In the wake of bipartisan condemnation of Todd Akin's remarks about rape, to my mind the most telling statements are the ones that haven't been made. These are what the two most prominent Republican women in Missouri, Congresswomen Vicky Hartzler and Jo Ann Emerson, have had to say about Akin's reprehensible statement:
(sound of crickets chirping)
Kay Bailey Hutchison and Kelly Ayotte have condemned Akin's statements in no uncertain terms. But unless I missed something, I haven't found any such statements from Hartzler or Emerson. Hartzler's silence isn't that great of a shock, since she's a Missouri version of Sarah Palin--and a birther to boot. But Emerson? From what I know about her, she's easily the most reasonable Republican in Missouri's delegation. I'd have thought she'd have been the first to denounce Akin.
Emerson is pretty much in cruise control for an eighth full term, but there's a chance we can hold Hartzler to account for her silence. Even though her district is still pretty red, she's attracted a pretty credible opponent in Cass County prosecuting attorney Teresa Hensley. I'm seriously thinking about sending her some love ... and it might be a good idea to start a money bomb for her. Anything to make Hartzler pay for her apparent lack of basic decency.