Romney: Akin's rape comments 'insulting, inexcusable'

 

Updated 10:53 a.m. - Mitt Romney called a Missouri Republican's comments this weekend about rape "inexcusable," calling on Rep. Todd Akin to "correct" his remarks.

"Congressman’s Akin comments on rape are insulting, inexcusable, and, frankly, wrong,” Romney told the conservative National Review Online. “Like millions of other Americans, we found them to be offensive.”

The presumptive Republican presidential nominee joined a growing chorus of Republicans in condemning Akin's comments Sunday that "legitimate rape" rarely results in pregnancy for victims.

Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., joins Morning Joe to discuss Rep. Todd Akin's, R-Mo., statement that "legitimate rape" rarely results in pregnancy.

"I have an entirely different view," Romney told NRO of Akin's remarks. “What he said is entirely without merit and he should correct it."

Akin's comments threaten to shake up his effort to unseat incumbent Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill this fall. That race is a key stepping stone in Republicans' effort to achieve the net gain of four seats they need to retake control of the Senate.

The controversy has already sparked national reverberations, however. Romney has lagged versus Obama with women voters, according to polls; his comments this morning follow on a spokeswoman's comments on Sunday quickly distancing Romney and presumptive Republican vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan from Akin. (Ryan, Democrats note, did co-sponsor with Akin a bill that would have redefined rape under portions of law.)

Evan Vucci / AP

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney arrives at Hyannis-Barnstable Municipal airport on Aug. 18.

Other Republicans have similarly denounced Akin.

Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown (R) called on Akin to resign his Senate nomination.

"While Congressman Akin may have addressed his statement, like many men and women I strongly disapprove of his original comments — and the sentiments behind them," said former Virginia Sen. George Allen (R), who's trying to reclaim his old seat this fall.

In a statement and a Tweet, conservative congressman Todd Akin says he "misspoke" during a local TV interview in which he made comments about "legitimate rape" and abortion.

Discuss this post

Jump to discussion page: 1 ... 8 9 10 11 12

This is just the first plank in the Republican platform to enacted on Day One.

  • 4 votes
Reply#237 - Mon Aug 20, 2012 9:48 PM EDT

They are very confused about incest since marrying outside the family is frowned on in most states that support republicans. And if your sister is cute, why not. Really cuts down on the number of people at family gatherings.

    #237.1 - Tue Aug 21, 2012 1:59 AM EDT
    Reply

    Mitt...Give it up. He only said out loud what you and Ryan believe but refuse to say out loud for fear of further alienating the female vote. He apologized, Rush apologized but neither meant it.

    • 6 votes
    Reply#238 - Mon Aug 20, 2012 9:51 PM EDT

    Right on!!

    • 3 votes
    #238.1 - Mon Aug 20, 2012 9:52 PM EDT

    True...obligatory sympathy comment while Romney sits on his hands. Funny how that works. Monkey see monkey do nothing

    • 3 votes
    #238.2 - Mon Aug 20, 2012 10:35 PM EDT
    Reply

    Here is what every American should really be talking about and it will scare the crap out of everyone who supported or now supports Obama!!!

    1) Obama has increased our national debt by almost 6 trillion dollars in just 3 ½ short years. That is $4.24 billion per day increased debt! This is more debt than was accumulated by all U.S. presidents from George Washington through Bill Clinton combined and is destined to destroy the future of every household in America, end of story! Were this the private sector, any CEO in America would have been summarily fired for this type of “criminal handling” of American fiscal policy!

    2) Obama’s reckless spending has been so devastating that, even if clear thinking America’s could vote him out of office, it would take a permanent, across-the-board tax increase of 60% just to begin to balance the budget within the next 10 years. Think about that for a minute.

    The impact of such reckless spending has the potential to force 90% of currently working Americans into living in utter dire poverty.

    For those who think that can’t happen, think again!!!

    3)The takers have been kept fat and happy so far living off the efforts of others, borrowed money that the yet unborn will have to repay. Obama allows millions of illegal aliens to flow into our care. We then provide all their necessities of life - food, shelter, education, medical care, clothing and all you can eat taco bars in a thinly veiled effort to “buy votes” from yet another group the “Obama administration strategists” characterize as one dimensional, intellectually compromised, single issue constituencies.

    Many of the liberal posts in this chat comfirm Obama's "one dimensional, intellectually compromised, single issue constituencies" characterization!

    4) Under Obama, the S&P has already downgraded the U.S. sovereign debt rating from AAA to AA+. Should Obama be reelected, there will be yet another downgrade as early as 2013. The implications of this are major. The U.S. cannot run its day-to-day operations without borrowing money. Anything that impacts its ability to borrow money has serious consequences. China and other nations are likely to reduce or halt extending more and more loans by buying U.S. Treasury securities. Premier Wen Jiabao of China recently expressed concern that the Obama Administration is causing the U.S. to be viewed as “something of a, well, deadbeat. "We have made a huge amount of loans to the United States. Of course we are concerned about the safety of our assets!”

    Fearing the fact that Obama’s socialist deficit spending will bring about an economic
    doomsday in the US, the Chinese have now become a net-seller of Treasuries resulting in an increase of 41 basis points in 19 trading sessions. Obama has bankrupt America. So, who will buy our debt in the furture?

    5) In order to limit the likelihood of a near term a default stemming from this massive deficit spending the Fed will continue “monetizing” his debt. In effect Obama’s reckless spending forces the Fed to commit grand larceny. Rather than honestly repaying what it has borrowed, the government merely prints up extra currency and uses it to pay its loans. The debt is “monetized”…transformed into an increase in the money supply, thereby lowering the purchasing power of everybody’s savings and creating inflation. The the U.S. adjusted monetary base has been expanded by 100 billion dollars in the last 2 months alone!

    6)This is precisely why every American household is struggling to make ends meet and why Obama is in effect forcing you to take a shopping cart full of cash every time you buy groceries or buy gas. To make matters worse, his energy policy is criminal and will likely result in gas prices of over $6 per gallon in less than 3 years!

    Do your research American, we cannot withstand 4 more years of this!

    If you have a brain in your head, now is the time to use it!

    7) The Obama administration has metastasized into a pathological cancer on our society, but we can start to cut the cancer out in November!

    • 2 votes
    Reply#239 - Mon Aug 20, 2012 10:02 PM EDT

    clear voice, your voice is about as unclear and uniformed as they come. Does the word 'context' mean anything to you or are you so focused on making idiotic points that you don't understand the importance of it in relating to your myopic views.

    If YOU have a brain in your head now is the time to use it!

    • 5 votes
    #239.1 - Mon Aug 20, 2012 10:11 PM EDT

    Clear voice2 - Your comment is a bit "clouded"... with little substance. In other words... "blah, blah, blah."

    • 5 votes
    #239.2 - Mon Aug 20, 2012 10:25 PM EDT

    clear is another idiot cut and waste poster. Women's rights and the Repugotard talks about everything else. Tool

    • 3 votes
    #239.3 - Mon Aug 20, 2012 10:25 PM EDT

    philyp, I would have used 'yada, yada, yada' but in the end it all means the same.

    • 3 votes
    #239.4 - Mon Aug 20, 2012 10:35 PM EDT

    Always love it when I see clear. Like a broken record. Same cut and paste and no thought.

    • 3 votes
    #239.5 - Mon Aug 20, 2012 10:42 PM EDT

    I'm wondering if Clear is really rich or really stupid. Some really rich people hate to pay taxes and Romney/Ryan will make sure they don't.

      #239.6 - Tue Aug 21, 2012 1:40 AM EDT

      Clear - Obama has added 5 trillion if you give him credit for Bush's last budget which I'm sure you do. Bush doubled the national debt paying for his wars and tax cuts. Obama has added 50% paying for Bush's wars and Bush's tax cuts.

        #239.7 - Tue Aug 21, 2012 2:02 AM EDT

        I hear you loud and clear !

          #239.8 - Fri Aug 24, 2012 12:42 AM EDT
          Reply

          C'mon Mittens, why not fess up and tell us that you agree with this brain-dead Missourian just like the vast majority of other republican politicians that don't have a clue about the important issues facing women and minorities. The only women that will be voting republican in November are those that haven't been reading newspapers for the last couple of years.

          • 4 votes
          Reply#240 - Mon Aug 20, 2012 10:07 PM EDT

          Romney thinks that whining like a woman will win back their votes

          • 3 votes
          #240.1 - Mon Aug 20, 2012 10:24 PM EDT
          Reply

          Ladies and gentlemen... the faces of the new Republican Party. It's interesting that Romney and Ryan are now distancing themselves from Akin. Their voting records and ideologies are consistent.

          • 4 votes
          Reply#241 - Mon Aug 20, 2012 10:18 PM EDT

          Larry Craig all over again. Republican low standards showing

          • 4 votes
          #241.1 - Mon Aug 20, 2012 10:23 PM EDT

          dal, do you predict they'll discover Romney in a Men's restroom pleasuring himself?

          • 3 votes
          #241.2 - Mon Aug 20, 2012 10:34 PM EDT

          LOL, Jack maybe he can get PeeWee Herman as a new VP

          • 3 votes
          #241.3 - Mon Aug 20, 2012 10:39 PM EDT
          Reply

          Romney? The same guy that made 75 MILLION off an aborted fetus disposal company. Yeah, great moral compass. What a failure Romney is.

          Here is the article on Romney's baby killing factory

          http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/07/romney-bain-abortion-stericycle-sec

          • 5 votes
          Reply#242 - Mon Aug 20, 2012 10:22 PM EDT

          i don't get it...couple years ago Mitt and his running mate felt the same way as this guy...down he running for president he is changing his turn...i'm sure once in office he will change it back....these guys just can't be trusted...they will say anything they think you want to hear...

          • 4 votes
          Reply#243 - Mon Aug 20, 2012 10:23 PM EDT

          As Mormon Jeff Warren rapes little girls Romney will say "inexcusable.... I am running for President Jeff"

          • 3 votes
          Reply#244 - Mon Aug 20, 2012 10:28 PM EDT

          Jeff Warren is an apostate Mormon. Jeff Warren is not a member of the LDS church. He is a member of a sect that has broken off from the LDS church, all of whose members have been excommunicated from the LDS church.

            #244.1 - Tue Aug 21, 2012 12:48 AM EDT

            The Mormons should stand up for their own just as the Catholics do. Little girls or little boys - who cares. They are all dirt bags.

              #244.2 - Tue Aug 21, 2012 2:07 AM EDT
              Reply

              Too bad the repubs don't equate the rights of women as equal to the rights of a man. They still believe that men are superior to women and they need to tell women what to do with their bodies and this duffus believes that legit rape cannot produce a child that a woman has some power to make it not happen so then he also believes if a woman becomes pregnant after she says she was raped she must be lying and wanted it, wow are we living in the dark ages again? Ryan is a Catholic so we can assume he doesn't believe women should use birth control, we are heading down a slippery slope here with at least these three men getting into office and pushing their views on womens rights back a few decades.

              • 4 votes
              Reply#245 - Mon Aug 20, 2012 10:40 PM EDT

              You know how you shut up a Republican? Let them talk then insert foot. Of course Larry Craig used his foot in a different way...same result

              • 3 votes
              Reply#246 - Mon Aug 20, 2012 10:41 PM EDT

              I suppose the opposite of forcible rape is consensual rape.

              • 3 votes
              Reply#247 - Mon Aug 20, 2012 10:43 PM EDT

              Some believe that if a girl is looking really hot, she is asking for it.

                #247.1 - Tue Aug 21, 2012 2:08 AM EDT
                Reply

                It seems that Romney should REALLY ask Ryan about bills he co-sponsored with Akin, such as HR 3, and it's attempt to redefine what a rape is.

                Mitt, look in your own campaign bus!

                • 2 votes
                Reply#248 - Mon Aug 20, 2012 11:22 PM EDT

                Hey Mitt, does that mean you and your buddy Paul Ryan are going to renounce your position on "personhood"? That a fertilized egg is a "person" and therefore a woman who is raped and becomes pregnant should not be allowed to end that pregnancy and should look to that fertilized egg as a "blessing" as Santorum has stated?

                • 4 votes
                Reply#249 - Mon Aug 20, 2012 11:23 PM EDT

                Well, in AZ, the GOP did pass a law that says life starts at the woman's last period, and not days later at conception. No, I'm not kidding.

                • 2 votes
                #249.1 - Mon Aug 20, 2012 11:27 PM EDT

                so an egg is a person... and a swimming sperm cell must be too... since it has half the chromosomes... and a hamburger is as well... since it contains the protein that was used in building the egg... not to mention the cow from which the hamburger came... and I won't even bring up the grass the cow ate

                  #249.2 - Tue Aug 21, 2012 1:08 AM EDT
                  Reply

                  Does it really matter what Mitt Romney says? This is his Republican party, the party owned by big money, the Tea Party and the most radical, insulting candidates ever. From the beginning of the primary season you could see how radical and unrealistic these Republicans have become. From the Tea Party candidates of the mid-term elections right down to the radical and disgusting candidates such as Rick Santorum forcing his personal and strange beliefs upon us - things can only get worse with candidates like this.

                  • 2 votes
                  Reply#251 - Mon Aug 20, 2012 11:50 PM EDT

                  just a heartbeat away from Ayatollah Ryan

                  • 1 vote
                  #251.1 - Tue Aug 21, 2012 1:03 AM EDT
                  Reply

                  Former president of the LDS Church Spencer W. Kimball wrote a book called the Miracle of Forgiveness. In this book he talks about how women who are raped should seed forgiveness from God! I was studying this book in a religion class at Brigham Young University and was absolutely outraged at this statement, which is one reason I left the LDS Church.

                  Women who are raped have ABSOLUTELY no reason to seed forgiveness, for they have done nothing wrong! Mitt Romney, as a Mormon is really skirting this issue. It would appear to me that Mitt Romney's religion has more in common with the views of Rep. Akin than Mitt Romney's views do, if he is telling us the truth. Or, is he just playing politics and obscuring his real opinion?

                  • 1 vote
                  Reply#252 - Tue Aug 21, 2012 12:34 AM EDT

                  So if Akin drops out....they will just replace him with another extreme rightwing guy who just hasn't been caught saying something extreme and stupid yet. That doesn't mean they aren't necessarily extreme and dangerous.

                  • 1 vote
                  Reply#253 - Tue Aug 21, 2012 1:01 AM EDT

                  Romney : "Damn it! Now the cat is out of the bag! This policy was to wait for the terror troops until after I'm crowned emperor of people's bedrooms. Rev up the flip-flop machine!"

                  • 1 vote
                  Reply#254 - Tue Aug 21, 2012 1:01 AM EDT

                  If the GOP forces Akin out, then he should file a lawsuit that Romney, Ryan, and all the GOP teabaggers should also be forced out for the same views.

                  • 2 votes
                  Reply#255 - Tue Aug 21, 2012 1:09 AM EDT

                  OK Conservative women.

                  If a violation of your body happened to you. What word would you accept to explain your ordeal if you had a choice.

                  A. Rape

                  B. Forcible Rape

                  C. legitimate rape

                  Send your choice to your local Republican representative and ask him to explain the differences.

                    Reply#256 - Tue Aug 21, 2012 1:34 AM EDT

                    "legitimate rape"?

                      #256.1 - Tue Aug 21, 2012 1:39 AM EDT

                      Legitimate rape is when you wear a condom and give the girl a cigarette after it is over.

                        #256.2 - Tue Aug 21, 2012 2:12 AM EDT
                        Reply

                        If you do not want your wife or your girlfriend to be pregnant, what do you do, the republican way?

                        Just rape her!

                        • 2 votes
                        Reply#257 - Tue Aug 21, 2012 1:39 AM EDT

                        How bad is the Ryan-Akin anti-abortion bill?

                        By Greg Sargent

                        The national battle over Todd Akin's comments about "legitimate rape" has shed light on a"personhood" bill, co-sponsored by Akin and Paul Ryan, called the Sanctity of Life Act. Much of the chatter today has focused on whether Ryan opposes abortion in cases of rape. The Romney campaign confirmed today that Ryan does personally oppose it, while clarifying that a Romney-Ryan administration would not oppose it.

                        (Wow! A complete Flip-Flop in the same sentence! The last one above. That's gotta be a new Romney Flip-Flop Speed Record!)

                        http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/post/how-bad-is-the-ryan-akin-anti-abortion-bill/2012/08/20/c7e37e04-eafe-11e1-9ddc-340d5efb1e9c_blog.html

                        • This is PROOF POSITIVE that The GOP Mullahs are trying to IMPOSE a form of pseudo-Christian Sharia Law on all of America. Think about that. That is what The GOP gang is really up to.

                        BTW, That bill would be HR 212

                        http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-112hr212ih/pdf/BILLS-112hr212ih.pdf

                        • 2 votes
                        #257.1 - Tue Aug 21, 2012 1:41 AM EDT
                        Reply

                        Something strikes me as really odd.

                        It's almost like it was planed.

                        If you are trailing with women voters this topic is the last one you want to have going around. Akin's connection with Ryan and anti abortion makes Akin the worst of all people to have made this happen. Even if they throw Akin under the bus this probably will not go away because of the Ryan anti abortion connections.

                        Are the Republicans trying to loose? Has God finally become fed up with what the Republicans have been doing in his name and decided it's time to work in mysterious ways?

                        Are the Republicans too scared of winning because they would then have to something to fix things and they will look suspiciously like Obama's ideas?

                        • 1 vote
                        Reply#258 - Tue Aug 21, 2012 1:45 AM EDT

                        Many people would say that the selection of Paul Ryan was also a gift from god to the Dems.

                        • 2 votes
                        #258.1 - Tue Aug 21, 2012 3:14 AM EDT

                        unfortunately the republicans want the white house no matter how bereft of solutions they are... case in point = 8 years of George W '2 wars / tank the economy' Bush

                        • 2 votes
                        #258.2 - Tue Aug 21, 2012 3:18 AM EDT

                        OH PULEEEEEZE, these teabrained maroons ARE the repukelikkkan party now. And since EVERYONE hates GRIDLOCK it would be good to know that the majority of repukes are now of a mind that anyone who COMPROMISES SHOULD BE VOTED OUT ASAP and replaced by a NORQUIST NO TAXES (on BILLIONAIRES) DIED IN THE WOOL IDIOT WHO WON'T COMPROMISE WITH THE OTHER SIDE. Democrats on the other hand DO believe in COMPROMISE -- so if you want MORE GRIDLOCK IN DC, vote REPUBLICAN. If you believe that it is fine for teachers to pay EXTRA taxes so that WILLARD can take a PHONEY 70K WRITE OFF for a million dollar PHONEY THERAPY HORSE, vote RepubliHORSEcrap.

                        • 2 votes
                        #258.3 - Tue Aug 21, 2012 8:24 AM EDT

                        sorry,I haven't seen a lot of compromise from the Democrats

                          #258.4 - Fri Aug 24, 2012 12:20 AM EDT
                          Reply

                          Todd Akin and Andrea Saul are both in trouble for telling the truth. An absolute ban on all abortions was Romney's and Ryan's position yesterday and will be again tomorrow. But today, we got a flip flop. I'm wondering if republicans believe that a women has the right to say no when a guy wants to boink her. This could be their vision for America.

                          • 2 votes
                          Reply#259 - Tue Aug 21, 2012 1:49 AM EDT

                          It seemed to work pretty well for polygamist and Mormon founder Joseph Smith. Heck, he even had a wife who was only fourteen years old.

                          The Republicans have a strange view of women.

                          • 1 vote
                          #259.1 - Tue Aug 21, 2012 7:04 AM EDT

                          I think in this case,women will do what they feel is the right thing to do in that situation,they are in contol of their bodies,not the government,and I don't see it as an easy decision

                            #259.2 - Fri Aug 24, 2012 12:24 AM EDT
                            Reply

                            Romney will now dump his VP choice Ryan... who is in perfect sync with Akin

                            • 1 vote
                            Reply#260 - Tue Aug 21, 2012 3:14 AM EDT

                            Today the GOP just published their draft platform......which essentially reiterates the absolute anti-abortion views of Ryan and Akin.

                            I just wonder how any sane woman could vote Republican.

                            • 1 vote
                            #260.1 - Tue Aug 21, 2012 10:41 AM EDT

                            as sane as she would be to vote Democrat this time around

                              #260.2 - Fri Aug 24, 2012 12:34 AM EDT
                              Reply

                              It is so funny watching Mitt (dog-on-the-car-roof) Romney distance himself from one wacko representative when his own choice for Veep believes in the same thing. Can/will he distance himself from his own running-mate?

                              The TEApublicans are so WACKO and SCREWED UP they will follow the poster boy for the GREEDY TOP 1% over the cliff when he loses to President Obama. He lost to Kennedy, then lost to McCain, next he'll lose to Obama.

                              Expecting great things from the party of H*LL NO is One Foolish Idea!

                              Now I'll just wait for some GOP TROLL to perform the standard LIE, DISTORTION, and INSULT.

                              • 2 votes
                              Reply#261 - Tue Aug 21, 2012 4:36 AM EDT
                              Jump to discussion page: 1 ... 8 9 10 11 12
                              You're in Easy Mode. If you prefer, you can use XHTML Mode instead.
                              As a new user, you may notice a few temporary content restrictions. Click here for more info.