Will Akin distract Romney/Ryan's pre RNC week?

[Likely Voter]

If you haven't heard, GOP MO Sen nominee Todd Akin said something really stupid about rape and abortion over the weekend, noting that victims of "legitimate rape" don't get pregnant due to some mumbo jumbo about women's bodies rejecting rape sperm or something.

Anyway Romney/Ryan campaign condemned the remark, but is that the end of it? In their comments the campaign said that Romney/Ryan were not against abortion in the case of rape. However, Ryan actually has been against the rape exception in the past and he co-sponsored legislation with Aiken which tried to redefine rape (to just "forcible rape"). Ryan is also a co-sponsor of the "Sanctity of Human Life Act", which gives "all the legal and constitutional attributes of personhood" to fertilized eggs (essentially outlawing all abortions and some forms of birth control and in vitro fertilization).

This thing could end up as a big distraction between now and the RNC with ROmney/Ryan spending a week talking about abortion, rape, IVF, Personhood, etc. Things that they probably don't want to be talking about. You can bet the Dems are going to use this opportunity to try and run up the score on their gender gap.

[Likely Voter]

I suspect he will drop out, although Romney hasn't joined other republicans calling for him to pull out. It seems to be an opportunity for him to do so but maybe he is afraid of pissing off social conservatives. The Family Research Council is now coming to Akin's defense.

But even if he drops out, I still suspect that the media are going to start asking Romney/Ryan about personhood, abortion and rape.

[Likely Voter]

If Akin stays this will certainly distract the week. If some republicans are backing akin and others are calling him to pull out Romney should pick a side publicly. But I suspect he will try and go down the middle and condemn his comments but stop short of calling for him to pull out (which is where he is now).

[Likely Voter]

I understood his comment more as "women are able do deal (psychologically) with being raped and getting pregnant because of it and handle this as well".

Not as "women who get raped have sperm-killing stuff, preventing pregnancies".

Anyway, it would be good for us if he stays in. Much more winnable than let's say Steelman jumps in.

He said "from what I understand from doctors, if it is a legitimate rape, the female body has ways of shutting that down"

It seems pretty clear...women (when they were 'legitimately raped', whatever that means) have some capability of not getting pregnant. If we are talking stats, apparently 5% of rapes result in pregnancy.

[Likely Voter]

I understood his comment more as "women are able do deal (psychologically) with being raped and getting pregnant because of it and handle this as well".

Not as "women who get raped have sperm-killing stuff, preventing pregnancies".

Anyway, it would be good for us if he stays in. Much more winnable than let's say Steelman jumps in.

He said "from what I understand from doctors, if it is a legitimate rape, the female body has ways of shutting that down"

It seems pretty clear...women (when they were 'legitimately raped', whatever that means) have some capability of not getting pregnant. If we are talking stats, apparently 5% of rapes result in pregnancy.

No, by "shutting it down" he could have meant that women psychologically can supress the act of being raped. Not that it would make his comment much better, probably even worse and misogynistic, as he implies that being raped can be overcome by "strong women" and that abortion is not needed in such a case.

I havent seen anyone interpret it that way. Not even he is defending it that way.

I've talked to a couple of women (including one who is pro-life) about this and nothing infuriates them more than watching some old male politician talking about their bodies. This is why so far only Mike Huckabee and the Family Research Council are the only ones who seem to be on this guys side

[Likely Voter]

Well TPM is just reporting that the party wants him out  but he is saying he is staying in. There is no indication he can be kicked out, so it is up to him.

I think by the end of the day Romney should call for him to drop out. What does he have to lose? It doesnt take a lot of courage now as many other republicans have already done it.

[Likely Voter]

Romney refusing to endorse this guy is not exactly a badge of courage. In fact calling for his withdrawal isn't exactly courageous either, it only requires him to pick a side within the GOP. Something he seems unwilling to do.

Romney has an opportunity here to show women voters that he will not tolerate this kind of stuff. He can make up for his limp reaction to the Limbaugh Fluke thing.

I dont understand why he hasnt called for this guys withdrawal. Is he that afraid of the FRC and Huckabee wing?

[Likely Voter]

Paul Ryan has basically the same views as Akin (Google "No Taxpayer Funding  for Abortions Act"-gave us that lovely term of "forcible rape"), yet he gets off the hook?

On Huckabee's show today Mike coached Akin to say that he was really trying to say "forcible rape" and not "legitimate rape" as if that made everything OK. Apparently this "forcible rape" thing is something the far right has been pushing for a while, including Ryan. It was pulled from the bill after the outcry but getting to my original post, Akin puts it back into the news and will eventually force Ryan to defend it.

[Likely Voter]

So why wont Romney join the entire GOP establishment, including the head of the RNC, the Senate Minority Leader and the head of the NRSCC, and publicly call for him to step down.

I think by tomorrow if this guy isn't out Romney will be public about it. He cant just do this behind the scenes he has to take  stand on the record.

[Likely Voter]

well McConnel and Cornyn want him out so if Romney wanted to placate the Senate GOPers he would join them publicly

[Likely Voter]

Romney did get closer to calling for a withdrawal, but didnt actually call for it in interview saying
""He should spend 24 hours considering what will best help the country at this critical time,"

Does this mean that if Akin doesnt drop out on Tuesday, Romney will then explicitly call for him to step down?

[Likely Voter]

Huckabee is probably the only guy that could talk this guy into staying or going.

After his Chick Fil A thing, he has shown that he has a lot of sway with the base. I think this is why ROmney didnt fully throw Akin under the bus, in fear of pissing off The Huck

[Likely Voter]

The problem is that Huckabee can gin up the socon base and turn Akin into a martyr fighting against the GOP establishment. This is just the kind of infighting that they dont need going into the RNC. THe evangelical base already dont trust Romney and the establishment wing.

The problem is that the establishment people dont really have anything to offer Huckabee. He is doing fine on his own. They have no leverage.

[Likely Voter]

Romney has joined the rest of the GOP establishment and explicitly called for Akin to leave the race.

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via NBC

[Likely Voter]

there has only been one poll conducted over just one night so who knows if she is losing. Plus he will likely now be outspent heavily by DNC and McCaskill.

On FOX tonight Ed Rollins predicted he will lose and possibly cost Romney MO. Not sure about Romney losing but it might put the state in play and force Romney to spend some money, especially as the party and Crossroads are pulling out of the Sen. race