Can it be? A Politician With Principles?

Back in August, Rep. Todd Akin, who is running for senator in Missouri, was pounded by the media and the Republican elites after he made a comment that pregnancy rarely results from "legitimate rape." It was, to say the least, a poor choice of words and he apologized for it.  His comment was made in the context of saying that abortion should not be the answer in pregnancies resulting from rape. 

GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney immediately denounced Akin and said he, Romney, absolutely does support abortion in cases of pregnancies resulting from rape (which, I might add, is in direct opposition to the GOP platform).  Romney called for Akin to immediately resign from his senatorial race.  We also had all the Republican talking heads such as Ann Coulter and Rush Limbaugh calling for Akin to give up his senate race not just for the good of the Republican party but for the good of the entire nation.   Limbaugh said, "Akin's Remark was Stupid and Untrue -- Now He Must Put the Nation's Future First."  Coulter wrote a column entitled, "If Akin Loves His Country, He Will Step Aside." 

There is a large portion of the
GOP elite who still have it in for Akin

The supposedly pro-life GOP did everything it could to kick out its most pro-life candidate.  Their message was winning is everything, dead babies be damned.  Sen. Mitch McConnell, GOP Senate minority leader said, "Although Representative Akin has apologized, I believe he should take time with his family to consider whether this statement will prevent him from effectively representing our party in this critical election."  Sen. John Cornyn, head of the Senate GOP campaign arm, cut off GOP money to Akin's campaign and said, "Congressman Akin's statements were wrong, offensive, and indefensible."  Rep. Paul Ryan, GOP Presidential candidate who also co-sponsored a pro-life bill with Rep. Akin, actually called Akin and told him he should leave the senate race.  And of course, there is the infamous comment by Karl Rove, who "joked" about murdering Akin.  He told a bunch of GOP fundraisers, " “We should sink Todd Akin. If he’s found mysteriously murdered, don’t look for my whereabouts!”

Well, Todd Akin, to his credit, stood strong in the face of this storm and did not leave the race.  He had until Sept. 25 to take his name off the ballot, and despite pressure from every side, he didn't do it.  After taking a hit in the polls, his numbers are now impressively rising.  As a result, some of the GOP are changing their minds and starting to support Akin. 

Below is a wonderful opinion piece by Jill Stanek as reprinted on Lifesite News.  Like Ms. Stanek, I believe that, along with the presidential contest, this is the most fascinating political race this year, and I find it much more important, at least symbolically, than the presidential race.  In my opinion, our choice in the presidential race is worse and worser.  It won't be great if Romney wins, but it will be a total disaster if Obama gets back in. 

But the Akin race, IMHO, is of real significance because it involves a truly pro-life politician who is willing to fight for his principles, even against his own party.  In fact, it involves the rarest creature of all God's creations - a politician who actually has principles!  Akin even went to jail once for his pro-life activities, as reported in the Huffington Post:

Yesterday I spoke to a group of people who had been in jail with me, you know don’t tell anybody I’m a jail bird, you know, but there were a bunch of us that were years ago involved in the pro-life movement and the question becomes: the Bible says, ‘rescue the innocent that is being led to slaughter,’ so a bunch of us sat in front of these doors and the police gave us a ride to the free hotel for a while, and you know how it goes, and the question is, is that biblical or not?

I am very reluctant to trust any politician, but I think I am willing to take a chance on Todd Akin.

Here is Jill Stanek's opinion piece:

Big name conservatives rally for Todd Akin; GOP establishment warms

by Jill Stanek

Mon Oct 01, 2012 12:23 EST

October 2, 2012 (JillStanek.com) - The final deadline for Missouri Republican U.S. Senate candidate Todd Akin to drop from the race came and went on September 25, and he did not.

The GOP establishment that had stood alongside Democrats and feminists to castigate Akin for his August 19 “legitimate rape” misstep must now eat crow [Yes!!]. The polls and grasp of the U.S. Senate are too close.

Todd Akin

This entire debacle separated pseudo-conservative Republicans who put party above principle from real ones who do the opposite. [Exactly!] They will say they were just being pragmatic. But c’mon, they way overreacted. The other side would never abandon one of its own were the situation reversed. But the other side walks in lockstep on abortion, while our side is afraid of and/or double-minded about it.  [I think the truth is that too many GOP politicians either don't care about the issue of abortion or even actually support abortion.  They obviously consider winning political races far more important than saving the lives of innocent babies.]

 

So we saw Missouri U.S. Senator Ray Blunt write in a statement the morning after the deadline passed, “I’ll be working for the Republican ticket in Missouri, and that includes Todd Akin,” when back in August Blunt was one of five Missouri senators to write in a statement that Akin should “step aside.”

Now the National Republican Senatorial Committee is calling Akin “a far more preferable candidate than liberal Senator Claire McCaskill,” and said that “we will continue to monitor this race closely,” i.e., spend money on Akin if his polls look good. NRSC’s backpedal earned it the “worst week in Washington” award in a Washington Post op ed.  [Well deserved, I might add.]

Even Karl Rove’s American Crossroads super-PAC appears to be equivocating, spokesman Nate Hodson telling ABC, “You kind of know where we are on Missouri. We don’t discuss any strategy moving forward” – tepid opposition at best, this after Rove wished for Akin to sleep with the fishes only a few weeks back.

Meanwhile, social conservative favorites Rick Santorum and U.S. Senator Jim DeMint issued a joint endorsement on September 26, and DeMint’s Senate Conservatives Fund, nemesis to colleague John Cornyn’s NRSC, pledged $290,000. Gary Bauer through his Campaign for Working Families has pledged a “six-figure” expenditure to help Akin.

Phyllis Schlafly also expressed her support and went further to ask people in an email on September 26 to call RNC Chairman Reince Priebus (202-863-8500) and Cornyn (202-675-6000) “and tell them they have an obligation to reverse their decision cutting off Republican money from Todd Akin. They have an obligation to open those bank accounts so Todd Akin and Mitt Romney can carry Missouri, the bellwether state.”

This might be why Preibus, who ludicrously claimed back in August, “He can be tied, we’re not gonna send him a penny,” said on September 28 Akin was “absolutely” a better option than McCaskill.

Former House Speaker and presidential candidate Newt Gingrich was campaigning for Akin even before the deadline and defended him well on Greta Van Susteran’s show last week.

Next to the presidential race, the Akin/McCaskill race will be the one I most pay attention to on November 6.  [That makes at least two of us.]

Please donate to Akin’s campaign here. Elect an authentic pro-lifer who may also help wrest the U.S. Senate from Harry Reid.

* * *

The Todd Akin campaign has been a true bellwether in the Republican party.  This incident would seem to say that many in the Republican leadership are much more interested in winning campaigns than in saving the unborn.  For me, Rep. Paul Ryan's reaction was the most stunning and most disappointing.  Rep. Ryan in the past had a very strong pro life record and had stood against abortion even in cases of rape.  He had actually drafted pro life legislation with Rep. Akin.  Yet, he personally called Akin to advise him to drop out of the race.  It seems he has completely sold out in order to be the VP candidate. We know Mitt Romney supports abortion in cases of pregnancies resulting from rape, and now it seems that Rep. Ryan does as well. 

Politics is as cut throat at is gets, and your close friends can become your enemies in a matter of minutes if you are perceived as a loser.  We all like to think that our representatives are there because they really care about us and the country and want to make things better.  I am sure that is true for some.  I do believe it's true for Todd Akin.  But let's face it, folks.  The people in Washington are mainly there for the power and all the perks that come with it.  If you really want change, you are going to have to do it yourself.  And the best place to start is on your knees in supplication to the only real Power there is. 

God Bless Todd Akin.  I admire his tenancity and courage, and I think that alone should qualify him to be Senator, or even more if he should ever choose to pursue it.  I hope the people of Missouri will see how truly genuine he is and give him a chance to prove that he will be a true representative for them.  He is David that stood up to Goliath. 

Take that, Karl Rove.

Karl Rove Wants Akin Put Permanently Out of Action

I have been following the Todd Akin story, absolutely fascinated at how the Republicans have turned on this 100% pro life candidate and attempted to destroy him.  I expect the Democrats to be out for blood against any one who is anti-abortion, but the Republicans are suppose to be pro life.  Why, it was even in their platform at the Republican National Convention, as CNN told us:

Republicans drafting their party's official policy platform on Tuesday ratified a call for a Constitutional ban on abortion that makes no exceptions for rape or incest.

* * * 

The CNN report came out on August 21, just two days after Rep. Todd Akin, who is running for senator in Missouri, said he was against abortion in cases of rape.  Akin was slammed on all sides for using the term "legitimate rape" and saying that pregnancy is rare in cases of rape, which is statistically true. But everyone knows that Akin's vocal faux pas was just an excuse to attack him. The real reason he was being attacked is because he is against abortion in cases of pregnancies resulting from rape. So despite Akin's admittedly stupid use of the word "legitimate", you would think Republicans would run to defend him since he is completely in line with their platform.  Well, if that is what you would think, you would be wrong. Republicans could not distance themselves from Akin fast enough, condemning him and calling for him to step down from the race and telling him they were cutting off all political funding for his senate race.

One of the main cheerleaders in the effort to dump Akin is the Republican candidate for president, Mitt Romney.  The VP candidate, Paul Ryan, despite being on the record for being against abortion in cases of rape and despite having drafted a pro life bill with Todd Akin, also turned against his colleague, phoning him and telling him to get out of the race.  Loyalty has no place in politics. 

Paul Ryan and Todd Akin when they were
on friendlier terms

One of the big guns in the Republican party calling for Todd Akin to find another planet on which to live was Karl Rove.  And Rove seemingly wants Akin permanently gone, as he talked about the murder of Todd Akin.  See the story from the Washington Post below:

Karl Rove jokes, ‘We should sink Todd Akin,’ report says

Posted by Sean Sullivan on August 31, 2012 at 10:11 am

Bloomberg Businessweek reports from inside a donor briefing Karl Rove hosted in Tampa on the final day of the Republican National Convention, where the Republican reiterated his desire for embattled Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.) to end his Senate campaign in Missouri.

Rove explained to an audience dotted with hedge fund billionaires and investors—including John Paulson and Wilbur Ross—how his super PAC, American Crossroads, will persuade undecided voters in crucial swing states to vote against Barack Obama. He also detailed plans for Senate and House races, and joked, “We should sink Todd Akin. If he’s found mysteriously murdered, don’t look for my whereabouts!”

Fortunately, there are some people who are seeing that something is not right here.  Finally here is someone who has some strong words about Karl Rove. 

Phyllis Schlafly Calls on Karl Rove to Resign

Karl Rove has made himself toxic to Republicans by his incredibly offensive and dangerous statement suggesting the murder of Congressman Todd Akin of Missouri. Any candidate or network who hires Rove will now be tarnished with this most malicious remark ever made in Republican politics.  [Don't bet on it, Phyllis.]

Just imagine if someone had made that statement about Barack Obama. The Secret Service would go on Red Alert and you can bet that the author of that remark would be in jail by now. As quoted by a Businessweek reporter and now on the internet, Rove in Tampa told some 70 big donors to his Super PAC, American Crossroads, that every attendee should apply pressure to "sink Todd Akin" and force him out of the Senate race for which Missourians had nominated him. Then Rove said that if Akin were "found mysteriously murdered, don’t look for my whereabouts."

This stunning attack on Akin is now reported as a joke. Sorry, Karl, it isn’t funny to joke about murdering a Congressman.  [Let's hope he was joking.]

Rove has disliked Akin ever since Akin was one of the principled members of the U.S. House who voted against George W. Bush’s extravagant expansion of Medicare when the vote was called at 5:53 am in November 2003. Akin is a man of principle who doesn’t cave in to political pressure, so he’s not Rove’s kind of politician.

Rove tried to excuse his obscene joke by saying he would not have said it if he had known a reporter was in the room. That makes his statement worse! Is murder the kind of secret political advice Rove gives to Republican donors and candidates who hire him?  [Your guess is as good as mine.]

A private phone call by Rove to Akin to sort of apologize does not erase the public offense. At the very least Rove should make a public apology. But even that can’t wipe out his gross political mistake.

Karl Rove is an embarrassment to the Republican Party. [Phyllis, here is a news flash:  Rove IS the Republican Party.]  We don’t want any more of his advice in secret briefings or publicly on Fox News. Missourians don’t want politicians from other states telling us who to run for the Senate.

Rove has been calling on Todd Akin to resign, but the one who should resign because he made an embarrassing, malicious, and downright stupid remark is Karl Rove. 
 

Sigh.   Hey Phyllis, have you or anyone else noticed that Romney hasn't said a word about Rove's "joke?"  We have seen Mike Huckabee and, amazingly, Newt Gingrich criticize Rove for the remark.  But everyone else is remaining completely silent on this issue.

Karl Rove will suffer no political repercussions as the result of his hateful remark and everyone will continue to tell me that I must vote for the Republicans because it's the only way to stop the Democrats.  Will someone just tell me the difference between the two parties?

Pro Lifers Snubbed By Romney

There are more people now who are seriously questioning Gov. Mitt Romney's "pro life" credentials.  We know that he was adamantly pro choice when he ran against Senator Ted Kennedy back in the 90's and again when he ran for governor of Massachusetts in 2002.  He said he would never waiver on his support of a woman's "right to choose."  That is, he would never waiver until he decided to run on the Republican ticket for president, and then he suddenly had an epiphany about the evils of abortion.

I have posted here a questionnaire that Gov. Romney filled out in 2002, just 10 years ago, for Planned Parenthood in which he clearly states his support for abortion.  As you can see, he says yes to Roe v. Wade, and says he supports abortions being paid through Medicare. 

Massresistance.org tells us exactly what this questionnaire says:

Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts
Candidate Questionnaire 2002

1. Do you support the substance of the Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade? YES

2. Do you support state funding of abortion services through Medicaid for low-income women? YES

3. Would you vote to support legislation that would require insurers that provide prescription coverage for other drugs to prescription coverage for contraceptives? I want to first evaluate the cost of this program before I commit to supporting it.

4. Reproductive health care facilities in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts have been targets of blockades, disturbances, and violence. This past legislative session a bill passed that would increase safety measures at reproductive health care facilities by providing a 6-foot bubble zone around patients and staff with an 18-foot radius of the building. These bubble zones, as well as buffer zones around the entrances and exits of such facilities would help protect individuals from harassment and intimidation while protecting the First Amendment rights of persons to express their views. Do you support legislation to establish safety zones surrounding reproductive health care facilities in the Commonwealth? YES

5. Do you support the teaching of responsible, age-appropriate, factually accurate health and sexuality education, including information about both abstinence and contraception, in public schools? YES

6. Anti-choice groups have tried to erode a woman's constitutional right to choose by trying to ban specific abortion procedures. One such attempt has been the campaign to ban so-called "partial-birth" abortions. Would you oppose a ban on safe and medically necessary methods of abortion? The double-negative construction of this question is confusing. I support the ban already codified in Massachusetts state law which prohibits abortions after 24 weeks except those performed by a physician to save the life of the mother, or when there is a substantial risk of grave impairment to her health.

7. In recent years, a campaign of violence, intimidation, and harassment has been waged against reproductive health providers, patients, and their families. Planned Parenthood believes the federal government should take an aggressive role in enacting and enforcing laws to deter these illegal acts, and in prosecuting the perpetrators of such acts. Do you support the enactment and enforcement of laws that help prevent violence, intimidation and harassment directed at reproductive health providers and their patients? YES

8. Currently, according to Massachusetts General Law, if you are under the age of 18 and you have never been married, you must have the consent of one of your parents or a judge to have an abortion in Massachusetts. Do you oppose restrictions on a minor's access to abortion services? The double-negative construction of this question is confusing. I support current state law.

9. In 1998, the FDA approved the first packaging of emergency contraception, also known as "the morning after pill." Emergency contraception is a high dose combination of oral contraceptives that if taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex, can safely prevent a pregnancy from occurring. Do you support efforts to increase access to emergency contraception? YES Signed: Mitt Romney
Date: April 9, 2002

Unfortunately, far too many people in the pro life movement have believed the hype that Mitt Romney truly is pro life despite his many, many years of supporting abortion.  As I have posted in the past, conservatives so badly want a political candidate they can trust that they will believe almost anything they are told.

But reality eventually hits us all in the face, and that happened this week with the Todd Akin story.  When Rep. Akin said that he does not support abortion in cases of pregnancy resulting from rape, Mitt Romney's campaign immediately denounced him and said they do support abortion under such circumstances.  Romney has even called for Rep. Akin to step down from his race for senator.  Thankfully Rep. Akin is standing strong and refusing to step down.

Below is the story from onenewsnow.com about the growing disenchantment which at least one pro life group is experiencing with Gov. Romney.

 Romney snubbing pro-lifers, GOP platform

Charlie Butts (OneNewsNow.com)
Thursday, August 23, 2012 9:38 AM  

Personhood USA is calling on presidential candidate Mitt Romney to retract a statement he made this week about abortion.

Jennifer Mason is a spokesperson for Personhood USA, which supports proposed state amendments that define personhood at the biological beginning of life. She says her group also wants Romney to change course on Senate candidate Todd Akin (R-Missouri), who recently made a misstatement about children conceived in rape.

"We have recognized that Mitt Romney has basically turned his back on the Republican Party platform by claiming that he will uphold abortions in cases of rape and incest," Mason explains. "The Republican Party … our organization and pro-lifers nationwide believe that all life is valuable and sacred."

Romney made his statement and call for Akin's withdrawal from the race on Monday, after Akin admitted his statement for "legitimate rape" was wrong.

"While [his words] were insensitive, [Akin] has apologized for those, and he has basically been a 100-percent pro-life candidate," the Personhood USA spokesperson notes. "So we're calling on Romney to support Akin and not turn his back on him in this upcoming Senate race."

It was after Akin's verbal snafu that Romney announced he would not stand against abortion in cases of rape, which is contrary to the Republican platform. He also asked Akin to withdraw from the race and has declined to change his mind on that, even though Akin has apologized.

* * * 

 

There was another article involving this same group, Personhood USA, on times247.com, and their realization that Rep. Paul Ryan's addition as Vice President will have no effect on Romney policies.

Pro-life group hits Romney on abortion stance 

Only a few days after praising Rep. Paul Ryan's pro-life record, Personhood USA, one of the largest anti-abortion organizations in the U.S., is now criticizing the Romney-Ryan campaign for endorsing abortion in instances of rape.

"Personhood USA does not endorse political candidates, but we had hoped that Congressman Ryan would be a good influence on Governor Romney, considering Romney's liberal abortion record," said Jennifer Mason, Communications Director for Personhood USA.
 

"Reading today that babies conceived in rape should suffer the death penalty under a Romney-Ryan administration is extremely concerning, and indicates that Congressman Ryan's pro-woman and pro-baby positions would have little influence if he wins the office of Vice President of the United States."

* * *

Although Rep. Ryan's positions are laudable when it comes to abortion, he is very mainstream when it comes to other positions, always supporting the party line, such as support for the war in Afghanistan and voting for the National Defense Authorization Act.   Even though Paul Ryan worked with Todd Akin on the Personhood Bill in 2009, Ryan was nowhere seen to be defending Rep. Akin when he came under attack this week for his pro life stands.  This is a preview of what we will see in a Romney/Ryan administration. 

As the Huffington Post tells us:

The Republican vice presidential nominee told local CBS affiliate KDKA he is "proud" of his anti-abortion record when asked if abortion should be available to women in instances of rape.

"I'm proud of my pro-life record," Ryan said. "And I stand by my pro-life record in Congress."

"But [there's always a "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 continued.  [So no matter what positions Ryan may personally take, he will go along with whatever Mitt Romney says.  Voters need to keep this in mind]

Ryan also tried to distance himself from a bill he co-sponsored with Akin to introduce language around "forcible rape" into prior legislation, in order to limit federal funding on abortions for rape victims. [This should tell you everything you need to know.  It doesn't matter what Ryan did in the past.  He will compromise any and all of his beliefs to Mitt Romney.]  The congressman quickly cut off a question asking him to clarify what those terms meant, responding, "Rape is rape. Rape is rape, period. End of story."

"Rape is rape and there's no splitting hairs over rape," he added, when pressed further on the contradiction between his latest comments on abortion versus his record.

Rep. Ryan not only did not support Todd Akin, he actively turned against him:

Ryan acknowledged to reporters that he had phoned Akin this week to encourage him to drop his bid. He said he had “no plans” to talk to Akin again. “He’s going to run his campaign, we’re going to run ours.”  [Ryan has completely distanced himself from Akin.]

Politicians are always willing to tell you what you want to hear, but once they are in office, they will do what they are told to do and pay absolutely no attention to the voters.  We have seen it over and over again. 

It's time to wake up and smell the coffee.  We've all been conned. 

The Republicratic Party

Who Needs Democrats?  Republicans gladly
do the work of beating up each other.

I am becoming completely fascinated with the Todd Akin story which is currently in the news.  Republican Rep. Todd Akin (Mo.) made a statement on Sunday that threw pro-abortion advocates into a tizzy.  He said that very few pregnancies result from rape and that abortion should not be the answer to rape because it involves the killing of an innocent life, that of the unborn child who has done nothing to deserve death.  He criticized the Romney/Ryan campaign because they do favor abortion in cases of rape.  As a practicing Catholic, I am in total agreement with Rep. Akin. 

However, Rep. Akin made one very bad mistake.  He used the words "legitimate rape."  This was all the pro abortion advocates needed to direct all of their ire against Rep. Akin.  Forget the fact that he spoke absolute truth in what he said, that there are very few pregnancies resulting from abortion, as proven in my prior posting on this subject, and that to abort a child conceived as a result of rape is to kill an innocent life.  As one would expect, pro abortion advocates accused Rep. Akin of coldness and indifference to rape victims.  The couldn't care less about the innocent child, or the fact that the mother of that child will not only have to suffer with the trauma of rape, but also with the trauma of having killed her child.

But it wasn't just Democrat pro-abortion advocates who went ballistic over Akin's remarks.  Some of the most vociferous attacks against Rep. Akin are coming from Republicans, supposedly the pro-life party, calling for Akin to immediately step down from his senate race against Senator Claire McCaskill.  As reported in my prior posting, the Romney/Ryan campaign denounced Rep. Akin's comments and said they absolutely do support abortion in cases of rape. 

Rush Limbaugh

Rush Limbaugh said:  "Akin's Remark was Stupid and Untrue -- Now He Must Put the Nation's Future First."  He said on his show:

"And this whole business of a woman's body shuts down in rape, there's no evidence for that. But this is the kind of thing that people who do nothing but talk amongst themselves will conjure up, a belief system like that, and they'll grab on to anything they can to support what their empirical belief is because their ultimate aim is to save life." [There's something wrong with that?]

Limbaugh went on to say:

Their [pro life group's] ultimate aim is to protect the baby no matter what circumstance the conception occurs in. And I think that's just who the guy is, but he doesn't know how to explain it. He has no clue how to make his case for it. And so he hangs around people who are like-minded and they've devised this belief. He's not the first guy to say this. I've had people tell me that a woman's body shuts down in rape. There's no evidence for this. I mean it's absolutely absurd. This leads to the second problem. This is absurd. That belief that a woman's body shuts down and the whole notion of legitimate"/"illegitimate" rape, that's the thing that bothers me about it. That's just absurd. It's not intelligent."

Really, Mr. Limbaugh?  You don't think the trauma of being raped would have any effect on a woman's ability to conceive, despite all the evidence that it does?  Why would you not even bother to look into this instead of making such uninformed statements?  

Then Limbaugh tries to convince us Republicans need to get rid of Akin because the Democrats love him so much!!

Well, he won a three-way race in which the Democrats could vote, and the Democrats were running ads suggesting that this guy win. They couldn't wait to run against this guy because of the issue of abortion and this whole War on Women. They just couldn't wait! McCaskill was salivating to get Akin as the nominee, and she got what she wanted. There's a poll out. I don't know if you've seen this. You probably have seen it because it's a little after noon and this poll has been out since yesterday.

It's from Public Policy Polling, a liberal Democrat polling firm from North Carolina. Even after all of this they say Akin still leads McCaskill by one point. But have you seen the sample breakdown on that poll? You haven't? Well, I'll tell you about it. There are 9% more Republicans in the sample than Democrats. This poll is part of the whole strategy to keep Akin on the ticket, to keep him as the nominee. Public Policy Polling with a poll out, after all this, that shows this guy leading McCaskill by one point.

So Limbaugh says the Democrats are skewing the polling in favor of Akin and that is why we must get Akin out.  Don't you love the logic in this, as if it makes any sense whatsoever? 

Limbaugh actually goes on to say that Akin isn't a bad guy, he wants to save lives, he just makes stupid, uninformed statements (unlike Limbaugh, of course).  Limbaugh's contention is that Republicans just can't have distractions like Rep. Akin, that they can't give the Democrats any ammunition against them.  Why, Akin gave Obama an opportunity to call a rare press conference and come out against the Republicans!  And Republicans just can't take that kind of action.  It puts the country at stake!

Here is Limbaugh's parting shot on why Akin has to go:

And, Bobby [a caller he was talking to], I hear what you're saying. You don't want to run around and defend stupidity [that's why I never defend you, Rush]. What's in it for anybody to defend stupidity? "Well, Rush, didn't you do that?" No. I know what he was trying to say. I know what's in the guy's heart. But, I'm sorry, if he can't 'splain it, then get out! [And certainly don't listen to any further statements that he does make in which he clarifies his statements!] It's not that hard. It's not that hard to say, "It's not the baby's fault." [And that's not exactly what Rep. Akin was saying?] That's all he's trying to say. Just say that instead of this rigmarole about the woman's body "shuts down"? For crying out loud! I just... Aaaugh! Where are some brains? Just get some brains! Let's have some people we can look up to!  [And you, Rush, are certainly not someone that anyone can look up to.]

Ann Coulter

Ann Coulter, the right-wing bomb thrower who is the darling of so many conservatives, titled her column:  "If Akin Loves His Country, He Will Step Aside."  She gives us the dire warning:  "This is no time for another foot-in-the-mouth, Trent Lott Republican to be dominating the national political discussion. The country is at stake." 

Oh, she is so right.  The country is at stake.  But isn't it much more important to get behind someone who is so strongly pro life, despite his "gaffe", rather than to throw him under the bus because he made a mistake?  As we are told, news cycles are always changing, and in less than two weeks time this story will be almost completely forgotten as the next big story takes its place.  So why the rush among Republicans to get Akin out of the race when he is leading over the Democrat incumbent?  Why did the Romney/Ryan campaign waste no time in denouncing Rep. Akin? 

Here is a story from foxnews.com about the Republican criticism of Rep. Akin and the strong calls for him to step down.  Ask yourself why the self-proclaimed "pro life" party is not supporting and defending this strong pro-life candidate.  Why do they, in no uncertain terms, want him out of the race?

Rep. Akin resists mounting calls to withdraw from Senate race after 'rape' comment

Missouri Republican Senate candidate Todd Akin resisted calls to withdraw from the race Monday over his controversial comments on rape, despite mounting pressure from GOP leaders who roundly condemned his remarks and threatened to cut off funding. [Let's not even give Akin a chance, despite the fact that he is leading his race.  Let's immediately take away all his support from the Republican party.]

Republicans really know how to throw
each other under the bus

 "I am in this race to win. We need a conservative Senate," Akin tweeted Monday afternoon, as he solicited new donations. He also told Fox News' Sean Hannity on his radio show that "we're going to stay in." [I only wish I was in a position to vote for Rep. Akin.]

The tweet followed scattered and unconfirmed reports that Akin was moving to withdraw from the race. Akin, though, rejected those claims publicly even as Republican leaders leaned on him hard to reconsider his bid for Senate.

A source within the National Republican Senatorial Committee told Fox News that Sen. John Cornyn, head of the Senate GOP campaign arm, already has told Akin that if he stays in the race, the $5 million set aside for the Missouri race will be withdrawn. Cornyn, according to the source, told him the party is concerned his presence in the race could imperil Republicans' chances of winning the Senate majority.  [Don't ever look for loyalty from the Republicans.  The Democrats, with all their faults, would never do this to one of their own.  VP Joe Biden is the sterling example.  He makes gaffe after gaffe, yet the Democrats stand solidly behind him.]

Akin, a six-term GOP congressman, is challenging Democratic Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill for her seat. His chances looked fairly sunny -- up until he told an interviewer with Fox affiliate KTVI that a woman's body can typically prevent pregnancy during a "legitimate rape," as he argued against allowing abortions in cases of rape, claiming such pregnancies are uncommon in the first place. [Rep. Akin is still ahead in this race]

"It seems to me first of all, from what I understand from doctors, that's really rare," Akin told KTVI. "If it's a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down."

Akin has since backed off the comment, saying he "misspoke." Akin apologized for the remark Monday. [That will never be enough for the Republicans.]

Adding to the wave of condemnation, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell called his comments "totally inexcusable."

Sen. Mitch McConnell

 "What he said is just flat wrong in addition to being wildly offensive to any victim of sexual abuse," McConnell said. "Although Representative Akin has apologized, I believe he should take time with his family to consider whether this statement will prevent him from effectively representing our party in this critical election."

Several other GOP Senate candidates were also putting serious distance between their campaigns and his, as they tried to head off Democratic efforts to link Akin's comments to other members of the party.

GOP Sen. Scott Brown [who is pro abortion], who's in a tough race against President Obama ally Elizabeth Warren in Massachusetts, tweeted that he found Akin's remarks to be "outrageous."

He followed up with a written statement calling on Akin to bow out.

"As a husband and father of two young women, I found Todd Akin's comments about women and rape outrageous, inappropriate and wrong," Brown said. "There is no place in our public discourse for this type of offensive thinking. Not only should he apologize, but I believe Rep. Akin's statement was so far out of bounds that he should resign the nomination for U.S. Senate in Missouri." [Why should we care about the views of a pro-abortion politician, no matter what party he is from?]

Further, NRSC Chairman Cornyn used a brief written statement to nudge Akin to reconsider his bid for Senate.

"Congressman Akin's statements were wrong, offensive, and indefensible," Cornyn, R-Texas, said. "I recognize that this is a difficult time for him, but over the next 24 hours, Congressman Akin should carefully consider what is best for him, his family, the Republican Party and the values that he cares about and has fought for throughout his career in public service."

Obama, speaking in the White House briefing room, also called the comments "offensive." "Rape is rape," Obama said, and the idea of distinguishing among types of rape "doesn't make sense to the American people and certainly doesn't make sense to me." [Ah, Rep. Akin - you are one powerful man.  You have united the Republicans and Democrats!  Who would have ever thought that was possible?]

Aside from Brown, other Republicans in tough Senate races were similarly critical, without calling on Akin to step aside.

Rep. Jeff Flake, who is running for Senate in Arizona, tweeted that Akin's comment was "wrong."

"I oppose abortion, but exceptions must be made for rape, incest and to protect the life of the mother," he said. [If you believe this, then you are not truly pro life.  Only the Catholic Church understands this.]

Virginia Senate candidate George Allen and Montana Senate candidate Rep. Denny Rehberg reportedly have joined in the rebuke -- as has Akin's former primary opponent Sarah Steelman, who tweeted that she found the comments "inexcusable, insulting and embarrassing to the GOP."

Mitt Romney gave a similar verdict in an interview with The National Review.

"Congressman Akin's comments on rape are insulting, inexcusable, and, frankly, wrong," Romney said. [Oh, Governor, we can always count on you to be pro life, can't we?]

Nevertheless, the Akin remarks became fast fodder for the Democratic National Committee, as Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz tried to link Akin's stance to the Romney campaign.

"Now, Akin's choice of words isn't the real issue here. The real issue is a Republican Party -- led by Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan -- whose policies on women and their health are dangerously wrong," she said in an email directing supporters to sign an anti-Romney petition on the DNC website.

She cited Romney's past comments on wanting to "get rid" of federal funding for Planned Parenthood.

The DNC email follows a pattern of trying to characterize the Romney ticket as "dangerous" to women, fueled in this case by comments from a congressman not tied to the presidential campaign.

McCaskill, who is seeking a second term, said in an emailed statement Sunday that she found the comments "offensive."

"It is beyond comprehension that someone can be so ignorant about the emotional and physical trauma brought on by rape," McCaskill said. "The ideas that Todd Akin has expressed about the serious crime of rape and the impact on its victims are offensive."

Akin clarified his remarks in a written statement.

"In reviewing my off-the-cuff remarks, it's clear that I misspoke in this interview and it does not reflect the deep empathy I hold for the thousands of women who are raped and abused every year," Akin's statement said. "Those who perpetrate these crimes are the lowest of the low in our society and their victims will have no stronger advocate in the Senate to help ensure they have the justice they deserve."  [No one is going to let you clarify anything, Rep. Akin,  Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter and all other Republican leaders will make sure of that.]

Akin also said in the statement he believes "deeply in the protection of all life and I do not believe that harming another innocent victim is the right course of action." [God bless you, Rep. Akin.  Please hang tough.  We need you.] 

Fox News' John Brandt and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Why would the Republicans be doing what one would think is the job of the Democrats - attacking a pro life Republican candidate?  Because the Republicans don't want this country to be pro life anymore than the Democrats do!  Republicans and Democrats are both working for the same goals.  They fuss and yell at each other, pointing out their "differences."  But don't kid yourself.  The Republicans have had plenty of chances over 40 years to overturn Roe v. Wade .  They've never done it and they never will do it, and they will keep anyone out who gives the slightest indication that they actually do want to overturn this evil law. 

Rep. Todd Akin made the mistake of letting it be known that he is truly pro life, that he defends innocent life no matter what the circumstances, and for this, both Republicans and Democrats - The Republicrats, as it were -  are aiming all their guns at him.

Think there is a difference between the Republicans and Democrats?  You're living in a fantasy world.

Romney/Ryan Support Abortion in Cases of Rape

There are few more traumatic events that can happen in any one's life than to be sexually assaulted.  It can leave physical scars and almost always leaves life-long mental trauma.  It is truly tragic when pregnancy is the result of rape, but is abortion - killing the innocent baby - the answer?  By killing the baby, we now have two crime victims, and one completely innocent victim has paid with his or her life.  It is also a fact that abortion is always traumatic to the mother under any circumstances, so now she must suffer not only from the rape but from the added trauma of having killed her baby.   

One very brave United States Congressman, Republican Rep. Todd Akin (Mo.), has spoken on this subject, and dared to speak the truth that there are very few pregnancies that result from rape.  Statistics show that there are no more than one or two pregnancies for every 1,000 rapes.  From christianliferesources.com:

Let's look, using the figure of 200,000 rapes each year.

• Of the 200,000 women who were forcibly raped, one-third were either too old or too young to get pregnant. That leaves 133,000 at risk for pregnancy.

• A woman is capable of being fertilized only 3 days (perhaps 5) out of a 30-day month. Multiply our figure of 133,000 by three tenths. Three days out of 30 is one out of ten, divide 133 by ten and we have 13,300 women remaining. If we use five days out of 30 it is one out of six. Divide one hundred and thirty three thousand by six and we have 22,166 remaining.

• One-fourth of all women in the United States of childbearing age have been sterilized, so the remaining three-fourths come out to 10,000 (or 15,000).

• Only half of assailants penetrate her body and/or deposit sperm in her vagina,1 so let's cut the remaining figures in half. This gives us numbers of 5,000 (or 7,500).

• Fifteen percent of men are sterile, that drops that figure to 4,250 (or 6,375).

• Fifteen percent of non-surgically sterilized women are naturally sterile. That reduces the number to 3,600 (or 5,400)

• Another fifteen percent are on the pill and/or already pregnant. That reduces the number to 3,070 (or 4,600).

• Now factor in the fact that it takes 5-10 months for the average couple to achieve a pregnancy. Use the smaller figure of 5 months to be conservative and divide the above figures by 5. The number drops to 600 (or 920).

• In an average population, the miscarriage rate is about 15 percent. In this case we have incredible emotional trauma. Her body is upset. Even if she conceives, the miscarriage rate will be higher than in a more normal pregnancy. If 20 percent of raped women miscarry, the figure drops to 450 (or 740).

Finally, factor in what is certainly one of the most important reasons why a rape victim rarely gets pregnant, and that's physical trauma. Every woman is aware that stress and emotional factors can alter her menstrual cycle. To get and stay pregnant a woman's body must produce a very sophisticated mix of hormones. Hormone production is controlled by a part of the brain that is easily influenced by emotions. There's no greater emotional trauma that can be experienced by a woman than an assault rape. This can radically upset her possibility of ovulation, fertilization, implantation and even nurturing of a pregnancy. So what further percentage reduction in pregnancy will this cause? No one knows, but this factor certainly cuts this last figure by at least 50 percent and probably more. If we use the 50 percent figure, we have a final figure of 225 (or 370) women pregnant each year. These numbers closely match the 200 that have been documented in clinical studies.

So assault rape pregnancy is extremely rare. If we use the figure of 200, it is 4 per state per year. Even if we use a figure of 500, we're talking about only ten per state, per year. In the United States in one year, there are more than 6 million pregnancies. Roughly 3 million eventuate in live birth, 1.5 million are aborted and 500,000 miscarry. And so while each assault rape pregnancy is a tragedy for the mother (not for the baby, though), we can with confidence say that such pregnancies amount to a minuscule fraction of the total annual pregnancies in the United States. Further, less than half of assault rape pregnancies are aborted, even though that course of action tends to be vigorously pushed by those around the woman

So where am I going with all this?  Rep. Akin made his comments in connection with the Romney/Ryan presidential campaign, criticizing them for favoring abortions in cases of pregnancies resulting from rape, which as we have seen, is extremely rare.  Here is an article from thehill.com about the Romney/Paul's campaign's objection to Rep. Akin's comments.

 Romney campaign criticizes Akin’s remarks on rape, abortion

By Meghashyam Mali - 08/20/12 06:40 AM ET


Mitt Romney's campaign on Sunday quickly condemned a comment from Republican Rep. Todd Akin (Mo.) claiming that pregnancy from rape was rare and said the presumptive GOP nominee and his running mate, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), would not take steps to block abortions in cases of rape. 

"Gov. Romney and Congressman Ryan disagree with Mr. Akin's statement, and a Romney-Ryan administration would not oppose abortion in instances of rape," said Romney campaign spokeswoman Amanda Henneberg in a statement.  [Well, Governor, you are consistent since you signed a bill while governor of Massachusetts forcing Catholic hospitals to give abortion-inducing drugs in cases of rape.  But Representative Ryan, how do you stand on this since you know this is against Church teaching?]

The campaign's response came after Akin, the Republican Party's Senate candidate in the key swing state of Missouri, said that "legitimate rape" rarely resulted in pregnancy during an interview with a St. Louis television station.

Akin, in the interview, was asked to explain his opposition to abortion for pregnancies caused by rape.

"It seems to me, first of all, 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," he said.

Akin said later, in a statement, that he “misspoke,” claiming that his comments did not “reflect the deep empathy I hold for the thousands of women who are raped and abused every year.”  [This drives me absolutely crazy.  Senator Akin's statement had nothing to do with lack of empathy for rape victims.  He was merely stating a fact that very few rapes result in pregnancy.  I wish just once that politicians had the courage of their convictions and did not bow to political correctness.]

He stood by his opposition to abortion, saying, “I believe deeply in the protection of all life and I do not believe that harming another innocent victim is the right course of action.”  [God Bless Rep. Akin for standing on the side of life at least to this extent and making what has become a very courageous statement in our culture.]The comments sparked a firestorm and will likely bring attention to both Romney's and Ryan’s positions on abortion.

Obama’s campaign, which already holds a strong edge among female voters, has made Ryan’s stance on abortion and other women’s-health issues a cornerstone of its attacks on the new GOP vice presidential pick.

“Make sure the women in your life know: Paul Ryan supports banning all abortions, even in cases of rape or incest,” read a tweet from Obama’s official Twitter account on Aug. 12, a day after Ryan was tapped for the GOP ticket.

Ryan, who is Catholic, opposes abortion except when the life of the mother is at risk and co-sponsored a bill which would define human life as beginning at the moment of fertilization. Pro-abortion-rights groups said the measure would limit access to contraception.  [I am very glad that Rep. Ryan sponsored a bill defining life as beginning at fertilization (which of course will go nowhere), but Rep. Ryan is actually out of step with Catholic church teachings in supporting abortion when the mother's life is at risk.  The Church condemns abortion - the deliberate killing of the baby - in all instances.  The Church will allow medical procedures for the mother if the unintended result is the death of the baby.  But the Church never allows the deliberate killing of the baby, which is the definition of abortion, in any instance.]

Romney also believes in exceptions for rape and incest.

Akin holds a steady lead over his Democratic opponent, Sen. Claire McCaskill (Mo.), in the Senate race, but Sunday’s controversy raised concerns among Republicans that his remarks could inflict lasting damage on his campaign. McCaskill slammed his comments as “offensive.”

Kelly Wright, who began life as the result of rape

There is no reason why a child born as the result of a rape cannot grow up to live a happy, productive life.  One stellar example of this is Kelly Wright, a former Fox News anchorman, whose mother was raped by her minister when she was a teenager.  As a result of the rape, she became pregnant, but chose to keep her baby, who grew up to be a successful journalist and Christian pastor. He, for one, is very grateful that she did not abort him, as I am sure are his wife and children.  From Wikipedia:

Wright began his journalism career in 1977 while serving in the United States Army.

Wright has received numerous awards for his reporting, including two local Emmy Awards for his developing, reporting and co-producing a documentary and news series on the transatlantic slave trade.

Wright attended Oral Roberts University. He graduated with the ORU Class of 2008, and delivered the commencement address. He is married and has two sons.

Here is his story from lifesitenews.com

Former Fox News Anchor’s Mother Considered Abortion after Being Raped

January 19, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) – This past Saturday, former Fox & Friends Weekend co-anchor Kelly Wright talked with Mike Huckabee on his Fox News show about his mother’s decision to give birth to him despite having conceived him in rape. Kelly made the appearance to promote his new book, “America’s Hope in Troubled Times.”

In his new book, Wright describes how his mother was raped when she was 16 years old, and how he was the result of that rape.

Calling the way he came into the world “very unique” Wright explained that in the summer of 1954 his mother had become close friends with the young wife of a pastor. One day, Wright’s mother went to her friend’s house to go shopping. However, her friend had already left, and when Wright’s mother entered the home of the pastor, he assaulted her.

Wright explained that there was nothing his mother could have done against the pastor because, “It would be her word against a reputable member of the community.”

“To make a long story short, she went ahead and continued to think that everything was okay, but then discovered she was pregnant.”

When Wright’s mother found out she was pregnant, she was offered an abortion as a means out. However, in 1954 abortions were still illegal, and Wright acknowledged that she would have been putting herself at great risk by undergoing one.

However, the primary reason Wright’s mother choose not to have him killed was her desire for children. Wright quotes his mother as having said, “This is God telling me that this may be the only biological child I have.” As it turns out, Wright’s mother was right, and Kelly would be her only biological child; Kelly’s sister was adopted.

Kelly Wright, in addition to being a correspondent for Fox News, is also now a pastor. He says, “It just shows how God was looking out for me and I had a purpose to live for.”

Mike Huckabee, a pastor himself, commented after Wright told his story, “For all of us who know you, that thought but by the grace of God and your mother having made another choice, you and I wouldn’t be having this conversation.”

“It’s the greatest affirmation for why it’s important to value every life as having worth and value. And you just have vividly demonstrated that to us.”

Kelly Wright has worked in journalism since entering the army in 1977. He has covered such stories as the Iraq war, the 2004 presidential elections, and the death of Terri Schiavo. In a profile for Fox News, Wright said the person who had the most influence in his life was his mother, June Lorraine Overton.

By Matt Anderson

Maybe if Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan would talk to Kelly Wright, they might have a different opinion about abortion in cases of rape.  But then again, sadly, maybe not.

Think about this: when you are aborting your child, you are also aborting your other children's brother or sister, you are aborting someone's best friend, someone's husband or wife, someone's father or mother.  You are aborting all of the children and grandchildren and other descendants of your child.  If  Kelly Wright's mother had aborted him, she would have aborted the pastor of a church, an Emmy-award winning journalist, a service man in the US military, a husband and a father.  You are never aborting a glob of tissue or even just a baby. 

Think about it.