7 Most Ignorant Things GOP Politicians Have Said About Rape

After the 2012 election, all the ignorant rape statements should have vanished. In light of Texas's new bill, here are the GOP's worst mistakes when it comes to rape.

1. Former Representative Ron Paul

"If it's an honest rape, the individual should go immediately to the emergency room."

When Ron Paul argued on Peirs Morgan's show, he claimed to be speaking of a hypothetical case that was very unlikely. I guess it's nice believing that rape is a rare thing in our world when in actuality, it's alarmingly common. Ron Paul offered abortions for "honest" rape victims that come into the emergency room immediately after their assault. But not for rape victims who are 7 months pregnant. Ron Paul must not have been aware that abortion is illegal past the point of viability — at 24 weeks.

2. Former Representative Todd Akin

"If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut the whole thing down."

Many people are puzzled as to whether they're angry about an old man trying to define rape or whether they're angry that someone who's making healthcare decisions on contraceptives and abortion does not understand basic reproductive biology. The outrage that came as a result of this comment ensured that his opponent, Claire McCaskill, won the election.

3. Roger Rivard

"Some girls, they rape so easy."

Though the wording is questionable, what Rivard was referring to here was when a woman would consent to sex, and later claim that she was raped. Without a doubt, that has happened before. The problem here is that this statement promotes the culture we live in that glorifies rape and takes away the power in the voices of victims of rape.

4. Former Senator Rick Santorum

"... the right approach is to accept this horribly created — in the sense of rape — but nevertheless a gift in a very broken way, the gift of human life, and accept what God has given to you."

The whole anti-choice movement is armed with the bible. So much for secular government. 

5. Clayton Williams

"Rape is like bad weather. If it's inevitable, why not just sit back and enjoy it?"

No need for an explanation on how horrible this is. But while the 1990 election for Governor of Texas is a thing of the past, Clayton Williams is still around, funding the GOP.

6. Senate Candidate Linda McMahon

"It was really an issue about a Catholic church being forced to offer those pills if the person came in an emergency rape."

In a heated debate when discussing whether or not Catholic Hospitals should be forced to administer the morning-after pill, Linda McMahon had claimed that she thought Churches were being forced to administer it. Though the question was clearly talking about hospitals, where a victim would be far more likely to seek help.

7. Rep. Jody Laubenberg

"In the emergency room they have what's called rape kits where a woman can get cleaned out ..."

More recently, Texas lawmakers are working on a bill that would force 37 abortion clinics in the state to close, leaving Texas with 5 safe, regulated abortion clinics. The bill would put a ban on abortions after 20 weeks. When asked why the 20-week rule didn't leave an exception for rape victims, Texas Representative Jody Laubenberg responded with the above statement.

Yes, that's right. She said that rape kits include abortion. How many people in our Congress are making laws concerning things that they know nothing about?