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\f0\b\fs26 \cf0 \cb2 BY CHRISTINA HARTMAN \f1\b0\fs24 \
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\f0\fs26 \cf0 Since his self-described bout of \'93foot-in-mouth\'94 disease \'97 Missouri
Rep. Todd Akin has apologized in a written statement, as well as {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK
"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R57E3S8RO7A&feature=player_embedded"}}{\fldrslt \cf3 in a new ad}}.
\f1\fs24 \ \
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\f0\b\fs26 \cf0 \'93I used the wrong words, in the wrong way, and for that I apologize.\'94
\f1\b0\fs24 \ \
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\f0\fs26 \cf0 He\'92s referring, of course, to this:
\f1\fs24 \ \
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\f0\b\fs26 \cf0 REP. TODD AKIN (R-Mo), VIA KTVI: \'93If it\'92s a legitimate ***, the
female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down.\'94
\f1\b0\fs24 \ \
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\f0\fs26 \cf0 And, despite calls even from within his own party to step down \'97 he
let a 5pm Tuesday deadline pass without withdrawing. But this is really bigger than Akin at this
point. At least when it comes to the national discussion \'97 which for Democrats has become
more about tying the GOP presidential ticket to efforts to somehow restrict abortion.
\f1\fs24 \ \
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\f0\b\fs26 \cf0 WRC: \'93Paul Ryan, who opposes abortion for *** victims, worked with Todd
Akin in Congress and the Republican majority to toughen the definition of ***, to that,
of, quote, forcible ***.\'94 \f1\b0\fs24 \
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{\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK "http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c112:H.R.3:"}}{\fldrslt \f0\fs26 \cf3 Referring to H.R. 3}}
\f0\fs26 \cf4 \'97 the \'93No Federal Funding for Abortion Act.\'94 The bill originally
made allowances for \'93forcible ***,\'94 *** or harm to the mother.
\f1\fs24 \cf0 \ \
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\f0\fs26 \cf0 So the debate essentially went from the language of \'93legitimate ***\'94
to \'93forcible ***.\'94 Before the measure passed the House, that language was dropped.
Still, when contrasted with President Obama\'92s blanket \'93*** is ***\'94 stance, Democrats
have been using GOP attempts to draw a distinction between types of *** \'97 to go on the attack.
\f1\fs24 \ \
\f0\fs26 On Twitter, Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK
"https://twitter.com/DWStweets/status/238036778882318340"}}{\fldrslt \cf3 Schultz said}}:
\f1\fs24 \ \pard\pardeftab720\ql\qnatural
\f0\b\fs26 \cf4 \'93Romney, Ryan and the Republican Party are showing ... how dangerous they will
be for women.\'94 \f1\b0\fs24 \cf0 \
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{\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK "https://twitter.com/DWStweets/status/238036778882318340"}}{\fldrslt \f0\fs26 \cf0 But on MSNBC, conservative commentator
S.E. Cup}} \f0\fs26 p hits back by suggesting Republican
lawmakers aren\'92t the only ones to make a distinction between kinds of ***.
\f1\fs24 \ \
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\f0\b\fs26 \cf0 \'93The left will tell you Ryan and Akin tried to redefine ***. ... If
anyone\'92s interested in facts, forcible *** is a legal term. You can find it on the
FBI\'92s website. \'85 If the FBI makes the distinction between kinds of ***, can\'92t
lawmakers?\'94 \f1\b0\fs24 \
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\f0\fs26 \cf0 She\'92s right. Kind of. \f1\fs24 \
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{\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK "http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2010/crime-in-the-u.s.-2010/violent-crime/rapemain"}}{\fldrslt \f0\fs26 \cf3 There IS}}
\f0\fs26 a definition of forcible *** in the FBI\'92s Uniform Crime Reporting Program:
\b \'93\cf5 the carnal knowledge of a female forcibly and against her will.\'94{\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK
"http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2010/crime-in-the-u.s.-2010/violent-crime/rapemain"}}{\fldrslt }}
\f1\b0\fs24 \cf0 \ \
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\f0\fs26 \cf0 But that\'92s the OLD definition, in place since 1927, until very early this
year when the attorney general and {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK "http://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/attorney-general-eric-holder-announces-revisions-to-the-uniform-crime-reports-definition-of-***"}}{\fldrslt
\cf3 the FBI announced a new definition of *** as}}: \'93
\b The penetration, no matter how slight ... by a sex organ of another person, without the
consent of the victim \b0 .\'94
\f1\fs24 \ \
\f0\fs26 No longer distinguishing between forcible and non-forcible ***, and also opening
up the definition to include *** of males. But the attacks are still pretty fuzzy.
\f1\fs24 \ \
\f0\fs26 For example, the Obama campaign\'92s tweet saying Paul Ryan wants to ban ALL abortions
is only half-true {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK "http://www.politifact.com/wisconsin/statements/2012/aug/17/barack-obama/obama-says-ryan-supports-banning-all-abortions/"}}{\fldrslt
\cf3 according to Politifact}} {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK "http://www.politifact.com/wisconsin/statements/2012/aug/17/barack-obama/obama-says-ryan-supports-banning-all-abortions/"}}{\fldrslt
which points out, in }}1998 and 2000 Ryan HAS supported exceptions for when a mother\'92s
life is at risk. \f1\fs24 \
\
\f0\fs26 But that does kinda put him at odds with the top of that ticket. Romney says he
doesn\'92t oppose abortion in cases of ***. \f1\fs24 \
\
\f0\fs26 Which, {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK "http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/08/gop-approves-abortion-amendment-keeps-silent-on-cases-of-***/"}}{\fldrslt
\cf3 by the way}}, puts HIM at odds with the RNC \'97 which Tuesday approved an abortion
amendment that doesn\'92t mention exceptions in cases of ***, *** or danger to a mother\'92s
life. \fs24 \cf6 \cb1 \
}