Quote of the Day – The Clare McCaskill Re-election Bid Just Got Easier Edition – Updated

“First of all, from what I understand from doctors [pregnancy from rape] is really rare.  It it’s a legtimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down.”

Todd Akin, GOP Senate Candidate, Missouri

What a jackass.  While he is correct that pregnancy from rape is rare, about .008%, it isn’t because “your body shuts down”.  Many women in this country use birth control on a regular basis.  

There were three people running for the GOP nomination and this was the best of the lot?  One of the other two had to better than this lunatic.  

Senator McCaskill must be doing cartwheels tonight.  Her re-election bid just got a whole lot easier.

Mr Akin has released the following statement:

“As a member of Congress, I believe that working to protect the most vulnerable in our society is one of my most important responsibilities, and that includes protecting both the unborn and victims of sexual assault. In reviewing my off-the-cuff remarks, it’s clear that I misspoke in this interview and it does not reflect the deep empathy I hold for the thousands of women who are raped and abused every year. Those who perpetrate these crimes are the lowest of the low in our society and their victims will have no stronger advocate in the Senate to help ensure they have the justice they deserve.

“I recognize that abortion, and particularly in the case of rape, is a very emotionally charged issue. But I believe deeply in the protection of all life and I do not believe that harming another innocent victim is the right course of action. I also recognize that there are those who, like my opponent, support abortion and I understand I may not have their support in this election.

“But I also believe that this election is about a wide-range of very important issues, starting with the economy and the type of country we will be leaving our children and grandchildren. We’ve had 42 straight months of unacceptably high unemployment, trillion dollar deficits, and Democratic leaders in Washington who are focused on growing government, instead of jobs. That is my primary focus in this campaign and while there are those who want to distract from that, knowing they cannot defend the Democrats’ failed economic record of the last four years, that will continue to be my focus in the months ahead.”

Will this be enough?  Time will tell.  This race could very well decide the fate of who holds the senate in 13.  It would be a real shame if such a bone headed remark is the reason why Senator Reid stays speaker.

Rape is a very serious issue in our country.  While there is no denying that women have lied about it.  A case in the news a while back about a woman who came forward to say that she made up her rape because she thought she was pregnant resulted in the release of an innocent man being released from prison.  Rape is the most often wrongly reported crime, but it is also the most unreported crime.  It is a very emotional issue.  If you are going to talk about this issue, the least you can do is think before you open your mouth.