Another week, another GOP fiasco

In this just third week into the party’s largest majority in more than 80 years, House Republicans have had yet another meltdown. This time, don’t blame the Tea Party-backed conservative wing; centrists and moderates were the ones who bucked their leadership. Why? More disagreement over rape, a quarrel that has been political poison for Republicans in the very recent past.

{mosads}The bill prohibiting the use of federal funds for abortion services — timed for the annual March for Life by abortion opponents — was pulled after a dispute over a provision including exceptions for a ban on abortions after 20 weeks, allowing an exception for rape only if it was reported to police. Opponents, including many Republican women, argued that since most victims do not report rape to police, the continued appearance of the GOP as insensitive and skeptical of rape would damage the party politically, particularly if Hillary Clinton becomes the Democratic nominee in 2016. Comments by GOP candidates about “legitimate rape” and pregnancies from rape being “something God intended” sunk the GOP’s attempts to take back the majority in the Senate in 2010 and again 2012. Republican recruits for the 2014 cycle were counseled by party operatives on how to discuss the issue when queried, but to generally avoid it at all costs.

Battles over immigration last week and now abortion and rape are two predictable fights any smart leader would want to avoid, particularly in the first month. Best quote of the week goes to Rep. Charlie Dent (R-Pa.), quoted in National Journal as saying: “Week one, we had a [S]peaker election that did not go as well as a lot of us would have liked. Week two, we got into a big fight over deporting children, something that a lot of us didn’t want to have a discussion about. Week three, we are now talking about rape and incest and reportable rapes and incest for minors. … I just can’t wait for week four.”

I bet Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) can’t wait for week four, either.

SEN. MARCO RUBIO (R-FLA.) IS NOW GEARING UP FOR 2016 — IS MORE REALLY MERRIER FOR THE GOP? AskAB returns Tuesday, Jan. 27. Please join my weekly Q&A by sending your questions and comments to askab@digital-staging.thehill.com. Thank you.