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Mitt Romney lies about as well as Cher Horowitz drives. And speaking of clueless matters, the Republican presidential nominee must take the general public for a giant pool of suckers if he believes we don’t see how much Missouri Senate candidate Todd Akin’s controversial comments about rape and abortion mirror the collective sentiment of the GOP — and in particular, his running mate, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI). During his Fox News Sunday interview, Romney condemned President Barack Obama’s campaign and its efforts to exploit this reality for political gain.

RELATED: Tell The Truth: Most Of You Republicans Support Todd Akin’s Comments

Romney said, “It really is sad, isn’t it, with all the issues that America faces for the Obama campaign to continue to stoop to such a low level.”

Class-centered critiques from a person running a false campaign ad on welfare that features claims that have been shot down by a Democratic former president, several national news outlets, and even gets sidestepped by some GOP governors. Irony may be delicious, Mitt, but you needn’t partake in it as if it were a buffet.

True enough, the Obama campaign has been working toward an “Akin-zation” of the Romney-Ryan ticket. What’s more, a Washington Post story has confirmed that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has started phoning voters in 20 congressional districts, tying Todd Akin’s comments about “legitimate rape” to Republican lawmakers. Romney said the controversy surrounding Akin “hurts our party and I think is damaging to women.”

However, if Mitt Romney wants to express angst over associations he believes hurts his chances of becoming president, he ought to start pointing fingers at his No. 2. Though his WJHL interview didn’t draw as much attention at the time a week ago, word is spreading fast on a disturbing euphemism Paul Ryan used to describe rape.

Watch Ryan here:

WJHL reporter Josh Smith asked our possible next vice president: “Specifically, where [do] you stand when it comes to rape, and when it comes to the issue of [rape], should it be legal for a woman to be able to get an abortion if she’s raped?”

Ryan’s answer?

I’m very proud of my pro-life record, and I’ve always adopted the idea that, the position that the method of conception doesn’t change the definition of life. But let’s remember, I’m joining the Romney-Ryan ticket. And the president makes policy.

So rape is nothing more than a “method of conception?” What an amazingly asinine thing to say. Why is he hailed as an intellectual leader of a major political party again?

Sure, the president may be the ultimate decider in terms of policy, but it’s quite apparent that Mitt Romney is willing to go the extra mile and back again in order to appease the conservative bloc of his party, with the selection of Paul Ryan as his VP.

Now imagine how much of their influence would factor in to Romney’s decision making as president given he’d more than likely seek re-election.

RELATED: GOP Have Unexpected Abortion Storm

Like his running mate, Romney is as equally disingenuous about Republican plans on reproductive rights. Speaking with CBS News on Monday, the former Massachusetts governor attempted to play down talk of right-wing efforts to outlaw abortion:

Recognize this is the decision that will be made by the Supreme Court. The Democrats try and make this a political issue every four years, but this is a matter in the courts. It’s been settled for some time in the courts.

There’s that clueless factor again. Never mind the contemporary GOP standard being its presidential nominee must be pro-life. Or that most candidates talk of appointing judges that would help overturn Roe v. Wade. Not to mention you have certifiable Republican candidates discussing women and their reproductive rights with sheer idiocy and contempt.

Enter Tom Smith, a Republican challenging Sen. Bob Casey’s (D-PA) seat, who recently compared having a child out of wedlock with rape.

In a chat with the Associated Press:

MARK SCOLFORO, ASSOCIATED PRESS: How would you tell a daughter or a granddaughter who, God forbid, would be the victim of a rape, to keep the child against her own will? Do you have a way to explain that?

SMITH: I lived [with] something similar to that with my own family. She chose life, and I commend her for that. She knew my views. But, fortunately for me, I didn’t have to.. she chose they way I thought. No don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t rape.

SCOLFORO: Similar how?

SMITH: Uh, having a baby out of wedlock.

SCOLFORO: That’s similar to rape?

SMITH: No, no, no, but… put yourself in a father’s situation, yes. It is similar. But, back to the original, I’m pro-life, period.

Is this President Obama’s fault too, Mr. Romney?

Romney and company can dismiss Todd Akin and abortion chatter as a “distraction” all they’d like, but they’re the ones consistently bringing the issue up. If Romney had any control of these nitwits speaking out of turn (or merely being honest, take your pick), perhaps the presidential race would be focused on the economy as he’d prefer. But it’s not the president’s fault that isn’t the case. So don’t damn the president for a distraction he didn’t create or condemn the press for failing to turn a deaf ear at the lunacy being shouted at us.

 

Michael Arceneaux is a Houston-bred, Howard-educated writer and blogger. You can read more of his work on his site, The Cynical Ones. Follow him on Twitter: @youngsinick

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