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Health & Fitness

McCaskill's Misquotes, or "What Did Todd Really Say?"

Following a review of "What Todd Did Say" in its context and entirety, US Senate candidate Todd Akin comes off as a qualifed candidate with integrity, as opposed to incumbent Claire McCaskill.

US Senator Claire McCaskill misconstrued the comments of US Congressman and Republican challenger Todd Akin for a commercial which ends with  “What will Todd say next?”  Throughout the Missouri Senate Campaign, detractors have been hammering Akin for past comments on other fractious issues, when in truth Akin’s comments have been taken widely out of context, including the “legitimate” rape statement. Drawing from McCaskill’s commercial crammed with distortions, the actual quotes will demonstrate not only that Akin is a qualified candidate with a commanding understanding of this country’s sever economic crises, but the record will show that McCaskill has distorted the truth to her own hurt, which should justifiably deny her another term in office.

Akin: Social Security “I don’t like it

In the actual C-SPAN interview, Akin outlined that Social Security is a tax, and government is spending the money which belongs in the fund. This Ponzi-scheme core displeased Akin, so he said “I don’t like it”, referring to the pilfering of the fund. Akin also outlined the unsustainable nature of Social Security, as more people retire with fewer workers paying into the fund.

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Akin: Medicare is unconstitutional

The column from the Columbia Daily Dispatch wrote:

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Akin’s remarks questioning the constitutionality of Medicare came as he was explaining his vote against prescription coverage under the medical plan for seniors and people with disabilities. He said it was too expensive, and “it was expanding an entitlement I wasn’t too comfortable with to begin with.”

Akin questioned the constitutionality of the entitlement, but its sustainability received more attention. In another debate , Akin outlined a historical and rational argument against  the rationing of prices, whether for food, fuel, or healthcare. Akin cogently treated an issue with the members of his audience, targeting the inevitable rationing from centralized government model for health care. Free market reforms would diminish government waste and expand access to healthcare.

Akin: Abolish the Minimum Wage

Akin’s meaningful argument on KMOX outlined the perils of government dictates in the market place:

Yeah my belief on this is just another example of a wrong thing that the government does.  I don't think the government should be setting the prices or wages on different things.  I don't think that's the function of the government.”

He then points out that a kid looking for a job who is willing to sweep floors may offer a service which an employer would pay six dollars for, but if the government requires at least seven dollars an hour, then that kid is out of lock.  The hidden cots of mandatory minimum wage laws mean fewer hires and higher costs for consumers .

Akin: Eliminate Federal Student Loans

The Columbia Daily Tribune commented:

Akin said the government should be out of the student loan market altogether. "America has got the equivalent of the stage three cancer of socialism because the federal government is tampering in all kinds of stuff it has no business tampering in," he said.

McCaskill ridiculed the “cancer” comment in another commercial , too. What’s really going on? The inevitable inflation of doling out federal money has caused college tuition to explode , making a college education harder to attain, and when graduates receive their diploma, they bear a heavy burden of debt with fewer job opportunities. By removing the federal government from the student loan business, the inflation spiral will diminish, allowing market forces to settle the tuition of a college education. Akin’s comment, in context and in full, provide a full context on the financial crisis building on our youth through federal loans.

Akin: some rapes legitimate

McCaskill saves the worst for last, not “the worst comment” from Todd Akin, but really her worst misquote, unconscionable and inconceivable. Here’s what Todd really said, reported by The New York Times :

“It seems to me, from what I understand from doctors, that’s really rare,” Mr. Akin said of pregnancies from rape. “If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down. But let’s assume that maybe that didn’t work or something: I think there should be some punishment, but the punishment ought to be of the rapist, and not attacking the child.”

In no way was Akin even suggesting that rape is “legitimate”. He should have said “forcible” in order to distinguish it from the consensual “statutory rape” with a minor. His misunderstanding about the consequences of rape does not betray misogyny or immorality. On the contrary, Akin was speaking up for the life of the unborn, focusing on the needed punishment for rapists.

With a little time and attention, respecting these comments in full, Akin does not come off as a backward misogynist or cold-hearted fool, but a politician with integrity and economic insight, a man who is not afraid to point out the disastrous consequences of Big Government on our states and the people.

In contrast to Akin, McCaskill’s record of tax hikes and expanding government and rhetoric of denial should deny her another term.

On November 6th, Vote for Todd Akin for US Senate.

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