Romney rebukes Akin rape remark

Missouri Congressman Todd Akin, a conservative Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate (L), and presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney / CBS/AP/Getty

(AP) ST. LOUIS — Missouri Congressman Todd Akin, a conservative Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, said in an interview broadcast Sunday that women's bodies can prevent pregnancies in the case of "a legitimate rape," adding that conception in such cases is rare.

Akin, a six-term congressman running against incumbent Democrat Sen. Claire McCaskill, was asked in an interview on St. Louis television station KTVI if he would support abortions for women who have been raped.

"It seems to me first of all from what I understand from doctors that's really rare," Akin said. "If it's a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down," Akin said of a rape victim's chances of becoming pregnant.

Akin said in an emailed statement later Sunday that he "misspoke" during the interview, though the statement did not specify which points or comments.

"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's statement said.

Akin also said in the statement he believes "deeply in the protection of all life and I do not believe that harming another innocent victim is the right course of action."

Akin's comments also brought a swift rebuke from the campaign of presumptive GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

"Governor Romney and Congressman (Paul) Ryan disagree with Mr. Akin's statement, and a Romney-Ryan administration would not oppose abortion in instances of rape," Romney spokeswoman Amanda Henneberg said.

McCaskill, who is seeking a second term, said Sunday in an emailed statement that she found the comments "offensive."

"It is beyond comprehension that someone can be so ignorant about the emotional and physical trauma brought on by rape," McCaskill said. "The ideas that Todd Akin has expressed about the serious crime of rape and the impact on its victims are offensive."

This month, Akin won the state's Republican U.S. Senate primary by a comfortable margin. During the primary, Akin enhanced his standing with TV ads in which former Arkansas governor and presidential candidate Mike Huckabee praised him as "a courageous conservative" and "a Bible-based Christian" who "supports traditional marriage" and "defends the unborn."

Akin, a former state lawmaker who first won election to the U.S. House in 2000, also has a long-established base among evangelical Christians and was endorsed in the primary by more than 100 pastors.

Terry O'Neill, president of the National Organization for Women, on Sunday called Akin's remarks "flat-out astonishing."

"That kind of rhetoric re-traumatizes sexual assault victims. ... That kind of talk, I believe, is intended to shame women," she told AP Radio.

Akin was interviewed on KTVI's "The Jaco Report," and also talked about numerous campaign issues, such as voter ID laws, the economy and Medicare. KTVI said the interview was conducted earlier in the week.

[ErinKathleenSands]

"Today, the Republican Party demonstrated again why Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan are wrong for women in the U.S. The party's committee platform approved an anti-abortion plank that champions a human life amendment to the U.S. Constitution without mentioning any exception for rape, incest or preservation of the health or life of the woman. Yet within the past 24 hours Romney-Ryan have indicated support for rape, incest and life of the woman exceptions to abortion restrictions. So, which is it? If in fact these candidates do support such exceptions, they should renounce the party's failure to include them in its 2012 platform.

Romney and Ryan should also condemn the platform's encouragement of state laws mandating medically unnecessary ultrasounds and waiting periods. These provisions are aimed simply at increasing the cost of abortions and personally humiliating women who seek them. How does this respect women?

One in three women in the U.S. will have an abortion by the age of 45, making this procedure a common and necessary aspect of women's health care needs. Women deserve leaders who will champion their access to the full range of reproductive health services, not those bent on turning the clock back on our fundamental rights."

[Eugene2012]

Romney also needs to rebuke the "personhood" bill, co-sponsored by Akin and Paul Ryan.

[shanfla]

well written!!! as dissatisfied as i am with where i live (Holland), still a US citizen and still voting even though they're probably not being counted, this is an articulate and succinct summary of the fouls that are becoming the norm at home. it's horrifying. and sad.

[AOCGUY]

What possibly could be going through someone's mind to make such an incredibly stupid comment, especially when running for office? Even if such a thing could possibly true why would he chose to make such a statement knowing full well that it is just going to **** off at least half on his constituency?

[AOCGUY]

You CBS your word filter is about as stupid as the comments Rep Aiken made. Just the other day to prove this point I copied one of your headlines and pasted it into a comment AND YOU CENSORED YOUR OWN HEADLINE. You have morons working on your editorial staff.

[Patriot_Gal]

Mr. Akin may actually have been speaking from some statistics identifying the incidence of pregnancy as a result of rape, however, the comments remain inappropriate and insensitive to women who have experienced rape.

Any comments related to an incidence of pregnancy in rape cases would be erroneous by nature as not all rape cases are reported.

Mr. Romney was right to rebuke the remarks. Since the comments were made in the public forum, the rebuke needed to be public also.

[RollotheNorman]

Nope, no such stats. The incidence of conception is about 5% from unprotected sex, whether consensual or not. Just ask Genghis Kahn.

[ladyang]

What romney meast to say is "not the words I would have used". After all, he doesn't have any daughters. But he does have plenty of granddaughers. HEAR THAT RAPISTS, ROMNEY HAS PLENTY OF GRANDDAUGHTER!

[HolyVoice]

Totally inapproriate. Don't want you on my side.

[TimeToEvolve]

So all of a sudden we are going believe what RobMe the lying flip flopping machine says? Why?

[GOP-R--Con-Men]

Romney's rebuke is purely political. He and Ryan supports the spirit if not the whole of Akin's comments. Akin comment. In fact republican legislation reflects rep. Akins thinking on rape, abortion and women's health care choices.

[HolyVoice]

Isn't this just another distraction?

[griffinsabine]

Willard is just perturbed that Akin gave away the Republicans' poker hand. This is more significant than just Akin...he pulled the curtain back and gave us an inside look at the stench filled, decrepit and putrefying cesspool that is the Republican brain. It's not just Akin who thinks stupid **** like this...wolf-in-sheeps-clothing Paul Ryan hates women too...every single GOP maggot that has been working against President Obama to trash this nation the last three years things and feels this way...no regard for seniors, minority cultures, women, the middle class, education, the arts, healthcare, clean energy...you name it. These filthy despots, these crazy and extreme whack jobs - are out to get you and your Social Security and your Medicare and your educational loans and your general health and well being. All the while President Obama has been knocking off Bin Laden and Al Quaida leaders and Somali Pirates and shoring up America's image around the world, the real enemy has been fighting him and eating at this nation like a cancer. And tumors like Akin are proof of the deep, dank place that IS the Republican party since its hijacking by the crazies.