“Legitimate rape” became a Twitter trending topic in the U.S. this afternoon after liberal blog Talking Points Memo posted a video of Rep. Todd Akin claiming that victims of “legitimate rape” are unlikely to become pregnant.
Rep. Akin is the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in Missouri. A recent poll by SurveyUSA showed Akin 11 points ahead of his opponent, incumbent Sen. Claire McCaskill.
“If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down,” Akin said to KTVI-TV in an interview posted this morning.
Needless to say, his remarks didn’t go over well on Twitter:
So Todd Akin is pretty ugh the worst person in the world: http://t.co/85iZFKRi
— Michael Cohen (@speechboy71) August 19, 2012
Legitimate rape is ultimate victim blaming. The woman's body should've prevented her rapist from impregnating her. I have no words.
— Kelly (@msLoudLibrarian) August 19, 2012
Some people are so stupid with this whole legitimate rape crap. Rape is rape whether or not you get pregnant.
— j (@JadaArmani) August 19, 2012
"Republican Senate Nominee: Victims Of ‘Legitimate Rape’ Don’t Get Pregnant http://t.co/pZgjqKf3" ARE YOU F'n KIDDING ME
— Mystic1 (@BellaMystic) August 19, 2012
https://twitter.com/MeloPrmnr/status/237259136293806080
New GOP talking point: If you get raped & get pregnant, clearly deep down you wanted the baby so shouldn't abort. http://t.co/JgVgOciq
— Sr. WH Official(fmr) (@SrWHOfficial) August 19, 2012
https://twitter.com/nebelicious/status/237259043687780352
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Words fail me RT @simonwillo: Easily the stupidest and worst thing I have ever heard a politician say. http://t.co/SSd00VRR Todd Akin. Awful
— Deena Ralph Govender (@DeenaRalph) August 19, 2012
Twitchy was unable to find a single Twitter user who spoke out in defense of Rep. Akin’s comment.
Exit question: How long will it take before Akin issues a statement saying he misspoke?
Update: One Republican is already talking about a “Torricelli situation” — a reference to former New Jersey Democrat Sen. Robert Torricelli, who withdrew from his Senate re-election race after it was disclosed that he had received illegal contributions to his campaign. Torricelli was replaced by former U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg, who went on to win the election.
I think we may have a Torricelli situation here.
— Patrick Ruffini (@PatrickRuffini) August 19, 2012
Andy Levy is calling it:
https://twitter.com/andylevy/status/237266995916189696
Update: Akin has until Tuesday Aug. 21 to drop out of U.S. Senate race?
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