No daylight between Todd Akin and Paul Ryan

Yesterday, Rep. Todd Akin (R-Missouri) made a statement which caused a huge negative reaction in the media and on social networks.  When asked in an interview if abortion should be legal in the case of rape, he responded, "From what I understand from doctors, that's really rare," (referring to pregnancy caused by rape). "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, and not attacking the child."

He later said he misspoke, however, the damage was done.  The Romney campaign rebuked Akin's comments, calling them insulting and inexcusable.  Some Republicans have called for Akin to exit the Senate race against Democratic incumbent, Claire McCaskill.  His controversial comment was the topic of conversation on every political news program.

Looking closely at his words, nowhere does he take into consideration the woman, the rape victim.  He doesn't consider the physical and emotional trauma that the victim has suffered.  And interestingly enough, Republican Vice-Presidential Candidate Paul Ryan's stance on abortion is exactly the same.

Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin) has been a member of the U.S. House of Representatives since 1999. He has a long anti-choice record from his years in Congress.

• During his time in the House, Rep. Ryan has cast 59 votes on abortion and other reproductive-rights issues. All of these votes were anti-choice. 
• He cosponsored “personhood” legislation that is so extreme that, if passed, it would ban abortion care in almost all cases, including rape or incest.
• He cosponsored a measure that would force a woman to undergo an ultrasound before she can receive abortion care, even if her doctor doesn't recommend it and even if it is against the woman’s will.
• He has repeatedly voted to deny funding to Planned Parenthood.

Rep. Ryan has been outspoken on his anti-choice views:

• “I’m as pro-life as a person gets. You’re not going to have a truce. Judges are going to come up. Issues come up, they’re unavoidable, and I’m never going to not vote pro-life.”

I know that there are many who also are extreme in their pro-life positions, who do not believe in abortion, even in the case of rape or incest.  However, I would pose a question to these people.  What if your 12, 13, or 14-year-old daughter were raped?  What if she were to become pregnant from that rape?  Would you really force her to carry that pregnancy to term?  What if she became pregnant because someone in your family raped her?  Would you force her to carry that pregnancy to term--a pregnancy that was a result of incest?

It's very easy to hold convictions when you really think it's never going to happen to you.  But when these issues become personal, I believe that people begin to think twice.  I don't believe that issues are black and white.

What I find so ironic is that those who shout the loudest about abortion and want to take away a woman's right to choose are those who also want government to stay out of people's personal lives in other arenas (i.e. guns).  If these people don't believe in abortion, then DON'T HAVE AN ABORTION!!!  But don't take away a woman's right to have an abortion if she feels that is in her best interest, and ESPECIALLY if she's been raped, or the victim of incest, or she will die if she doesn't have an abortion!!!

Perhaps Romney disagrees with what Todd Akin said, but I wonder whether Paul Ryan disagrees.  And if not, will women want to vote for a ticket that takes away their rights?