A letter to Rep Akin - Page 2

I don't buy that. He and Paul Ryan worked on that bill where they tried to define "forcible" rape. What about rape where you are knocked out or drugged? Or too scared or in shock to fight back? How much of a fight must be put up before it is deemed "forcible"? 

Many republicans are against abortion even for rape/incest victims. I believe Akin spoke the truth about what many of them believe, and some are only distancing themselves because they don't want to look bad in an election year - yet they agree with him.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/22/todd-akin-abortion-rape-incest_n_1819201.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000009

Sorry - HuffPo is NOT a credible news source to me. Nor do I think working on a bill that differentiates forcible rape from statutory rape automatically evil.

Yes, a lot of conservatives (i.e.: Republicans) DO believe there shouldn't be exclusions to abortion for rape or incest. Finally, Akin stood up and said it! You have to at least admit he is willing to stand by his beliefs. He never apologized for that. He apologized for being wrong about the number of women who get pregnant after a rape, being wrong about the biology and for using the word "legitimate" which was taken to mean, perhaps, much differently than how he intended.

When the people in his district voted for him in the primaries they knew what they were getting. If they didn't, they certainly do now. I think he WILL get votes. I also still think he has done a lot to further the abortion issue because now people really do need to get off the fence about it. There is no way to "soften" a stance against abortion. Either you're against it or you're not. As one website said, "It is completely wrong to murder an innocent baby except ..." What is wrong with that picture?!?!?!

(For the record, I'm pro-abortion - in all cases. I believe it really is the woman's right to chose. I don't believe it is a CHILD's right to choose. I think if a child wants an abortion, there are all sorts of questions that need to be answered. I just appreciate that Akin has furthered the debate because maybe - just maybe - we would all talk with a common baseline of understanding. Yes it is a baby. Yes the baby dies.)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cookie2 

Sorry - HuffPo is NOT a credible news source to me. Nor do I think working on a bill that differentiates forcible rape from statutory rape automatically evil.

 

Yes, a lot of conservatives (i.e.: Republicans) DO believe there shouldn't be exclusions to abortion for rape or incest. Finally, Akin stood up and said it! You have to at least admit he is willing to stand by his beliefs. He never apologized for that. He apologized for being wrong about the number of women who get pregnant after a rape, being wrong about the biology and for using the word "legitimate" which was taken to mean, perhaps, much differently than how he intended 

HuffPo is very credible. I read a lot of articles on there and they are credited to Reuters, BBC, Washington Post, all sorts of news sources. I see the exact same articles on other news sources. What makes it different is that it also carries a lot of opinion pieces, columnists, blog writers. One must know the difference between the two.

I have seen the information I posted above on other news sources since, and I saw it being reported on TV last night (DH was watching some news show - don't know what it was as I don't much watch TV news).

I think you are making a huge assumption when you say that trying to define "forcible" rape is because they are trying to differentiate that from statuatory rape. Frankly, that is a load of bull. The fact that statuatory rape is already classified with the word "statuatory" means it is already in its' own category of rape. Why would it need another qualifier? And how does the word "forcible" classify it as statuatory? Instead, it muddies the water. Is date rape forcible? What if you are raped by your husband? How can a husband rape his wife? What if you were drugged or drunk? I think they are back-peddling around using the word "legitimate" NOT because he misspoke, but because he revealed a greater truth about the beliefs of the far right of the republican party. They want to redefine rape (have tried to - Paul Ryan co-sponsored that bill); they want to get rid of Planned Parenthood, and they want to get rid of birth control. So, they want poor women to have kids they don't want and can't afford, then cut welfare spending programs, education programs, give the rich tax breaks, and this will return us to some sort of bizarro-world "glory days". Makes me sick.

I agree that it's good that Akin is standing by his beliefs instead of blowing with the seasons like so many politicians. The fact that his beliefs date back to the middle ages are disappointing. He doesn't understand the science of egg meeting sperm, yet he's on the Science Committee.

Calimari, I love ya' gal so I'm going to try to avoid escalating because I think we're "jumping the shark" here. One fundamentalist Christian who is against abortion in all cases said something that is repeated in the media and suddenly the Republicans are evil suppressors who want to send the USA back a whole century? Nah, I could respond with how the Democrats are currently suspending our Constitution, are in danger of obliterating our sovereignty and are planning to create a socialistic state but why go there? Who wins with those kinds of arguments?

Citing HuffPo as credible as the Washington Post doesn't improve the argument - ha, ha!!!
 

Cookie, I do see what you are saying, but I mentioned that the HuffPo sources its' news from SEVERAL places - WashPo was just one I mentioned. Or do you also discredit BBC, Reuters, etc?

And I do see what you are saying about "one fundy Xtian says X so that means all of them do" - the thing is, I have been following stories like this for 2 years. It's not just this one fundamentalist. It's a growing segment of the GOP that is pushing their agenda very hard, and very much to the right. And Paul Ryan is right there with him. It's not sudden at all - it's been going on slowly but has escalated greatly since the Republicans won the midterm elections. They said they were going to focus on JOBS because Obama so dismally failed in the first 2 years of his presidency on that, in their opinion, but instead they have submitted bill after bill after bill chipping away at abortion rights. If the focus is supposed to be jobs and the economy, why can't the "small government" folks stay out of women's rights?

I know you're one smart cookie, Cookie - I see the great advice you give people on this forum ALL the time. I just think you have some blinders on with this. (I'm not trying to escalate anything here - this is just something I am EXTREMELY passionate about. I'm going to a fundraiser for Planned Parenthood tonight!)

I know you're passionate about abortion rights and feminist rights. I'm NOT against any of it. I'm very pro-abortion and I absolutely believe in equal rights regardless of race, gender, or sexual orientation (and all the rest).

Am I a Democrat? No.

Am I a Republican? No.

I'm a Libertarian but I refuse to even register and declare any party affiliation. And I agree with you, why push an anti-abortion agenda - an issue that was SETTLED decades ago - when there are so many more important issues on the table.