NY-25 Candidates Weigh In On Rep. Akin’s Beliefs & Comments

Rochester, N.Y. --- Congressman Todd Akin’s controversial comments mentioning “legitimate rape” and a woman’s body being able to “shut that whole thing down” if they were to get pregnant has rekindled a new debate on abortion and women’s rights.

In the race for New York’s 25th Congressional District seat both candidates actually agree on one thing; Akin could not have been more wrong to say what he did.

"It's absolutely appalling first it's a scientific disaster that he would say that, this is a man on the (House) Science Committee and that he believes that women have some secret way that takes over if they're being raped and prevents them from being pregnant that would be strange news to the 39,000 American women approximately every year that get pregnant through rape,” Rep. Louise Slaughter (D – Fairport) said Wednesday.  “It was an appalling statement bearing no facts at all."

"It was a ridiculous statement, it was a stupid statement and anybody that would define rape that way is doing an injustice to women and to victims it was outrageous,” Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks (R – Webster) said.  “I can't believe he would say it, I absolutely condemned it, it has no place in public discourse around this election and it's unfortunate for him he's going to have to deal with that from now until November."

At that point the agreements end.  Democrats across the country are finding ways to link their Republican opponents to Rep. Akin’s beliefs and his comments.  While most Republicans are distancing themselves from the comments, some admit sharing some of the Missouri Congressman’s beliefs.