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Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) wanted to face Rep. Todd Akin in the general election, because she knew he was the type of right wing radical that stood a good chance of eventually getting himself in trouble once he got under the intense spotlight of a competitive senate race. It seems Akin has delivered beyond her wildest expectations. Not only has Akin’s statement about “legitimate rape” not leading to pregnancy put his own election in peril, but several Republicans appears to be scrambling to prevent the problem from metastasizing.
Already the Romney campaign has made multiple statements strongly distancing themselves from Akin. The statements are coming both from the campaign staff and directly from Romney in hasty interviews with the conservative National Review. There must be some worry that Akin’s rape/abortion comment could taint Romney’s running mate Rep. Paul Ryan. Ryan co-sponsored a bill with Akin that would have restricted tax payer funds to be used for abortions only if they resulted from “forcible rape.”
It appears serious worries about being hurt by Akin also extend beyond people who have a direct connection to him on this issue. Already Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA) has called for Akin to withdraw based on his statement. It is a very unusual step for a member of the same party to make such a statement about a potential colleague, but Brown is in a very tough race in the blue state of Massachusetts. Brown can’t afford to be even indirectly associated with this kind of statement, and he must feel that Akin is already risking enough damage to his own run that he must distance himself in the strongest way possible. I imagine Brown isn’t the only Republican in a tough race who feels this way.
This is a very fortunate day for Democrats in general and McCaskill in particular. Last week she was trailing Akin by 11 points according to SurveyUSA, but don’t call this rapid reverse of fortune all luck. McCaskill knew Akin was a hardcore conservative who could easily get himself in trouble. That is why she ran multiple ads pointing out his deeply conservative stance on issues like abortion during the lead up to the Republican primary. It not only helped assure that the weakest possible Republican was nominated; it set her up perfectly for the “I told you so” moment like the one happening right now.
28 Comments
I saw Claire McCaskill on morning Joe. Somebody needs to talk to her about counter attacking. She has a perfect opportunity to make hay from this. When on Joe, she was given an open ended question to say what ever she wanted about her opponent. All she said was boring policy differences. She needs a course in George Lakoff’s speechifying.
As for the Republicans, we all new that they were this crazy and ignorant, now the rest of the country is finally finding this out.
I sure do hope that wingnut Akin stays in the race since he is the man who can be beaten by Sen.McCaskill.The people he defeated inn the Rethug primary would have been stronger general election candidates.
McCaskill is a weak Senator but she at least appears to be sane and she’s playing this just right by saying that Akin should not be removed.
The interesting thing is going to be when the fanatics start to say Akin is right and demanding ideological purity from the other GOPers.
The scary thing is how many voters won’t care. Or won’t know. Or will care, but be told to accept it as it furthers the fight against abortion.
Boxturtle (Not sure a McCaskill victory is a reason to celebrate, except by comparison)
The really bad news about batshit crazy GOPers like Akin is they help lower the bar for the Democrats, making it ever easier for them to drift rightward while appearing sane and moderate. Today’s Dem party is already about where the GOPers were when Raygun was prez.
Akin may be becoming toxic to the national GOP, but not at all in the whole GOP. As I said earlier today:
If Akin is forced out because the national GOP is worried about his toxicity, his supporters will make him a martyr to political correctness and the RINOs at the RNC.
And that is a GOP nightmare as well.
However this plays out, it will not end well for the national GOP.
If you sow the wind, you will reap the whirlwind.
So we should be happy with McCaskill a republican lite.
This whole system is fucked up and it’s only gonna get worse!
Let us hope Akin stays in the race.
In the sea of ignorance called Americans a lot of idiots support this position.
I’ve gone back to working in the construction field and the rush beck train wreck has taken some prisoners. I was lectured on my bumper sticker, in racist terms, that reads ” God bless the world no exceptions’
Behind it all is closet racism .
What goes around comes around.
This is kinda interesting. Compare and contrast the Republican response to Atkin with the Democrat response to Obama. Especially since the rumors have surfaced about Democrats bitching regularly, privately, about the prez. So, Dems, bitch publicly, why don’t you.
Legitimate rape? This “Thing” is not a conservative. The “Thing,” is a “tyrant,” seeking to impose tyranny on woman. Fascism is the proper term applied here….
So far, Peterr, they’ve sown the wind and we’ve reaped the whirlwind.
Sexual sadism rationalized. I do wonder what’s in Atkin’s background. Or foreground, for that matter. Oh, for an unguarded moment with Mrs.
Todd Akin, “I’m sorry I told the truth about what I and my fellow GOP evil nut jobs think. Now you might not vote for us. Forget I ever said anything. Obamacare.”
I stand corrected.
Many important Goopers are asking that Akin “re-think” his decision to stay in…..including McConnell.
Money and ads being withdrawn.
Akin’s authoritarian “belief system” is sadly unsurprising to me, and I don’t believe we’ve hit “bottom” yet. Today’s crazed nutbar so-called “rightwing” fascist authoritarians are making Margaret Atwoods The Handmaid’s Tale look like a fun day at the races.
Atkin’s constituents, including women, are no doubt fully in support of such specious ignorance because they’ve been heavily brainwashed to accept this bullshit as “God’s will.”
No love lost on McCaskill, who’s a classic DINO. In fact, calling her a DINO is being disrespectful to true DINOs.
What a country. A race to the bottom between the evil of two lessors, indeed.
I doubt that Akin’s “remarks” will even be remembered by next week, much less have some kind of “negative impact” on the GOP. Just won’t happen.
I say: let Akin stay in the race. Let the world see him and his kind for what they are…. and fwiw. JHMO, of course. Why hide it? Might as well have this way of “thinking” out in front & in the spotlight.
Here’s her campaign phone number.
(314) 918-8100
Maybe let them now you know she’s a DINO.
The article fails to mention Akin is a member of the House Science Committee.
God better bless America because Americans surely are not blessing themselves with their leaders.
I still say were’re fucked.
done……….
No. And I haz a Sad. Please please, do not withdraw. You are killing babies!
Next week is the Republican National Convention. Had Akin not put his foot in it with these rape comments (and his anti-school lunch comments last week), he likely would have been featured in some way as part of the brave group of challengers looking to return the control of the Senate to the GOP. Now, I doubt he’ll even attend the convention, let alone be seen on the stage, The convention planners are probably pulling their hair out trying to rearrange their carefully planned marathon infomercial.
Now, regardless of whether Akin stays or goes, every time the media makes mention of other close Senate races, the stories will carry with them “but the GOP problems in Missouri put a big dent in their plans for recapturing the Senate.”
Akin’s comments are going to get a lot of prominence next week.
Tying Ryan to this should be among the Dems’ top goals next week, in a twofer package with YouR Money’s flip-flops on abortion. Make clear how RyanCare plans would affect seniors and send the veep candidate into hiding.
Actually examining the hideous Republican platform on some of these issues could not hurt, either.
Republicans are speaking out against his comments. To bad the Democrats do not do likewise. All they do is circle the wagons.
Yes, because she’s the problem…..
republican
So, Repuke4President,
what Democratic candidate has said anything as vile as rep. Atkin?
I’m feeling a need for a rousing round of
Hands Off My Clam
a one, a two, a one, two, three, four…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heXZTMHG88Y