Rep. Steve King: “I’d be open to discussion about [incest]”

Rep. Steve King, an Iowa Republican believes that calls for Rep. Todd Akin to withdraw from the Missouri Senate race are “petty, personal attacks substituting for strong policy.” Akin, he says, is “a strong Christian man, with a wonderful family”. No doubt, these qualifications make Akin a “legitimate candidate”.Â Akin, of course, recently came under fire when he said that it was medically unlikely for a woman to become pregnant as a result of “legitimate rape”.

King himself has some interesting medical theories. Namely, that “heâ€ s never heard of a child getting pregnant from statutory rape or incest.” He would, however, “be open to discussion about that subject matter.â€

It’s truly disturbing that we have elected officials, from both parties, who are so incapable of critical thought. It has been encouraging to see the widespread condemnation of Akin’s remarks, but we still would like to see a strong and definitive statement from Romney and Ryan making clear that such discourse is unacceptable and calling on Akin to quit. Barry Goldwater said “Extermism in the defense of Liberty is no vice,” but surely idiocy in the pursuit of political power is no virtue.