US Congressman says women's bodies can deal with rape

St Louis:  Missouri Congressman Todd Akin was keeping a low profile on Monday, a day after he said women’s bodies are able to prevent pregnancies in “a legitimate rape” situation and that conception is rare in such cases. Campaign spokesman Ryan Hite said the congressman was making no public appearances on Monday, and did not plan any further comments on the issue. He cancelled a scheduled Monday morning radio interview. The six-term congressman is the Republican nominee for US Senate, opposing Democratic incumbent Claire McCaskill in the November election. Asked in an interview on Sunday on KTVI-TV if he would support abortions for women who have been raped, Akin said: “It seems to me first of all, from what I understand from doctors, that’s really rare. If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down.” Later Sunday, Akin released a statement saying that he “misspoke” during the interview, though the statement did not say specifically which points. “In reviewing my off-the-cuff remarks, it’s clear that I misspoke in this interview and it does not reflect the deep empathy I hold for the thousands of women who are raped and abused every year,” Akin’s statement said. Akin also said in the statement he believes “deeply in the protection of all life and I do not believe that harming another innocent victim is the right course of action.” [caption id=“attachment_424162” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Todd Akin. AP[/caption] Akin’s comments brought a swift rebuke from the campaign of presumptive GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney and his choice for vice president, US Rep Paul Ryan of Wisconsin. “Gov Romney and Congressman Ryan disagree with Akin’s statement, and a Romney-Ryan administration would not oppose abortion in instances of rape,” Romney spokeswoman Amanda Henneberg said. Romney went further in an interview with National Review Online, calling Akin’s comment “inexcusable.” “Congressman’s Akin comments on rape are insulting, inexcusable, and, frankly, wrong,” Romney said. “Like millions of other Americans, we found them to be offensive.” AP