Ping.
Akin’s statements were stupid. He’s admitted as much. He’s disowned his comments. He is not standing by them.
Politics is serious business. Loyalty and past service doesn’t matter a whit. It’s no different than a football player who’s injured a knee and lost a step. That player has to go. It’s sad, it sucks, but it is what it is. This isn’t about what’s fair, it’s about winning and putting forward the best candidates we can. Akin is no longer that candidate.
This senate seat is bigger than Akin. He screwed up bad and should have stepped aside. He’s got a big ego and can’t let go of his dream of being a Senator. As a consequence, we are not going to be able to win this seat. Because Akin won’t do the right thing, Claire McCaskill will get another 6 year term as Senator.
I wish Akin had had it thought out this well. One would hope that within the time-span of his whole political career, he would have anticipated such a question and prepared a short but memorable sound-bite. Not easy, maybe, but here's one attempt:
"Think of the three parties involved: the rapist, the raped woman, and the newly-begotten baby. Which one committed a crime of violence? Which one deserves to forfeit life or liberty for this crime?"
Better yet, he should take 5 minutes to become acquainted with a person conceived by rape ---Youtube has a bunch of videos of people like this (Link) --- and lead off my saying, "I listen to women. I heard the testimony of Rebecca Keissling, who was conceived by rape. Yes, she was that baby. It's a terrible thing too be raped, but a baby is still a beautiful life. Ask a woman who knows. Ask Rebecca Keissling."
That way you're putting the focus on a person, a reality, and not just a "political opinion."
Thanks for the ping to a well thought out and well written piece. The real issue is the sanctity of ALL human life. Rejection of inconvenient life is a rejection of the Creator. And that is not working out very well. And it will continue so.