Akin: The man who answered McCaskill's prayers
E. Thomas McClanahanIf Todd Akin had simply repeated his position that he’s strongly against abortion — opposed even to granting exceptions for rape and incest — his fatal interview in St. Louis would now be forgotten.
But he spoke of what he called “legitimate” rape and suggested that the physiology of a woman so accosted would protect her from pregnancy. The female body, he said, “has ways to shut that thing down.”
With that, the Republican Party began trying to shut him down.
Akin is now a pariah, clueless as to his real offense. He released an ad in which he allowed that “rape is an evil act” and apologized for “using the wrong words in the wrong way.…” But later on the Mike Huckabee show he remarked that the tidal wave of outrage “does seem to be a little bit of an overreaction.”
For Democrats, especially incumbent Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill, Akin was the answer to many prayers. After she bought ads attracting conservatives to him in the primary Akin won the right to oppose her by defeating two other Republicans, either of whom would have beaten her easily.
Akin’s statement is prompting gleeful Democrats to point to the maladroit congressman as a window into the GOP’s supposedly dark soul. Why, even now, they say, Republicans are drafting a party platform with a pro-life plank opposing abortion in cases of rape and incest. Which is hardly news, since Republican Party activists do the same thing every four years, and then put the platform on a shelf.
Many social conservatives share the belief that the bar on abortion should be without exception, and their number includes presumptive vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan, who would allow an exception only in cases where the mother’s life is endangered. Mitt Romney, the presumptive nominee, is pro-life, but would permit exceptions for rape and incest, and the mother’s life.
Akin’s world blew up not because his stance is similar, or because of “one word in one sentence,” as he put it in his ad. What took him to the outer edge of the political galaxy was not only the ‘legitimate’ rape quote but the suggestion that women could self-abort.
Contrary to the eager assertions of Democrats, believers in birth control by magic uterus are far from the GOP mainstream, out there with the birthers and truthers or the people who believe we are spied on by nanobots embedded in dollar bills.
It is into this world that Akin has cast himself and worse, he besmirched his own pro-life cause by seeking an intellectually sloppy way around the tough cases. The position is not mine but it’s at least logically consistent: If abortion is murder, then it’s wrong even for pregnancies that result from rape or incest.
As John Podhoretz noted at the Commentary blog, Akin trivialized the moral seriousness of this view by saying, in effect, No need to worry about such dilemmas. If it’s a legitimate rape — rather than, say, a date rape — the woman can self-abort.
So if a pregnancy results, it’s probably because of an act not quite legitimately rape.
The major sources of Republican campaign funding have rightly pulled the plug on Akin, who is now using social media to beg for money. Party insiders give him little or no chance.
Akin could still leave the race if he seeks a court order by Sept. 25. But the longer he waits, the harder it becomes for any replacement candidate to deploy a credible campaign. Defeating McCaskill was seen as critical to Republican hopes for retaking the Senate and driving a wooden stake through Obamacare.
If McCaskill is re-elected, the GOP primary voters of Missouri will have joined those of Delaware, Nevada and Colorado, states where Republicans blew a chance for Senate control in 2010 by nominating candidates who were amateurs or too far-out for the general election — categories that both apply to Akin.
To reach E. Thomas McClanahan, call 816-234-4480 or send email to mcclanahan@kcstar.com.
Johnathon Busby
9 months agoThe economy may issue number one, but so long as the ignorance represented by Akin is embraces as a perverse form or wisdom, there are plenty of folks (such as my mother) who would have voted against Claire, but are now just waiting for their opportunity to throw Akin out of office.
In short, some people value education over ignorance.
George Hunsucker
Northland
9 months agoI simply refuse to believe this man will want to spend the rest of his life being shunned by we on the right.
I mean Kennedy killed a young lady and was ever known by that one act. Surely Akin does not want a similar legacy.
He is one egotistical person, I will say that for him….
Do the right thing Akin and let us beat Air Claire!!!!!
Mark Hastert
9 months agoTodd is more than the answer to Claire’s prayers. Kevin Yoder would be looking for a job if not for the distraction.
As for Buzz’s assertion, Christian-right Republicans will be and have been voting about sex, sperm, and how they mingle for years. They’ve been duped into voting against their own economic interests for decades and they’ll do it again this time. That’s also why Todd won’t back out. He has Jesus on his side.
Phil Cardarella
9 months agoOK, so Akin flunked sex-ed. Wimmin’s plumbing is complicated, right? And those sluts are willing to say anything to get to kill their babies, right? How do we know that 12 year old wasn’t leading her uncle on?
Akin’s actual problem was that he was trying to justify a little piece of theocratic fascism that is not his singular nutty idea — and inadvertantly revealed to all the sane folks that this piece of theocratic fascist nonsense is the OFFICIAL position of the GOP — and of Mr. Akins’ younger, prettier twin, Paul Ryan:
NO WOMAN HAS ANY RIGHTS NOT SUBSERVIENT TO THE DEMANDS OF A FERTILIZED SINGLE-CELLED ORGANISM INSIDE HER.
That means no abortion, no exceptions. That means no Morning After Pill. (Shouda thought about that last night, you slut!) That means that the oral contraceptives used by millions of women because they are safe and effective (and probably used by both Mrs Romney and Mrs. Ryan, given the size of their families) becomes illegal.
Akins’ sin was pulling back the curtian on the crazy.
Mark Hastert
9 months agoA rare moment of candor. It’s not like it hasn’t been there all along but who reads political platforms? Who analyzes proposed legislation and it’s sponsors? Few until now.