Why Are the Republicans Afraid of Todd Akin?

Posted on August 21, 2012 at 7:20 am by Bob Cesca

My Tuesday column looks at the horrendously nasty Republican history on the abortion issue and how it far worse than anything Akin said. So why are they so afraid of Akin?

The last two days are unprecedented for the Republican Party. For the first time in memory, the Republicans have almost entirely condemned a fellow anti-choice congressman, Todd Akin, because he was too extreme on the abortion issue.

This could mean one of two things. Either Akin’s remarks about “legitimate rape” and his ridiculous assertion that a woman’s reproductive organs tend to naturally reject pregnancies from rape were way, way, way beyond the Republican zero barrier for decency, or perhaps he just said out loud what most anti-choice conservatives say in private.

I really don’t think it’s the first one.

Republicans have no decency whatsoever when it comes to reproductive choice. Continue reading here.

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  • http://twitter.com/AaronBroadley Aaron Broadley

    I think it has way more to do with his association to Paul Ryan. On the comments themselves, its certainly no worse than what Sharon Angle said during her Senate run, and her support seemed to increase.

    Even looking at Akin’s polling now, his comments haven’t scared away the GOP base at all.

    So I think its the risk of exposing those extreme views that are shared by Paul Ryan that is at stake. If they can get rid of Akin quickly and move on to another newscycle, Paul Ryan can avoid the association for the most part.

  • i_a_c

    Republicans did not want a distraction like this going into their convention. That’s why they’re running away. If the RNC had supported Akin’s comments, Republicans around the country would be confronted with whether or not they supported that point of view. The gender gap in the election is already bad and they really cannot afford for it to get any worse.

  • http://www.politicalruminations.com/ nicole

    What Aaron said. They’re afraid, very afraid, Akin’s continued candidacy will affect the top of the ticket.

  • Draxiar

    Maybe Akin should be raped until he gets pregnent and then be forced to carry to term, eh? And if he doesn’t get prego at first then we’ll just have to keep trying.

    ———————————————————

    I truly don’t wish ill on anyone and I don’t want anyone to get raped. But for fuck’s sake I wish these folks had some empathy and had to walk in someone else’s shoes who they are so willing to judge so quickly and shrewdly.

    Through all of this Akin press there’s a song that keeps playing through my head:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZF0uRf9o2_4

  • Corebela

    Theyv pretty much been saying things just like that for the past 2 years. Right now Akin is probably thinking “Where the hell was the memo that said we couldnt say things like that anymore!” What surprises me is how little that fact is being brought up anywhere.

  • muselet

    Clearly, Todd Akin’s (insane, junk-science–addled) opinion isn’t exactly outside the mainstream in the Republican Party.

    Behold.

    –alopecia

  • D_C_Wilson

    So, where’s Joey the Troll at now? Shouldn’t he be here to defend republicans on this?