TOWN AND COUNTRY, Mo. — Rep. Todd Akin — now famous as the candidate who couldn’t take a hint — has spent his 11-year career as a legislative hero to Christian groups, but a minor force on Capitol Hill.
Akin has tried mightily to increase the role of religion in government. He proposed creating a National Year of the Bible in 2008, and an official day of fasting and prayer in 2003 to gird the nation for war in Iraq. Four times, the Missouri Republican authored bills to keep judges from striking “under God” from the Pledge of Allegiance.
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Republican U.S. Senate candidate Todd Akin released a campaign ad asking voters to forgive him for his comments about rape and abortion.
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The congressman's comment that "legitimate rape" rarely causes pregnancy attracted a lot of national attention. It wasn't the first time he has said something controversial.
None of them became law. Of the 52 measures introduced by Akin during his career, just three have been signed by the president. They all renamed post offices in Missouri for soldiers who died in Iraq.
But if Akin has carved out only a small legacy on the Hill, he has made loyal allies among conservative legislators and Christian groups. Now — after Akin has been rejected by most of the GOP establishment — these are the friends he has left.
“I definitely believe that he should still be a member of Congress,” said Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.), who worked with Akin in fights against abortion. “If everyone truly understood this man, and knew this man like I do .
Akin has tried mightily to increase the role of religion in government. He proposed creating a National Year of the Bible in 2008, and an official day of fasting and prayer in 2003 to gird the nation for war in Iraq. Four times, the Missouri Republican authored bills to keep judges from striking “under God” from the Pledge of Allegiance.
Video
Republican U.S. Senate candidate Todd Akin released a campaign ad asking voters to forgive him for his comments about rape and abortion.
More from PostPolitics
Aaron Blake Akin would have to pay for the re-printing of whatever ballots have already been printed, but it's unclear how much that would be.
Aaron Blake THE FIX | By a 50 to 35 percent margin seniors say they like Paul Ryan, despite Democratic attacks on his Medicare plan.
Sean Sullivan The congressman's comment that "legitimate rape" rarely causes pregnancy attracted a lot of national attention. It wasn't the first time he has said something controversial.
None of them became law. Of the 52 measures introduced by Akin during his career, just three have been signed by the president. They all renamed post offices in Missouri for soldiers who died in Iraq.
But if Akin has carved out only a small legacy on the Hill, he has made loyal allies among conservative legislators and Christian groups. Now — after Akin has been rejected by most of the GOP establishment — these are the friends he has left.
“I definitely believe that he should still be a member of Congress,” said Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.), who worked with Akin in fights against abortion. “If everyone truly understood this man, and knew this man like I do .