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Regardless of whether Akin wins or loses, he has caused some damage to the pro-life cause and conservativism. If he had said cigarettes do not contribute to cancer, that would have been stupid but not really damaging to the conservative platform. That he made a stupid statement about rape and pregnancy is damaging. Oh yes, there are scientific studies which may suggest that due to stress hormones or whatever, pregnancy may be less likely from rape, but trying to justify his comments with obscure studies does little to control the damage.

Many women, hearing a comment like that, will wonder if all Republicans believe that; most liberal pro-aborts will use it to bolster their idea that men have no business in deciding women's issues.

I will admit that even I, for a moment, wondered if there are other conservatives out there with such cockamamie positions.

p.s. I am a pro-life, deeply conservative woman. I am not a liberal, or Democrat, or troll. I have spent a fair amount of time trying to convince friends that this is not the way conservatives think. I have also had to convince myself. That is some proof that the comments caused damage.