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Missouri Rep. Todd Akin is now in a lot of trouble with the GOP after his comments surrounding rape.
Akin, who’s a GOP Senate nominee, was interviewed on Aug. 19 on by KTVI-TV and asked about why he opposed abortion, even in the case of rape.
His response was, “First of all, from what I understand from doctors, (pregnancy from rape) is really rare. If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down.”
He also added that one shouldn’t punish the child, but rather the rapist.
Quickly soon after, Akin released a statement which stated that he misspoke.
“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,” he said.
Akin’s remarks have now threatened his position in the Senate race. National Republicans are currently concerned over his ability to execute a winning strategy.
However, this isn’t the first time such comments have been made. A federal judge nominated by President Bush in the early 2000s said similar things, as have state lawmakers in North Carolina and Pennsylvania. Politicians have also made claims that some women will claim that they have been raped in order to obtain an abortion.
Akin has also stated in the past that some women may claim to have been raped as a strategy during divorce proceedings.
His statements could prove really risky even with Republicans. In a national poll, only 20% of all Americans believe abortions should be illegal with no exceptions.
