Missouri Republican claims 'legitimate rape' rarely results in pregnancy
(CNN) - U.S. Rep. Todd Akin, who won Missouri's GOP Senate primary earlier this month and will face incumbent Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill in November's general election, said Sunday that he misspoke when he claimed "legitimate rape" rarely resulted in pregnancy.
Answering a question about whether or not he thought abortion should be legal in the case of rape, Akin explained his opposition by citing unnamed bodily responses he said prevented pregnancy.
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"First of all, from what I understand from doctors, that's really rare," Akin said of rape-induced pregnancy in an interview with KTVI. A clip of the interview was posted online by the liberal super PAC American Bridge.
"If it's a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down," Akin continued. He did not provide an explanation for what constituted "legitimate rape."
He added: "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."
In a statement Sunday, Akin wrote that he misspoke in the interview. He maintained his opposition to abortion for victims of rape.
"In reviewing my off-the-cuff remarks, it's clear that I misspoke in this interview and it does not reflect the deep empathy I hold for the thousands of women who are raped and abused every year," Akin wrote. "Those who perpetrate these crimes are the lowest of the low in our society and their victims will have no stronger advocate in the Senate to help ensure they have the justice they deserve."
"I recognize that abortion, and particularly in the case of rape, is a very emotionally charged issue," Akin continued. "But I believe deeply in the protection of all life and I do not believe that harming another innocent victim is the right course of action. I also recognize that there are those who, like my opponent, support abortion and I understand I may not have their support in this election."
Statistics on pregnancies that result from rape are difficult to produce, since rape is a crime that often goes unreported. The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, along with Planned Parenthood, each estimate that 5% of rapes lead to pregnancy. A 1996 study from the Medical University of South Carolina found the same percentage, adding that 32,101 pregnancies occurred annually from rape.
Akin, a six-term U.S. congressman, touted his socially conservative values on the primary campaign trail, and gained the support of 2008 presidential candidate and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. He was one of the first members of Congress to join the Tea Party Caucus in 2010 and has easily won re-election in recent years.
The lawmaker raised a notable $2.2 million this cycle, as of July 18.
Akin - who sits on the House Science, Space and Technology Committee - has long held a hard-line stance on abortion. He is opposed to abortions in all circumstances, and has said he also opposes the morning after pill, which he equates to abortion.
McCaskill, who is up against Akin in November's general election, almost immediately struck upon her opponent's comments Sunday, writing on Twitter: "As a woman & former prosecutor who handled 100s of rape cases, I'm stunned by Rep Akin's comments about victims this AM."
She later released a statement condemning her rival as "ignorant about the emotional and physical trauma brought on by rape."
“The ideas that Todd Akin has expressed about the serious crime of rape and the impact on its victims are offensive," she continued.
McCaskill's website also splashed Akin's comments across the homepage, and included a link where supporters could donate money to McCaskill's campaign.
Republicans consider McCaskill, first elected in 2006, highly vulnerable in her re-election bid for a second term. Ahead of the GOP primary, a Mason-Dixon poll showed the senator falling behind each of the three main GOP competitors in hypothetical match-ups among registered Missouri voters.
A spokeswoman for Mitt Romney wrote that the presumptive GOP presidential nominee and his running mate, U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, did not share Akin's sentiments on rape.
"Governor Romney and Congressman Ryan disagree with Mr. Akin's statement, and a Romney-Ryan administration would not oppose abortion in instances of rape," Romney campaign spokeswoman Amanda Henneberg wrote.
CNN's Ashley Killough, Kevin Liptak and Rachel Streitfeld contributed to this report.
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Is he really THAT stupid to even make a remark such as that?
This makes perfect sense: the Republican party wants to rape the heart & soul of America, so we know where their sickening sympathies lie.
So, Rep. Akin, when I was raped as a child was that a legitimate or illegitimate rape? I didn't get pregnant–I was only 9. Please, I want to know. You seem to be really smart and knowledgeable.
Jeez, where do these people come from. The Republican Party is just full of these idiots. Some of them make Palin look smart.
Another example of the extreme ideology that has hijacked the Republican Party.
Holy crap!!!! He's a hell of a politician, isn't he. Next topic on his crazy menu is: Rape doesn't exist at all!
This is not a socially conservative position. This is a socially ignorant position.
If McCaskill is running against this guy – I'm sure she'll win. What an idiotic statement.
Wow.....what an idiot.....I pray he doesn't make another term
By FAR the most moronic statement ever. What a jerk.
TO: Show Me Staters
FROM: A Nutmegger (CT, in case you didn't know)
Please show us that you have some brains. Do not elect this idiot to the Senate. "Misspoke," puleeeze. He's an ideologue who has no business representing anyone.
What a moron! Wonder if Romney will say anything. Does this idiot have a wife or kids?
This idiot is just a prime example of the elected members of Congress that have the power to make decisions about the future of this country. God help us all!
Nevertheless, the good folk of Missouri will elect him. They'll blame it on the liberal-leaning MSM.
What happend to Republicans who are against big government and prefer to stay out of the day-to-day lives of Americans? I'm surprised this guy wasn't tapped for VP.
"If it's a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down," Akin continued
....pretty idiotic. Akin doesn't even know the first thing about conception biology. He is in congress and that's extremely scary.
Congressman Akin..... what are the ways the human body stops fertilization when eggs and sperm come in contact? Is this another republican secret that the world does not know how it happens.
He made a really stupid statement and admitted it. He owned up to it. Biden on the other hand made a stupid statement but never admitted so and even the entire Obama campaign supports the choice of words... Sometimes people say dumb things but only those with humility are capable of admitting it.
1) Dumb because he thinks the body can somehow ascertain "legitimate" rape (whatever that means).
2) Dumb because he thinks the body has some magical means to reject "legitimate" rape.
3) Dumb because he doesn't see that if that were true it would be a form of natural abortion, which he opposes.
4) Dumb because he thinks it's OK for someone who rapes a teenage girl to destroy that girl's future life and career in order to save a largely undifferentiated blob of cells.
–> Four dumbs and you're out.
He is right, It is called a .44 magnum to the rapist head.
What a jerk. Truly did he just say that.
That jerk will be gone in November and good riddance.
Unbelievable, and this is the kind of mentality we can now expect from the Republicans? It appears they want us all to go back to the dark ages. I give up, just when I thought they could not sink any lower they prove me wrong...unbelievable.
But on the other hand, if they are representing the level of education of the population, you really got what you deserve^^ Have fun discussing creationism, abortion and gay marriage for the next 30 years.
Always a good idea to focus on the really important things in life^^
Regardless of your political party, this man is a moron – plain and simple.
How does he explain 11-year-olds getting pregnant?