In
an effort to explain his stance on abortion, Representative Todd
Akin, the Republican Senate nominee from Missouri, provoked ire
across the political spectrum on Sunday by saying that in
instances of what he called “legitimate rape,” women’s
bodies somehow blocked an unwanted pregnancy.
Asked in an interview on a St. Louis television
station about his views on abortion, Mr. Akin, a six-term member
of Congress who is backed by Tea
Party conservatives, made it clear that his opposition to
the practice was nearly absolute, even in instances of rape.
“It seems to me, from what I understand from
doctors, that’s really rare,” Mr. Akin said of pregnancies
from rape. “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 of the
rapist, and not attacking the child.”
Read more :
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/20/us/politics/todd-akin-provokes-ire-with-legitimate-rape-comment.html?_r=1
A. Cuvelier
