Previously: Teresa Hensley (D): Vicky Hartzler (r) and Todd Akin (r) (August 20, 2012)
Silence.
Akin blasted for ‘legitimate rape’ comment
By Rudi Keller
Published August 19, 2012 at 4:18 p.m., Updated August 20, 2012 at 2 p.m.….The issue is sensitive for many Republicans because Akin was a co-sponsor of a bill that would have denied federal funding for abortions in many instances of rape. The bill, since modified, originally limited the funding to pregnancies caused by “forcible rape.” Every Missouri Republican House member, including Fourth District Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler, was a co-sponsor, as was Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, the GOP vice presidential candidate.
Through spokesman Steve Walsh, Hartzler declined to comment on Akin’s statement. “Congressman Akin made a comment, and he has said he misspoke,” Walsh said. “There is no reason for Congresswoman Hartzler to weigh in.”
From Cass County Prosecutor Teresa Hensley’s (D) 4th Congressional District campaign:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 22, 2012[….]
HENSLEY RENEWS INVITATION TO HARTZLER TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST AKIN COMMENTS
** Hartzler says there’s ‘no reason’ to condemn Akin’s comments on ‘legitimate rape’ **
Raymore, MO – Today, Cass County Prosecutor and congressional candidate in Missouri’s 4th Congressional district Teresa Hensley renewed her invitation to Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler to join her in denouncing Congressman Todd Akin’s offensive and outrageous comments that victims of “legitimate rape” were less likely to get pregnant.
“Two days ago I offered a sincere invitation to Congresswoman Hartzler to join me in setting aside our numerous differences in order to make it clear that Congressman Akin’s comments were outrageous and offensive to any reasonable person, regardless of politics,” said Hensley. “Today we have yet to hear from her. If ever there was a time for Congresswoman Hartzler to set aside her partisanship, this is it, so I’m asking again for her to make her views clear on this important issue.”
Currently, Congresswoman Hartzler has indicated through a spokesperson that “there is no reason for Congresswoman Hartzler to weigh in” on Congressman Akin’s assertion that certain types of rape are more legitimate than others and that, in the case of “legitimate rape,” the female body has “ways to try to shut that whole thing down” to prevent pregnancy. [Columbia Daily Tribune, 8/19/12]
“I hope Congresswoman Hartzler changes her mind and speaks out on this because I believe she and I have an obligation as elected officials to assure women everywhere – and especially young women – that this kind of thinking won’t be tolerated,” added Hensley. “If Congresswoman Hartzler refuses to comment then I have to seriously question her ability to put the people of the 4th District ahead of her political priorities.”
So far numerous Republicans have expressed their objections to Congressman Akin’s comments including Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, current and former Missouri Senators Roy Blunt, Jim Talent, Kit Bond and John Danforth, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, National Republican Senatorial Committee chairman and Texas Senator John Cornyn, senators Kelly Ayotte (NH), Scott Brown (MA), Richard Burr (NC), Dean Heller (NV), Kay Bailey Hutchison (TX), Ron Johnson (WI), Olympia Snowe (ME), Lisa Murkowski (AK), Orin Hatch (UT), and noted Republican strategist Karl Rove.
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Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r) (left) and Rep. Todd Akin (r) (right).
Here is where being a prosecutor helps because Hensley can speak with some authority on the nature of rape.
I have known Claire a long time, right back to her days as Jackson County Prosecutor. I suspect she has had some experience working with actual victims of rape.