This is the first installment in a new series I have been planning to do for about a week now. Originally, I had thought to make my first post about Grave of the Fireflies, because... what could be more depressing than Grave of the Fireflies?"
Ask and ye shall receive.
Our good friend Todd Akin said some things that rubbed a few people the wrong way earlier this week. Seems that some women (the loose ones, probably) and men (the gay ones, probably) took exception to the idea that there are degrees of raped-ness. For example, if you didn't really want to have sex, but were wearing thigh-high boots and a miniskirt, that counts as a three-quarters rape. You're probably gettin' pregnant on that one. If you were wearing a sackcloth on your way to Wednesday night church, you're pretty much in the clear.
Well, as sorry as I am about Todd Akin's views, I'm glad he aired them out to the public. It's important for voters to know that these are the types of opinions that inform Akin's--or any candidate's--decisions, which represent the people of Missouri in Congress. I wish all politicians were so honest.
What depresses me is that, first of all, despite 79% of people polled disagreeing with Akin's comment (a figure that still seems woefully low), he still holds the edge in election polls. That people are willing to overlook a viewpoint this crass and discriminatory, that they themselves disagree with, regardless of how you feel about abortion, is ghastly. When did the maintenance of our country turn into such a bitter battle of wills? How is electing someone who may be worse for the job, REGARDLESS of which party they represent, an event that grants personal vindication? This is our future! We can't be governed by the philosophies of 'I told you so!'
But what really depressed me is that Todd Akin is a politician, and politicians don't say anything in public, especially in an interview, and ESPECIALLY during election season, without carefully considering its impact on their campaign. How it's going to play with the public, the voter base. Missouri voters are not the people you see on TV. There's a whole world of people out there that you forget even exist. I personally know several people who would privately agree with Akin's views on rape. Todd Akin said those things thinking they would make him appeal more to Missouri voters--and he was right.
And I knew, practically as soon as I saw the video of his gaffe, that he was still going to win this election.
Image found on sodahead.com. All rights reserved.
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