And, Of Course, I Must Be Polite So I Don't Offend Delicate Republican Sensibilities

[filkertom]

So I shall merely direct you to this story, by way of dKos, in which Kansas GOP state Representative Pete DeGraaf equates getting pregnant by rape with getting a flat tire.

Yes, I'm serious.

Have at.

Comments

[lizziecrowe.livejournal.com]

So... women need to plan ahead for their rapes to make sure they don't get pregnant....

My hands are shaking with rage right now. Words don't seem to want to come. All I can think is that my dear friend Sarah, who was a first response therapist and case worker for rape victims, would like to have a talk with him. Then take him out for the night shift to show this disgusting degenerate waste of food and oxygen exactly what he's saying. Let HIM deny these women what they need, to their FACES. Let HIM tell them his 'flat tire' theory as they are sitting in the middle of one of the single most traumatic things that can happen to ANYONE, man or woman. Let's see how much conviction he has then to being absolute filth.

This man truly is a monster. there is no excuse in existence for this. And I'm going to stop because if I don't I'm going to get impolite.

[ldyerzsie.livejournal.com]

I think that the worst thing is that he assumes women are inevitably going to be victims. I feel sorry for the women in his life.

I, for one, do not plan to walk around as if I'm going to be raped at any moment.

[starcat-jewel.livejournal.com]

The problem with that suggestion is that HE WOULD, and be all smug and sanctimonious about it in the process. That's a nearly-sociopathic lack of empathy, which IME cannot be cured by simple exposure to the people the sociopath is harming.

[unclelumpy.livejournal.com]

When you get a flat tire, do you keep it?

[darthgm.livejournal.com]

Seriously.

[zibblsnrt.livejournal.com]

Changing a flat tire is murder. Duh.

[jenrose]

Best. Comment. Ever.

[cscottd.livejournal.com]

Words fail...

[smallship1.livejournal.com]

That's one flippant remark that hopefully will haunt him for a good long while. I don't suppose for a moment he meant to make that comparison, not that that matters now. He just forgot, or never knew, that rape and flippancy do not belong in the same conversation. When someone mentions rape, you do not, ever, EVER, go for the laugh. A, you won't get it, and two, well, what everyone said in the comments.

Of course, being a Republican politician he's evul by default, and what he is doing is absolutely wrong, but this specific thing I think can be adequately accounted for by stupidity.

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Scary thing is, I don't think he was being flippant. Rape, and pregnancy resulting from it -- hey, just things you have to be ready for. Just in case.

[talonvaki.livejournal.com]

There is one time you can mention rape in a humourous way. See: Alice's Restaurant (http://www.arlo.net/resources/lyrics/alices.shtml).

[sdelmonte]

I should just get myself an icon of some sort that shows someone glaring at the camera, boiling over with anger but not really able to find any words. Because lord knows I need one like that far too often.

[darthgm.livejournal.com]

I find this one appropriate from time to time...

Liiiiiike...now.

[talonvaki.livejournal.com]

I wasn't aware Republicans had sensibilities, delicate or otherwise.

Sure they do

[capplor.livejournal.com]

There was the "OMG he said 'uterus'" flap just a few months back.

[redaxe.livejournal.com]

There really is no such thing as peak wingnut, nor depths to which they cannot go.

[alverant.livejournal.com]

I remember your post last week about how conservatives become less ideological when it affects them personally. Here's more proof of it.

Seriously. Ever notice how these outrageous statements always seem to come from men who biologically cannot get pregnant?

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

That's always Point One for me. It's not like they have to carry the fetus, or plan to support baby or mother in any way, or aren't going to stop having sex themselves. Same thing with gays: Unless you are involved in the relationship somehow, what possible difference does it make to you, besides squicking you if you happen to have been raised to be squickable in that way?

[admnaismith.livejournal.com]

Rep. DeGraaf needs to wear a butt plug at all times, just in case he ends up going to prison for Conduct Amounting to Criminal Asshattery and needs to guard against rape.


None of this surprises me any more. They're Republicans. It's what they do.

[annearchy.livejournal.com]

More wingnut asshattery from someone who obviously lacks the empathy gene.

[bayushisan.livejournal.com]

Honestly I have no words. There really is almost no such thing as small, leave me alone government conservatives anymore.

It is one thing to block federal tax money from going to pay for abortions, it is another thing entirely to tell private companies that they can't pay for it either. It is no secret that I'm as pro-life as I can be on the issue of abortion, it is also no secret that I think that changing the law is not a fight that I think can be won. That particular genie will not be going back into the bottle. In fact I forsee a challenge to this Kansas law based on the constitutionality of it.

As for what state Rep. deGraaf said, it is reprehensible and indefensible. What makes it even worse is that the man is an associate pastor and has likely had to counsel women on the issue of rape. I can't imagine what he told them if this is what he really thinks about the issue.

[redneckgaijin.livejournal.com]

His type is likely the type that throws rape victims out of the church because "they deserved it" or "they brought it on themselves."

[sveethot.livejournal.com]

Back in the olden days I lived in the Middle East. In a village, no electricity, no running water, no "health" information. I had women coming to me on a regular basis to learn about birth control because their choices were either non-stop pregnancies or home-made abortions (seriously, my MIL had 17 children). One woman came w/bc pills in hand and no idea how to take them; she had been taking a pill only after sex.

While I've always been pro-choice, living in a patriarchal society in which men have all the power and women don't even have access to basic knowledge set my beliefs in concrete.

I'm very proud that my birthday & the day Roe V. Wade was made into law are on the same day.

[mimiheart.livejournal.com]

So, since birth control is also murder in their eyes, or something... how the fuck is this supposed to work?

I just... WTF???

I mean... I just... I can't.

Now, I can't agree with that website where they promote any sort of violation on his person in response to his careless remarks.

I do think sending him spare tires is reasonable, though.

[james-the-evil1.livejournal.com]

Sorry, but for those complaining about mischaracterizing about Republicans or Conservatives don't point at Tom or anyone else who calls them out... YOU have allowed people like this to seize control of your party & to shape public debate on the issues in your name. These are the positions YOUR LEADERS, your ELECTED leaders, take en mass in YOUR name. Please do not blame the rest of us for pointing out the obvious agenda. If you have an issue with it, take it up with those among you who drive the perception.

[gardnerhill.livejournal.com]

Wow. A Republican Christian-minister Congressmember who smilingly professes his profound hatred of women and mansplains away their pain with a twinkle in his dead glass eyes. Wow. The sky is blue. Wow. That bear just shit in the woods.

[smparadox.livejournal.com]

So he carries a spare tire in his car, eh? Does he carry a spare *soul* in his car?


Because his has clearly gone flat...

[danceswithlife]

Um. Most right-wing Christians don't believe in pre-marital sex. Many encourage non-married people to take abstinence pledges. Many are anti-birth control in general, but would probably say that a non-married woman who accepts their restrictions sex outside of marriage has no need for birth control.

If they are anti-birth control, married women would not be using it either.

How do these women prepare to be raped and not get pregnant? By wearing chastity belts? Which wouldn't stop a rapist from *hurting* them even if he were to discover he couldn't rape them.

Makes no sense...makes no sense...makes no sense...

I hope the women in this man's life see what a damaging and dangerous view this is. And walk away.