Todd Akin's Rape Comment and Its Aftermath
On Sunday, Todd Akin, the Republican candidate to replace Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) in the U.S. Senate made a huge gaffe. As The Hill reports,
Akin, in an interview with a local St. Louis station on Sunday, was asked to explain his opposition to abortion for pregnancies caused by rape.
"It seems to me, first of all, from what I understand from doctors, that's really rare. If it's a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down," he said.
Akin said later, in a statement, that he “misspoke,” claiming that his comments did not “reflect the deep empathy I hold for the thousands of women who are raped and abused every year.”
This morning, McCaskill blasted Akin. "This statement," she said, "is a kind of window into Todd Akin's mind."
The gaffe has seriously affected his chances of defeating McCaskill. Intrade.com sponsors a betting market on the chance that a Republican will win McCaskill's seat this November. A few days ago, those chances were about 75%. However, the chance had dropped to about 45% by late morning today.
By early afternoon, Ann Coulter, the National Review, and Sean Hannity called on Akin to withdraw. Shortly after, Buzzfeed reported that "a top Republican" said that Akin had begun moving toward ending his candidacy.
In response to the latter events, I believe, the odds on Intrade rose slightly. As I write (at 4:40pm Pacific time), the chance that a Republican will win the Missouri Senate seat is now about 51%. I suspect it will rise a little higher when and if Akin officially withdraws.
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Apr '11
Re: Todd Akin's Rape Comment and Its Aftermath
According to Jake Tapper and NBC, Paul Ryan has personally called Akin and urged him to drop out.
Jul '11
Re: Todd Akin's Rape Comment and Its Aftermath
Well, one can only hope his sense of self-preservation wins out over his obvious stupidity, and he withdraws tonight. If he doesn't, I hope the Republicans show that they have evolved from their (sometimes well-deserved) label of "The Stupid Party" and completely throw this moron to the liberal wolves. No money, no support, and complete repudiation by all the party. McCaskill must be dancing on the walls with joy at having this guy to skewer between now and November; heck, she's probably now contemplating having her own coattails to help Obama on Nov. 6!
Jun '10
Re: Todd Akin's Rape Comment and Its Aftermath
Akin is not just stupid. He's fatally stupid. He needs to be quarantined to his home till November 6th, when he can then leave home and vote for his replacement on the ballot.
May '10
Re: Todd Akin's Rape Comment and Its Aftermath
Glad to see the apostrophe go away. Hate to see it's when it should be its.
Aug '10
Re: Todd Akin's Rape Comment and Its Aftermath
Calling Thomas Hart Benton !!
Edited on August 21, 2012 at 4:01amAug '10
Re: Todd Akin's Rape Comment and Its Aftermath
Here' s my view from the bank of the Missouri River: (1)Kansas looks better right now, strong GOP, strong conservative movement , not Bleeding Kansas anymore . A couple of years back
(2) a famous democrat,John Nance Garner, once likened the VP post to a warm bucket of spit . This strength may have merged with America's weak view of the Senate. Since
(3) nobody in Missouri GOP really wants the seat, and it's pretty hard right now to get anyone to stand up and be counted. Although
(4) I implore David Limbaugh to talk to his cousin, Stephen, and urge him to consider . Failing that, to get on the phone and get us a candidate.
This is macaca X5. Taking the eye off the Obama campaign is all they want and this kind of stuff will fill a good week of airtime. Claire is peering over the ramparts.
That's why Claire and the DNC gave Akin a million worth of subterfuge ads.
The Senate is as worthless as it's tiebreaking VP, everyone knows it. This almost makes Joe look good.
BUT we're talking about Harry Reid's job and that makes it important.
Edited on August 21, 2012 at 4:00amSep '10
Re: Todd Akin's Rape Comment and Its Aftermath
I heard Akin on Hannity this afternoon. He should withdraw for his comment and because he sounds like a moron. This guy is radioactive.
May '12
Re: Todd Akin's Rape Comment and Its Aftermath
Akin's bubble seems to be defending him. TPM has this disheartening image:
Apr '11
Re: Todd Akin's Rape Comment and Its Aftermath
Richard: Akin's bubble seems to be defending him. TPM has this disheartening image: · 1 minute ago
Edited 0 minutes ago
I can't put into words how much I despise this man. Our side has had a fantastic last two weeks, and then this.....
And a man stupid enough to say what he did is stupid enough to keep making gaffes all the way to election day.
Edited on August 21, 2012 at 4:23amJun '10
Re: Todd Akin's Rape Comment and Its Aftermath
wmartin
Richard: Akin's bubble seems to be defending him. TPM has this disheartening image: · 1 minute ago
Edited 0 minutes ago
I can't put into words how much I despise this man. Our side has had a fantastic last two weeks, and then this.....
And a man stupid enough to say what he did is stupid enough to keep making gaffes all the way to election day. · 0 minutes ago
Edited 0 minutes ago
Does he have a favorite horse, and does he sleep soundly? Just saying....
Jun '11
Re: Todd Akin's Rape Comment and Its Aftermath
Is it a better thing that the Right eats its own faster than the Left destroys them or is it a heinous thing?
Wolves, circling, or priests defending a form of Scripture?
Jul '10
Re: Todd Akin's Rape Comment and Its Aftermath
As someone who was in a bit of a row last week defending Republicans from the charge that they are all racist (because the Maggot Colin Powell said so when he endorsed Obama in 2008), this is the sort of chucklehead that makes me wonder why. Of course, there's a reason I went door to door in the Virginia primary race for someone other than George "The Macaca Man" Allen as well.
Sausages cannot possibly be made in a fashion as appalling as this.
May '10
Re: Todd Akin's Rape Comment and Its Aftermath
michael kelley: Is it a better thing that the Right eats its own faster than the Left destroys them or is it a heinous thing?
Wolves, circling, or priests defending a form of Scripture? · 1 minute ago
I've heard Akin speak to my school years ago as a congressman. This is not an anomaly. I was worried about this when he barely won the three-way primary. I won't apologize for the fact that we reject our bad candidates, while the Dems run cover for them. Should we expect any less?
May '12
Re: Todd Akin's Rape Comment and Its Aftermath
michael kelley: Is it a better thing that the Right eats its own faster than the Left destroys them or is it a heinous thing?
Wolves, circling, or priests defending a form of Scripture?
There is this concept in business and investing known as cutting your losses, maybe there are more good businessmen on the Republican side of the aisle than on the other side.
Aug '12
Re: Todd Akin's Rape Comment and Its Aftermath
Another Republican doubling down. Democrats are loving it. As am I.
May '12
Re: Todd Akin's Rape Comment and Its Aftermath
Can someone maybe hit Akin over the head, and prop him up behind the microphone while reading out the resignation letter for him.
Then leave him in a locked room with three months supply of food & water and say he is "spending time with his family".
Two days ago, I'd never heard this guys name. Now I wish I'd never learned who he was.
Edited on August 21, 2012 at 5:28amSep '11
Re: Todd Akin's Rape Comment and Its Aftermath
Todd Akin's thumping dunderheadedness isn't about whether the life conceived in a sexual attack should be protected. Conservatives should be willing (as Paul Ryan has) to engage that argument. Is life in the womb human life? Is it innocent? Can we justify taking innocent life for the sake of someone else's mental health? (I concede being deeply conflicted.)
But the left is trying to change the subject (the better to ensnare Ryan) from the root of Akin's breathtaking stupidity -- the best argument for abandoning the race: his dubious faith in the bodies of rape victims shutting down the reproduction process.
Jun '12
Re: Todd Akin's Rape Comment and Its Aftermath
michael kelley: Is it a better thing that the Right eats its own faster than the Left destroys them or is it a heinous thing?
Wolves, circling, or priests defending a form of Scripture? · 51 minutes ago
It's called having standards.
We do.
Lefties don't.
Jul '12
Re: Todd Akin's Rape Comment and Its Aftermath
I've been really disappointed by how many conservatives I have seen (one a couple with a wife that happens to be on the radio in Saint Louis and a regular on CNN) on Twitter defending Akin.
Edited on August 21, 2012 at 5:50amApr '11
Re: Todd Akin's Rape Comment and Its Aftermath
Some quick instapolls: PPP has Akin up by one point in MO just 24 hours after this all started (he was up by 11 in another poll last week). SurveyUSA has 54% of Missourians believing that Akin should quit, 35% believing that he should stay (remember this hasn't even fully filtered through yet and that number believing he should quit will almost certainly go up as the gaffe becomes more widely known).