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Todd Akin must step aside NOW!

August 20, 2012

 If you pay attention to politics you have heard the comments made by Missouri Republican Senate hopeful Todd Akin; comments so stupid that Barack Obama felt emboldened enough to come out of his press bunker and make a surprise showing at the White House press briefing where coincidentally the first question asked of him after weeks of silence was about the beleaguered candidate. 

  I have to admit that when I first heard the comments I thought that Akin must have misspoken, there is no way he could believe some rapes were legitimate while others were not. My feeling was that what he was trying to differentiate between was legitimate claims of rape and false claims of rape. I am sure there are cases where women have lied about being raped either to gain revenge on someone who wronged them, or perhaps a scared young woman who didn’t want her parents to know she was having sex, and I thought that might have been what he was talking about.

   However, when he issued his apology he simply stated that he misspoke but he didn’t attempt to clarify his remarks. This bothers me; if he was talking about false claims of rape like I thought why didn’t he say that when he apologized? It doesn’t make sense unless he really wasn’t talking about false claims of rape.

  And then there is the second part of his statement where he basically says a woman cannot get pregnant unless she wants to. A woman cannot shut down her reproductive system any time she wants to; this is a line that teenage boys have been using on teenage girls for decades, (and it doesn’t work,) it is not something a man who wants to be a United States Senator says, it is outrageous and indefensible.

  I would normally point out the hypocrisy of the left here and talk about the faux outrage many of those who didn’t seem to be outraged by Whoopi Goldberg’s defense of Roman Polanski because he didn’t commit rape rape–thereby expressing the same sentiment as Todd Akin that some rapes were not legitimate rapes–are expressing here now that a Republican has made this statement. But the actions of those people, or the lack of action in the case of Whoopi Goldberg, is not a defense for Todd Akin because Whoopi Goldberg wasn’t running for office.

  Let us take a look at the political ramifications of this asinine statement:

  Todd Akin needs to do us all a favor and give up his Senate bid, in doing so he will do us all a favor. Whether he really meant what he said or if he misspoke, it doesn’t matter. 

  Claire McCaskill is considered to be one of the Democrats most at risk of losing her Senate seat and with his moronic statement it is quite likely that he has handed her the victory and thusly deeply hurt the Republicans’ chances of gaining control of the Senate. 

  On top of that he has fallen right into the Democrats’ war on women trap and has handed the Democrats an issue which will be used against all Republicans from now until November no matter how strongly they come out against him.

  Todd Akin has already embarrassed himself, if he stays in the race he will embarrass the whole Republican party–if he hasn’t already. He has until 5:00 tomorrow evening to do the right thing.

60 Comments leave one →
  1. Sonny's avatar
    Sonny permalink
    August 20, 2012 7:36 pm

    When did the definition of the word “misspoke” become a last ditch effort to try and explain away an ‘incredibly ignorant statement’? The word simply means you somehow mispronounced a word, you pronounced, or enunciated or emphasized a word or words incorrectly… If what he meant was as you said, and in all honesty I believe it is, it is still an incorrect way of stating it. Tit for Tat, Biden did the same, there’s proven idiocy on both sides of the isle. At least the Republican side has a chance to correct this somewhat by stepping down, which is what he should do immediately.

    Like

    • Steve Dennis's avatar
      August 20, 2012 8:15 pm

      I believe he had to mean it the way I think he did, but I can’t figure out why he didn’t explain it when he had the chance. He needs to step down now regardless of what he meant if the Republicans are to have any chance at winning this seat.

      Like

      • Sonny's avatar
        Sonny permalink
        August 20, 2012 8:39 pm

        Because of the impact of his initial statement Steve, I honestly don’t believe it would have been enough to correct his direction to try and fix this. It might make it a little easier to swallow for some, but the democrats are already on this, and they’ll be pressing it hard if he tries to hang on, same way the Gop is after Biden for his brilliant moment. And obama is still waking up to “You didn’t build that” each morning too. Isn’t working to well for them either… Even if the gop in Missouri could find another Christie I don’t know if it would be enough to salvage this one… I just hope Akin realizes that a possibly salvageable seat exists *only* if he immediately steps down.

        Like

      • Steve Dennis's avatar
        August 20, 2012 9:57 pm

        I couldn’t agree more, Akin blew it big time. Not only for him but for the GOP in general. He needs to do what is right and step aside. The GOP probably lost their chance to win this seat, but if he hangs on there is no chance they will win this seat and he will do damage to other GOP candidates as well.

        Like

  2. Pmc3's avatar
    August 20, 2012 7:37 pm

    This moron’s incursion into the land of stupid may have the unintended consequences of keeping both the senate and the White House in the hands of the enemy and changing the course of this country’s history. There may be an apt analogy to what may be one of the costliest political missteps in american history but I am at a loss to cite it. The fat lady may have just sung.

    Like

    • Steve Dennis's avatar
      August 20, 2012 8:16 pm

      I feel exactly the same way, I hope I am wrong but this could have handed the election to the Democrats. Hopefully this will be forgotten by the time the election rolls along.

      Like

  3. josiahe's avatar
    josiahe permalink
    August 20, 2012 7:39 pm

    I disagree; though he did not fully explain why he said what he did, nor what he was thinking when he said it, …. he DID apologize.

    Like

    • Steve Dennis's avatar
      August 20, 2012 8:17 pm

      He did apologize but I don’t think it will be enough to undo the damage he has done and if the Republicans don’t want to be sucked into this he must resign.

      Like

  4. thegeorgiayankee's avatar
    August 20, 2012 7:42 pm

    There actually is some scientific research into what Aiken claimed, but it’s not very well developed and nowhere nearly as conclusive as the Congressman would have us believe. I noted today that he seemed to be apologizing for his reference to “legitimate” rape and didn’t really address the rest of his remark.

    I hope, for the sake of the democratic process, that you’re hoping he drops out of the race so some other GOPer can run against McCaskill, not just drop out and leave the race uncontested.

    Take good care, and may God bless us all!

    TGY

    Like

    • Steve Dennis's avatar
      August 20, 2012 8:20 pm

      I was afraid that by bringing the political aspect into this post that I would be overly politicizing this, but yes I do hope that someone replaces him in the race. I just feel that it will be too late for anyone else to mount a serious challenge at this point in the game.

      Like

      • thegeorgiayankee's avatar
        August 21, 2012 4:56 pm

        I’ve got mixed feelings about reporting that Akin still leads in the Missouri polls, although his 9 – 12 point margin has been nearly eliminated.

        This isn’t line-in-the-sand time, guys. Biden’s remark may have been offensive to some, but they didn’t come anywhere close to the damage Akin has done to his and his Party’s reputation.

        As for tying Akin to Ryan, those two gentlemen sealed that deal a while back when they collaborated to redefine the federal definition of rape to include only forcible rape – these two paragons of scientific knowledge somehow seem to think that things like incest and statutory rape don’t sufficiently qualify as rape to justify abortion of the resultant fetus. I find it worrisome that we outlaw marriage between siblings and first cousins, but if a father rapes his daughter, there are those among us who will insist that the baby carry the baby to term.

        Take good care, and may God bless us all!

        TGY

        Like

      • Steve Dennis's avatar
        August 21, 2012 6:41 pm

        I think you are right in that Akin has done more damage to his party than Biden has done to his because of the seriousness of this issue coupled with the fact that Biden is gaffe prone to begin with.

        Like

      • Steve Dennis's avatar
        August 21, 2012 6:54 pm

        He may still lead in the polls, but that is a fairly rapid drop in support and this story is still young. I think it is quite telling he dropped this quickly even though he still leads.

        Like

  5. Conservatives on Fire's avatar
    August 20, 2012 7:46 pm

    What a disaster! We need control of the Senate and this idiot has made that very difficult , I, at least, hope the Lame Stream press takes note that Republicans did not try to defend him.

    Like

    • Steve Dennis's avatar
      August 20, 2012 8:21 pm

      He sure has; if the Republicans do not gain this seat and if Brown loses in Massachusetts it will be very hard for Republicans to win the Senate.

      Like

  6. Ron Russell's avatar
    August 20, 2012 7:47 pm

    I agree, Akin must go. I first heard this story on “Morning Joe”, my daily dose of liberalism and thought it to be a political hit job, but as the day progressed I came to see it for what it was. This senate seat would have been an easy pick up for the Republicans, but now it will remain in Democratic hands unless Akin steps down and by tomorrow. It’s been confirmed that he will get no money from the RNC or from the Republican Sentorial Committee. Additional Akin and Ryan had authored a bill together in the House and should he remain this will become foder in the democrats “war on women” campaign against the republicans—Akins is a lose-lose thing.

    Like

    • Steve Dennis's avatar
      August 20, 2012 8:23 pm

      There is so much backlash from this that I think this seat has been lost. I don’t think Akin can win now and I don’t know if his replacement will have enough time to make a serious race of this.

      Like

  7. Unknown's avatar
    Anonymous permalink
    August 20, 2012 8:05 pm

    Same here Ron. The more the facts were revealed the more nauseous i became. Unless one is a gynocologist one has no business elevating one’s answers to this level. KISS: keep it simple stupid. Let this be a lesson to the right: change the conversation to something with relevency to what this commie freak is perpetrating upon our country. And if abortion was legal in the 60’s in Kenya and Hawaii-covering all bases-maybe we wouldn’t be having THIS conversation.

    Like

    • Steve Dennis's avatar
      August 20, 2012 8:24 pm

      Exactly, I hate to see the election turn on an issue that should have been avoided in the first place.

      Like

  8. Phillip Cleary's avatar
    • Steve Dennis's avatar
      August 21, 2012 6:06 am

      This is what I think he was referring to, but man did he do it clumsily. He had a chance to clarify his remarks during his apology tour and he wasn’t able to do it, this makes me wonder if he is fit to head to the Senate.

      Like

  9. rjjrdq's avatar
    August 21, 2012 12:29 am

    I can’t see all the votes that would have gone to Akin suddenly going to McCaskill. There’s still time to get somebody else in there. Tea party material maybe?

    Like

    • Steve Dennis's avatar
      August 21, 2012 6:07 am

      I agree, but we need a replacement right now. Maybe we can still win this seat if we have enough time, but timeis running out.

      Like

  10. Fallon's avatar
    Fallon permalink
    August 21, 2012 12:37 am

    When will Republicans stop abandoning their wounded?

    No.

    I do not accept the premise that Akin endorsed ANY rape, whether it be Tawanna Brawley’s, or that committed by the Duke Lacrosse Team, or any of the many leading up to the pitching of Rape Tents at various OWS TRANSGRESSIONS.

    Nobody seemed concerned for OWS rape victims. They were told to “take one for the team”, and we have no record of how many times they shut up and took it, because they DID!

    One of the “‘esteemed (female) members of the Congressional Black Caucus passed off that entire string of rapes, declaring of them, “That’s life.”

    Akin clearly stated what he thought, and the media spun it, as they had done at every opportunity, and will continue to do with every Republican at every opportunity.

    Akin was left bereft in a pool of his own blood.

    NOBODY made it into the media with an interview of a fertility doctor, did they?

    We’ve heard nothing, read nothing, learned nothing of the hormonal and enzymatic responses to severe stress and anxiety. No one even peeped up with an observation that athletes and anorexics with low bmi indexes ovulate less frequently than do their normal-weight counterparts.

    I do not know Akin, or Steele…I was not following that primary; but, Akin became the nominee, and the Alinski-ites are encouraged by the sight of their victory, and his abandonment.

    Instead of “legitimate” [yeah, he led with his chin] he should have said “horrendous” or “brutal”; but, he didn’t. Nobody says significant stuff off the cuff and gets it right all the time.

    Go back, try those substitute adjectives, and see if what he said remains worthy of the political death penalty you’ve been goaded or tricked into declaring on his head!

    Like

    • Unknown's avatar
      Anonymous permalink
      August 21, 2012 1:02 am

      Fallon, I agree with you. However, it’s the implication that’s left it’s mark. To the point that the dems are already taking shots at him, and some gop are discreetly asking him to step aside. It’s the overall effect that it’s brought into play. I would love to see Akin win the seat *anyways*. But I don’t think it’s going to happen at this point. I hope I’m wrong! On the other hand, The rest of the gop is going to suffer from this as well. Mitt has already inserted his own foot a couple of times (London). He can’t afford to try and defend something that’s being seen (thanks to whomever you want to blame, media, dems) but it’s happening already. the gop is running too close to the wire on this one to trip up anymore. It has to be as flawless a race as can be had by gop. obama is trying his damnest to prop up Biden, it’s not working. I don’t want to see the attempts made here, anything can cost votes right now as many voters are still questionable. For whatever reason Akin didn’t try to clean the mess up very well. Right now it’s mud in the gop’s eye. Do we really want to risk losing any votes over something if it’s validated or corrected or not? There’s no question it hurt. Will a band aid fix it, or do we need surgery….

      Like

      • Steve Dennis's avatar
        August 21, 2012 6:12 am

        Republicans have to distance themselves from Akin. He stepped right into the war on women trap and hs should have been smart enough to avoid it because this is a question that has been asked during campaigns for years. Any Republican who comes to his defense will just give the left fodder in this phony war on women.

        Like

      • Fallon's avatar
        Fallon permalink
        August 21, 2012 11:25 am

        I saw so much pandering to the Left yesterday that Akin has little to do or say about any of what follows. He spoke loosely, as have all candidates and officeholders, and like many before him, his interrogator set-up the sand-lot spike, and the team-mates spiked it into his -and our- faces.

        We must stop playing their game, on their turf, by whatever rules they pile onto us.

        Akin is not Foley; but, if Republicans have learned nothing in the wake of Foley’s out-fall, then the Republicans still think George Washington would have gotten better if more leeches had been applied.

        … Bleeding does not cleanse the body, but enough will ensure we suffer no embarrassment from him again.

        We’ll have it by another of our candidates next time, and we’ll probably abandon him or her because those Democrats always shamelessly defend theirs, and we don’t want to do what they do, do we?

        My point is this: Akin could have spoken better; but, he didn’t. Now, he’s out-of-service/out-of-play. What WE say and do, and what our gutless-wonders in Republican leadership do … THAT MATTERS!

        When Akin’s error was criticized-rather-than-corrected at the first level of responses, then we endorsed the rules foisted on us unjustly by the other side.

        I think Akin should hold another press conference, clarify what he INTENDED TO COMMUNICATE, remind the world of Maxine Water’s, et al, record and response … and then, offer to step out after she resigns her seat.

        Like

      • Steve Dennis's avatar
        August 21, 2012 6:44 pm

        Well, apparently Akin isn’t going to drop out so he isn’t afraid of the increased scrutiny. He did release a new commercial today, but still didn’t clarify what he was trying to say and that is troubling to me. He needs to get out in front of this now but he seems unable to do so.

        Like

    • Steve Dennis's avatar
      August 21, 2012 6:10 am

      I agree that Republicans tend to eat their own and it can be frustrating but Akin is so damaged that it doesn’t seem like a battle worth fighting at this point. You make some great points about the hypocrisy of the left, but I don’t think standing behind this man is a winning battle.

      Like

    • thegeorgiayankee's avatar
      August 21, 2012 5:02 pm

      Okay, I’ll try:

      “If you were successful, somebody along the line gave you some help. There was a great teacher somewhere in your life. Somebody helped to create this unbelievable American system that we have that allowed you to thrive. Somebody invested in roads and bridges. If you’ve got a business — you didn’t build THOSE OTHER THINGS. Somebody else made that happen. The Internet didn’t get invented on its own. Government research created the Internet so that all the companies could make money off the Internet.”

      Works for me.

      Like

      • Steve Dennis's avatar
        August 21, 2012 6:48 pm

        When you listen to his whole comment in context is might just be more insulting because of the mocking and condescending way he was speaking about these people. Putting that aside though; where did the government get the money to build those roads and those bridges, and who pays the teachers? It isn’t like these people didn’t pay for these things in the first place, sure they didn’t physically build them but they helped provide the means to get these things done.

        Like

      • thegeorgiayankee's avatar
        August 21, 2012 10:08 pm

        His only point was no man is an island. I didn’t even take his remarks to mean that government was the only source of help – he mentioned teachers first, and since I spend most of my high school at Carson Long Military Academy, my first thought was Spike Holman, COL USA (Ret.), without whose instruction I would never have learned so much about so much more than what was in the textbook. If there’s anyone here who doesn’t have a favorite teacher, that’s a damn shame, and the shoddy way we treat teachers today, no government can legitimately turn around and suddenly claim credit for providing them – they do so reluctantly. Teachers guide us for their own altruistic reasons – they’re not in it to get wealthy, and the government’s only role, in most cases, is to give them a wage.

        At any rate, I doubt there are many people in this coutnry today who started a business who don’t owe a lot of who they’ve become to one or more special teachers.

        Take good care and may God bless us all!

        TGY

        Like

      • Steve Dennis's avatar
        August 21, 2012 11:00 pm

        I wasn’t putting down teachers or their role in society and I hope it didn’t sound that way, but Obama was trying to give the government credit for the teachers when in fact it is the taxpayers who pay the salaries.

        Like

      • Fallon's avatar
        Fallon permalink
        August 23, 2012 11:34 pm

        thegeorgiayankee misquoted Barry, and I’m not sure why…nonetheless, Barry used the singular, “that”, rather than the plural, “those” [which is the term used by thegeorgiayankee]. Yeah, he is the greatest platituder known to all mankind when he’s wanting something from us; but, the fact that the “that” quote caught the heartland on fire tells me that his plat doesn’t sell as well anymore.

        So, we are concerned when he sets us up to socialize HIS Way by saying that society holds the rightful claim to all of our production.

        We know better.

        Here’s the text, in full context [yes, I’ve had people vehemently deny the fact of “that”, proffering thegeorgiayankee’s phrasing in denial]:

        OBAMA: [L]ook, if you’ve been successful, you didn’t get there on your own. You didn’t get there on your own. I’m always struck by people who think, well, it must be because I was just so smart. There are a lot of smart people out there. It must be because I worked harder than everybody else. Let me tell you something — there are a whole bunch of hardworking people out there.

        If you were successful, somebody along the line gave you some help. There was a great teacher somewhere in your life. Somebody helped to create this unbelievable American system that we have that allowed you to thrive. Somebody invested in roads and bridges. If you’ve got a business — you didn’t build that. Somebody else made that happen. The Internet didn’t get invented on its own. Government research created the Internet so that all the companies could make money off the Internet.

        The point is, is that when we succeed, we succeed because of our individual initiative, but also because we do things together. There are some things, just like fighting fires, we don’t do on our own. I mean, imagine if everybody had their own fire service. That would be a hard way to organize fighting fires.

        So we say to ourselves, ever since the founding of this country, you know what, there are some things we do better together. That’s how we funded the GI Bill. That’s how we created the middle class. That’s how we built the Golden Gate Bridge or the Hoover Dam. That’s how we invented the Internet. That’s how we sent a man to the moon. We rise or fall together as one nation and as one people, and that’s the reason I’m running for President — because I still believe in that idea. You’re not on your own, we’re in this together. [WhiteHouse.gov, 7/13/12]”

        OBAMA: [L]ook, if you’ve been successful, you didn’t get there on your own. You didn’t get there on your own. I’m always struck by people who think, well, it must be because I was just so smart. There are a lot of smart people out there. It must be because I worked harder than everybody else. Let me tell you something — there are a whole bunch of hardworking people out there.

        If you were successful, somebody along the line gave you some help. There was a great teacher somewhere in your life. Somebody helped to create this unbelievable American system that we have that allowed you to thrive. Somebody invested in roads and bridges. If you’ve got a business — you didn’t build that. Somebody else made that happen. The Internet didn’t get invented on its own. Government research created the Internet so that all the companies could make money off the Internet.

        The point is, is that when we succeed, we succeed because of our individual initiative, but also because we do things together. There are some things, just like fighting fires, we don’t do on our own. I mean, imagine if everybody had their own fire service. That would be a hard way to organize fighting fires.

        So we say to ourselves, ever since the founding of this country, you know what, there are some things we do better together. That’s how we funded the GI Bill. That’s how we created the middle class. That’s how we built the Golden Gate Bridge or the Hoover Dam. That’s how we invented the Internet. That’s how we sent a man to the moon. We rise or fall together as one nation and as one people, and that’s the reason I’m running for President — because I still believe in that idea. You’re not on your own, we’re in this together. [WhiteHouse.gov, 7/13/12]

        OBAMA: [L]ook, if you’ve been successful, you didn’t get there on your own. You didn’t get there on your own. I’m always struck by people who think, well, it must be because I was just so smart. There are a lot of smart people out there. It must be because I worked harder than everybody else. Let me tell you something — there are a whole bunch of hardworking people out there.

        If you were successful, somebody along the line gave you some help. There was a great teacher somewhere in your life. Somebody helped to create this unbelievable American system that we have that allowed you to thrive. Somebody invested in roads and bridges. If you’ve got a business — you didn’t build that. Somebody else made that happen. The Internet didn’t get invented on its own. Government research created the Internet so that all the companies could make money off the Internet.

        The point is, is that when we succeed, we succeed because of our individual initiative, but also because we do things together. There are some things, just like fighting fires, we don’t do on our own. I mean, imagine if everybody had their own fire service. That would be a hard way to organize fighting fires.

        So we say to ourselves, ever since the founding of this country, you know what, there are some things we do better together. That’s how we funded the GI Bill. That’s how we created the middle class. That’s how we built the Golden Gate Bridge or the Hoover Dam. That’s how we invented the Internet. That’s how we sent a man to the moon. We rise or fall together as one nation and as one people, and that’s the reason I’m running for President — because I still believe in that idea. You’re not on your own, we’re in this together. [WhiteHouse.gov, 7/13/12]

        Like

      • Sonny's avatar
        Sonny permalink
        August 23, 2012 11:45 pm

        “Somebody helped to create this *unbelievable American system* that we have that allowed you to thrive. Yes, this unbelievable American system, built as a Republic, driven by capitalism. He acknowledges that America already “has” an unbelievable system, why move it towards socialism.. a plan that everyone knows.. doesn’t work. What you say? It was the government that did this? Created this awesome America? Then why not leave it as it is. I’ll let you believe it wasn’t the people all day long……..

        Like

  11. William McCullough's avatar
    August 21, 2012 12:59 am

    Whatever Akin’s motives were he should step down, Republicans had the Biden “chains” gaffe and were running with it. Akin screwed the pooch.

    Now as a result those Democrats and Independents stupid enough to believe the Obama mantra of a “war on Women” will follow Akin’s gaffe like it was part of Romney and Ryans agenda.

    Unfortunately for those of us who pay attention to what is really important, the morons will ignore the alternative to Obama’s agenda and like lemmings they will go over the cliff without a clue what happened to them….WM

    Like

    • Steve Dennis's avatar
      August 21, 2012 6:13 am

      I agree William and the left has already started trying to tie Ryan to Akin. The sooner this man is gone the better, we can’t have this drag out through November.

      Like

      • Fallon's avatar
        Fallon permalink
        August 21, 2012 11:31 am

        We’ve acted as lemmings.

        We agreed with their twist/assertions/and premises.

        “Legitimate” was a poor word choice, NOT BECAUSE IT DIDN’T COMMUNICATE HIS POINT; BUT, BECAUSE IT LET OTHERS CORRUPT IT TO THEIRS!

        And then we freaked and ran.

        Way to accept their premise and strictures.

        Great game, guys.

        Like

      • Steve Dennis's avatar
        August 21, 2012 6:50 pm

        This is a game we shouldn’t have even had to play, it isn’t like that question has never been asked before and he still wasn’t ready for it.

        Like

  12. Phillip Cleary's avatar
    Phillip Cleary permalink
    August 21, 2012 3:24 am

    Understand this! I have 3 daughters and a lovely wife. That being said I do not take the crime of Rape lightly. but as has been stated there is a fine line between Rape and indiscretion. As long as we allow “Special Classes” of citizens there will be opportunities to use these classes as political fodder. Akin was a fool to open his mouth on his personal feelings about this subject. Especially knowing the MSM is going to grasp onto anything they can to defame a conservative (or even a RINO). His numbers are holding and any attempt to insert an alternative will be further cannon fodder (even though the Democrats do it repeatedly here in the Peoples Republic of Illinois). We will have to live with our village idiot and stand behind him because the plan of the Leftists is divide and conquer. They do it very well and we respond inappropriately every time. They are desperate and this is an event that demonstrates that fact. We nee to get back on the defensive and ignore the MSM because they will ride it like a pony. That’s all they have is stupid remarks that need to be stifled. Ride out the storm and keep hammering on the Job numbers (falling), the economy (dying) and the fact that this President is a dictator working to undo the separation of powers! It’s all about the American citizens losing the ability to support their families! Focus!

    Like

    • Steve Dennis's avatar
      August 21, 2012 6:15 am

      Yes, Republicans do need to stay focused on the important issues. The Democrats have been trying to change the subject and distract the voters, but we do not need to help them along by providing them with fodder. Anad that is what Akin has done, whether he stays or he goes this will give the Democrats something to use to distract the voters and he should have been skart enough not to fall into this trap.

      Like

      • Fallon's avatar
        Fallon permalink
        August 21, 2012 11:51 am

        This is the crux.

        Embarrassments happen a lot, and the leftist in the media cover for their team and savage ours, yet we continue to run scared … we continue to show deference to their judgements.

        We should rebound from our embarrassments and turn them into teachable moments, not abandon our candidates to the media wolves!

        No doubt he erred!

        No doubt he squandered his opportunity to come back strong…but with the savaging he received from chicken-hearted or duplicitous Republican leadership, I cannot feign surprise that he had nothing better to say when he “apologized”.

        This weakness of ours will be exploited to the hilt, as it has always been.

        Until we learn to rally and teach.

        This is not a formula election!

        We should not accept the habituated response from “Leadership”.

        I was ashamed of Cornyn, as I have been before; but, I haven’t called for his resignation.

        WE have this whole thing on and in our hands.

        WE decide.

        Thus far, I’m ashamed of the reactive capitulation.

        Like

      • Steve Dennis's avatar
        August 21, 2012 6:52 pm

        He is staying in the race so now we will find out for sure if the left and the media will be able to control the narrative, I am holding out hope that this is one of those flash in the pan moments which will be forgotten because of the more important issues this nation faces.

        Like

  13. pmc3's avatar
    pmc3 permalink
    August 21, 2012 9:39 am

    The point is that in this election the GOP is fighting an enemyy whose lifeblood is an ignorant electorate feeding on lies, inuendo and blatant obsfucation provided to them by the collective print and electroniuc mediums. As I have said before on this site, an electorate incapable of critical thinking and therefore making rational, critical judgements is not to be taken lightly.

    Each of us have been reduced to thinking like lawyers out of fear of a lawsuit before saying or doing the most mundane things in everyday life. For example, as a state certified high school basketball, baseball and soccer official I and my brother/sister referrees/umpires are aware of the I-pads, I-phones and cameras in the stands recording everything. If we do or say anything stupid there is no forgiveness. At every pre-season meeting we are reminded to be aware. The only difference between here and a police state is that here we can still hire an attorney to defend us. This being said, let’s ask this mutt Akin the most obvious rhetorical question, “What were you thinking you horse’s ass?” In the next day or two the connection between Ryan and Akin will be complete and ultimately the Romney campaign will be sucking air for the next two and a half months. Maybe the GOP should have a pre-election convocation where knuckleheads like Akin are reminded that they are on Candid Camera, 24-7. Just out of principle he should be thrown overboard. And anyone doing a Tammy Wynette on this one should go with him.

    If this jerk off wants immunity from his stupidity he should switch parties where he can spew, without repercussions from the press and public, all the Joe Bidenisms he can spit out.

    Like

    • Fallon's avatar
      Fallon permalink
      August 21, 2012 11:56 am

      And what would be left?

      Feckless RINOS with whining constituents.

      The fact that you officiate under such scrutiny should inform your thinking. Candidates LIVE that way.

      Screw ups happen, and we -as a movement- had better learn to deal with them to OUR advantage, not theirs!

      Like

      • Steve Dennis's avatar
        August 21, 2012 6:59 pm

        That is an interesting point, we are trying to rid the party f RINOs and yet by caving to the left we are insuring that more RINOs will be elected. This is something I had not thought of.

        Like

  14. Fallon's avatar
    Fallon permalink
    August 21, 2012 12:10 pm

    No wonder the left effectively slams us as condemning and vengeful. How many “independents” would convert to such a group?

    Like

    • Steve Dennis's avatar
      August 21, 2012 7:01 pm

      But how may independents will go to Akin after he made this comment, at this point we are damned if we do and damned if we don’t and this is something that was totally avoidable, that is what pisses me off the most.

      Like

      • Fallon's avatar
        Fallon permalink
        August 23, 2012 8:25 pm

        True.

        He spoke foolishly. He knew better … or SHOULD have! He’s no neophyte, and should have matched his answer to the general level of the question – he shouldn’t have played in the tall grass-

        Or, better yet, he should have answered with a rhetorical question such as:
        “Under what circumstances should it be acceptable for a mother to take the life of her son or daughter?”

        I adapted that question from one I’ve heard… steering clear of loaded terms, such as ‘murder’ or ‘kill’, avoids unhelpful inflammation, and having ‘son’ included combats the tripe that the fetus is part of the mother’s body.

        We must seize the opportunities created through inept or in-artful comments by telling the clear truth and exposing the truths behind the opposing position. In this case, the interviewer would retreat immediately and might even spike that portion of the interview.

        Having Tories in leadership positions did us harm here; but, in this war, we are the army ever afield, and it is our task to recover and overcome the bungles in words, and deeds.

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      • Steve Dennis's avatar
        August 23, 2012 8:30 pm

        Well said and you are right, he could have used that question to turn the tables and just once I would like to see that happen.

        Like

  15. Unknown's avatar
    Anonymous permalink
    August 21, 2012 2:54 pm

    Hey Todd,
    Call me naive but I though t the only time a woman’s body shut down was when her husband had “the need”.

    Like

  16. Terrant's avatar
    August 21, 2012 5:24 pm

    What boggles my mind is that what Akin said is consistent with some positions the Republicans (original text of HR3 and personhood movement) have taken. Heck, I think that language is being included as part of the party’s plank. I guess since it is an election year, it is better to leave him to the wolves.

    Like

    • Steve Dennis's avatar
      August 21, 2012 7:03 pm

      I have called on Democrats to resign over stupid comments and I thought I was being consistent by calling on one of “my own” to do so as well, I guess I was wrong. If Republicans tried to stand by him would you not be calling us hypocrites for not holding our own candidates to the same standards we hold others?

      Like

      • Terrant's avatar
        August 21, 2012 8:49 pm

        True, but that would be what I would expect. The more that I think about it, the more I am thinking that this might be a case of not what he said but how he said it. From what I’ve seen over the last 4-5 years, there are a lot of conservatives who believe that a woman should be forced to carry to term a child conceived from rape/incest.

        Like

      • Steve Dennis's avatar
        August 21, 2012 11:07 pm

        That might be true, I don’t know, but I am actually more libertarian on social issues than most conservatives and while I think abortion is wrong I do not think it is my place to tell others it is–I rarely write about social issues for this reason. If you go to my ‘about me’ page you will see this is my position on this issue, I haven’t changed it.

        Like

      • Terrant's avatar
        August 22, 2012 10:19 am

        I wasn’t meaning you specifically. 😛

        Like

  17. Unknown's avatar
    Anonymous permalink
    August 21, 2012 6:32 pm

    Shame on the religious and the religious right for boxing in the republican candidates by making this a political issue for the past 40 years. This is what their misplaced religious fervor has led us to; a no win position. if finally we lose this country to the encroasching communist regime now in power these zealots will have doomed us all in part over what should be a non-issue in respect to an election, presidential or otherwise. If the abortion crowd is to rot in hell leave them to it instead of creating a hell on earth for the rest of us.

    Like

    • Sonny's avatar
      Sonny permalink
      August 21, 2012 7:11 pm

      So Anonymous, no one but the “left” should have an opinion then. No one on the right should stand on what they believe. You know there are many things I don’t agree with on the right and the left, but I believe they have the right to pursue what they feel is the correct thing to do. Haven’t we as a people lost enough rights as it is yet? We already have a dictator in office, and you would further his purpose? So if you’re Christian, you shouldn’t be trying to live that life or support. Shall we then remove Christians from this country? If I remember correctly, it was an atheist or at least an agnostic that brought this before the courts.. not a Christian.

      Like

  18. Unknown's avatar
    Anonymous permalink
    August 21, 2012 10:13 pm

    Not at all. It is important to remember that the left has a built in advocacy, the media, that aids in their obfuscation of any issue they seize upon . The right is best served by practical issues that demand practical solutions. Anything the left can turn into an emotional issue is a sure win for them. After almost four years we still marvel at Obama’s arrogance as he melds denial, avoidance and downright lying without a whimper from the media and his other sycophants. it was said of Richard Nixon that he could talk out of both sides of his mouth at the same time. Obama can look you straight in the eye and lie with a smile or a straight face; whichever you prefer.

    I agree that our culture and social fabrics are being shredded but we must have the power to appoint judges and fix the messes created by this commie but we will lose this war if we engage in battles that we cannot win in the court of public opinion populated by an ignorant and pliable electorate.

    Like

    • Fallon's avatar
      Fallon permalink
      August 22, 2012 1:27 am

      Why cede any ground to the Left? Emotions are powerful followers, not leaders. We should be seizing the teachable moments at every opportunity, including the “emotional” ones.

      Why are they “emotional”?

      What responsibility does the baby have in conception?

      NONE!

      So, why do we accept the death of innocent children?

      All of the arguments which SALVE the guilt imbued by that self-evident TRUTH upon the practitioners and enablers….

      …. ALL of those arguments are TIME-WORN! ….

      Within the time span of this Republic, we Americans fought to end slavery after SCOTUS perverted and abandoned their judicial duties, then we fought against the National Socialists Party more to save the world than to rescue the Juden “dogs”, and finally, the Eastern Bloc broke apart when Reagan, Thatcher, and the Pope spun them so hard that they couldn’t maintain control.

      Then we abandoned Tienanmen Square. And Lebanon. And Iraq. And most of Northern Africa. And Syria. And Georgia. And Afghanistan.

      And the seas…China will force payments to traverse the South China Sea… 60% of world commerce flows thru there; but, fielding a big stick is SSSSSSOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO emotional, ya know?

      And we’re inflaming Latin America; but who cares? Nobody in the media worries about atrocities our tax dollars sponsor south of the border, down Mexico way. We certainly can’t be bothered to get our panties wadded up enough to demand convictions and imprisonment for those at the senior and affective levels, and we’ll be so relieved when Mitt moves in that we’ll just let bygones be bygones, won’t we? After all, old chaps, wouldn’t want to cause a scene, would we?

      If we weren’t so emotional about who tops American Idols, perhaps we’d be worthy of our heritage; but, no. We’ve let that go in favor of amusement. Thinking is so emotional, ya know?

      But not before we claimed 70million babies weren’t human, and that’s the taboo we aren’t supposed to mention?!!?

      Ross Perot noticed that if a man would cheat on his wife, then he’d cheat at or on anything and anyone.

      What do you suppose he’d do after he accepted the utility of abortion and infanticide, as our Dear Leader, and all of his cohorts have done?

      We are not in a no-win position unless we find the atrocities listed above to be acceptable in OUR POLITE society.

      If you oppose slavery, … … … fine. DON’T HAVE ONE!

      Oh, and you can buy them in Mexico, and the mid-east again.

      And if you have a taste for the macabre, the Brotherhood was crucifying and torturing Christians and other dissenters across from Morsi’s digs late last week; but, really, if you’re so prudish as to be upset by such as that, just forget that I said anything about it. I wouldn’t want you to think poorly of me, ya know?

      Just one more thing-

      Why do we accept the deaths of innocent children?

      Did that have anything to do with being embarrassed by the Left when they convinced us to be ashamed of those who spoke up?

      Like

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