The network morning shows on Tuesday devoted an enormous 20 minutes and 53 seconds to obsessing over a gaffe by a Republican congressman, hyping Todd Akin's comments for nine separate segments. NBC, CBS and ABC touted Democratic efforts to link the gaffe-prone representative to the GOP presidential ticket.Former Democratic operative turned Good Morning America host George Stephanopoulos zeroed in on Akin's comments what constitutes a "legitimate rape." He breathlessly wondered, "We saw the President pounce in the White House briefing room yesterday. How are the Democrats going to try to capitalize on this today?"
After Jake Tapper pointed out that vice presidential running mate Paul Ryan and Akin both supported pro-life legislation, Stephanopoulos continued his focus on the national ticket: "But just to clarify, though, right now at least now, both Romney and Ryan are saying that they would accept abortion in the cases of rape?"
A pity they couldn't find the time to interview the world's foremost expert on whether this counts as "rape squared" or "something else." (Needless to say, the latter is a defence only available to those with impeccable liberal credentials, e.g. Bill Clinton or Julian Assange.)
Actually, pregnancy resulting from rape is comparatively rare; some of this is due to lack of arousal on the part of the woman (thus inhibiting sperm motility), but the rapist's equipment also fails surprisingly often. From the Rape Investigation Handbook (a manual used by many police forces and sex crimes detectives):
Comments (5)
Why don't they just ask Whoopi Goldberg what constitutes 'rape-rape'? That is, after all, a solidly Democratic belief.
Posted by Frances | August 21, 2012 11:34 PM
Posted on August 21, 2012 23:34
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It's about time somebody brought this evidence to light. As a comparative, not all drunk drivers actually get into accidents. In fact, I'll wager that the incidence is comparatively rare, relative to the total number of total times that individuals choose to drive while impaired. Therefore, the actual number of fatalities resulting from impaired driving is a comparatively low number in relation to what it could potentially be.
Clearly, the total number of impaired driving victims is comparatively low. Just like the number of women who are impregnated during rape is comparatively low. So let's focus on the real issues instead of these comparatively low, and therefore meaningless statistics.
Posted by KP | August 22, 2012 5:30 AM
Posted on August 22, 2012 05:30
How right you are in contrasting the outraged reaction to Senator Akin's remarks and the protective shield thrown around Julian Assange by those on the left side of the political spectrum to protect him from having to face the allegations of rape levelled against him.
I wonder if there will be as much outrage at another left media darling, Brit MP George Galloway, calling one of those allegations "bad sexual etiquette".
Posted by Gabby in QC | August 22, 2012 7:38 AM
Posted on August 22, 2012 07:38
A lot of people predicted an increase in rape once they removed violent rape and classed it as sexual assault. There sure must be a lot of rapists running around if all those women having abortions have been raped.
Another unexplained action of all those rapists. How can they make a decision to rape a woman on the few days a month she can get pregnant.
Yes, there are violent rapes, but a lot of so called rapes are the result of the husband, boyfriend coming home too soon, or parents catching their daughter in an embarrassing situation with her boyfriend.
Posted by Mary T | August 22, 2012 1:05 PM
Posted on August 22, 2012 13:05
What you are quoting is not science.
The US national rape-related pregnancy rate is 5.0% per rape among victims of reproductive age (aged 12 to 45). Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1996 Aug;175(2):320-4; discussion 324-5. That is not "comparatively rare".
I would suggest that you get your facts straight before suggesting how women's bodies should be regulated.
Your comments evidence the same astonishing ignorance and lack of education as Todd Akin's.
Posted by Meerschaum | August 22, 2012 3:48 PM
Posted on August 22, 2012 15:48