Not An Ounce of Science in Todd Akin's 'Legitimate Rape' Belief | Rumors Fly Around Hillary for VP
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‘One Enchanted Evening’ by Peter Lindbergh for Vogue US September 2012 with styling by Grace Coddington and starring models Aymeline Valade, Bette Franke, Elza Luijendijk and Zuzana Bijoch
Ann Romney on not sharing Mitt Romney’s tax returns:
“We’ve given all you people need to know and understand about our financial situation and about how — you know, how we live our life.”
French Roast News
Obama On Men of Congress Running Women’s Health Care
President Obama denounced today Rep. Todd Akin’s remarks about “legitimate rape”, calling the views “offensive” writes The Washington Post. Asked yesterday why he opposes abortion even in cases of rape, Akin reponded with the unscientifically documented assertion that women rarely get pregnant from rape, saying “if it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to shut that whole thing down.”
The President agreed in his press conference that many Republicans and probably MItt Romney wouldn’t support the Akin’s posiiton. Then Obama continued, saying:
“Rape is rape, and the idea that we should be parsing, qualifying and slicing what types of rape we’re talking about doesn’t make sense to the American people.”
“What I think these comments do underscore is why we shouldn’t have a bunch of politicians, a majority of whom are men, making decisions on behalf of women,” Obama said.
A new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll released today Monday, prior to the Akin dust up, shows Obama leading Romney among women 54 percent to 39 percent, says Politico.
President Obama concluded his remarks about the Akin’s furor citing a “significant difference of approach between me and the other party” on the issue of women’s reproductive health.”
Health Experts Dismiss Assertions on Rape
Dr. John C. Wilke, a general practitioner doctor with obstetric training who is also a former president of the National Right to Life Committee, was an early advocate of the concept of the female body shutting down during “forcible rape” or “legitimate” rape as Rep Akin called it.
“This is a traumatic thing — she’s, shall we say, she’s uptight,” Dr. Willke said of a woman being raped, adding, “She is frightened, tight, and so on. And sperm, if deposited in her vagina, are less likely to be able to fertilize. The tubes are spastic.”
Dr. Michael Greene, a professor of sbstetrics, gynecology and reproductive biology at Harvard Medical School, told the New York Times that the Wilke assertion is totally false, syaing “There are no words for this — it is just nuts.”
Dr. David Grimes, a clinical professor in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of North Carolina, said, that “to suggest that there’s some biological reason why women couldn’t get pregnant during a rape is absurd.”
Republicans Urge Akin to Drop Out
With Akin saying he won’t drop out of the Missouri senate race, Republicans at high levels urged the Congressional rep to leave the race. The Christian Science Monitor reports that Akin was favored to beat sitting Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill.
RedTracker
Former US Secy of State Condoleezza RiceA Male Bastion Falls
The glass ceiling at Augusta National Gold Club, home to the Masters golf tournament, crashed today when the organization ended its 80-year-old all-male policy by accepting its first women members. Condolezza Rice, former US Secretary of State, and financier Darla Moore will receive their world-renowned green jackets.
President Obama pressured Augusta National last April, saying that the club should admit women members.
Sally Jenkins, columnist for the Washington Post, shares background information on Darla Moore and saucy commentary on the boys club called Augusta.
DC Rumors Fly Re Hillary
The speculation that Hillary Clinton will replace Joe Biden as Obama’s running mate — except that she doesn’t want the job. Writing for CBS Baltimore, Scott Paulson says:
According to the press and political talk show hosts who are usually “in the know”, it appears that the major players in the vice presidential chats are President Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, former President Bill Clinton, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and the President and First Lady’s good friend and White House Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett. As far as Vice President Joe Biden is concerned, he will probably find out if his White House status has changed just moments before the rest of us do. When it comes to winning this election, loyalty has no place in the alleged-friendship between the President and the Vice President. Obama wants to win this thing at any and all costs.
AOC has asked more than once for Hillary Clinton to join the ticket.
Hillary Clinton — Not Joe Biden — Can Bank the Women’s Vote in 2012 Elections AOC FP
Hillary Clinton for Vice President? Yes! | Kickstarter’s Amazing Crowd Funding Success AOC FP
More from Anne: Hillary for President? It’s Insane But How About a Poll on Democratic Preferences? AOC Women
ArtTracker
$100,000 Mohn Award for LA Artists
LA’s Hammer Museum announced Botswana-born, LA-based artist Meleko Mokgosi is the winner of its new $100,000 Mohn Award price, created to rival the Turner Prize in the UK.
The artist’s installation in the biennial Pax Kaffraria: Sikhuselo embumbulu, 2012, is part of a larger series dealing with post-colonial Africa. Its title includes the term “bulletproof” in Xhosa, a South African language. The work refers to the cattle killing movement of 1856-57, which was based on a prophecy meant to bring about a new earthly paradise and destroy the white colonists. According to the museum, “the series of paintings frames the historic event and considers a legacy of resistance that continues today—namely, the persistent drive to become bulletproof.” via The Art Newspaper
Sixty artists are taking part in the Hammer’s ‘Made in LA’ biennial. The artist was one of five finalists selected by a panel of judges. He was chosen the winner by registered public voting online and at the museum.
Chicago Eco-Island Park
2010 MacArthur Genius Grant winner Jeanne Gang and her firm Studio Gang Architects has embarked with Chicago landscape architecture firm JJR, working also with the U.S Army Corps of Engineers and the Chicago Park District to convert a 91-acre stretch called Northerly Island from an abandoned airplane landing strip into an “ecologically diverse natural habitat”.
The entire scheme — which will take 20-25 years to complete includes “a 4.1-acre pond fenced in to protect its inhabitants from invasive species like Asian carp (an issue Gang tackles in her latest book “Reverse Effect.”) Surrounding the pond will be elevated dry-mesic and wet prairies, intended to attract mice, snakes, and small birds. Environmentalists hope that the habitat will provide new nesting areas for over 300 species of birds, luring the animals away from the mainland where they frequently crash into the city’s high-rises.” via ArtInfo.
J’Adore
Flying duck orchid via FB Colours of Life
A Flueless Ethanol Fireplace by Vauni via IcreativeD
