Only Dems Can Joke About Rape ...

Matt Lewis | June 16, 2008 12:51 PM

Democrats have cried foul over a fundraiser Clayton Williams planned to hold for John McCain. The reason: In 1990, Williams compared rape to the weather, saying: "As long as it's inevitable, you might as well lie back and enjoy it."

As the Houston Chronicle reported:

"The Democratic National Committee demanded that McCain return all money raised by Williams — something the GOP candidate rejected.

"'Offensive, disgusting comments like these cannot be tolerated,' said DNC communications director Karen Finnery. 'Sen. McCain's refusal to return the money Williams raised for him raises serious questions and shows the reality behind his rhetoric about running a new kind of campaign'."

Of course, the logical question now is whether or not they will hold Al Franken to the same standards. After all, Mr. Williams is not running for office as a Republican -- but Franken is running for the U.S. Senate as a Democrat.

What is more, the comments Franken made appear to be more egregious:

Comments like: “Nobody likes getting an abortion. except, perhaps, rape victims.” (Al Franken, The Truth (With Jokes, Plume, p. 124, 2006)

Or: Franken on why abortion should be allowed in cases of rape: “rapists are notoriously bad in terms of being supportive of their kids.” (Al Franken Show, Air America Radio, February 6, 2007)

Or Franken pitching a sketch for Saturday Night Live in which he jokes about having Lesley Stahl drugged and raped: "And 'I give the pills to Lesley Stahl. Then when Lesley's passed out, I take her to the closet and rape her.'