OPD 8/22 Edited by Jonathan Douglas (proofing TP 8/25)
Todd Akin: Crazy Crusader or “Braveheart” Hero?
Published in die Welt
(Germany) on 22 August 2012
by Uwe Schmitt (link to original)
(Germany) on 22 August 2012
by Uwe Schmitt (link to original)
Translated from
by Ron Argentati.
Edited by .
Todd Akin is currently the most controversial Republican in America. Not only are women up in arms about his gaffe about “legitimate rape,” but Mitt Romney worries about the effect that he may have on his election chances.
Todd Akin has been ostracized by his own Republican colleagues and asked to withdraw from the election by Mitt Romney himself. The anti-abortion crusader and interpreter of the term “legitimate rape” says that he has no intention of backing down. Instead, he compares himself to the Scottish protagonist in the Mel Gibson movie “Braveheart,” the hero who fought against the English.
The Grand Old Party went into full panic mode just a few days before they plan to anoint Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan at their national convention in Tampa, Florida. There's not much Romney and Ryan could use less than a death-defying crusader going up against the majority of women voters.
Akin is more proud than he is contrite about angering his party and laughs off the “overreaction” of his colleagues. All appeals by the Republican establishment were deflected by the man who says that his “plan is to work to provide protection for the 99 percent of unborn children who are aborted” and who refuses to abandon that duty.
Mitt Romney Wants Him out
It seems to matter little to Akin that his party's candidate for the White House wants him to withdraw from the electoral race. On Tuesday, Romney publicly agreed with four former Missouri senators saying, “Congressman Akin’s comments on rape are insulting, inexcusable and, frankly, wrong.” He also said, “Today, his fellow Missourians urged him to step aside,” adding, “I think he should accept their counsel and exit the Senate race."
His flabbergasted campaign handlers said that Akin couldn't be intimidated by Romney, nor by any party officials, since he sees himself as an anointed emissary sent by God to carry out a mission. He has no fear of being “thrown under the bus,” as Americans like to say of anyone being sacrificed for a higher ideal. Akin is a dead man walking, but he said that saw no reason to quit the race. “You misspeak one time, one place, one word,” the congressman said. “Don’t you think that this is a little hyperbole going on here?”
Preaching Radical Anti-Abortion Policy
Akin's views were confirmed on Tuesday when the “human life amendment” was officially added to the Republican platform by 110 members of the party’s platform committee meeting in Tampa. Republicans decided, as they did in 2004 and again in 2008, to adopt a radical anti-abortion policy that allows no exceptions, even in cases of rape and incest.
Mitt Romney will begin his grand introduction speech to American voters next week. And he will talk about everything, such as Barack Obama's mishandling of the economy. But he won't be talking about Todd Akin's misogyny that was angrily rejected by so many women, nor about Republican positions that have strayed so far from the mainstream of American society.
Akin needs to disappear: not because he spouts insulting and misogynistic drivel, but because he shifted the spotlight to a subject that will be regarded as a secret Republican political agenda to be adopted at the convention.
“Braveheart” Todd, Fighting to the Death
That won't work. The national media in America will attack this otherwise silly party plank and exploit the controversy. Romney and Ryan will be forced to defend their anti-abortion policies instead of attacking Obama on his economic record. That alone is reason enough for Republicans to hate Todd Akin.
The man has his entire party against him while the Democrats celebrate this fortuitous unmasking of Republican policies. “Braveheart” Todd will fight until his party convinces him to cease and desist and finally toe the party line, or until he triumphs over the Democrats and all the others who hope he drops dead on November 6.
Todd Akin has been ostracized by his own Republican colleagues and asked to withdraw from the election by Mitt Romney himself. The anti-abortion crusader and interpreter of the term “legitimate rape” says that he has no intention of backing down. Instead, he compares himself to the Scottish protagonist in the Mel Gibson movie “Braveheart,” the hero who fought against the English.
The Grand Old Party went into full panic mode just a few days before they plan to anoint Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan at their national convention in Tampa, Florida. There's not much Romney and Ryan could use less than a death-defying crusader going up against the majority of women voters.
Akin is more proud than he is contrite about angering his party and laughs off the “overreaction” of his colleagues. All appeals by the Republican establishment were deflected by the man who says that his “plan is to work to provide protection for the 99 percent of unborn children who are aborted” and who refuses to abandon that duty.
Mitt Romney Wants Him out
It seems to matter little to Akin that his party's candidate for the White House wants him to withdraw from the electoral race. On Tuesday, Romney publicly agreed with four former Missouri senators saying, “Congressman Akin’s comments on rape are insulting, inexcusable and, frankly, wrong.” He also said, “Today, his fellow Missourians urged him to step aside,” adding, “I think he should accept their counsel and exit the Senate race."
His flabbergasted campaign handlers said that Akin couldn't be intimidated by Romney, nor by any party officials, since he sees himself as an anointed emissary sent by God to carry out a mission. He has no fear of being “thrown under the bus,” as Americans like to say of anyone being sacrificed for a higher ideal. Akin is a dead man walking, but he said that saw no reason to quit the race. “You misspeak one time, one place, one word,” the congressman said. “Don’t you think that this is a little hyperbole going on here?”
Preaching Radical Anti-Abortion Policy
Akin's views were confirmed on Tuesday when the “human life amendment” was officially added to the Republican platform by 110 members of the party’s platform committee meeting in Tampa. Republicans decided, as they did in 2004 and again in 2008, to adopt a radical anti-abortion policy that allows no exceptions, even in cases of rape and incest.
Mitt Romney will begin his grand introduction speech to American voters next week. And he will talk about everything, such as Barack Obama's mishandling of the economy. But he won't be talking about Todd Akin's misogyny that was angrily rejected by so many women, nor about Republican positions that have strayed so far from the mainstream of American society.
Akin needs to disappear: not because he spouts insulting and misogynistic drivel, but because he shifted the spotlight to a subject that will be regarded as a secret Republican political agenda to be adopted at the convention.
“Braveheart” Todd, Fighting to the Death
That won't work. The national media in America will attack this otherwise silly party plank and exploit the controversy. Romney and Ryan will be forced to defend their anti-abortion policies instead of attacking Obama on his economic record. That alone is reason enough for Republicans to hate Todd Akin.
The man has his entire party against him while the Democrats celebrate this fortuitous unmasking of Republican policies. “Braveheart” Todd will fight until his party convinces him to cease and desist and finally toe the party line, or until he triumphs over the Democrats and all the others who hope he drops dead on November 6.