Todd Akin's Abortion Comments Set Off Firestorm

By Julie Sobel // August 19, 2012 | 5:40 p.m.

Missouri GOP Senate nominee Todd Akin claimed in an interview airing Sunday that victims of "legitimate" rape couldn't get pregnant because women have "ways to shut that whole thing down."

Akin made the comments in an interview with St. Louis station KTVI.

"It seems to me, first of all, from what I understand from doctors that's really rare," said Akin on pregnancy resulting from rape. "If it's a legitimate rape the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down. But let's assume that maybe that didn't work or something. You know, I think there should be some punishment. But the punishment ought to be on the rapist and not attacking the child."

Akin released a statement Sunday saying that he "misspoke" and wrote later on Twitter that "all of us understand that rape can result in pregnancy."

"In reviewing my off-the-cuff remarks, it's clear that I misspoke in this interview and it does not reflect the deep empathy I hold for the thousands of women who are raped and abused every year," Akin said in the statement. "Those who perpetrate these crimes are the lowest of the low in our society and their victims will have no stronger advocate in the Senate to help ensure they have the justice they deserve."

"I recognize that abortion, and particularly in the case of rape, is a very emotionally charged issue," he continued. "But I believe deeply in the protection of all life and I do not believe that harming another innocent victim is the right course of action. I also recognize that there are those who, like my opponent, support abortion and I understand I may not have their support in this election."

In a statement, Romney campaign spokeswoman Andrea Saul said "Governor Romney and Congressman Ryan disagree with Mr. Akin's statement, and a Romney-Ryan administration would not oppose abortion in instances of rape."

Talking Points Memo cites a 1996 study by the American Journal of Obstetricians and Gynecologists that found rape-related pregnancy is "a cause of many unwanted pregnancies," and an estimated "32,101 pregnancies result from rape each year." Akin has also recently said he wants to ban the morning after pill. Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill condemned Akin's latest comments. "It is beyond comprehension that someone can be so ignorant about the emotional and physical trauma brought on by rape," said McCaskill in a statement. "The ideas that Todd Akin has expressed about the serious crime of rape and the impact on its victims are offensive." Though the congressman started the general election with an edge on McCaskill, a controversy like this could hurt the Republican badly with female voters. McCaskill's team wanted to face Akin in the general election -- they took the rare step of spending money to help Akin win the Republican primary -- and a comment like this makes it clear why. Akin won a three-way primary earlier this month, beating former Treasurer Sarah Steelman and businessman John Brunner. McCaskill and the Democrats ran "negative" ads that boosted Akin among the state's conservative electorate, signaling a preference for him as a general election opponent. All the Republican candidates in the were considered relatively weak, though Akin was thought to be the most beatable of the pack. The ramifications could reverberate beyond the Show Me State -- Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan will almost certainly be confronted with questions about Akin and his comments, and the remarks could focus attention nationally on abortion at a time when Republicans want to be talking about the economy.

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