Don't underestimate Todd Akin
Yael T. AbouhalkahAll of the Republicans, Democrats and other Americans calling on Todd Akin to quit his race to become the next U.S. Senator from Missouri could be dangerously underestimating him.
He hasn’t resigned, yet, because he’s a true believer in his cause. In fact, he’s fighting on, asking all day Wednesday on Twitter for donations to keep his battle alive.
And he thinks enough true believers will go to the polls in November and help him unseat Democratic incumbent Claire McCaskill.
Don’t underestimate Akin. He could be absolutely right.
Akin is the opposite of a media darling today as he has become the subject of national derision in the press.
Yet that’s exactly the kind of negative attention that feeds the supporters of Akin as he battles to defeat McCaskill.
Akin’s boosters among hard-core, ultraconservative Republican voters don’t care that the mainline GOP leaders are calling for him to quit the race, claiming he can’t win because of his comments about rape. Kit Bond and Jack Danforth are not their guiding lights for what they believe.
And Akin’s backers certainly do not care that media outlets - yes, even including conservative ones such as the Wall Street Journal - are calling on him to leave the race or strongly questioning whether he can beat McCaskill.
As polls have shown before the rape comments - and at least one showed after the comment - Akin remains surprisingly popular with voters who believe what he does.
The sanctity of life is at the top of that list. And Akin knows it.
That’s exactly why, in his interviews with conservative TV and radio hosts, he talks about the importance of soldiering on to stop abortion, to make Americans once again take pride in protecting the lives of every unborn child.
Yes, even in the cases of rape.
Akin - more so than some of the Republicans hypocritically calling on him to resign - seems to realize Missourians are still ready to elect someone who talks the “straight” talk he does.
UPDATE: As news broke Thursday of a Rasmussen poll showing McCaskill suddenly up by 10 points on Akin, Akin released this statement:
“The fact that Claire McCaskill is only polling at 48% after 72 hours of constant negative attacks on Todd Akin shows just how weak she is. If she can’t break fifty percent after a week like this, Democrats should ask Claire to step down. Todd is in this race to win; we will close this gap and win in November with the support of the grassroots in Missouri and across America.”
Yes, more evidence that he’s fighting on.
George Hunsucker
Northland
9 months agoOh no YT, not the dreaded “ultraconservative Republican voters”… say it isn’t so…
A monkey would be better then Air Claire; 0’care=YES, porkulus=YES, debt ceiling expansion=YES….
MO voters would vote NO on all three—Air Claire that ultraLIBERAL Democrat. Which would MO voters prefer???????
Grant MacDonald
9 months agoThe Republican Party; have self-destructed — on the grounds of homophobia & religious corruption! Someone left the door of the asylum ajar — the religious extremists are loose & they are all in the Republican Party!
Religion; is the biggest bully on the block!
Grant MacDonald
9 months agoIt is written; so therefore it shall be? We are the chosen people? Such a wicked fantasy.
To see the religious lunatics manipulate government and our lives is shameful. According to biblical law, a father can sell his daughter as a slave. Bibles and the torah which includes leviticus — should be immediately banned … for promoting hatred against minorities … namely the gay community and the crosses removed from all schools and churches. One should appreciate each day of life and not expect another. By enjoying their tax exempt status and benefits from the state it also puts churches at the mercy of the state; to be forced to adhere to the human rights laws. Religion is thriving like a cancerous growth on society that should be stopped in its tracks; outlawed & banned. This holier than thou – written so there it shall be — fallacy; should be stopped! It is a criminal offence to cause harm onto others physically or with written items … the bible and torah have been getting away with this for ages. This bogus religious filth should be banned. It exists as a tax exempt structure which discriminates against human rights. The pope, bishops and mormons are cult members promoting discrimination against minorities. Perhaps religious establishments have pushed too far from San Francisco to Moscow — and it may backfire to such a degree that the churches should be shut down!
Mark Spaeth
9 months agoI realize it fits your narrative better to pretend that everyone who may end up voting for Akin is on-board with his “legitimate rape” gaffe, but boiling all of politics down to a single issue is sophomoric.
If I were to live in MO, I’d still hold my nose and vote for Akin in spite of his idiotic statements, as economic policy is far more pertinent to the future of the country than the divisive social issues liberal journalists like yourselves prefer to tout to inflame your base.
Wuz Thomas
9 months agoHas anyone asked Todd Akin how he feels about immigration issues? Prayer in school, Pledge of Allegance, Evolution? Take us back to the good old days, Todd!
Trapper Jon
9 months agoi want to move to mo just to vote for him!
Hope Savage
9 months agoHe is an ignorant man who has no business on the Science and Technology Committee. Shame on anyone who would vote for this fool who seems to have no understanding of the science of basic human physiology. shame shame shame
George Hunsucker
Northland
9 months agoBingo Mark…. Air Claire’s votes continue to weaken America economically—we need someone who will shrink the govt. monster, not continue to feed and grow it….
I am actually hoping for a successful write-in ala Murkowski, but this time the name is STEELMAN!!!!
She would have won the primary were it not for the hundreds of thousands of dollars the libs spent to elect Akin….
William Said
9 months agoYT if we were just talking a GOP primary I may agree with you. The largest block of votes are in Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield, Columbia and Jefferson City. With the exception of St. Louis the order cities vote for Demicrats in Presidential elections. Pres. Obama may not have much influence in Missouri, but besides heavy old fashioned Catholics in St. Louis Akins will not have an advantage in November.
The main reason Missouri votes conservative is it’s low college educated population. Example if you compare Jackson County or St. Charles county to Orange County CA or East Ruthuerford NJ, very affluent country club GOPers, there is a 50% difference, 26% to 54% MO v CA. As my Catholic children got into college, they stopped attending regular church. Therefore Columbia, Jeff City, KC and St Louis will likely go Claire. The rest of MO will go Akins, enough to win? Well no, bec conservatives wrongly assume that rape is less important than abortion. That is the key, any woman who is religiously included to oppose abortion will be horrified at the insensitivity of this man, plus now the official GOP platform is in clear view due to Akins, which is why Romney n Co are convulsing
Johnathon Busby
9 months agoIt seems Akin’s chickens have come home to roost:
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/publiccontent/politics/elections/election2012/election2012senateelections/missouri/election2012missourisenate
I can only hope his downward trend continues, and perhaps even spills over into the national stage.
Phil Cardarella
9 months agoAkin probably feels that he can stay in and the Big Money will come back because they need him. Problem is, his “bleed over” into other races — even Romney in Missouri.
SO…
Right now those Big Money boys are developing a business opportunity that will make Todd, his kids, grandkids and great-grandkids set for life — but one which, sadly, will require his immediate attention, leaving no time for him to stay in the Senate race. To guys like the Kochs, it’s chump change — hardly a rounding error.
Once the deal is cut, look for Akin out (The cause is more important than my own career…”) and a Talent or Talent-clone in.
William R. Nelson
9 months agoBravo, Yael; an insightful assessment into the heart of the Akin faithful.
Here’s another insight: Brunner’s campaign dumped millions of his own money into ad buys across the state, and even then Brunner couldn’t get but 4 or 5 points within Akin at the final tally - even with Claire Bear’s ‘false flag’ ads for Akin.
The force is strong with this Akin.
Kathleen M Isabell
9 months agoWhat’s telling is statements like Mr. Spaeth’s: “I’d hold my nose and vote for Akin…” It’s shocking that people are willing to disregard profound stupidity and misogyny just because a candidate has other positions which are acceptable. Now, I’m willing to forgive a candidate a minor digression from a position I would prefer her or him to espouse, but I’m not willing to ignore bigotry, hatred, intolerance, or wilful ignorance of basic science and common sense. If my favorite candidate came out and said we could avoid STD’s by burying a potato under a full moon I’d be looking for someone else to support. But this foolishness is far more dangerous and horrifying.
George Hunsucker
Northland
9 months agoBut your candidate said he would cut the deficit in 1/2 and unemployment would not go over 6% Kathleen, and I would wager mucho dinero you will vote for him Nov. 6……
“Willful ignorance of common sense”, on display with your “leader” the big 0 Kathleen.
Johnathon Busby
9 months agoThere’s a difference between empty political rhetoric spewed by Obama (which was, in all fairness, a pile of steaming crap) and the sort of ignorance that genuinely suggests a woman can fend off rape internally, via some biological mechanism, thus casting a shadow of doubt on the women who make the claim.
Kent Mueller
8 months, 4 weeks agoJohnathon, so a lying politician is protected if what he says is categorized as “empty political rhetoric”?
Akin needs to go, but let’s not protect Obama with some form of honesty relativism.
Johnathon Busby
8 months, 4 weeks agoI don’t questions Akin’s honesty. He was being very honest. Honestly wrong, honestly twisted up, and honestly thought his ignorance was something to be proud of. I’ll take empty political rhetoric over fundamentalist ignorance, and also have an apple, thanks.