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Subscribe to RSSMissouri Senate candidate Todd Akin, who launched a firestorm of controversy after his use of the phrase "legitimate rape" and then ignited further criticism with his comments Tuesday, has said he's going to stay in the race. NBC's Andrea Mitchell reports.
Updated 6:12 p.m. - Rep. Todd Akin (R) did not step aside as the Republican Senate nominee in Missouri, allowing a key preliminary deadline to end his candidacy to come and go.
Akin, who's faced growing clamor from fellow Republicans to end his candidacy amid an uproar over his weekend comments about rape, said he believes it is important for him to press forward with his campaign against incumbent Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill.
"I want to make one thing absolutely clear: we are going to continue with this race," Akin said on the radio show of Mike Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor and Senate candidate.
Congressman Todd Akin may not drop his Senate bid today, but NBC's Domenico Montanaro reports his real deadline is likely Sept. 25, the date that he would be locked into the ballot. Today is the last day he can drop out of the Missouri Senate race without having to pay ballot costs.
"I've had a chance now to run through a primary. And the party people said that when you run through a primary, we'll be with you."
Akin had until 5 p.m. CST today to resign his Senate nomination without facing any procedural difficulties. He could still withdraw by Sept. 25, though he would have to petition a court to remove his name from the ballot, and have to pay costs associated with reprinting the ballots.
National Republicans have undertaken efforts to force the six-term congressman from the race. The National Republican Senatorial Committee has canceled its advertising reservations, and a pro-Republican super PAC has said it no longer plans to invest in the campaign, either. Top Republican senators have also canceled a planned fundraiser for Akin on Sept. 19.
Akin said he'd seen an influx of small-dollar donations since the initial uproar emerged on Sunday, and he said he'd received supportive calls from other colleagues in Congress, though he did not say who.
More significantly, national Republicans have begun openly agitating for Akin's ouster. Missouri's past five Republican senators released a joint statement today saying "the right decision is to step aside."
Orlin Wagner / AP
Rep. Todd Akin, R-Mo., talks with reporters while attending the Governor's Ham Breakfast at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia, Mo.
Akin's controversy stems from comments he made last weekend on "The Jaco Report" on KTVI FOX 2 News, on which he said "legitimate rape" rarely results in pregnancy in victims. Akin has since apologized, and said he was mistaken to assert that rape culdn't result in pregnancy. He released a television ad to that effect this morning.
Republicans had high hopes of beating McCaskill before Akin made his comments over the weekend. But the congressman's persistence in the race could jeopardize the GOP's chances in this key race, which provides one of their best opportunities to achieve the net gain of four seats Republicans need this fall to take control of the Senate in the next Congress.
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Atta boy Todd. Stick to your guns - literally. Keep stepping further and further to the right until you fall off the cliff.
Akin claimed that he misspoke. If you read any of the news today, what he actually meant to say was not "legitimate rape" it was "Holy @!$%# I am such a dumb@!$%# @!$%#". When referring to the woman's body shutting down its reproductive cycle when raped, what he meant was "Will someone please kick me in my old dumb face? I mean, it is truly absurd that I am in a potential position of power while having the intellect of a newborn baby."
C'mon guys, read up.
Check out what the GOPs Pat Robertson said about adoption last week.
I hope this white-trash teabagger stays in, so Claire McCaskill can trounch him. GOP = extreme right-wing hate and a WAR on women!!!
Its going to be fun to see how Ryan and Romney flop on this one
I live in Jefferson City Mo., the capital of Missouri. It's very pro-republican. People say prayers in resturants...it's that religion minded. If you say you are pro-life as a politican, they will vote for you. Their fingers go in their ears and start la la laing. I don't think he has a chance, but like I said, repubs are thick here. I'm democrat...he said he "mis-spoke". I guess that is code for a verbal mulligan. I take it back...my stupid comment. This could cost me my job. I mis-spoke. That word isn't even in the dictionary. I think they invented it for Palin. I liked Obama's comment. Too many male politicans making decisions about womens rights.
The people of Missouri always have been schizophrenic in their politics...possessing the capacity to recognize much of what is right while voting to uphold much of what is wrong.
And why not? It was itself a state conceived through rape...created out of the animus of compromise over slavery.
Actually Kansas City is pretty democratic. I don't know about St. Louis. It's just the rest of it is so republican. When Obama was running, a few days before the election there was a mass text message/e-mail the republicans sent out. It said due to expectly high voter turnout republicans vote Tuesday and democrats vote Wednesday. This was probably a lot of young kids first time voting and they would have possibly believed that. Flat out cheating..........at least it was caught in time.
Goes to show, there are no moderates in the GOP. Either they are extemist Chistains, or they're RINO.
What a jerk. If he cared anything about getting Romney/Ryan into the White House, he'd get out NOW.
Despite other's requests, Akin is choosing "NOT TO PULL OUT" of the race. This is definitely a case of sick and twisted irony.
DACHEESE,
Clever. Very clever.
In order to cause a woman to miscarry, or fail to conceive from rape, you would have to beat her nearly to death. Coma, ICU, that kind of damage. But that is the only thing the GOP would count as rape, isn't it? Anything less is "she shouldn't have worn that dress".
Ryan and Akins = Angle & O'Donnell???
looks like 2010 all over again, but with more people interested and watch in a general election!
Despite other's requests, Akin is choosing "NOT TO PULL OUT" of the race. This is definitely a case of sick and twisted irony.
yes, yes, yes! stay in the race. you at least are telling the truth about what you think, very unlike the republican party. dont let them tell you what to do. be you own man. if that is what a man is
I'm glad he staying in...i can see the GOP going down by the bow...
Akin is such a cretin that he is unable to keep from shooting himself in the foot. Though he will lose the election by a landslide, he puts his own career ahead of the welfare of the nation. Like mumbo dumbo Obama, he is just the kind of politician that the nation can ill afford.
What you do not seem to realize is that EVERYONE in your beloved party is like him, except for one thing. He's more honest.
Byron,
That is a bald-faced lie and you know it. Any woman who is raped should have the option of having an abortion. Though I am opposed to abortion, I figure that any woman who is willing to kill her own child would make a horrible parent. Though I would tolerate the termination of early term pregnancies, I am adamantly opposed to killing viable fetuses. Obama murderous abortion policies as a senator prevented aborted fetuses that were not dead from receiving medical care. They were simply thrown in the garbage and allowed to suffocate or die of exposure. Obama and his fellow like-minded regressive minions are a bunch of genocidal sociopaths.
The fetus' weren't thrown in the garbage, Angus---Romney and company had a "Fetus Disposal Co." that 'disposed' of these dead fetus' to the tune of $75 million profit....Romney's Creed--NEVER let morals get in the way of profits...
What is also not considered regarding forcing women to have a child if she became pregnant after a rape, is that she has to relive that event everyday of her life. Also, they're forcing her significant other (spouse, boyfriend, etc.), kids, parents, friends, and others to relive that event as well. That unborn child could also suffer (once they're older) by those who know how he/she was conceived. School children sometimes hear parental discussions (that they shouldn't hear) and could possibly cause more grief to that child and the mother. There is a lot consider. For those who may want the child, that's great, but for those who can't deal with all of the possible negatives, they should have a choice.
doc--You're absolutely right. It's hard to imagine the psychological horror of having to carry the rapist's child. Many years ago, before Roe, I participated (in a positive way) in the court martial of a soldier who had raped another soldier's wife and impregnated her (the husband was on duty elsewhere). The army paid for her abortion--off base.
I'm sure Rep. Akin and his darling wife Lulli would happily adopt any children fathered by rapists. Ergo, problem solved! :-)
Women just need to get over thinking they are like men and stay barefoot, pregnant and in the kitchen. That way they can't get confused by these complicated matters that have to do with their personal reproductive organs. We'll take care of that for you and you can relax.
GOP strategists.
Well he did win the primary with the help of the Democrats and a $1.5million investment.
Yes, Who can tell you what to do? it's your fight, it's not your job to save anyone else. To hell with them. I love you, man (sarca..)
Good! Just another nail in the GOP coffin. What's got most people fooled is that "winning" smile of Romney's. It is an act of arrogance. His own people will loose the election for him. He never had a chance to begin with.
Todd Akins is evil personified to even suggest rape has no consequence for the victims. LOSER.
Way to go Akin. Thanks for staying in the race. You'll serve us well (tic)
What did he actually say, in context? The missing ingredient in all defamatory reporting. If you don't understand his point, the decent thing would be to allow him to clarify his remarks and define his terms, and then publish that and let the public judge.
But that would be Democracy, intolerable to the Banking/Media complex.
Watch the video Einstein.
Not everyone has the time to research all the defamatory, slanted remarks of the media, which wouldn't be necessary if we didn't have a banking/media cartel.
Objective--He was asked by the reporter if a woman could have an abortion in the case of rape. His complete response: “It seems to me, from what I understand from doctors, that’s really rare. If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down. But let’s assume that maybe that didn’t work or something: I think there should be some punishment, but the punishment ought to be of the rapist, and not attacking the child.”
Not only does his statement demonstrate complete ignorance of how the female reproductive system functions, but it also implies that there is "illegitimate rape," something most women find extremely offensive. Finally, most people are offended by the notion that there should be "some" punishment for the rapist. After all, in many jurisdictions rape is a capital crime.
Old-Vet- He was probably facing a hostile reporter and had to answer instantly off the cuff. He bought time with some uninformed, off-the-cuff remarks and used an unfortunate term. No one is perfect.
His message, however, is perfectly clear: You should punish the rapist and not the child. That is a legitimate, clear opinion that voters can accept or not. That's what should have been ethically reported- the man's message.
There is another message. If you can't give a perfect, completeley logical, and factually correct statement, instantly (impossible), we, the media, will defame you and take you out, unless, of course, we like you.
Thanks Old-Vet for reporting what he said.
Old Vet - By implying illegitimate rape, he was more than likely referring to consensual sex gone bad once the woman found out that she was pregnant and, to save face (with perhaps family and even a spouse) claims rape after the fact. See, it isn't that difficult.
Romney/Ryan = Christ Nation, founded on lies ,But! now we have the REAL truth
Todd Akins is a fine example of an "old politician " still working under the assumption the voters are uninformed trogladites that will forgive under any circumstance. Well Todd, welcome to the new age of the well informed voters that understand very well the " old guard " MUST GO, and NOW!!!! Save yourself the agony yet to come. Sen. McCain should understand this concept as well because there is an exist door with his name on it too! This is a teachable moment of what the " new " upcoming Republicans should avoid ----guilt by association.
Go R & R
Do normal human beings actually vote for these Christian-right nut cases? How do they get elected?