 by Chris MatthewsLet Me Start, Hardball with Chris Matthews |
COMMENTARY
This is a right-wing assault on women. This caveman view of the sexes that has now shown its ugly head.
Nobody paid any attention last week when Speaker John Boehner dared to mention the "knuckle-draggers" in his party, the hard-right wildmen who believe the president's a secret Muslim invader, that women who have an abortion or even use an IUD should be treated as murderers; now comes this Republican candidate in Missouri, Todd Akin, talking about "legitimate" rape and spouting some caveman theory that sex which is forced cannot result in pregnancy.
Finally, we meet the missing link, the evidence that the party of Lincoln cannot get in bed with the most freakish elements of the right, the birthers and the personhood nuts and all the rest of this menagerie— and not become itself a freak show.
Let's state it clear right up front: a woman forced to have sexual relations at the threat of harm is a victim of rape. There are no qualifiers, no area of "legitimacy" or "illegitimacy."
As the great Michael Kinsley put it, "in politics, a gaffe is when you say what you really think."
Leave a Comment:
Wow, great commentary, Chris.
How come at every time we have an election they come out on women?
I can't believe the stuff that comes out of the mouths of Republicans.
I hope women of this nation need to stand up for thier rights.
I can't believe that they want to run women lifes.
I hope you keep up on this issue and all the other lies the Republicns put out there.
I just hope people aren't dumb enough to let money win there vote. I hope they will
check things out for thierselve.
Nexttime, The Village Idiots convention will be in Missouri. We have a Keynote Speaker....Todd, where are you?????
There is a place for you Reflublicans where you can overlord all women. YOU CAN KEEP THEM FROM TALKING TRAVELING VOTING LAUGHING EXPRESSING AND REPRODUCING .It is called the middle east. Why don't you all hold hands and go skippy right on over there and rid this country of your BS
I was wondering why no one had said anything about the knuckel dragging comment, is Chris and me the only ones who noticed it & what it means & what he is calling his colleges? I have a solution for the abortion thing, have all men have vasectomies (which can be revesed) after they probe his you know what to be sure he needs it. Before the vascotomy make a law they must always use condoms, not to use suffer the harsh consequences of breaking the law. Voila no conception no egg fertilized thus no abortion. How does that grab you all you men that think our bodies belong to you. Our bodies belong to us leave it alone.
I was wondering why no one had noticed the knuckle dragging comment, do his colleges not know what he is saying?
I have a solution to the abortion thing: All men have to have a vasectomy(which can be reversed) but his you know what has to be probed to make sure he needs it. Until he has the vasectomy a law needs to be in place for him to use a condom when he has sex, if not suffer the consequence of breaking the law. Voila, no fertilation, no conception no need for abortion, how does that grab ya guys. Let us mess with your bodies like you want to our's. Keep your hands off our bodies.
In 1955 I was raped by three monsters, from that rape I have a wonderful son fantastic father, husband, brother. Back then no abortion, I would not have aborted my child, but that is up to each individual woman that is her division. I was 15 with parents that also blamed me & I live with this every day. Somehow I must have done something to make these men want to rape me, right?
If we allow them to pass bill making abortion illegal, we go back to the dark ages. Where the wealthy woman can go to her OB and politely ask that she help her with her little problem and the poor woman, who does not have access to affordable birth control and has to many children already...ends up dying from a botched abortion.
As usual Chris hit the nail on the head. Todd Akins revealed the ideology of so many people who hold office in the republican party. The notion that this country, the leader of freedom and democracy should be dragged back to a time when women did not have control over their bodies is ludicrous and utterly amazing to me. To be having this fight in the year 2012 when we face so many incredibly important challenges defies all logic. How can these people who espouse small government stick their noses into the most private areas of people's lives? Can you imagine a national Personhood law being passed? The economic and social implications are staggering. Anyone with half of a brain and a drop of vision should be able to figure that it would be devastating. Never mind the assault on our freedom.
There are things that politicians say that are STUPID, but are not of concern once we compare the gaff with what the person represents and how we know he/she has already demonstrated values and positions on an issue. Then there are the DANGEROUS, STUPID comments - and thank goodness for them when they reveal the true nature of a political candidate's beliefs and values, and those of the party he/she represents.
There are things that politicians say that are STUPID, but are not of concern once we compare the gaff with what the person represents and how we know he/she has already demonstrated values and positions on an issue. Then there are the DANGEROUS, STUPID comments - and thank goodness for them when they reveal the true nature of a political candidate's beliefs and values, and those of the party he/she represents.