Politico
Pollster tells GOP retreat: Stop talking about rape
Conway dispensed the stern advice as part of a polling presentation she made alongside fellow GOP pollsters David Winston — an adviser to House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) — and Dave Sackett. The comment was described by several sources in the room.
Conway said rape is a “four-letter word,” and Republicans simply need to stop talking about it in their races for office.
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Oh please, the media brought the issue both times to put pro-life people the hopper. When the msm ask Democrats if a 9 month baby in the womb is a human being I might listen to such admonitions.
rob verdi on January 17, 2013 at 3:28 PM
Was it rape or was it rape-rape?
HotAirian on January 17, 2013 at 3:28 PM
I agree.
UltimateBob on January 17, 2013 at 3:30 PM
Hmm. You seem to be under the impression that the media “should be” fair. However, until that happens the GOP needs to protect itself from the media.
MetaThought on January 17, 2013 at 3:33 PM
Stop talking about Bill Clinton?
RedRedRice on January 17, 2013 at 3:34 PM
Politico always has the most passive aggressive articles about republicans.
MechanicalBill on January 17, 2013 at 3:35 PM
Uh, who other than Akin and Murdoch mentioned rape? And weren’t Akin and Murdoch asked about rape?
It’s the media, stupid.
gwelf on January 17, 2013 at 3:38 PM
Just say you support abortion only in the case or rape, incest, or risk to the mother’s life. How freaking hard is that?!
Doughboy on January 17, 2013 at 3:38 PM
D u m b is too.
Schadenfreude on January 17, 2013 at 3:40 PM
Just never talk about B.J. Clinton and the subject probably won’t come up.
trs on January 17, 2013 at 3:41 PM
They aren’t even passive.
Vera71 on January 17, 2013 at 3:41 PM
They are trying to use Gingrey as well who is an OB-GYN. They have completely misrepresented what he has said which is that he thinks Akin misunderstood, but yes high stress can cause a women to not ovulate.
I find in funny that pollster say Repubs shouldn’t talk about rape, and yet they did an article which highlights that very thing. Maybe if we stop fricking rehashing everything in the media; it will go away.. Just a thought.
melle1228 on January 17, 2013 at 3:46 PM
Republicans have shown that they are too stupid to be allowed to even have the word “rape” in their vocabulary.
besser tot als rot on January 17, 2013 at 3:53 PM
So what? These retarded GOP pols sure as hell don’t have the wherewithal to change the media narrative, but they should be able to avoid the usage of certain words that they can’t seem to utter without sticking their feet in their mouths.
besser tot als rot on January 17, 2013 at 3:55 PM
Yes, it’s unfair. No a journalist/journolister would never ask a Democrat anything equivalent about live birth abortion. But, c’mon – we need Republican candidates to shut up about rape if we want – and I’m only exaggerating a little here – the republic to survive for our children.
ramesees on January 17, 2013 at 3:56 PM
No, Republicans need to decide what their principles are and stick to them. They need to learn to clearly articulate answers to the tough questions. They need to learn to clearly undercut propaganda. The media won’t play fair. The GOP needs to get that through its collective head.
There are vocal pro-life women whose mothers were raped. They’re activists with web sites, and the know exactly how to speak to this issue.
Stick to your guns (!), and learn how to fight the media.
INC on January 17, 2013 at 4:08 PM
you can’t just say “stop talking about rape.” sometimes interviewers ask a question about it!
THIS, and there are pro-life women who have been raped or sexually assaulted. we can’t just forget about these people.
Sachiko on January 17, 2013 at 4:29 PM
aborting because of rape = punishing the CHILD for the FATHER’s crimes!
Sachiko on January 17, 2013 at 4:31 PM
The media certainly highlighted this issue to help Obama, but nobody put a gun to Akin’s head and forced him to say something so incredibly stupid. In one turn of phrase, he managed to paint himself as extreme, insensitive, and scientifically illiterate — memes Liberals have pushed for decades. He coined a twitter hashtag, #LegitimateRape, that the MSM gleefully hung like an albatross around the GOP’s neck. The pollster’s point is simple, and correct: don’t be an idiot like Akin.
JurysOut on January 17, 2013 at 4:37 PM
You say, “As a matter of public policy I believe rape should be investigated and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” Leave it at that.
JurysOut on January 17, 2013 at 4:41 PM
Perfect. Stay with that and there’s no risk of being the next Akin.
Much as I hate letting the libtard media define the argument, after how badly some idiot GOP members have stepped in it, they need to stick to this line until they can prove they won’t stick their God-blessed foot in their mouth.
MelonCollie on January 17, 2013 at 4:49 PM
For those still not getting it, here’s how you answer a question about rape:
Rape is an abomination, and should prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Abortion is and should always be absolutely an option for any women victimized by rape, if that’s what she wants and that’s what it comes to. No questions asked. It’s not a pleasant situation for anybody, but the decision is hers and hers alone.
THE END.
Welcome to 2013.
Good Lt on January 17, 2013 at 4:58 PM
Please tell me they didn’t really actually need a pollster to figure this one out.
But these guys sure better have a firm grip on a response to any question…just in case. And the fact remains, that there are plenty of women out there who will always resent being told…by a man…what they should and shouldn’t do when it comes to an unwanted pregnancy, no matter how well they can articulate a message.
lynncgb on January 17, 2013 at 5:00 PM
Stop being Neanderthals- check.
Tasha on January 17, 2013 at 5:01 PM
Don’t be fooled. Most of those ‘women’ are irresponsible, selfish liberals. And what they resent is ANYONE telling them they can’t waltz into the nearest Klanned Barrenhood at will and waltz back out to their irresponsible lives, the “you have a d!ck so you don’t understaaaand” is a bunch of whiny estrogen-fueled bull.
MelonCollie on January 17, 2013 at 5:05 PM
It’s none of your business what they decide to do.
Good Lt on January 17, 2013 at 5:08 PM
Yep, I should just stand by and ignore the wanton murder.
Our culture has reached the point of such insanity that an eagle’s egg has more legal protection than a baby.
MelonCollie on January 17, 2013 at 5:11 PM
You call it murder, those women call it their bodies and none of your business.
And they’re right. As long as it’s them impregnated by a rapist and not you, it’s none of your business.
Deal. You have no authority to tell them what to do.
Good Lt on January 17, 2013 at 5:22 PM
They’re hiding behind liberal terminology, puppet. It’s as pathetic as a young slut calling herself “sexually enlightened” or somesuch bilge.
You have no authority to tell me I don’t, liberal coward.
So tell me, oh lover of murder, how many babies are you responsible for ending?
MelonCollie on January 17, 2013 at 5:32 PM
So how many babies are you responsible for murdering, liberal coward, here or abroad?
MelonCollie on January 17, 2013 at 5:33 PM