Today, The Daily Beast called the Republican response to Todd Akin's inappropriate comments about rape "swift and harsh" – as it should have been. His comments were inexcuseable.
Below are a few of the reactions of Republican leadership, including some local voices:
Republican Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney: Today, Governor Romney called for Akin to get out of the race. This follows the campaign's statement, which read, "Gov. Romney and Congressman Ryan disagree with Mr. Akin's statement, and a Romney-Ryan administration would not oppose abortion in instances of rape." Romney also offered his own perspective of his own, calling Akin's words, "insulting and inexcusable".
Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell: Calling the comments "wildly offensive", McConnell urged Akin to consider withdrawing from the race, "Although Representative Akin has apologized, I believe he should take time with his family to consider whether this statement will prevent him from effectively representing our party in this critical election."
National Republican Senatorial Committee chief Sen. John Cornyn: Following a conversation with Akin in which he told Akin that the RSCC would not support his candidacy and would cancel $5 million in ad buys, he publicly stated, "over the next 24 hours, Congressman Akin should carefully consider what is best for him, his family, the Republican Party, and the values that he cares about and has fought for throughout his career in public service."
Crossroads GPS leader Karl Rove: “After those damaging statements, I mean to try and differentiate between what’s a legitimate rape and an illegitimate rape and believing somehow that a woman’s body would reject a pregnancy if it was an illegitimate rape … These were reprehensible and deplorable comments. There’s no way he can recover in my opinion, so our group decided if he remains the nominee, there’s no reason to throw good money after bad by trying to win this seat."
Republican National Committee communications director Sean Spicer: Spicer called Akin's comments "reprehensible” and “biologically stupid.”
Colorado Women's Alliance Debbie Brown: “Missouri GOP Senate candidate Todd Akin’s remarks regarding “legitimate rape" and the biology regarding pregnancy are not only grossly inaccurate, they are offensive to women. …Unfortunately, some politicians facing a challenging election have attempted to place one man's strange views falsely on an entire movement of conservatives or Republicans…. This is solely for political gain, and it's wrong, as conservatives across the country have rallied around women by denouncing Akin's statement.”
Unfortunately, Brown is right. Just a few minutes ago, ABCNews White House Correspondent Jake Tapperannounced that the Obama campaign would blast out an email from Sandra Fluke about the situation. While Akin's comments were reprehensible and just plain inaccurate, Obama's redistributing the comments in order to seize upon the unfortunate comments is tacky at best, and really a disservice to women and rape victims nationwide.
But, of course, we're still waiting for Democrats to denounce Shaffer's ridiculous remarks in which he compared his reversal of political fortune to rape. Anyone? [crickets chirping]
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