Posted on 09/21/2012 7:29:19 PM PDT by Evil Slayer
Besides attacking each other over Medicare, school lunches and the Iraq war, Missouri Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill and GOP challenger Rep. Todd Akin spent their first debate Friday blaming each other for the gridlock in Congress that has stalled crucial pieces of legislation over the last two years.
And after initially mentioning the damaging comments on rape and pregnancy that have dogged her Republican opponent over the last month, Mrs. McCaskill didn’t bring them up again.
Instead, both candidates talked mainly about their sharp policy differences, with Mr. Akin trying to paint Mrs. McCaskill as an Obama liberal while she insisted he is a right-wing extremist on nearly every major issue.
“If you vote 98 percent of the time with Obama and tell us at the same time you’re a moderate voter, that takes a lot of guts,” Mr. Akin said to Missouri newspaper editors gathered in Columbia.
“It’s not what he says that’s the problem, it’s what he believes that is the problem,” Mrs. McCaskill shot back.
Already viewed as one of the country’s most important Senate contests, the Missouri race became the center of attention last month when Mr. Akin made a major fumble, telling a local television station that victims of “legitimate rape” are unlikely to become pregnant — a comment that led GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney and much of the party establishment to call for his withdrawal from the race.
Besides the rape comments, which have threatened to push Mr. Akin out of the race entirely, Mrs. McCaskill also stayed away from so-called “women’s issues” such as mandatory contraception coverage and equal pay, which have become major Democratic attacking points.
Instead, she highlighted two bills that have been passed by the Democratic-led Senate but are idling in the House as Republican leaders refuse to act
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Todd Akin has a 100% pro life rating; A from the National Rifle Association; 100% from the American Conservative Union. Akin voted 30 times to repeal Obamacare, against the Wall Street Bailout, against cash for clunkers and voted for a balanced budget ammendment to the constitution. He also opposes the death tax and fights for limited govt.
Three of Akin’s sons are marines and two are still active. Perry is a marine combat engineer..he looks for bombs. Akin was a combat engineer and Lt in the US Army. The gop should be ashamed for shunning this great conservative man and yes..they are abetting Claire McCaskill
Akin is in to win. Newt is coming to MO to help with fundraising. DeMint may toss in money from his huge war chest. IF Akin dropped out (which he won’t) Guess what? he would have to pay out of his own pocket for all the MO ballots to be re-done and it could end up disenfranchising some of the military votes. He is IN!
There is going to be another debate for sure..in Branson. Too damn bad the gop establishment and faux news didn’t air segments on their show but guess it would offend Karl Rove
The drop out deadline will have passed and I hope the next debate gets better coverage. Time for the National Republican Senatorial Committee to back Akin. The choice is Claire McCackles or Todd Akin..differences are stark.
Unfortunately having so publicly and forcibly thrown Akin under the bus, if the RSC drags him out again then it'll mean all the other GOP senatorial candidates will have to either support or condemn what Akin said. Three guesses on which one it'll be.
Not to mention Priebus and Romney and Palin and the other party figures who took immediate, hostile positions against Akin following the remarks. They've painted themselves into a corner.
If a candidate does not drop out of the race by 5 pm on the 6th Tuesday before the election then his name remains on the ballot regardless. That is the September 25th deadline you referred to. If he were to drop out after that and if enough people voted for him to win the election then the seat would be declared vacant. The only exception would be if a candidate died before the third Tuesday before the election. Then his/her name could be replaced.
LOOK at this!!!!!!!!! out of state fundraiser for Scare McCackles in Manhattan...note her photo op with Chuckie Schumer.
http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/politics/2012/09/6537356/new-york-fund-raiser-claire-mccaskill-and-against-todd-akins-anti-s
Also, IF Newt and Santorum can rally around Romney after the barbs exchanged during the debates..the gop E can rally around Akin. They can just state that despite his comment he has a good conservative voting record and this election is way to important and move on...if we can suck it up and vote for Romney who supports homosexuals serving OPENLY in the military and gay’s adopting children, etc...THEY can suck it up in a tactful way and get behind Akin. It appears they are supporting Scare and they know the consequences.
“The people of MO won’t see such debates and might not understand them either. If the media continues to declare the Democrat the winner, well, the populace does as instructed.”
I live in Missouri. The “rural” vote will NOT go for McRascal. The only strongholds for McRascal are the ghettos of St. Louis and Kansas City....and of course the liberal elites of those areas. Unfortunately, those ghettos are large.
Yea, if you just had to overcome intracity St. Louis, he might make it; but the K.C. machine as well is insurmountable without a united GOP. Most people won’t see the debate, and apparently little is being said about it now in the media because Akin did well. Obama/Biden have already been declared the winner of their debates before such appearances have been held.
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.