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The Spectacle Blog
Missouri GOP Senate candidate Todd Akin has amazingly gotten himself in the middle of a controversy that is totally unnecessary. In an interview in Missouri Akin, a decided conservative -that’s good- allowed himself to get segued into musings on rape.
Not good.
The uproar now threatens the vital race against the quite vulnerable liberal Senator Claire McCaskill. Not to mention causing ripples in the presidential race for Romney and Ryan every time they step foot in Missouri to campaign for a thoroughly winnable state.
Mr. Akin sounds like a very nice man. But his appearance on Sean Hannity’s radio show a few minutes ago was almost painful to listen to. Hannity was 100% correct to gently point out to Akin that the political environment is such that he will never be able to discuss the issues with McCaskill. Akin’s thoughts on rape, regardless of whether he apologizes hourly until November, guarantees the focus will be removed from McCaskill’s devotion to all things Obama. Bluntly put, Akin will be a drag — an avoidable drag — on the ticket.
Apparently Akin has until 5pm tomorrow to remove himself and give the Missouri GOP a chance to replace him.
The Missouri primary was contentious, and one understands all the fine lines of internal controversy.
But Akin has set himself up. And this kind of thing can in fact threaten the GOP control of the Senate, removing Harry Reid — not to mention creating needless complications for Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan.
Hannity gently prodded Akin to do the right thing, and he was right to do so.
This is no time for distractions.
Mr. Akin should change his mind and allow the Missouri GOP to replace him. Pronto.
View all comments (20) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by Jeffrey Lord
http://spectator.org/blog/2012/08/20/akin-should-withdraw-hannity-d
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JD| 8.20.12 @ 4:48PM
The standard for Republicans is far higher than the standard for Democrats. I hate to have to play by their rules. But we can win in doing so, and right now it's the best choice. Akin should withdraw.
Albert Constantine Jr.| 8.20.12 @ 5:26PM
One can call on people of honor to do the honorable thing. With democrats, that is too rarely an accurate label.
Bill Fair| 8.20.12 @ 7:28PM
What exactly is honorable about having made egregious comments for which there is no apology sufficient, and then vowing to fight on. What is honorable about fighting to the bitter end at the peril of your comrades who are all retreating as fast as their feet can carry them? What is honorable about "Legitimate Rape"?
Democrat or Republican, this guy's political career is at an abrupt end and the people of Missouri will be better off without him!
C. Vernon Crisler | 8.20.12 @ 11:46PM
I agree with the need to fight against baby murder, but Akin's statements about it seem more like the statements of an ignoramus than of a well-thought out viewpoint. If he had said this months ago, I'd say apologize, but stay in and make up for it. Now, it's too close to the election, and I think Hannity, et al. are probably right: it's time to bow out. There are some foot in mouth comments that cannot be rectified, e.g., Samuel Burchard's "rum, Romanism, and rebellion" comment, which sunk Speaker Blaine's bid for the White House in 1884.
Kingofthenet| 8.20.12 @ 4:53PM
Don't back away from what your Tea Bagging ways have wrought. Stand strong Missouri Republicans, stand strong.
JD| 8.20.12 @ 4:56PM
You're a hateful person.
Bob Grant| 8.20.12 @ 4:58PM
He's got nothing but snark.
...and not very good snark.
He's a troll and should not be fed. Just let him choke on his own comments.
Occam's Tool| 8.20.12 @ 6:28PM
King:
I have a feeling he will pull out, unlike, say, your hero Julian Assange.
I must say, I am really looking forward to the Clint commenting I will be doing to you when Obama loses.
Kingofthenet| 8.20.12 @ 7:11PM
Difference is Assange didn't rape anyone, she made breakfast for him in the morning. TWO women got mad because they realized they weren't 'Special' to him.
Trinacria| 8.20.12 @ 7:22PM
So you would have us believe that TWO women volunteered to have sex with that effeminate metrosexual ass clown?
Good luck selling that one to the jury...
Bob Grant| 8.20.12 @ 4:57PM
Akin should know republicans don't get mulligans.
Step aside sir and focus now on defending your congressional seat.
Bill Fair| 8.20.12 @ 7:30PM
"Step aside sir and focus now on defending your congressional seat."
See my earlier comment.. There is no political comeback for Todd.. Either in the House or the Senate..
fmm| 8.20.12 @ 5:09PM
One wonders if Akin was a dem plant all along with such assinine behavior.
JD| 8.20.12 @ 5:20PM
No. He made a mistake, that's all. Democrats did help him in the primary, but his failings are genuine mistakes.
Al Adab| 8.20.12 @ 5:46PM
Akin may have cost the GOP any chance at MO electoral votes and possibly the election itself. The MO party needs to tell him to quit in no uncertain terms.
GOP candidates need to adhere to and welcome the double standard, be above reproach and allow us to point fingers when the likes of Biden make egregious comments.
Trinacria| 8.20.12 @ 7:24PM
They shouldn't just tell him to quit; they should withdraw all financial support and endorse an alternate candidate.
Bill Fair| 8.20.12 @ 7:31PM
They did...
Bill Fair| 8.20.12 @ 7:24PM
C'mon.. The guy is toast and rightfully so. The State GOP realizes it, the Romney Campaign realizes it, hell.. Even the Tea Party realize it.
Aikin is like an anchor around all their necks for this year's elections and they are all whacking away at the chains trying to get rid of the anchor as fast as they can.
This guy doesn't have a snowballs chance in hell of getting elected now. And, considering he's missed nearly � of the votes in the House this year, I don't see why Missourians would keep him in spite of his insane remarks and faux mea culpa.
Bill Fair| 8.20.12 @ 7:33PM
The question mark was misread by the system. The sentence should read "... missed nearly eighty-five percent of the votes.,..
Kelly Staples| 8.21.12 @ 12:32AM
A person of "faith" hits reality. Is there anything more pathetic under the sun?