If you look at it logically of course some rapes are more serious than others, but that doesn't mean that you are saying any are not serious. If you look at the lowest level of rape, eg the 16 yr old with the 15 year old willing partner, even if you thought that was serious, it's obvious that other rapes are far more serious. By saying that the others are far more serious, you are not necessarily saying that the base level statutory rape of the underage girl is not serious. The word rape seems to bring about a knee jerk hysteria in some people which makes it very difficult to discuss rape in any kind of rational way. I am far from a supporter of Ken Clarke, but it does seem that he has been pounced on unfairly on this occasion.