LEE’S SUMMIT, AUGUST 20, 2012 – According to Human Events, a conservative voice on the blogosphere, Todd Akin will be holding a prayer vigil tonight to decide his future. This after an unforced error on one of the most common questions a conservative can expect “What about abortion in the case of rape and incest?” Every conservative candidate for national office is asked this same question – in various forms – a hundred times before an election, in between elections, or whenever there is a slow news day.
Todd Akin fumbled the kick-off on the 2-yard line.
Host: “So, if an abortion could be considered, in say the case of a tubal pregnancy or something like that: What about in the case of rape, should it be legal or not?
Akin: “Well, you know, ah, ah, people wanna make this one of those things how do you, how do you, slice this particularly tough sort of ethical question: It seems to me first of all, from what I understand from Doctors that’s really rare, if it’s a legitimate rape, ah the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down; but let’s assume that maybe that didn’t work or something. You know, I think there should be some punishment but the punishment ought to be on the rapist, and not attacking the child”
Taken in full context the remark, though politically inappropriate, is still defending the life of the unborn child.
What is so politically incorrect? The part of the comment where Akin joins two words that conjure up terrible visions of women being asked to “PROVE” rape: The word “legitimate” forces the question – as opposed to what? What other types of rape are there? Fake? Claimed?
Todd Akin is a mature politician. He’s run many races and has won many political debates at the ballot box. This unforced error will be costly for him. He has lost the backing of the GOP. He’s been called out by the Presidential Candidate. He has been called out by every major contributor to his campaign – and by inference it is possible to say that other candidates will see the backlash and therefore must distance themselves from Akin.
Most are hoping that at the end of his prayer Vigil the candidate withdraws his name from the candidacy and someone else takes his place. Someone well-funded, and prepared to take on McCaskill head on.
If the GOP simply goes to the next candidate on the list, then John Brunner the businessman from Saint Louis should get the nod. I personally think that would be a mistake. To replace one male candidate with another after the comment and its impact would still leave the door open for Claire McCaskill, the Democrat machine, the liberal side of the media, and it would bring hope to Obama’s race to use it as a distraction. If you think I’m way off, think about the fact that Obama is still not backing down from the Felon comment, the request for more tax returns, and the implied killer of poor defenseless and unemployed women comment.
Picture sent by the Steelman Campaign during the primaries
In my opinion, Sarah Steelman is the only choice in this matter; for all the obvious reasons. She can clean up the mess, she can charge on, and I hope her campaign would get far more direction from experienced campaigners so she does not make the mistake she made in the primary of ignoring Saint Louis and Kansas City.
Whoever is picked has lost a couple of weeks, but the media hype over the reason for the switch would bolster their name recognition and make up for the two weeks lost.
My hope is that Sarah Steelman replaces Todd Akin as the Candidate for Missouri’s Senate seat – but first let’s see if Akin steps down.
Respectfully Submitted
The Lee’s Summit Conservative
