Ken Clarke on rape

For a full transcript of ken clarks comments on rape have a look at this: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-13444770.

I'm not interested in commenting on what he said to be honest, but i am interested in the shrill response to it.

I think all right thinking individuals can deal with this teacup sized storm in about 10 seconds. the complaint seems to be that "rape is rape"and any suggestion otherwise makes you a mysoginist calling for a rapist's charter.

Well sorry, thats just horse shit. There are degrees to EVERYTHING. Degrees to murder, degrees to rape, degrees to speeding, degrees to a degree for gods sake. The suggestion otherwise is yet another nail in the coffin of nuance.

This is a manufactured scandal, its obnoxious and insulting and pretends that detail isnt important. I celebrate Mr Carke for his willingness to talk in more than 15 second soundbites, for his willingess to tell an interviewer that she's just plain wrong.

Here are some selected quotes and links to illustrate the insanity of the response to this "scandal" in the press

a daily mail headline says Ken is "a danger to women"

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1388096/Ken-Clarke-rape-gaffe-Sex-attack-victim-hits-hes-danger-women.html

The new statesman describes his as "repulsive and reactionary"

http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/laurie-penny/2011/05/ken-clarke-comments-rape

And the sun with typical restraint says this of Mr Clarke.

DENOUNCED by the anguished sex attack victim;

BLASTED by women's groups and a vicar's daughter raped in a notorious sex crime;

ORDERED to apologise by furious Prime Minister David Cameron, and

URGED to quit by Labour leader Ed Miliband.

Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3588801/Sex-attack-victim-demands-Ken-Clarke-sacking-for-endangering-women.html#ixzz1MtUte2Vl

Remember, nuance is good, subtlety important and complicated problems generally require complicated solutions, or at least complicated discussions.