politics and politicians
See other politics and politicians Articles
Title: An anti-abortion Ohio legislator's embarrassing night out
Source:
[None]
URL Source: http://www.cleveland.com/schultz/in ... ti-abortion_ohio_legislat.html
Published: Jul 4, 2011
Author: Connie Schultz
Post Date: 2011-07-04 12:44:07 by Skip Intro
Keywords: None
Views: 5201
Comments: 10
Last Tuesday, Ohio Rep. Robert Mecklenborg -- a self-described "Catholic boy from the west side of Cincinnati" -- stood on the House floor to champion the most radical anti-abortion legislation in the country. "We marvel, don't we?" he said, before voting for the "heartbeat" bill. "We marvel at the march of the penguins as they go to propagate their species under very, very difficult odds and conditions. We marvel at the leaping salmon as they return to their ancestral homes." He also marveled over the mating habits of loggerhead turtles. You're not alone if you don't quite see the parallel of wildlife to women's lives. Not once have I ever looked at a woman of reproductive age -- including our three daughters and daughter-in-law -- and thought: Why, you're no different from fish, birds or reptiles. I can, however, see how linking women's sex lives to images of prancing penguins makes it easier for some men to pretend we aren't really human. Once you've convinced yourself that we women only recently shed our scales and fins and started walking upright, you can give yourself permission to break all kinds of rules. Which brings us to a recent development in the life of Rep. Mecklenborg. In a way, this isn't exactly breaking news. The events in question happened more than two months ago. However, blogs and news outlets -- and reportedly the House Republican leadership -- found out only last Wednesday. That's exactly one day after Mecklenborg's feisty critters speech. On Saturday, April 23 -- in the wee hours of the morning after Good Friday -- an Indiana state trooper pulled over Mecklenborg, who was driving in Dearborn County, with temporary Kentucky license plates. The officer stated in his report that he stopped Mecklenborg for a burned-out headlight, but then suspected he was intoxicated after he smelled alcohol and noticed the state rep's "glossy, bloodshot eyes." Mecklenborg refused a chemical test, and then failed three field sobriety tests. After a blood test, he was charged with drunken driving. The 59-year-old married father of three also tested positive for Viagra. Mecklenborg was not alone that evening. His passenger was a 26-year-old woman who is neither his wife nor one of his children. In his incident report, the police officer noted that Mecklenborg's inebriated state "endangered a person." By "person," we can assume he means a human life. Mecklenborg, a Republican who represents western Hamilton County, pleaded not guilty. His court date is set for later this month. He did not return my calls to his government or law offices, but he did offer an explanation, sort of, to WLWT-TV in Cincinnati on Thursday: "Being human, I have made a mistake and this has caused great hurt to my family, and I'm deeply sorry for that. I've served tirelessly and well my constituents and I want to apologize to them as well. While the discovery process in this case goes on, I am entitled to the same presumption of innocence as any other citizen." When asked about his young passenger, Mecklenborg said, "I understand the interest in the DUI part, I guess, but the rest is a personal matter." A personal matter? Perhaps this is Rep. Mecklenborg's eureka moment. Pro-choice Americans have always argued that a woman's sex life is a personal matter, and that any decisions involving her body are her business. We understand only too well why Mecklenborg would rather we stop asking questions about his private life. Unfortunately for Mecklenborg, he is an elected official who has hinged his political ambitions on making the private lives of women his business. Questions loom. Why was Robert Mecklenborg with this young woman? How did he meet her? Where did he meet her? Where was he going with her? Why was he driving a car with Kentucky plates in the state of Indiana? Why didn't the news of his arrest come straight from him, and right away, instead of more than two months later? It's a personal matter, he said. We marvel, don't we? We marvel at a man willing to pause for a personal exception in his march over the rights of so many other women of reproductive age.
Poster Comment: There's just something about Ohio; something really bad.
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
#1. To: Skip Intro (#0)
That's asking for trouble.
Perhaps this is Rep. Mecklenborg's eureka moment. Pro-choice Americans have always argued that a woman's sex life is a personal matter, and that any decisions involving her body are her business. We understand only too well why Mecklenborg would rather we stop asking questions about his private life. Does this liberal who wrote this eat babies? He must to be so stupid to compare what this man did to killing a baby. Liberals will do all evil and justify it with all sorts of evil tales.
You don't have any problem killing babies, as long as they're liberal. Want me to reprint the post where you said that?
Want me to reprint the post where you said that? I am against all abortions. I said that tongue and cheek.
The only one here who seems to be able find them is you.
I think he's saying the goof had zero respect for the life of his passenger or the people he might crash into, yet he is against people who have no respect for the life of an unborn child. It's a fair observation. The guy's a dirtbag, for preaching one thing and doing another. If it weren't for the hypocrisy he could only be admired for banging a 26 year old.
------------------------------------- she was likely bought and paid for, at least for one night.
That's pretty normal for people like this. Once the kid is born, anything goes. Life is only sacred until it is born.
The guy may be a dirtbag as you call him. I don't disagree with that. But it isn't the same thing as premeditated murder. Nice to see you.
Thanks, man. I've happened upon some interesting work and it consumes me. Dude, no one is cool with people killing unborn kids. Not really. For the most part people are disgusted with it. But if you want a public champion (tho God knows why anyone would think it worth the bother), a government representative, at least when someone, like this fuck, stands up to be the champion of the cause I think it's a good idea to call a spade a spade and tell the asswipe to go fuck himself, he's no better than his enemy, in fact maybe worse. It isn't necessary to take what you can get in this fight, tell the fucker to take a hike, string him up and let anyone else who thinks he can ride the anti-abortion theme to fame and security (while loading up on viagra and banging the 26 year old poon in the background) that perhaps he better think twice ... and perhaps pick an easier cause. That is all. I am the walrus. Fuck Badeye. Free war.
-------------------------------------Why was he driving a car with Kentucky plates in the state of Indiana?
#2. To: Skip Intro (#0)
A personal matter?
#3. To: A K A Stone (#2)
#4. To: Skip Intro (#3)
You don't have any problem killing babies, as long as they're liberal.
#5. To: A K A Stone (#2)
Does this liberal who wrote this eat babies?
#6. To: A K A Stone (#2)
(Edited)
He must to be so stupid to compare what this man did to killing a baby.
Why don't you make like a tree and get out of here?
#7. To: Biff Tannen (#6)
#8. To: Biff Tannen (#6)
I think he's saying the goof had zero respect for the life of his passenger or the people he might crash into, yet he is against people who have no respect for the life of an unborn child.
#9. To: Biff Tannen (#6)
#10. To: A K A Stone (#9)
(Edited)
Nice to see you.
Why don't you make like a tree and get out of here?
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
[Home] [Headlines] [Latest Articles] [Latest Comments] [Post] [Mail] [Sign-in] [Setup] [Help] [Register]