UPDATE: The Washington, DC-based Family Research Council throws its significant heft into the fight, like Colorado-based Personhood USA also in stout support of Todd Akin:
Was his statement offensive? Absolutely. Was it inappropriate? Without a doubt. But if we abandoned every politician who made a ridiculous comment in their careers, there’d be no one left in Washington! Todd Akin has a long and distinguished record of defending women, children, and families–and unlike the GOP establishment, I refuse to throw him under the bus over one inarticulate comment for which he has apologized. If Congressmen Akin stays in the race, it will be up to voters to decide if his candidacy is a viable one. Until then, FRC Action is not going to walk away from a man whom we support based on a lifetime of service–not one indefensible moment.
FRC’s influence in national GOP politics is considerable, much greater than that of Personhood USA with a vastly larger membership. Could this portend a recovery for Akin?
And what would that mean for every other race in America?
—–
That in a press release we received moments ago from Arvada-based national anti-abortion group Personhood USA, the same organization responsible for the campaign to place the “Personhood” abortion ban on Colorado’s ballot for the third consecutive election. According to Personhood USA, it’s time for GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney and his running mate Paul Ryan to “stop their opposition to the Republican Party platform.”
On Monday Governor Romney disavowed the Republican platform on abortion, supporting the death penalty for children conceived in rape, then called for Congressman Akin to drop out of his Senate race, despite Akin’s conservative voting record and apology after his misstatement…
“In calling for Congressman Akin’s exit of the Senate race, Governor Romney and Congressman Ryan are throwing a prolife Congressman under the bus over a blunder, and it seems they are doing so because they disagree with his no exceptions position on abortion – a position that is an integral part of the Republican Party platform, the same position that was held by President Ronald Reagan,” explained Jennifer Mason, Personhood USA spokesperson. “We are left with Reagan Republicans, who agree with the Republican Party platform on abortion, and Romney Republicans, a fringe group of liberals who compromise on human life.” [Pols emphasis]
“Governor Romney and Congressman Ryan now have the opportunity to stop their opposition to the Republican Party platform,” continued Mason. “By withdrawing their call for Akin to quit the race, and retracting their anti-life position on the death penalty for children conceived in rape, Romney and Ryan would at the very least be in agreement with the Republican Party’s position on abortion.”
It seems like every year, the “Personhood” crowd does something that ends up hurting their fellow Republicans much more than they are worth in terms of base mobilization. In 2008, they attacked GOP Senate candidate Bob Schaffer for his failure to support their initiative, and his denial of alleged forced abortions in textile factories in the Mariana Islands. In 2010, “Personhood” played a key role in the destruction of GOP Senate candidate Ken Buck after Buck flip-flopped on the initiative under fire from women advocacy groups and voters.
This time around, they appear to be aiming for the top.
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I saw a supposition that it was God punishing the GOP for abandoning Akin. I do not think it was satire (based on posters’ previous work).
Do not upset them. They are doing very well for us. The awareness of Ryan’s women’s breeding plan is more widely known than even two weeks ago.
When they don’t, will Personhood USA realize that any rhetorical hint of support from Romney Ryan is just a lie?
That under no circumstance will Romney Ryan say anything truly supportive? Nor will they do anything once in office?
And, for that matter, neither did President Reagan?
“Almost all conservatives oppose abortion,” Creswell writes. “But in 1967, only four months into his first term as governor of California, Reagan signed into law a bill that resulted in millions of abortions due to a provision in the bill allowing abortions for the well-being of the mother.”
“He also provided much rhetorical red meat to the anti-abortion activists, but that was about all,” the FSU professor contended”
http://www.lifenews.com/2008/0…
Want fewer abortions?
– Sex education and contraception.
– More rape prosecutions, with harsher sentences and fewer exceptions
Via Mother Jones:
Got it, you lying sluts?
must’ve gone out via the tubz to some American-Taliban listserve.
Date Rape after being roofied
does not count as rape.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worl…
What exactly Akin said that people like Tony Perkins finds objectionable or offensive?
Not, apparently, that women who are victims of assault made pregnant thereby should be forced to carry that offspring to term; and, not, apparently that those mysterious lady parts prevent many rapes from resulting in pregnancies…so what?
That Akins strayed from the message points in saying ‘legitimate’ instead of ‘forcible’?
Or that he was stupid enough to say what they all think at all?
And, if the latter, how doe that fit into the whole not bearing false witness thing? Lies of omissions are lies. So, how about it A-Bot. I know you have difficulties with direct questions that may stray from the daily meme, but I honestly cannot figure out why, in the above, the FRC would find Akin’s comments offensive… Rather they are pretty much on point if not quite on script.
Please elucidate.
Thanks!
-CT
If women do not have birth control; if women are not allowed to terminate rape or incest; if women cannot prove “legitimate” rape; then what are women worth?
In the eyes of Romney, Ryan, Akin, 236 Reps, women are breeding stock. Women are no more useful and to be thought of as nothing but breeding stock. Keep the eye candy on the podium, but even she is nothing but breeding stock.
to what you’re getting as a woman if you vote Republican. Many low info, apolitical women in the burbs think GOP rhetoric about being good for business and sensible on budget sounds about right and have no idea how extreme the party of their parents has become. They may be generally pro life but they use effective birth control and think there should be exceptions to allow abortion with rape being one of those exceptions. Most even think it should be up to each woman.
Having to have this conversation every day, not just with their base but right out loud in public, is not what the GOP had in mind.
It’s also possible that rants like this, equating abortion for a rape victim with giving a “baby” a “death sentence” might rile up the far right enough to send some of them to third candidates who are willing to openly support their extreme views. Being right with their idea of God might be more important to them than stopping Obama. These are not cool, calm rationalists weighing their options.
Alternately, if Romney gives in and goes full wingnut on this stuff it’s going to hurt him with the middle and lose him even more women.
This is a good development for Dems. Dems never could have drawn this much attention to this stuff with any amount of money.
It’s also worth pointing out that some were, and continue to be, upset at the faux-rape crap, not the abortion issue. While the two are often connected out of necessity, the basic issues are still, well, separate.
Akin mostly represents the ‘burbs of Saint Louis, atm. These are the exact people you’re talking about; big on God, small government and afraid of immigrants. This guy once said, “at the heart of liberalism is a hatred of god.” And the “legitimate rape” comment is the one that got everyone’s attention. There’s a reason for that.
FWIW, this was going to happen eventually in this race. Even this guy’s friends admit that he’s outside GOP mainstream.
I’m really just babbling here. I was going to compare Akin to another congressman in your neck of the woods, but Akin is steadfast in nearly all his beliefs, the rarest of all DC traits. Which is also why he’s not dropping out. I expect this gift to keep giving for a few months.
to get the national conversation off of Romney’s tax returns. If so then the Repubs were a tad too crafty for their own good. It got the spotlight off of his tax returns but it certainly shone a bright light on their misogynistic policies.