GOP condemns Rep. Todd Akin’s comments

by NW Spotlight

National Republican leaders have condemned the offensive comments on rape made by Congressman Todd Akin (R-Missouri), and called for Akin to drop out of his race for the U.S. Senate. So far, Akin has apologized but is defying calls for him to drop out.

Reince Priebus – Republican National Committee Chair

On Tuesday, Reince Priebus told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer that Todd Akin should drop out of the Missouri Senate race and that Akin’s funding has been pulled. Priebus called Akin’s comments “ridiculous and bizarre” as well as “biologically stupid.” Priebus has asked Akin not to attend next week’s Republican convention in Tampa.

Mitt Romney – GOP candidate for president

Also on Tuesday, Mitt Romney condemned Akin’s comments and called on Akin to drop out of the Missouri U.S. Senate race: “Todd Akin’s comments were offensive and wrong and he should very seriously consider what course would be in the best interest of our country. Today, his fellow Missourians urged him to step aside, and I think he should accept their counsel and exit the Senate race.”

Paul Ryan – GOP candidate for vice-president

Paul Ryan condemned Akin’s comments: “His statements were outrageous, over the pale. I don’t know anybody who would agree with that. Rape is rape, period, end of story.” Akin told NBC’s Matt Lauer yesterday that Paul Ryan had personally called Akin and asked him to drop out of his U.S. Senate race.

Other Republicans

Other Republicans calling for Akin to quit because of his offensive comments are Missouri’s junior senator Roy Blunt, former Missouri U.S. senators John Ashcroft, Kit Bond, John Danforth, and Jim Talent, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Maine’s Sen. Olympia Snowe, Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire, Richard Burr of North Carolina, as well as Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas.