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Todd Akin's comments on rape-induced pregnancy during the 2012 United States Senate election in Missouri have been the subject of considerable controversy.

Representative Akin's comments, made on August 19, 2012 while campaigning for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Claire McCaskill, included the claim that women who are victims of "legitimate rape" rarely get pregnant. In the resulting furore, Akin received widespread calls to drop out of his Senate race by both Republicans and Democrats.

The incident is seen as having an impact not only on Akin's senate race and the Republicans' chances of gaining a majority in the U.S. Senate by capturing the Missouri seat, but also the upcoming 2012 Republican National Convention by "shift the national discussion to divisive social issues that could repel swing voters rather than economic issues that could attract them".

Comments

In an August 19, 2012 interview aired on St. Louis television station KTVI-TV, Todd Akin, the U.S. Representative for Missouri's 2nd congressional district and candidate for the U.S. Senate seat held by Claire McCaskill, was asked his views on whether women who became pregnant due to rape should have the option of abortion. He replied:

Well you know, people always want to try to make that as one of those things, well how do you, how do you slice this particularly tough sort of ethical question. First of all, from what I understand from doctors, that’s really rare. 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. I think there should be some punishment, but the punishment ought to be on the rapist and not attacking the child.

The comment was widely characterized as misogynistic and recklessly inaccurate. Related news articles cited a 1996 article in an obstetrics and gynecology journal, which found that 5% of women who were raped became pregnant, which equaled about 32,000 pregnancies each year in the US alone. A separate 2003 article in the journal Human Nature estimated that rapes are twice as likely to result in pregnancies as consensual sex. (See also pregnancy from rape.)

Akin responded to the comments by first issuing a press release stating:

As a member of Congress, I believe that working to protect the most vulnerable in our society is one of my most important responsibilities, and that includes protecting both the unborn and victims of sexual assault. 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. 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.

And then a commercial in which he said:

Rape is an evil act. I used the wrong words in the wrong way and for that I apologize, As the father of two daughters, I want tough justice for predators. I have a compassionate heart for the victims of sexual assault, and I pray for them. The fact is, rape can lead to pregnancy. The truth is, rape has many victims. The mistake I made was in the words I said, not in the heart I hold. I ask for your forgiveness.

In relation to the resulting furor over his original "legitimate rape" comment, Akin was quoted as saying:

“I talk about one word, one sentence, one day out of place, and, all of a sudden, the entire establishment turns on you.”

Background

Akin's comments were believed to be based on pseudoscientific claims discounted by reproductive health experts. The current scientific consensus is that rape is no less likely to lead to pregnancy than consensual intercourse.

Opponents of abortion have claimed in the past that women have a biological reaction to rape that makes it less likely to get pregnant. In a 1972 article, anti-abortion Dr. Fred Mecklenburg argued that pregnancy is unlikely from rape. One of Mecklenburg's arguments is the claim that women are less likely to ovulate after trauma for which he cited experiments in Nazi death camps.

Pennsylvania state Republican representative Stephen Freind was one of the first legislators making the argument that rape prevents pregnancy, arguing in 1988 that the odds of a pregnancy resulting from rape were "one in millions and millions and millions."

Another early proponent of this view is John C. Willke, a former president of the National Right to Life Committee and a general practitioner with obstetric training, who articulated this view in a book published in 1985 and in a 1999 article, and in an interview on August 20: "This is a traumatic thing - she's, shall we say, she's uptight. She is frightened, tight, and so on. And sperm, if deposited in her vagina, are less likely to be able to fertilize. The tubes are spastic." These assertions were dismissed by Dr. Michael Greene, a professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive biology at Harvard Medical School, and Dr. David Grimes, a clinical professor in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of North Carolina.

In 1995, Republican Henry Aldridge, a member of the North Carolina House of Representatives, made the following remarks to the House Appropriations Committee during a debate to eliminate a state abortion fund for poor women: "The facts show that people who are raped - who are truly raped - the juices don't flow, the body functions don't work and they don't get pregnant. Medical authorities agree that this is a rarity, if ever."

Akin cosponsored the Sanctity of Human Life Act which would have conferred full legal personhood on embryos beginning at fertilization or cloning, as well as bills recognizing only "forcible" rape to narrow access to federal funding for abortions.

Reactions

Akin's remarks were strongly condemned by some Republicans. Mitt Romney said they were "inexcusable, insulting, and frankly, wrong." and called for Akin to step down, as did Paul Ryan. The National Republican Senatorial Committee said that “if he continues with this misguided campaign, it will be without the support and resources of the NRSC.” Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said Akin's remarks were "totally inexcusable" and "wildly offensive". Conservative commentators Sean Hannity, Charles Krauthammer, and Mark Levin all called for Akin to step aside, as did the editorial teams of the Wall Street Journal and National Review, and nine sitting US Senators, along with all four former Republican Missouri Senators: John Danforth, Kit Bond, James Talent and John Ashcroft and also serving Missouri Republican Senator Roy Blunt. Fellow Republican Congressmen and Senate hopefuls Jeff Flake and Denny Rehberg further added their names to those calling for his resignation. Republican super-pac American Crossroads announced it would be cutting off all aid to Akin's candidacy.

After failing to show up for an interview on the CNN show Piers Morgan Tonight, host Piers Morgan created a segment with a live shot of the empty chair meant for Akin. He then proceeded to denounce Akin as "a gutless little twerp".

There have been multiple calls from Republicans for him to step down as nominee. The Washington Post reported a "stampede" of Republicans dissociating from Akin as part of damage control, with NRSC chairman John Cornyn saying the GOP would no longer provide him Senate election funding and describing Akin as "endangering Republicans’ hopes of retaking the majority in the Senate". A campaign spokesman for Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan said both disagreed with Akin's position and would not oppose abortion in instances of rape. Ryan reportedly called Akin to advise him to step aside. RNC Chairman Reince Priebus warned Akin not to attend the upcoming 2012 Republican convention and said he should resign the nomination. He described Akin's comments as "biologically stupid" and "bizarre" and said that "This is not mainstream talk that he's referring to and his descriptions of whatever an illegitimate rape is. We're hoping he hears ". According to The Hill, "prominent conservative bloggers" urged Akin to drop out while "influential conservative voices" such as Erick Erickson and Richard Grenell tweeted that Akin was dropping out, the latter of which was interpreted by The Hill as a way of pressuring Akin to drop out of the race.

Akin has been defended by some social conservative organisations, including the Family Research Council. A spokesman for the Council said that "We feel this is a case of gotcha politics... We know who Todd Akin is. We've worked with him up on the hill. He's a defender of life." Akin's remarks were also defended by the evangelical Christian activist Kirk Cameron. A representative of the American Family Association cited Willke's 1999 article to argue Akin "was exactly right". Pro-life theologian Pia de Solenni called Akin's remarks "idiotic", but also claimed that there is "no solid data" on the question of whether rape inhibits pregnancy, and opined that it was not a "far stretch to wonder if women who are raped might have a lesser rate of pregnancy resulting from the rape". Robert Fleischmann, director of pro-life group Christian Life Resources, similarly argued that Akin's point was plausible but lacked data ("I have yet to see a study that demonstrates some sort of contraceptive effect from a rape. I do believe, however, it is not an unwarranted conclusion." and "Statistically speaking, it appears something happens in a rape, either with the victim or with the perpetrator, that reduces the incidence of pregnancy."). In response to Republican demands that he resigns, Personhood USA spokeswoman Jennifer Mason said that Akin's position "is an integral part of the Republican Party platform, the same position that was held by President Ronald Reagan" and that " are left with Reagan Republicans, who agree with the Republican Party platform on abortion, and Romney Republicans, a fringe group of liberals who compromise on human life." Mike Huckabee supported Akin by soliciting donations for his Senate campaign, in which he accused the "Republican establishment" of a "carefully orchestrated and systematic attack."

Akin's Senate opponent, Claire McCaskill, released a statement stating,

It is beyond comprehension that someone can be so ignorant about the emotional and physical trauma brought on by rape.....The ideas that Todd Akin has expressed about the serious crime of rape and the impact on its victims are offensive.

President Barack Obama also responded to Akin's comments by saying "Rape is rape....And the idea that we should be parsing and qualifying and slicing what types of rape we're talking about doesn't make sense to the American people and certainly doesn't make sense to me."

Akin made two radio interviews in which he stated that he was in the race to win. On The Sean Hannity Show, he stated "I was told that there is a decision has to be made by 5 o'clock tomorrow but I was calling you and letting you know that I'm announcing today that we're (staying) in." On the Mike Huckabee show he stated, "Rape is never legitimate... I used the wrong words in the wrong way."

Political impact

Political analysts from the New York Times and the Washington Post believe that the comments have the potential to swing the United States Senate election in Missouri, 2012. Akin's comments sparked a renewed focus on the so-called Republican "War on Women". Political analysts have pointed out Akin's cosponsorship of anti-abortion bills with vice presidential candidate Ryan and the Obama campaign has "attempt to link the Wisconsin lawmaker to controversial remarks Akin made about about rape." Businessweek stated that the incident will draw attention to the fact that Akin's position is that of the national platform of the GOP.

A national poll conducted by Angus Reid Public Opinion showed that 84% of Americans disagreed with Akin's comments about "legitimate rape", and that 63% wanted him to drop out of the U.S. Senate race. A poll released August 23rd by Rasmussen Reports showed a steep drop in support for Akin among Missouri voters with McCaskill leading Akin in this poll by roughly 10 points in a sharp reversal of Akin's earlier lead.

References

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