Missouri Representative and GOP Senate nominee Todd Akin's unfortunate and ridiculous theories regarding rape has had his fellow Republicans up in arms when in all actuality, they agree with his pro-life stance. In fact, Akin joined with GOP vice presidential candidate Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) as two of the original co-sponsors of the “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act,” a bill which, among other things, introduced the country to the bizarre term “forcible rape.” A pro-life stance that has been the standard since the 1980 election when Ronald Reagan took up the cause.
Speaking of St. Ronnie, let's step away from his abortion stance and look at a story that many of his devotees either refuse to believe or refuse to talk about it.
Granted, the original story came from author Kitty Kelley's 1991 biography of Nancy Reagan. When the book originally came out, the story was overshadowed by an alleged affair between the former First Lady and Frank Sinatra. But another story in the book claims that St. Ronnie had his way with forcible rape with a Hollywood starlet named Selene Walters:
Reagan met starlet Selene Walters in a Hollywood nightclub in the cart) 1950s. Although I was on a date," she quotes Walters as saying, "Ronnie kept whispering in my ear, 'I'd like to call you. How can I get in touch with you?' " Hoping that Reagan, then president of the Screen Actors Guild, could boost her career, Walters gave him her address and was surprised when he came calling at 3 A.M. "He pushed his way inside and said he just had to see me. He forced me on the couch...and said, 'Let's just get to know each other.' It was the most pitched battle I've ever had, and suddenly in a matter of seconds I lost.... They call it date rape today...."
Walters had her own take on the story:
Kelley's account of his late-night visit is essentially accurate, although he never forced his way into her apartment. "I opened the door. Then it was the battle of the couch. I was fighting him. I didn't want him to make love to me. He's a very big man, and he just had his way. Date rape? No, God, no, that's [Kelley's] phrase. I didn't have a chance to have a date with him."
Walters apparently didn't take it personally:
Walters says she bears Reagan no ill will, and has even voted for him: "I don't think he meant to harm me."
Say what you want about Kitty Kelley being a gossip monger, but if the GOP prays to the altar of Ronald Reagan for the so called "good things" he has done, then they have to look at the man they look up to. Perhaps Todd Akin's idol was the original poster boy for "legitimate rape." As a rape victim, rape is no laughing matter, but the hypocrisy from the right shows the ignorant thinking of one politician who, if you ask him will say his political idol is none other than former president Reagan. Maybe like this story, the GOP would like to sweep Akin under the rug. But it shouldn't be. As President Obama has said: "rape is rape."