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Jewish World Review Aug 23, 2012/ 5 Elul, 5772 Trapping season By Cal Thomas
http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
The bait in the latest case is the issue of abortion in cases of rape. The hunter's target was Rep. Thirty-nine years after Roe v. Wade and subsequent Akin responded that if the rape is "legitimate" the female body "has ways to try and shut that whole thing down," that "thing" being conception. Trap set and sprung. He should have said that while rape is a horrible crime that should be prosecuted, the number of pregnancies from that criminal act pale in comparison to the greater number of unwanted pregnancies ending in abortion. After criticism from many points on the political spectrum, including the Romney-Ryan ticket, which said it would not seek to prevent abortion in cases of rape, Akin attempted to walk back his comments: "In reviewing my off-the-cuff remarks, it's clear that I misspoke in this interview, and it does not reflect the deep empathy I hold for thousands of women who are raped and abused every year." He issued an apology which he included in a hastily recorded campaign ad, but it may be too late to undo the political damage.
McCaskill, up for re-election this fall, has seized on the opportunity to use Akin's answer much as Republicans are using President Obama's "you didn't build that" line about small businesses. The Democratic and pro-choice fundraising letters are already in the mail. According to the If Akin wanted to comment on abortion, which numerous polls indicate is a low priority for most voters in this election, when asked what he thought about abortion in cases of rape, he should have made the pro-choice side explain how they can defend more than 50 million abortions in the U.S. since 1973. He should have said that there are thousands of women's health centers available to assist women and their unborn children in a variety of ways. Abortion is not the only option. Democrats and their friends in big media protect their own when accused of outrageous acts. Topping a long list is the late Senator Akin considers himself an "absolutist" when it comes to life. Theologically and morally he is right, but in what Scripture refers to as a "wicked and adulterous generation," he is unlikely to advance the pro-life cause by publicly stating this position during a volatile election season when the Akin shouldn't have to compromise his position. But if the goal is to reduce the number of abortions, focusing on pregnancy from rape does not advance that worthy objective.
JWR contributor Cal Thomas is co-author with Bob Beckel, a liberal Democratic Party strategist, of "Common Ground: How to Stop the Partisan War That is Destroying America". Comment by clicking here.
© 2011, Tribune Media Services, Inc.
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