Todd Akin's Family, Staff Receiving Threats
UPDATE 7:05 P.M.: The U.S. Senate candidate has been under fire since his weekend comments on "forcible rape", despite an apology for the remarks. His spokesperson confirms the threats are real.
KTVI-TV is reporting that Todd Akin, the Wildwood Republican who has been under intense pressure since his weekend comments on "forcible rape" threatened to derail his U.S. Senate bid against Claire McCaskill, is now fending off more than calls to quit the race.
At 6:34 p.m. Thursday, Patch received the following confirmation from Steve Taylor, Akin's district communication director: “I can verify that the Capitol police are working with an outside law enforcement agency regarding threatening contact with our official office. The office of Congressman Akin has received threats of rape of his official staff, family and the Congressman himself along with suggestions that individuals should die.”
KTVI and other outlets say the U.S. Capitol Police and the FBI are investigating threats of rape and other violence made against Akin's staff and family.
Akin has resisted calls to step aside in the race. Patch will provide more information on the nature of the threats as details become available.
Eureka-Wildwood Patch editor Julie Brown Patton contributed to this report.
Scott Simon
9:13 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
I want Akin out of the race. But reasonably-minded people who want the same thing don't do things like this. My bet is the nut ball that called this threat to the Akin camp loves to accuse others of hate but has his or picture next to the definition of hate in the dictionary based on how they act/react
Jo Beck
7:02 am on Friday, August 24, 2012
I think the media has blown this comment way out of proportion and that Akin should of course stay in the race. One comment should not wipe out years of public service as a good legislator who represents Missouri values. I like the way Akin votes on most issues and I want Claire McCaskill out! Vice President Joe Biden makes dumb comments all the time, yet the liberal media ignores that. There's a real double standard in media coverage. Newspaper and TV treatment of a candidate boils down to one thing: whether or not they have a "D" or an "R" after their name.
Rahib
4:15 pm on Friday, August 24, 2012
Jo, the "liberal media" does report Joe Biden's gaffes.
Funny thing about the alleged liberal media. Whenever I ask for an example of liberal media bias I get the sound of crickets. Just saying something is so does not make it so. Perhaps Sean Hannity could return your brain.
Eileen Tyrrell
7:42 pm on Friday, August 24, 2012
@Rahib. I will give you an example of media bias: Senator argues against Born Alive legislation in IL state senate. Click here to listen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUkbuhXzbvI
Rahib:
When a, then Illinois Senator, ran for President of the United States, where was the wall to wall coverage and outrage about him arguing against "Born Alive Legislation" on the Floor of the Ill Senate Chamber. This Senator spoke out out AGAINST legislation to provide medical services to baby who survive abortions!!
I would wager more voters know about Congressman Akin's remarks than the remarks by the President of the United States when he was a State Senator, arguing against providing medical services to a baby who survived an abortion.
Click on this link to hear the statments: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUkbuhXzbvI
"This is a non-viable fetus". If that fetus or child however you want to describe it is now outside the mother's womb...
RDBet
10:49 pm on Friday, August 24, 2012
The independent fact checkers disagree with you Eileen.
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2011/mar/10/rick-santorum/rick-santorum-said-obama-said-any-child-born-prema/
http://www.factcheck.org/2012/02/did-elite-media-ignore-infanticide/
By the way, the youtube clip needs to subtitles to telling you what conclusion to draw. What a joke.
Looks we we'll see Missouri become the national battleground for abortion debate. whoa nelly.
Judi Moore
10:32 am on Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Years of service. He hasn't voted for anything other than abortion/stem cell for several years. Come to think of it - he hasn't shown up. I am a GOP supporter that supports Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan however will be voting for Claire in November if he is not out of the race. No - I will not "rubber stamp" someone because they have an R at the end of their name. He and he only and his "religious right" view (remember Tim McVeigh) will divide the Republican party. Sad.
RDBet
10:00 am on Friday, August 24, 2012
I hope that whoever is making threats to Akin and family gets caught and punished.
-----------------------------------------
Yes, the recent comment has been blown out proportion.His other demonizing comment "heart of liberalism, really, is a hatred of God" was worse, and hardly made a wave. It sounds like something Bin Laden would say about America - "America hates Allah."
--------------------
The media is selling election stories, because it's easy and gets people tuned in - look at the Patch. Media should cover news stories, rather than making a reality show out of the elections for the next 2+ months.
------------
Media favoritism ? GOP leadership recoiled from Akin almost right away. This story is getting so much air because it shined a bright light on extremism in the GOP-. It also tests the limits how far these radical wedge issues can be pushed in an election.
It's rare when the GOP isn't unified, and so far it appears the way to get everybody back on board ...is more encitement (Obamacare socialist marxist infacticide etc- crapola).
I will say it again - both parties care most about the power -getting elected, rather than the wedge issue of the day.
Eileen Tyrrell
10:38 pm on Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Judi:
With all due respect, please check your facts. Todd Akin has voted on every major piece of legislation that crosses his desk. That includes a diverse range of issues; for example, immigration, budgets, defense, etc.
Eileen Tyrrell
10:49 pm on Wednesday, August 29, 2012
@RDBet.
The Illinois Senator gets asked a "couple" of times about his vote on the Born Alive Bill; during a year on the campaign trail, that is not fair and balanced coverage compared to this one issue involving Todd Akin. I believe this is the fourth or fifth article in a little more than a week.
The reaction and media coverage of The President of the United States voting AGAINST legislation to provide medical coverage for a CHILD who survived attempted murder, when he was a State Senator is SLIGHT compared to the outrage of a Congressman who misrepresented his position on rape and pregnancy.
THAT is the example of media bias I was making.
RDBet
7:37 am on Thursday, August 30, 2012
As stated above, the independent fact checkers disagree with you. Playing up incitement over bizarre extrapolations that Obama is involved with infaticide, is an act of desparation.
Perhaps the media didn't cover it to your liking because they allotted so much time to the birtherism.