Akin, McCaskill spar over rape comments in first debate

[brooklynite]

Source: Los Angeles Times

WASHINGTON -- As Republicans come to grips with Todd Akin’s continuing candidacy in the Missouri Senate race, Akin and his opponent Claire McCaskill squared off Friday in their first debate.

Not surprisingly, the event opened with discussion of Akin’s now-infamous statement that women’s bodies can prevent pregnancy in the event of a “legitimate rape.”

“I’ve answered this question repeatedly, and I don’t believe that this election overall is about talk,” Akin said, dismissing the question of whether the comment should factor into the election. He repeatedly avoided discussing the comments, preferring instead to frame the election as a choice between “two visions of what America is.”

...snip...

“He has apologized for those comments, but they say a lot about how he views things,” McCaskill said. “I believe a rape victim should be allowed to have emergency contraception to avoid pregnancy. Todd Akin does not. I believe his view is extreme and out of the mainstream.”

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-akin-mccaskill-rape-debate-20120921,0,324306.story

[PossumSqueezins]

1. "He has apologized for those comments, but they say a lot about how he views things"

Yes, he did apologize for his poor choice of words with regard to "legitimate rape." He has NOT, however, apologized for his profound stupidity regarding his idiotic belief in magical vaginas that when brutalized can prevent a pregnancy.

This indicates that Mr. Akin has a second graders view of the world with regard to science. In a world increasingly complex from technology, GMO crops, cloning, embryonic stem cell research, global warming, pandemic disease, resistant strains of bacteria from overuse of antibiotics, etc. how could anyone expect that he could represent, lead and make the right decisions regarding ANYTHING that involved science??

[Kelvin Mace]

5. Yeah, I would have dissected his apology as well

McCaskill could have burned 3 or 4 minutes explaining why he hadn't really apologized.

[Berlum]

2. "I did not have typical Republican Troglodyte Values with my rape comment." - Ache In (R)

"We Republicans feel that you people -- you little ladies out there in Homeland -- should just shut up, relax and, um, enjoy our Republican attention and stuff like that. Heh heh."

- Ache In (R)

[Thinkingabout]

3. Todd Akin is a good reason to prevent repubs in office

Repubs are behind sharia laws being passed in different states, whining about non existent voter fraud and their hate talk show host telling lies. I have known some good republicans in the past but I don't think so now. The TP have moved any sense totally away from this party.

[Kelvin Mace]

4. McCaskill's response to his attempts to defelct the question

and "move on" should have been:

"You displayed an appalling ignorance of basic biology and I am glad we have set you straight on the issue. The problem is that it has not changed your views on emergency contraception which indicates that either you still believe what you said is true, or that you are a heartless person.

Also, if you could be so wrong about such an elementary question of junior high school science, what other ridiculous things do you believe? Must we disabuse you of belief in leeches, witches, and storks? I think your $174,000 a year salary could be better spent on an senator who does not require a remedial education!"

[SmittynMo]

6. She needs to call him out on his ignorant remarks

Sure he apologized, but it doesn't change the fact that the right believe and support his views, as originally said.

No vote from this family.