Posted on 08/19/2012 6:57:25 PM PDT by randita
Rep. Todd Akin, the Republican nominee for Senate in Missouri, justified his opposition to all abortion, even in instances of rape, by saying that “legitimate rape” rarely leads to pregnancy — comments that have set off a media firestorm in an already contentious race.
In an interview with a St. Louis television station posted today, Akin said that female bodies “[have] ways to try to shut that whole thing down” and that only rapists, and not unborn children, should be punished.
“First of all, from what I understand from doctors, [pregnancy from rape] is really rare,” Akin told KTVI-TV, in an interview first reported nationally by Talking Points Memo. “If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down.”
“Let’s assume that maybe that didn’t work, or something,” Akin continued. “I think there should be some punishment, but the punishment ought to be on the rapist and not attacking the child.”
Akin has since issued a statement saying he “misspoke” but did not reverse his position on abortion in the case of rape or incest, nor did he dispute the medical claims he made by citing doctors.
“It’s clear that I misspoke in this interview and it does not reflect the deep empathy I hold for the thousands of women who are raped and abused every year. Those who perpetrate these crimes are the lowest of the low in our society and their victims will have no stronger advocate in the Senate to help ensure they have the justice they deserve,” Akin said in the statement. “I recognize that abortion, and particularly in the case of rape, is a very emotionally charged issue. But I believe deeply in the protection of all life and I do not believe that harming another innocent victim is the right course of action. I also recognize that there are those who, like my opponent, support abortion and I understand I may not have their support in this election.”
Akin’s opponent, Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill, issued a statement calling Akin’s remarks incomprehensible and “offensive.”
“It is beyond comprehension that someone can be so ignorant about the emotional and physical trauma brought on by rape,” McCaskill said. “The ideas that Todd Akin has expressed about the serious crime of rape and the impact on its victims are offensive.”
Earlier this month, McCaskill and her Democratic allies spent more than $1 million in Missouri’s Republican primary, according to the Sunlight Foundation, trying to boost the conservative Akin, largely viewed as the most politically vulnerable candidate in a state primed for a GOP pickup.
Well, there goes the Senate.....
What a GD’d mess.
Just shows to go you that the pubbies are idiots as the rats are.
Why would this guy say something like this. Is he simply insane?
Note that I said PRE Roe, before abortion became a political football. Bob
I agree.
I believe he has women confused with rabbit does, an easy enough mistake to make if one has not quite grasped the difference.
looks like Missourians have a choice to make. Hurry up and make it y’all. looks like you have about a little less than 17 hours to make it. tic toc. tic toc,
No, it sounds like he mixed up his words which is easy to do since the pro-abortionists are always making you explain your beliefs. Do you really think him resigning will help and appease those fickle moderates or would we have a better chance by going on offense.
Yes he is against abortion in cases of incest and rape, end of discussion. Why is McCasket for abortion on demand including late term abortion?
Pray for America
Because with the exception of politics, the real world repels this level of stupidity like virus’ and bacteria being repelled by a bodies immune system. Things like using the hair dryer in the tub, messing with the lawnmower blade with the plug wire still on, fiddling with your running car engine with a tie on, etc...
If you’ve lived through “Hey Y’all, watch this!”, then you’re probably ready for a career in politics.
This guys needs to step down because of one poorly chosen adjective?
Let’s say we substitute the word “actual” for “legitimate”. Feel better?
What is Planned Parenthood’s criteria for actual rape? I understand there are accusations that Planned Parenthood does not properly report incidences of rape. Why don’t we go after the rape enablers, instead of the man who chose the wrong adjective?
Obama must have a guardian angel (do they have those in Islam?).
I am sorry, but a gaffe of this magnitude shows we have a real moron on our hands, and people like this DO NOT LEARN FROM THEIR MISTAKES.
He will repeat gaffes in the future, possibly EVEN WORSE.
Contact Akin and the Missouri GOP on Facebook. They can pressure him to quit:
http://www.facebook.com/supportakin
http://www.facebook.com/missourigop
Call MISSOURI GOP: 573-636-3146
Call Akin campaign: 636-207-7986
PERHAPS THE BEST NUMBER....THE WORK NUMBER OF THE ACTUAL STATE CHAIRMAN.....THIS MAY BE MOST EFFECTIVE (HE IS A LAWYER): (417) 847-2734
>> I am sorry, but a gaffe of this magnitude
I’ll accept this as a gaffe when you tell me how a legitimate rape differs from an illegitimate rape.
Workplace number of state GOP chairman (lawyer): 417-847-2734
I mean gaffe in the sense of a stupid thing to say.
exactly....it is possible that the stress of a rape can delay ovulation....IF ovulation has not already been set in motion.
Ovulation can be delayed due to illness, hormonal imbalance, emotional and physical stress.
Perhaps, PERHAPS, this is what he was trying to get at.
But instead it sounded like he was describing some mysterious rape protection mode that ladies have.
Very strange.
If ovulation has already occurred - the sperm and the egg don’t give a rip how everything wound up mixed together.
It was ignorant, at least as ignorant as the Freepers who line up to throw under the bus any conservative who makes a gaffe.
The ‘legitimate” part was a figure of speech, misused. The ignorant part was this stuff about the body shutting down. Have never heard such a thing.
So that means a pro abortion liberal idiot should be elected?
Workplace number of state GOP chairman (lawyer): 417-847-2734
People like this DO NOT LEARN FROM THEIR MISTAKES.
He will repeat gaffes in the future, possibly EVEN WORSE.
Contact Akin and the Missouri GOP on Facebook. They can pressure him to quit:
http://www.facebook.com/supportakin
http://www.facebook.com/missourigop
Call MISSOURI GOP: 573-636-3146
Call Akin campaign: 636-207-7986
Oh well, ...next!
Or maybe he is just well paid. We have more of them in the republican party than we have republicans.
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