Todd "Legitimate Rape" Akin's Virginia Allies: Scott Rigell, Randy Forbes and Bob Wittman

GOP Extremist, Scott Rigell

As the Republican Party nationwide scurries like cockroaches to avoid the fall out from GOP Senate candidate Todd Akin's "legitimate rape" defense for his opposition to abortion in any instance, it is important for Hampton Roads citizens to understand that Akin has steadfast allies in our local congressman: Scott Rigell (pictured at left), Randy Forbes and Bob Wittman.  Farther afield in Virginia, Eric Cantor, Robert Hurt and Frank Wolfe have also supported Akin's anti-woman agenda (it goes without saying that all of these Republicans are 100% against gay rights and some. like Rigell, would likely seek to reenact the sodomy laws if they could).  Blue Virginia has a summary of how Rigell, et al have voted in lock step with Akin:

No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act: Note that this legislation uses the phrase "forcible rape". Also note that there were 227 cosponsors, including (in addition to Todd "Legitimate Rape" Akin) the following anti-women warriors from Virginia: Eric Can'tor, Randy Forbes, Bob Goodlatte, Morgan Griffith, Robert Hurt, Scott Rigell, Robert Wittman, and Frank Wolf.
 
Sanctity of Human Life Act ("Declares that: (1) the right to life guaranteed by the Constitution is vested in each human and is the person's paramount and most fundamental right; (2) each human life begins with fertilization, cloning, or its functional equivalent, at which time every human has all legal and constitutional attributes and privileges of personhood; and (3) Congress, each state, the District of Columbia, and all U.S. territories have the authority to protect all human lives."). This bill would effectively outlaw all abortions, as well as embryonic stem cell research and many forms of contraception. In addition to Todd "Legitimate Rape" Akin, Virginia anti-women warriors who cosponsored this bill include Randy Forbes and Rob Wittman.
 
Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act ("Amends the Public Health Service Act to prohibit the Secretary of Health and Human Service (HHS) from providing any federal family planning assistance to an entity unless the entity certifies that, during the period of such assistance, the entity will not perform, and will not provide any funds to any other entity that performs, an abortion."). In addition to Todd "Legitimate Rape" Akin, Virginia cosponsors on this heinous piece of anti-women legislation include Randy Forbes, Bob Goodlatte, Robert Hurt, Scott Rigell, and Rob Wittman.
 
Protect Life Act ("prohibit[s] federal funds from being to used to cover any part of the costs of any health plan that includes coverage of abortion services."). In addition to Todd "Legitimate Rape" Akin, Virginia cosponsors of this monstrosity include Randy Forbes and Scott Rigell.
 
Abortion Non-Discrimination Act of 2011 ("prohibit[s] the federal government and any state or local government that receives federal financial assistance from subjecting any health professional, a hospital, a provider sponsored organization, a health maintenance organization, an accountable care organization, a health insurance plan, or any other kind of health care facility, organization, or plan to discrimination on the basis that the entity refuses to participate in abortion-related activities."). In addition to Todd "Legitimate Rape" Akin, Virginia cosponsors include Randy Forbes, Bob Goodlatte, Morgan Griffith, and Scott Rigell.
 
Life at Conception Act ("Declares that the right to life guaranteed by the Constitution is vested in each human being beginning at the moment of fertilization, cloning, or other moment at which an individual comes into being."). Along with Todd "Legitimate Rape" Akin, Virginia cosponsors include Randy Forbes, Bob Goodlatte, Robert Hurt, Scott Rigell, and Robert Wittman.

But Akins allies in the GOP extend far beyond Virginia.  Other allies and supporters of anti-women legislation include PAUL RYAN, Mitt Romney's VP nominee.   Indeed, banning all abortions no matter the circumstance is now the GOP mainstream position.  A column in the Washington Post looks at this reality.  Here are excerpts:

 

Last year, Akin co-sponsored a bill in the House that would have narrowed the exception that allows Medicaid funds to pay for abortions for women who are raped. The proposed measure would have permitted the use of funds only to end pregnancies resulting from “forcible rape.” Paul Ryan, now Mitt Romney’s running mate, was another co-sponsor of the measure, which ultimately failed.

The statutory rape of a child by an adult would not fit the definition the House Republicans tried to impose; nor would the rape of a woman who was drugged, say, or who had limited mental capacity. Never mind the fact that, as far as criminal law is concerned, rape is rape. Never mind the fact that all rape, by its very nature, is “forcible.”

Akin’s assertion about “legitimate” rape is really nothing but an attempt to blame the victim. It stems from the view that the only true victim is a woman who is raped while violently resisting a ski-masked assailant who came in through the bedroom window. Anything short of that, she must have been asking for it.

Akin’s stupid, sexist remarks were immediately denounced by Romney and other prominent Republicans. But the GOP refuses to do the one thing that would neutralize the “war on women” issue: Stop the misogynistic attacks. Stop them now.