Akin apologizes for rape comments; Obama says "rape is rape"
Updated at 3:30 p.m ET
(CBS News) Republican Rep. Todd Akin on Monday apologized for the controversial remarks he made over the weekend about abortion and rape, but he said he has no plans to drop out of the Missouri Senate race despite building pressure from within the GOP.
"What I said was ill-conceived, and it was wrong," Akin said on former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee's radio show Monday. "I really just want to apologize to those that I've hurt."
Akin's apology came as President Obama suggested the Republican's remarks illustrated the broad differences between Democrats and Republicans on issues like health care and reproductive rights.
"Rape is rape," Mr. Obama told reporters at the daily White House briefing Monday. "And the idea that we should be parsing and qualifying and slicing what types of rape we're talking about doesn't make sense to the American people and certainly doesn't make sense to me."
Mr. Obama added that Akin's remarks underscore "why we shouldn't have a bunch of politicians, a majority of whom are men, making health care decisions on behalf of women."
The president acknowledged that his GOP rival Mitt Romney and other Republicans have distanced themselves from Akin's statements. However, he said, "The underlying notion that we should be making decisions on behalf of women for their health care decisions, or qualifying 'forcible rape' versus 'non-forcible rape' -- those are broader issues....between me and the other party."
The controversy started after Akin, a six-term Missouri conservative now running against Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill, was asked in a local interview on Sunday whether 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 in the interview. "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.
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Romney called the remarks "inexcusable," while some Republican senators like Scott Brown of Massachusetts and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin called for him to drop out of the Senate race.
Some liberals tried to tie other Republicans to Akin's comments, noting that Romney's running mate, Rep. Paul Ryan, co-sponsored an abortion-related bill with Akin that would have limited federal funding for abortions to victims of forcible rape," rather than just rape. The FBI's definition of rape is known as "forcible rape," and it is used to distinguish between statutory rape and other kinds of rape.
Huckabee asked Akin whether he was talking about "forcible rape" when he used the term "legitimate rape."
"I was talking about forcible rape, and it was absolutely the wrong word," Akin said.
Akin said he understands that women can become pregnant from rape. "I didn't mean to imply that wasn't the case," he said. "That does happen."
While Akin acknowledged he made a "very, very serious error," he added that he's not dropping out of the Senate race.
"I don't know that I'm the only person in public office who suffered from foot-in-mouth disease," he said. "I feel just as strongly as ever that my background and ability will be a big asset in replacing Claire McCaskill... Just because someone makes a mistake doesn't make them useless."
Later in the day, Akin wrote on Twitter, "I am in this race to win. We need a conservative Senate." His Twitter message also included a link to his fundraising page.
As the Washington Post notes, the Republican Party can't force Akin to drop out of the race, but he could voluntarily resign by 5 p.m. Tuesday, or he could withdraw from the race by court order by Sept. 25.
In spite of Akin's insistence that he'll stay in the race, the pressure Monday continued to build against him. The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) told Akin Monday it would no longer financially support his Senate bid if he chose to stay in the race, a GOP source told CBS News.
Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, chairman of the NRSC, said in a public statement that Akin's comments were "wrong, offensive, and indefensible," though he stopped short of explicitly calling on him to exit the race.
"I recognize that this is a difficult time for him, but over the next twenty-four hours, Congressman Akin should carefully consider what is best for him, his family, the Republican Party, and the values that he cares about and has fought for throughout his career in public service," Cornyn said.
Meanwhile, the Karl Rove-backed super PAC American Crossroads confirmed to CBS News that it is pulling its ads from Missouri. "The act speaks for itself," Crossroads said to CBS regarding its decision to pull its ads.
The editors of the conservative magazine the National Review wrote Monday that it was time for Akin to step aside.
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell also called Akin's comments "totally inexcusable."
"What he said is just flat wrong in addition to being wildly offensive to any victim of sexual abuse," McConnell said in a statement. "Although Representative Akin has apologized, I believe he should take time with his family to consider whether this statement will prevent him from effectively representing our party in this critical election."
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don't doubt that the Republicans will be the lser on this election . Because Barack Obama it's more friendschip and charismatic than Romney , and has been working hard in this four years for the poors and special for the safaty from aur Contry, Gad bles him and the United State of America.
gad less him af
There is no apology when an elected officer is supposed to work and protect his constituents and instead Akins and many others are infiltrating their religious agenda to a human right issue.
It has NOTHING to do with religion people! It has to do with the human right of a raped woman to choose what to do with her body and the rest of her life...because we all know the consequences of giving birth, raising or sending a child to adoption. There is no excuse and no REASON why any man has the right to mandate a woman in what to decide with her body. Inexcusable!! By the way, I am a registered republican so dont start thinking that Im denouncing Akins because I am a liberal. No Siiiireeee!
But in regards to Mr. Akin's remarks it is just yet another example to me at least how our elected officials seem to think they are Omnipotent they are to the rest of us! However we live in a day and time where even the average Joe can make his or her thoughts known to the rest of the world, the funny thing is once you say something no matter to who or why, those words can't be taken back! It's like a bullet from a gun it is out there!
My advice to Mr. Akin is to resign from office!
Biden is CORRECT that, if Romney/Ryan repeal Dodd-Frank and the big banks are allowed to go back to playing the games that brought down the economy in 2008, every American who owes money -- on a mortgage, student loan, or credit card -- will be "back in chains." NOT just African Americans, but Americans of every race, creed and color!
From the pictures I've seen of the crowd Biden was addressing, the audience seems to have included people of ALL races...and THEY didn't think "y'all" was racist; they thought it was Southern!
I'm sure all of you were equally as outraged over Joe Biden's racist chain comment.
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Biden's metaphor is unfortunate but Akin did not use a metaphor. His view of legitimate rape was real and he further went on to expand on his views, digging himself deeper.
Akin's views and his efforts to write laws based on those views could further traumatize rape victims. Simply put: Akin's views can directly affect others.
I'm shocked by the lack of understanding from so many white male conservatives on this thread. You just don't get it.