The Akins spectacle serves to remind women everywhere about the GOP War on Women — the one they claim isn’t happening — and further opens the curtain on the undercurrent of lies and misinformation designed to create the fear and loathing that only serves this far right wing’s destructive tendencies. Most of the GOP — including Rmoney — is backing away from Akins in the most public way possible. The NRSC is pulling it’s promised support as is Karl Rove’s secretive PAC. They’ve got Artur Davis out warning the GOP that if Akins stays in, President Obama will win Missouri. Akins is staying in the limelight with his I’m Not Quitting campaign and his I’m Sorry campaign. Most folks are spending today trying to guess whether or not Akins will leave the race, but take a look at the groups supporting this guy. The Family Research Council, Missouri (so-called) Right-to-Life and the Susan B. Anthony group, along with even more reminders that Akins and Paul Ryan were at the frontline to try to redefine rape.
Right now, it looks like Akins is staying. A decision worthy of Christine O’Donnell, I’m thinking. But the New Yorker wants Republicans who are abandoning this guy to answer some questions first:
1. You’ve said that Congressman Akin’s remarks offended you. Can you explain, in your own words, what about them offended you? Was it just that he was wrong about how conception works, or do you see more problems in his statement? Please be specific; vague references to “empathy” don’t count.2. Congressman Akin used the phrase “legitimate rape.” If you haven’t addressed that in question No. 1, can you do so now? Is it a phrase that you would use, or countenance, or one that you would object to? Also, Akin co-sponsored legislation changing a statutory reference to “rape” to “forcible rape.” Is that a bill you voted for, or would?
There are more questions at the New Yorker link and the problem with these questions is that they are intended to elicit some thoughtfulness on the issue of rape and abortion from candidates that — Akins is your model here — GOP candidates just aren’t comfortable with.
And in the middle of all of this, the GOP announces that their draft platform calls for a constitutional amendment to ban abortion.
President Obama observes that this incident should remind people why politicians — mostly men — should not be making healthcare decisions on behalf of women.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2Yx5gK1m3k[/youtube]