The media is stirring quite the buzz about Todd Akin, even days after this moron opened his mouth and seriously damaged Republican chances of taking the US Senate with his offensive comments, the media persists. In a 24 hour news cycle that is quite impressive. Part of the problem can be chalked up to Akin’s own refusal to get out of the race and make way for someone who (1) could actually win it, and (2) is not ignorant.
However it now appears that Democrats have a similar situation in Minnesota.
Kerry Gauthier, a Minnesota Democrat in the state legislature (which recently flipped to GOP control) advertised on Craigslist for a “no strings attached” sexual encounter. He accepted the response of a 17 year old boy and met him at a rest stop where they engaged in, well, a “no strings attached” sexual encounter. After being caught, Gauthier admitted to police what had happened but was not charged with anything because technically he has not committed a crime, even if it is gross for a 55 year old man to be with a minor.
This legislator took advantage of a young boy. Akin made indefensible comments and is guilty of total stupidity. Both men should step down from their offices, both should be chastised in the media, and both should get out of their respective political races. But the thing is, neither man has any intention of going anywhere.
Both Akin and Gauthier are remaining on the ballot despite the wishes of their respective party leaders. Both men also cite wanting to leave that decision up to the voters rather than party bosses as the reason for continuing on with their campaigns. Ultimately both men will keep their parties from winning back control of their respective chambers.
However it seems as though the media wants to generally ignore the Gauthier story. I have yet to hear it be mentioned on any television news broadcast except in passing. While this may be because Gauthier is simply a state legislator, the act he has admitted to is rather serious and likely deserves at least as much attention as Todd Akin’s idiotic remarks.
