The last time Twitchy checked in with Mike Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor was making noises about a 2016 presidential run, and conservative tweeters were placing their orders for jumbo cyanide martinis in response. Huckabee today is once again every liberal’s favorite Republican, as remarks he made at the Republican National Committee’s winter meeting on Thursday seem custom-made for the “war on women” meme. OK, what did he say this time?
Huckabee: Women "helpless without Uncle Sugar coming in and providing them … birth control because they cannot control their libido"
— Kasie Hunt (@kasie) January 23, 2014
Whoa, he said that? The Democrats have already put together their own video of the comments about women and their libidos.
If Huckabee's "libido" comments are the GOP rebrand in action a year later, then all they’ve gotten is a year older. http://t.co/v5A9NEt34W
— Debbie Wasserman Schultz (@DWStweets) January 23, 2014
As Human Events points out, though, neither the tweet nor the video shows Huckabee’s complete remark. Here is the entire passage from his speech.
I think it’s time for Republicans to no longer accept listening to Democrats talk about a ‘War on Women.’ Because the fact is, the Republicans don’t have a war on women. They have a war for women – for them to be empowered, to be something other than victims of their gender.
Women I know are outraged that Democrats think that women are nothing more than helpless and hopeless creatures whose only goal in life is to have a government provide for their birth control medication. Women I know are smart, educated, intelligent, capable of doing anything anyone else can do.
Our party stands for the recognition of the equality of women and the capacity of women. That’s not a war on them, it’s a war for them. And if the Democrats want to insult the women of America by making them believe that they are helpless without Uncle Sugar coming in and providing for them a prescription each month for birth control, because they cannot control their libido or their reproductive system without the help of government, then so be it. Let’s take that discussion all across America, because women are far more than Democrats have made them to be. And women across America have to stand up and say, “Enough of that nonsense.”
Recommended
https://twitter.com/redsteeze/status/426429816552706048
https://twitter.com/redsteeze/status/426429930520326144
The takeaway, of course, was to be that Republicans are fighting a war for women. Unfortunately, by talking about libidos and reproductive systems, Huckabee teed up the perfect soundbite for the “war on women” crowd. Behold:
https://twitter.com/AmandaMarcotte/status/426429001054572544
https://twitter.com/AmandaMarcotte/status/426487014834569216
https://twitter.com/AmandaMarcotte/status/426487191674826752
Even 100 years ago, it would have been hard to imagine a man making a statement as ridiculous as what Mr. Huckabee said today.
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) January 23, 2014
Huckabee explains it all for the RNC: #ACA birth control benefit exists because women "cannot control their libido." http://t.co/1WPIPVHHgk
— Cecile Richards (@CecileRichards) January 23, 2014
This is so upsetting it makes me want to scream: http://t.co/6lJFJx5qwG
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) January 23, 2014
Huckabee and the women's vote? #libidos? What about jobs, equal pay, child care, paid maternity leave. But Libido? Go figure.
— Donna Brazile (@donnabrazile) January 23, 2014
Hey, Mr. Huckabee, if all those women who couldn't control their libidos were lesbians, this wouldn't be a problem, right?
— David Corn (@DavidCornDC) January 23, 2014
https://twitter.com/mattyglesias/status/426426409352192000
Why, Huck, why? Please stop “helping.” You have to know by now how the media works.
At Rnc meeting @MikeHuckabee just said fed govt shouldn't help women w who can't control their libido w birth control.
— Dana Bash (@DanaBashCNN) January 23, 2014
What? He didn’t say that. The tweet’s been retweeted more than 170 times, though.
More huck: dems insult women thinking theyre"helpless w/out Uncle Sugar" giving rx for birth control "b/c they cannot control their libido"
— Dana Bash (@DanaBashCNN) January 23, 2014
See second Huckabee tweet for proper libido quote. Was saying dems think women need help w birth control bc can't control libido
— Dana Bash (@DanaBashCNN) January 23, 2014
2b clear @MikeHuckabee said DEMS insult women thinking theyre helpless giving rx for birth control "b/c they cannot control their libido"
— Dana Bash (@DanaBashCNN) January 23, 2014
There we go. That’s pretty close to accurate.
.@DanaBashCNN In other words, @MikeHuckabee said something completely different than what you reported half an hour ago.
— jon gabriel (@exjon) January 23, 2014
Is there a particular reason why I'm seeing quotes from Mike Huckabee right now? Why is this getting covered?
— RBe (@RBPundit) January 23, 2014
https://twitter.com/redsteeze/status/426420047905443840
https://twitter.com/redsteeze/status/426443445712855040
https://twitter.com/redsteeze/status/426445948659589120
I don't even like Huckabee, but the media's constant willingness to purposefully distort what Republicans say is beyond disgraceful.
— (((AG))) (@AGHamilton29) January 23, 2014
https://twitter.com/redsteeze/status/426438040110649344
https://twitter.com/MetricButtload/status/426473338035130369
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