nhboy
08-20-2012, 03:55 PM
Link to original article. (http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/08/democrats-tie-ryan-romney-to-akin-as-dangerous-for-women/)
"With Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan scrambling to distance themselves from Rep. Todd Akin’s comments about “legitimate rape,” Democrats have seized on the moment to highlight what they say are Republicans’ outdated views on women.
Akin, a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate from Missouri, told a local TV interviewer Sunday that he opposed abortion in all cases, including rape and incest, because victims of “legitimate rape” are unlikely to become pregnant.
“The female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down,” Akin told KTVI.
The GOP presidential ticket, Romney and Ryan, swiftly condemned Akin, saying in a joint statement that they “disagree” with Akin’s remarks and that their administration “would not oppose abortion in instances of rape.”
But Democrats said the presumptive nominee and his running mate have a history of aligning with Akin on “extreme” positions, including legislation that would have redefined rape, banned abortion in all cases and cut off funding for abortion providers, such as Planned Parenthood.
“While Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan are working overtime to distance themselves from Rep. Todd Akin’s comments on rape, they are contradicting their own records,” said Obama campaign spokeswoman Lis Smith.
“Every day, women across America grapple with difficult and intensely personal health decisions — decisions that should ultimately be between a woman and her doctor,” she said.
Democratic National Committee chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz said Akin’s comments reflect a mindset in the Republican ranks that is “literally, dangerous for women.”
“Congressman Ryan has already partnered with Akin on a whole host of issues that restrict women’s ability to make their own health care decisions,” she said in an email blast to supporters Sunday night."
"With Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan scrambling to distance themselves from Rep. Todd Akin’s comments about “legitimate rape,” Democrats have seized on the moment to highlight what they say are Republicans’ outdated views on women.
Akin, a Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate from Missouri, told a local TV interviewer Sunday that he opposed abortion in all cases, including rape and incest, because victims of “legitimate rape” are unlikely to become pregnant.
“The female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down,” Akin told KTVI.
The GOP presidential ticket, Romney and Ryan, swiftly condemned Akin, saying in a joint statement that they “disagree” with Akin’s remarks and that their administration “would not oppose abortion in instances of rape.”
But Democrats said the presumptive nominee and his running mate have a history of aligning with Akin on “extreme” positions, including legislation that would have redefined rape, banned abortion in all cases and cut off funding for abortion providers, such as Planned Parenthood.
“While Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan are working overtime to distance themselves from Rep. Todd Akin’s comments on rape, they are contradicting their own records,” said Obama campaign spokeswoman Lis Smith.
“Every day, women across America grapple with difficult and intensely personal health decisions — decisions that should ultimately be between a woman and her doctor,” she said.
Democratic National Committee chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz said Akin’s comments reflect a mindset in the Republican ranks that is “literally, dangerous for women.”
“Congressman Ryan has already partnered with Akin on a whole host of issues that restrict women’s ability to make their own health care decisions,” she said in an email blast to supporters Sunday night."