On Sunday Republican Congressman Akin who is running to win a Senate Seat from incumbent Sen. Claire McCaskill in Missouri said of pregnancy caused by rape. “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.”
It is precisely comments like this and the crazy culture that is not only endorsed but often applauded by Republican leaders that leaves me wondering 1) How does this party expect to be more than a regional player moving forward 2) Why is this an issue? The comments come across tone deaf and misogynistic at the least and frightfully fanatical; something one might hear in a theocracy rather than a democracy based on individual liberties and separation of church and state.
It isn’t enough for Republicans to distance themselves.
Normally I overlook these stories but this illustrates the concerns I raised in my post on Saturday, Does Romney’s selection of Ryan signal a change. We need more political choices – not fewer; that requires the Republican Party to grow up and develop a strong wing that is socially progressive. Reactive political posturing from Republicans trying to distance themselves from Akin’s comments isn’t enough.
BosGuy 