Eager for a strong Democrat who could challenge Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell in his Kentucky reelection next year, liberals are rushing to defend actress Ashley Judd against claims her record of odd comments makes her the Todd Akin of the left.
"Ashley Judd Is Not the Next Todd Akin," headlined an online article in Mother Jones. "The Ashley Judd Dirt-Digging Campaign Is in Effect," said the Atlantic Wire.
At issue: Years of lefty comments made by activist Judd, said to be considering a run against McConnell, that likely won't fly in the conservative state. Examples culled by the Daily Caller's Alex Pappas: It's "unconscionable to breed" when kids are starving in the world; dads giving daughters away at weddings is "a common vestige of male dominion over a woman's reproductive status"; Christianity "legitimizes and seals male power."
Several liberal outlets brushed aside the comparison of Akin, whose comment about "legitimate rape," helped him to lose his Missouri Senate race last year, and Judd, but the stories about her Hollywood statements are settling in throughout Kentucky.
"Akin's comment was not only medically wrong, but also insulted and dismissed rape victims. Judd's 'most stunning comments,' according to the Daily Caller, range from harsh rhetoric against mountaintop removal to criticism of patriarchal institutions," complained Think Progress, one of a half dozen outlets who rushed to defend Judd.
Slate reporter David Weigel went so far as to tweet: "We focus too much on Ashley Judd and not enough on the 300 million odd other Americans who will also never be senators."
McConnell's advocates are chortling over the dust-up over Judd, hopeful that in her defense, the progressive media will highlight more of her comments and possibly estrange her from Kentucky voters.
McConnell is the top target of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and multiple outside political groups. One group last week went so far as to hit the Chinese roots of his wife, former Labor Secretary Elaine Chao, giving him a welcome opportunity to defend her.
