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Akin not far off base in rape comment
WND.com ^ | August 27, 2012 | Jane M. Orient, M.D.

Posted on 08/28/2012 9:24:06 AM PDT by Perseverando

Exclusive: Jane M. Orient, M.D., says political demagoguery is replacing science

“From what I understand from doctors, that’s (conception as a result of rape) really rare. If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down. But let’s assume that maybe that didn’t work or something, I think there should be some punishment, but the punishment ought to be of the rapist, and not attacking the child.” – Rep. Todd Akin, R-Mo.

All decent people, including U.S. Senate candidate Todd Akin, agree that forcible rape is a heinous crime. Almost all would agree that illegitimate (false) accusations of rape occur – there’s the case of the Duke lacrosse players, for example.

All reasonable people, including Todd Akin, agree that pregnancy can result from forcible rape – but there is scientific disagreement on how likely it is.

A 1988 textbook, the second edition of “Human Sex and Sexuality” by Edwin B. Steen and James H. Price, estimates a 2 percent pregnancy rate. A 2012 textbook, “Comprehensive Gynecology,” 6th edition, gives an estimate of between 2 percent and 5 percent and states that “in the experience of most sexual assault centers, the chance of pregnancy occurring is quite low.” Estimates depend on flawed methods, with inevitable biases. An experiment to give an accurate figure is, of course, impossible. And does the estimate really matter to the woman who has been raped? Either she gets pregnant, or she doesn’t.

Is the risk of pregnancy lower with forcible rape, and if so, why? Off the cuff, Todd Akin gave a layman’s restatement of the point made by some pro-life physicians that the female body has some defense mechanisms against pregnancy in cases of rape.

The process of fertilization, implantation and maintenance of pregnancy is an intricate...

(Excerpt) Read more at wnd.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Extended News; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: abortion; akin; idiot; intheleftfield; irrelevant; mccaskill; missouri; moralabsolutes; prolife; rape; stupidparty; toddakin; unnecessary
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1 posted on 08/28/2012 9:24:11 AM PDT by Perseverando
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To: Perseverando

Wouldn’t it be nice if the female body would only allow conception based upon a conscious decision? No unwanted pregnancies, no “accidents” - every child would be planned and wanted.

If I were a Mad Scientist ... that would be my crime against humanity. Some genetic twist such that the default state was sterilization, and that only with a deliberate, conscious action; conception would be possible. Say, a large dose of Vitamin C (cheap, abundant, non-toxic) taken a few hours before conception.


2 posted on 08/28/2012 9:31:21 AM PDT by Hodar (A man can fail many times, but he isn't a failure until he begins to blame somebody else.- Burroughs)
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To: Perseverando

Great. Let’s re-argue this argument again and see if we can lose the Akin race by 20 points instead of 10 points. There is no value to having this debate at this point. Save it for after the election.


3 posted on 08/28/2012 9:32:22 AM PDT by Opinionated Blowhard ("When the people find they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic.")
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To: Perseverando

Why do you people keep digging this hole deeper?


4 posted on 08/28/2012 9:33:34 AM PDT by DManA
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To: Perseverando

The percentage of rapes that result in pregnancy is low because the percentage of women who are ovulating at the time of rape is low. The chances of being raped at all, much less at the precise time of ovulation is extremely low. You probably have more risk of getting hit by lightening.

This is so stupid.

You do not need to say any of this to maintain a 100% pro-Life position. It is just not neccessary and it HURTS the pro-Life cause.


5 posted on 08/28/2012 9:34:44 AM PDT by Lorianne (fedgov, taxporkmoney)
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To: Perseverando

It has been pointed out that stress, such as that caused by a rape, can delay or prevent ovulation. He probably heard that but didn’t get it quite right.

And “legitimate” probably refers to the number of rape cases (the non-legitimate ones) that are buyer’s remorse followed by an accusation.

He was still stupid to put it the way he did, but not with evil intent.

A better way would have been “should an innocent child die for the misbehavior of another person?”


6 posted on 08/28/2012 9:36:20 AM PDT by JimRed (Excise the cancer before it kills us; feed &water the Tree of Liberty! TERM LIMITS, NOW & FOREVER!)
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To: Opinionated Blowhard

I think they are shooting for a much higher margin of loss ... say 80%.


7 posted on 08/28/2012 9:37:12 AM PDT by Lorianne (fedgov, taxporkmoney)
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To: Lorianne
You raise a good point. These types of arguments open up Pro-Lifers to the charge that the reason we are 100% Pro-Life is because we don't think women can get pregnant from a “real” rape. We don't have to face the moral dilemma of our position. It completely undermines the cause. We have to say that we understand that rape is traumatic and horrible and can result in pregnancy, but that is no reason to kill the baby.
8 posted on 08/28/2012 9:41:13 AM PDT by Opinionated Blowhard ("When the people find they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic.")
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To: Perseverando

I listened to an “expert on rape” on NPR last week discussing his remarks. It was an amazing hit piece against him and calling out the absurdity of his claim. What was comical was that she mentioned in passing that she got a lot of calls from doctors who wanted to support what he said but she blew them off.

I thought, “Huh? There are doctors that say there is truth to the ‘shutting down’ comment? That certainly sounds like something a curious person would want to pursue.”

But then, she was not curious. She is a paid attack dog on a liberal and publicly funded “news” source.


9 posted on 08/28/2012 9:42:01 AM PDT by cuban leaf (Were doomed! Details at eleven.)
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To: DManA

—Why do you people keep digging this hole deeper?—

Kind of like the birth certificate thing?


10 posted on 08/28/2012 9:44:00 AM PDT by cuban leaf (Were doomed! Details at eleven.)
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To: Perseverando

Please let it die.

The enemies of FREEDOM are keeping it alive, why must any of us??

This guy Akin retracted it and said his original statement was not accurate.

It was so stupid to bring up this “theory” about the liklihood or not of rape resulting in pregnancy. Stupid, stupid, STUPID!

Do not double down on STUPID.


11 posted on 08/28/2012 9:44:29 AM PDT by txrangerette ("HOLD TO THE TRUTH...SPEAK WITHOUT FEAR." - Glenn Beck)
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To: cuban leaf

Dear goodness... really? Please read post 5.


12 posted on 08/28/2012 9:46:59 AM PDT by justice14 ("stand up defend or lay down and die")
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To: Opinionated Blowhard

Hey partner, I just put the info out there for review and consideration. I really don’t have time or inclination right now for a pissing contest. The article is in the news and will be until the election, unless Akin bails.

I’m not in the mood for whining right now. I get enough liberal whining at work. Just deal with it, or go hang out at huffpo. By the way, you may want to get a checkup, sounds like you may be suffering from “low T.”


13 posted on 08/28/2012 9:48:13 AM PDT by Perseverando (Gun control? It's the OBOTS who are filling up prisons for violent crimes, not the Tea Party.)
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To: Perseverando
A 1988 textbook, the second edition of “Human Sex and Sexuality” by Edwin B. Steen and James H. Price, estimates a 2 percent pregnancy rate. A 2012 textbook, “Comprehensive Gynecology,” 6th edition, gives an estimate of between 2 percent and 5 percent and states that “in the experience of most sexual assault centers, the chance of pregnancy occurring is quite low.” Estimates depend on flawed methods, with inevitable biases. An experiment to give an accurate figure is, of course, impossible.

Please read the last line of that quote. "An experiment to give an accurate figure is, of course, impossible." So how exactly is it that WND can title this piece with the words "Akin not far off base.."? For crying out loud if you can't verify those numbers you cannot make the statement that a woman who endures forcible rape isn't likely to get pregnant. There are so many factors involved in the occurence or non-occurence of a pregnancy, that I would guess that the issue of "forcibility" (or legitimacy as Akin would put it) is not very high on the list.

Those politicians and commentators who are calling for Akin’s head have signaled where their priorities lie.

Hogwash. Perhaps for politicians and commentators on the left that might be true. For those on the right, it is not about preserving the rape or incest exception, is about removing a pro-choice Senator McCaskill, and ensuring a pro-life majority in the Senate.

I have said this before. Thanks to the media, Akin will go down in history as the guy who tried to argue that there is such a thing as legitimate rape. Whether you think that is true or not, it pales in comparison to the reality that by refusing to withdraw and give up the nomination to someone like Sarah Steelman, he may have just facilitated the rape of the Republic.

14 posted on 08/28/2012 9:56:57 AM PDT by newheart (At what point does policy become treason?)
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To: Opinionated Blowhard
There is no value to having this debate at this point. Save it for after the election.

The old "move along. nothing to see here" strategy ?

A man's career, the elimination of McCaskill, and the future of Obamacare are at stake, and you imply that FACTS and TRUTH are not really that important?

Save it for after the election.

Rather like the MSM saving the debate over Obama's BC back in 2008 until after the election ?

15 posted on 08/28/2012 9:57:05 AM PDT by UCANSEE2 ( Lame and ill-informed post)
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To: Perseverando

Apparently, some people just don’t GET that even ovulating women aren’t necessarily going to become pregnant. As the doctor has stated, there is much complexity to this process. It appears as if it isn’t just progressives who get all emotional over certain issues. Nobody is condoning or supporting rape. I don’t know what Akin really MEANT, but fortunately most rapes do NOT result in pregnancy. And let’s face it, the Choice Crowd just uses this as an excuse. Even if we could have a law that said “only in the case of abortion/incest,” they would NOT go with it. They want abortion on demand...when they want it and where they want it.


16 posted on 08/28/2012 9:57:06 AM PDT by Paved Paradise
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To: Perseverando

Not far off base? Is that a backhanded compliment? So he’s still off base, just not *that far*?

Wrong but not far, is that the new “fake but accurate”? That’s a great slogan for a senate campaign, vote for the not far off base guy.


17 posted on 08/28/2012 9:57:28 AM PDT by Truthsearcher
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To: Opinionated Blowhard

Yes. I have met many people in the pro-life community and worked with pro-life causes...nobody EVER have I met that would not agree with the trauma and horror of rape. We just don’t want to perpetrate a second one.


18 posted on 08/28/2012 9:59:38 AM PDT by Paved Paradise
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To: Opinionated Blowhard

Wow...sure wish there was an edit button on here. FR needs to get with the times.

So, what I meant to say was that nobody I know in pro-life circles would DENY that rape is traumatic and horrible. We just don’t want to extend the trauma and horror by killing the innocent child.


19 posted on 08/28/2012 10:00:54 AM PDT by Paved Paradise
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To: Lorianne

“The percentage of rapes that result in pregnancy is low because the percentage of women who are ovulating at the time of rape is low. The chances of being raped at all, much less at the precise time of ovulation is extremely low. You probably have more risk of getting hit by lightening.

This is so stupid.

You do not need to say any of this to maintain a 100% pro-Life position. It is just not necessary and it HURTS the pro-Life cause.”

That’s the part of all this that’s really frustrating to me. People are making things up and tracking down fringe “scientists” to back an assertion that we don’t need to make. People are going out of their way to make unnecessary arguments that actually end up hurting our cause. Women get pregnant during rapes. It’s relatively rare, but it happens. It doesn’t make any difference for the sake of our arguments whether it happens 4 percent of the time or 2 percent of the time or .2% of the time or whether its marginally less likely to happen than random unprotected sex with a partner. We have to make the same exact argument at the end of the day. Why are people tripping over themselves and resorting to psuedo-science to defend a useless off the cuff remark?


20 posted on 08/28/2012 10:02:47 AM PDT by Blackyce (President Jacques Chirac: "As far as I'm concerned, war always means failure.")
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