On Sunday U.S. Senate Candidate (and member of the House of Representatives) Todd Akin of Missouri told a local television station “legitimate rape” rarely produces pregnancy because “the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down.” Akin cited conversations with unnamed doctors for his bizarre claim, which you can watch for yourself below.
It’s worth noting Rep. Akin has previously expressed concern that criminalizing marital rape gives women “a legal weapon to beat up on the husband” during a divorce, so it’s not as if his bizarre beliefs are confined to the issue of pregnancies resulting from rapes.
Todd Akin is a disgusting human being.
Unfriggingbelieveable
I liked some of these Tweets:
@tbogg
Todd Akin could deflect all the criticism by demanding that Mitt release his tax returns. Just throwing that out there…
@fivethirtyeight
Is it possible to win a Senate race with 0% of the women’s vote? Asking for a friend.
@TrinaCuppett
MT @Marmel: It’s just a little rape, right? Accept no apology except for resignation from this clown. #WarOnWomen https://www.facebook.com/TheMarmelPage/posts/515355095147800?notif_t=share_comment …
@Bambookiller
I’m going tell my husband we don’t have to use condoms anymore now that we know about the #LegitimateRape method.
@dreamspeak
“I misspoke” is the new “Disregard that, I’m a raving psychopath.” #LegitimateRape
@illusory_tenant
GOP strategist-speak: “This is not a positive development.” Normal English: “This Neanderthal is fucked.” #LegitimateRape
Glad you posted that video, Zach. When I first read about this, I couldn’t believe it. God made man, and woman, in his image. Forcing a woman to have a child she abhors obviously goes against God’s wishes since she is certainly God to that future being. That forcing process…whether physically, emotionally or mentally…wreaks havoc on mankind and should stop.
If there were such a mechanism, wise women would have harnessed it millenia ago. Any intercourse results in pregnancy at a certain rate, and that rate is dependent on biological factors related to fertility of the individuals involved, and cycle timing. Otherwise, all things are equal.
God does not have anything to do with any of this, of course. Human biology, and human cruelty are the only factors to be considered.
Marital rape is one of those family issues, like how many children should one couple be allowed to produce, (not take care of , that is different…)or should parenting be subject to competency or licensing testing.
These issues are so ethically loaded, and so subject to differences in criteria that there may never be a consensus on them. I am childless by choice, and am an adopted child myself. If more people considered these options of adoption or non-reproduction, the Planet might be better able to withstand the human infestation that plagues it.
BUT, those decisions have to be brought about either by ethical persuasion or some imminent survival crisis.
Needless to say, the Republican Congressperson in question here makes NONE of these points, in his attempt to be “scientific”
MBB
Even Ron Johnson is appalled.
RON JOHNSON.
Well, Ron Johnson supported and campaigned for John Brunner, whom Akin beat in the primary and who presumably would benefit if Akin were to step down, so I don’t know how much of his response is outrage as opposed to opportunism.
I don’t see how anyone can say what God doesn’t have anything to do with. That’s not even a matter of faith. If we define God as “The Creator” then He/She would have something to do with every act of creation, for or against.
Actually this is statement has nothing to do with pregnancy or creation. It is a statement to blame the victim. A woman would not need to take “preventative measures” if she was truly raped….therefore, we do not have to have a “plan B” exception to the abortion laws.
@markos
If Akin had shacked up with a hooker, like David Vitter, he’d be getting a standing ovation from the GOP.
Retweeted by Gen JC Christian
Akin’s causal definition of “legitimate rape” is akin to “she asked for it” because of the natural and god-given features of a woman.
News Alert
from The Wall Street Journal
For the first time in its 80-year history, Augusta National Golf Club has female members.
The home of the Masters, under increasing criticism the last decade because of its all-male membership, invited former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and South Carolina financier Darla Moore to become the first women to join the club when it opens for a new season in October. Both women accepted.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390443989204577601210510389918.html?mod=djemalertNEWS
Every Republican in the House voted for the “forcible rape,” distinction in H.R.3
http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2011/05/04/163656/house-gop-hr3/
Along with Paul Ryan, here are the other Wisconsin co-sponsors:
Duffy, Sean [R-WI7]
Ribble, Reid [R-WI8]
Sensenbrenner, James [R-WI5]
Petri, Thomas “Tom” [R-WI6]
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/112/hr3
Exactly. Akin only exposed an opinion that is actually shared by MANY in his party. He is far from the only one. And Sen. McCaskill is savvy enough to know that if he were replaced, it would push the issue back under the rug. So she wants him out there as a daily reminder to her state and to the nation that the party he represents consist of little more than neanderthals. (Although that comparison is none too kind to neanderthals.)
I still have not got an answer on this and I ask a lot” Who will pay for the new baby boom if pro life gets their way??? Will the children be neglected??? Adoption is not the answer. too many kids are in foster care on the tax dime. Why are the “personhood” rights not extended to the person carying the baby? Why is her situation not considerded as far as physical, emotional, financhial health, drug or other addictions, her relationship to the father, other resources???? What kind of environment will this child be raised in??? parenting is not for everyone who can concive.