What everybody's getting wrong about Mike Huckabee's 'libido' quip

This isn't about a GOP "War on Women" or Democratic identity politics. It's a simple matter of hypocrisy.

Huckabee
(Image credit: (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images))

On Thursday, at a Republican National Committee meeting, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) said some stuff about contraception and "Uncle Sugar" and how Democrats act like women "cannot control their libido or their reproductive system without the help of government." Democrats were offended, naturally, and gleefully indignant about another male Republican saying stupid things about women and sex.

On Twitter, two female reporters — CNN's Dana Bash and NBC's Kasey Hunt — sort of jumped the gun and made it sound like Huckabee himself was saying that women can't control their libidos. White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said the quote "sounds offensive to me and to women." Nancy Pelosi weighed in:

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.