Oh, good grief. Can you be more ignorant than to claim that “legitimately” raped women “rarely” get pregnant? But that’s what the Republican candidate for U.S. Senator in Missouri, Todd Akin, did in an interview. After stating that abortion should be legal to save the life of the mother, the host asks whether it should be legal in the case of rape. From the transcript (see embed above):
People always want to try and make that as one of those things, well, how do you slice this partiuclarly tough sort of ethical question. It seems to me, first of all, that from what I understand from doctors, that’s really rare. If it is a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try and shut that whole thing down. But let’s assume maybe that didn’t work or something. I think there should be some punishment, but the punishment should be of the rapist and not attacking the child.
”Some punishment” for rape? How about severe punishment!
And what doctor ever told Akin that a woman’s body “shuts down” the ability to get pregnant if she is raped? That was just a defensive statement to downplay the import of his position—the actual reason for which he then states at the end of the sentence. That should have been all he said.
Akin later issued a clarification:
“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.”
Too late. In spontaneity, veritas.
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