Funny like three caskets

[solarbird]

This report is contested, and I am told (by zarq in comments) that the Yahoo! editorial (and several other sources I saw with the same information) are all incorrect - the joke was not told this year, but 22 years ago in a Senatorial campaign.

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Sadly all too revealing...

Did you hear the one about the woman who is attacked on the street by a gorilla, beaten senseless, raped repeatedly and left to die? When she finally regains consciousness and tries to speak, her doctor leans over to hear her sigh contently and to feebly ask, 'Where is that marvelous ape?'

&mdash Senator John McCain, on the campaign trail, last week

(Spotted via emrecom.)

Comments

[zarq.livejournal.com]

In the interest of accuracy, and to no way excuse McCain for making the "joke", this wasn't said last week on the campaign trail. The editorial is wrong.

It was said by McCain 22 years ago, in 1986, during his first Senate run. The Huffpost spoke this week to the journalist who wrote the original article that reported it back then, who didn't recall exactly what was said, but did agree that a joke was made about rape and an ape. (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/15/sources-recall-mccains-jo_n_112955.html)

ThinkProgress (http://thinkprogress.org/2008/07/15/mccain-finds-rape-hilarious/) also mentions that McCain accepted, then turned down a campaign contribution from Clayton Williams, who during his run against Ann Richards for Governor of TX, commented that women should lay back and enjoy being raped.

[solarbird]

ETAed at top of post with correction, and contested status noted. Thanks.

[zarq.livejournal.com]

You're very welcome. Considering his track record on "jokes", I seriously doubt the story's inaccurate.

Personally, I could have excused him from accepting money from "Claytie" Williams out of ignorance of that controversy IF he had returned the money Williams had raised. But that ship's sailed (http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5892136.html).

[hubbit.livejournal.com]

ThinkProgress (http://thinkprogress.org/2008/07/15/mccain-finds-rape-hilarious/) also mentions that McCain accepted, then turned down a campaign contribution from Clayton Williams, who during his run against Ann Richards for Governor of TX, commented that women should lay back and enjoy being raped.

I'm from Bloomington, Indiana, former home of a basketball coach who looked in his mirror to see God. Said bastardball coach was being interviewed by Connie Chung in April, 1988 when, in philosophizing about the other teams that Indiana was beating at the time, he invented this horrific metaphor: "I think that if rape is inevitable, relax and enjoy it."

There must be a "Neanderthal Gene" somewhere.

[zarq.livejournal.com]

*nod* Bobby Knight. I remember the uproar. Williams repeated the sentiment a couple of years later.

There must be a "Neanderthal Gene" somewhere.

Honestly, I think it's an insidious cultural poison, instead. After all, rape isn't about sex. It's about demeaning and intimidating a powerless victim. So, when boys are taught culturally that women are inferior or weak, a disgusting conclusion is drawn and emphasized: that rape and violence are acceptable methods of exercising power and control over women.

[jordan179.livejournal.com]

After all, rape isn't about sex. It's about demeaning and intimidating a powerless victim.

I think it's about both.