Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

GOP gives up on trying to push Akin out (Funding may be restored)
The Washington Post ^ | 9/20/12 | Aaron Blake

Posted on 09/21/2012 2:10:33 AM PDT by Evil Slayer

In about 28 hours, the Republican Party will be, for all intents and purposes, stuck with Todd Akin.

The Missouri Senate candidate has shown no signs of bowing to pressure from the national party to get out of the race after his controversial comment about “legitimate rape” turned the race on its head.

And though the party initially held out hope that Akin would change his mind at some point over the past month, it now appears that ship has sailed.

The technical deadline for being able to replace Akin on the ballot, if he dropped out, is Tuesday. But because military ballots must be sent by Saturday, the effective drop-dead date is close-of-business Friday. After that point, Akin’s name would still appear on military and overseas ballots and a replacement nominee would not.

In addition, Akin would need to get a judge’s permission to withdraw (which could pose problems on such short notice), and he would be responsible for the cost of re-printing any ballots that have already been printed — a cost that might be significant.

So really at this point, there’s no reason to believe anything will change, and Republicans, after using as much leverage as they could muster, have begun accepting their fate.

“God has spoken: Todd is running,” said one Missouri Republican strategist, granted anonymity to speak candidly. “Our loins are girded.”

Shortly after Akin’s comment blew up, calls for him to exit the race began to snowball. Republicans urged him — both publicly and privately — to step aside, they pledged to not spend any money on his behalf, and they declared the seat lost if he stayed in the race.

Five current and former former Missouri Republican senators even joined forces in asking Akin to back out.

But aside from some isolated initial

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


TOPICS: Breaking News; Extended News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Missouri
KEYWORDS: akin; akin4mccaskill; akin4obama; akinmccaskilldebate; akinstayingin; backstabberakin; backthedope; fundraiser; gingrich; gingrichismensch; gopevsnewt; mo2012; newt; newt2016; newt4president; newtgingrich; newtismensch; newtispatriot; newtvsgope; nrsc; romneyiswimp; toddakin
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-76 next last
To: Evil Slayer
Akin has a fundraiser with Newt Gingrich scheduled for Monday

Awesome! Newt has his head screwed on properly and clearly understands what is at stake.

21 posted on 09/21/2012 4:14:50 AM PDT by MrDem (Founder: Democrats for Cheney/Palin 2012)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Evil Slayer

Well... I’m not holding my breath waiting for the RiNoC to re-release their funding for Todd Akin. So, I’ve taken the initiative and pumped some cash directly into his campaign.

Cheers


22 posted on 09/21/2012 4:28:13 AM PDT by DoctorBulldog (Hey, Libtards, how's the Moral Imperative to close Gitmo working out for ya'?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Evil Slayer; elephant; YOMO; samiam1972; Controlling Legal Authority; Diamond; missnry; Prov3456; ..
am so nervous for Akin. Prayers UP! there is another debate coming up in Oct but better believe the nation will be watching today. Let’s hope the media does not twist Akin’s words and the GOP gets back on board.
This just came out 3 hrs ago...http://www.examiner.com/article/mccaskill-and-akin-will-square-off-first-debate-for-u-s-senator
Not all Republicans have shied away from supporting Akin. Former presidential candidate Newt Gingrich will be in Missouri on Sept. 24 at a fundraiser for Akin. The $500-a-plate luncheon will be held at Trattoria Branica restaurant in Kirkwood. The invitation-only event is expected to be a small gathering of about 100 people.

“I think Todd Akin was the choice of the people in Missouri and Todd Akin has publicly apologized,” Gingrich recently told ABC News. “I just think people ought to be a little cautious about saying the voters of Missouri don’t count.”

Mike Huckabee has also defended Akin. But a number of Republican supporters have withheld funds for his campaign. As a result, Akin is being outspent 10 to 1. While Akins has had relatively few ads on television, McCaskill’s campaign is supposedly spending $500,000 per week on broadcast and cable ads.

23 posted on 09/21/2012 4:29:29 AM PDT by katiedidit1 (Constitutionalist..period)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Evil Slayer
Newt coming to Missouri Monday in support of Todd is great news!!

That is good news. It's time to start countering Clairebelle's leftwaffe who have dominated the airwave's for the last month bombarding the populace with her propaganda leftlets. The way she has been talking about her moderation in the Senate one would think that she was the GOP candidate.

24 posted on 09/21/2012 4:32:27 AM PDT by Uncle Chip
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DoctorBulldog

God bless YOU! the knee jerk reaction by the rino’s is mind boggling. Why the republicans destroy their own is beyond me..so much for the Reagan Rule.
Let’s go ...Lt. Todd Akin, combat engineer, US Army..man of courage. Time to expose Claire for the leftwinger she is..we need this win.


25 posted on 09/21/2012 4:33:57 AM PDT by katiedidit1 (Constitutionalist..period)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: katiedidit1
The $500-a-plate luncheon will be held at Trattoria Branica restaurant in Kirkwood. The invitation-only event is expected to be a small gathering of about 100 people.

A $50,000 fundraiser is a drop in the bucket to what Akin needs. Can't he do better than that given who is appearing with him?

26 posted on 09/21/2012 4:36:55 AM PDT by Delhi Rebels (There was a row in Silver Street - the regiments was out.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: Evil Slayer

Meanwhile, he’s an article on the GOPe reaching its end, from an unexpected source—Scott Rassmussen:

http://townhall.com/columnists/scottrasmussen/2012/09/21/romney_may_be_the_end_of_the_line_for_the_republican_establishment/page/full/


27 posted on 09/21/2012 4:41:26 AM PDT by 9YearLurker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Delhi Rebels

That is a typical fundraiser. When we had them in Virginia at high dollar plates it was hard to draw a huge crowd and have to consider the circumstances


28 posted on 09/21/2012 4:45:08 AM PDT by katiedidit1 (Constitutionalist..period)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: Evil Slayer

With Romney far ahead of Obama in Missouri I can’t believe the voters there would vote for Romney and then turn around and vote for McCaskill..it ain’t gonna happen.


29 posted on 09/21/2012 4:45:43 AM PDT by tiger
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Delhi Rebels

“A $50,000 fundraiser is a drop in the bucket to what Akin needs”

This is Akin’s real problem, not so much because of what he said, but he has no money and if the GOP doesn’t reverse itself on funding, then he has little chance.
McCaskill hasn’t even started to attack him yet. 12 million vs 2 million. That is the issue.


30 posted on 09/21/2012 4:47:36 AM PDT by WILLIALAL
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: Evil Slayer; Diamond; katiedidit1; P-Marlowe; wagglebee; little jeremiah; donozark
Newt Gingrich's decision to publicly support Todd Akin is significant.

Up until now, the majority of the pushback against the GOP leadership has come from Christian conservatives who believe — correctly in my opinion — that the real reason for the attack on Akin is fear that the official Republican position against abortion even in cases of rape is a losing position with voters.

I have been saying for a month now that Akin’s comment was really stupid, but the attack on Akin is all out of proportion to the original offense.

Until Newt Gingrich stepped in, it looked like the Missouri senate race was going to turn into a situation where conservative Christians were left on their own, and basically were going to have to raise money on our own, on a national basis, to replace normal national Republican funding.

Gingrich getting involved is a game changer. Having Mike Huckabee and James Dobson support Akin was important, but not surprising. Gingrich's support sends an entirely different and very important message.

I have defended and provided evidence for Gingrich's personal faith in the past, and also argued that a Christian conservative can legitimately vote for Gingrich because the Romans 13 standards for civil office and the example of King David show that we should not strictly apply the personal family life standards of I Timothy and Titus, which are qualifications for pastors, elders and deacons, to those serving in civil office. Gingrich's personal faith is not the issue. Regardless of his personal faith, during the primary election, he got identified as the main antagonist of Christian conservatives in the ultimately unsuccessful attempt to stop Mitt Romney. If Gingrich has coattails, and I strongly believe that he does, his involvement will bring an entirely different group of people who are mad at the Republican leadership into the fight for Akin.

It is no secret that I did not support Gingrich's campaign until Rick Santorum dropped out, but then said Gingrich was our last option to stop Romney. I am very glad to see that Gingrich is willing to support Todd Akin — and his support could be a very important signal turning on financial spigots that until now have been unavailable to Akin.

This is a very good thing. Christian conservatives and more secular conservatives have much more in common with each other than either of us have with a fair number of people in the Republican establishment, and all of us have more in common with each other than we do with the Democrats.

31 posted on 09/21/2012 4:50:04 AM PDT by darrellmaurina
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: darrellmaurina

darrellmaurina, read this on Akin.org. “One thing liberals always try to do is drive a wedge between “social” and “fiscal” conservatives. Well, when you look at the numbers, social conservatives are some of the most fiscally conservative! Check out this chart showing Right to Life ratings next to fiscally conservative National Taxpayer Union (NTU) ratings and LIKE if you believe fiscal issues ARE social issues and vice versa! Todd Akin”
Chart is on his site.


32 posted on 09/21/2012 4:57:55 AM PDT by katiedidit1 (Constitutionalist..period)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: katiedidit1
That is a typical fundraiser. When we had them in Virginia at high dollar plates it was hard to draw a huge crowd and have to consider the circumstances.

Not with someone as high-profile as Newt Gingrich. There are just over 6 weeks left. If Akin can't attract better contributions than this then he's lost the money battle and can't get his message out.

33 posted on 09/21/2012 5:05:08 AM PDT by Delhi Rebels (There was a row in Silver Street - the regiments was out.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: Evil Slayer

Well, I do hope Newton can help, but MO people don’t like to vote for losing candidates. I admire Akin for sticking with his campaign after the grand poo-bahs told him to exit the race.


34 posted on 09/21/2012 5:07:41 AM PDT by Theodore R. ( Who among us has not erred? Akin's the One!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Evil Slayer

Anyone should be able to stand up to John Cornyn, who is so mealy-mouthed, but in TX no one will.


35 posted on 09/21/2012 5:09:24 AM PDT by Theodore R. ( Who among us has not erred? Akin's the One!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Delhi Rebels

Yes, it is typical considering the circumstances. This was a last minute fundraiser. The people in Missouri know who Akin is and know his record. The enemy has been the damn rino’s from the establishment.
Are you in MO? why do I get the feeling you don’t care for Newt or Akin?


36 posted on 09/21/2012 5:12:12 AM PDT by katiedidit1 (Constitutionalist..period)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: cotton1706

Yes, but the person you spoke with had nothing to do with de-funding Todd Akin. He’s probably an $8 per hour employee who makes no policy. He may not even know who Todd Akin is. I wish another Cruz would step forward and challenge Cornyn in the 2014 primary.


37 posted on 09/21/2012 5:12:25 AM PDT by Theodore R. ( Who among us has not erred? Akin's the One!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: darrellmaurina

Newt needed to get the hell out of the way. Lead, follow or leave. He did none of the above - and the result was Romney.

It’s nice to see Newt come out to help Akin - but let’s be honest here, would we not be better off without Romney at the top of the ticket?


38 posted on 09/21/2012 5:14:13 AM PDT by JCBreckenridge (Texas, Texas, Whisky)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: tiger

In 1968, MO voters went for Nixon and then McGovern emocrat Thomas F. Eagleton for the Senate. Eagleton beat one of the best Republicans MO ever had — Rep. Thomas Curtis, who may have well been from much of the Todd Akin district, since changed boundaries probably.

And they gave GWB the nod in 2000 but the dead Carnahan the Senate seat.


39 posted on 09/21/2012 5:16:35 AM PDT by Theodore R. ( Who among us has not erred? Akin's the One!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: darrellmaurina

Is Santorum also backing Akin? I thought I read he is.


40 posted on 09/21/2012 5:18:04 AM PDT by Theodore R. ( Who among us has not erred? Akin's the One!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-76 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson