First off, let me make clear something - Todd Akin's comments on "legitimate rape" are perhaps the dumbest and most offensive I have ever heard come out of anybody's mouth. This post is something that I was thinking about in a different way. I think he should get out for the good of the party.
Yet when I think of the pure politics of this, I can't help but wonder what would happen if he won. The prospects, surprisingly, would be welcome. Why? Think about it, if Todd Akin became a United States senator from the great state of Missour-ah without any help from the national GOP, from fellow senators, and most importantly from Senate grandees like John Cornyn; he would be the most independent man in Congress. He would have been elected entirely on his own without help, thus he would be indebted to nobody. We need me more senators and congressmen who frankly aren't indebted to people like John Cornyn and Chuck Schumer, forced to do their bidding in exchange for raising money to get reelected. If he became Senator Akin, he could be untouchable. Naturally the man and his comments are those of 19th century cretins but if he were to win it would drive all the right people in the GOP crazy. I've heard verious scenarios where Ann Wagner, the candidate for Akin's old congressional seat, would swap races with him. Wagner is a typical corporate Republican who will do whatever she is told. Right now the choice we have in Missouri is someone who will do what she/he is told or someone who uttered perhaps the most offensive thing I've ever heard a Republican say but will also be his own man.
Politics is a strange business.
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