March 9, 2022, was just another typical day for me. A day most Americans probably share: struggle out of bed, let the dog out, shower to bring life back to consciousness, and pour a cup of coffee into an insulated mug to supply the body with a caffeine boost. Meanwhile, glancing at the clock or my iWatch, and marvel at how fast time moves in the morning!

Now the rush starts to beat the clock. Does anyone else feel that way? Like we are trying to outrace time? But I always seem to win the race. At least to the car, all bets fly out the window. Anyway, I grab everything I need and dash to the car with my hot coffee sloshing in the mug and threatening to splash out of the tiny sip hole. One would think that physics wouldn’t allow erratic motion, opposite sloshing liquid, and a small hole to work harmoniously to splash one’s arm, shirt, or pants. I proudly say it can and does happen all too often.

Once in the car, I generally fumble for the iPhone, jam in the charging cord, and start my morning podcast selection. In my situation, NPR News, the hourly five-minute byte starts my commute. A few minutes into the broadcast, the news anchor reported on a story of Robert Regan, a GOP candidate in Michigan said: “I tell my daughters, ‘Well, if rape is inevitable, you should just lie back and enjoy it.’”

“What The Fuck!” I shouted inside the empty car before my jaw could unhinge, making me look like an open-mouthed fool as cars passed me, going the opposite way. I contemplated what I had just heard. “No,” I Thought. “I wasn’t paying attention and missed something, or my brain was fucking with me.” My car rolled to a gentle stop at the next traffic light. I took my phone, jabbed at the replay icon, and then sat back to listen again with all my attention.

Yes. I heard correctly. My brain, in this situation, was behaving. My fingertips drummed on the top of the steering wheel. “Why do women continue to cast votes for these assholes?” I asked aloud as I waited for the light to turn green. Of course, it was theoretically possible that Robert Regan’s words may be out of context. It wouldn’t be the first time I heard just a soundbite that caused misrepresentation. However, that happens much more on conservative networks, especially on Fox News (or what I call Fox Entertainment News), and I have yet to hear a soundbite from NPR that would deliberately cause a stir.

I decided I needed to know more and made a mental note to investigate further when I arrived at work. It is a foreign concept for me to understand how people can get stuck listening to only one source of information. I cannot exist in a self-served information bubble. How can one come to a reasonable conclusion if one doesn’t listen to both sides of the story?

I know people who will only listen to conservative media and those who only listen to non-conservative press; this makes no sense to me! As a true American, wouldn’t you want to know both sides? Wouldn’t you want to hear opposing positions’ entire conversations and thoughts? How can you tell who is telling the truth and who is misrepresenting the facts if you don’t force yourself into the center position?

Let’s look at it from this perspective. My son and daughter are fighting about something involving two dollars. My daughter is the first to cry out her story. I immediately turned to my son and sentenced him to punishment. Then abruptly turned away from his pleas.

Besides not winning fatherhood of the year, it certainly wasn’t fair. But my daughter is Fox, and my son is CNN. Who the hell would believe CNN?

But let’s rewind this scenario and place me in the center, where parents should be when solving endless disagreements between siblings. Now I learn that my daughter took two dollars off my son’s bed while he was in the bathroom. My son didn’t say she could have it. My daughter informs me that he borrowed two dollars from her last week and said he would pay her back this week. Now, who is wrong and who is right? What does a parent do?

What should a citizen of the United States do? What did our Founding Fathers believe should happen? Find common ground. Find a solution. Right the wrongs honestly and fairly.

So, staying true to my nature and getting back on topic. Here is a part of the article posted by The Washington Post on March 8, 2022, by Mariana Alfaro.

During the discussion, fellow panelist Amber Harris, a Republican strategist, told the group that it is “too late” to continue challenging the results of the 2020 election, suggesting Republicans should instead move on and focus on future races, to which Regan replied: “I tell my daughters, ‘Well, if rape is inevitable, you should just lie back and enjoy it.’ ” Regan then moved on to other comparisons, drawing a parallel between his recent victory in the Republican primary and the biblical story of David and Goliath. A shocked Harris, however, tried to cut in as Regan and the discussion’s host, Rescue Michigan Coalition founder Adam de Angeli, moved on. When de Angeli gave Harris the chance to speak, she said Regan’s comments were “shameful.” “I’ve got advice to give to your daughters: Don’t do that,” Harris said. “Fight all the time.” One of Regan’s daughters urged voters not to elect him to office in a viral tweet during his 2020 bid for the state House. “If you’re in Michigan and 18+ pls for the love of god do not vote for my dad for state rep. Tell everyone,” Stephanie Regan wrote on Twitter.

As a father of three children, my youngest a girl, I simply could not comprehend how any father could say such a thing, regardless of whether he was trying to make an analogy. Fuck! What dad would say something like that?

Seriously, why do women vote for people like this? Even if you are a down-the-ballot Republican voter. Why vote for slime like this instead of abstaining?

Robert Regan (Michigan Republican) does not stand alone in his foul views of rape or incest. Unfortunately, it seems a significant chunk of Republicans holds similar views. A part of me can’t even comprehend these statements, and there are a dozen I have left out to save space and keep the reader from vomiting. These people are sick and sorry, and so are those that vote them into office.

Texas gubernatorial candidate Clayton Williams – Rape is kinda like the weather. If it’s inevitable, relax and enjoy it.”   Missouri Senate Candidate Todd Akin – “If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways of shutting that whole thing down.”   Arizona Rep. Trent Franks – “The incidence of rape resulting in pregnancy are very low.” Presidential Candidate Rep. Ron Paul – “If it’s an honest rape, that individual should go immediately to the emergency room. I would give them a shot of estrogen.” Presidential Candidate and Former Sen. Rick Santorum – “I think the right approach is to accept this horribly created — in the sense of rape — but nevertheless a gift in a very broken way, the gift of human life, and accept what God has given to you… rape victims should make the best of a bad situation.” Texas gubernatorial candidate Clayton Williams – “Rape is kind of like the weather. If it’s inevitable, relax and enjoy it.”​   Idaho Sen. Chuck Winder – “I would hope that when a woman goes into a physician, with a rape issue, that that physician will indeed ask her about perhaps her marriage, was this pregnancy caused by normal relations in a marriage, or was it truly caused by a rape.” Illinois Rep. Joe Walsh – “There is no such exception [for abortion] as life of the mother, and as far as health of the mother, same thing, with advances in science and technology.” Indiana Senate candidate Richard Mourdock – “I think even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that it is something that God intended to happen.” Lawrence Lockman, a Republican member of the Maine House of Representatives  – “If a woman has (the right to an abortion), why shouldn’t a man be free to use his superior strength to force himself on a woman? At least the rapist’s pursuit of sexual freedom doesn’t (in most cases) result in anyone’s death.” Indiana Senate candidate Richard Mourdock, 2012 – “I think even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that’s something God intended to happen.” Ohio state Rep. Jean Schmidt, 2022 – “Rape is a difficult issue and it emotionally scars the individual, all or in part, for the rest of their life — just as child abuse does. But if a baby is created, it is a human life and whether that mother ends that pregnancy or not, the scars will not go away, period. It is a shame that it happens, but there’s an opportunity for that woman, no matter how young or old she is, to make a determination about what she’s going to do to help that life be a productive human being.” June 23, 2013, Jodie Laubenberg – “In the emergency room they have what’s called rape kits, where a woman can get cleaned out.” Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee – “Ethel Waters, for example, was the result of a forcible rape. …And so I know it happens, and yet even from those horrible, horrible tragedies of rape, which are inexcusable and indefensible, life has come and sometimes, you know, those people are able to do extraordinary things.” Washington State Congressional Candidate John Koster on Abortion – “I know a woman who was raped and kept the child, gave it up for adoption and doesn’t regret it. In fact, she’s a big pro-life proponent. But, on the rape thing it’s like, how does putting more violence onto a woman’s body and taking the life of an innocent child that’s a consequence of this crime, how does that make it better?” West Virginia state delegate Brian Kurcaba, 2015 – “Obviously rape is one of the most egregious acts anyone can ever do to someone … but what is beautiful is the child that could come as a production of that.”   Washington Rep. John Koster, 2012 – “On the rape thing, it’s like, how does putting more violence onto a woman’s body and taking the life of an innocent child that’s the consequence of this crime, how does that make it better? You know what I mean?”

I am glad for one thing. Robert Regan lost his race against Democrat Carol Glanville. Still, a sad fact remains here. Carol Glanville topped 52% of the votes cast; Regan earned 40%, and 8% went to write-ins. I wonder how many women voted for him? 40% is still a significant number of votes. Think about it. What do you feel about such demeaning and horrible comments directed at women and rape victims?

The Republican Party doesn’t represent American Values. Not anymore.