Wisconsin Senator: Walker Had 'Todd Akin Moment' with Rape Comments

A Wisconsin senator accused Gov. Scott Walker of having his “Todd Akin moment” in recent comments he made about rape provisions in an abortion bill.

Former Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.), who had a shot at unseating incumbent Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) in 2012, gave an interview that August in which he was asked about abortion in the instance of rape. “First of all, from what I understand from doctors, that’s really rare,” Akin said of pregnancy resulting from sexual assault. “If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down.”

Akin’s campaign nosedived after that, with RNC funding pulled and Walker among the Republicans calling on Akin to withdraw from the race.

In expressing support for a state viability bill banning abortions after 20 weeks, including in cases of rape or incest, Walker told reporters this week, “I mean, I think for most people concerned about that, it’s in the initial months when they’re the most concerned about it,” in regard to pregnancies brought about by rape or incest. “In this case, again, it’s an unborn life. It’s an unborn child and that’s why we feel strongly about it.”

Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) told MSNBC last night that “this is Scott Walker’s Todd Akin moment.”

“I could not believe that our governor in a few short words showed how deeply out of touch he is with the women of Wisconsin and the women of this country. And, frankly, his policies with regard to women’s reproductive health are actually dangerous,” Baldwin said.

She served with Walker in the state legislature, and said back then he “did not believe that there should be any exception for rape, for incest, for health or life of the mother with regard to abortion. And he hasn’t changed over these years.”

Baldwin called him “really out of touch with the reality of women … especially those who have suffered the horror of rape or incest.”

“If you look at the history of those who have been elected president, Scott Walkers views are clearly more extreme than any Republican president in recent times,” she said. “Much more extreme than President George W. Bush with regard to the issues of having exceptions that deal with the health and the life of the mother. And the issues of exceptions for rape victims and incest.”