Family Research Council President Tony Perkins confirmed that Senate candidate Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.) met this week behind closed doors with a group of conservatives and evangelical leaders to “encourage him and the stand that he’s taking.”
“Obviously, you know, it was a Biden-ism that he made. It was inexcusable. It was inappropriate. He has acknowledged it as such. And he’s moving on,” Perkins said on MSNBC. “Now there are some in the Republican Party that want him to get out. He has made his decision that he’s going to stay in. You know, and from my perspective, as I, our organization endorsed him in the primary, we endorsed him based upon the totality of his record.”
Perkins he doesn’t “necessarily” see wavering from Akin on his decision to stay in the race. Akin could withdraw by Sept. 25 via court intervention.
“I mean, anything’s possible, but he seems to be pretty steadfast in his decision that he’s going to stay in this race and run. Now there’s not unanimous support, obviously, as you’ve seen much of the national Republican establishment have called for him to get out,” he said. “Others are weighing the realities here of whether or not he can be successful. But many people thought, you know, wondered whether or not he could be successful in the primary. He was. I think he still has a chance to be successful in the general election as well.”
Still, the FRC leader didn’t come down too hard on those calling for Akin to get out, saying “reasonable people can disagree.”
“And, again, I totally have rejected what he said as being inappropriate and inartful and he should have never said it,” Perkins said. “I don’t know why he was having that discussion.”
Akin came in first with 36% in a primary of three. 60% of Missouri voters who voted in that primary wanted someone else. Hardly a rousing endorsement.
I am weary of posts here and elsewhere insisting that Missouri voters must reward this man’s stupidity, selfishness , and arrogance with our votes-that we have to “carry him over the finish line”. First, even if every single registered Republican were to vote for Akin, Missouri’s voters are not 55%+ registered Republican (I’ve seen 37% .) We cannot elect Akin alone : We need to get a goodly chunk of the unregistered/independents/unaffiliateds/moderates/call the wishy-washy’s what you will, but we need them, and some moderate Democrats as well. Any hope of attracting these voters is now nil.
What’s worse, it appears that at least for now, the Akin flap has lost Romney his small lead over BHO nationwide, and Akin’s words are being used as “proof” that ALL Republicans “hate women”, a narrative Democrats were all too eager to use before Akin. How many weak Republican candidates now going to lose narrowly , when they might well have had a narrow victory?
If this idiot isn’t prevailed upon to leave and be replaced probably by Talent or Wagner (Steelman and Brunner apparently can’t replace Akin as Republican candidates due to the current interpretation of the Sore Loser law, which prohibits those defeated in the primary from running as third party candidates-Hey, don’t ask me, that’s what I’ve read).
If Akin stays on the ballot he will lose, the fallout may cost Romney Missouri’s electoral college votes, we may lose our chance at taking both houses of Congress, and we may be stuck with obamacare forever (or until it causes the complete collapse of the US economy, whichever comes first).
Akin must go.
If I understand the sore loser aspect of that law, it only applies to 3rd party candidates – not replacing the winner of the primary with one of the runner-ups.
Rasmussen reports that Romney’s lead in Missouri has vanished, I presume because of the Akin controversy. I don’t know what to be most distressed about: that the voting public is so hung up on the abortion issue that any Bidenism by a Republican is enough to outweigh issues of the economy, unemployment, Medicare, taxes, etc.., — or that there are some Republicans who are so hung up on the abortion issue that they are willing to throw away a chance to undo the disaster of the last three and a half years by encouraging Akin to stay in the race.
Republicans must understand that they have to be extremely careful about what they say at this point. This Ministry of Propanda and Lies of the Obama Administration (a/k/a the LSM) is just waiting to pounce on any mis-steps Republicans might make. Let’s hope that the voters of Missouri and other places come to their senses and put the Akin thing behind them.
(BTW As I noted in anoher comment, Roman Polanski was defended by Hollywood types even though he actually (statutorially or forcibly) raped a girl of 13. Did Barbara Boxer or Obama speak out against the Hollywood types? I don’t think so. But Akin, who simply expressed an opinion, however wrong-headed, is getting pilloried. Such is the double-standards of Lefitsts, or as Roger Simon calls them: reactionaries.)
I would love to know who was in that “group of conservatives”. I don’t think that word means what they think it means.
Perkins knows how damaging Akin’s remarks were to the pro life cause. I think he may also understand that with someone like Akin- a person who earned a masters in divinity in his mid 30s- there is probably something very much like a calling motivating him. Such people may go into full blown martyr mode if pushed too hard by the wrong forces.
I think the best thing to do is lay off Akin until after the convention. By Labor Day the dismal fundraising and poll numbers will be such that the chorus of yes men Akin has surrounded himself with won’t be able to spin away the bad news. With McKaskill’s unfavorables there is still plenty of time for a challenger to gain traction.
The fact they are holding meetings seems to me to be clue that some panic is starting to settle in at Club Akin.
The additional fact that they are still apologizing should be a clue for even the most clueless – if you are having to explain yourself you are losing.
Gosh golly, I don’t know what everybody’s all upset about. All I did was question whether the twin towers were blown up with dynamite. You know jet fuel doesn’t melt steel. Really, I saw that on the internet somewhere.
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Akin holding meetings “with conservatives and evangelicals” underscores the way to get rid of him: get a bunch of evangelical pastors who are of generally like mind to work on him.
It was obvious from the phrasing of his “apology video,” which sounded very much like one that would be made by Jimmy Swaggart or Jim Baker after being caught in a sexual indiscretion, that Akin views himself as a Christian Soldier fighting the good fight. The only way such a self-anointed soldier is going to be dissuaded from his lone folly is if some pastoral voices which he respects call on him and, in the same religious idiom with which he views himself, tell him in no uncertain terms that he, as a holy warrior, can do more for the cause by making a noble sacrifice than by remaining in the race.
In which case, Huck isn’t exactly helping. The more I watch the way these characters operate, the more similarity I see between Huck and Bloomberg. They both know what’s right more then you and me, don’t you know.
Everyone knows it was the Mormons who made Akins say that. No one in the Evangelical camp would ever express such odd beliefs. Facepalm.
sarc/off
Sorry about the excess boldface. Must have missed a caret somewhere.
Bold face seems entirely appropriate, even if unintentional.
I’d hoped that Huck would quietly ask Akin to withdraw. But Huck’s statement yesterday shows he’s clearly stuck on stupid.
Now can you name a few clerics who would ask him to get out?
Would that I could. That is a task for someone more acquainted with the world of evangelical Protestantism than I.
You don’t suppose Huck’s trying to sabotage the Mormon, do you?
Snork: it has crossed my mind. I can see his wanting to do it for two reasons: first, if he is of that wing of Christianity which views Mormons as some kind of anathema, and second, if he has his panties in a twist because Romney is doing well with his Presidential bid and Huckabee’s failed.
Back when Clinton was first running, he was NOT the darling of the media. From the articles written, it was clear that a lot of Baby Boom era journalists were approaching his candidacy from the point of view of, “Holy shit! We’re old enough for someone my age to run for president—and not only is it not me, it’s some damn hick from Arkansas!” There was a lot of meanspirited coverage that was clearly the result of this kind of envy and jealousy.
Is the unctuous Mr. Huckabee above such base emotions? There is no reason to suppose so. And, if he can cloak his personal envy in a shining garment of religious principle, that would be gravy.
Hey Perkins,
Want the Family Research Council to continue to have a positive name w/ Republicans? Get Akin to drop, before the Democrat convention.
Want the Family Research Council’s name to be mud, and to be hated by just about ever Republican out there? Continue to support Akin.
He is harming the pro-life movement, harming that Party, and harming the country. Don’t let him also harm you.
Why are we still talking about this? Why is Bridget Johnson so intersted in this case that she devoted 3-4 articles on it. The man made a mistake, these evangelists understand and stood by the guy who is standing up for their values. Meanwhile, we’re still bashing him. At least it’s more tame now.
Because Akin’s still in the race.
Pre-Akins, Romney was ahead in Missouri. Now post-Akin Romney is under water. Does that help you understand a bit why we’re still talking about it?
Because no one is talking about whether or not Akin is a moron. He is. It’s a fact. We’re talking about how to get him out of the race, soon enough to swing back Missouri.
Standard script should now be, “I and most othersI know have said Akin’s comments were at best stupid, at worst irresponsible and indefensible. We have urged him to drop out. He has chosen not to. There’s nothing more I can do on this–it’s now up to the voters in Missouri to decide if this is the man they should elect. I have said I don’t believe he is, but that’s their choice now.”
Then wipe your hands and call it a day.
This is a continued problem only because republicans have once again allowed the dems to frame the debate. Romney losing ground on this is not principally Akin’s fault–Romney doesn’t believe as akin does. It’s the dems fault for imputing Akin’s remarks to all the GOP, and the GOP letting them do it.
Heck, when anderson pooper is the GOPs strongest defense on this, you know you’ve failed at messaging,
You can wipe all day long and as long as Akin is in the race nothing is going to wipe off.
Guess who is now under water in Missouri?
Romney.
Todd Akin is a witch.
Don’t witches float? Just sayin…
Yes, Akin needs to be gently persuaded by his peers to stand down. A little fire-’n-brimstone from members of his religious community will go a long way here (while not an evangelical Protestant myself I have something of an idea of what needs to be done).
I don’t know why he was having that discussion
Because Akin is a bonafide idiot who walked into a journalistic trap, that’s why — is Perkins as big an idiot as Akin? True Believers on the “right” are as pig-headed as those on the left, but lack the cunning of leftists, who would usually lie under such circumstances.
Whether the polls at this point in Missouri are correct or not, Akin is poison, and should drop out.
Huckabee should be declared as big a pariah as Akin, and Perkins should realize that whatever simpathy he garnered from the recent shooting could vanish. Do these self-righteous imbeciles realize there is a war on?
Do these self-righteous imbeciles realize there is a war on?
They do—but their war is for the glory of God’s kingdom. Their war happens to intermittently coincide with the war for the future of the country, but not always.
I’m an Evangelical, Protestant and Pentecostal. My views on abortion are robustly pro-life, but I understand not everyone sees it the way I do. I accept the caveat for rape and incest, not because I think two evils (rape and abortion) make a good, but because I realize some very good people just don;t see it that way. The only way to win on this issue not by some Gov’t fiat in favor or against, nor by telling someone that they must be utterly evil to hold anything less than my position. The only way is one to one, heart to heart in reasoned discourse. And that seems to be working, albeit slowly.
http://www.gallup.com/poll/154838/pro-choice-americans-record-low.aspx
Akin needs to go. If it means letting him run for his old house seat fine, but get someone else in the senate race. If we fail to gain the Senate because someone was too dumb to beat the deeply loathed Claire McCaskill that will be utter folly. Even if Akin wins the battle for a senate seat but costs the GOP a Senate Majority, it will be one of the most Pyrrhic Victories of all time.
Mister Akin, your intransigence on this issue is making you an enemy to every principle you say you believe. Get out now. God wants you to.