Even the most conservative of bloggers agrees: Rep. Todd Akin, who is now infamous for having said that in cases of legitimate rape, a woman’s body will naturally take actions to help prevent pregnancy, must bow out of his race for the Missouri Senate.
Over on The Other McCain, Robert Stacy McCain explains the situation, and exactly why Akin is just too green to be reliable as a representation of Republicans:
Back in March, the Democrat seized on FlukeGate as Exhibit A in their “Republican War on Women” argument, which forced the GOP to invest enormous effort in turning the conversation back to the issues — the economy, jobs, deficits, etc. — where they were prepared to fight the fall campaign.
And then, out of the clear blue sky, Todd Akin punts it.
It was like the point man in the infantry patrol who hits the trip wire that detonates the mine in the enemy ambush. Suddenly the entire platoon finds itself pinned down under carefully aimed small-arms fire from camouflaed emplacements, while mortars and artillery come pouring in on pre-determined grid coordinates.
The Democrats and their media allies had all their arguments and talking points ready to roll, having rehearsed the whole drill five months ago during FlukeGate. Suddenly, everything Mitt Romney ever said about abortion and everything Paul Ryan ever said about abortion is legtimate, relevant and newsworthy.
Most conservative commentators and Republican political leaders see the situation in a similar light. Sean Hannity, in an interview with Akin that Buzzfeed is featuring, strongly challenges Akin on the notion that people are forgiving of mistakes, and encourages him to let someone replace him (video below).
Ultimately, the message is clear: Nobody’s forgetting about this any time soon, as much as the Republicans may wish it would go away. And one thing both sides can agree on is that Todd Akin needs to take some time away from politics.
Robert Stacy McCain goes a step further:
…the fact is there’s no way Akin survives this — no way at all. The elders and wise men of the Republican Party will have him out of there within 24 hours, and probably a lot less than that. By lunchtime Tuesday the question will be who will replace Akin on the ticket.
What do you think will happen in Missouri in the next few days? Will he be replaced? Will his replacement be able to hold onto Akin’s significant lead or is the Republican party doomed?
Image of Stacy McCain courtesy of mediabistro.com
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Better to be silent and thought an ignorant extremist than to speak up and remove all doubt?
I think it’s great when people like Aiken say in public what they think in private, and preferably, prior to election day. Voters should be able to make an informed decision.
You’d think someone so invested in regulating women’s bodies would be better informed about the relevant biology and facts. Or maybe those things have no place in his idea of legislating?
Either way, I hope he stays in. He has some controversial ideas and they should be discussed and people should know what Aiken and his political kin really think.
Well Aiken is still making media – so here’s his explanation and apology on YouTube, uploaded in the last hour. I have to say, there are only 302 views – and I suspect 10+ are down to me …. I laughed so much I kept hitting the wrong button to get off the page!
Not sure if it indicates he’s fighting to stay to handling media before he ducks out … but if you watch carefully you can see his eyes scanning left to right as he reads the Auto Que. Evidently a lot of effort has been made to make sure he dont “Mis spoke” again!
Akin may have been referring to forcible rape as opposed to the kind envisaged by, say, Koss. Not the drunken thrashings of a couple of teenagers who can’t recall what happened, or the acquiescence not looking like “hell yes” and later regretted, or various other scenarios. More like Whoopi Goldberg’s “rape-rape”.
In that case, is there a reduced chance of pregnancy? There may be some empirical work on it someplace.
Nevertheless, Akin should have known that a republican saying the sky is blue is going to have his speech parsed as fanatically pro-life. I exaggerate a bit. But not much.
And whether it’s true or not, the relevance is irrelevant.
Just so you know, Richard, there is NO empirical evidence of that anywhere. The rates of conception appear to be the same across the board, somewhere around 5%.
Joanna – I have to back you up! I have been looking for any form of peer reviewed (no matter how whacky the peers) study, theory or darkly hinted blue sky composite that could be used to justify Atkin’s words. He says he misspoke, but still can’t explain what he was getting wrong.
I have been looking at the issue of ON THE NATURE OF FOETAL RE-ABSORPTION , From the Department of Physiology, University College, London. 1924. Link
It is s seminal work addressing what happens to failed blastules in multiple pregnancies – and does address mare, cow, sheep, guineapig, hamster, rat, mouse, ferret, dog, cat, mole, rabbit and pig. It fails to mention rape or legitimacy. The technical term for the RE-ABSORPTION is autolysis.
Maybe the doctors advising Akin have more to do with veterinary science?
I also love that the twitter account for Akin’s Empty Chair @AkinEmptyChair is so active – and this is classic. “GOP Ldrshp calls on Empty Chair to dropout of Missouri race… Empty Chair vows to defeat @ChairMcCaskill” – Twitter
He has said so much that is wrong and reacted in so many wrong ways, he’s a liability and now a parody. He’s fast turned into a Political Internet Meme in the worst way. 5pm should be interesting.
Maybe he was actually talking about ducks:
http://www.world-science.net/othernews/070501_duck.htm
After all, he is a Republican, so he doesn’t really think women are people.
-Jut
Joanna. Another blogger–neo-neocon–a shrink as well as a blogger, found Physicians for Life say there is a reduced chance. What they based their assertion on is not clear.
But, obviously, if there is a difference, there isn’t a difference for purposes of public debate.
Point stands, however. Get caught at a rest stop diddling a seventeen year old, and if you’re a dem, it’s personal business.
Say something stupid as a republican and it tarnishes every conservative that ever lived.
That’s the shape of the field and any republican/conservative with half the brains God gave a goose–disincluding Akin–knows it and had better act accordingly.
Richard, then how do you explain Dem. Anthony Weiner? He was asked to resign and he didn’t even have SEX with anybody.
Richard, the reason that only Republicans are called out for this sort of hypocrisy is that only Republicans get involved in moral posturing in the first place. The GOP is the only party that CAN be caught in such contradictions, because they’re the only ones stupidly trying to dictate morality instead of focusing on legitimate issues of governance.
Is it ok if you’re a dem to:
solicit sex in an airport restroom? run off to south america to hook up with your mistress? solicit underage congressional pages? be virulently anti-gay but still look for a little of that on the side?
moot points, i guess, those weren’t dems.
Even Karl Rove is saying Todd Akin won’t recover from this:
http://gop12.thehill.com/2012/08/rove-theres-no-way-that-akin-can-recover.html
I think, that as this proceeds, in order to keep the entire Party from imploding as asked (which is an irresponsible assumption, by the way), they absolutely must condemn his comments and continue to distance themselves from him, presenting themselves as a Party which is not in step with his viewpoint.
Back to my statement about how it’s irresponsible to say that an entire Party is doomed based on the misstatement of one candidate, who, quite frankly, until he made his mistaken comment, was largely unknown by the general population. Yes, it’s not the best publicity, but I see it as an opportunity for the Party to clarify where it stands and strengthen support of it’s base. This is not a game of dominoes which will end in complete chaos.
When politics invades the bedroom, sexual activity (wanted or unwanted), pregnancy (wanted or unwanted), or how one deals with said conception, things get heated. We tend to react first and think later. I’m not at ALL condoning what he said. But is what he said much better than Joe Biden stating Romney would put a roomful of African Americans back in chains? Both comments disenfranchise two separate groups of people. And yet, only the GOP candidate is being called upon to step down. I agree both statements are awful, and am equally offended by both statements. Why is no one else?
Lauren – I love the way word get played with – and as an outsider to American Politics it’s fascinating to see the game play and satire – the Etch-a-sketch – Wienergate ( I had to google and gag), and all the ways issues are played around with.
I’ve also had a look at The Joe Biden back in chains issue – and it’s clear that what was said was a Piece of Rhetorical Art using the metaphor of Unchaining Wall St. I can see why it has been jumped on for exploitation, but frankly it’s insulting to think that the Average American with net access can’t check it out themselves and reach a valid judgement!
Biden’s Artistic and clever rhetoric did address an issue of policy in a way that people understood. It was good political campaigning – he spoke to people on a complex subject in a way that makes sense.
Akin – boy oh boy – he speaks on a hot potato issue, makes claims about biology, doctors and rape that is nonsensical and unfathomable – and it’s a central Political Issue. It was atrocious political campaigning and for that alone his suitability for office is in question. If he is so divorced from reality and the subject how can he vote in any way that represents reality and constituents?
… and to top it off, you then have Steve King: I’ve Never Heard Of A Girl Getting Pregnant From Statutory Rape Or Incest…. and equally bizzare back peddling about personal experience and exposure to people who have been raped. He has some strong views on immigration – so maybe he will say different things if he gets personally acquainted with a few Migrants? He was very clear on his views and words on Iowa Supreme Court Judges, and made sure they were removed – but of course he knew them – he evidently had no personal acquaintance with those pesky same sex marriage types that the Judges ruled in favour of. Maybe he needs to get out more and meet some people?
Odd how so many groups dealing with the issue spend so much money in lobbying, providing briefings, reports and even easy read versions to inform Legislatures of the subject and all parts of it! Seems that either some like King don’t need to read because they have decided what reality is – else there is a seriosue issue of literacy amongst US politicians.
…and I really wish I had not looked up Wienergate! 8^0 …
Todd Akin needs to stay on and fight till the bitter end, and his seat needs to be lost. His stupidity is deep and multilayered. His team is deserving of a red card – just like football.
it’s okay to be a dem.
You’ll note those guys are gone. See, though, Gerry Studds. Re-elected until he chose to retire. Grand Kleagle or whatever Byrd from West Virginia.
“bout the time Studds was getting a pass from his constituents, a republican congressman named Crane was caught doing an underage page–female this time, how boooring–and he disappeared.
You’re right. republicans have shame and won’t put up with this stuff. Libs can’t be accused of breaking any principles because, as has been said here, they don’t have any.
BTW, I believe Foley sent inappropriate e-mails to ex-pages who were of age. Sweaty but not illegal. Nevertheless, he was gone.
Also, see Gauthier.
Fascinating reproductive theory he’s got there. Someone ask him how the stork knows whether the mother was raped or not. Or maybe the cabbage patch has a “no rapists allowed” policy.
The key question is not how many of us on the GMP know that he has been misinformed, but how many of his constituents actually think he’s wrong? I bet a depressing number of them don’t see what’s wrong with what he said….
I believe he will stay in the race. He’s picking up support and money from the anti-abortion crowd. And he may win; Missouri is a conservative state.
It seems to me that our sense of outrage as a country lasts only a few days. Something else will come along in the next few days.
By the way, at work no one has mentioned Akin or Biden. It may be that a significant portion of Americans is not paying any attention to all of this. Would be interesting to know what a poll of non-internet users would say.