First, some full disclosure: When Congressman Todd Akin made his now famous “remark” regarding a female rape victim’s physiological reaction to her violation, I was one of those who called for him to give up his challenge to Democrat Claire McCaskill, the Missouri Senator who was widely viewed as a dead duck. McCaskill is seen as the face of Obamacare in the “Show Me” State; and earlier, a statewide referendum on Obamacare had crashed and burned 71/29. Moreover, no honest person thinks Missouri is a state where Barack Obama will even do well, let alone win and help down-ballot Democrats.
At the time of the “remark”, Republican Akin was about 10 points up even in widely available polls. Shortly afterward, he dropped to being down about 10 points; but subsequent polls have shown Akin closing the gap. The most recent survey, done Sept. 11 by Rasmussen, shows Akin trailing by just 6 points, 49/43. That the incumbent McCaskill is under 50% shows she has not shut Akin out.
The first Democrat to use “the remark” was Elizabeth Warren, who is trying to unseat Republican Scott Brown in the Massachusetts US Senate race. It helped her briefly, then burned out. Brown now leads by 6 points. “The remark” has lost its power, and it is now time to close the wagons around this brother conservative fighting to take a very winnable seat from a very liberal Democrat.
Trading down the ratings scale is a sucker’s play.
In 2006, many conservatives were happy to see Rhode Island Senator Lincoln Chaffee squirm and wiggle as his inevitable loss grew closer. His Democrat challenger, Sheldon Whitehouse, beat him. In that victory, many were happy because Chaffee had a 35% American Conservative Union (ACU) lifetime rating. But what did we “gain” by cheering on his defeat? Sheldon Whitehouse has a ACU lifetime rating of 1.6%! Chaffee turned out to be a skunk who spoke at the Democrat convention, but we still traded down the ratings scale by 33%!
Democrat Claire McCaskill has a ACU lifetime rating of 15%, which is even lower than Harry Reid’s 18%. Todd Akin has a ACU lifetime rating of 97%. Trading down 82 points over “the remark” just doesn’t make sense.
Todd Akin was cut off from any support by the Republican Senate Committee. He needs our help. We need his conservatism in the Senate, and we don’t need another Democrat who is to the Left of Reid!
Akin needs our help. Stand up for a 97% conservative. Help him beat a 15% “conservative.” Go to https://www.akin.org/contribute/ and give what you can, especially if you jumped the gun over “the remark” as I did. I have contributed to Akin. Please join me.
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Sure Akin fumbled his words, when he said legitimate rape. He could have said actual or real or just rape. Know one is gaffe proof especially when unscripted. But the problem I have is the media was slamming him for his views about rape that were factual, and they never bothered to check. My wife is a Sexual assault nurse examiner (sane nurse) for short. She says they were trained that a woman did have a natural tendency to reject getting pregnant in almost all rape situations. We need to stand up and support this man.
Sorry, I’m a Republican but I don’t agree. Aiken needs to go. This mentality that says we need to put someone, anyone, in the Senate or House simply because they have an “R” after their name is insane. I got a phone call from the RNC where they wanted a donation. I told them “no” because they give the money to RINOs and Republican Progressives, which is even worse. No, if the man makes statements like the one he made regarding rape, I don’t want him in office nor do I want him to be affiliated with the Republican Party. This is the fault of the state party leaders for not having vetted him properly or its the fault of Tea Party members for not running or supporting the right Conservative candidate. In life, this is sometimes how we must learn our lessons. Next time, they’ll know better..
hotlipsofny…You couldn’t be more wrong. Akin is no RINO. It is the party bosses who do not want him in because he is an independent conservative thinker of high principle, not a yes-man. They were the ones who caused all the ruckus. You are calling thousands of MO voters “inept” who have been proud to have Mr. Akin represent them in Congress for the past 12 years, and 10 or 12 years before that in the MO State House. You don’t get reelected that often if you have a history of misstatements. His statement may have been politically incorrect, but it came from the heart of a patriot protecting the unborn. Second District Missourians know that. Don’t be swayed by what you see and hear from the liberal media or the party establishment.
I STAND WITH AKIN.
I HOPE THE SHOW ME PEOPLE SHOW THE WORLD THAT THE PEOPLE HAVE THE LAST SAY IN THIS RACE.
THANKS NEWT AND ALL THE REST FOR SPEAKING UP FOR AKIN.