Health

Why Does Todd Akin Think Rape Victims Don’t Get Pregnant? A Look at the History of the Theory

Rep. Todd Akin has been slammed from all corners of the blogosphere and media for his comments alleging that pregnancy rarely results from “legitimate rape.” While it’s not clear what Akin meant by “legitimate rape,” one element of the statement that has been repeatedly debunked by multiple media sources is the latter part of Akin’s statement, in which he argues that the female body can “shut down” a pregnancy before it occurs after a rape. Needless to say, no such physical mechanism exists.

It is precisely this scientifically illiterate portion of the statement that has many people wondering, “What was Akin thinking?” And especially given that he apparently plans to stay in the race, that’s a question even more worth asking going forward.

Sarah Kliff at the Washington Post has put together an exhaustive chronology of the “womens’ bodies can stop pregnancy after rape” argument, which she demonstrates was a talking point in use as far back as the 80′s. Ironically enough, it was mocked and derided even then, to the point where the individual who made the argument – a State Representative named Stephen Freind – had to recant. Sound familiar?

However, the argument didn’t die. From Kliff’s article:

The argument was dormant for about a decade, until the late 1990s. That’s when a North Carolina legislator, whom Garance Franke-Ruta points to, extended the argument to question whether there should actually be a rape exception from abortion restrictions, given that ”The facts show that people who are raped – truly raped – the juices don’t flow.”

Arkansas politician Fay Boozman followed up during during his 1998 Senate campaign by arguing that “fear-induced hormonal changes could block a rape victim’s ability to conceive.” Those remarks lead to a backlash when then-Gov. Mike Huckabee tapped Boozman to run the state’s health department.

The fact that former Governor Huckabee has been so willing to accept this argument in the past may explain why he’s defended Akin. Perhaps the most glaring example of this type of argument, though, came from John C. Wilke, the former President of National Right to Life, who wrote both a full-length article arguing this, and devoted a full chapter in his book “Why Can’t We Love Them Both” to the topic. And just like Akin, Wilke’s argument also included an attempt to distinguish between different kinds of rape. From his first article:

First, let’s define the term “rape.” When pro-lifers speak of rape pregnancies, we should commonly use the phrase “forcible rape” or “assault rape,” for that specifies what we’re talking about. Rape can also be statutory. Depending upon your state law, statutory rape can be consensual, but we’re not addressing that here.

A relatively new category is “date rape.” For some reason this is supposed to be different, but, forcible rape is rape, regardless of whether it occurs on a date or behind the bushes. If a college woman is raped on a date, she should undergo a medical examination and treatment, just as she would in the aftermath of an assault rape. It is not a separate category.[...]

How many forcible rapes result in a pregnancy? The numbers claimed have ranged the entire spectrum of possibilities. Some feminists have claimed as high as 5 to 10 percent, which is absurd. One problem has been the lack of available studies and accurate statistics. Often women do not admit to having been raped. On the other hand, it has been known that women, pregnant from consensual intercourse, have later claimed rape. Is it possible to know the actual facts?[...]

There are approximately 100,000,000 females old enough to be at risk for rape in the United States. If we calculate on the basis of 100,000 rapes, that means that one woman in 1,000 is raped each year. If we calculate on the basis of 200,000 rapes, that means that one woman in 500 is raped each year.

Now for the important question. How many rape pregnancies are there? The answer is that, according to statistical reporting, there are no more than one or two pregnancies resultant from every 1,000 forcible rapes.

And from his book’s chapter:

In a healthy, peaceful marriage, the miscarriage rate ranges up to about 15%. In this case, we have incredible emotional trauma. Her body is upset. Even if she conceives, the miscarriage rate is higher than in a more normal pregnancy. If she loses 20% of 600, there are 450 left. Finally, we must factor in one of the most important reasons why a rape victim rarely gets pregnant, and that is psychic trauma. Every woman is aware that stress and emotional factors can alter her menstrual cycle. To get pregnant and stay pregnant, a woman’s body must produce a very sophisticated mix of hormones. Hormone production is controlled by a part of the brain which is easily influenced by emotions. There’s no greater emotional trauma that can be experienced by a woman than an assault rape. This can radically upset her possibility of ovulation, fertilization, implantation and even nurturing of a pregnancy. So what further percentage reduction in pregnancy will this cause? No one really knows, but this factor certainly cuts the last figure by at least 50%, and probably more, leaving a final figure of 225 women pregnant each year, a number that closely matches the 200 found in clinical studies.

This is a clever way to absolve oneself of the problem involved with rape pregnancies by claiming they’re rare. The trouble is, Wilke‘s article didn’t rely on any actual, scientifically measured numbers. He was calculating his estimates via the equivalent of doing math on the back of a cocktail napkin, and using some highly dubious assumptions besides.

Actual studies, on the other hand, show that the rate of pregnancy among women who have been raped is just over 6 percent. In fact, one study showed that rape victims were actually twice as likely to get pregnant as women who had had consensual sex, as one-night stands only yielded a pregnancy rate of 3 percent. This suggests that, far from being the statistical rounding error that Wilke and Akin believe it is, pregnancy by virtue of rape is a serious statistical problem, and one that cannot be brushed off as rare.

Nevertheless, Akin’s willingness to accept – uncritically – an unverified argument based largely on amateur math and wishful thinking demonstrates aptly Rush Limbaugh’s point about him: That remaining ensconced in a like-minded enclave of people, of whatever persuasion, will make you believe false and, in some cases, laughable things.

Comments (211)

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  • Mr_Ditters
    Posted on August 21, 2012 at 6:13pm

    “Actual studies, on the other hand, show that the rate of pregnancy among women who have been raped is just over 6 percent. In fact, one study showed that rape victims were actually twice as likely to get pregnant as women who had had consensual sex, as one-night stands only yielded a pregnancy rate of 3 percent.”

    Among the 3% who got pregnant from consensual sex, how many were using contraception? That number is not helpful at all in comparing rape to consensual sex in determining if rape reduces the likelihood of pregnancy.

    Report Post »  
    • Chet Hempstead
      Posted on August 21, 2012 at 6:44pm

      We don’t know if the statistics included people who used contraception while having consensual sex, but we also don’t know if they included rapes in which the rapist used contraception, as many of them do since the invention of DNA testing. Without this information the value of any comparison is dubious. However, a 6% pregnancy rate is clearly sufficient evidence to refute the nonsense that Mr. Akin was spouting.

      Report Post »  
    • watersRpeople
      Posted on August 21, 2012 at 6:58pm

      I know something you don’t know. That if there was liberty everywhere in the earth rapes would not even be an issue.

      Report Post »  
    • theninthplanet
      Posted on August 21, 2012 at 7:01pm

      http://articles.cnn.com/2010-05-25/health/9.11.miscarriage.bereavement_1_fetuses-miscarriages-stress?_s=PM:HEALTH
      2 years ago the headline was: “Distress of 9/11 may have led to miscarriages, research says”

      And now it’s absurd to think that the stress of rape makes carrying a pregnancy to term less likely?

      Mytheos Holt, I don’t need The Blaze to repeat the common tripe reported by the drive by media.

      Report Post » theninthplanet  
    • PATTY HENRY
      Posted on August 21, 2012 at 7:13pm

      WATERSPEOPLE: ????? Wanna “splain that ? IF there was liberty every where on earth there would be no Rape?

      IN Akin’s defense I heard an RN on TV today (or radio) that said that’s what she was taught in school a number of years ago, that women in trauma “shut down”…so I‘m not saying Akin never heard that from Dr’s…I just question is judgement in saying so. I think any politician that voluntarily makes comments on women like this are nuts. (or men or kids) We have FRAUD to stop; Duplication to stop; Communism and Marxism to stop; Muslim Sharia Law to toss out of America; Military to rebuild; Soldiers to take care of; school systems to fix; Government employee’s Unions to cease.
      I do hope he beats McCaskill…I hope it comes out all over that SHE contributed to HIS campaign…that’s rather dirty. She’s rather dirty. Reps who go skinny dipping in the Sea of Galilee and/or have sex with 17 year old boys in rest stops…they need to go. Akin did nothing immoral, he just misspoke invalid information.

      Report Post » PATTY HENRY  
    • watersRpeople
      Posted on August 21, 2012 at 7:15pm

      As a matter of fact if there was liberty everywhere in the earth there would be many, many, many things that wouldn’t happen, and many things not needed or required to survive – an indoctrination education among the list.

      Report Post »  
    • Mr_Ditters
      Posted on August 21, 2012 at 7:16pm

      The linked (BBC) article says that the reason the number may be 6% is because ovulating women are more attractive.

      Hmm. Now I’m skeptical of that study. Also, within the same article:

      “Ged Bailes, head of forensic clinical psychology at the Norvic Clinic in Norwich, told BBC News Online, it was very difficult to draw any firm conclusions from a one-off study.”

      Like I said, this Blaze article has problems. They are usually well done, but this one while having some good parts is off in other parts.

      Report Post »  
    • Al Gator
      Posted on August 21, 2012 at 7:20pm

      Hey Yo Chet,

      The NONSENSE that Akin was “spouting” was once taught as gospel in hospitals in the ’70s. Bad science, sure, but with your standards, global worming morons should all be rounded up.

      Report Post » Al Gator  
    • watersRpeople
      Posted on August 21, 2012 at 7:23pm

      PATTY HENRY,
      Let me just say if there was liberty everywhere eventually “The waters” under the earth would become less and less.

      Report Post »  
    • pissantno.10
      Posted on August 21, 2012 at 7:27pm

      ya you grove on it water boy all women your sex slaves. if it was your kinda world wacky wacky

      Report Post »  
    • RevDev
      Posted on August 21, 2012 at 7:44pm

      I know something you don’t know. That if there was liberty from intrusive Government and Religious Organizations everywhere in America abortion would not even be an issue.

      Report Post »  
    • pissantno.10
      Posted on August 21, 2012 at 7:56pm

      rev. ya man because we all would be stoners like you groving on the best dope around , cool dude

      Report Post »  
    • TrenchPress
      Posted on August 21, 2012 at 8:49pm

      Yes real rape getting raped for real, fake rape saying you were raped when it was consequential.

      1999 Journal of Medicine backs Todd Akin’s claim that Rape Pregnancies Are Rare?
      http://trenchpress.com/?p=17517

      “In an average population, the miscarriage rate is about 15 percent. In this case we have incredible emotional trauma. Her body is upset. Even if she conceives, the miscarriage rate will be higher than in a more normal pregnancy. If 20 percent of raped women miscarry, the figure drops to 450 (or 740).”"

      “”Finally, factor in what is certainly one of the most important reasons why a rape victim rarely gets pregnant, and that’s physical trauma. Every woman is aware that stress and emotional factors can alter her menstrual cycle. To get and stay pregnant a woman’s body must produce a very sophisticated mix of hormones.”"

      “Akin suggested that the emotional trauma of a rape creates some sort of natural birth control reflex in a woman’s body. He does not say pregnancies never occur, but in fairness he does not acknowledge that fact either.”"

      Report Post »  
    • jungle J
      Posted on August 21, 2012 at 9:19pm

      watersRpeople……define liberty.

      Report Post »  
    • mtcountrygrl
      Posted on August 21, 2012 at 9:21pm

      I actually think I know what he was trying to say…

      Women can only get pregnant within roughly 6 days of ovulation (before and after). If a woman has not ovulated and is subjected to a tramatic situation her body will often delay ovulation. This is a fact, but it is not an absolute fact, as everyone and their bodies handle stress differently. Lots of people chart their cycles and prevent pregnancy that way (totally works), but you have to do more than chart, you have to take your temperature as well (it changes when you ovulate) because it is common for women to delay ovulation under stress.

      As far as the “legitimate” comment, I think he was trying to say that people would cry rape in order to get an abortion, if abortion was illegal in all cases except rape.

      It was a bad comment either way though, and I think he needs to step down.

      Report Post »  
    • lukerw
      Posted on August 21, 2012 at 9:32pm

      I read: Women under Stress, or in Trauma, tend to pass Fertilized Eggs through their System… alike a Natural Abortion!

      Report Post » lukerw  
    • eramthgin
      Posted on August 21, 2012 at 9:45pm

      lots of this and thats and %. Name the study and the investigators and the methodology.

      Report Post » eramthgin  
    • Valezka.Vidra
      Posted on August 21, 2012 at 10:14pm

      Chet Hempstead:

      How do you know rapists use protection? I’ve had the terrible misfortune of being raped twice; neither of which assailant used protection.

      Report Post » Valezka.Vidra  
    • jzs
      Posted on August 21, 2012 at 11:13pm

      PATTY HENRY says, on this topic, “Communism and Marxism to stop; Muslim Sharia Law to toss out of America; …” Patty, seriously, are you ADHD or OCD? Are you trying to break the record for being as off-topic as humanly possible? Is this also related to the caliphate and the unanswered questions about Area 51?

      While Patty is coming out of her trance, let me give you a couple of facts. “No” means no and rape is rape. This Republican idea delineating different forms of rape, which are legitimate and which are illegitimate, is obnoxious and offensive to anyone I’d hope, but especially women. This crap about whether rape victims are more or less likely to get pregnant is just stupid (ask an OBGYN, not an old white guy) and irrelevant.

      “No” means no. Rape is rape. This is just old white guys telling women they can’t have abortions even if they are raped – because, you know, if it were REALLY raped, the woman wouldn’t become pregnant.

      For all you women out there, and I imagine there are actually none, imagine that you were raped and the GOVERNMENT told you you had to have that child or be prosecuted for murder. Pawlenty said “make the best of it” and bear your rapist’s baby.

      I guess that’s where the old clothes hanger solution would come back into fashion.

      Report Post » jzs  
    • Locked
      Posted on August 22, 2012 at 5:50am

      “How do you know rapists use protection?”

      Read again. He said rape victims use protection, such as the pill.

      Sorry for your tragedies.

      Report Post »  
    • filiusdracul
      Posted on August 22, 2012 at 8:42am

      …and, how many rape victims only report the crime because they got pregnant. I think the actual number is lower than 6%.

      Report Post »  
    • Locked
      Posted on August 22, 2012 at 10:18am

      “I think the actual number is lower than 6%.”

      Anecdotes always trump actual facts, right?

      Report Post »  
    • davuf
      Posted on August 22, 2012 at 6:08pm

      Akin’s argument sounds like psycho babble, but I can’t say the pros on the other side make much more sense.

      Keep in mind the vast majority of rapes are unreported. The 6% number could be due to women being forced to report the matter due to the pregnancy. Again without the full information (sample size) it is impossible to come to an accurate conclusion.

      Report Post »  
    • davuf
      Posted on August 22, 2012 at 6:20pm

      Well JSZ I guess we get back to the heart of the issue, don’t we? One horrible crime doesn’t deserve another. The whole pro-life arguement is that abortion is murder. We don‘t let the family members of murder victims kill the murder’s family. We are not held responsible for the crimes of our parents so why should a child be murdered for the crime of it’s father.

      Report Post »  
    • PRRedlin
      Posted on August 23, 2012 at 12:35pm

      Do the math. Women are fertile 2 days out of 30 (when ovulation occurs). 2/30 is… (drumroll please) 6.66%.

      Any idiot can figure this out.

      Report Post »  
  • jimbob50
    Posted on August 21, 2012 at 6:13pm

    If you read it on the internet it must be true…It’s by a Doctor for Christ sakes…What about the Democratic Congressman having sex with a 17 year old boy behind the restarea bathrooms. In full view of little children? Bet you don’t know his name because it does not end with a (R)…

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

    Report Post »  
    • lukerw
      Posted on August 21, 2012 at 10:09pm

      This Story is Faux… AKIN never said: No Rape Victim ever becomes Pregnant!

      Report Post » lukerw  
  • Eric_The_Red_State
    Posted on August 21, 2012 at 6:12pm

    If the rape is the rapist then babies born legitimate born the babies rape born.
    Raping the abortion the Akin the rape is was in the woman and babies of rape less again.
    If what the rape would be against the rape and babies the beginning over behind and done!
    But the willing over not begin the end of the baby the back of the floor is ending over there.
    Akin is the down and why did the what they said the said is saying and said!
    Furthermore senate during the defend on last word of the day!

    Right?
    I thought so.

    Report Post » Eric_The_Red_State  
    • encinom
      Posted on August 21, 2012 at 6:23pm

      put down the moonshine.

      Report Post »  
    • VoteRightDammit
      Posted on August 21, 2012 at 6:28pm

      Drugs?

      THIS early?

      Report Post » VoteRightDammit  
    • DetritusScreener
      Posted on August 21, 2012 at 6:47pm

      WOW! Good point. I never really thought of it that way.

      Report Post » DetritusScreener  
    • Chet Hempstead
      Posted on August 21, 2012 at 6:48pm

      A legitimate rape is a raped that actually occurred, as opposed to the theoretical fake rapes that he imagines women might start inventing if he were ever to succeed in banning abortions for women who weren’t raped.

      Report Post »  
    • Stelex
      Posted on August 21, 2012 at 7:10pm

      My God, I just agreed with Encinom. It is truly the aramagon. Inside joke.

      Report Post » Stelex  
    • progressiveslayer
      Posted on August 21, 2012 at 7:18pm

      Father time caught up to you

      Report Post » progressiveslayer  
    • v15
      Posted on August 21, 2012 at 7:24pm

      Eric, that was a 100% incoherent rant. I don’t think you even know what you said.

      Report Post » v15  
    • pissantno.10
      Posted on August 21, 2012 at 7:32pm

      ok , naw i cant drink that much booze just yet

      Report Post »  
  • bigdaddybernie
    Posted on August 21, 2012 at 6:11pm

    A few years ago some “ FEMINIST ” said “ ANY ” sexual contact between men and women , “even although consensual” constitutes RAPE ! . . . . Apparently women can’t make these decisions by themselves . . . . . only CERTIFIED feminists can !

    Report Post »  
    • Chet Hempstead
      Posted on August 21, 2012 at 6:58pm

      You’re thinking of Andrea Dworkin. She was a radical who said a lot of crazy things that even other radical feminists reject, but she never said that. Her critics claimed that some of her complex arguments could be summarized that way, but she always vehemently rejected any such interpretation.

      Report Post »  
  • soybomb315_II
    Posted on August 21, 2012 at 6:09pm

    it does bring up an interesting question regarding why republicans think abortion is OK in the case of rape but not in the case of consenual adults. If abortion is wrong because of the human in the womb – then it shouldnt matter HOW the baby got there….

    Report Post » soybomb315_II  
    • Eric_The_Red_State
      Posted on August 21, 2012 at 6:14pm

      EXACTLY — people who are PRO LIFE (Like me) are FOR the unborn.
      REGARDLESS of how they were conceived.

      It would be horrible to HAVE to have a baby that you didn’t want — but it’s NOT the babies fault.

      THAT is what AKIN was trying to say.

      Report Post » Eric_The_Red_State  
    • hjbones
      Posted on August 21, 2012 at 6:19pm

      I don’t think it matters how the baby got there. Although, I’m not a true republican either… If you have a baby that you can‘t handle or don’t want, then adopt it out. It‘s not the baby’s fault, and it shouldn’t be punished for it.

      Report Post » hjbones  
    • Eric_The_Red_State
      Posted on August 21, 2012 at 7:08pm

      eggs zackly

      Report Post » Eric_The_Red_State  
    • Fred-Dayton
      Posted on August 21, 2012 at 8:53pm

      I have always (decades) chosen a definition of the start of life that I think is more sensible. Consider that human life begins when a fertilized egg attaches to the uterus and the process of nurturing that “collection of cells” begins to develop a baby. Is any method of preventing that implantation an abortion? In my mind no. Doesn’t the IUD prevent the development in the womb – is using an IUD abortion? In forcible (much better word than “legitimate”) rape – immediate action to prevent pregnancy (implantation) is not abortion in my opinion. Just something to think about.

      Report Post » Fred-Dayton  
    • ModerationIsBest
      Posted on August 21, 2012 at 9:22pm

      It‘s also not the woman’s fault she got raped.

      You people are sickening.

      Report Post »  
    • PatrickW
      Posted on August 22, 2012 at 3:48pm

      Aren’t miscarriages abortions? How often are they the fetuses fault?

      Report Post »  
  • saranda
    Posted on August 21, 2012 at 6:08pm

    I tire of all the declared “war on……….”. Whatever thing some idiot said. The guy is too stupid to represent even Missouri and needs to go back to congress cosponsoring bills with Ryan.

    Report Post »  
    • VoteRightDammit
      Posted on August 21, 2012 at 6:29pm

      ” … too stupid to represent even Missouri … ”

      Got that BIGOT thing going in high gear, I see.

      What a wonderful example of ‘human’ YOU are!

      Report Post » VoteRightDammit  
    • pissantno.10
      Posted on August 21, 2012 at 7:38pm

      ya but as liberal commie skunk you are so right

      Report Post »  
  • MrButcher
    Posted on August 21, 2012 at 6:07pm

    With multiple existential problems facing the very existence of the United States all we can talk about is legitimate vs illegitimate rape and this comb-over asshat who does understand basic female biology.

    We are so screwed.

    This is what a dying republic looks like in case you’re wondering.

    Akin needs to not only step down he needs to be exiled!

    Report Post » MrButcher  
    • pissantno.10
      Posted on August 21, 2012 at 7:49pm

      ya you a good liberal and i can see he done hurt yo feelings well we just gona have to kick dat man why would he do dat to a super genuis likes you

      Report Post »  
    • Bruce P.
      Posted on August 23, 2012 at 1:43am

      Mr Butcher…if the Republic is in trouble, this is the very conversation we need. If the Republic is in trouble, we certainly don’t want an anti-science idiot having a hand in running things.

      Report Post » Bruce P.  
  • pahrumper
    Posted on August 21, 2012 at 6:06pm

    After nearly 4 years with Obama, I trust no one. What makes anyone sure that the guy is not actually a Dumicrat plant, or a paid republican turn coat, to draw votes away form the real Repubs, and hand the election to Mc castel (?) who is very vulnerable since she voted for Obama care???? Don‘t trust anything on it’s face value!!

    Report Post »  
  • elosogrande
    Posted on August 21, 2012 at 6:04pm

    The Congressman shouldn’t drop out because he used the term “legitiment rape”.

    The reason Akin should drop out is because he is so stupid that he believed this myth. He has shown himself to be a complete idiot. He should not be a member of The U.S. Senate. There are enough dolts in there right now. We certainly don’t need another one.

    The Republicans that want to keep Akin in the race should be considered suspect, and looked at closely. Maybe they should go too.

    Report Post »  
  • blazingaway
    Posted on August 21, 2012 at 6:03pm

    Atkin‘s put his foot into it and Republicans aren’t going to clean it off.
    Therefore, Atkin’s really should just step aside and not, try to go where he’s not wanted.
    Become an Independent or a Tea Party person and try to redeem yourself to run again later.

    Report Post » blazingaway  
  • willingtoupe
    Posted on August 21, 2012 at 6:01pm

    I think there are many Conservatives that are hypocrites and in denial. Many of them are against abortions, not because it’s immoral and violates the right to life, but because of fiscal issues. If there is a certainty that government will not ever tax for then fund abortion and only leave it up to the market for privately paid out of pocket , these same blowhards could care less. In a well bread and fed American mind state of a true everyday human response to raped victim ending in pregnancy, especially knowing the rapist was black, once it hits home to many Conservatives they themselves would out of pocket violate the childs’ RIGHT to life because of having the WRONG daddy.

    This situation definitely doesn’t involve incestual inbreds either.

    Report Post » willingtoupe  
    • Chutz30
      Posted on August 21, 2012 at 6:07pm

      Anything to back that with or is it just your opinion?

      Report Post »  
    • VoteRightDammit
      Posted on August 21, 2012 at 6:32pm

      Gee, it sure is wonderful to hear your opinion. Got any football tips for us?

      Nice to know, also, you are a bigot and see everything through the perverse, distorted lens of a racist hater.

      Very nice.

      Report Post » VoteRightDammit  
    • LeFaux Jew
      Posted on August 21, 2012 at 6:38pm

      Its cheaper to abort babies from unwanted pregnancies rapes and unwed mothers (as examples), then it is for society to pay for them.
      blackgenocide.org

      Report Post »  
  • Lloyd Drako
    Posted on August 21, 2012 at 6:00pm

    The only logic I can see in what Akin said: if a woman squeezes her legs together tightly enough while being raped, as one might do when resisting forcible penetration of one’s body, some of the bigger sperm might be blocked, somewhat reducing the odds of pregnancy. Otherwise, what was he thinking?
    .

    Report Post » Lloyd Drako  
    • flyoverbob
      Posted on August 21, 2012 at 6:10pm

      I think everyone knew he is prolife,so that is not the problem as I see it.The problem for me is,this makes me think he is just plain stupid.
      Please get out of the race,we must get rid o McCaskel

      Report Post »  
    • RJJinGadsden
      Posted on August 21, 2012 at 6:15pm

      Apparently, incapable of such thought. Like I mentioned in earlier story, he is the candidate because Missouri is an OPEN PRIMARY state, and the Democrats voted for the weakest Republican candidate. McCaskill is the in-c-u-m-bent and there was no reason to vote for her. I just hope they remember this the next time they have a Republican in-c-u-m-bent.

      Report Post » RJJinGadsden  
    • reallyannoyed
      Posted on August 21, 2012 at 6:39pm

      Um, what? Sperm are microscopic. Even the big ones. No amount of leg squeezing can block them. You, Akin, and the asprin-between-the-legs Santorum donor need to go back to 7th grade sex ed class. This kind of stupidity represents abstinence-only education at its finest.

      Report Post »  
    • VoteRightDammit
      Posted on August 21, 2012 at 7:04pm

      That’s REALLY the only thing you can think of?

      Wow.

      I guess you are not familiar with the extreme difficulty many couples have getting pregnant. It’s a rather delicate process often involving a pretty specific set of hormones, in a certain sequence, for fertilization to occur. Far too often couples try and try … without a great deal of success, especially when they are TRYING. Stress does not help out, you see.

      So now we have an extremely violent act committed to the very part of the woman’s body that needs this delicate, specific process to unfold for fertilization to occur. Seems likely this would at least hinder the process ….. not reduce the odds to zero (as Akin said), but certainly decrease them.

      So – seems likely such a violent act WOULD result in fewer pregnancies than would a loving act of intercourse.

      That does NOT seem the case to you? All you can think about is tightening muscles to ward off spermatozoa? REALLY?

      Report Post » VoteRightDammit  
    • Lloyd Drako
      Posted on August 22, 2012 at 8:23am

      Actually, I can think of something else. It sure would be nice if there was a pill a woman could take the morning after unwanted intercourse, that would prevent pregnancy. Oh wait. . . . there is such a pill, but anti-choicers want to ban it.

      Report Post » Lloyd Drako  
  • team1blazer
    Posted on August 21, 2012 at 5:59pm

    I was willing to give Aiken a pass, until I understood that the science that he used to establish his view is pure junk. Kind of like keynsian economics.

    Report Post » team1blazer  
    • Spqr1
      Posted on August 21, 2012 at 6:53pm

      He didn’t use science, that‘s the part you clearly don’t understand.

      Report Post »  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on August 22, 2012 at 8:20am

      It’s not about science, abortion or rape anymore. It’s about winning back the Senate and the White House…and this clown not only isn’t helping, he’s hurting our chances at both.

      Report Post » Gonzo  
  • freedomofspeech
    Posted on August 21, 2012 at 5:58pm

    Wow Blaze can read minds, I was just asking where he got his information, lo and behold shazzam, it here on the Blaze. Thanks Blaze:)

    Report Post »  
  • Mr_Ditters
    Posted on August 21, 2012 at 5:58pm

    Female arousal stimulates the excretion of mucus which aids the movement of sperm in order to promote fertilization. Without arousal as in the case of rape, those mechanisms would be absent. But obviously pregnancy can still occur if she is ovulating.

    So its not entirely false. Just not to the extent or in the manner in which Akin claims.

    Also, it is not false to claim that compared to the 1.2 million abortions out there that the abortions due to rape are relatively low. Most abortions are because people had consensual sex and didn’t want a baby.

    Report Post »  
  • 19random35
    Posted on August 21, 2012 at 5:57pm

    Unfortunately, his desire to ban abortion even in cases of rape is pretty popular amongst Republicans. 32,000 pregnancies occur each year because of rape. Pro-lifers want to force these women to birth and raise a child that gets half its DNA from a violent rapist. Imagine having a boy that looks remarkably like your rapist, and you have to be reminded of your rapist’s face every time you look at him because you were forced to have him. Call me crazy, but I would not want to deal with raising a kid that got half his genes from a violent psychopath. How can the GOP claim to be the party of small government when they want to control a woman’s uterus?

    Report Post »  
    • MODEL82A1
      Posted on August 21, 2012 at 6:09pm

      Wow! Abortion REALLY brings the Lefties out in a froth! Hey, Idiots, if abortion (on demand, or otherwise) is such a popular issue with such a huge majority, why can you not allow it to come up for a referendum on ANY level, especially the State level, where it (along with ALL other non-enumerated powers) belongs?
      Sadly, your reaction to this simple question will be an ad hominem attack. Ready……Go!

      Report Post » MODEL82A1  
    • VoteRightDammit
      Posted on August 21, 2012 at 6:38pm

      Numbnutz on parade.

      1. Birthing and raising are not the same thing. Were you not aware of that? Pro-life people are against baby murder; they (generally) have no interest in forcing a woman to raise a child she does not want. All you need do is abandon your child to the State.

      2. Your numbnutz notion that someone – ANYONE – has an interest in controlling a woman’s uterus — well, you HAVE to be on drugs, cause otherwise your thinking is as muddled and pathetic as is Akins!

      3. LOVE your ‘statistics’. Got any way to determine which, if any, of those annual numbers are FALSE rape claims? Because – if you are going to invoke stats, and we all KNOW there are at least a few FALSE claims of rape, then you have just incurred the responsibility to sort all of that out …. or be a dishonest hack. You’re not a dishonest hack, are you?

      Report Post » VoteRightDammit  
    • Selfreliance
      Posted on August 21, 2012 at 6:48pm

      You seem a bit confused. First, even the most outrageous people do not put forth a desire to force a victim of rape to raise the child or such an event. Second, while rape is certainly traumatic and terrible, what has the child done to warrant execution? it is the most innocent of the innocent, and you are all for it death. This does not seen a valid position to hold.

      Report Post »  
    • 19random35
      Posted on August 21, 2012 at 7:30pm

      Abortion should be a confidential issue between the patient and doctor and no church or government should have any say over it, and it should be covered under a universal health care plan so every woman has access.

      Report Post »  
    • VoteRightDammit
      Posted on August 21, 2012 at 7:37pm

      19Random:

      Agreed, it’s a private matter.

      The BABY – you know, the one you are about to kill – should have a big, huge say in if you or any other progressive baby-hater gets the right to kill him or her.

      Or do you think it MY right to kill YOU out of convenience to me – like, maybe, you stand in the way of a promotion for me, or you have a woman I desire, or I dislike your front yard, etc.? You think maybe YOU should have a say in such matters?

      Report Post » VoteRightDammit  
    • phillyatheist
      Posted on August 21, 2012 at 8:59pm

      “The BABY – you know, the one you are about to kill – should have a big, huge say…”

      maybe it should speak up. or vote on the matter. oh wait, it doesn’t have a mouth yet.

      you folks seem to always miss something – every sperm and every egg is a potential form of life. if you enjoy sex for pleasure or self gratification (for men at least) then you are hyporcrites. if you believe in sex only for procreation then you are (insane but) consistent. just because a sperm has become viable inside an egg doesn’t mean a soul has been created. i’m pretty sure that even the Bible asserts that life begins at birth (i‘m not a Bible scholar so please correct me if i’m wrong).

      finally, those that are pro-life are so because of deeply held religious beliefs. that’s fine, and feel free to practice that yourself. but to push your beliefs on others, in a way that directly and significantly affects other human beings, is extremism in a way that Iran would be proud of.

      Report Post » phillyatheist  
    • eternalhostility
      Posted on August 22, 2012 at 12:00pm

      I have NEVER not voted GOP – read that clearly – this election will be the first time I don’t carry the water for the once grand old party. With that stated I clearly agree that ANYONE how isn’t for a right to choose because of a rape is a complete MORON. Not only that but I would agree you are not even religious because it is easy to assume the rapist is a form of the devil.

      I am not anti religion by any means but it is very funny whenever you bring up the devil to religious people they get all confused. Like wouldn’t a priest that molested small children be as close to the devil on earth as possible? Yet many still defend the priest. Wouldn’t a man that rapes a woman be close to the devil? Yet many still think the woman should have the devil’s child. Seems odd to me.

      I am extremely pro life and I think those that get abortion as a form of birth control or get abortions because a child would be inconvenient will eventually be judged and dammed by their creator. However I am against federal abortion laws I think it is a states rights issue. I futher think it is a personal decision and really shouldn’t be as large a political issue as it is. I don’t believe for a minute the GOP is trying to control women that is bs the left uses. The left is so pro choice until you actually have a child, then they spend their entire life telling you what to do with that child – talk about not pro-choice!

      Report Post »  
  • The_Jerk
    Posted on August 21, 2012 at 5:55pm

    Anything Huckabee is a losing proposition.

    Report Post »  
  • Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
    Posted on August 21, 2012 at 5:54pm

    Well, every woman he raped hasn’t got pregnant, so maybe that is his frame of reference.

    I understand making a mistep and saying something stupid, heck, Obama shouldn’t be President for all of the stupid things he said. But this will give the Dems this seat, and he needs to understand that. There is the other fact that Dems flocked to the polls to elect this idiot, he was in a distant third and Missouri has an open primary, allowing anyone to vote republican. Since McCowskil was unopposed, the Dems have openly said they chose him because he is beatable. Now he just handed them the election. Very much like what happened here in Colorado, Bennet should have been beaten, instead we had Buck who couldn’t stop saying stupid things and lost, mainly because he wouldn’t drop out after putting his foot in his mouth.

    Report Post » Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra  
  • FREEDOMoverFEAR
    Posted on August 21, 2012 at 5:50pm

    Just pray to God that you don’t get pregnant. God can fix anything.

    Report Post » FREEDOMoverFEAR  
  • TROLLMONGER
    Posted on August 21, 2012 at 5:50pm

    Just another uneducated right wing *********.

    Report Post » TROLLMONGER  
  • rs9
    Posted on August 21, 2012 at 5:48pm

    “At least it wasn’t rape/rape” Whoopi Goldberg black democrat/liberal/hollywood a## hole

    Report Post »  
  • LeadNotFollow
    Posted on August 21, 2012 at 5:47pm

    …
    Akin did not say anything bad enough to have to resign. He was just very misinformed.
    He’s trying to save unborn babies from being slaughtered, by women who falsely claim to have been raped, just to get an abortion.

    Report Post »  
    • ExTex
      Posted on August 21, 2012 at 6:03pm

      I’m in your camp on this one. To me, this is about First Amendment Rights. He made a statement (based on his pro-life convictions) that was poorly worded. So what? He apologized folks…let’s move on. Why all the knee-jerk overreaction? Just a couple of weeks ago the Chick-fil-a CEO made a statement about his beliefs and everyone supported him and his first amendment right. Ok, you say, “Yeah, but he wasn’t in a position of legislative power!” Fair enough, but what exactly do you think Akin is going to do? The worst he can do is draft a bill to support his position…and then he has to convince 50 other senators to vote in his favor on it…..THEN, if by some miracle that flew thru….the bill would have to pass thru the House of Reps….THEN, if that went thru…the president would have to sign off on it. NOT GONNA HAPPEN FOLKS!!! He’s not running for KING, he’s running for Senator…which gives him the power of ONE vote.

      SO I ASK YOU….WHAT IS EVERYONE SO AFRAID OF?

      Report Post » ExTex  
    • frust@ted
      Posted on August 21, 2012 at 8:02pm

      First you lack of understanding of the constitution and what freedom of speech is. Second we should forgive him for his ignorant statement and move on but that does not mean I have to think that an apology constitutes a capability for this man to be in office.

      Report Post »  
  • MODEL82A1
    Posted on August 21, 2012 at 5:47pm

    Akin made a stupid statement, for which he’s apologized. Why does anyone feel the need to involve themselves and their “knowledge” of physiology in the non-discussion? I’ll tell you why, those people are even stupider than Akin, who simply said he misspoke and apologized.

    Report Post » MODEL82A1  
  • purecolorartist
    Posted on August 21, 2012 at 5:47pm

    He never answered the question. Should abortion be legal for women who are raped. Anybody see an answer to the question from him? He twisted it to that the victim is not the woman who is raped, but the unborn fetus is the victim. If his Daughter was knocked up by some jerk, I bet he would help her get an ab…….n.
    Just sayin.

    Report Post » purecolorartist  
    • VoteRightDammit
      Posted on August 21, 2012 at 6:42pm

      I’ll help you out here.

      1. The raped woman is the first victim.
      2. The not-yet-born baby, who is innocent in the the rape crime, need not be a second victim through murder.
      3. Certainly no one would fault a woman for NOT wanting a baby born of this violent and disgusting crime (rape). It would be bad enough to carry the resulting baby to term and delivery, then adopt it out. But that surely is better than baby murder, don’t you think?
      4. Baby murder does no undo the crime of rape the woman suffered. Right?

      Report Post » VoteRightDammit  
    • ExTex
      Posted on August 21, 2012 at 7:51pm

      Really? You‘re stumped because a politician didn’t answer a question directly?

      Report Post » ExTex  
    • filiusdracul
      Posted on August 22, 2012 at 8:53am

      All babies are innocent. Why a victim of rape would think the baby is somehow “tainted” is understandable but wrong, and there should be better education on this.

      Report Post »  
  • frust@ted
    Posted on August 21, 2012 at 5:41pm

    Again the ignorance that Akin showed on this topic is why he should withdraw from the race and why I agree with the RNC in not giving him one dime for his campaign. He is unfit to hold office.

    You don’t speak on topics like this with bad psuedo science.

    Report Post »  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on August 21, 2012 at 5:44pm

      Agreed.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • Marci
      Posted on August 21, 2012 at 5:47pm

      His comment revealed much more about him than he expected. Misspoke or not, he ascribes to that theory, and that theory is insane.

      Report Post » Marci  
    • iblvingd
      Posted on August 21, 2012 at 5:53pm

      We can only guess why one who is running for an office that will possible have an effect on the out come of the future of our country, would not do his homework before offering an opinion that will be made public.

      Political “Misspeak” is an action of someone who is self centered and uneducated. It also shows the lack of capability to do the job of a congressman. We need to replace these people with people of honor, intelligence and capability of getting the job done.

      Mr Akin should rethink his position and we need to vote out the people in the senate and congress that have held more than two terms. There are some like H. Reid and Pelosi, that recall elections should be considered, for the damage they have created!

      Report Post »  
    • marybethelizabeth
      Posted on August 21, 2012 at 6:01pm

      Rep. Akin will believe anything he reads.

      Just Like Michelle Bachmann who believes God told her to run for President.

      Just Like Allen West who think Congress is filled with Communists

      Just like the Keys who believe the President is a Socialist or a Communist.

      Report Post » marybethelizabeth  
    • circleDwagons
      Posted on August 21, 2012 at 6:17pm

      @frustrated. If all polititians that said something stupid resigned then we would not have many left. I can’t understand how the stupid repuds are throwing him under the bus. I don’t know what his politics are he might be a prog but I am glad that he is Standing Tall.

      Report Post » circleDwagons  
    • VoteRightDammit
      Posted on August 21, 2012 at 6:49pm

      OK, I’ll take you on.

      I’m technicall trained (post grad, top of class) ………… NOT in medicine.

      Never before heard of this “violent rape discourages fertilization” theory, but it is not, on it’s surface, absurd. ANY violence experienced by a woman might upset the balance of hormonal balance necessary for fertilization. RAPE, a specific form of violence seems MORE likely to do so than a car crash, given it also inflicts location-specific physical damage. Nothing here yet seems absurd.

      I have not yet seen any valid research findings that prove such trauma does NOT go hand-in-hand with decreased fertilization or increased miscarriage. Have you? All I have heard is “this was debunked years ago” …. a form of claim I LISTEN TO but do not blindly follow. Is this valid, or simply more gay/feminist/etc. misinformation borne out of the lies so common from the ’80s in those groups? Do YOU know?

      I do not.

      Report Post » VoteRightDammit  
    • Chet Hempstead
      Posted on August 21, 2012 at 7:06pm

      VoteRightDammit
      That justifies someone imagining that it could be theoretically possible before it was proven untrue. A 6% fertilization rate in rape cases pretty conclusively proves that it isn’t true. Nothing justifies Mr. Akin’s ridiculous claim that he was told this by doctors. Nothing in the long history cited in this article of this idea being propounded by politicians and only by politicians suggests that this could be anything but a bald-faced lie.

      Report Post »  
    • Stelex
      Posted on August 21, 2012 at 7:18pm

      This guy is a fool, and must go. NOW. FOREVER. As does Marylizbeth…..the president is a socialist……the congress and senate are filled with communists as well as the entire administration, not to mention hollywood and many local and state govs. As are you………a useful idiot. You have my sympathies.

      Report Post » Stelex  
    • VoteRightDammit
      Posted on August 21, 2012 at 7:25pm

      Chet H:

      1. I‘m not ’justifying’ ANYTHING – merely stating reality: there is nothing obvious that would make rape fertilization LESS common than fertilization from loving intercourse.

      2. The article is, to ANYONE, stupid and nonsensical. The “statistics” given are PURE hypothetical numbers pulled out of the air! There is NO evidence given, and for the 6% statement ZERO grounds for believing it at all. Worse – let’s pretend for a moment someone actually DID a valid survey and found 6% of rape claims resulted in pregnancy. Was ANY effort applied to eliminate those rape claims that were false (i.e., a woman who got pregnant but needed an excuse for dad, husband, self)? Not clear, but even IF the 6% were valid, the second part is doubtful.

      3. I know not how Akins is trying to get out from under the rock he put himself under, but really don’t care. I DON’T find any reason to believe his belief is “ridiculous’ – see no evidence there, and see plenty of theory of why fertilization would, in fact, be diminished in rap[e cases. YOU have better (actual) data?

      Report Post » VoteRightDammit  
    • frust@ted
      Posted on August 21, 2012 at 7:55pm

      Cirlcethewagons,

      Their is a difference between making a stupid offhanded comment and wading into the waters of the abortion debate with bad science and taking a firm stance on an issue based off of that bad science. This is a very important issue and you better dang well make sure you know what the heck you are talking about before you start opening your mouth.

      voterightdammit,

      But you are not interested in the studies since you claim you can’t find any. Click on the link you will find more than enough.
      http://lmgtfy.com/?q=Studies+on+pregnancy+rates+when+raped

      here some all of the logical fallacies you present in your argument
      Appeal to probability
      Affirming the consequent
      Argument from ignorance
      Argument from silence
      (shifting the) Burden of proof

      Report Post »  
    • VoteRightDammit
      Posted on August 21, 2012 at 8:22pm

      Frosted

      1. For someone trying to pass him/herself off as having some knowledge of logic debate, you seem singularly incompetent at reading comprehension. Or maybe you just skimmed and saw what you wanted to see. Either way, THEN displaying arrogance and asserting some competence makes you appear a bit silly. But that’s your prerogative… silly on if you wish.

      2. I never said i could not find data; simply I was unaware of it. I remain so after Googling – ignoring the rants post-Akins, I saw only a few actual studies …. with a scant 400 or so subjects (insufficient) … with an illogical supposed outcome (rape somehow makes a woman MORE fertile) justified by not very convincing explanations as to WHY the apparently illogical results somehow make sense. But, i’m sure you have done much better research and can enlighten us here …

      3. Here are some of the clouded mind tell tales in your non-argument:
      arrogance to mask lack of knowledge
      insult in a flailing attempt to stem analysis of your illogic rants
      inability to read or comprehend
      lack of interest in addressing a question (which, since you are not aware, is DIFFERENT than an assertion)

      I’d go on, but you probably by now get the drift. Still, I forgive you since, clearly, you prefer emotion to logic.

      Report Post » VoteRightDammit  
    • frust@ted
      Posted on August 21, 2012 at 11:45pm

      voteright

      There are more than enough studies that have been done to disprove that the body rejects pregnancies due to rape. All you have to do is google it and you will find them it really is not that hard, Also the study that you point out in a later post makes assumptions and was not scientific.

      I’m not sure we are even arguing about the same thing either based off the article you are pointing too.

      I am saying that Akin is not using good science when he claims that womens bodys reject fetusus that are impregnated during rape.

      The article and study that you pointed too was more about the number of rape based pregnancies being over reported nothing factual about a body rejecting a rape based pregnancy.

      Not emotional at all on this one bad science is just bad science.

      Report Post »  
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