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Why Doesn't "Legitimate Rape" Congressman Just Resign?

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eyethenkyew | 08:19 Wed 22nd Aug 2012 | News
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/...ld-us-canada-19335083

*** YES I KNOW THERE WAS A THREAD YESTERDAY ***

Anyway, my point is slightly different to yesterday's which, for some obscure reason, was in the Religion and Spirituality section.

What is the point in this guy carrying on? For a start, would any woman vote for him after his outrageous statement?

Why not simply resign now instead of being obstinate, and save any shred of credibility and self respect he may still have?
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I guess he thinks he can appologise his way out of it

If he can't he's pretty much finished as a politician so what has he got to lose by trying?
He is either a desperate idiot or a double-agent for the Democrats.
I had to re-read that link a couple of times.

He believes that women's bodies could prevent pregnancy in cases of rape.

“It seems to me, from what I understand from doctors, that’s really rare,” Mr. Akin said of pregnancies from rape.

He then said, “In reviewing my off-the-cuff remarks, it’s clear that I misspoke in this interview, and it does not reflect the deep empathy I hold for the thousands of women who are raped and abused every year.”

But it wasn't an off the cuff remark. He'd apparently 'spoken to doctors' about this. I would be interested to see this evidence.
A few points -

first of all, can we track down trhe doctor(s) who told this idiot that womens' bodies can 'shut down' a pregnancy - and get them struck off, today if possible.

then you have to wonder that a man who by definition, given his status, must have had an education, can seriously believe this utter idiocy.

finally you have to listen to what he said, and try and figure out how he used the 'wrong words'? His statement was articulate and obviously beilieved, so to try and apologise by inferring that he expressed himself badly simply adds insult to injury.

This man hould never be put in charge of anything anywhere ever.

His unwillingness to resign demonstrates an ego and obvious lack of perception that makes him an ideal Republican candidtate - America can enjoy a smile seeing his name on a ballot slip - and then ignore it.
that's democracy for you: you put your name forward, you tell people what you stand for, and they can vote for you or not. Clearly he's scaring his own party - as Romney has told him to go - but it's for the voters to decide.
He was speaking to the far right christians in the electorate who are pro life. Trick questions like rape confused him, but the message remains andis clear. Democrats kill babies and Republicans are against it. It is hard to admit a mistake when the message was loud and clear.
Beliveing this is no more idiotic than believing in some flavour of mythical being/book. As we know the Americans are very religious, this is just an extension of that stupidity. Religion and stupidity by definition are close bed fellows.
StarBeast - actually the two do no corelate at all.

The belief in a God and / or a holy book is a matter of faith, the essence of which is belief in something for which no proof exists.

The notion that a woman's reproductive system can 'shut down' foetal development if she wishes is something any first-term medical student, and anyone who knows the very basics about human reproduction - can debunk without even trying.

One is a matter of faith, the other is a matter of the most laughable, not to say dangerous pseudo-science - so they are in fact poles apart, even though somefervent believers in the former may wish that the latter were true.

However, if this numpty is pro-life, as he claims, then surely he should be campaigning to stop all those women who are preferring not to continue gestation, and simply swinging their mental 'no thanks' option into gear?
I think it doesn't take a rocket scientist to debunk the idea of religion either, and is equally laughable!

Drop by religion and spirituality some time and see
Nope, not going to fly jake.

Faith is a nebulous concept, open to endless interperetation, and fervent debunking equally - but all are based on an idea.

Human reproduction is basic scientific fact, known and understood for hundreds of years - except apparently to 'some doctors' who have the Congressman's ear - even if not his brain.
Sorry Andy are you saying that religious belief is in some way less laughable than belief in "selective impregnation"? I'd say they are pretty well equivalent on the eejit scale!
"Human reproduction is basic scientific fact, known and understood for hundreds of years - except apparently to 'some doctors' who have the Congressman's ear - even if not his brain. "

.... and the Earth was made in six days!, is it not a scientific fact that it wasn't?
No, I'm saying that belief in a God and belief in mind over reproduction are not compatible.

The potential for religious faith is based on concepts which have no evidence or proof, therefore a belief system is perfectly reasonable, given that gainsaying it has also to be given without proof to back it up.

The notion that women can 'shut down' their reproductive system is a farcical nonsense which is instantly disproveable by medical science with no effort what so ever.

My point is that religion is based on faith - unproven either way, but 'selective' reproduction' is the wishful thinking of an evil right-wing mind - and is utterly beyond any reason what ever.

You can - as I understand you do - think that both notions are equally fatuous, but my argument is that faith remains undimmed because of a lack of contrary evidence - this fool is talking nonsense for anyone at all to argue against - that is why in my view, the two do not co-relate.
" ....... and the Earth was made in six days!, is it not a scientific fact that it wasn't?"

This is delving into the finer points of religious belief.

My point was simply that faith - as a broad concept - exists because of a belief which cannot be proven either way, but 'selective conception' really is a myth, and can be proven very simply.

We can debate the finer points of books of faith for years, but my point remains valid, a world-wide faith system and the ramblings of an ignorant buffoon are not essentially compatible as an argument against religion.
//The potential for religious faith is based on concepts which have no evidence or proof, therefore a belief system is perfectly reasonable, given that gainsaying it has also to be given without proof to back it up. //

Er I think there's plenty of evidence that water doesn't turn into wine, that people dont rise from the dead or walk on water.

Just saying it's magic (or a nebulous concept) doesn't make stop such ideas from being laughable


What's the most credible, that a woman's body wouldn't conceive under extreme mental stress or that Carpenters rise from the dead?
"The notion that women can 'shut down' their reproductive system is a farcical nonsense which is instantly disproveable by medical science with no effort what so ever. "

no more farcical and disprovable than the assent to "heaven" or Descent to "hell".

Interesting debate Andy but I can see no differences, both are equally farcical to me.
Belief and faith are selective and by no means makes sense. The west believe that god spoke to men who wrote the bible. But they do not believe he talked to another man who wrote the Quran. To anyone not religious it is patently obvious that God spoke to no one.

What we have with this politician is that he has over stepped a line from 'accepted' stupidness to unaccepted stupidness. The reason Romney has to act is not because it is a huge variation from the Republicans Pro-Life stance, because it isn't. He has to distance himself from the comments because it will affect votes from women.
> "If it's a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down."

What are you saying ...

* that many/most/all Christians actually think that?
* that many/most/all Christians have the capacity to think that (despite the scientific evidence to the contrary)?
* that these are the words of a deranged loon?

I'd go with option 3, myself. If option 1 or 2 is correct, then no wonder he's carrying on!
Ellipsis

The questions aren't that straight forward, try these

* that many/most/all Christians believe in Pro-Life
* that many/most/all Christians believe anything that supports their cause
* that these are the words of a politician who knows his audience
jake - I don't think we will get very far delving into the minutiae of biblical stories - especially since as an aetheist, I am not arguing from a position of religious belief.

My point is an answer to the proposal that religious belief and selective mental birth control are equally fatuous - and in my view they are not, even though I disbelieve both with equal fervour.

My only issue is with the fact that faith is not proveable, but reproduction is - and therefore the idea that both are equally unbeilevable does not stand up.

That's really my only point - so feeding 5,000 and raising the dead etc. etc. ad nauseum does not really address my original response.

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