Several Missouri Cons Rally Around “Unelectable” Akin – Including Local Tea Party Leader
Posted by Jim Hoft on Saturday, August 25, 2012, 3:02 PM
Several Missouri Republicans still support “unelectable” Republican Todd Akin for Senate says Reuters. This comes after Akin’s miserable week where he shocked the nation with bizarre comments on rape and watched his campaign sink 10 points where he now trails liberal Senator Claire McCaskill by ten points. St. Louis Tea Party founder Bill Hennessy is one of the local conservatives who is supporting Todd Akin in the article. 50% of Akin voters believe he should drop out of the race.
Reuters reported:
Missouri conservatives say they are rallying around U.S. Senate candidate Todd Akin despite his controversial comments about rape because they are outraged that “establishment” Republican Party leaders tried to railroad him out of the race.
A backlash has set in here in Akin’s suburban St. Louis congressional district, where supporters said the national party had no right to attempt to force out a duly-elected candidate.
Backers described Akin as the “real deal,” a politician fiercely committed to their social causes such as opposition to abortion, and to the Tea Party drive to downsize government.
Akin, 65, has defied widespread calls, including from Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, to step aside after he said women’s bodies have natural defenses against pregnancy from “legitimate rape.”
The uproar knocked Romney’s campaign off message days before the Republican National Convention, and major party paymasters pulled millions of dollars in campaign advertising for Akin.
The gaffe has put at risk what was considered a likely Republican pickup of a Democratic-held seat in a state becoming more conservative. Republicans need a net gain of four seats in the November election to ensure they gain a Senate majority.
“At first I felt (Akin’s comments) were offensive to women and insulting to my intelligence,” said Lisa Payne-Naeger, a member of the conservative Missouri Grassroots Coalition, who has an online political radio show. “What changed it for me was the Republican establishment’s effort to chop him off at the knees and install one of their own in the race.”
Payne-Naeger said she was so angered by the “onslaught” from party leaders that she donated to Akin’s campaign on Wednesday.
Nearly two dozen Missouri Republicans interviewed on Wednesday and Thursday, most of them in the St. Louis area but some in other parts of the state, expressed similar views.
Akin has seized on this theme, launching a “Help Todd Fight Back Against the Party Bosses” fundraising drive that his campaign said netted $100,000 in small donations this week.
On Friday he vowed to stay in the race until election day on November 6 — and win…
…A poll by Republican group Rasmussen Reports released on Thursday gave McCaskill a 10-point lead over Akin, whose lead in other polls was as much as 11 points before the rape comments.
“Akin faces more of an uphill race now,” said Jay Dow, a political scientist at the University of Missouri in Columbia. “The question is whether moderate Republicans will turn out.”
‘THE REAL DEAL’
Throughout his career as a state representative elected in 1988 and then as a congressman, Akin has been a staunch Christian and social conservative who has fought abortion and promoted the right to gun ownership.
“Todd Akin is firmly grounded in his Christian beliefs,” said Kenneth Williams, Republican committee chairman for Sainte Genevieve County, who said he gave $100 to Akin’s campaign on Wednesday. “He’s the real deal.”
The congressman’s stand on fiscal issues and willingness to buck the party line — he voted against the unpopular 2008 bank bailout and against President George W. Bush’s education reform known as No Child Left Behind — has also endeared him to the anti-establishment Tea Party movement.
“Akin has real Tea Party credentials,” said Bill Hennessy, founder of the St. Louis Tea Party, who lives in Akin’s district and has voted for him since 2000.
Hennessy recalled Akin was the only politician who showed up at the group’s April 15, 2009, “Tax Day” rally in downtown St. Louis and adhered to an order not to do any politicking.
Akin touted his earmarks in the senate primary.
More… JR added:
No one covered this issue better than Mark Levin on his August 20 podcast. He cites how Akin has been a good, loyal trooper, but he has no signature legislation. He is not the leader of any committes. He is not a great spokesman (obviously). And that the Republican party did not let Akin down, Akin let down the Republican party. For the most important election of our lifetime, this single, stubborn man threatens the conservatives’ chances of taking back the Senate, and even the presidency. He is delusional if he thinks he has a chance at winning, so the net result is that this stubborness, to ‘promote conservative views’, is going to have the complete opposite effect. But I guess we need to move on. It’s too late, he already won (then stuck his foot in his mouth), and he’s too stubborn to realize the damage he is doing.
And Where’s the MF Money, Jon added this:
Yes, the entire republican party should vow to support Akin, even if it means losing every race. Yes, the republican party should pretend it does not have to run campaigns in a radical left media world and fight back in the most shrill and condescending tones possible. And when Akin makes his next misstatement, the entire republican party should just adopt the statement as its own. It is so clear to me now. Thanks gov.
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Larse commented:
Go listen to the Star Spangled Banner! Amazing!!!!!!!
http://www.starspangledbannerchallenge.com/
Sarah commented:
You really need to move beyond the trauma of this. Take the energy from your rage and frustration and put it to good use. These ongoing posts about Akin, in my view, are not beneficial in any way. In fact, you may be contributing to increasing the damage done.
Love Larse’s post.
This is a great web site. One of my favorites and it’s heartbreaking, and a bit frustrating to see this obssession go on day after day….
Sasja commented:
Hennessy recalled Akin was the only politician who showed up at the group’s April 15, 2009, “Tax Day” rally in downtown St. Louis and adhered to an order not to do any politicking.
I beg to differ. A politician showing up at your rally is “politicking.”
a former dem commented:
Its a lost seat. Time to focus on other repub races where victory is possible. 51 seats needed to repeal obamacare.
I’m donating to other candidates. This was a winnable seat, Steelman, Brunner Wagner etc, but I don’t see it that way anymore. 6 more years of Claire.
bg commented:
++
win lose or draw..
there is a God, and we are the people, Amen..
Thank You for having a backbone Mr. Akin..
Conservatives have been praying for
someone like you for months on end
now..
however, some of those “conservatives” have revealed
themselves to be wolves in sheeps clothing, as they are
now pounding you to dust for answering their supposed
prayers..
pillaring of bg commencing in, 3. 2..1..
==
Really? commented:
I too have lived in Akin’s district and have voted every time for him for Congress.
HOWEVER to act as though he is the Tea Party’s designate is NOT TRUE. Hennessy as usual speaks for HIMSELF.
This was not a “gaffe” on Akin’s part but a serious ignorance of a medical issue.
As usual we can expect to grab defeat from the jaws of victory.
CLAIRE MUST GO!
Folks, we are fighting for the future of our country. We must take back the Senate. If Akin really cared as well, he would step aside.
Mr. Akin: Pride goeth before a fall.
Sarah commented:
Some wise words worth heeding from Daniel Greenfield, who is such an outstanding thinker:
http://sultanknish.blogspot.com/2012/08/friday-afternoon-roundup-carjackers-and.html
Edited excerpt:
What I have to say isn’t so much about Akin specifically, but in general terms how to react to cases like this. Much of the public takes its general impression of ….how the people who are running things react to it. If they react with hysteria, apologies, condemnations and a circular firing squad… they assume that there is a…very serious problem…
Paradoxically the more Republicans eat their own, the more the public blames them for whatever it is they are trying to disassociate themselves from. The more you talk about a problem, the worse it gets.
That doesn’t mean that Akin shouldn’t be forced off the ticket, but loud condemnations don’t really disassociate Republicans from him, they associate Republicans with him. They make Republicans look like they got caught with their pants down, which is the impression that the Democrats want to create.
When ABC screened a video showing Obama’s pastor and mentor screaming “GOD DAMN AMERICA” after September 11, the Democrats pretended there was no problem. They talked about it as little as possible. When they had to talk about it, Obama want on TV and turned it into a discussion about racism….When Wright became too much of a burden, he was quietly dumped.
Media bias makes this more feasible for Democrats than Republicans, but there are still lessons to learn here. Republicans are operating with old-fashioned values that call for taking responsibility and apologizing. These values are unfortunately a political liability. Politicians who brazen it out have a much better chance of winning. Politicians who refuse to discuss a scandal and mean it, have a much better chance of surviving. A party that allows itself to the sidelined by distractions like these will not be competitive.
Blog articles telling Akin to bow out will not get him to leave. Radio chatters telling Akin to leave will not make him leave. This is local politics and it is going to have to be dealt with locally. And the more this is talked about, the more it helps the left set the narrative.
bg commented:
++
Larse #1 August 25, 2012 at 3:12 pm
woah, that was so cool..
thank you for sharing..
==
bg commented:
++
Really? #6 August 25, 2012 at 3:19 pm
the TEA Party is not ONE big org..
it consist of grassroot patriots of
all ilk across this great nation..
i myself have fallen out with the so called head honcho TP
leadership several times, that includes Palin on this issue..
and God knows if i’m anything I’M A TEA PARTY HOBBIT!!
==
disgusted commented:
God Bless Todd Akin! He’s not perfect, what a surprise. This was blown way out of control by moderate party RINOs who couldn’t wait to blast conservative Todd Akin and get him removed from the ticket. I’m proud to be tea party and I’m proud to stand with Todd Akin!
Donate to a Real Conservative, Donate to Todd Akin!!
donh commented:
Woopie Goldberg is STILL on the VIEW after defending Roman Polanski ….saying he didn’t legitimately ” rape rape ” an underage girl…> http://youtu.be/9NX_D0Bv9M0
Hack commented:
Enough of these Akin posts! He has committed to stay in the race so you might as well accept it. Ripping on Akin now is only going to make matters worse.
No Man commented:
Summer Soldiers
Sunshine Patriots
The lying, liberal $cum@g$ have nada, nothing, zilch on which they can campaign, except this spucatum tauri and useless Repugs (you are gutless cannibals) pile on Akin . . .
Now, I remember why I have been independent for 30 years.
NC Mountain Girl commented:
I agree we need to stay mostly quiet and wait. Huckabee gave himself a big out in Politico. He said that if the polls don’t move and if Akin can’t raise money it is a game changer. Looking at Akin’s campaign staff I suspect Akin won’t be able to raise much. Nothing screams not ready for prime time more than having your son managing your campaign. A father, brother or uncle in a political family maybe, but sons can seldom either rein in a candidate with a loose mouth or effectively deliver bad news.
The good news is that Missouri Republicans can probably wait until the very last minute to put another name on the ballot. McKaskill’s negatives are so high that a new choice will become the instant frontrunner.
Votemout2012 commented:
Thank you Mr. Hennessy for using your brain and not over reacting to a bad situation made worst by idiots in our own party. Bulling never works. In fact it makes people dig in for the one being bullied. Mr Holt. I believe donations Mr. Akin has received at this time is at 200,000. So he does have support even if you don’t like it. Claire loves your bashing. Conservative pundits looking more ridiculous by the day. #3 Mr Akin showed up at the even with his wife. He did not call attention to himself or attempt to campaign. Akin has always supported tea party.
JR commented:
No one covered this issue better than Mark Levine on his August 20 podcast. He cites how Akin has been a good, loyal trooper, but he has no signature legislation. He is not the leader of any committes. He is not a great spokesman (obviously). And that the Republican party did not let Akin down, Akin let down the Republican party. For the most important election of our lifetime, this single, stubborn man threatens the conservatives’ chances of taking back the Senate, and even the presidency. He is delusional if he thinks he has a chance at winning, so the net result is that this stubborness, to ‘promote conservative views’, is going to have the complete opposite effect. But I guess we need to move on. It’s too late, he already won (then stuck his foot in his mouth), and he’s too stubborn to realize the damage he is doing.
Really? commented:
Whoa…#14
You are a political genius Mt. Girl. Absolutely correct. Also for those who didn’t know: Akin was advised by those more clever than he to hire a PROFESSIONAL campaign manager. Which leads to my next question:
“WHAT the heck was Akin doing on Jaco’s show and why wasn’t he better prepared”?
Answer: Poor handling by the campaign manager.
Jayne on Left Coast commented:
He would be electable if you would stop your pathetic whining and beating a dead horse. Go after Claire with FACTS. Time to stop this sorry campaign of eating our own. I for one of sick and tired of GP going on and on and on…. and with the honey badger bit. GP put your anger and energy attacking Claire. Your blog has become unreadable.
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