G.O.P. Trying to Oust Akin From Race for Rape Remarks

[jsr]

Source: New York Times

WASHINGTON — Fearing that a seat crucial to winning a Senate majority could slip away, the national Republican establishment on Monday unleashed a furious campaign to drive Representative Todd Akin, the party’s newly elected nominee, out of the race for Missouri’s Democratically held Senate seat.

Amid an uproar over provocative comments on rape and abortion that Mr. Akin made in an interview broadcast on Sunday, the National Republican Senatorial Committee declared that it would withdraw financial and organizational support for Mr. Akin, including $5 million in advertising already reserved for the fall. In the interview, Mr. Akin said victims of “legitimate rape” rarely got pregnant.

Crossroads GPS, a Republican advocacy group that had already spent more than $5 million to weaken Senator Claire McCaskill of Missouri, considered the Senate’s most endangered incumbent, announced that it was withdrawing from the state.

At the same time, Republican candidates like Mitt Romney and Senator Scott P. Brown of Massachusetts either called for Mr. Akin to step aside or strongly indicated that he should. In a radio interview, the conservative host Sean Hannity pleaded with Mr. Akin to drop out. “Sometimes an election is bigger than one person,” he said, to no apparent avail.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/21/us/politics/republicans-decry-todd-akins-rape-remarks.html

[banned from Kos]

1. Akin will be gone within 24 hours and it is too bad.

He would cost Romney 500,000 votes if he stayed in.

Plus, I really like Claire McCaskill.

[xmas74]

2. He says he will not drop out.

We'll see from this end. Supposedly he has had letters of support from some of the voters, which makes him feel as though he's safe.

I hope he doesn't drop. I don't want Steelman running against McCaskill. I don't want her, or any of the other Repubs from the primary, as my new senator. I've met Claire and I personally liked her.

[banned from Kos]

5. He is saying that to buy time and rally some support.

And he may mean it too.

I LOVE IT!

Also like you, I see Steelman as the strongest of their candidates.

[xmas74]

6. If they throw Steelman into the race

they can throw all women's rights arguments out the window. That's what they would love to do.

Personally, I hope someone throws him a couple of big donations right now. I can't stand the man but I'm half tempted to send him $20, just to keep him in the race and guarantee Claire the win.

Wait, maybe that's the key-maybe we all need to send him little donations. Nothing big, just enough to make him think he has more support than he really does. I bet if he has some decent donations to his campaign w/in the next 24-48 hours he'll stay in, no matter what.

[pnwmom]

4. You're right. They finally have a chance to dump the guy they never wanted

to run against McCaskill.

They always knew he'd be the weakest candidate, and this is their chance.

[randr]

3. If they withdrew funding for every Republican who has made an insanely ignorant comment

they would not have one candidate left.

[rocktivity]

7. Dogs Against Romney has formed a new splinter group

rocktivity

[proud2BlibKansan]

8. NO!! Keep him in!!

Please keep him in.

[xmas74]

14. you know I want him to hold on until the bitter end.

The very bitter end, in this case.

[proud2BlibKansan]

16. I am dedicating this song to Todd

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021169543

[xmas74]

18. I'll bring the Bics and Zippos.

Nothing's too classy for our tribute to Todd!

/waves lit Zippo in the air

[progressivebydesign]

9. Hypocrites! They're trying to hide Akin before people connect Ryan to him.

Ryan's comments and votes and sponsorships are just as damaging and stupid. They should oust the guy.. then he can 'tell all' as the scorned republicans tend to do. Just hope he does in time for the election.

They just can't file this one under a "gaffe" because of everything else he's said and done, just like his association with Ryan, which shows what kind of VP Ryan would be. Just like Romney said the first thing he'd do is 'get rid of Planned Parenthood' they're all the same.

[jerseyjack]

10. If Aiken stays in, lets hope for a write-in campaing for Steelman.

It will take votes from Aiken and not enough yahoos know how to spell to Steelman won't win anyway.

[jerseyjack]

11. Is that a dead gerbil on Aiken's head?

[PD Turk]

12. Dammit

I hope he can stay in at least until we can get him firmly tied around Ryan's neck

[truthisfreedom]

13. So delicious.

Don't give up! Stay the course! You represent the real views of extremist repukes. We need you as an example of their Taliban mentality.

[wordpix]

15. awwww, did Aikin not make the grade after being on the House Science Committee?

Boehner's pick doesn't know basic biology, but he's making science policy for the nation.

[Old Union Guy]

17. OK. We have finally found it.

An amount of stupidity the Republicans won't put up with.

[Old Union Guy]

19. Update

http://www.theonion.com/articles/i-misspokewhat-i-meant-to-say-is-i-am-dumb-as-dog,29256/