woman's consent she could not conceive."

***DarrylS*** · 08-22-2012, 04:19 AM

Comments from Sharon Barnes of the Missouri Republican Central Committee:

Quote:

Ms. Barnes echoed Mr. Akin’s statement that very few rapes resulted in pregnancy, adding that “at that point, if God has chosen to bless this person with a life, you don’t kill it.”

“That’s more what I believe he was trying to state,” she said. “He just phrased it badly.”

Ms. Barnes said that she believed that the controversy would blow over, and that once people in the state became more familiar with Mr. Akin, they would learn “what a great, conservative, godly man Todd Akin is, and they’ll put his comment in its proper context.”

jcdavey · 08-22-2012, 04:56 AM

wow they jumped the shark

they then raped the shark

PatsWSB47 · 08-22-2012, 06:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PatsFanInVa

Well, you see how the local nut-jobs on this board wear their zealotry like a badge of honor. Those opinions ain't widespread enough anymore, but those who hold them want them to be widespread, and they're likely to scream them ever louder and more shrilly now that their zealotry has taken them into a blind alley they can't escape.

So, we'll see how easy or hard it is to "make this about Obama screwing up," as the game-plan seems to be. Seems to righties I talk to that Akin is all about how human a fetus is, blah blah blah, but people I talk to who aren't wedded to liberal/conservative or red/blue are like "that guy is creepy."

Also seems like downticket races are going to be influenced by this, not just top of the ticket.

What rank-and-file pubbies don't get is how wedge issues work. The reason abortion worked for them so well in the 80s and 90s is that people would go "well... I hate everything else the pubbies stand for but we should let them have their way on abortion because babies are cute and fetuses are almost babies."

They weren't thinking of the moment the sperm hit the egg. They weren't thinking their IUD would be considered a deadly weapon. They weren't thinking of pubbie blabbermouths slut-shaming on national radio. They weren't thinking of saying unless they wanted it, women can't get pregnant. In short, they weren't thinking of today's republican party.

Now the righty zombies will keep trying to talk about some tiny number of "partial birth abortions" and crap like that totally on the edges.

All people are hearing is blah blah blah blah, because the full implications of pubbie zealotry are on display. Pubbies are busted. Their message is basically "women are barely controlled cheatin' lyin' rape-cryin' bad children, and ladies, unless you're a whore you'll vote for us anyway."

Hey, it's workin' for Akin, right?

Their "wedge issue" used to be "but a fetus is just like a baby - awww, baby cute. Mommy, what are you doing mommy..."

Now it's "vote how we tell you to you fu(king whore."

Now then... which way does that wedge cut?

No wonder the few sober pubbies that are left want to keep their freakish views on women under wraps. But they can't help themselves... and whenever this stuff comes up, the base gets on their Red State Regular blazers and spring into action.

Once again, they've written into their platform no abortions, no women's rights to choose, evah, no exceptions... and of course, they figure they'll just have their fringie little plank in the platform, and nobody cares.

But now there's a news peg, it's fair game to talk about the platform this round. Wonder if that'll be in the spotlight.

If so, good luck pubbies.

PFnV

Dragging Obama into this is clearly a deflection and I agree with you that the notion that "real rape" as an effective natural birth control method is so retarded that I can't put it into words.

I think you're being a little harsh though on people that look at a fetus as more than just a wart in a woman's body until birth. There is in many, many people a much stronger sense that a fetus is more than just a cute, almost a baby wedge for politicians to kick around.

My daughter is due in December and I can assure you that she feels a strong bond with her son to be. She's deciding on names, has an album with ultrasound pictures in it and is buying up clothes and toys for him.

I don't think you pin pure politics on every "choose life" advocate out there.

Drewski · 08-22-2012, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PatsFanInVa

Well, you see how the local nut-jobs on this board wear their zealotry like a badge of honor. Those opinions ain't widespread enough anymore, but those who hold them want them to be widespread, and they're likely to scream them ever louder and more shrilly now that their zealotry has taken them into a blind alley they can't escape.

So, we'll see how easy or hard it is to "make this about Obama screwing up," as the game-plan seems to be. Seems to righties I talk to that Akin is all about how human a fetus is, blah blah blah, but people I talk to who aren't wedded to liberal/conservative or red/blue are like "that guy is creepy."

Also seems like downticket races are going to be influenced by this, not just top of the ticket.

What rank-and-file pubbies don't get is how wedge issues work. The reason abortion worked for them so well in the 80s and 90s is that people would go "well... I hate everything else the pubbies stand for but we should let them have their way on abortion because babies are cute and fetuses are almost babies."

They weren't thinking of the moment the sperm hit the egg. They weren't thinking their IUD would be considered a deadly weapon. They weren't thinking of pubbie blabbermouths slut-shaming on national radio. They weren't thinking of saying unless they wanted it, women can't get pregnant. In short, they weren't thinking of today's republican party.

Now the righty zombies will keep trying to talk about some tiny number of "partial birth abortions" and crap like that totally on the edges.

All people are hearing is blah blah blah blah, because the full implications of pubbie zealotry are on display. Pubbies are busted. Their message is basically "women are barely controlled cheatin' lyin' rape-cryin' bad children, and ladies, unless you're a whore you'll vote for us anyway."

Hey, it's workin' for Akin, right?

Their "wedge issue" used to be "but a fetus is just like a baby - awww, baby cute. Mommy, what are you doing mommy..."

Now it's "vote how we tell you to you fu(king whore."

Now then... which way does that wedge cut?

No wonder the few sober pubbies that are left want to keep their freakish views on women under wraps. But they can't help themselves... and whenever this stuff comes up, the base gets on their Red State Regular blazers and spring into action.

Once again, they've written into their platform no abortions, no women's rights to choose, evah, no exceptions... and of course, they figure they'll just have their fringie little plank in the platform, and nobody cares.

But now there's a news peg, it's fair game to talk about the platform this round. Wonder if that'll be in the spotlight.

If so, good luck pubbies.

PFnV

Not focusing on the rest of the post, but that bolded line is one of the funniest things I have seen posted on this place in a minute.

So, if I follow correctly, pubbies breakdown into two groups, the "drunk" group, which runs its mouth regarding "women's" issues; such as Akin, who says stupid, archaic ***** when sitting in front of a mic, and then the "sober" pubbies who don't say it in public, but all go home and think it but later can't help themselves? Are "pubbies" in this case the public/representative pubbies, or Joe and Jane Pubbie who live in your complex?

If it is the former; the pubbie representatives in our government, sure, I can see it generally (at least the most vocal members of the modern brand), but if it is the latter, I personally find that to be a pretty pathetic statement; one which is no better blanket statements our "local nut-jobs" heave the left's way.

How you can boil something (in this case potentially an entire group of voters who sit on the other side of the aisle) down to either you're a "drunk" who says really really really dumb stuff or a "sober" and don't say really really dumb stuff...but will eventually, is astounding to me.

Listen, I have no love for the modern Republican view on women's issues, the blending of "Christian beliefs" and politics isn't for me. But I think there are quite a few people who view the organism growing inside of them as more than just a wedge issue. Not to mention, I'm sure there are many people, who on a personal level are pro life, but recognize the right of a woman to choose what is best for her. Yet they're all "freakish". Talk about fighting intolerance.....with intolerance. The irony is almost too good.

It is far easier (and lazy) to lump people into the smallest number of groups as possible. But maybe you were going for easy.....

D