Senator (D) Claire McCaskill vs. Rep. (R) Todd Akin

Claire McCaskill is an incredible woman from Missouri.  She is one of the few female senators, and she presides over a republican state.  She is up for re-election in 2012, you can contribute to her campaign here.
I have talked a bit about her before.

Running against her is Todd Akin, a republican Congressman.

He said, and I quote:

"First of all, from what I understand from doctors [pregnancy from rape] is really rare.  If it's a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down."  On the Jaco Report, August 19th, 2012.  He left out the words in the bracket, but that's what he was talking about.

Note, even after that statement, he is polling at one point greater than Claire McCaskill.  She needs your support (see link above.)

For those of you that don't know, in an ironic way, he is right about one thing.  If a woman gets raped, then her brain cells can trigger, causing her legs to get up and walk to the nearest Planned Parenthood, where she can request an abortion.

But that's the ONLY way to that her body can 'try to shut that whole thing down'.

I'm not even going to try and touch that 'legitimate rape' comment.

But let's not talk about what he said anymore.  Let's talk about two other things.

1. Lots of us believe things that aren't true.  But most of us know when we are stating things that other people don't believe.   I don't bring up my feelings about ethical vegetarianism, because I know it's a bit radical.  What possessed this ...conservative... to state something so wildly out there?  Is he really stupid enough to not understand how it will lose him votes?  I could see being stupid enough to think that, but to state it out loud? Note the rest of the GOP knew how bad it was, they told him to quit the race.
2. The GOP thinks this is the best republican from Missouri, to take down a democratic senator in a thoroughly republican state.  By god, I weep for Missouri, if this is the best they have. 

I just talked about being wrong yesterday.  About how your opponents aren't always ignorant, stupid or evil.  But here is a reminder that sometimes they are.   I have to state here and now that Todd Akins is not evil.  He is just incredibly ignorant and stupid.   He honestly believed that there were legitimate and illegitimate rapes.


Just so you remember, that (R) they put after Todd Akin's name doesn't stand for Republican, they want him to quit.  What does it stand for?  I'll give you a hint - the next letter after the 'r' is an 'a'.