Is Todd Akin All That Bad?

Yes.

Once more I am frustrated with both the mainstream media and the hardcore conservatives. The MSM emphasizes Akin's insensitivity. The Huckabee crowd emphasizes the fact that Todd Akin has apologized. They both miss the crux of the matter.

Joe Wilson stood up and yelled, "You lie" to President Obama. Truer words were never spoken but it was conduct unbecoming an elected official and it disrespected the Office of the Presidency (Not that Obama himself is above disrespecting the office but that is a different story for a different time.) Joe Wilson immediately apologized, his war chest swelled and we all moved on.

There is absolutely no reason for Todd Akin to apologize. If he genuinely believes that it is not possible for a woman to get pregnant by rape, he should express that belief, sensitivity be damned. I happen to believe that women carry two X chromosones. I belief it wholeheartedly. I will express that opinion publicly. If someone is offended by my beliefs,tough! I will not apologize no matter how insensitive I might appear or how badly I might want to get elected.

Todd Akin genuinely believes (or did genuinely believe until his phone started ringing incessantly) that a woman cannot be impregnated by a rapist. Reflect on that for a moment. Have you ever heard  a more ridiculous assertion stated in earnest? Not only is this foolish idea not based in science, it is not based in religion, folklore, mythology, or even pop culture.

Some of Lyndon LaRouche's conspiracy theories can rival Akin's silliness but in the end, Akin's comments reign supreme as the most ludicrous I have ever heard. An apology is appropriate for bad manners. But Akin did not display bad manners and thus, his apology is meaningless.

Todd Akin ia a sad excuse for a martyr. The issue is not manners, but gross stupidity. Sadly, gross stupidity cannot be wiped away by a mea culpa. Maybe we shouldn't throw Akin under the bus but we should politely ask him to leave and keep his mouth shut. I am willing to pitch in a lolly pop and a couple of shiny objects if it helps the cause.