I think I know where this comes from. A few years back, there was a study that said a woman is more likely to conceive when she has an orgasm during sex than when she doesn't. I remember thinking at the time that some dbag was going to tie this to rape, and use this study as a defense to rape, claiming that pregnancy proved sex was consensual.
The theory also goes all the way back to Galen, who said both men and women had seeds and both had to orgasm for conception to occur. Sadly, that idea was used as late as the 17th/18th c to claim that pregnant rape victims weren't actually raped.
I'd kind of hoped we'd moved past that sort of drivel, but apparently not.
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.
Post by soontobeka on Aug 19, 2012 21:34:37 GMT -5
Romney/Ryan Camp responds:
In response to Rep. Todd Akin's (R-Mo.) inflammatory comment on Sunday that "legitimate rape" victims rarely get pregnant and therefore do not need abortions, Mitt Romney's campaign said that he and running mate Paul Ryan support abortion rights for rape victims.
"Governor Romney and Congressman Ryan disagree with Mr. Akin’s statement, and a Romney-Ryan administration would not oppose abortion in instances of rape," Andrea Saul, a Romney spokesperson, told The Huffington Post.
While Saul's statement is consistent with Romney's position on abortion, it's a clear departure from Ryan's position, which is that abortion should only be legal in cases where the life of the mother is at risk. Ryan sponsored a fetal personhood bill, which would effectively criminalize abortion and some forms of birth control without exceptions for rape victims.
“I’m as pro-life as a person gets,” he told the Weekly Standard in 2010. “You’re not going to have a truce.”
Ryan also cosponsored the "No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act" with Akin in 2011. The GOP tried to narrow the definition of rape as it related to abortions with the measure. Only in instances of "forcible rape," the bill specified, would a woman be eligible to have her abortion covered under insurance.
The sentiment behind the notorious attempt to redefine rape was echoed in Akin's comment on Sunday.
“First of all, from what I understand from doctors [pregnancy from rape] is really rare,” Akin told KTVI-TV in an interview posted Sunday. “If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down.” I'd like to know the name of these doctors who said that pregnancy from rape is rare and that the body has ways to try and shut the whole thing down. I have a feeling he won't give the names of these so-called doctors. Because they are imaginary.
I'm sure the HIV awareness lady who spoke at my church would disagree with this. Not only was she raped, she got pregnant (and actually kept the baby), and contracted HIV.
“I’m as pro-life as a person gets,” he told the Weekly Standard in 2010. “You’re not going to have a truce.”
Ryan also cosponsored the"NoTaxpayer Funding for Abortion Act" with Akin in 2011. The GOP tried to narrow the definition of rape as it related to abortions with the measure. Only in instances of "forcible rape" the bill specified, would a woman be eligible to have her abortion covered under insurance.
Can we now stop arguing about whether Ryan is REALLY a social conservative? Despite the fact that a word search of his comments didn't show much rhetoric buzzwords, he is clearly "as pro-life as a person gets."
"Rape is only really rape if it involves force", says that bill.
Mkay. You know, men can be raped too. I'd really like to know their thoughts on a man being drugged and raped. Would that count in their small, narrow, shallow minds?
Post by MixedBerryJam on Aug 20, 2012 1:40:47 GMT -5
I can't let go of this. I want him off the Science and Tehnology Comm unless he provides the name of one licenced medical doctor who holds the position he claims. Then I want that doctor stripped of his license, and Akin stripped of his committee seat.
ah no. you don't come out with this shit if you don't believe it.
and what pray tell did he mean to say??
And this, too. You misspeak a word, a phrase, maybe even a whole sentence. You do not misspeak an entire position statement.
Another thing I've been thinking about is that since Romney picked Ryan, I've sort of had it in my head that he did so because Ryan, by golly, holds true to his positions. I don't agree with any of them, but I can count on him actually believing in the positions he takes. He's been "life of the mother only"since day one, but R&R came out with a joint statement saying they disagree with Akin support the rape exception.
Post by copzgirl1171 on Aug 20, 2012 7:16:23 GMT -5
I know this sounds stupid, but this kept me up all night.
We just sent babycopz off to college and the idea that she could stumble upon someone with this kind of mentality makes me physically ill. I am just thankful that we gave her a strong support and belief system so that she knows this statement is vile and degrading and flat out wrong.
BUT, but. what happens to females who don't have that and who would believe this poppycock. What happens to them, who protects them because we all know for every ass wipe like this "man" there are hundreds more who are going to gleam onto this.
I am disgusted with life this morning. I can't believe we live in a world where someone thinks it's ok to think like this let the fuck alone say it out loud thinking he was educating and enlightening us all.
Post by MixedBerryJam on Aug 20, 2012 7:39:46 GMT -5
I know this sounds stupid, but this kept me up all night.
We just sent babycopz off to college and the idea that she could stumble upon someone with this kind of mentality makes me physically ill. I am just thankful that we gave her a strong support and belief system so that she knows this statement is vile and degrading and flat out wrong.
BUT, but. what happens to females who don't have that and who would believe this poppycock. What happens to them, who protects them because we all know for every ass wipe like this "man" there are hundreds more who are going to gleam onto this.
I am disgusted with life this morning. I can't believe we live in a world where someone thinks it's ok to think like this let the fuck alone say it out loud thinking he was educating and enlightening us all.
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I agree with your post so much I couldn't decide which part of it to bold and comment on. But what kept me awake all night last night, in addition to the generalized anger and disgust I feel about this whole thing, is exactly the point you make about women, and girls, who don't have the support system you describe for your daughter. It was turning my stomach thinking about the women who even today, even in the face of this kind of vile inhumanity (and I frankly don't know if here I'm referring to rapists in general or that so-called "public servant" Akin) feel shame. How will that ever change if our leaders are the Akins of the world?
Also, why aren't the broadcast morning news shows telling us about this? He's a Senate candidate, R&R issued a comment, and that comment included a position shift of the VP candidate. This is not a "local" story.
A similar claim was made by Dr. Fay Boozman when he ran for US Senate in AR in 1998. He claimed he KNEW women who got raped didn't get pregnant because he was a doctor. He was an EYE doctor. Thankfully, Blanche Lambert-Lincoln kicked his ass, in part because of the public uproar over the comment. Sadly, Gov. Mike Huckabee decided that Dr. Boozman would make a GREAT state health director. :/
“I’m as pro-life as a person gets,” he told the Weekly Standard in 2010. “You’re not going to have a truce.”
Ryan also cosponsored the"NoTaxpayer Funding for Abortion Act" with Akin in 2011. The GOP tried to narrow the definition of rape as it related to abortions with the measure. Only in instances of "forcible rape" the bill specified, would a woman be eligible to have her abortion covered under insurance.
Can we now stop arguing about whether Ryan is REALLY a social conservative? Despite the fact that a word search of his comments didn't show much rhetoric buzzwords, he is clearly "as pro-life as a person gets."
Well, hopefully this just means he has "evolved" in the way that Obama has evolved. Meaning that a statement today overrules previous statements.
Go back 6 months and Obama was anti-gay marriage. People, thankfully, can change.
And I hope those of us with some sense can help other social cons "evolve."
I will be sure to pass this on to a HS friend of mine who was raped by a cop and became pregnant. She had the strength to carry the baby to full term and give him to a wonderful adoptive family. Was Akin ever a judge in StL, because at the hearing to make the adoption final, the judge spent the whole time telling her how irresponsible she was to let herself get raped and pregnant. How she was not a responsible adult....she was 15. She knew in terms of caring for a child that she wasn't ready and that is why she chose adoption.
I will be sure to pass this on to a HS friend of mine who was raped by a cop and became pregnant. She had the strength to carry the baby to full term and give him to a wonderful adoptive family. Was Akin ever a judge in StL, because at the hearing to make the adoption final, the judge spent the whole time telling her how irresponsible she was to let herself get raped and pregnant. How she was not a responsible adult....she was 15. She knew in terms of caring for a child that she wasn't ready and that is why she chose adoption.