Mitt Romney Campaign Disagrees With Todd Akin’s Rape Remarks

The Mitt Romney campaign is distancing itself from Rep. Todd Akin‘s comment on Sunday that “legitimate rape” victims rarely get pregnant and, therefore, have no need of an abortion.

Romney’s campaign responded to the statement by Akin by saying that he and running mate Paul Ryan support abortion rights for rape victims, reports The Huffington Post. Andrea Saul, a Romney spokesperson, stated:

“Governor Romney and Congressman Ryan disagree with Mr. Akin’s statement, and a Romney-Ryan administration would not oppose abortion in instances of rape.”

While Saul’s statement holds true to Romney’s position on abortion, it is a definite departure from Ryan’s position, which is that abortion should only be allowed in cases where the mother’s life is at risk.

Ryan even sponsored a fetal personhood bill because it would effectively criminalize abortion and some forms of birth control with out allowing for an exception for rape victims.

Ryan even cosponsored a bill with Akin titled the “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act,” which would only allow a woman to be eligible for her abortion to be covered under insurance in the case of “forcible rape.”

Paul Ryan was even quoted as saying, “I’m as pro-life as a person gets. You’re not going to have a truce.” The Kansas City Star notes that for those who have not yet read Akin’s statement, it is as follows:

“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. But let’s assume maybe that didn’t work or something. I think there should be some punishment, but the punishment ought to be on the rapist.”

Do you think that the Mitt Romney campaign should release a statement saying that both Romney and Ryan disagree with Akin’s statements even though Ryan’s voting record and past comments show he will not make an abortion exception for rape victims?