Akin controversy proves "all politics is local" is a thing of the past

Republican Senate candidate Todd Akin celebrates his win in the senate primary race at his campaign party at the Columns Banquet Center in St. Charles, Mo., on Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012.

/ Christian Gooden,AP Photo/St. Louis Post-Dispatch

(CBS News) If anyone this year has reason to doubt the old adage coined by former House Speaker Tip O'Neill that "all politics is local," it's Rep. Todd Akin.

The six-term Republican survived the Republican Senate primary in Missouri after outside groups with a national agenda spent a slew of cash on the race. Then, after his offensive remarks about rape and abortion created an uproar on Sunday, Akin faced national condemnation and saw his support from the Republican Party, the Tea Party and American Crossroads all evaporate.

Akin says he deserves another chance: "I feel just as strongly as ever that my background and ability will be a big asset in replacing [Democratic Sen.] Claire McCaskill," he said. But in the era of super PACs, nationwide grassroots mobilization and nonstop media attention, Akin may not survive the scrutiny.

Republican Rep. Joe Walsh of Illinois -- no stranger to controversy himself -- called Akin's comments "absolutely offensive, ugly, misguided, wrong [and] insulting."

"I found it to be terribly disappointing and unbelievably insulting," he continued.

That said, the congressman added, "We live in an age where -- it's no exaggeration -- when I walk outside my house to the time I go home and go to bed at night, I've got one to two to three cameras following me... Because of this age we live in, every word I say can get sliced and diced and put up on YouTube."

Walsh is engaged in one of this year's most high-profile congressional races in Illinois' newly-redrawn 8th district. As a freshman who came into office with the Tea Party wave of 2010, Walsh has focused his campaign on the national issues that drive conservatives to the polls, like President Obama's health care law and the national debt. His Democratic opponent, Tammy Duckworth, meanwhile, is an Iraq war veteran with support from Mr. Obama, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and liberals nationwide.

"My thesis would be everything's national" in congressional elections, Walsh said to CBSNews.com. "Because our national problems are still so big and so pressing, it dwarfs anything local."

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[smartalecq]

The Republicans has become too extreme. They cater to the likes of tea party favorite Paul Ryan who wants to abolish medicare, and conservative extremist Todd Akins who wants rape victims to carry the baby of their rapists.

[dj_chi]

I just read how the doc who came up with this bogus "rape victims can shut down a pregnancy" theory was a Romney surrogate in '07 who Romney praised for his contributions to the anti-abortion movement.

[abbe91]

Yep, Akin's mistake was just to let slip what he thinks. Bad timing.

[smartalecq]

Republican's are always restricting the rights of other groups. Women, gays, blacks, minorities, students, poor people, immigrants, even rape victims.

[TimeToEvolve]

Akins represents what has become such a sad, sad situation in our country. I was handing out Romney Ryan pink slips the other day at a nearby train station. It struck me how many people are wandering around dazed and confused.

The right wing has successfully dumbed down enough people that we are surrounded by zombies who have no idea what is going on. They will even vote for the Republicons to rob and steal from them and take their rights and freedoms. And the Republicons have gone so far off the deep end that they have dragged a lot of "normal" people far to the right. This is like a Star Trek episode that I remember "Landreau"

[BWB2020]

Misanthropes like Akin are a nickel a dozen in the GOP.

All his apologies are worse than meaningless, his words do indeed reflect what he holds in his heart, and reflect how he would vote on women's issues.

Even if he should step down, whoever the GOP chooses as his replacement will share the same view, they won't say so publicly, but they will vote with such a mindset, that is at the core of what they are, misogynist, racist, aristocracy-worshiping, neo-fascist authoritarians.

[TimeToEvolve]

If you are a radical right wing wacko from an in-bred state and then you say something that is a mantra of the Republicon Party and then that is exposed for the world to see, "Blame Yo'self" - Herman Cain, 2012

[zebra8835]

"All Politics is Local", What would you expect from a state that erects a bronze bust statue of Rush Limbaugh in its capitol against the wishes of the people. If they don't like it- tough! shove it down their throats anyway. If it was really rape, the voters should have a way to sort of "shut down" the whole process.

[Dancing-in-the-Streets]

There is one thing the female body does have the ability to shut down...........The Republican Party!!

Women Will Remember in November!

[EmpireGeorge______--]

I see you won't be running on Obama's record, but instead a fake war on women....don't confuse Obama's attacks on religious freedom, with Republicans being against women, that's just silly...and laughable, that this is your tactic.....is that because Romney will be getting a lot of the image/looks vote from many women ? so you have to counter that ?

[signseeker1717]

George, stay on topic. President Obama's stance on this issue is clear: he is pro choice. And THAT is the subject here.

Go look at KPeters' post on nationwide Republican efforts to restrict and interfere in women's reproductive health choices (which is only a partial list of anti-women laws being passed by Republican-dominated state legislations), THEN come back and tell us how you think these actions constitute a "fake war".

Nationwide legislation is not "fake".

There are no "attacks on religious freedom" on this issue. Religious organizations can receive exemptions from providing birth control and abortion if they so choose. PERIOD.

It's WOMEN's choices that are under assault.

And THAT is not "silly" or "laughable".

The majority of registered voters are women, and the majority of them are pro choice. RomneyRyan emphatically are NOT (actually Romney was before he wasn't, another example of his chronic flip-flopping, and yet another reason not to trust him). Ryan's anti-choice views have been clear throughout his tenure in Congress, and most recently he was co-sponsor of "personhood" legislation that fortunantely died in the House. Their message and intentions are clear: the Republican party is going after restricting women's reproductive choices at both the State and Federal levels.

This may not be important to you, "George", but it is VERY important to millions of American women.

On THIS issue, a woman who votes for a Republican is like an African American voting for a Klansman.

Yes, some women WILL vote for Romney.

But I'd bet the farm that on this issue alone, the MAJORITY of women will NOT.

[zarnon61]

No fan of Akin but sad to see how the people don't matter in the politcal process anymore. Large corporations and uber-wealthy individuals playing kingmaker. We need to eliminate this kind of funding but no one has the nads.

[AOCGUY]

If Congress critter Aiken had stuck with the issues of importance to his constituents rather than speak about things he clearly has no clue about then his politics would have stayed local and he would still no doubt have the finacial support of the party. Stupid is as stupid does.

[stupa5]

GOP the party of Mental Midgets & God Squaders
Akin...the Latest & Greatest.

No doubt he'll receive endorsements from Palin & Bachman!