Another quick entry for the
Republicans are not good at these things files. Here's New Hampshire state representative Peter Hansen, in an email, dismissing a colleague's examples used in a debate over whether or not to repeal the state's recently enacted "stand your ground" law:
“What could possibly be missing from those factual tales of successful retreat in VT, Germany, and the bowels of Amsterdam? Why children and vagina’s of course,” Hansen wrote in the April 1 email. “While the tales relate the actions of a solitary male the outcome cannot relate to similar situations where children and women and mothers are the potential victims.”
This has gotten him into some hot water among both his fellow Republicans and normal people for apparently referring to women as "vagina's" (sic). Hanson says he was just trying to point out that women get raped and … you know what? I don't know. Maybe the rest of you can parse it out. (My ability to parse out what Republican lawmakers are saying took a fatal blow somewhere between Allen West, Rick Perry and Rand Paul's various speeches, so now it all sounds like gibberish to me.)
In any event, after initially defending his remarks Hansen now figures he screwed up, and has issued an apology:
"I want to apologize to my constituents, my colleagues and women, especially those in my life, for the blatantly offensive, insensitive and, frankly, stupid language I used in my email with House members regarding the Stand Your Ground legislation," Hansen wrote in an emailed statement.
"I am embarrassed, to say the least. There is no place or need in the public discourse for the words I used. The people and the process deserve better than that."
Sigh.