Battle to the White House

Abortion finds itself front and center in the battle for the white house.

This turn of events was unexpected both for the democrat candidate and current US president, Barack Obama and his major opponent, the republican candidate Mitt Romney.

It all began when Todd Akin, 65,refused to bow out of the Missouri Senate race in August. Why would the Grand Old Party (GOP) ask for Akin to leave the competition against the Democrat runner up after spending 5 millions dollars on his campaign in an attempt to assure their control of the US Senate this coming November?

One might assume it is because Akin managed to embarrass the tea party infused GOP with a rather extremely medieval view on abortion and on woman’s rights. It’s evident that the ex-factory manager never attended medical school or even sat in an eight grade biology class.

“If it’s a legitimate rape,” he said,” the female body has ways to try and shut that whole thing down.”

 According to Akin woman who are true rape victims rarely get pregnant and are therefore not entitled to abortion, especially not covered by the government.

The Atlantic Magazine called his highly intelligent remarks the contemporary equivalent of the early American belief that only witches float.

During the eighteenth century if a pregnant rape victim sought justice she was often publicly humiliated, banned from society and accused of falsely blaming the men as well as inciting them to commit fornication and adultery.

However Romney does not agree with Akin’s ideas that date back to the colonial era, when women were seen as “the cunning sex” and men were warned against their bewitching seduction talents.

The former Massachusetts governor is prolife –opposed to abortion and believes that an unborn child has an inherent right to life- with exceptions for rape, incest and if the mother’s life is at risk.

Because of Akin’s idiotic faux pas Romney now finds himself in a very disadvantaged position. The debate is now centered on Woman’s rights, contraception laws and abortion.

Obama and his party have ceased the opportunity, even though this is not the most pressing issue facing a country with a persistent high unemployment.

The campaigns discussions went from Obama’s vulnerabilities concerning the economy, as joblessness has risen to 8.2% in June, to asserting that Romney and his fellow Republicans want to turn the clock back to a more repressive era.

The result is a distinct gender gap. A July Poll from the Pew Research Center showed Obama and Romney tied amongst male voters, but the president ahead among women by nearly 20 percentage points.

And the poles don’t seem to be affected by Akin’s mea culpa, he apologized following the sex scandal saying that legitimate rape did not exist and that it was a horrible act committed by violent predators.

It is yet to be seen who will come out victorious on November 6, taking the seat as the new US president.

A crucial position in global relations, and hopefully promises will be kept; they range from economy to the energy and environment.

The next president will have to reestablish middle class security, reduce unemployment rate, get the troops out of Afghanistan by 2014 after losing over 2000 men, and keep it’s promises to young immigrants with the “dream act” that will give them permanent residency and a key to a brighter future.

By Victoria Taittinger