Democrats are hoping that Rep. Todd Akin’s “legitimate rape” comments (and general abortion views) will be the gift that keeps on giving this campaign season.
The Missouri Senate hopeful’s remarks have already badly damaged his own campaign and, at the least, caused a weeklong headache for Mitt Romney and the national GOP establishment. But congressional Democrats are now also taking steps to try to sink 20 other Republican lawmakers by anchoring them to Akin, the Washington Post reports.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee plans to start placing calls to voters in 20 congressional districts today, the paper reports, including the district of some Wisconsin Republican named Paul Ryan. (We hope we’re pronouncing that right.)
Here’s a sample script of a call targeting Colorado Republican Mike Coffman the paper obtained:
Hello. This is Julie calling from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. By now, I’m sure you’ve heard Congressman Todd Akin’s unbelievable comments about rape and his outrageous beliefs about women’s rights.
You know what’s even more worrisome? He’s not alone.
Republicans like your Congressman Mike Coffman share some of these radical, right-wing beliefs — that the government should take away a woman’s access to making informed decisions about her own pregnancy.
It’s outrageous. This week, Congressman Coffman’s Republican Party platform will include a plank that says no to a woman’s right to choose without any exceptions even in cases of rape, incest or when the mother’s life is at risk.
If you’re tired of this right-wing social agenda from Congressman Todd Akin and Congressman Coffman then call him now.
In addition to Ryan and Coffman, the calls will also be made in the districts of:
- Rep. Dan Lungren (R-Calif.)
- Rep. Jeff Denham (R-Calif.)
- Rep. Bill Young (R-Fla.)
- Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.)
- Rep. Robert Dold (R-Ill.)
- Rep. Bobby Schilling (R-Ill.)
- Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-Md.)
- Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-Mo.)
- Rep. Charlie Bass (R-N.H.)
- Rep. Joe Heck (R-Nev.)
- Rep. Nan Hayworth (R-N.Y.)
- Rep. Chris Gibson (R-N.Y.)
- Rep. Ann Marie Buerkle (R-N.Y.)
- Rep. Pat Meehan (R-Pa.)
- Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.)
- Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas)
- Rep. Scott Rigell (R-Va.)
- Rep. Sean Duffy (R-Wis.).
