To the Editor;
The stupid comments by Missouri Congressman Todd Akin about “legitimate rape” not usually resulting in pregnancy because “... the female body has ways to shut that whole thing down,” have been condemned and repudiated by many from across the political spectrum, including Mitt Romney and his running mate, Congressman Paul Ryan.
But upon closer inspection, one has to wonder if the criticism of Todd Akin by both Romney and Ryan was genuine, or just more phony political theater they felt obligated to engage in because they realized Akin’s remarks were so over the top that to not repudiate them would likely damage the GOP ticket’s already weak standing with women and moderate voters in a big way.
The Republican party’s platform continues to call for the banning of all abortions, even in the cases of rape, incest, and when a pregnancy threatens the life of a woman. The GOP platform also called for a total ban on abortions in 2004 and 2008.
In 2007, as he was gearing up for his 2008 presidential run, Mitt Romney said in an interview that he supported the GOP’s call for a ban on all abortions, regardless of the circumstances. Now, in the wake of Todd Akin’s ignorant comments, Mitt Romney has changed his position on the issue yet again. He said women should be able to have an abortion if a pregnancy is the result of rape or incest.
This is just another example of the kind of self-serving political pandering and flip-flopping Mitt Romney has been engaging in since 1994, when he challenged Ted Kennedy for the U.S. Senate. Back then, Romney was even pro gay rights.
Ryan’s not much better. His comment in response to Akin’s offensive language that, “rape is rape” rings horribly hollow when one considers Paul Ryan co-authored a piece of legislation with Akin that sought to restrict a woman’s access to abortion by requiring she be able to prove she was the victim of “forcible rape.”
Hello? Rape is a violent act. It is inherently “forcible” in nature. But that is something wealthy, white male, Republican politicians who cower in fear of the Christian extremists who dominate much of their party’s base, seem unable to comprehend.
What should be most disconcerting for informed voters is this whole fiasco really is just one more example of just what a pandering, self-serving politician Mitt Romney really is. He has no core convictions, and that has been evident since he first entered public life in 1994.
MICHAEL COOK
Gloucester
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