By Craig Robinson

If there were ever two words that don’t belong next to each other it would be the words “legitimate” and “rape.”  When Missouri U.S. Senate candidate Todd Akin used the “legitimate rape” phrase in an interview on Sunday, his candidacy immediately became illegitimate.

The U.S. Senate seat that is currently held by Senator Claire McCaskill is one of the best opportunities for Republicans to gain a seat in the nation.  Even though Akin has apologized and said that he misspoke, his “legitimate rape” has done damage to more than Akin’s political future.

Nationally, Democrats and the press have created a frenzy over Akin’s comments.  Not only are they using it to wreak havoc on the Republicans’ chances to take over control of the U.S. Senate, but they are also using Akin’s comments to inflict damage in other races.  In Iowa, Christie Vilsack is using Akin’s words to attack Congressman Steve King.  Nationally, the Democrats are using it to revive their so-called “war on women” campaign.

With one poorly answered question, Akin lost control of his campaign, and his general election campaign wasn’t event two weeks old.  The calls by Republican leaders for Mr. Akin to drop out are well deserved.  The Akin distraction has become an anchor that may drag Republicans down in Missouri and across the country if he sees his candidacy through.

Akin should step down for the good of the party, but Republicans should be careful not to cede ground to the liberal left on the abortion issues.  Akin is at fault because he used the phrase “legitimate rape,” not because he opposes abortions in the cases of rape.

Only about one percent of abortions in America are performed because of rape.  Rebecca Kiessling, a pro-life attorney from Michigan, is the product of a rape.  Kiessling told her story in the recent film, The Gift of Life.  It’s inconceivable that someone would suggest that she would be better off dead because of the way that she was brought into the world.

Kiessling shared with LifeNews.com some excellent talking points on this issue.

1. The Supreme Court has said that the death penalty is cruel and unusual punishment for rapists and that rapists don’t deserve the death penalty. I don’t think the innocent child conceived in rape deserves the death penalty for the crimes of her father.  It seems to me that is cruel and unusual punishment.

2. Rape victims are four times more likely to die within the next year after the abortion, with a higher rate of suicide, murder, drug overdose, etc.  As someone who really cares about rape victims, I want to protect them from the rapist, and from the abortion, and not the baby. A baby is not the worst thing that could ever happen to a rape victim — an abortion is.  We need to educate the American public on the truth in this matter and not make public policy based on myth and misinformation.

3. Rape victims choose abortion at half the rate of the average unplanned pregnancy, which is over 50%. Only 15-25% of rape victims choose abortion, depending on the study. The majority of rape victims choose to raise her child — not “the rapist’s baby” — HER child.

The pro-abortionists like Senator Claire McCaskill, President Obama, and Christie Vilsack are trying to take one stupid thing one person said and move the ongoing discussion about abortion in America further to the left.  They are the extremists who favor using taxpayer dollars to fund abortions.  They are the extremists who protect Planned Parenthood, despite the fact that Planned Parenthood blatantly ignores the mandatory reporting of sexual abuse, child rape, and human trafficking.  And let’s not forget the fact that Planned Parenthood has proven time and time again that it is perfectly fine with sex-selective abortions targeting baby girls.  President Obama is even on record as voting against the Born Alive Infant Protection Act, which would have required babies born alive after failed abortions to receive medical care.  His position is pro-infanticide.  And remind me again which side is “extreme?”

Todd Akin said something stupid, but his support of innocent life should not be put on trial.  Todd Akin should step down because he has become a distraction, but Republicans should not retreat when it comes to their support of all innocent life.