FAIL Quote of the Day: Christianity, science and abortion do not mix

If only it burned the stupid, not those subjected to their bullshit

This story only broke out a day or two ago and has already made the rounds like powder in a breeze, so I’ll take the liberty to avoid making a long blog post about it and simply settle for making it into the day’s FAIL Quote segment. Here is what Virginia State Delegate and Republican Bob Marshall had to say at an anti-abortion conference aiming to stem state funding for Planned Parenthood:

“The number of children who are born subsequent to a first abortion with handicaps has increased dramatically. Why? Because when you abort the first born of any, nature takes its vengeance on the subsequent children,” said Marshall, a Republican.

“In the Old Testament, the first born of every being, animal and man, was dedicated to the Lord. There’s a special punishment Christians would suggest.”

Yes, folks, he actually said that disabled children are his loving God’s way of punishing women for abortions. And that nature is, apparently, equally a heartless gobshite and somehow knows to wreak vengeance upon innocent children for their mothers choosing to have control over their bodies.

But, hold on with those pitchforks, he says – he’s got an apology!

A story by Capital News Service regarding my remarks at a recent press conference opposing taxpayer funding for Planned Parenthood conveyed the impression that I believe disabled children are a punishment for prior abortions. No one who knows me or my record would imagine that I believe or intended to communicate such an offensive notion. I have devoted a generation of work to defending disabled and unwanted children, and have always maintained that they are special blessings to their parents. Nevertheless, I regret any misimpression my poorly chosen words may have created as to my deep commitment to fighting for these vulnerable children and their families.

What pure bullshit. There was no “misimpression” or mistaking what you said or meant. Your words and their context could not possibly have ever been made any clearer: you said, and obviously do believe, that disabled children are God’s way of punishing women for abortions. Plain as day.

I’ll keep this simple and sweet: Bob Marshall, for your sheer ignorance about basic reproductive science, for your usage of demented theology as any sort of argument against abortion (or anything else), for your gruesome lack of empathy, for your absurd and transparently dishonest apology, and for being a complete, utter and indefensible jackass, you absolutely fucking FAIL.

(via Friendly Atheist)