# Senate nominee from Missouri Todd Akin is a feeble-minded moron. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 19, 2012, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-nominee-from-missouri-todd-akin-is-a-feeble-minded-moron/631993 "2012-08-19T19:50:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-nominee-from-missouri-todd-akin-is-a-feeble-minded-moron/631993/221 "2012-08-22T16:16:42Z")
> [@](#): > > Akin operates in “an insular environment,” with his wife and son serving as his top advisers, a senior Republican source told CNN. Republican leaders have concluded that Akin “lives in a parallel universe,” the source added. Akin lives in a parallel universe? Cool! He’d be our first Science Fiction Senator > **[Akin takes on ‘party bosses,’ insists he ‘can win this race’ | CNN Politics](https://www.cnn.com/2012/08/22/politics/akin-controversy/index.html?hpt=hp_t1)** > > Republican Rep. Todd Akin said Wednesday that despite calls from his party establishment to drop out, he is staying in the Senate race. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-nominee-from-missouri-todd-akin-is-a-feeble-minded-moron/631993/222 "2012-08-22T16:18:51Z")
Does that mean his son is an anchor baby? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-nominee-from-missouri-todd-akin-is-a-feeble-minded-moron/631993/223 "2012-08-22T16:28:15Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > Alas, this view is more prevalent than any educated person might think. There really are people who think that criminality is heritable. Worse, they hold a kind of Lamarckian view, such that the children of someone who hadn’t yet committed a crime are okay, but the children of the same parents, after one of them has committed a crime, are more susceptible to criminality. And, specifically, that it’s “in the blood.” It’s just something people say – and not just in Bible Belt states. “That family? Tainted blood. Nothing good ever came of a ---------.” > > (One might think that they are speaking of learned traits, rather than genetic ones. Until you find them tracing out lineages of distant cousins. “No…his aunt was a ---------- by birth, so those cousins carry the taint.” Like it’s something out of Dunwich…) Not only that, but you can read criminal tendencies in the face. See [Cesare Lombroso.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cesare_Lombroso) ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-nominee-from-missouri-todd-akin-is-a-feeble-minded-moron/631993/224 "2012-08-22T16:32:29Z")
> [@TokyoBayer](#): > > My mother is one of those who believe that there should be no exceptions in the case of rape. I have no idea what she would think if she knew one of her daughters, a fine upstanding Christian, had an abortion. I am vehemently pro-choice, but honestly? I don’t understand the claim that rape _should_ be an exception in people who are supposed to be devout Christians. If you well and truly believe that you are fearfully and wonderfully made in your Mommy’s womb, then there are no circumstances under which abortion is not murder. People who want to make this rape exception are basically saying, “The murder of babies is horrible and should not be tolerated… unless in the case of rape, then murdering babies is okay.” Of course, the people who say this are being disingenuous about their true beliefs. Though they would never admit it, for many it’s really about the fact that a woman shouldn’t “get away” with having sex. It’s about punishment, also known as personal responsibility or Wimmins Should Not Be Whoring Around. So I’m just saying your Mom might not actually be all that bad compared to people who do want to make an exception. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-nominee-from-missouri-todd-akin-is-a-feeble-minded-moron/631993/225 "2012-08-22T16:34:11Z")
> [@olivesmarch4th](#): > > I am vehemently pro-choice, but honestly? I don’t understand the claim that rape _should_ be an exception in people who are supposed to be devout Christians. If you well and truly believe that you are fearfully and wonderfully made in your Mommy’s womb, then there are no circumstances under which abortion is not murder. People who want to make this rape exception are basically saying, “The murder of babies is horrible and should not be tolerated… unless in the case of rape, then murdering babies is okay.” > > Of course, the people who say this are being disingenuous about their true beliefs. Though they would never admit it, for many it’s really about the fact that a woman shouldn’t “get away” with having sex. It’s about punishment, also known as personal responsibility or Wimmins Should Not Be Whoring Around. > > So I’m just saying your Mom might not actually be all that bad compared to people who do want to make an exception. Holy cow, thank you…I had never looked at it from that angle… ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-nominee-from-missouri-todd-akin-is-a-feeble-minded-moron/631993/226 "2012-08-22T16:40:03Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > Actually, they are _refusing_ to respond to that concept, by making up a bunch of idiotic mumbo jumbo to deny that it ever happens. > > Oh, and in other news [Sarah Palin calls for a third-party run against Akin](http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/Palin-Akin-Steelman-Missouri/2012/08/22/id/449340): > > This story is a perfect distillation of the Palin phenomenon: ignorance (she obviously never heard of Missouri’s “sore loser” law that bars failed primary candidates from the general-election ballot), vapidity (“The status quo has got to go”?? What, no “Hey Hey Ho Ho”?), and ego (“I won’t gloat about it, but I was right” – neener neener!). Not to mention: political idiocy. Splitting the Republican vote is not the smartest way to ensure that McCaskill loses. ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-nominee-from-missouri-todd-akin-is-a-feeble-minded-moron/631993/227 "2012-08-22T16:40:23Z")
> [@Bayard](#): > > Huh. I did not know that. A quick trip down Wiki Lane reveals that most states have either a “sore loser” law or have the registration deadlines for the primary and general election on the same day to effectively prevent sore loser campaigns (although those rules typically don’t apply to presidential campaigns). Wiki says that the only states that allow sore loser campaigns are CT, IA, VT, and NY. I had no idea. You learn something new every day. CT. Yep, this is what allowed Joe Lieberman to run on the Lieberman for CT banner (WTF by the way?) in 2006 after Ned Lamont kicked his ass in the primary. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-nominee-from-missouri-todd-akin-is-a-feeble-minded-moron/631993/228 "2012-08-22T16:54:05Z")
> [@](#): > > First, let’s define the term “rape.” When pro-lifers speak of rape pregnancies, we should commonly use the phrase “forcible rape” or “assault rape,” for that specifies what we’re talking about. Rape can also be statutory. Depending upon your state law, statutory rape can be consensual, but we’re not addressing that here. “Because, we wouldn’t want to be distracted with a debate as to whether I just said it’s OK if she was a \*willing \*14-year-old.” 😛 BTW – Does the MO sore-loser law actually prevent ANY candidacy including \* independent \*, or just a partisan candidacy? 'cause ours does not prevent you from going (I) though you gotta get your paperwork in _de novo_, including gathering endorsement signatures, within a very tight window, which makes it effectively a no go for the statewide ballot. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Lowry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Sam\_Lowry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Lowry)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-nominee-from-missouri-todd-akin-is-a-feeble-minded-moron/631993/229 "2012-08-22T17:01:06Z")
> [@nogravity](#): > > Now Mittens is calling on him to [drop out](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/21/todd-akin-comments_n_1819655.html). He’s got a little over an hour to do so. Mitt just can’t catch a break. It definitely doesn’t make him look like the leader of the party when he calls for someone to drop out and isn’t listened to. > [@Kimstu](#): > > Well hell, at least that one was willing to admit that rape **could** result in pregnancy. Frankly, I don’t mind if anti-abortion Republicans are honestly advocating their honest opinion that abortion should be totally banned, no exceptions. Don’t agree with them, but hey, it’s a free country. > > It’s using lies to gull the voters into thinking that such a ban won’t seriously affect rape victims that’s unscrupulous and despicable. This is my thinking too. You are free to believe whatever, no matter how close or how far from my beliefs you are. But when you use blatant distortions and lies to promote your beliefs, that’s what gets me really upset. > [@olivesmarch4th](#): > > I am vehemently pro-choice, but honestly? I don’t understand the claim that rape _should_ be an exception in people who are supposed to be devout Christians. If you well and truly believe that you are fearfully and wonderfully made in your Mommy’s womb, then there are no circumstances under which abortion is not murder. People who want to make this rape exception are basically saying, “The murder of babies is horrible and should not be tolerated… unless in the case of rape, then murdering babies is okay.” > > Of course, the people who say this are being disingenuous about their true beliefs. Though they would never admit it, for many it’s really about the fact that a woman shouldn’t “get away” with having sex. It’s about punishment, also known as personal responsibility or Wimmins Should Not Be Whoring Around. > > So I’m just saying your Mom might not actually be all that bad compared to people who do want to make an exception. I completely agree. Fred Clark at the Slacktivist blog has talked about this several times. One example is that you never hear these 100% pro-life people talking about miscarriages. If zygotes and fetuses really are people, then miscarriages are one of the top killers of children, if not the actual top. Some miscarriages are so early in the pregnancy, that the mother might not be able to tell anything happened; it might just seem like an unusually heavy period. But to those that support the personhood amendments, that’s still the tragic death of a child. There should be charities and walks and fundraising drives and awareness campaigns and other ways to get the word out about how many children die from miscarriages, just like there are for childhood cancer and other diseases. But as far as I can tell, this isn’t a concern to anyone. They don’t really care about the fetuses that they supposedly think of as human. They’ve just got their own warped reasons for supporting crazy laws. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-nominee-from-missouri-todd-akin-is-a-feeble-minded-moron/631993/230 "2012-08-22T17:04:44Z")
> [@Sam\_Lowry](#): > > Mitt just can’t catch a break. It definitely doesn’t make him look like the leader of the party when he calls for someone to drop out and isn’t listened to. It’s not just Romney, though. He won’t listent to anybody and it looks like they can’t make him quit. Ryan called him to tell him to give up, the party decided it won’t spend money on commercials for him, and supposedly he’s going to stay in the race regardless. This is one of the things that makes politics fascinating and unpredictable- all of these people are ultimately in it for themselves. Of course if the polls in a few days show he’s fucked, maybe he’ll change his mind. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-nominee-from-missouri-todd-akin-is-a-feeble-minded-moron/631993/231 "2012-08-22T17:06:14Z")
> [@fumster](#): > > It’s OK, I heard from a doctor that people who are “forcibly assaulted” are protected against the consequences. I won’t go into the details as it is very technical, but it has something to do with juices and stuff. [It’s a theory.](http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-todd-akin-rape-theory-origins-20120820,0,7783860.story) Mainly that of an anti-abortion physician named [John C. Willke.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_C._Willke) ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-nominee-from-missouri-todd-akin-is-a-feeble-minded-moron/631993/232 "2012-08-22T17:13:50Z")
It is amusing to see Republicans forced to carry a candidate to term they would clearly rather abort. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-nominee-from-missouri-todd-akin-is-a-feeble-minded-moron/631993/233 "2012-08-22T17:19:01Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > [It’s a theory.](http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-todd-akin-rape-theory-origins-20120820,0,7783860.story) Mainly that of an anti-abortion physician named [John C. Willke.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_C._Willke) What do they call the person who graduates last in his med school class? Doctor ---
**Author:** ![slumtrimpet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@slumtrimpet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slumtrimpet)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-nominee-from-missouri-todd-akin-is-a-feeble-minded-moron/631993/234 "2012-08-22T17:25:15Z")
> [@Sam\_Lowry](#): > > … > > I completely agree. Fred Clark at the Slacktivist blog has talked about this several times. One example is that you never hear these 100% pro-life people talking about miscarriages. If zygotes and fetuses really are people, then miscarriages are one of the top killers of children, if not the actual top. Some miscarriages are so early in the pregnancy, that the mother might not be able to tell anything happened; it might just seem like an unusually heavy period. But to those that support the personhood amendments, that’s still the tragic death of a child. There should be charities and walks and fundraising drives and awareness campaigns and other ways to get the word out about how many children die from miscarriages, just like there are for childhood cancer and other diseases. > > But as far as I can tell, this isn’t a concern to anyone. They don’t really care about the fetuses that they supposedly think of as human. They’ve just got their own warped reasons for supporting crazy laws. To be fair to the nutjobs, they actually are trying to prosecute women for having miscarriages. Not quite like having charities and fundraising drives, but hey, give 'em an ‘A’ for effort. A quick google produced attempts (I don’t know if any of these proposed laws have been signed and I don’t want to research further to find out because frankly, the crazy down below the 49th is more than I wish to immerse myself in) in [Tennessee](http://http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/tennessee-miscarriage-about-to-be-murder-after-legislature-passes-bill/politics/2012/04/24/38401), [Utah (there’s a surprise)](http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/blog/2010/02/19/utah-passes-bill-that-charges-women-for-illegal-abortion-or-miscarriage), and [Georgia](http://http://digitaljournal.com/article/304268). So, Yay for consistency and boy, wouldn’t it be fun to really, really want a child, finally get pregnant, lose it and get charged with murder. The awesomeness boggles the mind. ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-nominee-from-missouri-todd-akin-is-a-feeble-minded-moron/631993/235 "2012-08-22T17:28:58Z")
Ryan and Romney are looking particularly weak here, too–I mean, Ryan’s a special pal of this guy, and he’s counseling him to drop, so you’d figure Ryan has a special relationship with Akins, they’ve co-sponsored legislation together, maybe Ryan has some influence over this guy, but NOOOOO! A preview of how successful, if they even want to be, in reining in the wing-nut element of their party. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-nominee-from-missouri-todd-akin-is-a-feeble-minded-moron/631993/236 "2012-08-22T18:41:23Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > A preview of how successful, if they even want to be, in reining in the wing-nut element of their party. This is an example of why I’m not even listening to Romney. He won’t have any influence on Congress even if elected. What’s worse he will rubber stamp anything they pass in order to win re-election. So if he is otherwise a good man, or even has some good ideas is irrelevant if he will not be able and willing to implement them, which he won’t, and the inability to control the fringe of the party is Exhibit A (or B) ---
**Author:** ![nogravity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9d8465/32.png) [@nogravity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nogravity)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-nominee-from-missouri-todd-akin-is-a-feeble-minded-moron/631993/237 "2012-08-22T18:42:04Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > This story is a perfect distillation of the Palin phenomenon: ignorance (she obviously never heard of Missouri’s “sore loser” law that bars failed primary candidates from the general-election ballot), vapidity (“The status quo has got to go”?? What, no “Hey Hey Ho Ho”?), and ego (“I won’t gloat about it, but I was right” – neener neener!). Palin’s boy, Joe Miller, who won the Alaskan senate Repub primary in 2010, got burned, first by associating with Palin, but then by Lisa Murkowski running a successful write in campaign and that’s probably what Palin was thinking about. Steelman would still lose by the way but it would be good for splitting the Republican vote. ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-nominee-from-missouri-todd-akin-is-a-feeble-minded-moron/631993/238 "2012-08-22T18:51:49Z")
> [@TokyoBayer](#): > > And it’s time to unfriend her and block this woman. This pisses me off even more because her father was a sexual predator, and molested at least one other cousin from a different family, as well as committed statutory rape with underage junior high school student in his care. He was finally found with kiddie porn. You’re so much nicer than I am. There’s no way I would have been able to not say something like, 'So, had the 12 year old your father was raping gotten pregnant, she should have had the baby? Would you have helped her raise your little brother or sister? And what if it had been you that your daddy wanted to have sex with, would you have had your own father’s child?" ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-nominee-from-missouri-todd-akin-is-a-feeble-minded-moron/631993/239 "2012-08-22T18:54:45Z")
Weirder still and weirder . . . Monday 08/20/12, [Public Policy Polling,](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_Policy_Polling) releases a [flash poll](http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/2011/PPP_Release_MO_8201.pdf) showing Akin **still** has a slight lead over McCaskill. Is PPP a GOP shill like Rasmussen? Quite the reverse, it’s a Dem outfit partnered with DailyKos. RW bloggers immediately start accusing PPP of gaming the poll to inflate Akin’s chances, so he’ll stay in the race and get pummelled in November. (They don’t seem to consider Akin winning in November a serious possibility.) So the director of PPP immediately responds with, [“No, we di’h’n’t!”](http://www.politico.com/blogs/charlie-mahtesian/2012/08/ppp-we-didnt-game-the-akin-poll-132795.html) Look, isn’t it much too late at this point, anyway, for some other Pub to replace Akin in that particular Senate race?! And Akin already has made clear he has no intention of dropping out. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-nominee-from-missouri-todd-akin-is-a-feeble-minded-moron/631993/240 "2012-08-22T18:57:31Z")
> [@LavenderBlue](#): > > It is amusing to see Republicans forced to carry a candidate to term they would clearly rather abort. > > 😃 Nice one. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-nominee-from-missouri-todd-akin-is-a-feeble-minded-moron/631993.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/senate-nominee-from-missouri-todd-akin-is-a-feeble-minded-moron/631993.md?page=13)