By now you’ve heard that Rep. Todd Akin (R-MO), a candidate for the U.S. Senate, said on Sunday:
“From what I understand from doctors, pregnancy [as a result of rape], is really rare… If it’s a ‘legitimate’ rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down.”
His subsequent non-apology did not acknowledge he was wrong about pregnancies from rape being rare or wrong about a woman’s body somehow preventing a pregnancy from rape. He said he believes “deeply in the protection of all life” and does “not believe that harming another innocent victim is the right course of action” — the rape victim herself apparently not being a life worth protecting.
What you may not know is that this ignorant man is a member of the the House Science and Technology Committee. No one with such a poor grasp of fundamental 10th grade biology should be serving on any science committee, much less one making policy for the entire country. You can sign a petition from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee asking Speaker John Boehner to remove Akin from that committee. Please consider doing so.
I’ve signed.
Thank you.
Obviously, if you get pregnant via rape, you’re doing it wrong. Duh. This guy also believes there’s such a thing as a non-violent or non-forced rape:
In 2011, he co-sponsored a bill that “would have limited federal help to pay for an abortion to only victims of ‘forcible rape.'”
He’s up by 8% over his opponent…
Up by 8%. That’s terrifying. Stunning and terrifying.
Hey, you know who else co-sponsored that anti-abortion bill that allowed abortion only when someone is “forcibly raped”? Paul Ryan. Guess who now — hours after Akin said what he said — says any woman who gets pregnant through rape should be allowed to have an abortion? Paul Ryan.
Someone should ask Paul Ryan what a non-violent rape is…
Next thing you know, the GOP will be talking about “consensual rape.”
I thought I heard it wrong at first. I keep thinking I’ve heard it all and then people like this step up and speak…with supporters! What an absolute dumb-ass! Thanks for sharing the link. I’ve signed.
Thx for signing! If this jerk doesn’t withdraw from the race, I hope Claire McCaskill beats him like a drum. Scary to think he was ever voted into office in the first place.
You heard me screaming from here, right?
Oh yeah! My ears are still ringing.
Have you seen Obama’s response? LOL.. I have a feeling that Michelle is in the background with a cattle prod saying, “This has gone on LONG enough. Now get out there and say something!”
Hell, the Republicans were voicing louder complaints than this. Reince Preibus called him “dumb” and “biologically stupid,” urged him to step down, and wishes he’d “do the right thing” and not attend the GOP Convention. The scene that made me the angriest, though, was Romney standing there condemning Akin while Ryan stood beside him shaking his head as though he hadn’t had a thing to do with co-signing that “forcible rape” legislation with Akin. I’m flabbergasted at the depth of Akin’s stupidity, but loving every second of the GOP’s scramble to disown, disavow, and get away from him — especially when he represents the heart of their party these days.
Yup. That’s ALL that was on the news yesterday, too. I listen to progressive talk radio all day – when driving to/from work, and at work. And honestly, it was getting real old. Then I get home, and it’s all over TV. Akins really screwed up on this one – and he said pretty much what the RNP believes in.
yeah, I heard about that co-signed bill. Ryan is a sneak and just cannot be trusted.
I’m still incredulous about the while thing…at least there has been a global wave of outrage…..
This is the face of the U.S. Republican Party, Kate. Frightening.
Sorry, whole thing 🙂
The Republicans are outraged because they fear he could lose the election. They would love for him to resign so they could quickly replace him with a stronger candidate.
He could lose his own election, and with it the GOP’s hoped-for control of the Senate. I despise what he said but I’m loving how it has turned the GOP upside down and inside how.
Have you seen Mike Huckabee’s contribution to the dialogue? Take a Tums, first.
The Huckster? The thing about some great people resulting from “forcible rape”? He doesn’t understand any more than Akin does that rape is rape. And he too was completely discounting what the rape and resulting pregnancy and birth does to the woman and her life. So it’s all okay if the resulting baby turns out to be a great person?
From the LA Times:
“Ethel Waters, for example, was the result of a forcible rape,” Huckabee said of the late American gospel singer. One-time presidential candidate Huckabee added: “I used to work for James Robison back in the 1970s, he leads a large Christian organization. He, himself, was the result of a forcible rape. And so I know it happens, and yet even from those horrible, horrible tragedies of rape, which are inexcusable and indefensible, life has come and sometimes, you know, those people are able to do extraordinary things.”
Or perhaps he dropped some other gem that I overlooked?