Posted on 08/21/2012 11:30:08 AM PDT by nickcarraway
Republicans are watching the clock as they wait for a defiant Todd Akin to drop out of the Missouri Senate race following controversial remarks he made about rape and abortion.
The six-term conservative congressman insists he's not quitting -- he said on former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee's radio show Tuesday afternoon that he's staying in the race.
"I haven't done anything morally or ethically wrong," Akin told Huckabee, saying the backlash against him "does seem like a little bit of an overreaction."
"We are going to continue this race for the U.S. Senate," Akin continued. "We believe taking this stand is going to strengthen our country, going to strengthen, ultimately, the Republican Party."
However, Akin is facing intense pressure from within his own party to drop out of the competitive race against Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill. He could easily do so -- before 5 p.m. Central Time today. If Akin exits today, the state Republican party will have 28 days to replace him on the ballot. If today's deadline passes, Akin could still withdraw from the race before Sept. 25, but if he did so during that window, the Missouri GOP would have to obtain a court order to replace his name on the ballot. After Sept. 25, the state will not change the names on the state ballot, no matter what.
A close Akin confidante tells CBS News that he will consider his standing over the coming weeks in advance of the Sept. 25 deadline.
(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...
Typical politician, they don’t care about the well being of the nation - just about their own political careers.
It’s about winning, and the fact is that the sheeple are swayed by what the media says.....what good is it, if we lose?
You have to be smart, and know the game so as not to give them ammunition....you have to know that the GOP is starting the game behind a couple of touchdowns.
And I suspect, like most politicians, he has no core beliefs, he just plays the role.
When I saw that Todd Akin had won the MO primary, I figured he would be unmercifully exposed as an oddball sometime before November, but I sure didn't think it would happen this fast... nor did I expect it to be this much of an "own goal." I have had, however, no doubts in the last 24 hours that he'd dig in his heels with the help of the congregation; zealots don't listen.
Mr. niteowl77
What a despicable douchebag. The House GOP should just expel him.
All the major radio news networks are carrying Akin’s defiance as the top story.
He wants to be an NFL referee?
Give me a break. IT is NOT his pro-life stance that is HIS problem. He has NO clue how to articulate a 'pro-life' attraction. We in Missouri want Clarie gone.... period....
Not some guy on a crusade that has NO clue how to win an election so he can implement his pro-life 'stance'. AND to win Akin needs those haughty high minded moderate so called INDEPENDENTS. NOT to give these liberal snakes venom to hiss so those mushy independents can escape the medias rampant ridicule.
Virtually over night, Todd Akin has elevated (or is that submerged) himself to second place in the “Narcissist of the Year” contest.
Akin is as conservative as they come. He can get out if he wants, but if he decides to stay in all republicans should support him. Are you listening Karl RINO Rove and the GOP?
Or would you rather have the leftist Claire McCaskill win again.
“On Monday, amid a growing chorus of GOP leaders calling for Akin to halt his Senate campaign, the FRC Action PAC released a statement supporting his candidacy.
“This is another case of ‘gotcha politics’ against a conservative leader,” FRC Action PAC president Connie Mackey said. “Todd Akin has a long and distinguished record of defending women, children and families. He has fought against forcing taxpayers to subsidize abortion giant Planned Parenthood, which is the bedrock of Claire McCaskill’s base of support. When speaking about the issue of rape, let’s not forget the cover-up of statutory rape by Planned Parenthood, which to my knowledge has not been addressed by Senator McCaskill.
“Throughout his twelve years in Congress, Todd Akin has supported legislation that honors all human life. He has opposed the commodification of women in contrast to his opponent, Claire McCaskill, who has a long record of promoting the abortion industry while ignoring how abortion harms women.”
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/kirk-cameron-akin-defends-today-video-160847344.html
Of course not. We want to destroy him because he is a selfish boob who is dragging down the party. Listen to him on Huckabee. He still doesn’t understand what was wrong with his moronic statement. Akin damaged the pro-life cause by playing to the stereotype of an inarticulate, scientifically illiterate, chauvinist rube. There is a basic level of rhetorical competence we must require from our candidates. It’s not about parroting conservative viewpoints and pushing the right button in Congress. Honestly, Akin couldn’t even do that. This guy wasn’t able to competently answer a basic question about an issue that supposedly is near and dear to his heart. What does that say about his master of other issues.
It’s not that his comments were stupid or idiotic, it’s that he sounds like a crackpot. Believing that a woman’s body shuts down the ability to get pregnant as a result of a forcible rape is simply preposterous.
A comparable situation would be if a left-wing House member from an ultra-left wing district won a state-wide Democratic primary to become the Senate nominee, say Keith Ellison or Andre Carson. And this person was quoted as saying that 911 was a plot by Israeli intelligence and George Bush, and that the “hijackers” were really deep-cover Mossad agents.
The Democrats, who excuse a lot in their nominees, would demand that this person step down because he sounded like a crackpot.
Sometimes you can be pro-life and conservative and a crackpot.
Reminds me of the a$$hole ethically-charged Republican who refused to quit the Colorado Gov. race, forcing Tom Tancredo to run 3rd party, and losing to the open-borders, homo-loving Democrat Hickenlooper.
Meet the Chief Elections Official in MO, who would hear the case:
Hi, I’m Robin Carnahan, Secretary of State and chief elections official for the state of Missouri. Link.
I don't think there will be much love for the GOP in that room....
Do not trust polls that have not had at least a week on any issue to percolate through the thinking of the voting public. People usually come to the right decision given a little time, and this is of too little time yet to have a rational opinion.
If the Democrats can open this up into another wedge issue to demonstrate the “culture of corruption” among Republicans, and particularly Conservative-leaning candidates, then far more than just one Senate seat is at stake. For those of you who have forgotten, there was a “Macaca moment”, when the loss of a Senate seat in Virginia became inevitable, George Allen was eliminated. And he had been a bright, articulate star that would have stood in line for potential Presidential consideration.
The consequences of Todd Akin NOT stepping aside may be more dreadful than anyone can conceive. As of this moment, Todd Akin is probably trailing Claire McCaskill, and it is not at all certain that he could make up the difference.
“For want of a nail....”
Did anyone hear the woman who called Rush about this, though? She said something like, “We are sick to death of the Party determining who will represent us. We like Akin, and we’ll vote for him. If the Party in DC steps in and ‘gives’ us a new candidate, we will not vote for him” — (my words...). I haven’t followed this closely, but I resonated with her statement.
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.