This is a very odd story. Richard Hanna, a Republican congressman from New York, appeared at a rally for the anniversary of the Equal Rights Amendment yesterday. Now that’s strange enough for this modern crop of Republicans. But nobody could have anticipated what he would say next:

As the only Republican Congressman at a rally for the Equal Rights Amendment on Thursday, Rep. Richard Hanna (R-N.Y.) gave women an unexpected piece of advice: Give your money to Democrats.

“I think these are very precarious times for women, it seems. So many of your rights are under assault,” he told the crowd of mostly women. “I’ll tell you this: Contribute your money to people who speak out on your behalf, because the other side — my side — has a lot of it. And you need to send your own message. You need to remind people that you vote, you matter, and that they can’t succeed without your help.” [...]

“This is a dogfight, it’s a fistfight, and you have all the cards,” he said. “I can only tell you to get out there and use them. Tell the other women, the other 51 percent of the population, to kick in a few of their bucks. Make it matter, get out there, get on TV, advertise, talk about this. The fact that you want [the ERA] is evidence that you deserve it and you need it.”

Hanna was asked afterward if his remarks amounted to helping his opposition at his party’s expense. And he said no. But I don’t see how you can look at it any other way. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a case of a politician asking a crowd to donate to the opposition party. What’s more, Hanna is a threatened incumbent likely to be in a tough race in November. That money will be used against him.

The Republican Party has become so ideologically abhorrent, especially with their war on women, that it’s repelled its own members. Crazy.