CNN 2012-08-27

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“Keeping Them Honest” on Congressman⁵ Todd Akin’s shifting statements on who is trying to get him to abandon his Senate run, but frankly⁶ don’t really stand up any better than his factually challenged claim that it’s rare for rape⁷ or, as he put it, legitimate⁸ rape, to result in pregnancy⁹. We’re also looking tonight at how bone head pseudoscience notwithstanding. There is very little difference, policy difference between Congressman Akin and vice presidential pick Paul Ryan or many Republicans who oppose all abortions¹⁰ for that matter. Now, I should point out, we are not taking a position on abortion here. That is not our job. We are only pointing out that some Republicans, notably¹¹ Congressman Ryan, now seem to be distancing themselves from positions they once vocally¹² supported because Congressman Akin’s tone. Akin’s language in support of similar or even identical positions on the very same subject have turned out to be politically so toxic¹³. 

Republican Mary Matalin and Cornell Belcher are debating the notion shortly. But first, though, Congressman Akin’s evolving list of people he says are out to get him. Last night, he sent out a series of tweets. He said, and I quote, “I apologize, but the liberal media is trying to make me drop out.” He included of course a plea for donations. Then he tweeted, quote, “We can’t be intimidated¹⁴ by the liberal elite¹⁵. I will continue standing for life. Will you?” And a short time later, quote, “Return this if or re-tweet this if you won’t let the liberal elite push you around.” So a lot of liberal media, liberal elites¹⁶ language, now, when he was tweeting, we’ve already heard from such esteemed¹⁷ members of the liberal elite as the conservative nationals review, a sting of Republican lawmakers, Governor Mitt¹⁸ Romney as well as Paul Ryan. Take a look. 

 

He should drop out the race. 

 

I think he should step aside. 

 

I would have like to have seen him move aside if he looks at the bigger picture, he will do what is best and he will step aside. 

 

He unfortunately doesn’t recognize yet he’s dealt a mortal blow to his candidacy. 

 

I’m hoping he will give a great attention to this issue today and will make a decision which is in the best interest of the values he has for the future of the country and for the country itself. 

 

All right, not exactly the liberal elite there or not the liberal elite at all. So this morning, Mr. Akin was pointing fingers elsewhere. 

 

I knew that the party voters took a look at our hearts, understood who we were, had a chance to meet us in many, many different ways, and made a decision, and makes it me uncomfortable to think that the party bosses are gonna dictate¹⁹ who runs.

Ok, so now it’s party bosses. But “Keeping Them Honest” the list of people urging Congressman Akin to bow out now runs the gamet, left to right, top to bottom. That’s because his notion which he now disavows by the way, that rape rarely leads to pregnancy is flat wrong medical speaking and for Republicans politically damaging. But the reality is his position on abortion is in line with many in the conservative mainstream²⁰. Now, you can agree or disagree with that anti-abortion position. You can disavow or reaffirm it. But “Keeping Them Honest” Paul Ryan today seemed to want to be trying to have it both ways, trying to maintain his anti-abortion credentials²¹ without a harsh Todd Akin language, baggage, I should say. Here he is talking about an amendment²² to an abortion bill last year which he and Congressman Akin co-sponsored. 

 

You sponsored legislation that has the language forcible rape. What is forcible rape? 

 

Reason for rape is rape is rape, period, end of story. 

 

So that forcible rape language meant nothing to you at the time?

 

Rape is rape. And there is no splitting hairs over rape. 

 

So, he seemed unwilling²³ to talk about what he meant by forcible rape which was in this bill just last year. Congressman Ryan, we should mention, also said his campaigning on the more moderate Romney position on abortion, not his own. Although he has voted on legislation which includes exceptions on rape, incest and the mother’s health, his own agenda actually squares more closely with draft language of this year’s Republican Party platform, which favors a constitutional ban on abortion except to save a woman’s life. In addition, Congressman Ryan is also on record in favor of criminalizing abortion. And here’s what the local paper wrote when he was first running. Quote, “Ryan, a 28-year-old first time candidate said he’s consistently opposed legal abortion and makes only one exception, cases in which a doctor deems an abortion necessary to save the mother’s life.” The article continues, quote, “Ryan said he’s never specifically advocated jailing women who have abortions or doctors who perform them, but added, if it’s illegal, it’s illegal.” Earlier, I spoke²⁴ with Cornell Belcher and Mary Matalin. Cornell Belcher is a Democratic strategist and an Obama 2012 pollster. She, of course, is a GOP strategist. 

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