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Using Semantics to Take Down Conservative Representative Todd Akin
Townhall.com ^ | August 26, 2012 | Rachel Alexander

Posted on 08/26/2012 4:55:54 AM PDT by Kaslin

Liberal pundits are declaring they have no idea what Rep. Todd Akin (R-MO) meant when he referred to “legitimate rape” in an interview this past week. Akin stated, "In cases of legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down." It was an awkward, inarticulate statement, but the substance of it was correct. Explaining what he meant since then would be a bit crude, so he has not been able to adequately defend himself. His attackers have used the awkwardness to pounce on him and pretend they don't know what he meant, or make up even worse explanations.

Does anyone actually believe his critics? It may have been a poor choice of words, but everyone knows Akin was referring to the distinction between what we traditionally consider rape - forcible rape - versus statutory rape and what some claim is also rape, having sex while drunk. Some women will have a one night stand while drunk, admit it to their friends afterwards, then change their mind and declare that it was rape. The FBI updated its definition of rape this year to include the inability to give consent due to intoxication. Any woman who has been drinking can now claim afterwards that she was raped. This may have opened a Pandora's Box considering how many people drink alcohol before sex. The cliché “rape is rape” no longer means what it says. The definition has now been broadened to include any woman alleging rape after she has been drinking.

As for women's bodies shutting down, you don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure out that Akin meant that a woman is not going to get aroused if she is forcibly raped, making it difficult to become pregnant. Akin brought this up in order to explain why abortion in case of rape is not necessary. It is very rare that a forcible rape results in a pregnancy, so the issue of whether to permit abortion in the case of rape is mostly a red herring, used for fear mongering. Last week, GOP officials drafting the abortion ban for the party platform, declined to put in an exception for rape or incest. Tellingly, Akin's critics haven't bothered disputing Akin's real message, which is that less than one percent of rapes result in a pregnancy.

Akin immediately apologized for his remarks, clarifying later that he meant “forcible rape.” He has been running 30-second TV ads around the state apologizing. David Roney of Pro-Life Arizona notes that Akin's point was unborn babies shouldn't be sacrificed to punish rapists. Aborting children because they were a product of a rape would have taken the lives of gospel singers Mahalia Jackson and Ethel Waters. Ryan Bomberger, also born of a rape, wrote about Akin for Life News, “ I’m glad such a pro-family, pro-life stalwart, despite a few bumps and lots of scrapes, is not quitting under pressure from hypocritical pro-abortion radicals and spineless Republicans.“ Bomberger listed several crude jokes that liberal celebrities have made about rape, and asks, “Where was the condemnation of Whoopi Goldberg who, on The View, defended film director Roman Polanski’s 1977 drugging and rape of a 13 year old as not “rape rape”?”

It is troubling to see Mitt Romney, Paul Ryan, the chairman of the RNC, Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA) and conservative stalwarts like Rush Limbaugh demand the resignation of Akin. Limbaugh himself has been accused of comments that have made him vulnerable to intense criticism. It is reported that high-level GOP officials have told Akin they will no longer help him with fundraising. Many in the GOP have developed a herd mentality and are piling on Akin, asserting that no one can win without establishment support. Sadly, they are shooting their wounded to react so quickly and demand that Akin jump out of the race.

Fortunately, not all conservatives have deserted Akin. Because of the injustice of what has happened to him, Mike Huckabee has come to his defense, assisting with fundraising. It's notable that Akin exceeded his goal of raising $125,000 within a few days. Susan B. Anthony List, a pro-life group, has put out a statement defending Akin.

Prior to Akin's misworded comment, he was leading in the polls over the Democrat incumbent, Sen. Claire McCaskill, who is considered to be the most vulnerable Democrat in the Senate. If his chances are now so dismal, why is Moveon.org calling for Akin to resign? Or why is the liberal super PAC American Bridge 21st Century demanding that Romney drop Huckabee from the GOP convention for supporting Akin? The left is well aware that to put in a substitute candidate now would risk losing the seat, due to the lack of time left to set up a ground game and garner name recognition.

Akin is a solid conservative who voted against No Child Left Behind, despite being pressured in a phone call by President Bush. He has a 97% lifetime rating from the American Conservative Union. A favorite of social conservatives, he obtained a Master of Divinity degree from seminary and has co-chaired the House Prayer Breakfast. No doubt his background is why many are targeting him so viciously.

Most voters will forget about this in a week. Three days after the story broke, McCaskill pulled ahead of Akin in the polls but could not break 50%, according to a Rasmussen poll. Akin can still win, unless Republicans continue to turn on him. “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” The Republican Party could still try to force Akin out up until September 25, by challenging his candidacy in the courts.

When people can't freely express their opinions it is a serious matter. Why isn't an apology sufficient? Why make this into a career-ruining incident? Akin didn't say “rape is ok,” and everyone knows exactly what he meant. Akin told Huckabee that he "misspoke one word, in one sentence, in one day." Wait until it happens to you.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Politics/Elections; US: Missouri
KEYWORDS: acultureoflife; conservative; dncstrategy; lamestreammedia; mo2012; toddakin
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To: C. Edmund Wright

Hey! Please watch that broad brush. Some accountants possess humor, logic and are not obtuse. It must be a lawyer or a bureaucrat.


161 posted on 08/27/2012 6:44:55 AM PDT by Servant of the Cross (the Truth will set you free)
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To: Servant of the Cross

Oh, it was aimed at bureaucrats - I threw the others in there as decoys. This guy is some kind of bureaucrat, even if he doesn’t realize it. His mindset is totally B type and left brained and literal above reality based. Classic bureaucrat who prizes the process over whatever it is they are processing.


162 posted on 08/27/2012 6:56:51 AM PDT by C. Edmund Wright ("You Might Be a Liberal" (YMBAL) Coming out Sept 1 by C. Edmund Wright)
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To: Servant of the Cross

Oh, it was aimed at bureaucrats - I threw the others in there as decoys. This guy is some kind of bureaucrat, even if he doesn’t realize it. His mindset is totally B type and left brained and literal above reality based. Classic bureaucrat who prizes the process over whatever it is they are processing.


163 posted on 08/27/2012 6:58:01 AM PDT by C. Edmund Wright ("You Might Be a Liberal" (YMBAL) Coming out Sept 1 by C. Edmund Wright)
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To: Servant of the Cross
It must be a lawyer or a bureaucrat.
"It" has a name, Mr. Sanctimonious, knows how to read threads and has seen the petty game you're playing time and time again.

And no, "it" is neither a lawyer nor a bureaucrat.

Shows what you know.

164 posted on 08/27/2012 12:18:02 PM PDT by philman_36 (Pride breakfasted with plenty, dined with poverty, and supped with infamy. Benjamin Franklin)
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To: LSAggie
It explains why Claire wanted to face Akins and what she did to try to ensure that happened.

Where? Please post the relevant text.

If you're talking about this...
...a six-term social conservative whom the vulnerable Democratic senator helped promote to GOP voters because she thought she had the best chance of beating him...

That isn't reporting, that's opinionating and bloviating which is typical of Politico.

This?
McCaskill signaled she’d rather run against Akin when her campaign launched a heavily rotated spot in July that branded him the “true conservative” — a blatant appeal to devoted conservatives who decide GOP primary contests.

Again, that isn't reporting, that's opinionating and bloviating which is typical of Politico.

That's not proof, it's opinion.

165 posted on 08/27/2012 12:26:16 PM PDT by philman_36 (Pride breakfasted with plenty, dined with poverty, and supped with infamy. Benjamin Franklin)
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To: Servant of the Cross; C. Edmund Wright
I do want to point out to you two that while you're attempting to disparage me you're actually doing me some honor as the professions you're comparing me to require a great deal of intelligence.
Accountant, lawyer? No, neither...but thank you nonetheless.
166 posted on 08/27/2012 12:33:27 PM PDT by philman_36 (Pride breakfasted with plenty, dined with poverty, and supped with infamy. Benjamin Franklin)
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To: philman_36
No, this...Even so, there’s widespread agreement on both sides of the aisle that Akin presents the weakest threat to McCaskill and his nomination could provide her a window of opportunity to save a seat the GOP needs to flip Senate control in November. Assuming President Barack Obama is reelected, Republicans must pick up four seats to attain the majority.

Akin’s 12-year voting record is more susceptible to attack and his deeply held conservative beliefs have prompted him to make statements that Democrats believe are outside the mainstream for most Missourians.

167 posted on 08/27/2012 12:56:35 PM PDT by LSAggie
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To: LSAggie
And I counter with this...from @reply 150

The new ad follows what has been McCaskill's tactic throughout the Missouri GOP primary race: to tar Akin as too conservative for Missouri, a state Democrats hope can swing in favor of Obama this year, despite a narrow loss in 2008. Akin was the favored candidate to win the GOP Senate primary, as Democrats hope his Tea Party ties will make him vulnerable.

I used that article in conjunction with other information in forming my own conclusions in order to give my opinion.

You use your article as evidence when it's actually nothing more than someone else's stated opinion which is drawn from their conclusions.

Do you always let others do your thinking for you?

168 posted on 08/27/2012 1:55:23 PM PDT by philman_36 (Pride breakfasted with plenty, dined with poverty, and supped with infamy. Benjamin Franklin)
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To: C. Edmund Wright
I was not aware of any Dims calling for Akin to leave the race. Who is doing so and what is their reasoning?

I was referring to this passage in the article, quoted above (q.v.):

Prior to Akin's misworded comment, he was leading in the polls over the Democrat incumbent, Sen. Claire McCaskill, who is considered to be the most vulnerable Democrat in the Senate. If his chances are now so dismal, why is Moveon.org calling for Akin to resign? Or why is the liberal super PAC American Bridge 21st Century demanding that Romney drop Huckabee from the GOP convention for supporting Akin? The left is well aware that to put in a substitute candidate now would risk losing the seat.....

169 posted on 08/27/2012 2:35:43 PM PDT by lentulusgracchus
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To: philman_36

I must be winning whatever argument we are having, you’re getting snarky again.


170 posted on 08/27/2012 3:05:52 PM PDT by LSAggie
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To: LSAggie
I must be winning whatever argument we are having, you’re getting snarky again.

If that's your understanding of things then you run with that.

171 posted on 08/27/2012 3:22:56 PM PDT by philman_36 (Pride breakfasted with plenty, dined with poverty, and supped with infamy. Benjamin Franklin)
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To: lentulusgracchus

Well I do not know what Move On’s agenda is here, or the emphasis of the American Bridge 21st Centurys agenda is either. The majority of Dems want Akin to be the GOP candidate. McCaskill is vulnerable to any of them, but Bruner or Steelman would have routed Claire hands down No Doubt.


172 posted on 08/27/2012 6:59:13 PM PDT by C. Edmund Wright ("You Might Be a Liberal" (YMBAL) Coming out Sept 1 by C. Edmund Wright)
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To: philman_36

You are a bureaucrat, whether you know it or not. You think like one, argue like one, and have a huge blind spot to humor, figures of speech and soft rhetoric because you have a type B left brain wired mind that cannot comprehend those.

Thus, the accountant and lawyer comparison were just decoys as a way to bury bureaucrat. Both accountants and lawyers are basically bureaucrats with a specific skill and license. And you can be either of the three and be an absolute idiot, so if you took a thrill from the comparison, save it. And like I said, you are a bureaucrat regardless of what else you are .


173 posted on 08/27/2012 7:04:24 PM PDT by C. Edmund Wright ("You Might Be a Liberal" (YMBAL) Coming out Sept 1 by C. Edmund Wright)
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To: C. Edmund Wright
You just can't stop trying to label or tag me, can you?
Maybe you ought to analyze yourself and stop concentrating so much on me.
174 posted on 08/27/2012 7:10:46 PM PDT by philman_36 (Pride breakfasted with plenty, dined with poverty, and supped with infamy. Benjamin Franklin)
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To: philman_36

OK, forget the analysis, which I assume is right BTW. Just the facts:

Throughout this entire thread, you have totally missed all humor, all figures of speech, all valid use of generalizations in some petty pursuit of the nth degree of some kind of literal single dimensional universe that does not exist.


175 posted on 08/27/2012 7:40:42 PM PDT by C. Edmund Wright ("You Might Be a Liberal" (YMBAL) Coming out Sept 1 by C. Edmund Wright)
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To: C. Edmund Wright
OK, forget the analysis, which I assume is right BTW.
You can assume anything you want.

Throughout this entire thread...yada, yada, yada...
Thanks for sharing your opinion.

So in other words you can't substantiate your claim and instead you have chosen to go off into some quasi pseudo-psychological spiel calling out every single fault of mine as you see them as some feeble form of distraction from your inabilities.

Got it. Good night.

176 posted on 08/27/2012 9:13:41 PM PDT by philman_36 (Pride breakfasted with plenty, dined with poverty, and supped with infamy. Benjamin Franklin)
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To: Kaslin

Info is in Google News. Scandal at Maricopa County Attorney’s office where she worked.


177 posted on 08/28/2012 10:51:48 PM PDT by peyton randolph (Tagline service warranty has expired)
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To: philman_36

“If you don’t like the message then “shoot the messenger”?”

****

Nope. Just that she might be a bit biased on the issue if she’s feeling persecuted in her own political/legal mess.


178 posted on 08/28/2012 10:53:16 PM PDT by peyton randolph (Tagline service warranty has expired)
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To: JediJones

“Is she another conservative who’s being attacked by liberals who you’re going to throw under the bus, as Michelle Malkin explains her?”

****

If Michelle Malkin was an attorney she would understand that lawyers can’t absolve themselves in legal ethics cases by pointing a finger at their bosses.

It appears that Alexander is being punished for signing and filing inappropriate pleadings in court. As a lawyer, the buck stops with her, even if she was in fact told to do so by a superior.

That isn’t a witch hunt against her. Note that the other attorneys involved were disbarred. If anything, Alexander’s punishment (which she is appealing) is light by comparison to how the others fared.


179 posted on 08/28/2012 10:57:22 PM PDT by peyton randolph (Tagline service warranty has expired)
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