Akin's mythical "legitimate rape"

This is getting absolutely ridiculous.

Just when Daniel Tosh’s comments seemed to make him a shoe-in for the summer’s most popular misogynist, Rep. Todd Akin, R-Miss., entered the race with one foot in his mouth.

It’s hard not to shake your head at the Missouri representative’s now infamous comment, “If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down.”

In addition to being totally incorrect, the victim-blaming statement reveals a horrifying disregard for women’s autonomy.

He has since issued a non-apology and promise to continue his campaign.

Akin called rape “evil” but didn’t indicate whether that changes his position on abortion.
 
Given that he claimed to use the wrong words rather than revoking the sentiment altogether, my guess is it didn’t.

This is the man who was the favorite for the Missouri Senate race and still remains neck and neck with his opponent.

We shouldn’t be rolling our eyes.

We should be writing our representatives.

Akin is also a member of the House Committee on Science, Space and
Technology.

Sure, it sounds like an SNL skit, but it’s the sad and not surprising state of affairs here in America.

His apology is mitigated by his continued campaign, which will hopefully cost the GOP a seat in the Senate.

The foot in Akin’s mouth helpfully reminds many voters about vice presidential hopeful Paul Ryan’s, R-Wis., atrocious history with
women’s rights.

Ryan, along with most GOP members of Congress, cosponsored a bill last year that would qualify certain types of rape as “forcible.”

The movement was interested in denying as many women as possible access to federally-funded abortion.

Romney and Ryan have never been accused of being feminists.

However, they’re desperate to clean up their messy associations with Akin.

In a radical statement, the dashing duo clarified they “would not oppose abortion in instances of rape.”

Score one for women everywhere.

President Barack Obama’s response is refreshingly forward.

“Rape is rape ... What types of rape we’re talking about doesn’t make sense to the American people, and it certainly doesn’t make sense to me.” he said. 

The president’s comments would be more impressive if they were paired with actual change.

It’s one thing for Obama to rebuke Akin.

It’s another to encourage substantive equality for women.

Preventing the defunding of Planned Parenthood is a laudable defensive measure.

Unless Obama makes women’s rights a priority, something he’s not likely to do, it’s not enough.

I’ll just hold my breath until we can organize a Marxist feminist overthrow of the state.

– ptbeane@indiana.edu