Not Everyone Thinks Todd Akin's Abortion Comments Were Evil

5 people who back Akin's stance

Todd Akin has been denounced by a wide swathe of conservatives, from pundits like Limbaugh and Coulter to GOP figureheads like Reince Priebus and Karl Rove, after his "legitimate rape" comment triggered the media circus of the past few days. But a few high-profile conservatives have come out in Akin's support:

1. Bryan Fischer, conservative radio host. "You talk about a forcible situation, you talk about somebody being a victim of forcible assault, that would be Todd Akin."

2. Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa. "Todd Akin is a strong Christian man, with a wonderful family...I just haven't heard of [pregnancies from statutory rape] being a circumstance that's been brought to me in any personal way, and I'd be open to discussion about that subject matter."

3. Mike Huckabee, radio host and former Alabama governor. "I used to work for James Robison back in the 1970s, he leads a large Christian organization. He, himself, was the result of a forcible rape. And so I know it happens, and yet even from those horrible, horrible tragedies of rape, which are inexcusable and indefensible, life has come and sometimes, you know, those people are able to do extraordinary things."

4. Kirk Cameron, Growing Pains star-turned-conservative activist. Akin "clearly is a pro-life advocate, and for that, I respect him...By watching the entire video, I get the sense there that this is a guy who is defending life and he wants to go to all lengths he can to protect the life of the unborn."

5. Dana Loesch, CNN contributor. "Seems to me like Akin was trying to fit medical explanation into a soundbite. Not the best statement, but some are stretching it majorly."

Via Talking Points Memo, the LA Times, and Politico.

Can you see a defensible side to Todd Akin's comments on rape and abortion?

[Bobolinsky]

They weren't "evil." They were "wrong."

There's a difference.

[LAMolitix]

I don't know about evil, but the comments were definitely clueless, dumb, stupid, ignorant, insensitive, privileged, sexist, misogynistic, and anti-women...for sure.

[Bobolinsky]

@LAMolitix-- I was with you until you got to "privileged, sexist, misogynistic, and anti-women...for sure."

Please explain.

[Sonny]

@Bobolinsky ---I think she was right on target with those statements..."privileged "---because he gave the impression that he was looking down his nose at women---and telling them that he knows better about their bodies, than they do...."Sexist"---(th is needs no further clarification)...And Misogynistic---because.., This one clearly does not need any further explanation either....I think LAMolitix got it all exactly right!!!!! Nice Job, LAMolitix!

[Realthinker]

I agree with Dana Loesch. I believe Akin was refering to what he though was an established medical fact. I saw at least three different stories yesterday about medical studies on this issue that had three different results! So, medical science doesn't know for sure. I do know many people believe the stress of "trying" for a baby can sometimes actually prevent pregnancy. Haven't we all heard the stories about the couples who tried desperately to conceive with no luck until they adopted or made the decision to adopt? Conception occured after the stress of trying was removed. The idea that stress prevents pregnancy is almost an old wives tale.

[Real4WheelDrv]

Of course there is a defensible side, everyone has the right to act like a moron. But, you also pay the price for it. Nice headline though politix...evil huh?

[Thunderchicken]

And a bad picture of Dana too. She's much cuter.(And you should hear her speak at a Tea Party rally. She's a pistol!)

[dances-weebles]

sure, there's a defensible side to almost every thing.
you can defend your need to drive drunk... you were too drunk to walk

you can defend breaking your friend's nose... it was blocking your view of the girl sunbathing in her garden across the street

you can defend peeing on your neighbor's roses... hey, you didn't want me to pee my pants, did you?

[marine1]

@dances-weebles you liberals know ALL the excuses, we should all pay attention.

[dances-weebles]

@marine1 as soon as i see a liberal i'll tell him that, okay?

[marine1]

@dances-weebles thank you

[Garmin2008]

Just shows you what a jerk he is, cares about nothing but himself, and his big paycheck, typical politician!!!

[Thunderchicken]

And what leads you to say that?

[Ventric]

I can partially agree and disagree with Akin's comment and I am pro-life. So I'm currently going to sit the fence on this one. There are certain situations in which procreation was formed forcibly and that carrying a baby may endanger the lives of both the mother and/or baby. However, according to national statistics of abortion, only 1% of all abortions are due to rape/incest. It would be extremely unfair for someone to be raped and then forced to carry the child of her perpetrator. Yet, to me, life is still have precious and shall not be assailed.

[endesense]

I dont defend him and what he said was entirely wrong. Even a reasonable, rational person KNOWS his statement was incorrect. His comments may have not been 'evil' but they were very, very stupid and he should take responsibility for the whole and not just parts.

[Bobolinsky]

He has.

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2...

[MarkJM]

He apologized. I still say he should have followed the greater good and dropped out yesterday, but it is what it is. I think he cost the GOP a senate seat in my opinion. MO was supposed to be an easy pickup until Akin ran his mouth. Is the statement evil? Not really, but is it stupid? You bet. Will it cost him, probably. You know the DNC will run ad after ad just using his comment on "legitimate rape". The only chance of a GOP pickup in that state now is if someone conducts a third write in challenge, and even then that's stretching it. Looks like McCaskill lucks out again...

[Thunderchicken]

I think you underestimate how angry and betrayed the MO. voters are feeling toward McCaskill. As I said in another post, the Reps could run a duck and win.

[MarkJM]

@Thunderchicken, perhaps so. And I do think McCaskill is a walking cluster and should be replaced. A part of me thinks this will be like any other incendiary comment and will go away in a month or so. If that is the case then she may be as good as booted out of office.

[Thunderchicken]

@MarkJM

Yeah, that's how I see it too.

[Jackie312gm]

Morning has broken once again over the American political landscapes. Disagreement over Mr. Akins statement of a few days ago. That is the highlight ofthe moment. Let me seat down and relax by sticking needles in my eyes. Then for breakfast a six pack of buds.

[WMCOL]

Well "legitimate rape" is probably great news for rapists. Most if not all rapists want their acts of sexual aggression to be legal, just as apparently does Todd Akin and those who support his comment.

[WMCOL]

Geez Huck, a James Robison does not justify allowing a birth from a rape if the woman does not want to continue the pregnancy. Who do you think your are to make that decision for the woman? You old right-wing white men need to give it a rest.

[jimpsusd]

The man has said what he believes, which borders on deranged. The GOPartiers who are denouncing him believe the same crazy stuff, but are cowardly enough to deny him. Deny him; you know, like Peter and Christ.

[Wilberhum]

The man isn't evil. That's just stupid. He simply said "legitimate rape" when he meant "forced rape". He was trying to distinguish the differences of "statutory rape".
Now the man is an idiot and I would never vote for him, but "Evil" is way over the top.

[DARSB]

I'd prefer leaders with a fact-based approach. Rep Akins doesn't meet that criterion and from what I can tell his apologists don't either.

[InjusticeSucks]

Of course this rag tag Collection of Lesser then Human beings would think that.Hell lets make this Idiot president he is at least more Honest them Mittens and Eddie Munster

[Keyjo]

Hopefully the connection between Akin and Ryan will be clearly established and it will cost Romney/Ryan some votes.

[DABurroughs]

Akin is going to reveal the doctor who educated him on how woman's bodies work. I believe his name is I. Shandar. He performed a lot of "unnecessary" experiments.

[DARSB]

Rep. Akins' source for his ludicrous claim is Dr. John Wilke, a long-time opponent of reproductive choice and a close adviser to the Romney campaign. http://aboutmittromney.com/pro-life-endorseme...

[DABurroughs]

@DARSB Yes I understood that too. I Shandor is a reference to the mad scientist named in Ghostbusters who brought Gozar worship back. Gozar worship is about as valid as Wilke's ideas.

[Just_Lisa]

I think it was a very stupid thing for him to say. Evil, no. He's VERY pro life and he was grasping at straws to convince people not to abort rape babies. What he said DOES prove how important each and every child is in his eyes.
Rape is a horrid thing, let alone becoming pregnant due to rape. I think his point was, if you abort the child, you could be ridding the world of another Picasso, or the future President, or just a ballerina, or just a stockboy at Walmart. A life. A life that did not ask to be. Innocence.
I do not believe in abortion as a means of birth control. Women who have been raped and became pregnant IS indeed another story, and a decision to be made by the woman raped.
Will it in any way effect my decision in voting for Romney/Ryan? No.

[blacksheep]

I will admit that this guy is to dumb to be a sen. however, there is a democrat who had sex with a minor boy in a rest stop. will he quit?

[CanadianIndy]

So they were all conservative people defending him? Hm. I'd actually pay attention to this article more if it was people from different points of views defending Akin, but since it's merely a party (or people of similar ideologies) attempting to do damage control, it's arse gravy of the lowest order.

[CanisCanemEdit]

Sooooo Obama can call for Same Sex Marriage and then "evolve" his opinion....but Akin can't be given the opportunity to evolve? Interesting.