In new ad, McCaskill hits Akin for "legitimate" rape comment

(CBS News) With the deadline officially passed for Republican Todd Akin to drop his Missouri Senate bid, incumbent Democrat Claire McCaskill is out with a new ad targeting the candidate for his controversial comments about "legitimate rape" and other hot-button topics, asking voters what they think he might say "next"?

The 30-second-spot, entitled "Calendar," flips through some of the more contentious comments that Akin has uttered in recent memory - including statements about Social Security, Medicare, minimum wage, student loans, as well as his now-notorious "legitimate rape" comment.

"What will he say next?" the narrator asks.

In August, Akin incited the disbelief of Democrats and Republicans alike when he suggested in a radio interview that if a "legitimate rape" occurs, "the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down." Even if a pregnancy did result, Akin said, "The punishment ought to be on the rapist and not attacking the child." He later said he has empathy for rape victims and acknowledged that rapes can cause pregnancy.

Amid uproar over the suggestion that only some rapes are "legitimate" - as well as the notion that rapes don't result in pregnancy - national Republican leadership, including Mitt Romney, condemned the statements and called on Akin to bow out of the race.

Yesterday, the final day Akin could legally withdraw from the contest, the candidate announced that he would not do so.

His decision, though expected, comes as a blow to Republicans. McCaskill is a controversial figure in the increasingly red state, and her seat had been targeted by the GOP as a prime pick-up opportunity in the Senate.

In light of that, some Republicans say they are considering lending Akin support.

On Wednesday, conservative South Carolina Senator Jim DeMint, who helms the Senate Conservatives Fund, and former presidential candidate Rick Santorum, who has in the past called Akin a "good man" who made a "ridiculous" comment, both endorsed Akin.

"If Republicans are to win back the Senate and stop President Obama's liberal agenda, we must defeat Senator Claire McCaskill in Missouri. Her support of President Obama's job-killing, big-spending policies are sending our country into an economic abyss. And her passionate support of ObamaCare is ensuring healthcare costs go up while quality of care goes down. Simply put, we cannot afford six more years of Senator McCaskill," they said in a joint statement. "Todd Akin is a principled conservative who is committed to winning and fighting for freedom in the U.S. Senate."

Meanwhile, according to ABC, the Senate Conservatives Fund suggested yesterday that it might fund Akin's bid after all, because "circumstances have changed."

Akin has long been seen as the candidate who will give McCaskill her best shot at retaining the seat - even before his "legitimate rape" comments - and the campaign had in recent weeks been relatively benign in its attacks on him. As the campaign demonstrated with its new ad, however, that strategy is certain to change going forward.

[MaryMaryWhere]

This whole rape comment fiasco is just wagging the dog (distracting us from the important issue). The most important issue our country is facing is our fiscal mess. We are 15 trillions dollars in debt, borrowing money from China, and about to default on our loans. We simply cannot afford big spenders like McCaskill anymore. If you visit mccaskillrecord.com you will find that her record is a record of high spending that our country can simply no longer afford.

[MaryMaryWhere]

This whole rape comment fiasco is just wagging the dog (distracting us from the important issue). The most important issue our country is facing is our fiscal mess. We are 15 trillions dollars in debt, borrowing money from China, and about to default on our loans. We simply cannot afford big spenders like McCaskill anymore. If you visit mccaskillrecord.com you will find that her record is a record of high spending that our country can simply no longer afford.

[thebob-bob]

A clear statement from DeMint, Gingrich and the batpoup-crazy mysoginistic wing of the Republican Party. Women! Back in the kitchen and the bedroom! Men will decide if you can have babies, if you are legitimately raped or not. Mustn't be a Jezebel and wear suggestive clothing or go on a date with the guy before he rapes you or be a seductive Lolita, then you're just asking for it. On birth-control?? You must be a sl>t and must have had lots of partners and you know what that makes you, don't you. A guy can have lot's of partners but not you.

Bring on the Religious Right, the im-Moral minority and let them decide what you can an can't do because men know better. Right?

[unsatisfied321]

Wrong. YOur personal bias against Republicans is showing. Most put women on pretty high pedastel. The trouble is they worry about the affect abortion has not only on the unborm but the woman. Studies show that those who have abortions perfrom never get over it and suffer serious depression most of the rest of their lives. You might want to look at what such policies do TO women before you start throwing out the liberal "talking points" against a view that tries to help women. Though Akin is out of step with liberals, and with most Republicans on this issue, he at least cares about human life while Obama has little or no concern for it as shown in his stand on partial birth abortion. Both are fanatical views but don't jump on one unless you are willing to jump on the other. Most liberals, and I know quite a few of those, can't countenance Obama's thinking any more than they can Akins. And don't forget McCaskill supports Obama in EVERYTHING.

So lets get to the real issue in Akin and McCaskill. If you want someone who will continue to destroy this ecomony in lock step with Obama vote for McCaskill. She's done her best to aid and abet his failed policies, and if you are a fiscally responsible person, you either overlook her immoral support of Obama or Akins foolish remark. In the long run which will matter to you and your children?
Sure, if you want to to vote on the basis of one statement that has you steamed, vote McCaskill, but don't forget she has mad more gaffes and blunders on fiscal policy than Akin could in a lifetime. Get the blinders off and look at things that really matter to this country NOW and maybe you will finally see things as they really are.

[johnlockesghost]

A prairie dog ought to be able to win an election against this idiot.

[davidd5063]

So now the National GOP has changed it's mind and WILL FUND Akin. Tell me GOP, why should we ever take anything you say or do or "condemn" seriously, since everyone knows you're morally bankrupt opprotunist who simply has to be given no other choice? See American women, it wasn't Akin after all, it was the ENTIRE PARTY - they just had to be forced to ADMIT IT due to their lack of INTEGRITY.

[endrepubs]

Akin will probably win the Senate seat by a squeaker. Then, what will the Republicans do?? They will probably welcome him with open arms then! He could win this seat even though he has been written off. Remember, this is Missouri and Missouri voters are very conservative.

[captech30]

They are? What are you smoking? If we are all so conservative, how is it that Claire McCaskill got elected as a Senator? If we are so conservative, how is it our Governor is a Democrat? St Louis and Kansas City, the two largest cities in the state, are largely liberal. Most of the rural portions of the state are conservative. There are a lot more independent voters here than anyone realizes, because Missouri doesn't require you to "register" as a conservative or a liberal in order to vote. We can't even vote a straight party ticket here any more.

[john92021]

he hasn't finished talking yet. He is a legitimate contender.

[alapbangla]

Anyone voting for Akin will be simple doing a disservice to this country and even to Republicans to a great extend. We want people with good judgement in the Senate not some radical ideologist.

[captech30]

HAHAHAHA, that's the funniest thing I've heard all day. I hate to tell you this, but any Senator that votes with their party 100% of the time is a radical ideologist. I can tell you, Claire McCaskill has voted for things her constituents do NOT support. She's nothing but a party hack.

[unsatisfied321]

If you want someone with good judgement why do you support Obama? THe man hasn't got a ounce of good judgement in his entire body. And McCaskill--wo! talk about a bad judge of anything from the economy to foreign policy! When liberal mice fall into line behind bad decisions McCaskill is right up front shoving herself into first place!

Democrats are notorious for attacking others, just look at whats is going on across the country simply because their policies stink and if they put them out there they lose. Obama is the worst and McCaskill runs a close second!

[Ben37221]

Now the country is seeing how extreme the republican party have become. The GOP platform want the government to mandate a woman to have the child of a rapist. contrary to the GOP, most Americans think that a woman should be able to make the decision that concern their body, and that is what Obama is advocating also. Any woman that vote for the GOP should have their head examined.

[MarieAnne13]

I shudder to think of such an idiotic, insensitive person in a position of power.

[unsatisfied321]

ANd yet you're probably voting for Obama who believes in partial birth abortion. Talk about insensitive!

[dragontats]

All republicans believe this stuff, he is just stupid enough to get caught saying it out loud. These lunatics think god controls every single aspect of everything that happens in the world. Loonies, loonies, loonies. Get god out of government.

[johnlockesghost]

Nothing wrong about God and government it's religion and government that needs separation. Oh yeah, according to the law of the land, it is supposed to be!

[ralphing]

Fully agree with you, dragontats .