McCaskill: Akin 'legitimate rape' comment a 'gut check' for voters

[maddezmom]

Source: LATimes

Sen. Claire McCaskill called rival Todd Akin's comments about "legitimate rape" a window into the Republican's thinking, seizing on a moment that has suddenly boosted her imperiled reelection bid.

In an interview on MSNBC on Monday morning, a stern McCaskill spoke of her background as a prosecutor working with rape victims, and said Akin's answer to a question about abortion in the case of rape lacked sensitivity.

"It shows how many people are out there, sometimes in very important positions, that just don't understand the trauma, and don't understand what it means," the Democrat said. "For most Missourians I hope this is one of those gut check moments when they realize this is not somebody we want speaking for us and for our values on the floor of the United States Senate."

Akin, a Republican congressman from Missouri, was asked in an interview with KTVI-TV if he would support abortion in the case of rape.


Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-mccaskill-akin-legitimate-rape-comment-a-gut-check-for-voters-20120820,0,2759181.story

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Fox Lets Rove Discuss Akin Rape Comments Without Disclosing His Conflict Of Interest[/]


Fox News hosted Karl Rove this morning to discuss Rep. Todd Akin's (R-MO) comments that women have a biological mechanism to prevent them from getting pregnant if they are raped. Neither Rove nor Fox disclosed that Rove's political groups have invested more than $900,000 in Akin's U.S. Senate race.

¬snip¬

Rove explained that "the Akin story will be important inside Missouri," but quickly pivoted to discussing the deficit and other economic issues. Rove's attempt to change the subject mirrors Akin's statement about the controversy last night, in which Akin, after claiming he "misspoke," attempted to refocus the story on "very important issues, starting with the economy."

Asked how badly Akin's comments will hurt him in his race against Sen. Claire McCaskill, Rove conceded that Akin has some "real explaining to do," then abruptly changed the subject to a story he said was "far more important," the Republican Party's fundraising advantage over the Democratic Party.

As of early August, Crossroads GPS, the 501(c)(4) offshoot to Rove's American Crossroads Super PAC, has spent more than $850,000 on the Missouri Senate race. American Crossroads has spent an additional $64,000 on the race. During the segment, Rove was identified as both a Fox News contributor and a former Bush adviser, but his connection to Crossroads was not disclosed.

http://mediamatters.org/blog/2012/08/20/fox-lets-rove-discuss-akin-rape-comments-withou/189444

[JTFrog]

1. k&DUrec

[tawadi]

2. Nobody that stupid and cruel should be allowed anywhere near the US Senate. eom

[samsingh]

3. this statement is so true. The gop continues to show it selve through the likes of this twit

limbaugh, coulter, fox news, and the hypocrasy of people like ryan who take from the public purse and then complain and want no one else to be helped.

the gop and repug are sick, twisted, evil people and need to be put out of positions where they deranged personalities can no longer hurt the public.

[leftyladyfrommo]

4. This is good news for Mo. Democrats

This guy is winning McCaskill's race for her.

We have our share of people here in Missouri that really think like this guy but hopefully they are just a small minority. I don't think Missourians are really this ignorant.

[pstokely]

9. Don't underestimate the stupidity

It will be a competitive race, Claire got who she wanted

[Puzzler]

5. Nor do they understand biology.

[tawadi]

6. I was going to say

What human physiology course did this man take? Exactly HOW does woman "shut that down"?

[amuse bouche]

11. He seems to think it's an automatic responce from the body

You enjoyed it...you get pregnant. You didn't enjoy it..you don't

Never in my life have I heard such vile stupidity

[davepc]

14. It's a anti-abortion 'talking point'

In true right wacko fashion the studies they cite to back up this claim in fact have nothing to with the woman's response to rape. If I remember correctly one of them was about how its harder to conceive via rape because the man has a harder time achieving orgasm when his victim is actively resisting him.

This is basically where they get it from, or at least the whole idea in one place: www.physiciansforlife.org/content/view/492/26/

[tawadi]

18. Freaks.

[PD Turk]

7. It should be a campaign spot

Strike while the iron is hot and hit him with a :30 spot ASAP, complete with imagery from the dark ages. She should turn the screws on this asswipe, hard, with the first avails she can fill

[coalition_unwilling]

10. If the national Democratic Party knows how to go for the jugular, they'll go

national with this, linking Akin to Ryan and to the House and Senate.

It's party-killin' time, if Dems have the spine to do it.

[PD Turk]

13. I agree

Hang it around their neck like a millstone

[AlbertCat]

8. Insensitive? Yes. But why not ask...

.... about this mysterious "mechanism" that a woman's body kicks in when it's rape... "legit rape"?

How about a panel of doctors asked to explain exactly what this mechanism is. Hormonal? Something the nervous system does? Perhaps it's in a woman's lymph nodes. How does the uterus know it's a rape? What does it do to prevent pregnancy? Secrete a chemical? I mean we know how a cell turns oxygen into energy. Surely several "legitimate" doctors out there can explain the molecular biological activities that stop the pregnancy in these, but not other, cases.

We're waiting to hear the scientific basis for this statement.

[PD Turk]

15. He should know the people

Being that he is on the committee for Science, Space and Technology I'd think he'd know plenty of scientists that could explain it

[amuse bouche]

12. Akin should be

hoisted as the poster boy for the republicon party. This is truly how they think

The 'legitimate' War On Women continues. Feel free to use that Mr President

[Iliyah]

16. This won't be the last evil thing he will say.

Also, you have tea bats across the country who are running so expect an entourage of ugly comments. Murdoch is another ignorant person running, and since it is the "major" election year these ugly comments will become more noticeable.

Not actual quotes:

Murdoch = "The other party must bow down and come our way"
Akin = "We must review the 1965 voting rights law"
Ryan = "Even if a women is raped or incest happens she is still NOT entitled to an abortion"
Ohio Repigs = "Will not accommodate for black voters" & suspending two Democratic members.

[Scalded Nun]

17. Be careful

The GOP benefits from this having happened in August. Plenty of time to wipe this from the memories in MO. Couple of BBQs, some beer, a flag or 2 and none of this will ever have happened.

Remember the 2010 GOP mantra...JOBS, JOBS, JOBS. Idiots believed them then, and they'll probably believe them again.
2011 became anything and everything BUT jobs.

The stakes are much greater this election (they could wind up with control in all 3 branches). If you think they look scary now imagine them calling all of the shots with nothing to get in their way.

...And their followers think the Dems want to eliminate freedoms. Give me a break!

And do not think this is just a national issue. Much of the pain in this country has been made possible (and is just getting worse) by your state legislatures. They have been meticulously building this structure throughout this country and are now beginning to reap the benefits.

Even starting grassroots efforts now (getting folks registered to vote being at the top of the list) won't pay off until probably 2014. BUT, it has to start somewhere and sometime. Give them too much time in charge and voting will be a thing of the past as well.

Do not underestimate the evil they will (and do) bring to our society.

[pstokely]

19. McCaskil has already bought air time in Oct, she should run this then

This race will be close. He's now at least as much damaged goods as McCaskill is (if not more)

[lsewpershad]

20. No

Prick check.

[bushisanidiot]

21. I don't live in MO

but I'm gonna donate money to her campaign!