Now, If *I* Ruled the GOP

(Editorial cartoon by Kevin Siers / The Charlotte Observer (August 22, 2012) and featured at McClatchy DC. Click on image to enlarge and then be kind enough to return.)

The GOP seems to have lost control, something which really surprises me, especially when it comes to Congressman Akin's campaign in Missouri against incumbent Claire McCaskill. Yes, Akin's remarks about the female body's ability to block conception in the case of "legitimate" rape was off the wall, so far off the wall that the media (print, television, internet) exploded. But, the damage control exercised by the GOP regulars was just as off the wall. They demanded that Akin withdraw as a candidate, allowing the party to replace him.

Now,me, I would have taken him aside and told him "Dude, you fucked up. Just apologize by saying you misspoke and that what you really meant was that abortion in cases of rape adds another wrong to the already horrible situation."

But no, instead, the entire apparatus came down on Akin, demanding he go away. He refused. I mean, what does he have to lose? At his age, this is his last hurrah, especially since there was no way short of a write-in campaign to get on the ballot for his congressional seat. Apparently the party was unwilling to front the costs for that.

The stance has to have pissed off the Tea Party which voted for him in the primary, along with other Republicans who liked him better than the other two candidates. Their votes mean nothing to the party?

Additionally, the party leaders not only demanded he withdraw, the funders also withdrew their support: no more Karl Rove and Koch Brothers millions for ads. They pulled the trigger too quickly, in my opinion. Sure, the Democrats were going to make hay with the comments, noting that this member of a House science committee was spouting this nonsense, and noting that Akin and VP-designate Ryan co-sponsored a bill limiting abortion to cases of "forcible rape." But it would have died down after a week or so, especially if campaign ads focused on Akin's position of deficit spending and the economy.

Instead, the ad money is gone (at least for the time being -- I have no doubt that at this point the Roves and Kochs of the party are busy inventing a new SuperPac and/or 501(c)4 group to funnel money back into the campaign), and Claire McCaskill, who really was vulnerable has a shot at keeping her job while Akin tries to raise funds as a new Don Quixote.

And even worse, the platform committee has decided on a plank which forbids abortion in all cases. Now the Dems have the hypocrisy two-by-four to wield, which Kevin Siers has graphically displayed.

But, hey! I'm not a Republican. I'll let them arrange their own destruction.

The only thing is that regardless of the outcome of this particular election, the rest of us won't win much if anything.