John McCain, Friend of Women Everywhere

Anyone Remember Tex Antoine?

He was the weather-guy at WABC New York for many many years. Then one day in late 1976 he reportedly followed a story of a violent rape of a 5 year old girl with this:

With rape so predominant in the news lately, it is well to remember the words of Confucius: 'If rape is inevitable, lie back and enjoy it.'

As I recall, he was gone from the station a very short time later. Apologies all around.

I told you that story in order to better frame this one.

On June 13, ABC reported:

Sen. John McCain on Friday abruptly cancelled a Monday fundraiser that had been scheduled at the home of a Texas oilman, after ABC News contacted the campaign inquiring about a verbal blunder the Texan made during an unsuccessful 1990 campaign for governor.

Clayton Williams stirred controversy during his 1990 campaign for governor of Texas with a botched attempt at humor in which he compared rape to weather. Within earshot of a reporter, Williams said: “As long as it's inevitable, you might as well lie back and enjoy it.”

Cancelled. Good for them. Perhaps they should have vetted Mr Williams a little better, but good for them for cancelling the event.

Or did they?

June 14, the Houston Chronicle reported:

McCain's campaign late Friday said it had pulled the plug on a fundraising event scheduled for Monday at Williams' Midland home after reporters contacted the campaign asking about remarks made by the Texas Republican during his 1990 race against Democrat Ann Richards.

But Saturday afternoon, the McCain campaign told the Houston Chronicle that the Midland event had been postponed until this summer and would be held in a public venue.

Seems that there was a compromise:

Items posted Friday evening on the the Houston Chronicle's "Texas on the Potomac" blog, along with Web pieces by ABC News and the Washington Post, triggered nearly 24 hours of sometimes-tense communications between the McCain campaign and the Williams camp.

Late Saturday afternoon, a McCain aide confirmed to the Chronicle that the Midland event had been postponed but had not been taken off the calendar. The compromise allowed McCain to say he had not held a fundraiser at Williams' house; it gave Williams an opportunity to say that the event he organized had not been canceled.

I mean the man had already raised $300,000 for Mr Straight Talk. You don't let a little thing like an offensive rape joke get in the way of money like that, do you?

So remember, a Vote for McCain is...

Nah, I won't even bother.