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ROANOKE, VA -- Presumptive Republican vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan became the latest politician to weigh in on the ongoing controversy surrounding Rep. Todd Akin’s (R-MO) comments about "legitimate rape.”
In an interview with the CBS Pittsburgh affiliate KDKA, Ryan tried to distance himself from Akin, with whom he once co-sponsored a bill to re-define "forcible rape," asserting on Tuesday night that “rape is rape.”
“His statements were outrageous, over the pail. I don’t know anybody who would agree with that. Rape is rape period, end of story,” Ryan told KDKA
And asked if abortions should be available to women who are raped, the seven-term Wisconsin congressman said he stands by his record.
“Look, I’m proud of my pro-life record. And I stand by my pro-life record in Congress. It’s something I’m proud of. But Mitt Romney is the top of the ticket and Mitt Romney will be president and he will set the policy of the Romney administration,” Ryan said.
Akin, the Missouri congressman who is currently running for Senate, sparked a firestorm this week when he said if a woman is a victim of "legitimate rape," her body can shut itself down in order to prevent pregnancy.
Rep. Todd Akin, R-Mo., confirms with TODAY's Matt Lauer that vice presidential candidate and fellow congressman Paul Ryan advised him to step down amid the fallout of comments he made about rape and abortion.
Many top Republicans called for Akin to exit the race for so that the GOP would have a better chance of winning this key Senate race. Akin confirmed on the TODAY Show Wednesday morning that Ryan himself called Akin and personally asked him to withdraw from the race.
“Paul Ryan did give me a call and he felt that I had to make a decision. He advised me that it would be good for me to step down,” Akin said in the interview with NBC’s Matt Laur. “I told him that I was going to be looking at this very seriously, trying to weigh all the different points on this—and that I would make the decision. Because it’s not about me. It’s about trying to do the right thing and standing on principle. “
Neither Romney nor Ryan have addressed the Akin comments on the stump this week. Ryan spent Wednesday morning in Virginia – his fourth day in the state in the 12 days he has been running as Romney’s VP – highlighting just how important the commonwealth is in winning the election this November for Republicans.
“I’ve been coming to Virginia a lot these days, if you haven’t noticed that,” Ryan said, adding later that Virginia has a key role in saving “the American idea.”
“It is not too late to ignite the American dream. We can do this. We need the leadership now. We need to win this election. And Virginians of all people have a unique responsibility and an opportunity to deliver Virginia and save the American idea," he said.
And Ryan was quick to play the part of the attack dog for the GOP ticket accusing President Obama of touting an “imaginary recovery.”
The Daily Rundown's Chuck Todd breaks down the latest NBC News/ WSJ poll.
“We've got 23 million people out of work, struggling to find work today, unemployment has been above 8 percent for 42 months, and the real unemployment rate is more like 15 percent,” Ryan said about the Obama-Biden administration while speaking outside Northwest Hardware. “He said that the private sector is doing just fine, we need more government. This is President Obama's imaginary recovery. It's not here.”
Ryan now heads to North Carolina where he will hold two public campaign events there over the next two days.
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Not, of course, that Ryan wouldn't FORCE the victims of rape to carry their rapists' offspring for nine months and risk their lives giving birth!
Don't Paul Ryand and Willard Robmey know what cameras and tape are used for?
And in other crazy right-wing news, a judge in Texas says that their may be civil war if Obama gets re-elected! Stay tuned for more craziness...
So Romney opposes abortion. Apparently not if he can make a buck off of one. Read this ~ its worth your time:
http://www.renewamerica.com/article/120822
Oh, my. So NOW you know why those tax returns cannot be disclosed. Stericycle, in which Romney was/is an investor, is a vendor to Planned Parenthood. It disposes of PP's aborted fetuses.
The Minnesota state lawmaker involved in a rest-stop sexual encounter with a 17-year-old boy says he won't run for re-election after all.
Rep. Kerry Gauthier told The Associated Press on Wednesday that he made the decision on his own after multiple conversations with Democratic leaders who urged him to drop out. Gauthier had said earlier in the day that he would not drop out.
Gauthier also told AP an overdose of muscle relaxants he took last week was a suicide attempt.
THE DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKER IS LINKED TO OBAMA AND HIS BELIEFS.
stayuninformednow:
Are you saying President Obama is a pedophile? That's a new one.
Obama/Biden 2012!
"His statements were outrageous, over the pail. I don’t know anybody who would agree with that"
YOU Paul Ryan agreed with it - several times on several pieces of legislation you co-sponsored - remember "HR3" ? Don't you ?
Thanks for Paul Ryan has echoed President Obama's comment.
(http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/08/president-obama-on-todd-akin-rape-is-rape.php)
Gives us all a break' Ryan or none of these Republicans are going to express their real thoughts about the abortion issues.If they ever get control of the HOUSE and SENATE lookout ladies you will find out then what their real thoughts are.
Ryan is saying "Rape is Rape". What is he really saying? Is he saying it doesn't matter what happened the government won't help pay for your abortion or is he saying if you have an abortion you will find your self in jail for murder? There is no way I am going to tell a woman that's been raped she is going to have to have the child if she becomes pregnant and she will have to share parental rights with her rapist. I find it hard to believe we would pay for the time the rapist is confined in jail but we would not help a woman by keeping her from being confined to the rapist for the rest of her or his Childs life. Giving up a child to adoption may not help in the healing that is needed from such an attack for some women, and I would not be able to do such a think knowing part of me is out there wondering why he/she wasn't loved by the women that was raped. As a child I would not like to know I was a product of a rape.
Ryan and RobUS both are trying to rape our country. We need to rid ourselves of these arrogant a$$hole$. Who in their right minds believe anything these two are trying to shovel down our throats. Vote everyone of these repugs out of politics, We don't want them or need them. Good bye repugs forever. Thanks.
O&Joe 2012
Rape is Rape--yes a sad part of human's existence. Also Stupid id Stupid and Paul Ryan is stupid and he shouldn't even be commenting on stupid remarks that other Republicans say. He should worry more about the stupid remarks he has been saying. AKIN--1 RYAN-- too many to count,,
Ryan is flip flopping almost as much as Romney.
There in lies the most serious problem this county faces, education. obviously this man is an complete and total moron, how he got as far as he has is beyond belief! If his is re-elected it will speak volumes to the effectiveness of the Missouri education system or lack there of (which I am a product of). How many other idiots are there running this country. Add in Bush, Cheney and if the three of them walked into a room of 9th grade inner city kids and the collective IQ in the room would diminish 20 pts. believe it or not I am a Republican. God Help this Country!
Ryan and especially Romney's behavior IS SHAMEFUL. If this is how they treat a friend and ally I'd hate to see what they would do to someone they don't consider one. Todd Akins... hang in there AGAINST the RINO Establishment PIGS! We need you in the Senate BIG TIME. God Bless. We are still supporting your candidacy brother.