No, John Kasich, women are not to blame for rape

[smirkymonkey]

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/apr/15/john-kasich-rape-comments-parties-alcohol-women

"Today Ohio Republican governor John Kasich presented a “solution” to sexual violence that is more flawed than his losing presidential campaign. At a town hall in Watertown, New York, he told a female college student that to avoid “sexual violence, harassment and rape” she should not “go to parties where there’s a lot of alcohol”.

His flawed logic should not be surprising. After all, Kasich’s comments are only the latest in a long tradition of Republican victim-blaming, which includes Todd Akin’s idea of “legitimate rape” and more recently, Ben Carson’s opposition to abortion for sex assault survivors. Yet the fact that so many influential men still fail to grasp the basics of rape culture is both intellectually baffling and incredibly dangerous for women. To decrease the rates of sexual assault, we need men to fight misogyny.

You’ve heard the rape myths before: women are raped because they show cleavage, drink too many coolers or twirl their hair flirtatiously at fraternity houses. In reality most sexual assaults happen in bedrooms, not at parties, bars or in alleyways. Some 80% of victims know their perpetrators and almost 20% of sexual assaults are committed by intimate partners. Any woman who has walked down a street is more than familiar with harassment.

Despite those inconvenient facts, rape is the only crime for which we blame the victim. We do not tell someone who was hit by a drunk driver that they should not have been on the road. We do not tell someone who gets shot that they should not have left the house. Why can Republican men understand this logic in scenarios that might affect their own safety, but not when it’s applied to female victims?" [more]

I can't believe this guy has daughters! What would he say if one of them were raped?

[Rex]

1. What the hell is he doing in Watertown?

Don't tell me he was visiting the troops at Ft. Drum.

[smirkymonkey]

2. That's what I would like to know.

The woman that asked the question is a student at my Alma Mater (St. Lawrence University, Canton, NY). Not sure what he was doing in that part of upstate NY though.

[roguevalley]

11. yes, don't go there girls because apparently men can't control their rape urges. This man is an

idiot. Apparently he can't control that either.

[Rex]

35. I wouldn't trust him around my family, he is an extremist just like Ted Cruz.

He just hides it better.

[smirkymonkey]

3. Honestly, what is wrong with Republicans on this issue?

"Despite those inconvenient facts, rape is the only crime for which we blame the victim. We do not tell someone who was hit by a drunk driver that they should not have been on the road. We do not tell someone who gets shot that they should not have left the house. Why can Republican men understand this logic in scenarios that might affect their own safety, but not when it’s applied to female victims?"

[BlancheSplanchnik]

21. because, in repuke minds...

Sexy time, stupid Jezebels.

[smirkymonkey]

37. This just burns me!

It hits close to home since this young woman goes to my alma mater where date rape was basically a right of passage.

[AllyCat]

4. Wish I could rec this a hundred times.

[smirkymonkey]

6. Thank you. This shit makes me so angry.

I can't believe this guy is thought of as the "moderate" GOP candidate.

[AllyCat]

7. For those of us suffering under Walker in Wisconsin

We know Kasich is Ohio's Walker. He is really bad.

[Gothmog]

5. Kaisch is horrible on women rights and is out to destroy Planned Parenthood

[smirkymonkey]

9. I think a lot of people are unaware of just how dangerous he is.

He is a sick man.

[Gothmog]

17. I agree

Did you see the Full Frontal segment on Kaisch? Sam Bee did a good job on this issue

[BlancheSplanchnik]

22. Going to google that now. n/t

[smirkymonkey]

30. No, but will look it up. Thanks for the heads up!

[Major Nikon]

8. Someone should also tell Hillary

“I have been informed that the complainant is emotionally unstable with a tendency to seek out older men and engage in fantasizing,”

"children in early adolescence tend to exaggerate or romanticize sexual experiences and that adolescents with disorganized families, such as the complainant, are even more prone to such behavior."

-- Hillary D. Rodham
http://www.scribd.com/doc/229667084/State-of-Arkansas-V-Thomas-Alfred-Taylor

[smirkymonkey]

10. What?

Not sure I get you.

[Major Nikon]

12. She blamed a 12 yr old violently raped victim for her own rape

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/06/20/exclusive-hillary-clinton-took-me-through-hell-rape-victim-says.html

[7962]

13. Careful. Pointing out hypocrisy is often frowned upon here.

But good on you for reminding everyone that the idiocy comes from BOTH sides.
But since you posted it from Daily Beast, you'll be drawn & quartered

[Major Nikon]

15. I wish them good luck with that

http://johnavlon.com/category/videos/real-time-with-bill-maher/

[Iris]

14. Let him keep talking lest people continue to think he is a sane choice over Trump and the others.n/t

[spooky3]

16. +1

He's got a lot to hide.

[SheenaR]

18. Definitely scary

But he would be our toughest opponent without question

[smirkymonkey]

31. I know, the republicans in my family hate Trump and Cruz

but love Kasich for some reason. Fortunately, they said they said they won't vote if the choice is Trump or Cruz.

[11 Bravo]

19. I see the Repug "Outreach to Women" is proceeding nicely.

Seriously, if those people were any fucking dumber they would need to be watered a couple of times per week.

[smirkymonkey]

32. There are some young republican women in my office and I swear

I just want to beat them with a club. I just don't get them or how they can vote against their own interests. These are highly educated, fairly sophisticated women as well. I'm working on them. They are young and stupid. I think they think it's cool to be counter-culture or something (we live in very liberal city).

[brett_jv]

20. Obviously if this is Kasich's 'entire plan' for fighting sexual assault problem, it's very lame ..

However, the 'presented a "solution" to sexual violence' bit ... is editorializing by the author of the piece.

As far as a simple 'piece of advice' for a college-age woman ... it actually seems pretty sound.

I mean, it's something I'd tell my daughter, absolutely. If I had kids I mean. What's wrong with it as a general bit of advice to a young woman? "You'll be safeR from the possibility of sexual assault if you stay away from wild booze parties with college boys"?

That point actually is ... factually correct. It would 'help' keep you safe. Not entirely, of course, but ... I don't see anything in the quote that says 'this is my, John Kasich's complete and total solution to the problem of sexual assaults in the US' ... that part is being pre-supposed by the author.

Then again part of the reason I don't have kids is I've always been afraid I'd fail miserably at parenting, so ... take my assessment w/a grain of salt.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

23. I would say, what's wrong with that is--paternalistic advice is different from political platform.

Ignoring the people DOING the violence is beyond misguided.

A politician and candidate should be demonstrating awareness of a major social problem, who is perpetrating, and how s/he intends to address it.

[smirkymonkey]

33. It's not bad advice, I agree.

But the implication is that the female is responsible for her own rape depending upon where she decides to go. I happen to have gone to the same University as the young women that asked the question. There is nothing else to do but go to parties or bars where there is a lot of alcohol unless you stay locked up in your room reading or knitting.

Is that what young women should do? Just remove themselves from society so as to avoid being raped? Sounds pretty fucked up to me.

[MurrayDelph]

24. Kasich has apparently learned

that you can be just as fucking crazy as the other candidates, but if you aren't bombastic they will call you "Moderate" (even if the only thing your moderate about is your voice).

[mwooldri]

25. Women get raped even when...

... they're dressed head to toe in clothing (e.g. burqua) and completely sober.

It's the aggressor that's the problem. The state of dress and the state of intoxication matters not.

[smirkymonkey]

34. YES! Thank You!

Why don't people get that?

[Warpy]

26. He'd ask her why she walked to her car alone after dark

or why she wore a skirt that day or why she agreed to a coffee date with that guy or why....

Some of our laws have changed but misogynists remain the same.

[SunSeeker]

27. Yep; the only reason Kasich has high "likeability" numbers is because people don't know his record.

The man is a sick misogynist.

[smirkymonkey]

36. Exactly!

When my brother said that he was his preferred candidate, I just about went mad but didn't want to cause an argument. He has a daughter that he loves more than anything. I can't imagine that he would want a country under Kasich but I think a lot of men don't think about those things.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

28. Rape is a great example of rich white privilege too.

[robertgodardfromnj]

29. Kasich is a grade-A POS

What a pig. Just like the other GOP candidates. A truly revolting lot.

[smirkymonkey]

38. He really is a wolf in sheep's clothing.

Very dangerous if you ask me.

[Skittles]

39. plenty of DUers think his response was just fine

THEY MAKE ME SICK