Watch Live: Second House Hearing on IRS Scandal

Watch: Rioters in London Clash With Police Over ‘Cleaver’ Terror Attack

Politics

GOP Senate Nominee: Victims of ‘Legitimate Rape’ Rarely Get Pregnant

Aug. 19, 2012 4:15pm Madeleine Morgenstern

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Todd Akin (Mo.), seen here celebrating his win in the Senate primary race Aug. 7, 2012, said in an interview he doesn't support abortion even in cases of rape because victims of "legitimate rape" rarely get pregnant. (AP)

Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.), the Republican nominee for Senate in Missouri, said he doesn’t support abortion even in cases of rape because victims of “legitimate rape” rarely get pregnant.

“First of all, from what I understand from doctors [pregnancy from rape is] really rare,” Akin, who’s running to unseat Sen. Claire McCaskill, told KTVI-TV in an interview posted Sunday. “If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down.”

He continued, “But let’s assume that maybe that didn’t work or something — you know, I think there should be some punishment, but the punishment ought to be on the rapist and not attacking the child.”

A 1996 study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology said approximately 32,000 pregnancies result from rape each year in the United States and that about 5 percent of rape victims are impregnated.

McCaskill tweeted Sunday afternoon that she was outraged by Akin’s comment, posting: “As a woman & former prosecutor who handled 100s of rape cases,I’m stunned by Rep Akin’s comments about victims this AM.”

As a woman & former prosecutor who handled 100s of rape cases,I’m stunned by Rep Akin’s comments about victims this AM bit.ly/NahiHz

— Claire McCaskill (@clairecmc) August 19, 2012

Earlier in the interview, Akin described his position as one to always “optimize life.”

“Sometimes people talk about life of the mother as a situation,” he said. “One of the foundational things America’s built on is the respect for life, and so I would say you optimize life. So for instance, a woman has a tubal preganncy or something. Well technically by my understanding life begins at conception so you’ve technically had conception, but the child doesn’t have a chance and will soon kill the mother. OK so I would say in those kinds of situations you try to optimize life.”

First elected to the U.S. House in 2000, Akin won the Republican nomination for Senate in a three-way race earlier this month.

Watch the full interview below:

(h/t Talking Points Memo)

In CONTROL, Glenn Beck presents a passionate, fact-based case for guns that reveals why gun control isn’t really about controlling guns at all; it’s about controlling us. Find out more HERE.

Back to The Blaze »

Comments (277)

Tri-ox
Posted on August 19, 2012 at 5:57pm
Todd Akin is correct –

‘Rape Pregnancies Are Rare’

http://www.christianliferesources.com/article/rape-pregnancies-are-rare-461

http://www.healingtheculture.com/rapeabortion.php

http://www.abortionno.org/Resources/fastfacts.html

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Tri-ox
  Posted on August 19, 2012 at 6:13pm
  Todd Akin is (PARTIALLY) correct, that is.
  
  Report this comment
- Want our country back
  Posted on August 19, 2012 at 6:25pm
  It won’t matter if he is correct or not, it will be played 24/7 and his message will be lost because of his delivery.
  
  Report this comment
2smart
Posted on August 19, 2012 at 5:50pm
Never underestimate the ability for Republicans to shoot themselves in the foot! It would have been better if he had said “I’m not a Doctor but I play one on TV”. I am a conservative but I would have a hard time supporting this clown. But that’s not saying I support McCaskill either. Again another of those situations where you have to hold your nose and pull the lever or don’t vote in this catagory. I guess Misourians will have to decide who will represent them the best. I would hope that both will be throughly vetted, with emphasis on throughly. Unlike a certain President.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Truth and Justice
Posted on August 19, 2012 at 5:42pm
OMG!!!! This guy is an absolute TOOL!!!

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Talmid of Yeshua
Posted on August 19, 2012 at 5:39pm
The Senator speaks the truth. Look up the statistics instead of just mindlessly bashing the guy.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Verceofreason
  Posted on August 19, 2012 at 5:41pm
  Old wive’s tales do not equal the truth.
  This guy is clearly suffering from dementia.
  
  Report this comment
- Locked
  Posted on August 19, 2012 at 6:16pm
  “The Senator speaks the truth.”
  
  … that a woman’s body can keep her from getting pregnant through sheer will power? What truth are you smoking?
  
  Report this comment
Comeandtakeit
Posted on August 19, 2012 at 5:38pm
It’s the economy, stupid. Economyeconomyeconomyeconomy. Practice it. Shut up about the social issues.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
freeberty
Posted on August 19, 2012 at 5:35pm
This nominee is absolutely right your either for life or not, if he is elected hopefully he will bring a bill to Congress were it will be considered murder by the women for any miscarriage or abortion.

If the miscarriage is considered an Act of God then the government should be able to sue the nearest church where the women lives.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Locked
  Posted on August 19, 2012 at 5:42pm
  “This nominee is absolutely right your either for life or not”
  
  Do you believe in the right to use lethal force in self-defense? If so, you’re qualifying which life has more value…. are you for life or not? Issues are never, ever, completely black and white.
  
  “if he is elected hopefully he will bring a bill to Congress were it will be considered murder by the women for any miscarriage or abortion.”
  
  Such a bill would be unconstitutional. The Supreme Court will need to decide the future of abortion in the US; right now, it’s legal and constitutional.
  
  “If the miscarriage is considered an Act of God then the government should be able to sue the nearest church where the women lives.”
  
  No one can sue God or a church for an “act of God.” Supernatural beings do not fall in the jurisdiction of the US (yes, courts have actually issued rulings saying that).
  
  Report this comment
- Verceofreason
  Posted on August 19, 2012 at 5:42pm
  What is a legitimate rape, Will you define it for me?
  
  Report this comment
- Git-R-Done
  Posted on August 20, 2012 at 12:51am
  Voiceofnoreason – A woman who’s telling the truth about being raped instead of lying about it.
  
  Report this comment
sandlakebob
Posted on August 19, 2012 at 5:33pm
This clown should be taken out and horsewhipped !!

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
cristo52
Posted on August 19, 2012 at 5:30pm
There’s no way he can say he misunderstood the question. He’s a jerk. That’s not science, it’s barroom BS. He should immediately come out and say he was wrong. Flat out wrong. Apologize. Not “if I offended someone, I’m sorry.” Just say, “I was wrong and the comment was wrong.” End of story. P.S. Keep him the hell away from Romney and Ryan.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
kevinj319
Posted on August 19, 2012 at 5:28pm
Everybody knows that if you get pregnant after “rape,” it means you secretly wanted it.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
nobull14
Posted on August 19, 2012 at 5:25pm
This Idiot needs his brain pan scraped ?. Thanks for losing the senate seat moron !!!!!!!

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Penn
Posted on August 19, 2012 at 5:23pm
I agree with the majority on this post who feels this guy must be Biden in a republican suit. however it is even more disheartening to think that the economic survival of this country depends on how politicians view abortion. There are moral views that should have no place in politics. Whether you view abortion as murder or birth control, that is your moral choice. The only legislative political position should address whether the taxpayer should be required to subsize the cost. Pregnency by rape is a crime against the woman, the unborn child and the accepted morals of most society.
But it is the woman who must bare the emotional pain and , as such, she only, must have the freedom to decide.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
termyt
Posted on August 19, 2012 at 5:23pm
Dear wannabe senator Akin,
Please stop trying to help us with ending abortion. You are not doing it right.

Try this: If it is wrong to kill innocent life, then we can’t kill them even if the father is a rapist, similar to other unborn children with undesirable traits used as an excuse such as down syndrome or, apparently to many, being female.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Walkabout
Posted on August 19, 2012 at 5:16pm
From a Darwinian point of view that is a big payoff. That is everything. You almost have to abort in case of rape to deny a rapist in payoff. I do support abortion in cases of rape. I wouldn’t support late term abortion for cases of rape

“A 1996 study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology said approximately 32,000 pregnancies result from rape each year in the United States and that about 5 percent of rape victims are impregnated.”

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Want our country back
Posted on August 19, 2012 at 5:16pm
Sarah Palin supported Steelman and not this dope that just shot himself in the foot. I wonder if we can use the Joe Biden excuse, it’s just ‘ole Todd hahaha…..

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Git-R-Done
  Posted on August 20, 2012 at 12:53am
  Looks like Sarah Palin turned out to be right.
  
  Report this comment
Stljarhead
Posted on August 19, 2012 at 5:12pm
I read about this 45 minutes ago and have already called the state Republican committee telling them this idiot has to go. I know a few other Missouri Republicans who are calling the state party and/or hitting them up on Facebook to tell them to ditch this guy. And no, I did NOT vote for him in the primary.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- slr4528
  Posted on August 19, 2012 at 6:41pm
  I completely agree with you. I am a conservative woman and this man is a repulsive pig. The GOP needs to with hold all funds and if this loser won’t drop out and if he can’t be forced out the GOP needs to endorse a 3rd party candidate. Thi guy will for sure lose to MCCaskill…………unflipping believable. Reince Prevus needs to get involved and say in no uncertain terms that this senile old man does not represent the GOP views and he should step down. The GOP should take back their endorsement and with hold all funds. The GOP needs to show that they will not tolerate senile old me like Joe Biden.
  
  Report this comment
- slr4528
  Posted on August 19, 2012 at 6:48pm
  Again…by swiftly rejecting this senile old man,it would draw a clear distinction between the GOP and the Demoncrts and that is that the GOP will not accept bizarre rhetoric from dimwits.
  
  Report this comment
David
Posted on August 19, 2012 at 5:11pm
I have chiefly one major issue with this guy, and that’s where he gets info about the women being raped “shutting down” conception thing. Besides using the word “legitimate” together with word “rape,” which, of course, looks disgusting (especially when it’s included in quotes in the headline), I’m also assuming the issue most of you have is with this “shutting down” idea.

But to first address the “legitimate rape” quote, I believe it’s a bit of a cheap shot in that was he really attempting to suggest that any form of rape was not “legitimate,” or to be taken lightly? Or could his point be in distinguishing how the legal system can define “rape” in certain situations, such as the distinction between a couple with an ongoing relationship benevolent but sometime during the sexual encounter one of them decides they no longer wish to participate. It doesn’t mean if the other partner does not concede he (or she) is not in the wrong, or shouldn’t be punished. But this particular person wants to not classify this as a ‘”legitimate rape” possibly because of the huge difference between a complete stranger attacking a victim violently and so forth. Again, it doesn’t make any of these activities right; it only draws a distinction.

Next, I agree that if there is no proof of a woman’s body “shutting down” physical as to prevent conception when being violently raped (or at least the chances decreasing significantly), it’s a foolish statement. So, my

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- David
  Posted on August 19, 2012 at 5:20pm
  So, my initial question is simply, “Where’s the evidence” without “knee-jerk” calling names ans so forth. it seems that people quickly just assume that he’s wrong. I mean, I assume that he’s wrong as well. But what I’m saying is everyone assumes that he has no chance of being correct. that’s what is most shocking to me. My initial question is simply “Show me the evidence?’ Granted, if he just made this up out of thin air it is shameful. But why does everyone naturally assume he did? I don’t even know the guy. granted, I’m not a woman. And by the way, it was the first thing i thought of, not that even being a woman would be helpful in this situation, for, of course, you’d have to be a woman who’s experience a violent kind of rape experience as he suggested. And even after this i wasn’t even sure, as said, where he got his information! So, would a woman in that situation even realize the event as he describes it, her body shutting down?
  
  One reason what he says actually makes some sense to me is that not only have I heard, but it also makes plain sense that a woman does shut down EMOTIONALLY in such a case. And a lot what he suggests is possible. I just don’t know his source. I’m not sure why everyone’s hating on the guy. Yes, anyone is morally wrong to simply make facts up. We have a president who does this on a constant basis. He doesn’t seem to get as much hate as this guy does, though. I’m not supporting what he said. I just wonde
  
  Report this comment
TJexcite
Posted on August 19, 2012 at 5:05pm
Nothing better than a self-inflected wound but when the party that has members who do not want their daughter pushed with a baby, give you a the gun you need not worry, it will only be a flesh wound in the grand sceme.

Unless people put up the Romney/Ryan lawn signs right beside the McCaskill sign.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
bdandsl
Posted on August 19, 2012 at 5:01pm
Can we say moron?

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
rogerinsport
Posted on August 19, 2012 at 5:00pm
Way to go Missouri. Proving again the old saying. “I’m from Missouri, you’ll have to show me” What a dumb*** statement. Are we sure his name isn’t “Joe”?

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Wango
Posted on August 19, 2012 at 4:58pm
Why is it that conservative men are so desperately repressed about sex and ignorant about women? legitimate rape and bodies that shut down when it’s not a godly seed and ******* probes and personhood bills that prove they don’t know how contraception works. It’s endless.

Run for your lives, conservative women. You’re with a bunch of third-rate ditch diggers.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Verceofreason
  Posted on August 19, 2012 at 5:44pm
  Limbaugh thinks a woman takes a pill every time she want to have sex.
  
  Report this comment
- Git-R-Done
  Posted on August 20, 2012 at 12:54am
  Wango – Why are you sick perverted Marxists so obsessed about sex and trying to pressure everybody else into having sex?
  
  Report this comment
- Wango
  Posted on August 20, 2012 at 9:56am
  GIT R DUM . . . I don’t care if consenting adults have sex or not. But conservatives, well . . .
  
  Report this comment
marydee
Posted on August 19, 2012 at 4:57pm
Sorry I myself feel the child is not to blame, and the rapist is the one who should be punished.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- normalmom
  Posted on August 19, 2012 at 5:42pm
  There are thousands of couples who want and can’t have kids. Give the innocent child up for adoption.
  
  Report this comment
- Verceofreason
  Posted on August 19, 2012 at 5:56pm
  No women should HAVE to bear the child of an assault.
  The WOMAN’S rights trump all.
  Now and forever.
  
  Report this comment
- Git-R-Done
  Posted on August 20, 2012 at 12:55am
  Voiceofnoreason – You only support abortion so that you don’t have to be responsible for raising a child and actually grow up in life.
  
  Report this comment
TRONINTHEMORNING
Posted on August 19, 2012 at 4:51pm
Good grief; what a dunce. As someone said on this thread; why don’t these people get vetted better??

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
mocon
Posted on August 19, 2012 at 4:50pm
Ouch! Man he could’ve phrased that differently!

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Wango
  Posted on August 19, 2012 at 4:59pm
  No, he could have understood differently. Believed differently. Acted differently.
  
  Report this comment
- Doug Piranha
  Posted on August 19, 2012 at 6:16pm
  Yes. He should have just referred to forcible rape they way Whoopi Goldberg did. “Rape rape.”
  
  /sarc off
  
  Report this comment
Disgusted_in_CT
Posted on August 19, 2012 at 4:48pm
Wow, what a smuck.
I don’t like the democrat party, I am independant and pretty much subscribe to most of the views of the Republican party except for this.
I don’t like abortion but it is a persons choice and in the case of rape it is the womans choice.
Less government intrusion into our lives, this is one example of it.
On the flip side, woman shouldn’t get abortions because they made a mistake and didn’t protect themselves from pregancy either by using birth control or making the man use a rubber.
You screw up then you live with it.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Locked
  Posted on August 19, 2012 at 5:48pm
  “You screw up then you live with it.”
  
  I’m sure that such a screw-up would make a fantastic person. Motherhood is not a punishment.
  
  Report this comment
- Git-R-Done
  Posted on August 20, 2012 at 12:52am
  Locked – If she doesn’t want to be a mother, then she shouldn’t put herself in the position to become one in the first place. Either don’t have sex or use the pill or get your tubes tied.
  
  Report this comment
- Locked
  Posted on August 20, 2012 at 10:21am
  @Git
  
  “If she doesn’t want to be a mother, then she shouldn’t put herself in the position to become one in the first place.”
  
  You thus believe that all men unwilling or unable to pay child support should get vasectomies, then? And then… presumably rape is fine in your eyes?
  
  Report this comment
JohnLarson
Posted on August 19, 2012 at 4:46pm
What is illegitimate rape?

Is that when the women doesn’t cry out? Like the kind of rape that is okay in the Bible?

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- 68Patriot
  Posted on August 19, 2012 at 5:47pm
  What the F are you talking about? Please provide context to that off the rails statement Johnny.
  
  Report this comment

It appears that you have Javascript Disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser preferences for a better user experience on TheBlaze. You can not comment without Javascript enabled.