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Do Todd Akin’s Comments Reflect Republican Views? (POLL)

Bay Area leaders question whether Congressman Todd Akin’s recent remarks on “legitimate rape” are reflective of the overall stance of the Republican Party on women’s issues.

In an interview with a St. Louis television station on Sunday, Congressman Todd Akin, the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Missouri, made the following comment:

“It seems to me, from what I understand from doctors, that’s really rare. If it’s a legitimate rape, 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: I think there should be some punishment, but the punishment ought to be of the rapist, and not attacking the child.”

Akin's comment drew immediate condemnation from both sides of the political aisle.

Gov. Mitt Romney called Akin's comments "insulting, inexcusable and frankly, wrong."

President Obama also condemned the comments.

“Rape is rape, and the idea that we should be parsing and qualifying and slicing what types of rape we are talking about doesn’t make sense to the American people and certainly doesn’t make sense to me,” he said. 

The comments have inspired fervor from all over the world. As far away as Congo, where thousands of women are regularly subjected to rape, activists have expressed deep concern over Akin's remarks. 

Medical professionals have rushed to rebuke Akin's contention regarding the difficulty of becoming pregnant in the event of a rape. 

Republican leaders have called on Akin to leave the Senate race, however, he has refused to do so, instead releasing an advertisement apologizing for his comments but emphasizing his desire to continue the campaign.

Bay Area Democrats such as U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer were quick to label Akin’s remarks as reflective of a general attitude in the Republican Party.

“It is important to note that this outburst is an outgrowth of the GOP march to the right when it comes to a woman’s health,” said Boxer in a statement.

Bay Area Women Against Rape Executive Director Marsha Blackstock also expressed concern over how someone with Akin’s stance could attain key positions in Congress such as a spot on the House Science Committee.

“Anytime you have people that are in power who hold those types of thoughts or at least are crazy enough to say them, really— I think, set the women’s movement back many, many years,” Blackstock told CBS Bay Area.

Though Republicans and Democrats were unified in their condemnation of Akin’s remarks, Republicans disputed the charge that Akin’s view was representative of their platform.

San Francisco Republican Chair Harmeet Dhillon has denied Akin’s views are similar to mainstream Republican views and has joined calls for Akin to withdraw his candidacy.  

Do you think Akin's Comments reflect most Republicans' views? Vote in the poll and let us know why in the comments.


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Robert E August 30, 2012 at 10:24 pm
If Romney wins the election he will bring all his experience from running Bain Capital first he will bleed the county dry then he will sell what is left to the Chinese for a profit. It is the same thing he did whenever he bought a company.
Antonio Catpo August 30, 2012 at 11:16 pm
... and deposit the profits in the Cayman islands.
Andrew Peceimer August 31, 2012 at 02:20 pm
Robert E,
Ask yourself do you want more Food Stamps or job? Obama has had 4 years...$4 gas, 16 trillion in debt and 12% unemployment in CA. The idea of taking money from hard working risk takers and giving to those who take no risk and do not work is what I call legalized robbery or socialism. Borrowing trillions to simply maintain the current lifestyle and the Fed printing money is shameful. I do not care that Obama is half white or that he is a great speaker. I just look at results. As Clint Eastwood says he needs to go based on his failed policies. Time to put your logic cap on and join the winning teams that will create jobs and curb wreckless spending.
Robert E August 31, 2012 at 02:34 pm
It's not the president's job to create jobs thats what all the job creaters the Republicans gave big tax breaks to were suposed to be doing. Only problem is they put all that money in their pockets and sent the jobs overseas. If you really think that giving them more tax breaks will bring the jobs back you are more gullable then I thought. I love how the consertives think you can take an economic disaster and turn it around in 4 years. It took 12 years to recover from the Great Depression and you want overnight results it never going to happen no matter whos president.
Stephanie August 31, 2012 at 04:09 pm
Robert,
OK, economic recovery takes time, I get that. I recall firing a President for uttering the words "Read my lips: no new taxes!" and for going against his word. President Obama has been unable to move unemployment below 8% as promised, but he may just have been in campaign mode when his lips moved promising the masses 5.5% unemployment by November of this year. More importantly, how long does it take for a Commander-in-Chief to extricate the country from a war(s) he campaigned against four years ago? It hasn’t taken an act of Congress or required the vote of a single Republican for the President to have stuck to his word and to have ended these wars.
Stephanie August 31, 2012 at 04:10 pm
President Bush was excoriated (and rightly so) for the deaths of 654 Americans in Afghanistan and was shown the door. 1452 Americans have died under President Obama’s prosecution of this war and the number continues to rise. Untold numbers of innocent men, women and children have died since he entered office, many killed as “collateral damage” as he ticked names off the death list he maintains and micro-manages from the White House, which in itself is sick. These numbers are just for Afghanistan, but you can reference Iraq casualties on-line if you’re interested. Sadly, many of the organizations which counted casualties under George Bush’s reign have stopped doing so while President Obama’s been in office, which is peculiar. Where is the outrage this year? Where is Cindy Sheehan? Where is the righteous indignation? Nothing has changed but the name of the man giving the orders. If you call yourself a Democrat and vote to re-elect President Obama you are a hypocrite and should be ashamed of yourself. I’ve already changed my party affiliation to Independent. I will no longer be a tool of the Democratic Party and won’t vote to re-elect a man with no discernible conscience. Wake up people!
Stephanie
Justin August 31, 2012 at 04:55 pm
Andrew--quoting Clint Eastwood, seriously? His speech was surreal at best.
Andrew Peceimer August 31, 2012 at 07:41 pm
Justin,
Are you picking on an 82 year old man? Give us all a break.
Andrew Peceimer August 31, 2012 at 07:43 pm
Robert I guess when Obama killed the Keystone Oli Pipeline he was creating more jobs and reducing gasoline prices...LOL.
Andrew Peceimer August 31, 2012 at 07:47 pm
Stephanie I agree that Afghnistan was a mistake and Obama lied about getting us out there when he wanted our vote in 2007.. Very deceptive. We need to get out of there ASAP.
Andrew Peceimer August 31, 2012 at 07:51 pm
Stephanie,
As I look at the wars and the Obama Presidency I notice that Obama goes to the funeral of rapper Heavy D but not many for war causalities. Can you explain?
Stephanie August 31, 2012 at 08:42 pm
Andrew,
I have no explaination for his behavior. I'm actually less concerned about the President's behaviour than I am about that of his followers...I used to be one. Barack Obama cast himself as a man of peace during the campaign and I thought that was refreshing after almost 7-years of war and I voted for him, but not again. He's shown himself to be, at best, indifferent to the killing, which might explain things. Maybe internal DNC polling indicates warfare and death appeals to independent voters in 2012? I hope not, but we'll see...it shocks me that not a single mainstream media source is holding him accountable for these ongoing wars. Very discouraging and a sad commentary on us as a people.
Andrew Peceimer August 31, 2012 at 09:24 pm
Stephanie, I was brain washed at UC Berkeley to be a do gooder Democrat. It took me about 10 years of being self employed and researching how tax payer money was being spent on cronnies and silly governmne projects like High Speed Rail to realize the Democrat Party is ruining the country. I am not a huge fun of the GOP but it is better than the Democrats and public unions. God bless you.
Justin August 31, 2012 at 11:17 pm
Eastwood said “We don’t need lawyers in the White House.” Um-Mitt Romney has a law degree from Harvard Law School.
Ben There August 31, 2012 at 11:58 pm
Andrew: I had the same experience at UC Santa Cruz. It was more than brain washing to be a "do gooder." There was zero tolerance for diversity of thought. One would think the UC system would welcome such diversity however sadly they do not. If you are not far left you are simply "wrong." Took me about 10 years to reflect on this and realize how the entire system has been taken over. During those 10 years though I sounded just like Justin. He must be really popular with the ladies. Just like I was.
Ben There September 1, 2012 at 12:02 am
Justin: it's Friday night....please go out and meet some people....you have way too many posts on this site (and probably others too). I'm worried about you. There is more to life than local blogs...experience life bro.
Antonio Catpo September 1, 2012 at 03:09 am
Poor Clint, it seems Alzheimer is taking over
Antonio Catpo September 1, 2012 at 03:12 am
Hey Ben
nice advice but ,,, are you out? LOL It reminds me a grafitti on a bathroom wall: "Those who write on the walls are idiots. No, I didn;t write this, I dictated it"
Ben There September 1, 2012 at 01:21 pm
Catpoo: yes I was...thank you very much for asking. Dinner with wife and kids. Having read many of Justin's posts here he seems like a very nice young man who could use a little time away from the his PC. A little face to face interaction may do him good.
Justin September 1, 2012 at 01:27 pm
Catpo-I was thinking the same thing. Easy to judge from behind a computer; huh? lol
Antonio Catpo September 1, 2012 at 01:30 pm
Hahahah ,, Ben, now you remind of my not-so-bright elementary classmates who changed my last name whenever they run out of arguments ... you must also be a very, very young man.
Vince Chutney September 1, 2012 at 01:34 pm
Perhaps. But what is Biden's excuse?
Antonio Catpo September 1, 2012 at 01:38 pm
For talking to an imaginary friend? LOL
Have you heard? "Romney is trailing an empty chair"
Vince Chutney September 1, 2012 at 02:06 pm
Antonio, not to worry. This is something you will all grow out of as you move on to middle school.
Antonio Catpo September 1, 2012 at 02:13 pm
Vinnie, Vinnie, how can you be wrong all the time? middle school was eons ago. You must be a Republican, talk like Todd Akin, believe in angels and want to destroy education in America.
Antonio Catpo September 1, 2012 at 04:45 pm
Wrong again !! First, Paul Ryan said that the GM plant was closed under the Obama administration. Wrong, it was closed under Bush's. Now he is saying that he finished a marathon in less that 3 hours. Wrong, it took him more than 4 hours ... all facts wrong!! and neocons say Paul Ryan is the brain in the Romney-Ryan team. Sad.
Andrew Peceimer September 1, 2012 at 07:58 pm
Antonio, who controls all of the CA. public schools? Republicans? ....LOL. You have no clue as to why public education in the US and CA is terrible. I suggest you get educated.
A. September 1, 2012 at 09:34 pm
I agree with you Andrew!
A. September 1, 2012 at 09:36 pm
Like!
Robert E September 2, 2012 at 03:39 am
Romney's supporters keep talking about his buisness experence but they never talk about his time as Governor why is that he has some great accomplishments we should talk about.
How about Romneycare the blueprint for the Affordable Care Act but neither Romney or his supporters like to talk about that one. In 2004, the MA Supreme Court ruled that the state’s marriage law was unconstitutional — but the Court did not rule, contrary to what is claimed, that gay marriage must be legalized and that the state constitution contains a “right” to marry. Yet, as soon as the ruling was issued, Romney commanded state agencies, by executive order, to start issuing marriage licenses to homosexual couples. I don't think they like to talk about that one also. Mitt believes that anthropogenic global warming is real and that humanity must act urgently to stop it Funny they don't talk about that one either. On the other hand, there is a sensitive issue that Romney has talked about. He has recently made it clear, through spokesperson Andrea Saul, that he is in favor of the Boy Scouts accepting homosexual Scoutmasters and homosexual Boy Scouts. This declaration is consistent with the "old" Romney's support for homosexual rights. Perhaps the "old" Romney and the "new" Romney are one and the same. Mitt Romney: A Liberal’s Liberal Republican
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Vanessa Castañeda (Editor) June 14, 2013 at 01:28 pm
Good question, cipiazza. This is probably related to a sewage pipeline replacement project takingRead More place nearby.
Alison Madden June 16, 2013 at 07:33 pm
Vanessa and ctpiazza, Buckley Stone at Pete's Harbor says it is because some time ago the CityRead More dredged near muni and ran a pipe under to spill it out at Bair Island, so it is actually the remains of rotting sea life. He knows so much about this area having been at Pete's for 20 years and knowing so much about the area the tides and the nature and land around here.