Raping, pillaging continues

Pennsylvania Republicans remain in high dudgeon over Mike Sturla's comments about Marcellus Shale workers, "womenfolk" and STDs. Though Sturla backed up his comments with documentation, Republicans are calling on him to apologize to the entire natural gas industry as well as millions of Pennsylvania women: his remarks, said state Rep. Sandra Major, were "wrong-headed, misinformed, archaic, and just shocking."

The state's GOP committee put the raping/pillaging picture (above) of the sack of Rome atop its email to reporters, along with this statement from party vice chair Joyce Haas:

“I don’t know what is more offensive, Sturla’s reference to Pennsylvania women as 'womenfolk' or his assertion that we are promiscuous?  Rep. Mike Sturla should apologize for these incredibly stupid comments and his Democratic colleagues should denounce them immediately.  There is room for a debate on the real issues surrounding the growing natural gas drilling industry in Pennsylvania without disparaging hardworking Pennsylvanians and an industry that is actually creating jobs during these difficult economic times,”

Opines John Baer at the Daily News: "Ah, Pennsylvania politics. Part throwback. Part sniper. All nonsense all the time. Grrr."

UPDATE: Sturla has apologized for using "womenfolk" -- he said was speaking, in character, like he thought a driller would speak (seriously) -- but is standing by the STD stuff. (Micek/Capitol Ideas)