Blaming the Victim, Again
WASHINGTON — At least until Election Day, Republicans were supposed to pretend that their party’s alleged “war on women” was nothing but a paranoid fantasy stoked by desperate Democrats. Obviously, Rep. Todd Akin didn’t get the memo.
Akin, campaigning to unseat Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., in November, was trying to explain his stance against abortion Sunday when he committed what cannot be dismissed as a mere gaffe. It was an abomination that could only stem from benighted ignorance — and it brings the whole “war on women” thing back into scary focus.
If you think I’m exaggerating, let me quote Akin in full. He was explaining why he opposes abortion even in cases of rape — and how pregnancy as a result of rape, in any event, isn’t something that should overly concern us:
“It seems to me, first of all, from what I understand from doctors, that’s really rare. If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down. But let’s assume that maybe that didn’t work or something. You know, I think there should be some punishment, but the punishment ought to be of the rapist, and not attacking the child.”
Whoa.
Let’s begin with the ignorant and offensive distinction Akin tries to draw between “legitimate rape” and some other kind of rape. He did not elaborate, but I’m pretty sure I know what he means.
He’s obviously talking about what Republicans call “forcible rape.” Last year, Akin co-sponsored a bill in the House that would have narrowed the exception that allows Medicaid funds to pay for abortions for women who are raped. The proposed measure would have permitted the use of funds only to end pregnancies resulting from “forcible rape.” GOP vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan was another co-sponsor of the measure, which ultimately failed.
The statutory rape of a child by an adult would not fit the definition the House Republicans tried to impose; nor would the rape of a woman who was drugged, say, or who had limited mental capacity. Never mind the fact that as far as criminal law is concerned, rape is rape. Never mind the fact that all rape, by its very nature, is “forcible.”
Akin’s assertion about “legitimate” rape is really nothing but an attempt to blame the victim. It stems from the view that the only true victim is a woman who is raped while violently resisting a ski-masked assailant who came in through the bedroom window. Anything short of that, she must have been asking for it.
Now let’s examine Akin’s claim about what “doctors” have told him. Are these real doctors? Did they actually go to medical school?
I find it hard to believe that any physician told Akin that “the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down.” I think he made it up.
That “female body” line is not only a frightening glimpse at the dangerous nonsense rattling around inside the heads of some on the far, far right. It is also — in its sheer befuddled clueless anatomical ignorance — an illustration of why we need more women in public office. When Akin says “ways to try to shut that whole thing down,” what exactly does he mean? What does he envision happening inside that mysterious, unknowable realm? Is it sorcery? Witchcraft?
Akin, by the way, is a member of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology. I am not kidding.
Akin allows that sometimes the magical process by which rapists’ sperm are rejected doesn’t work. In those few cases, he says, our aim should be punishing the rapist, not “attacking the child.”
Now let’s see, we’ve accounted for how we should treat the rapist, and we’ve accounted for how we should treat the product of the rape — the fetus or unborn child, depending on how you see abortion — and I guess that’s it. But wait, wasn’t there someone else involved?
Oh yes, the woman. The person who had to endure the rape, who is suspected of not having suffered a “legitimate” rape, and who now, according to Akin, should be legally obliged to bring the rapist’s baby to term.
Akin’s stupid, sexist remarks were immediately denounced by Mitt Romney and other prominent Republicans.
But the GOP refuses to do the one thing that would neutralize the “war on women” issue: Stop the misogynistic attacks. Stop them now.
Eugene Robinson’s email address is eugenerobinson@washpost.com. (c) 2012, Washington Post Writers Group
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Ok I’m not defending Akin here, but I think it is pretty clear that when he said legitimate rape he was referring to women requesting an abortion because they were raped, and women who were saying they were raped in order to qualify for an abortion who otherwise wouldn’t in a place that only allowed abortions in cases of rape. I don’t think Akin was implying that some women were raped for real and others were just date raped or something, as if there is a difference or something.
There is plenty of other backward thinking caveman ignorance in his statements to qualify him for the jackass pentathlon. I just think that his use of the term “legitimate rape” is being completely misconstrued.
Slamfu — he particularly connected “legitimate” rape to some sort of magic woman juice that stops conception. Therefore, if women become pregnant, it is, ipso facto, not legitimate rape. Yes, he was talking about women trying to game the system (as if their reproductive rights should be taken away by having consentual sex anyway), but he was specifically defining any woman who needed an abortion after being raped as falling into that category.
Furthermore, I would have no problem with any woman who needed an abortion going in and saying they were raped, if the idiots who make our laws said that that were the only way to get a legal and safe abortion. I would consider it the same sort of lie as when a couple goes into their priest and says that, yes, of course they are both virgins. Ask no questions, get no lies, eh?
Considering the very real problem of the under reporting of rape because of shame, the phrase “legitimate rape” in this context, should never exit a politicians mouth.
Really stupid comment by Akin. Stupid politically and ignorant of facts (it is interesting how persistent is that belief that traumatic rape somehow prevents pregnancy- i have to admit that for a while after hearing that I assumed it might be true due to stress but when i got around to checking it out i saw that it just isn’t factual at all.)
The point he should have made if addressing ‘rarity’ at all, is that abortions as a result of rape are a tiny fraction of all abortions, rather than falsely claiming that only a tiny fraction of rapes result in pregnancy….especially since even if this was true, what the hell difference does that make to the women to whom it happens, who are each individually 100%pregnant?
The prochoice side complains when prolifers focus on late term abortions which are also relatively rare. A quick google glance just now looks like both abortions for the reason of rape and abortions post 20′weeks represent 1% of all abortions.
My point is that each side will try to keep the focus on the most uncomfortable sorts of situations for the other side to deal with, despite the fact that these situations are not representative of most abortions. But when prolifers focus the debate on late term abortions and when prochoicers focus on rape cases, they know that they are forcing their opponents to say or support things that are politically unpopular among large swaths of moderate voters.
Nice turn of phrase that describes a not nice problem within the GOP. They need to get rid of their neanderthals if they want their brand to ever come back.
Is it one neanderthal or are all the GOP people ones? This is a test question.
dduck — the sentiment expressed by Akin is not all that uncommon. It is a policy position held by Ryan, among other prominent supposedly “serious” GOPers. I don’t consider Akin a neandertal, just a giant woman-hating jerk. There are a lot of those about.
NPR had a piece on this issue this afternoon and they tracked down pro-lifers saying this bunkum about rape not resulting in pregnancy going back to 1988. David, it doesn’t have to be by association. Look at the bill co-sponsored by Ryan and Akin.
CStanley, “But when prolifers focus the debate on late term abortions and when prochoicers focus on rape cases, they know that they are forcing their opponents to say or support things that are politically unpopular among large swaths of moderate voters.”
I don’t believe that prochoicers focus on rape cases. Pro-choice is pro-choice and that is what the prochoicers would prefer to focus on. I believe the only time when prochoicers focus on rape cases is when the prolifers make an issue of it… or make stupid remarks similar to those of Akin.
davidpsummers, “He pretends he isn’t trying to use “guilt by association” to tar other Republicans while effectively doing so.”
I didn’t think he was pretending not to use guilt be association to tar other Republicans. I thought he was tarring other Republicans for their misogynistic attacks. The only difference between Akins and the other Republicans is the degree of vileness of their attacks. Republicans think that having the state control a woman’s body and reproductive choices is fine, while liberals find it vile. However (for once) conservatives and liberals agree that Akins comments were egregiously vile. I believe what Robinson was saying (which I agree with) is that it is still fine for Republican leaders to launch attacks on women that aren’t so vile. This creates an atmosphere where people, including Republican leaders, feel that they can get away with such attacks and they keep pushing the line of decency.
If Republican leaders stood up and said, “No one should attack women’s reproductive rights, equal pay, etc. That women should control their body, have the same opportunities as men and are just as valuable as men in whatever field they choose to pursue. Any attack on a woman is an attack on our values and will not be tolerated.” Then people like Akin would learn that they need to value women and not demean them.
The same goes for statements around gays, blacks, Latinos, immigrants, handicapped people, etc.
Just remember, if you get fed up enough with the GOP or embarrassed enough by your fellow republicans you can always leave the fold. There isn’t any law that says once a republican always a republican.
I’ve never gotten a B on anything in my life, dduck.
Overachiever.
z
You did it! Congrats on your picture ID. Now you can vote.
Well said StockBoyLA while the commenters on the right keep trying to play the innocent victim their party and current candidates for President and Vice President keep pushing these topics as issues that differentiates Republicans from Democrats.
Another good example… The Republicans rejection today of a platform amendment supporting Civil Unions for both straight and gay couples.
z, I’m jealous. I’ve been trying to get a picture for at least a year.
dduck – I was in the same boat until someone last week said to go to Gravatar signup for free account… Then follow instructions to upload your photo and your photo will eventually end up here.
Thanks, SK, this has been driving me as nuts (computer challenged) as a moderate Rep can be with jokers like Akin packing it in.