Vice Presidential pick Paul Ryan (R-WI) co-sponsored bills with Akin that would restrict federally-funded abortions, even for victims of rape and incest. Ryan stood by his vote in a T.V.interview, but declined to elaborate, saying simply "rape is rape". However, he himself made a distinction in the legislation he co-sponsored with Akin to categorize "forcible rape"? When pressed Ryan dodged the issue by again repeating "rape is rape." While Mitt Romney excludes abortion restrictions on cases of rape, incest, or when the health of other is at stake, Ryan does not. In fact, the Republican National Convention platform has a plank that embraces the Ryan view, and excludes rape and incest as legitimate reasons for an abortion. This plank persists despite the last three Republican Nominee's, George W. Bush, John McCain, and now Mitt Romney who have openly opposed it.
Some conservatives rallied around Akin. Family Research Council President Tony Perkins faulted GOP leaders for trying to quickly shove Akin aside. He called Akin’s comments “indefensible,” but noted that “when others have made mistakes, you haven’t seen the entire Republican establishment abandon him. I think it’s somewhat suspect.” Perkins compared Akin’s situation to that of former senator George Allen (R-Va.), who came under fire during his 2006 reelection campaign for calling an aide to his opponent “macaca,” but didn’t face immediate calls to drop out.
How do you justify one highly offensive remark, with another highly offensive remark? Well let me tell you, despite all the (in my humble opinion), false outrage by the Right against Rep. Akin lies a Republican base that sees absolutely nothing wrong with what Akin said. Oh it was mistake BUT, the comment was ugly BUT, It was regrettable BUT... But What? The man said some rape was legitimate! He apologised, it was a poor choice of words, and then goes on to tell people some women "use rape" as an "excuse" to get abortions. Really?
Stop for a minute. Should we be outraged because of what he said, continues to say, or his refusal to amend his radical Pro-Choice values? Or, should we accept the fact that this man simply said what he thinks, and believes in his heart to be true, despite its poisonous political overtones? For all their hard core indignation, the Republican party is now stuck with a man whose Pro-Choice religious convictions should portend his downfall, but will it? This kind of scurrilous statement should be drawing all the fire it has gotten, but for hard core Republicans this was just a slip of the tongue. It is certainly not worthy of the man leaving his Senate race. Mitt Romney picked Paul Ryan as his running mate to appeal to these people, the legislative association between Ryan and Akin is simply icing on the cake. I spoke of Paul Ryan's poor record on womens rights a few days ago, if you have any doubt at all, you should see how much this emphasizes it.
This is the new face of the Republican Party. They boo uninsured people for not taking personal responsability for their health care, when they can barely make ends meet. They boo a gay soldier serving in Afghanistan who was putting his life on the line every day so they could voice their hate. They want to destroy the social safety net in this country, by telling lies and misrepresentations. They now want to give rape legitamacy in order to promote their radical views against abortion.They do all these things, AND THEY DON'T CARE WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT IT. Well if you subcribe to their view of the world, you know who to vote for. However, if you don't, you need to stand up on November 6th and let these small minded fear mongers know that this is not the kind of America you want to live in.
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