GOP war on women is real



Shortly afterwards, a GOP Indiana state lawmaker publicly attacked the Girl Scouts, claiming that organization was a tactical arm of Planned Parenthood. Wow. I'll bet the millions of former scouts, many of whom are lifelong Republicans, never dreamed they were doing anyone's political bidding when they were 12. 

These are the same mothers who, for the last decade or longer, have encouraged their daughters to play Little League baseball. Should that organization be worried? 

A little less than two months ago, Rep. Todd Akin, the GOP Senate candidate in Missouri, made his indefensible, reprehensible comment about "legitimate rape." He hardly finished his sentence before leaders in his own party, including House Speaker John Boehner, urged him to quit from the race.  His opponent is incumbent Claire McCaskill.  

Sadly, several prominent conservatives, like Jim DeMint, Roy Blunt, Mike Huckabee and Rick Santorum, have stuck by Akin. It makes me wonder, how could a Romney-Ryan-Akin ticket possibly help women?

Lastly, Republican Joe Walsh (Ill.) inaccurately announced last Thursday that abortions are "absolutely" never necessary to save the lives of pregnant women.

"With modern technology and science, you can't find one instance," Walsh said. His opponent is Tammy Duckworth.

As these examples demonstrate, the Republican attacks on women are not isolated, one-of-a-kind events.  They are national in scope. What's clear is this: These chilling attacks are meant to demonize women, regardless of age, ethnicity or geography.  Is this really a winning strategy?  If it is, who's next ... Barbie?


First, one of the nation's leading sources for breast cancer research was dragged into the mud. Then, young girls selling cookies were viciously attacked. The GOP platform from this summer's presidential nominating convention makes it clear where the party stands on abortion. So do Reps. Akin and Walsh.  


Are there any women voters out there who need an extra binder? 

A former congressional staff assistant, Freidenrich is the founder of First Strategies consulting in Laguna Beach, California. Follow him on Twitter @freidomreport.


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