Mike, you have written the best column on this subject yet to appear on TH. Akin must be quakin, but we gotta get shakin, and that ain't no fakin!
Todd Akin’s grossly irresponsible remarks about “legitimate rape” and conception have received much media attention. As well they should. The sheer weirdness of the remarks calls into question both his intelligence and his personal integrity. How could someone conclude logically that a rape victim’s body has the capacity to prevent conception in the wake of sexual assault? And why would someone assert that the conclusion had been supported by doctors with whom he had spoken? Clearly, Akin contrived the idea on the spot and then contrived the claim that there were doctors who had informed and/or supported his assertion. All of...
But the fact remains that what he said WAS foolish. Politically, he should have been more shrewd, plain and simple. Granted, he should have been able to count on backup (which was not provided), but it doesn't change the fact that he did make a mistake, and that's all that Mr. Adams calls him out on.
Todd Akin completely sidetracked the issue of why he was against abortion to throw some obscure, unconfirmed scientific tidbit that did nothing for the debate. Rape pregnancy is rare; that's common knowledge. We didn't need to hear another reason why.
At this point, we can only back him as best we can.
Why can't you?