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GOP Senate nominee: Women don't get pregnant from 'legitimate' rapes

Jonathan Terbush
August 19, 2012

Rep. Todd Akin, the Republican Senate nominee in Missouri, claimed in a TV interview this weekend that women who are 'legitimate' victims of rape do not get pregnant because their bodies somehow prevent that from happening.

As first reported by TPM, Akin, in an interview with local station KTVI-TV, was defending his staunch anti-abortion stance. When asked if that view applied to extreme instances such as rape—a case some abortion opponents consider an acceptable exception to their otherwise firm opposition—Akin held his ground.

"People always try to make that one of those things, 'Oh, how do you slice this particularly tough sort of ethical question," Akin said. "It seems to me, first of all, what I understand from doctors is that's really where—if it's a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down."

Should that supposed defense mechanism fail, Akin added that he'd still oppose abortion in that case because he believes it would punish the unborn child.

“Let’s assume that maybe that didn’t work, or something,” Akin said. “I think there should be some punishment, but the punishment ought to be on the rapist and not attacking the child.”

Akin is set to take on vulnerable incumbent Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) in November. The race is seen as a crucial one for the GOP, as a win there could help them tip control of the Senate back in their favor.

Yet Akin, who was just nominated earlier this month, has made headlines for all the wrong reasons. Since his nomination, he's advocated a complete ban on the morning after pill, and called for an end to the federal school lunch program. He also infamously said student loans had given America, "stage three cancer of socialism."

Video of Akin's interview below is below, with the abortion discussion around the four minute mark:

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