Todd Akin Rapes Missouri GOP

Posted on | August 24, 2012 | 41 Comments

The only question is whether it was a “legitimate” rape:

Whereas Rasmussen polling showed Romney leading pro-abortion President Barack Obama at the end of July and having Romney leading the race in the Show Me State all year, now Obama has the lead.
The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Missouri Voters finds President Obama with 47% support to Romney’s 46%. Three percent (3%) favor some other candidate in the race, and three percent (3%) more are undecided. At the end of July, Romney led by six percent and he has not trailed Obama in any Rasmussen poll all year.
“As the controversy over Republican Senate candidate Todd Akin’s “legitimate rape” comment continues, Mitt Romney’s lead in Missouri has vanished,” Ramussen says. “Missouri now moves from Leans Romney to a Toss-Up in the Rasmussen Reports Electoral College Projections.”

Jim Hoft at Gateway Pundit was an unwilling victim and, unlike the “Magic Uterus,” the Missouri GOP had no natural defenses.

That’s not a hurricane headed toward Tampa: It’s a tropical depression.

Category: Election 2012, Fear and Loathing at the Republican National Convention, Missouri, Polls

Comments

41 Responses to “Todd Akin Rapes Missouri GOP”

Evi L. Bloggerlady
August 24th, 2012 @ 1:45 pm

This is not helpful Stacy. Listen to Pete. What do you want: To prove that you were right or win? Akin did what he did. I wish he dropped out too, but he did not. I am not suggesting you have to publicly support him or contribute to his campaign, but attacking him like this is counter productive. If there is going to be pressure to try to get him to see the light, let that happen privately.

It is not like Akin just dissed you. He dissed almost the entire GOP, Rush, Levin, Palin, Malkin, etc., etc. So you are in good company. While I disagree with Jeff Goldstein that this mess was the GOP’s doing (it was not, it was Akin’s) I do agree with him that publicly attacking Akin and falling over each other to distance ourselves does not help. And note Jeff is not saying he agrees with Akin. How can you? But Akin’s incompetence pales when contrasted with the lies and crimes being committed by Barack Obama thorugh Eric Holder (Fast & Furious, refusing to go after Jon Corzine, allowing and encouraging voter fraud, etc.). Or how about DNC chair Debbie Wasserman Shultz being savaged by conservative pundits like Anderson Cooper and Wolf Blitzer?

So cowboy up. Shake that tip jar. And don’t let any wind blown hurricane debris or anarchist rocks hit you in Tampa.
Evi L. Bloggerlady
August 24th, 2012 @ 2:02 pm

http://www.therightscoop.com/must-listen-allen-west-we-should-be-on-offense-talking-about-extremism-of-democrat-party/ Good advice. Maybe you can score an interview with this hero.
A Stephens
August 24th, 2012 @ 2:04 pm

Yeah, it may be best just to ignore the putz altogether. For those who can’t see beyond themselves, indifference is mightier than a sharp tongue. Publicly at least.
Knitebane
August 24th, 2012 @ 2:20 pm

Todd Akin said a stupid thing. More than that, he said a stupid and wrong thing. He has since come out and said so. Now leave it alone and help him win. If we booted every stupid Republican out of office the Demonrats would run the country.

Oh wait, they do. Gosh, how did that happen?

It’s not called The Stupid Party for nothing.

If he wins you can chastise him all you want. Send him to sensitivity training. Throw some rocks at him. I’ll help you hold him down and you can make him eat sand if you want.But first, win.
FenelonSpoke
August 24th, 2012 @ 2:34 pm

Well said, EBL and Pete.
elaine
August 24th, 2012 @ 2:46 pm

He has NOT admitted that his stupid and wrong belief that women will simply not get pregnant from rape was stupid and WRONG. All he’s apologized for was using the word “legitimate” when what he meant was “forcible.” Until he admits he was wrong about his basic premise, he’s dangerous. See Romney’s polling in MO.

There’s a legitimate way to make the case that abortion is morally wrong — Stacy and Smitty make such cases quite eloquently when they discuss these matters here. But when some ignoramus comes out with stupid statements which are not borne out by science and medicine, it makes EVERY Republican/conservative look bad. Because the dems turn around and say to the voters, “See? That’s what Republicans think about abortion!” It suddenly no longer matters if you have a well-reasoned, rational, moral argument against abortion; you’ll be lumped in with the dumba$$es like Akin.

The Dems have been pushing this “Republican War on Women” meme for months, and NOW they’ve succeeded in using it as a wedge. Again, see Romney’s polling numbers in Missouri. No one took the meme seriously until now. But now every voter in Missouri is starting to worry that the Dems are right; that the Republicans are dangerous and evil and will take away their abortions because they believe rape victims have a magic uterus which will stop a rapist’s sperm.

This is why Akin needs to walk away, but his vanity and hubris won’t allow it. And the party will suffer as a whole because of it.

I can assure you of one thing: the voters don’t care about the in-fighting this is causing on our side. All they care about right now is voting against the religious nutbags who run for office as Republicans. With Akin staying in (regardless of how many calls there are from the GOP for him to go), the voters’ assumption is EVERY Republican running for office is just as stupid as Akin on matters of fact, science, and medicine.

To everyone who thinks this is just about losing one Senate seat which was a solid pickup for us, it’s clearly not. The fact that you dismissed the severity of this hit is proof your analysis is nothing more than wishful thinking. This is the wedge the dems have been dreaming about and hoping for.

Congratulations, Mr. Akin. You just made this election about abortion and the war on women instead of the economy.

The GOP isn’t known as the stupid party for nothing…
BLBeamer
August 24th, 2012 @ 2:49 pm

Steady on, there, Stacy. If the entire GOP will collapse due to the stupidity of one candidate, then I say, “Good riddance, GOP”.
elaine
August 24th, 2012 @ 3:00 pm

You assume that the media will actually talk about Obama’s failings. But now that Akin has given them the topic of abortion, what we;ll hear about from now until the election is the Republican War on Women.

Why do you think this is still being discussed a week after Akin made his stupid remarks?

He’s now political POISON. Unless we speak out against him, everyone in the party is considered just as tainted.

Whenever religious Republicans say something fringey about their religious beliefs, the left will use that against them. Mercilessly. And, nowadays, the attack works very well, since a whole lot of people in this country aren’t churchgoers. They see the crazy, unscientific things that religious people apparently believe, and they don’t want THOSE people running their government.

It didn’t matter how hard Republicans might’ve fought to support Christine O’Donnell, for instance. Once it came to light she was a kook, the die was cast.

The only play for the GOP or fiscal conservatives is to run a write-in candidate in the race. The GOP can even spend the money they would’ve spent supporting Akin on running ads endorsing his write-in opponent. This would do a lot of good toward mending this fence with the voters. But what will not work is closing ranks and helping Akin win. He’s toast.
Adjoran
August 24th, 2012 @ 3:01 pm

“Thank God for the rain to wash the trash off the sidewalk.”
Evi L. Bloggerlady
August 24th, 2012 @ 4:05 pm

Even if what you say is true elaine, you must have missed about 99% of pundits and GOP politicians doing exactly what you called for.
Evi L. Bloggerlady
August 24th, 2012 @ 4:06 pm

Life goes on.
Evi L. Bloggerlady
August 24th, 2012 @ 4:07 pm

Look on the bright side Stacy, even Tabitha Hale agrees with you!
K-Bob
August 24th, 2012 @ 4:08 pm

I see what you mean about Hoft being an “unwilling victim.” The “really real” conservatives are dropping dungbombs in the comments.

This isn’t about idealism or philosophy. The numbers don’t lie.

And also, when else have we seen so many regular conservatives all on the same page on any issue? I’m assuming y’all have seen the various “roundups” like the one Nice Deb put together. Forget the elitist, Palin hatin’ wing of the GOP for a moment. They probably worked against Akin from day one. No, this is one where you’ll look across the entire party and see overwhelming support for Akin to disappear.

Math, people.
Red
August 24th, 2012 @ 4:12 pm

LOL!
Evi L. Bloggerlady
August 24th, 2012 @ 4:33 pm

Andrew Sullivan loves Obama big time. No rape, I am sure it was consensual.
Becca Lower
August 24th, 2012 @ 4:40 pm

Breaking: There’s an Akin news conference at 5:15pm ET today, according to Tom Sullivan. Someone just passed this along to me.
Dai Alanye
August 24th, 2012 @ 4:58 pm

A write-in candidate is impractical due to the need to sell the new candidate and imprint his/her name on the voters’ brains, and the fact that many will back Akins in any case.

Besides, based on the ease with which newer news replaces old in the public’s attention, a month from now Akin’s gaffe will be replaced by a dozen fresher stories, half of them about gaffes by Joe and Barry.

Republicans continuing to criticize Akin does nothing but make the situation worse.
Senator Blutarsky
August 24th, 2012 @ 5:15 pm

I understand and applaud the instinct to avoid circular firing squads, but in my view Akin committed the cardinal sin of bringing discredit upon the entire conservative movement with his medieval comments about how babies are, or are not, made.

The “legitimate rape” comment is just clumsy and forgivable, but validating the conservatives-are-anti-science meme is not. If he is truly sorry, then let him perform an act of penance and abandon his candidacy. Otherwise, this sort of appeal to junk science is politically toxic for conservatism and we must drive it out as WFB drove out the John Birchers.
Wombat_socho
August 24th, 2012 @ 5:45 pm

Oh, well played!
Evi L. Bloggerlady
August 24th, 2012 @ 5:58 pm

A write in candidate will split the vote and guarantee McCaskill wins. It is what it is. Have a drink, enjoy the weekend and write a check to one of the other Republican Senate candidates who have to win to help us get rid of Harry Reid.

Dig Deep!
Evi L. Bloggerlady
August 24th, 2012 @ 6:50 pm

Why encourage more of this.
The Osprey
August 24th, 2012 @ 7:23 pm

I got an Akin, breakin’, heart and this whole damn thing is giving me a headache.
elaine
August 24th, 2012 @ 9:05 pm

McCaskill is going to win, anyway, if Akin stays in — third party write-in or no . What we’re trying
to prevent is Romney losing Missouri. How hard is that for you to
understand? History has already written off Akin; it’s time for us to do so, as well.

Akin is a lost cause, no amount of standing behind him will change that. No amount of money thrown his way will change that. If we come together and stand behind Akin, all that will be accomplished is we’ll go down with him. If that’s what you want, then fine. Have at it.

But don’t expect us to file behind some ignorant dumba$$ who thinks a magic uterus will stop a rapist’s sperm from implanting into a rape victim’s womb.

It’s not my opinion which is the problem, as I can’t vote in Missouri. It’s Akin’s beliefs that are the problem.
elaine
August 24th, 2012 @ 9:07 pm

See reply to Dai Alanye above…

You’re right that the focus needs to be on races we can win, but Akin and his ignorance are going to pull a lot of Republicans down in this cycle, whether that’s fair or not.
elaine
August 24th, 2012 @ 9:11 pm

My sentiments exactly. Thanks for making the point more succinctly than I did.
Dai Alanye
August 24th, 2012 @ 9:32 pm

Your opinion and a couple of bucks will buy an eggroll, and your knowledge of the biology of human reproduction is no greater than Akin’s, merely different. The fact is we don’t know all the factors regarding the effect of rape upon the potential for pregnancy, nor (in my opinion) have any valid studies been made.

BTW, I believe a woman should have the right to early termination of a pregnancy caused by rape, whether forceful or statutory. What I don’t believe in is making predictions about a state I’m unfamiliar with. But a relative of mine who lives in Missouri, a bright young woman active in Republican politics though not a strong right-to-lifer, likes Akin, voted for him in the primary, and plans to back him regardless of the gaffe.
Adjoran
August 25th, 2012 @ 1:33 am

Which other Republicans will lose because we have a dumb Senate candidate in MO? Just wondering.
Adjoran
August 25th, 2012 @ 1:38 am

If you think the voters care about this even 10% as much as the Political Junkies, partisans, and media do, congratulations! You’ve earned a place on Team Other McCain – the “Sniveling Hysterical Whiners” who strike fear in the hearts of . . . well, no one.

But the honor comes with a free box of Kleenex – the kind with lotion so your poor widdle nose doesn’t get raw from all the blubbering.
Adjoran
August 25th, 2012 @ 1:40 am

Yeah, he’s in it to win it blah blah blah. We have almost a full month to persuade him to drop out – or, if in that time he shows he may come back, to get him some funding and let him go for it. McCaskill is very unpopular.

And being a complete idiot seems almost a qualification for the Senate.
Adjoran
August 25th, 2012 @ 1:42 am

He’s an idiot and has damaged the party and the pro-life movement, without doubt.

If he won’t withdraw, it is him vs McCaskill. Which do you prefer?

There really isn’t any other relevant question, is there? The rest is just venting – or pathetic sobbing and weeping.
Senator Blutarsky
August 25th, 2012 @ 9:16 am

I think there is another, perhaps more important question, namely, it is worth pursuing what is now a very remote chance at a GOP victory under the banner of Akin, at the lasting cost of damage to the reputation of the conservative movement.

My view is that it is not worth that risk. Akin’s chances of success remain modest, and does not justify validating the specious anti-science meme the left so enjoys propagating.
Missouri Voters Like Mitt’s Small Gov’t, Lower Taxes BUT Akin Loses 9 for Not Wanting to Abort a Child of Rape | Maggie's Notebook
August 25th, 2012 @ 12:22 pm

[…] If the GOP can get Akin out and come up with a candidate that has a chance of beating McCaskill, that’s well and good. If not, get behind the voting record of Todd Akin. We have everything to lose. Don’t be a part of a continuing nightmare by voting for Claire McCaskill. See details of the Mason Dixon poll at Hot Air where Romney leads, but a Rasmussen Poll tells a different story. […]
Tennwriter
August 25th, 2012 @ 2:36 pm

The proper response to the
Left’s anti-science meme is a horse laugh. Look them dead in the eye and say ‘who do you think you’re fooling?’.
richard mcenroe
August 25th, 2012 @ 4:57 pm

The problem is, given Akin’s behavior in this goat-screw so far, that if he did get elected somehow, there’s no reason to assume he’d be anything but another Murkowski looking for payback and personal benefit.
richard mcenroe
August 25th, 2012 @ 5:02 pm

The elitist, Palin-hating wing of the GOP in MO put Akin in office for seven terms. They ran him against the Tea Party candidates. He was their boy. Now he’s the scorpion on the back of their frog.

It’s just another example of how stupid the man is. If he had shut up and played the game he’s been playing for fourteen years, they would have taken care of him.
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K-Bob
August 26th, 2012 @ 4:55 pm

I din’t know that. Thanks for putting me some.

I’ve noticed lately that a lot of folks keep mis-spelling “Akin.” I wonder how Zombie Claude Akins feels about that.
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