Posted on 08/19/2012 2:29:04 PM PDT by Perdogg
Todd Akin's out with a doozy of a response to his interview. Linked below.
St. Louis - Congressman Todd Akin just released the following statement regarding his interview on the "Jaco Report" broadcast this morning in St. Louis:
"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.
"But I also believe that this election is about a wide-range of very important issues, starting with the economy and the type of country we will be leaving our children and grandchildren. We've had 42 straight months of unacceptably high unemployment, trillion dollar deficits, and Democratic leaders in Washington who are focused on growing government, instead of jobs. That is my primary focus in this campaign and while there are those who want to distract from that, knowing they cannot defend the Democrats' failed economic record of the last four years, that will continue to be my focus in the months ahead."
All depends on who you talk to and what their agenda is, I guess. I would imagine the true figure is somewhere in between the two extremes.
“But it is Sarah Palin and her supporters that caused it and should just shut up because Todd Akin is a Republican and Republicans are always on the right side of God.
Riiiight.”
I cant even begin to dissect what this has to do with anything anyone said.
I guess we know now why Claire want Aiken to be the nominee.
“he attempts to spin his way out of it by saying that he misspoke! He didn’t misspoke, he knew exactly what he was saying. He could have been upfront and admitted that what he said he was wrong and then went on to apologize and moved on. He set himself up for more trouble”
And while that may be ideal, he did indeed issue a correction within hours.
If Obama in the example of “you didn’t build that” had done the same (if he actually believed what he said was a mistake), that would have never been anything more than a topic of discussion on FR and a few blogs instead of becoming an atom bomb on his campaign.
OK
I agree, It is all Sarah Palin’s fault.
This is about as clear as the water in Boston Harbor. Apparently he did not make an exception for rape and incest in his earlier remarks like most cowardly “Pro-lifers” do. Come on Cogressman, grow a pair or you will not defeat Barack Obama’s fat, ugly old girl friend, Claire. Many girls who want to kill their baby in their womb scream “rape” to legitimize it with society.
TURN OUT THE LIGHTS; THE PARTY’S OVER!!! I read the article. This guy has the IQ of a friggin’ footstool. I know what he was saying, but this was a stupid thing to say in a political campaign. The Dems will jump all over this and Claire McCaskill will be in the Senate for another 6 years. This type of “rape gaffe” caused GOP nominee for Governor of Texas, Clayton Williams, to lose to Ann Richards in 1990. He was ahead in the polls before he made a stupid statement about rape and then Ann Richards cleaned his clock in Conservative-Red Texas.
What a shame. I can’t stand that McCaskill bi*ch. Oh well....
TURN OUT THE LIGHTS; THE PARTY’S OVER!!! I read the article. This guy has the IQ of a friggin’ footstool. I know what he was saying, but this was a stupid thing to say in a political campaign. The Dems will jump all over this and Claire McCaskill will be in the Senate for another 6 years. This type of “rape gaffe” caused GOP nominee for Governor of Texas, Clayton Williams, to lose to Ann Richards in 1990. He was ahead in the polls before he made a stupid statement about rape and then Ann Richards cleaned his clock in Conservative-Red Texas.
What a shame. I can’t stand that McCaskill bi*ch. Oh well....
The “macaca moment” for this clown will start in 3... 2.... 1. It takes cosmic stoopidity to lose to a dimwit creep like Ma McCaskil, and if this guy does not withdraw by next weekend it will be her reelection to win. It does not matter what the facts are, nor what he meant even though garbled. Unless he is made of different stock than the idiot coward George Allen he is dead meat and the DSCC will start pouring money in to keep this alive. Write this one off. Not what I want, but reality is a b!tch.
Swear some people act like the voting public is just that simple-minded.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
They are “that simple-minded”; we have Obama in the White House don’t we. Don’t give the American voters more credit than they deserve. Most of them shouldn’t even be allowed to vote they are so effin’ stupid.
Any chance we can dump this guy and put a better candidate up against McCaskill
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
He should withdraw from the Race and let another candidate step in. Otherwise, we have Claire McCaskill for another 6 years.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M09iWwKiDsA#t=121s
His mistake was to apologize. At best, the situation calls for a clarification.
He used the word "legitimate", in the sense of "true" or "valid", to distinguish forcible rape from statutory rape, which is consensual, and false rape (when it was consensual but she decides it was rape after it happened). Clearly, "forcible" would have been a better choice of adjective. But using "legitimate" is hardly offensive, except to those who already disagree with his pro-life views.
He also referred to medical evidence, which may or may not be valid, to assert that pregnancy from forcible rape is rare. That may or may not be true science, but, again, it is not offensive or demeaning to women or whatever.
MO elected her among other reasons because of Michael J Fox. Many voters are “deeply stupid”.
Hopefully, this election is not about social issues, because Akin's not getting the pro-choice vote, regardless of the adjectives he chooses or the factoids he brings up.
This type of “rape gaffe” caused GOP nominee for Governor of Texas, Clayton Williams, to lose to Ann Richards in 1990.
That's absurd. What Claytie said about rape was, "It's like the weather. If it's inevitable, you should just relax and enjoy it." He joked about it. That's completely different from Akin's remark, which was part of a serious discussion.
This is a lot worse than Allen’s “macaca” comment or Lott’s defense of Thurmond. Those were ridiculous, and the Republicans could have and should have stood up to the devious media shenanigans. The GOP showed themselves to be pathetic wimps, unwilling to fight back.
This quote of Akin’s is truly horrid, though. It’s already an incredibly toxic gaffe to use the words “legitimate rape” together, but then to add “the female body has ways to try to shut this thing down,” multiplies the offensiveness tenfold. Adds some very unpalatable implications. Far beyond a simple gaffe. And it’s maddening, because I’m pretty sure Akin would offer a terrific conservative voting record. But I nonetheless have to question the workings of his brain, because his quote, even if he was trying to convey a legitimate point, came out as incredibly grotesque.
Good grief.
McCaskill is such an arrogant politician ... remember her from the town hall meetings and how condescending she was to her constituents?
She should have been easy to beat ... but now this bozo probably has no chance. Maybe that’s why Palin endorsed someone else in the primary.
I am willing to give this guy 48 hrs to diffuse this, but otherwise he must step down.
We need this seat; we DESERVE this seat.
And keep this idiot away from Tampa. He ain’t going to the convention. Period.
But, would you not concede that what Claytie said was not very funny. People who have been raped and their family members who had to walk through that with them, did not think it was funny. And, if you’re a Texan, you know that’s what cost him the Election. Everybody knows it. I’m telling you, if Aikin does not withdraw from the race, it’s over. I’d be willing to put some money on it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.