E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS
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.
Leave a Comment:
What took them so long to come out with a statement? Once again the Romney campaign proves itself inept.
Good another Reflubican inserting foot in mouth. I demand we see proof that he was educated on any level . I would settle to see his birth certificate and draw a conclusion , not if he was born in this country but proving rather he wasn't hatched on some chicken farm in whatever hillbilly burrow he is from. Keep up the good work and let normal people see just how much you inbred fools need more government in you lives because you just won't behave.
what about Biden's hoof in mouth disease ?? please if you have to be insulting,call them rednecks and not hillbilly's. (hillbilly's are smarter !)
I'd worry less about the ramblings of some country bumpkin and mankinni-less party animals in the Holy Land and more about the integrity and trustworthiness of Romney himself. He needs to prove to the American people that he plays by the same rules that apply to everyone else. He's based much of his campaign on his success as a businessman and his business acumen as a qualification for his candidacy. This election should NOT move forward until he comes clean with his tax records; the 'blind trust' needs to be revealed as well.
What's he hiding?
what's Obama hiding ?
So it would appear many republican women are fine being considered chattel by their menfolks...git me a beer woman
yet another asinine comment from the male of the species,hope you treat your wife or girlfriend with more respect than that
Romney told NRO of Akin's remarks. “What he said is entirely without merit and he should correct it." NOw I don't know anything about the rest of you folks but how in the world do you correct such and an idiotic statement. Now he is a tea bagger maybe he should say. "I didn't mean that about white women" is that how you would correct that? I'm just say'in I would of thought saying something like, "Excuse my idiocy, if I had given this some thought, which I rarely do, I never would have said this." Now doesn't that sound better it's the truth and your admitting that in order to run for office as a Republidummy you need to be an idiot. Ya know there used to be a time when idiots like this were not allowed in the GOP let alone the convention. Things really have changed for the GOP!!!
My thoughts exactly! How in heaven's name do you "correct" something like that? O.K. folks, this is what you're going to get if the Tea Party candidates get voted in.
Before Romney's remarks in the NRO, all his campaign said is that Romney "disagreed" with Akin.......but he has yet to explain exactly how he disagrees with Akin. In fact, his position on abortion is exactly the same as the rest of the GOP.
Mitt is waiting for Rush to explain the position he should take. That is - after he apologizes for throwing a TPRepub under the bus.
So Mittens, he should "correct" what he said but he doesn't need to apologize for his insensitivity he obviously showed toward women? Mittens, he said that he "empathizes" with raped women; does that mean he knows how they feel from experience?
how can he correct it,usually if it comes out of your mouth you meant to say it,people don't always think before they speak.And apparently he had to just get it out there
I think that was his spirit trying to come to terms with illegitimate rapes that he likely engaged in.
Todd Akin, Paul Ryan, wants to ban the “morning after pill,”
Quote: Paul Ryan, however, believes that the “forcible rape” language does not actually go far enough to force women to carry their rapist’s baby. Ryan believes that abortion should be illegal in all cases except for “cases in which a doctor deems an abortion necessary to save the mother’s life.” So rape survivors are out of luck.
http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/todd-akin-paul-ryan-the-morning-after-pill-and-self-terminating-pregnancies/politics/2012/08/20/46999
who cares what he thinks,does he have a say in the final decision ~~~NO
Ten articles on this website this morning about how bad the Republican Party is and none on the Presidents policies (or lack of) that have put this country in a mess. This is journalism. Come on Libs attack me and my character but dont say anything about the mess the country is in and why it is in this shape. All of your ranting is not going to change the fact that we are in the worst shape since the Great Depression and whether it is the Preidents fault or not he owns it!
The topic of this article is Mitt's response to Akins comments.
Stick with the program and stop trying to deflect attention away from the GOP attack on women.
Oh doggy, how deep is your head buried in the teabagger dungheap that the only thing you hear is what Faux news and the other rightwingnuts spit out as news. This mess that the country is in is directly due to the teabagger republican policies of block and obstruct and deny and lie and to George W's economic disastrous policies he implemented during his 8 years in office.
Why we are in a mess - Bush/Cheney. It took them 8 years to destroy the country and i think the president is doing just fine in rebuilding it.
that's just too true
Romney says "he should correct it", but this dude believes it. Its gonna be impossible to correct an idea that he and his friends and family have all helped shape over the course of his life. This guy is not qualified to make me a chicken sandwich at chick fil a, and is the republican nominee. What doctors was doofus referencing?
As if you can "correct" a lifetime of ignorant thinking.
Notice that he hasn't apologized to women he may have offended!
Ya Can't Fix Stupid!!!
I cannot believe the "Morning Joe" and other talking heads comments on the Akin stupidity. The MEN are talking about the statement and not about WOMEN. Women! The issue should not be about the win or lose the Senate but about the viewpoint of Republicans when it comes to women. Romney calls for Akin to amend his statement, not that he change his understanding". Akin calls to punish the rapist but says not one word about the woman's punishment by not being able to abort the fetus. Should I be grateful to them that they don't stone us or that the society tolerates "Honor Killings"? Whatever the punishment, it is always the woman who is punished. Not just about the rape scenario but about sexuality in general. Men get away with rape all the time and call it just fun or "she liked it". The reepublican party sees women as less than. They can't manage their own lives and need legislation to help them. B...S... !
I see Ryan's stance as a way to keep women from using rape as a reason to have an abortion. They shouldn't need an excuse or a reason. In fact, it's the other way around. If you want the women to carry a pregnancy to term, give her a reason to do it. She's the one having to do all the work and suffering the physical torments - she should be rewarded. Guarantee her that she will get the help she needs if she goes it alone, or that the partner will contribute. If you can't, you don't have the right to demand anything.
Yes that is bad but it is ok for Romney to tackle, pin down, and scalp a kid because of some perceived sexual preference the kid had which didnt impact Romney in the least.
Romney is a loser.
It's very simple!
Obama's record is one of failure!
Newsweek Cover says it all!
Hit The Road Barrack!
It's very simple!
Romney needs to tell us what his policies will be. You don't hire a CEO if you don't know what his intentions are and what he plans to do to your company.
Sure, but Romney to his campaign: Keep that money flowing into Akin's campaign. The public will forget it in two months!
Speaking of insulting and inexcusable, Mitt, what about those tax returns?
Speaking of insulting and inexcusable....how about the entire republican slate of candidates starting with romney himself.
you can apply that to the Democrats as well
Funny how Mittens had nothing to say when Rush Limbaugh called that Georgetown student a slut and that she should exhibit her intimacies on the web, except that "he wouldn't have used those words exactly".
Can this guy get any more spineless? I bet he can!
He doesn't need a spine. It is obvious his wife has the balls in the family.
everyone knows Rush Limbaugh hates women or maybe just females in general
I wonder how much Koch money will be in MO now?
Unfortunately, it's been there for quite some time.
Just wondering if it will dry up, or will they hold thier nose and try to get control of the senate?
neither party affiliations has done a good job so far,so it's not really fair to blame it on one side,now is it ???
I wonder what Rep. Akin do, if his love one been rape.
Akin talks like someone tring to cover up that he himself has raped someone.
Akin needs to be reincarnated as a Taliban woman.
So Ryan co-sponsored a bill along with Akin to define "forcible" rape?
Guess that means if you get slipped a roofie, and pass out to where you cannot fight back, that wouldn't be "forcible"?
Ryan also calls Ayn Rand the biggest influence on his poltical philosophy. In one of Rand's books, The Fountainhead, the hero of the novel, Howard Roark, rapes a women...but it's all OK, because down deep, she really wanted it.
Mitt is right to denounce this statement in strong terms, but the question about where his VP stands on women's issues is more than open for debate.
It's not about correcting his remarks, mittens. It's about changing the way your party thinks, in general, o.k.?
Despite their disavowals of Akin both Romney and Ryan agree with his premise of prohibiting abortions in cases of rape and incest. Now they etch-a-sketched their positions. Ryan has repeatedly stated his opposition to these abortions. When did he change his mind? FoxNews has not reported much about this and will bend over backwards to defend the most obscene in the GOP, even when it comes to rape and women's rights. It seems as if no one at Fox has a daughter in their family.
whether you like his opinion or not he is entitled to it.Opinions are like a##holes,everybody has one,but in the final decision,the woman will always have the final say
Mr. Romney, Mr. Adkins said what he meant and meant what he said. Mr. Adkins is one of the true Mo mule types he will kick your flip flopping butt Willard. See What them TP'ers are doing to you GOP'ers?
Mr. Akin's remarks are an INSULT TO ALL WOMEN! Shame on Mr. Akin!!!
I'm telling you we need to vote all the GOP scum out of Congress!!
Any women that vote for them are fools!!
Obama/Biden-2012
you'd have too vote out the bad seeds in the democratic party too. why can't the people we elected do the job they were sent there to do ?
It only took Mittens a day to state that he doesn't agree with Akins remarks about rape. That tells me that Mittens does personally agree with Akins comments but needed to say something publically to CYA.
Nor has Mitt said how he disagrees with Akin on this issue, or for that matter said whether he disagrees with his running mate who holds the exact same views as Akin.
Sure it does. Wouldn't be quick enough for you unless he sent you a personal text message.
@skrekk
Cite your evidence that Ryan holds this same view.
His first comment was last night if you bother to look and he said
The statement on behalf of Ryan and presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney said the pair would "not oppose abortion in instances of rape."
But Ryan co-sponsered the bill that re-defined rape.
I guess you haven't been paying attention. Ryan opposes abortion even in cases of rape or incest, voted in favor of Akin's bill to redefine rape, and supports a "personhood amendment."
"Mr. Ryan, a seven-term congressman from Wisconsin, has opposed abortion in the case of rape. During his first run for the seat in 1998, The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported that he opposed abortions in all cases except to save the life of the mother."
This is inaccurate reporting on the part of the NYSlimes.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/08/20/1122051/-Romney-Campaign-Changes-Paul-Ryan-s-Views-On-Abortion-While-Distancing-From-Akin
"Ryan also cosponsored the "No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act" with Akin in 2011. The GOP tried to narrow the definition of rape as it related to abortions with the measure. Only in instances of "forcible rape," the bill specified, would a woman be eligible to have her abortion covered under insurance."
What part are you disagreeing with, Tracy? The bill that Akins sponsored and which Ryan voted for further restricted which rape cases would qualify for abortion funding. And since both Ryan and Akin oppose abortion in all cases of rape and incest, it makes sense that those nutjobs would vote for that bill.
There's no daylight between Ryan and Akin on this issue.....except that Ryan would allow abortion if the pregnancy would otherwise kill the woman, while Akin would not.
"And since both Ryan and Akin oppose abortion in all cases of rape and incest,"
They don't oppose abortion in ALL cases.
Didn't you read?.....
"Only in instances of "forcible rape," the bill specified, would a woman be eligible to have her abortion covered under insurance.""
define "forcible rape" in this context. Not what you or me, or even the dictionary or someone with common sense would say it is, what is the definition in this bill?
I haven't been able to find anything. I think that is the problem right there. I don't think the term has been defined in ANY of the bills that have been working thru Congress.
It needs to be defined and quick otherwise the political hacks will just keep defining what it means as THEY see fit.
Paul Ryan on abortion:
And on top of all that, both Ryan and Akin oppose abortion in all cases of rape and incest. Ryan only supports abortion to save the life of the mother, while Akin doesn't even support that.
http://www.theatlanticwire.com/politics/2012/08/paul-ryan-has-new-abortion-stance/55955/
No wonder there's a huge gender gap.
Tracy,
I found a definiton for "forcible rape", as well as what Ryan and Akin sought to redefine it as. the legal definition is pretty straightforward, that forcible rape is nonconsensual. This is opposed to statutory rape. However, under Ryan and Akins' plan, any rape rape that did not involve direct physical force would not qualify. Rapes that were due to date-rape drugs, rapes of mentally hanicapped individuals, and rapes where the victim did not fight back (the attacker had a weapon but did not use it) would not be considered forcible rape. Meaning, you have to fight back to make it rape. if you don't they would not consider it rape, regardless of your mental capacity at the time or if the attacker would have killed you.
http://www.sled.state.sc.us/sled/default.asp?Category=crimensc0&Service=Rape
http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2012/08/19/712251/how-todd-akin-and-paul-ryan-partnered-to-redefine-rape/
"...as well as what Ryan and Akin sought to redefine it as"
Which is where?
You link doesn't reference Ryan or Atkin or any political party.
@skrekk
"And on top of all that, both Ryan and Akin oppose abortion in all cases of rape and incest."
I just showed that you are incorrect.....
"Ryan also cosponsored the "No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act" with Akin in 2011. The GOP tried to narrow the definition of rape as it related to abortions with the measure. Only in instances of "forcible rape," the bill specified, would a woman be eligible to have her abortion covered under insurance."
Did you read the dates? 1998 versus 2011. They changed their stance on that because it would never fly, even moderate Republicans balked. They tried to sneak in the "forcible rape" language to hide the fact that most rapes would not be considered rapes. You proved nothing other than these two don't consider rape a serious crime. If you are not even going to try to understand what is going on I'm not going to waste anymore time with you.
"They tried to sneak in the "forcible rape" language to hide the fact that most rapes would not be considered rapes."
This is your expert analysis?
"You proved nothing other than these two don't consider rape a serious crime."
You didn't prove that they don't....other than offering an opinion you formed by reading from TP a blatently liberal biased source.
"If you are not even going to try to understand what is going on I'm not going to waste anymore time with you."
If you going to continue trying to prove that Atkin and Ryan don't think that rape is a serious crime then ditto.
rape is not consensual sex. somebody forxces you to have sex with them against your will.
Tracy,
it is quite apparent you haven't been paying attention.
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/08/20/first-on-cnn-gop-prepares-tough-anti-abortion-platform/
So according to CNN since rape is not mentioned in this draft that means there is no will be exception in any legislation that might be passed? No official PARTY PLATFORM has ever had specifics about rape when it comes to abortion (cite one if you can).
From the article....
"An exemption for rape, though, is not included in the platform set to be adopted by the party Romney will officially lead when he accepts the Republican nomination next week."
So you contend, the only reason the Romney campaign will now include this exemption is because of what Atkin said? That is a stretch and a half. There is NO WAY the House would pass a FINAL bill unless this exemption is included no matter what pro-life groups want or what I would want. And BTW in no way is the "no rape exceptions" stance of these pro-life groups anything other than a desire to protect the life of the unborn in the case of rape. In the case of the mother's life or the unborn's life the stace of MOST pro-life groups is to preserve the mother's life. I understand fully the other side's position, but my personal stance is that as bad as rape or a birth defect...abortion is not justified. Killing another human being because of a mother's non life threatening reason is not justified.
And before you say just how heartless can I be, just remember that it's just as heatless to get an abortion because of the "inconvenience" of the nine months will bring. Adoption is ALWAYS an option and there are so many couples that are looking for new born to raise makes the "who is going to take care of this baby" argument mute.