I never envisioned that I'd see the sight of a Republican circular firing squad before I saw this piece about a religious right group attacking the GOP for trying to pressure Todd Akin out of the Missouri U.S. Senate race.
After reading the story that appeared in the Huffington Post, something told me that it was just a matter of time before some in the religious right began to doubt their loyalties to the GOP. Yes, lots of them had lots of hesitancy about Mitt Romney given his Mormonism, but who could have imagined that this big time spat would come up about an issue Republicans have used for years to woo evangelicals-- abortion.
Yes, the majority of Americans (including me) believe in a woman's right to make reproductive choices. But watching how the GOP establishment (especially Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan) have botched the Akin situation, it seemed to me a matter of time before there would be a breaking off among some evangelicals that could make things more difficult for the GOP.
More below.
Here's part of the Huffington Post piece:
A Christian nonprofit has come out in defense of Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.), whose comments on "legitimate rape" ignited a firestorm around the nation.
American Vision, a Christian nonprofit which seeks to "restore America to its biblical foundation" and to support "Christians apply a Biblical worldview to every facet of society," is accusing Republicans of committing "political gang rape" against Akin.
"We expect leftists, liberals, and other miscreants to pounce opportunistically, to lie, cheat, and twist (all the while drooling) over a phrase like 'legitimate rape' when uttered by a strong conservative Christian politician. But should we expect the same from alleged conservatives?" Joel McDurmon of American Vision writes.
"Political gang rape?" I used to hear evangelicals scream like crazy about "secular humanism" and how Democrats were fighting against what they call "values voters." They still do all that, but now "Political gang rape" against Republicans?
While I don't expect a groundswell of support for President Obama and other Democrats from this group, can you imagine how many religious right folks may wind up sitting out the election because of their feelings of betrayal involving Akin.
You may see key Republican figures like Karl Rove, Romney, Paul Ryan, and others try to wash their hands of Akin and his views, but this raises one BIG question: how many evangelical voters will wash their hands of the GOP even with their dislike of Obama?
This could be costly for the GOP in lots of states, but it could make a lot of other states seemingly out of reach for the President and other progressives more in play than ever because of a possibly deflated religious right turnout.
Am I smelling a fresh bag of microwaved pop corn ready to eat?