Last weekend, Todd Akin said that victims of "legitimate rape" don't get pregnant because their bodies have a natural defense against it. He mentioned something about juices not flowing and how a woman's body just naturally shuts down, preventing the sperm from swimming upstream, fertilizing the egg. His comments have drawn the ire of both the GOP and Democrats, who have condemned his comments in droves.
He thought wrong, of course. Along with losing his funding from the NRSC, several high-profile Republicans have called for him to drop out of the race. Presidential candidate Mitt Romney condemned his remarks, and so did Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown who strongly urged him to leave the race, saying, "As a husband and father of two young women, I found Todd Akin's comments about women and rape outrageous, inappropriate and wrong."
The big issue here isn't just a senatorial race, it's a race for a majority in the Senate. Missouri is a fairly reliable bastion of conservatism, and with only four gains needed to get control of the Senate, it's no wonder why Republicans are furious with Akin for his remarks. Akin has until Tuesday 5 p.m. to withdraw from the race so the GOP can nominate another person, but because he refuses to step down, it looks as though they're stuck with him.
Akin is going up against Democratic incumbent Claire McCaskill, who remains only slightly behind him in the polls. But since his recent bout of open-mouth-insert-foot disease, those polls are likely to change in her favor.
Despite a 1996 study that proved that rape related pregnancies were actually very common, the centuries old myth persists. In fact, the first instances of this believe started floating around in the U.K. some time in the 13th century. If a woman claimed she'd been raped and turned up pregnant, it somehow meant that she'd been a willing participant. It was based on the belief that a woman had to achieve climax in order to conceive, which is essentially what Akin, in the year 2012 said about getting those "juices" flowing.
The more things change, the more they stay the same, unfortunately.
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Comments: 17
Not to say that Akin has raped anyone or is infertile, but it does sound like a remark that might come from such a man.
On a similar note, there's another pedophile in Washington...
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2191164/Kerry-Gauthier-Democratic-lawmaker-called-resign-having-oral-sex-teen-bushes.html
A pedophile has a pathological sexual attraction to pre-pubescent children, while a hebephile has a pathological attraction to pubescent (13 - 16 year olds).
Yes, as Reno stated in her comment, Todd Akin disgust me as well. I also find him to be repulsive, repugnant and reprehensible, not to mention, an extremely poor excuse for a man and a father. Unfortunately, there is approximately 25% of the Republican Party who share his religious extreme ideology and thereby, closely identify with this fanatical idiot. It is they and their extremist religious views and beliefs, whom this country must fear the most. It is those people who will be attempting to elect such religious ideologues to represent them (and us) as future politicians.
Don't think for one second that Mr. Akin was speaking solely for himself, for I can assure you, that he wasn't. His message was that which is held secretly by many politicians in Congress today. Mostly those who were elected in the 2010 state elections under the Teapublican Banner. They are extremist in their ideology, both personal, religious and political, with their religious beliefs meaning more to them, than their duty as a representyative of all the people.
Todd Akin was sending his extremist message, loud and clear, that he is a Fundamental Christian religious thinker, believer and doctrine follower. He was stating his most avid beliefs as being opposed to any kind of legal abortion. He was speaking directly to those voters of the Fundamentist, Evangelical and Catholic Christain faiths within his state. His message was, elect me as your Senator and I will endeavor to pass legislation based on my and your, religious beliefs. I will be a Senator of and for the religious people of our state and a Representative in Washington for the Christian Church of Fundamentalism beliefs.
Further, and more importantly, he was only speaking aloud, that which has been the backroom talk of the new extremist wing of the Teapublican Party for several years. He was saying for all to hear, what had previously been said in coded language. Specific words, pharses and inuendoes which were included in speeches by likeminded politicians and/or only in guarded circles until now. Mr. Akin was, for all intent and purpose, openly voicing the new religious thinking of the Teapublican extremist wing of the Republican Party.
One only has to review the many attempted political assaults on women's rights and Evangelical expansionism in politics over past several years, to see what the future holds for this country, if the American voters allow these religious extremist types of people to become politicians. The House of Representatives has already been thoroughly infiltrated by such radical religious thinkers and it has gridlocked the ability of the Congress to get any legislation accomplished.
Note: It will only take the Teapublicans to have a net win of four (4) seats in the Senate and they will have majority control of both Houses of Congress. A scenario which will effectively mean the end of Womens rights, social assistance programs, healthcare for all, controlled prescription cost and the loss of Social Security Retirement. Additionally, we, the vast majority (99%) of Americans will be paying higher taxes with no beneficial representation nor recourse through Congressional Legislation. Wall Street Investors and Corporate CEO's will be running our country from their executive offices and we (America) will have successfully been changed from a nation of, Government of the People, For the People and By the People, into a nation of, Government of the Rich, For the Rich and By the Rich.
Political office in America has become for many new politicians, a place to empower the Christian movement into Washington legislatiing . The movement it's self has become somewhat of a conundrum for the Republican Party and Congress.
At present, the RNC does not seem know how to either get control of the situation nor how to wrench the power away from the newcomers. Therefore, most Republicans are standing like statues, not knowing how to respond to all the new wave thinking.
The Evangelical Religious Rightwingers in Congress are not even close to being the majority, but they are certainly by far, the most vocal and their message is scaring the Hell out of the old establishment. Their religious persona is getting bolder and bolder as can be seen with each new candidate's approach to gaining support from the Christian right voters, as was demonstrated by what Todd Akin brazenly stated.