The 13 craziest, most offensive things said by politicians in 2013
Unfortunately, it wasn't easy limiting this year's list to just 13 statements but here are the craziest and most offensive things said by American politicians this year:
13. "He's the first one to give it to the people without providing Vaseline."
— Maine Gov. Paul LePage (R), quoted by the Bangor Daily News, on Democratic rival Troy Jackson (D) who he said has a "black heart" and should go back in the woods "and let someone with a brain come down here and do some good work."
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12. "Mankind has existed for a pretty long time without anyone ever having to give a sex-ed lesson to anybody. And now we feel like, oh gosh, people are too stupid unless we force them to sit and listen to instructions. It's just incredible."
— Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas), quoted by Right Wing Watch, adding that it all reminded him of the Soviet Union.
11. "I am the senator. You are the citizen. You need to be quiet."
— North Carolina State Senator Tommy Tucker (R), quoted by the Raleigh News and Observer, to Goldsboro News-Argus publisher Hal Tanner who was opposing legislation to change public notice requirements for local government.
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10. "I wonder how many Boston liberals spent the night cowering in their homes wishing they had an AR-15 with a hi-capacity magazine?"
— Arkansas State Rep. Nate Bell (R), on Twitter.
9. "This administration has so many Muslim brotherhood members that have influence that they just are making wrong decisions for America."
— Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas), in an interview with WND Radio, explaining what he sees as President Obama's downplaying of the threat of radical Islam.
8. "More background checks? Dandy idea, Mr. President. Should've started with yours."
— Sarah Palin, quoted by the New York Times, speaking to CPAC about President Obama's gun control proposals.
7. "A holstered gun is not a deadly weapon... But anything can be used as a deadly weapon. A credit card can be used to cut somebody's throat."
— New Hampshire state Rep. Dan Dumaine (R), quoted by the Concord Monitor, opposing a move to ban guns for the chamber floor.
6. "In the emergency room they have what's called rape kits where a woman can get cleaned out."
— Texas State Rep. Jody Laubenberg (R), quoted by the AP, arguing that a bill restricting abortion needed no exemptions for case of rape.
5. "Assault weapons is a misused term used by suburban soccer moms who do not understand what is being discussed here."
— Missouri Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder (R), quoted by the Missouri News Horizon, on efforts to ban assault weapons.
4. "First of all, the kid's going to grow up in Gracie Mansion. So I'm going to say, 'Kid, don't complain.'"
— Anthony Weiner (D), quoted by the Staten Island Advance, on what he'll eventually tell his now 18-month old son about the sexting scandal that ended his congressional career.
3. "I'm not gay. So I'm not going to marry one."
— Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Georgia), quoted by Politico, when asked if his views on gay marriage were changing.
2. "He's partly right on that."
— Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-Georgia), an OB-GYN, quoted by the Marietta Daily Journal, on former Rep. Todd Akn's (R-MO) "legitimate rape" comments.
1. "Watch a sonogram of a 15-week baby, and they have movements that are purposeful. They stroke their face. If they're a male baby, they may have their hand between their legs. If they feel pleasure, why is it so hard to believe that they could feel pain?"
— Rep. Michael Burgess (R-Texas), quoted by Salon, suggested a fetus might masturbate.
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Taegan D. Goddard is the founder of Political Wire, one of the earliest and most influential political websites. He also runs Wonk Wire and the Political Dictionary. Goddard spent more than a decade as managing director and COO of a prominent investment firm in New York City. Previously, he was a policy adviser to a U.S. senator and governor. Goddard is also co-author of You Won — Now What? (Scribner, 1998), a political management book hailed by prominent journalists and politicians from both parties. Goddard's essays on politics and public policy have appeared in dozens of newspapers across the country, including The Washington Post, USA Today, Boston Globe, San Francisco Chronicle, Chicago Tribune, Philadelphia Inquirer, and Christian Science Monitor. Goddard earned degrees from Vassar College and Harvard University. He lives in New York with his wife and three sons.
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