Rep. Todd Akin had no sooner won Missouri’s GOP Senate primary this month than he seemed eager to hand over the election to incumbent Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill. Akin instantly became a national sensation with a shocking statement about how “legitimate rape” rarely results in pregnancy.
When confronted on his view regarding exceptions to a ban on abortions, Akin proceeded to show how to abort a Senate campaign in record time: “First of all, from what I understand from doctors, that’s really rare. If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down. . . But let’s assume that maybe that didn’t work or something. You know I think there should be some punishment, but the punishment ought to be on the rapist and not attacking the child.”
First there is the distinction between “legitimate” and “illegitimate” rape that is too twisted to contemplate. Then there is Akin’s rather bizarre view of the female body and the existence of some type of kill switch in cases of rape within every woman.
Akin is a six-term U.S. congressman who probably could have drifted to a win in Missouri. Polls showed him a heavy favorite against McCaskill who is unpopular with many in Missouri as well as Washington. Akin, 65, was backed by former GOP presidential candidate Mike Huckabee and supported by many in the Tea Party. Akin was able to secure 36 percent of the vote against businessman John G. Brunner with 30 percent and former state treasurer Sarah Steelman with 29 percent. Steelman was the favorite of Sarah Palin and many in the Tea Party. Despite the tough primary, Akin was leading McCaskill in the polls.
That changed in a flash and he succeeded in moving a state from an expected win for the GOP into the doubtful column — assuming he does not withdraw from the race. Both Romney and Ryan have publicly criticized the comment. McCaskill appears to relish the thought of becoming the second most unpopular candidate in a two-person race. She has refused to call for Akin to step down and said that it would be a radical step to replace a candidate who just won the primary. Republicans however have lined up to condemn the statements and call for Akin to withdraw from the race.
Akin’s attempt to walk back from the comments was almost as awkward — claiming that he “misspoke” about rape. Here is the statement:
“As a member of Congress, I believe that working to protect the most vulnerable in our society is one of my most important responsibilities, and that includes protecting both the unborn and victims of sexual assault. In reviewing my off-the-cuff remarks, 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.
“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 does not address the medical side of the comment or even explain what he meant about legitimate rape.
“Misspoke” is a remarkably flexible term to cover any statement where, according to Merriam-Webster, you can claim that you “expressed (oneself) imperfectly or incorrectly.” Of course, there remains the cause for such misspeak. It is one thing to get a date wrong or a country wrong or even a description of some past event. Here however Akin drew a distinction between legitimate and illegitimate rape and then proceeded to offer a medical claim that is almost medieval in character.
Here is the clip showing the “misspeech”:
Given the polarized situation in Missouri, this does not necessarily mean that McCaskill will win. However, with the GOP already struggling with the female vote, this is comment is likely to be played back in an endless loop. The question is the degree of pressure from the Romney campaign to get Akin to step aside given the possible drag on the ticket in November.
Source: CNN
gbk:
I did not say I was against abortion although I am personally. I also said potential life. I recognize that many terrible things can go wrong between conception and birth.
I am certainly in no position to cast moral condemnation about what another person does in regard to this very hard subject. I personally think the government has no business one way or the other.
People who want to make abortion illegal dont seem to understand that a government which can outlaw abortion can also force abortions for the public good.
Darren, you know you have trillions of cells that die every day. they end up in the toilet. this is true.
Jim,
I wrote;
“If you KNOW which children are going to fail on the test why don’t you provide them with extra help or tutoring? Isn’t that what teachers are supposed to do? I didn’t let things “play out.” I helped my students.”
You responded: “No!”
***
No what? Which question of mine were you answering with that one word?
Darren,
The morning after pill and some otehr forms of birth control are considered to be abortifacients.
“Again, whether it is skin cells, blastocysts, viruses, or fetuses it is still killing a living thing to end its existence. ”
Which assumes everyone uses the same definitions of life, thing, and existence. Which is a very bad assumption.
Elaine.
I don’t care either way if someone uses contraception. It’s their choice not mine.
Mark:
Again, whether it is skin cells, blastocysts, viruses, or fetuses it is still killing a living thing to end its existence. And it is whether society values these under the circumstances or not that makes it acceptable or outrageous or indifferent.
Some cultures value living things more than others. Call it what you will but that is the reality of human thought presently.
Whether any of us want to call a particular living organism worthwhile or not is not something I am going to get into. I am explaining the evidence here. How others interpret this is up to them.
Everyone knows every sperm is sacred: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0kJHQpvgB8
Jim,
I’ll ask again: is it not audacious of you to disrupt your god’s plans?
Darren, No, an ‘organism’ does not die. these cells have NOT become organized into a living being. Most of the time in first trimester abortions the cells are not even starting to diferentiate, in the case of the morning after pill- not at all as would be the case with birth control or the RU- 486.
these are not organized cells. They are stem cells. And who is to say that this particular Zygote will carry to term anyway?
Your stance would ban all fertility clinics, you know. All the left over products of IV fertilization would no longer be turned back into basic carbon elements.
In fact, life is not lost, only transformed back into these elements.
Dust. Potato peels.
Elaine M.
No! I know my students and their study habits as well as those who do homework. I can’t change any of that only they can. That doesn’t mean I don’t give the test. I have already given tutoring.
Bron,
You might want to read my comment on an old thread concerning this.
http://jonathanturley.org/2011/04/07/idaho-passes-strict-anti-abortion-measure-after-sponsor-invokes-hand-of-god/#comment-219415
What Mespo said!
mespo:
when you perform an abortion late term, you are definitely killing human life. Unquestionably. Actually you are killing human life at conception. Granted at that point it is only potential human life and you could make the case that a 34 week old fetus is potential life as well. But that is pretty hard to do seeing as how a 34 week old fetus could live outside the womb at that age.
Skin cells dont have a chance of naturally becoming a human organism. If left alone in a uterus they have no potential to become a human being even if they [skin cells] are inseminated with your wit and wisdom.
Be pro-abortion just dont call it non-potential human life.
Elaine,
“Now we know who Jim is–a minor god!”
Maybe he’s a demigod?
mespo727272
August 20, 2012 at 6:06 pm
Jim:
The scariest thing you’ve ever said is that you are a teacher.
*****
Ditto that!
Darren:
“When an abortion is performed a living organism dies. Whether or not one considers it a person or not is up for the abortion debate. One could look at the blastocyst or the underdeveloped fetus as a parasite to be removed from the body, or as a baby. I am not making a position either way other than it is a living organism. And yes, an amoeba is a living organism.”
**********************
Sure you are Darren. You are a sentient creature. Everything you have mentioned and every cell in our body is a living organism and they are capable of reproduction. Thus every time we scratch our nose we are committing an untold holocaust against living organisms of our own body. Oh, the horror!
mespo727272,
“only the fool and the fanatic are certain.”
That pretty much wraps it up!!
Jim:
The scariest thing you’ve ever said is that you are a teacher. You have absolutely no idea if that poor woman or her doctor will stand before God. None. You don’t even know which God that will be if there is one. What you think you know is that you know. You are not merely telling others to be like you — you are commanding it by either fiat, guilt, or intimidation. That is the arrogance of Christians like you — and your ultimate undoing. Why not teach your students that “only the fool and the fanatic are certain.”
should be:
Is it not audacious of you to disrupt your god’s plans?
gbk,
Now we know who Jim is–a minor god!
*****
Jim,
I was a teacher for many years. I always had high expectations for my students. Many times they surprised me with their efforts and accomplishments–even those who had learning/academic problems. They understood that I had faith in them. That gave many of them more confidence and hope that they could achieve. They tried harder.
If you KNOW which children are going to fail on the test why don’t you provide them with extra help or tutoring? Isn’t that what teachers are supposed to do? I didn’t let things “play out.” I helped my students.