Mittology

(Editorial cartoon by Jim Morin / Miami Herald (October 26, 2012) and featured at McClatchy DC.  Click on image to enlarge and then be kind enough to return.)

Nancy Pelosi has come up with one of the best neologisms of this election season.  She introduced it while appearing on "The Daily Show."

Nancy Pelosi, the House minority leader, appeared on “The Daily Show”  on Sunday and coined a new term for Mitt Romney’s shifting political positions – “Mittology” – as she campaigns for Democratic congressional candidates and President Obama. ...

But Pelosi’s sharpest zinger was aimed at Romney’s shifting positions, particularly on abortion rights, as both presidential candidates court women voters in the increasingly tight race for the White House.

“The president calls it Romnesia, I have my own, what I call Mittology,” Pelosi said.

Since then, of course, we've had another GOP candidate chime in on abortion, once again when conception occurs as a result of rape.  This time it was  Richard Mourdoch, the Indiana GOP Senate candidate, a man Mitt Romney has endorsed.

Indiana Republican Senate candidate Richard Mourdock said Tuesday when a woman becomes pregnant during a rape, "that's something God intended."

Mourdock, who's been locked in one of the country's most watched Senate races, was asked during the final minutes of a debate with Democratic challenger Rep. Joe Donnelly whether abortion should be allowed in cases of rape or incest.

"I struggled with it myself for a long time, but I came to realize that life is that gift from God. And, I think, even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that it is something that God intended to happen," Mourdock said.

 Mitt didn't withdraw his endorsement;  he merely stated that he disagreed with Mourdock on the issue.  Bad theology, bad politics, but good Mittology.

At this point, the GOP regulars are probably tearing their hair out, as Jim Morin's cartoon suggests.  The election is close and women voters are key to the outcome.   Still, it's hard to feel too bad for Republicans.  The "pro-life" stance is, once again, a key part of the Republican platform.  Did they think nobody would notice?

What we are seeing is the members of the white daddy party continuing to exert their patriarchal authority over all women.  For some superb analyses of the issues I would urge you to read the posts from Echidne and Hecate, two women who have nailed it much better than I could.  Go read them both.  You'll soon see what I mean.