Go to Admin » Appearance » Widgets » and move Gabfire Widget: Social into that MastheadOverlay zone
by Barb Weir
Wednesday, August 22nd, 2012
Congressman Todd Akin of Missouri fueled the flames of controversy about his statements on “legitimate rape” when he revealed to this reporter that he was himself a victim of rape and had not become pregnant. “The criticism that I am ignorant about rape and its consequences is totally unfounded,” he declared.
I was raped and did not become pregnant, and that is why I am more qualified than most to speak to this issue.”
I spoke to him at his Foundation for Legitimate Rape Victims.
BW: Congressman Akin, this is an astonishing development. Why didn’t you tell us before?
TA: As you know, Barb, rape victims are sometimes reluctant to come forward, but I finally decided that it was time for me to do so. I want everyone to know that I am in a unique position to understand and sympathize with rape victims and that I understand the consequences.
BW: So what is this “unique position”?
TA: Prone, of course. It’s painful enough without trying something creative.
BW: No, no. Your position on the issue.
TA: As I said before, cases of legitimate rape rarely result in pregnancy. After I was raped, I immediately went to a doctor, and he assured me without even making any tests that I was in no danger of becoming pregnant. How would he know that if there were even the slightest possibility that rape might result in pregnancy?
BW: Then what distinguishes legitimate rape from illegitimate rape and why can pregnancy result from illegitimate rape but not from legitimate rape?
TA: Legitimate rape almost never takes place when the rapee is fertile. The doctor told me that I was not fertile, which is why there was no chance of becoming pregnant. Illegitimate rapes occur when the person is fertile but not sufficiently traumatized to spontaneously abort. People who fail to go into shock and convulsions when raped might in fact become pregnant. However, if they are so insensitive to being raped, why should they not be forced to keep the child? This is what I call illegitimate rape.
BW: So you’re saying that fertile people who are legitimately raped will spontaneously abort?
TA: Yes, that’s right.
BW: Then why is this not a form of abortion, which you say that you oppose?
TA: You have to understand, Barb. There’s legitimate abortion and illegitimate abortion.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login
On the topic of the OS X backdoor that I found this week, Apple says: "We have just revoked the appropriate Developer ID certificate."
— Jacob Appelbaum (@ioerror) May 16, 2013
‘Windmills of Your Mind’, the seminal hallucinogenic break-up ditty first known to English-speaking audiences as the signature sound track song to the Thomas Crown Affair, is itself a cover of a French song. This masterful poetic piece has been performed by everyone from Dusty Springfield, to Barbara Streisand, the Muppets and Sting, so now I’d [...]
May 19, 2013 / No Comment / Read MorePart 1 This edition considers british intelligence, spies and traitors. Discussion Participants: Rt Hon Merlyn Rees MP Former Home Secretary and Secretary of State for Northern Ireland H. Montgomery Hyde Writer and former MI6 Officer Robert Harbinson Writer, composer and lecturer Air Commodore Alastair Mackie Former Cabinet Secretary on the Joint Intelligence Committee and Vice [...]
May 18, 2013 / No Comment / Read More“This Is What Winning Looks Like” is a disturbing new documentary about the ineptitude, drug abuse, sexual misconduct, and corruption of the Afghan security forces as well as the reduced role of US Marines due to the troop withdrawal. In part two, we see on-the-ground footage of fighting between the Afghan forces and the Taliban [...]
May 17, 2013 / No Comment / Read MoreMay 16 marks a dark milestone in the history of the world’s most maligned prison – 100 days of a mass hunger strike at Guantanamo Bay. Out of 166 inmates – 130 are on strike according to prisoners, while the military only admits to 102. At least a third of them are being force fed [...]
May 16, 2013 / No Comment / Read More“This Is What Winning Looks Like” is a disturbing new documentary about the ineptitude, drug abuse, sexual misconduct, and corruption of the Afghan security forces as well as the reduced role of US Marines due to the troop withdrawal. In part one, we see just how chaotic and hopeless the situation is in Sangin, one [...]
May 16, 2013 / No Comment / Read More
who_me
August 23, 2012 at 4:09 am
he looks like the sort who would enjoy the bubba boitoi experience. aipac likes ‘em like that.