commentaries

It's hard to believe that anyone in this day and age could say something so ignorant and offensive. And this isn't just an isolated statement. Akin has a history of supporting this kind of thinking. It sounds like he is one of these old rape victims are "just asking for it" trolls. He should keep his rancid opinions to himself, and he certainly shouldn't be in Congress.

How did this man ever come to serve on the House Science Committee? Shouldn't the representatives on this board at least believe in/know about science?

Todd Akin's view is similar to the views of Paul Ryan and the majority of Republicans. Other Republicans are just more selective in letting their views be known only in certain circles. Follow their voting records. Ryan and Akin co- sponsored a bill to redefine rape.Our country has so many serious problems and these Republican men focus and spend most of their time on birth control and abortion laws. Where are the Jobs Boehner? Leave the women alone and focus on our real problems.

I don't know why Laura is so surprised. We all (collectively) elect idiots like Todd Akin. Should we really be that shocked or angered when they say something as stupid as what Mr. Akin said?

Would someone please ask Mr. Akin what is "legitimate rape?"

I just don't get people like this, with everything that is going on in this country that a legislature might want to address -- economic collapse, job losses, poverty, etc. -- what makes these guys wake up and say, "gee, let's take on abortion and gay marriage"

I am still processing the Rep. Kerry Gauthier teenage rape case. Wonder what Akin thinks about that?

"The sexism is outrageous, but the stupidity is what really burns". The rub in all of this is that as a Republican candidate, this will only make him MORE popular among the faithful, which makeup the majority in Missouri. This is just like when Michele Bachmann makes the most idiotic, outrageous comments, then watches her approval ratings tick up and the $ pour in from all over the country. People have to stop calling them stupid and realize how politically savvy they really are.

Re: "We all (collectively) elect [people] like Todd Akin." I will NOT take blame for electing people like Todd Akin. Even though I live in the 6th CD, I will NOT take blame for electing people like Todd Akin. Put the blame where it belongs: on the Party which has so little confidence in its economic ideology that it chooses candidates who can convince low-information voters to vote against their economic self-interest during an economic downturn caused by that very economic ideology because the candidates espouse an anti-social social ideology. Furthermore, that Party's deficit-increasing, programs-for-the-poor-cutting, high-income/wealth-protecting policies totally contradict the religious dogma they cite to justify their anti-social social policies.

Although most conservatives won't admit it, Akin's comment was consistent with the GOP's platform which says they support applying the 14th amendment's protections to unborn children. The 14th amendment says we all have 'equal protection' under the law. If equal protection was extended to the unborn then you couldn't legally differentiate between the born and unborn, you could no more abort a fetus that was the product of a rape than you could execute a born child because it's father was a rapist.