Rep. Todd Akin’s Remarks Prompt Reaction on Twitter
By Cynthia Herbert :: 12:16 AM
Congressman Todd Akin, the Republican U.S. Representative from Missouri’s 2nd Congressional District, made remarks on Sunday about his theory that the female reproductive system effectively shuts down when a woman is being raped, preventing conception from taking place.
“If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down,” Akin said.
The comment came during an interview on St. Louis television station KTVI-TVÂ about whether he supports a woman’s right to have an abortion in the case of rape. Akin is challenging incumbent Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill.
Akin’s comments quickly made it onto social media, and the phrase “legitimate rape” began trending on Twitter early Sunday afternoon. It is still trending at the time this article was published.
The vast majority of the comments were incredulous reactions toward Akin and his belief. On the TwoXChromosomes sub-reddit on news aggregation site Reddit, over 400 comments were logged by the end of the day. The top comment questioned Akin’s credentials on the subject – “do go on Doctor Akin. Where did you get your medical degree again?,” said Reddit user joaniesteelie.
Akin is challenging incumbent Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill in a closely watched race.