A U.S. Senate candidate's statement regarding rape and pregnancy that has sparked outrage nationally is also reverberating in local races on Long Island.
In a television interview in Missouri on Sunday, U.S. Rep. Todd Akin was asked about his stance on abortion and said he believes that in cases of “legitimate rape” a woman’s body can “shut that whole thing down” to prevent her from becoming pregnant. He later apologized for the comments and said he misspoke, but he rejected calls from both Republicans and Democrats to drop out of the race.
Bridget Fleming, of Noyac, a Democratic candidate for New York State Senate, called on incumbent Republican Sen. Kenneth LaValle, of Port Jefferson, on Wednesday to “publically disavow” Akin’s statements.
“As a former member of the DA’s Sex Crimes Prosecution Unit, I was shocked to hear the callous and grossly inaccurate comments made by Rep. Akin, who has served in the U.S. Congress for six terms,” Fleming said. “And as a resident of Long Island, I am disheartened to see that Senator LaValle hasn’t yet spoken up.”
Contacted by Patch Thursday, the LaValle campaign readily denounced Akin's comment.
“Senator LaValle believes you do not defend the indefensible,” said a campaign spokeswoman. “The senator has his own thoughts and his own record. The congressman from Missouri’s words were reprehensible, and obviously the senator doesn’t agree with them.”
Fleming took the opportunity to point out the contrast between her position on abortion rights and LaValle’s. She said she is an advocate for “women’s health and reproductive freedom,” and accused LaValle of limiting women’s health care options.
The LaValle campaign did not wish to respond at this time to Fleming's statements regarding his record on abortion and birth control.
According to VoteSmart.org, the New York State Right to Life Committee gave LaValle a 73 percent rating in 2011, and NARAL Pro-Choice New York labeled the senator “anti-choice” in 2004.
While Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep. Tim Bishop, of Southampton, and Republican challenger Randy Altschuler, of St. James, fall along party lines when it comes to abortion, they found common ground this week over Akin's comments.
“Let me be clear: Congressman Akin’s comments on rape were ill informed, hurtful, and irresponsible,” Bishop said in a campaign statement on Tuesday. “His ignorance of basic reproductive science is matched only by the heartlessness of his comments ..."
Bishop said it was "troubling" that Altschuler was silent on the matter, but three hours later on Tuesday, Altschuler released a statement of his own.
"As someone who was raised by a single mom who sacrificed everything for me, and a proud husband and father to a beautiful 1-year-old daughter, there is no room for debate about this issue with me — Congressman Todd Akin should withdraw from the Missouri Senate race immediately for his absurd and offensive comments," Altschuler said. "There is no room for this kind of sentiment in the public discourse.”
See MB, HH, Hazel, Mo, and all the rest - I am honest and can agree with you on things. You ALL never waiver and never think your candidate is wrong, has been wrong or ever could be wrong.
Also notice his carefully worded statement: He says "there is no room for this kind of sentiment" but he refused to go further. Why? Because his party agrees with Akin. In fact, Akin worked with Ryan on anti-abortion legislation that would allow no exception for rape and incest and which attempted to define forcible rape. Their statements are hollow bs. Period. Jaguar Guy, thank you for being honest about Akin and Ryan.
I also do not believe that this option should even be a subject of discussion among a bunch of withered old men... or any men for that matter. When men can get pregnant, then and only then, should they have ANY say about what a person can do or cannot do with their very own body. A womans' body does not belong, to her husband, to her doctor, or especially, not to the government. And for these arrogant asshats to be having discussions about rape is even worse. Those men who are looking to define rape are validating rapists. Rape is an ugly act of violence against women. Some women never recover from it. That is why it is used as a weapon of war as well. Any man who makes snide remarks about rape has at some point considered it himself, or worse, and has sympathy for those who commit these acts. Don't bother to deny it. It's true. Just for the record from someone who knows. Rape is ANY sex that is unwanted by the woman. PERIOD
Senator Harry Reid on Barack Obama: "...light-skinned," and with "no negro dialect." Congressman Charlie Rangel on our troops: "If a young fella has an option of having a decent career or joining the army to fight in Iraq, you can bet your life that he would not be in Iraq." Joe Biden on culturalism: "In Delaware, the largest growth of population is Indian Americans, moving from India. You cannot go to a 7/11 or a Dunkin' Donuts unless you have a slight Indian accent. I'm not joking." I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy. I mean, that’s a storybook, man. Joe Biden ''It's like Goebbels. Goebbels invented this kind of propaganda.'' —California Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jerry Brown, comparing billionaire GOP nominee Meg Whitman's saturation campaign effort to that of a Nazi minister of propaganda ''F**king retarded.'' —White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, scolding liberal groups planning to air ads attacking conservative Dems who were balking at Mr. Obama's health care overhaul ''It depends on what the meaning of the words 'is' is.'' —Bill Clinton
“It was something that if a black had said it, we would have been laughing, because we would know deep down, they may be beating the hell out of us but they ain’t thinking about putting us into any chains,” he added. Republicans have called on Mr. Biden to apologize, but that doesn’t seem likely to happen anytime soon. “Let’s look at what the vice president said: Speaker Boehner and even Paul Ryan have been traveling this country talking about the need to unshackle the private sector, to unshackle the financial industry,” Mr. Obama’s deputy campaign manager, Stephanie Cutter, argued earlier this week. “And the vice president was just taking that metaphor a step further and talking about wanting to put other people in shackles. And the word that he used, chains, is a distraction from the larger argument.”
Just be glad you are an American and let politics go on as it has since the revolution. There is nothing you can do to change it, no matter how hard you try. Big business runs the government. So, enjoy each day and don't stress out!
Just who does her body belong to ? Herself ??? What about the BABY and its belonging ??? Regarding : "Rape is an ugly act of violence..." & "Some women never recover... ABORTION is an ugly act of violence & most women NEVER recover from it. It manifests itself in many ways later on. Depression, eating disorders, suicidal tendencies, and a host of other bio/psy/socio impacts. Look at the stats and do the research. (Psychological effects of abortion on women etc.) Study have further shown that many women who have decided to continue with a pregnancy, REGARDLESS of the circumstances in which conception of that child took place, have RECOVERED more quickly psychologically / emotionally etc. Furthermore,there are many physical risks associated with undergoing even a 'legal' abortion. Health complications and the 'hidden risk' of not ever being able to conceive again, as well as an increased risk in developing breast cancer later on in life. Death...etc. (look up the research: The Link Between Breast Cancer and Abortion.) The abortion 'industry' does not want women to be empowered. WOMEN ARE NOT BEING TOLD THE TRUTH ABOUT ABORTION AND ITS EFFECTS ON THEM. ABORTION HURTS WOMEN. exposeplannedparenthood.com facinglifeissuesheadon.com *Women need to make INFORMED health decisions. Colleen B.S.W
When as the last time NY state blocked contraception or abortion? Bridget, get real. You have nothing to run on but this social issue.