Agree with you RobbyS, but would not use the word "wrong." Akin was not wrong in the sense of his ideas being irrational or totally out of the realm of scientific possibility.
I would use the word "unwise." Akin was unwise to fall into a trap set by the hostile, liberal media. He has admitted this and apologized for it.
Conservative politicians often try to answer a question earnestly, not evasively. We usually admire this! However in this case Akin should have done what most pols do when confronted with a question that is "sensitive" or difficult to answer articulately ... i.e. he should've punted.
But hey, all politicians, even the smartest, get caught off guard and put their feet in their mouth from time to time. Should they receive the political equivalent of the death penalty for it? I would argue that destroying Akin will HURT Republicans nationally, not help them.
I also think that Akin, paradoxically, has done some Republican candidates a favor. You can bet that GOP candidates will now
(a) have their guard up for questions like this and
(b) have their ducks in a row with a well-thought-through response.
The Dims were coming after us with this question - it was only a matter of time before they tripped up one.
There is another possible paradoxical effect of his mistake:
1. The Dims will overplay their hands with absurd, over-the-top abortion rhetoric. Barbara Boxer is already doing this.
2. Rush Limbaugh says the Dims are already planning to make their convention an "Abortion Convention." As says Rush: LET THEM.
If there is damage, the damage is done. The question is, what do we do next?
My answer to that is, first, conservatives, stop it with your own idiotic ideas ... like floating an "independent candidacy" in Missouri (a la Palin) or "staying home and not voting" (a la Dana Perrino). And stop aiding the Left by parroting their memes ... "Magical Uterus" etc. THAT is the dumbest thing to do.
You agree with Akin, that a woman's body magically avoids pregnancy when she is being raped?