“If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down.”
Last month when Missouri Senate candidate Rep. Todd Akin revealed that his understanding of rape and the human reproductive system was, um, disturbingly incomplete, top Republicans quickly and loudly demanded Akin drop out of the race. Mitt Romney, Paul Ryan, Sarah Palin, Karl Rove and the National Republican Senatorial Committee were but a handful of the GOP bigwigs demanding Akin step aside so that a less-rapey Republican could replace him on Missouri’s November ballot.
Georgia’s pride and joy (and 2012 Presidential primary winner!) Newt Gingrich, however, refused to join the chorus Republicans aching for Akin to quit.
Last month, Newt said that Republicans panicking about Akin’s remarks were reflecting badly on the party and should “take a deep breath, count to ten, and go on vacation or something.” He didn’t specify where they should go on vacation, but he probably meant a Greek cruise.
And this week, Newt put his mouth where donor money is by appearing at a $500-a-plate fundraiser for Akin. He also gave a news conference in Kirkwood, Missouri where, in classic Newt form, he announced his support for Akin in the most pompous, overblown terms he could muster. Supporting Akin, Newt declared, is a “moral obligation” for Republicans. He got huge applause when he announced “There is no moral right for any Republican to withhold any support” for Akin. Shunning Akin, said Newt, would be “historically irrational.”
Republicans are immoral? Republicans are historically irrational? Whatever happened to Ronald Reagan’s 11th Commandment declaring Republicans aren’t to speak ill of other Republicans? It seems Newt Gingrich still holds a grudge against the leaders of his own party for launching a sustained public relations assault against him last year and earlier this year that left him, according to one poll, the least popular U.S. politician in the history of polling
Hell fundamentally hath no fury like a Newt historically and profoundly scorned.
