Tea Party Candidates: Ushering Stupidity And Insensitivity Into The National Spotlight

“It seems to me first of all, from what I understand from doctors, that’s (pregnancy resulting from rape) really rare…If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down…But let’s assume that maybe that didn’t work or something.  You know I think there should be some punishment, but the punishment ought to be on the rapist not attacking the child.”

                                                                                                       Republican Congressman Todd Akin

Congressman Akin is a Tea Party candidate for the US Senate and an advocate of anti-abortion legislation.   In a local interview aired by KTY1’s “The Jaco Report” he was asked if there might be any exceptions to his stance against abortion; as in the case of women who have been raped.  The insensitivity and stupidity of Congressman Atkin’s statement speaks for itself.

Congressman Akin is just another in a long list of Tea Party candidates that have led to the denigration and marginalization of the Republican Party.  Herman Cain, Christine O’Donnell, Sharon Engle, Sarah Palin and now Todd Akin are just a few of the Tea Party right wing radicals  whose unqualified candidacies have brought into question the very legitimacy of the party.

Congressman Akin’s comments come at the most inopportune time for the Republican Party.  The Party’s national convention starts one week from today.  Party officials would like enter the convention’s national spotlight focused on their nominee and his plans for the future.  Unless Romney can quickly and effectively distance himself from Akin’s comments those intentions will be little more than a pipe dream.

If Romney wants to prove to the nation that he is a strong and principled leader he will marshal the party faithful and collectively and forcefully speak out against Todd Atkins.  He might even consider calling for Atkins resignation.

But that won’t happen.  Romney has had several opportunities to speak out against radical zealots who have embarrassed his party on the national stage.  Time and time again he has shied away from any controversy that might anger his Tea Party base.  And Congressman Atkin’s comments are particularly troublesome for Romney/Ryan ticket.

You see Congressman Akin co-sponsored antiabortion legislation that questions the legitimacy of rape and draws a distinction between rape and “forcible” rape. 

Atkins co-sponsor on that bill…Paul Ryan.

Romney and Ryan will conduct a joint interview later today.  Something tells us that Congressman Atkin will come up in the conversation.