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The Spectacle Blog
Over at CNN, Erin Burnett conducted a survey of “thirty-one independent political journalists and analysts” as to whether Missouri GOP Senate candidate Todd Akins’ “legitimate rape” comments will hurt the GOP’s electoral prospects in November. A resounding 89% of said “independent political journalists” responded in the affirmative.
I’m not buying it.
1. What CNN considers “independent political” views aren’t what most Americans consider “independent political” views. I am willing to bet that you if surveyed the same 31 journalists as to their opinion on abortion, 89% would be pro-choice. Well, 89% of the American public is not pro-choice. According to a Gallup Poll released last May, 50% of Americans are pro-life while 41% of Americans are pro-choice. This is important because Democrats like Elizabeth Warren are making a concerted effort to link Todd Akin’s views on abortion and other social issues mirror those of Mitt Romney, Paul Ryan, Scott Brown and the entire Republican Party. Most people know such efforts are hogwash.
2. After all, nearly every Republican and conservative in the country has denounced Akin for what he said. Of course, people who think Republicans are conducting a war on women aren’t going to vote Republican anyway. But even if an independent voter doesn’t like what Akin had to say or is pro-choice on the abortion question, they also know that what he said doesn’t represent Republican or conservative thinking.
3. I suspect Akin will be gone despite his defiance. But even if he’s still on the ballot there’s still the economy. President Obama didn’t fix the economy and now he owns it. Things aren’t likely to get any better in the next 76 days and I suspect by early November that Akin will be but a footnote. Obama’s policies affect every American whereas the stupid, offhand comment of one Republican in Missouri doesn’t.
View all comments (15) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by Aaron Goldstein
http://spectator.org/blog/2012/08/22/why-akin-wont-hurt-gop
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Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 8.22.12 @ 5:54PM
Akin still leads in the polls and although he said something stupid, we had a perfect lesson in Republican lack of guts.
It's not that they should have endorsed him, but they could have let him apologize and move on.
It's not like Republicans sitting in Congress haven't done far worse.
It gave the Rove types the ability to cut off someone they view as a threat to the never ending party called D.C., Inc.
If someone was judged on their ability to get something done honestly, most of the U.S. Congress would be in jeopardy.
Personally, I would like to see Akin win. He should then snub the Rove types whenever he gets the opportunity.
Finzi Holst| 8.22.12 @ 9:40PM
Very well stated. I truly wish the Rove types would go away. They cost us Nevada and Connecticut. Until they got their knickers in a wad, we were well ahead in both states with Tea Party candidates. Once they had their tantrums, aided and abetted by the Left, it was over.
I don't know if Akin meant by "legitimate rape" that it does not include those who claim rape but were not: Jane Roe (aka Norma McCorvey), Tawana Brawley (of Sharpton fame) or Crystal Magnum (of Duke Lacrosse fame).
There are women who claim rape, after 180 days, solely because it is the only way they can still get an abortion.
By the way, the terms "legitimate rape" and "illegitimate rape" are terms coined by feminists through The Guttmacher Institute, an arm of Planned Parenthood.
Occam's Tool| 8.22.12 @ 5:55PM
I suspect Mr. Akin will win. Gas prices and unemployment will be climbing in November. Fear not. Obama's campaign is going to get a Chicago Alley beatdown in November, while CNNs pundits do what the great Chicago DJ Steve Dahl referred to as "the insane coho lip."
Mender| 8.22.12 @ 6:00PM
Akin is a candidate in an increasingly conservative state and has an excellent chance of winning if he holds on. What the GOP should do about this is shut up about it, shut up about him, not contradict Romney and Ryan's statements that they support legal abortion in cases of rape, and restrict Obama to using it to rally his base rather than letting it become an election issue. He's using it to get donations as it is.
Abortion, especially for women, is a painful, difficult and often very, very private issue. Something about commenting about it brings out the worst in many rather arrogant (and male, always male) candidates, leaving them looking like incredibly arrogant and insensitive blowhards. My general reaction when seeing Mr Akin's strutting was to wish that God could assign him to spend nine months carrying a rapist's baby to term. I don't think I'm alone in this.
JD| 8.22.12 @ 9:30PM
Being raped does not give you license to kill. The pain of being raped is caused by the rapist, not the baby or anyone protecting the baby.
Dai Alanye | 8.22.12 @ 11:55PM
It's a matter of competing rights. The potential child has a right to life, but a woman has the right of self defense, including defending herself from carrying a rapist's spawn. This is the one and only exception to right to life that I approve, but it's a legitimate one.
Ryan| 8.23.12 @ 9:19AM
The unborn child is not attacking a woman and putting her life at risk.
Dai Alanye | 8.23.12 @ 11:28AM
The woman still has a moral right to defend herself against the rapist, and against his potential progeny.
Occam's Tool| 8.22.12 @ 7:20PM
Can't seem to comment on Bartolo Colon's suspension on that article comments page. I just want to say that if he's doing PEDs, then he must be one Colon that is definitely full of ...
JD| 8.22.12 @ 9:31PM
Akin may indeed win, if voters are smart enough to realize that even if he did mean what he said, it wouldn't matter. Congress isn't going to make any substantial changes to abortion policy any time soon, regardless of Akin's election.
JD| 8.22.12 @ 9:31PM
Akin may indeed win, if voters are smart enough to realize that even if he did mean what he said, it wouldn't matter. Congress isn't going to make any substantial changes to abortion policy any time soon, regardless of Akin's election.
rightasrain| 8.22.12 @ 10:38PM
The Akin affair will hurt the GOP not because of Akin's statements but because people will realize what spineless cowards Republicans are. They threw a guy under the bus for believing that a woman's body somehow shut down to prevent conception during a rape. I'm not even sure whether this theory is completely erroneous, but assuming it is, Akin admitted he was wrong and apologized for the error. Democrats predictably shouted "war on women" (coincidentally enough a mere few days after a huge gaffe by Joe Biden) and Republicans, instead of accepting Akin's apology and refusing to take the bait, pile on. We really are the stupid party.
Paul McGrath| 8.22.12 @ 10:58PM
If you are a Republican and you are running for office, you must recognize that you will be held to a very high standard. You therefore must choose your words very carefully in any setting, public or private.
For Akin not to recognize that what he was saying was stupid at worst and controversial at least, makes me understand that he is not fit to run as a Republican.
Limbaugh actually had it right the other day: why is it so difficult to ask that our leaders be better and smarter than us? Why must we often have to apologize for them?
rightasrain| 8.23.12 @ 7:25AM
All politicians, who essentially speak for a living, will make any occasional gaffe. Akin recognized that he misspoke and apologized which is a lot more than Biden did after his race-baiting gaffe. And while I love Rush, after his own "slutgate" firestorm, one would think he would be a little more reluctant to condemn someone for a poor choice of words.
avus| 8.23.12 @ 9:57AM
While 51% self identify as "Pro Life" in the Gallop poll, 75% support legal abortions in "some cases" or "All cases", from the same poll. Akin's (and Ryan's) position on a total ban in all circumstances is a political loser, which is why Mitt is running as fast as possible from both. But the RNC adopts this total ban plank, to pander to a mere 20 to 25%, who are going to vote Republican anyway.