It’s amazing, and yet all too predictable. Rep Todd Akin, the same guy who seems to have bought into wingnut pseudoscience that insists women who are raped can somehow selectively prevent or abort any resulting pregnancy, sits on the House freaking Science Committee. And the good news is, he may stay there, because his bid to win a Missouri senate seat is in real peril now:
TPM— In an ominous sign for Republican officials, some of whom are openly calling on Akin to reevaluate his candidacy entirely, Family Research Council president Tony Perkins warned that any push to remove Akin might be seen as a slight by the pro-life movement. He singled out Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA), who was the first major Republican lawmaker to call for Akin’s exit from the race.
“He should be careful because based on some of his statements there may be call for him to get out of his race,” Perkins told Politico. “He has been off the reservation on a number of Republican issues, conservative issues I should say. His support among conservatives is very shallow.”
Please, by all means Tony Perkins, you miserable, lying sack of conman vomit, throw Scott Brown to the wolves and keep Akin in the race. Up to now Akin’s opponent, Sen Claire McCaskill, was looking at a near certain defeat. But Akin’s screw up has caused mainstream GOP funders to bail on him, leaving him low on cash and looking like a heel. McCaskill has a much better chance to pull this out now, although truth be told even with Akin’s horrific statement and beliefs he is still probably favored to win that seat, for now.
But yeah, this scientifically illiterate moron is the kind of idiot teapartiers would love to stack our science agencies with.
Pedantry alert:
…he may stay there [on the House Science Committee]….
That’s unlikely since his 2 year term is ending and he’s not simultaneously running for re-election to the House.
Yes please. If you feel slighted, by all means take your ball and go home.
Because the last thing we want is for the pro-life movement to feel slighted. Who gives a shit about what’s true or decent or any of that liberal nonsense?
LOL, my sarcastic thought exactly piegasm.
So what? Michele Bachmann is on the House intelligence committee. It seems the Republican Tea Party first determines what one has the least of and that’s your committee.
“…insists that women who are raped can selectively…abort any resulting pregnancy,…”.
Uh, no. Akin doesn’t “insist” that at all. He OPPOSES legalized abortions for women whose pregnancy results from rape; in fact, this opposition was the entire basis behind his infamous comments yesterday.
dan4: In this context, “abort” does not mean “have an abortion procedure”, it means “spontaneously lose the fetus/embryo”. Everybody else: I KNOW you knew this already.
I’m sure you’ll be shocked and amazed to find out he’s also a climate denier.
“Uh, no. Akin doesn’t “insist” that at all.” – Yes, he does.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spontaneous_abortion
dan4, I think Stephen meant that such women can selectively abort foetuses resulting from rape by praying, or using the power of positive thinking, or something. Not that they would require medical intervention to abort the foetuses.
I was going to say “with the power of their minds”, but I don’t think the likes of Sen. Akin think we women have minds. We’re like jellyfish in that respect; no CNS, just passively floating through life waiting to be impregnated.
“He should be careful because based on some of his statements there may be call for him to get out of his race,” Perkins told Politico. “He has been off the reservation on a number of Republican issues, conservative issues I should say. His support among conservatives is very shallow.”
Says much about Akins and all the scurrying R’s do as they try to contain their self-ignited brush fires. Of course, they won’t readily admit either the igniting or the scurrying unless someone holds their feet to the changing climate.
It would be interesting to know if this mechanism prevents conception or if prevents implantation after conception. It would seem to be a difference that matters.
The news from one hour ago says he’s holding his ground and will run for office. Excellent news indeed. The Romney team must be in freakout mode…I mean, the sky is always falling on those guys