Tea Party Express calls on Akin to step down

WMTW ^ | 8/20/2012 | CNN NewSource via WMTW

[Qbert]

The nation's largest tea party political action committee, the Tea Party Express, is calling on Rep. Todd Akin to step down as Missouri's Republican nominee for a Senate seat on Monday following controversial comments the congressman made about rape.

Answering a question about whether he thought abortion should be legal in cases of rape, Akin said in an interview Sunday that in instances of "legitimate rape" the female body has ways of stopping a potential pregnancy. Video of the interview was posted online by the liberal super PAC American Bridge.

Tea Party Express Chairman Amy Kremer said in a statement released Monday that Akin's remarks were "unfortunate and inappropriate."

"It is critical that we defeat Senator Claire McCaskill in November, but it will be too difficult to achieve with Todd Akin as the conservative alternative," said Kremer. "He should step down and give conservatives a chance at taking back the Senate in November."

"One of the lessons we learned in 2010 is that we need candidates who are not only conservative, but are capable of putting together a strong campaign against liberal opponents," said Kremer, calling Akin's comment a 'Bidenism' in an apparent reference to Vice President Joe Biden's recent 'chains' gaffe at a campaign stop in Virginia.

In a radio interview Monday, Akin apologized for the comments.

"I made that statement in error. Let me be clear. Rape is never legitimate. It's an evil act, and it's committed by violent predators," the Republican congressman said on Mike Huckabee's radio show.

The Tea Party Express endorsed Akin's rival, former state treasurer Sarah Steelman, in Missouri's GOP primary. Steelman, who was defeated by Akin in the August 7 contest, also grabbed the coveted conservative endorsement of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

[mylife]

This is becoming a major dilemma.

[mylife]

This is what happens when we Elect Popes.

[RC one]

I don’t think he misspoke and neither does anyone else. He’s toxic.

[jocon307]

“This is becoming a major dilemma.”

It can become a minor kerfuffle by noon tomorrow if Akin just does the RIGHT thing and steps aside.

Otherwise forget dilemma, it’s got TITANIC written all over it.

[Seaplaner]

Word has it that Mister Akin will return to private life as professor of forensic biology.

Oh, wait, I made that statement in error....

.

[mylife]

Agreed.

[precisionshootist]

He obviously meant "actual" rape, not that rape was "legitimate".

I think he was differentiating a situation where there is no question that a rape had occurred, as in clearly non consensual sex. As opposed to a situation where two people went on a date and had sex and the woman is claiming rape leaving a question as to whether it was consensual or not and whether a rape occurred or not.

Why is this so hard for people to figure out?

[Radiarm]

And still, there are people who want him to stay in. Will this convince them?

[mylife]

No.

[Melas]

The problem is that the logical conclusion to his argument is that if a woman is pregnant, then chances are she wasn’t actually raped. After all, had she been raped her body would have used one those “ways” to prevent the potential pregnancy. Sorry, but this was a goose cooker, and everyone from Allen West to Mitt Romney wasted no time in pointing it out.

[boycott]

Hopefully he is done. We need to win that seat.

[Republican Wildcat]

That’s probably what he meant to say - but if you replace it with that word I don’t see how that makes it any better either logically or politically.

[Wayne07]

If he just said "legitimate rape" as a poor phrasing of stranger/assault rape, he'd survive, but what he said in the same sentence about a women's body shutting it down was stupid and tone deaf and inaccurate.

"First of all, from what I understand from doctors that is really rare. If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down.”

[rktman]

I believe what he meant was “proven” rape instead of some liberal skank demanding an abortion and saying, “Uh, I was raped. Yeah, that’s it. I was raped.” With no evidence to the contrary she may receive one under false pretenses. I think that’s what he meant anyway. So yeah, kinda like you said.

Helping keep the earth warm for 65 years.

[bimboeruption]

Just WHO is the Tea Party Express and Sean RINO-lover Hannity to tell anyone to step down?

[South40]

Word has it that Mister Akin will return to private life as professor of forensic biology.

I thought he was an OB/GYN?

[Baynative]

[precisionshootist]

"If he just said "legitimate rape" as a poor phrasing of stranger/assault rape, he'd survive, but what he said in the same sentence about a women's body shutting it down was stupid and tone deaf and inaccurate. "First of all, from what I understand from doctors that is really rare. If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down.” "

He was just saying that IF a woman is raped and a pregnancy does occur, DON'T TAKE IT OUT ON THE UNBORN DEFENSELESS BABY!

[Republican1795.]

No one neither Akin is suggesting that there is such a thing a “legitimate” rape. What he meant by legitimate rape - or what he he was really saying was proven or ACTUAL rape. Furthermore it is a documented fact that EMOTIONAL STRESS DOES PLAY A SIGNIFICANT part in ones health INCLUDING weather one gets pregnant or not.