Wishful Thinking About Violence Against Women

REPUBLICAN congressman Steve King of Iowa has contributed his own remarks to the fray over Missouri congressman and senatorial candidate Todd Akin's contention that 'legitimate rape' almost never results in pregnancy. (A video of Rep. Akin's comments appeared on the web on August 19th; he has apologized since then.)

In an August 20th interview with the television station KMEG 14 (a CBS affiliate in Sioux City, Iowa), Rep. King replied to a question about how pregnancy after statutory rape (e.g. consensual sex between an adult man and a twelve-year-old girl) should be treated,

Well I just haven't heard of that being a circumstance that's been brought to me in any personal way and I'd be open to hearing discussion about that subject matter.

He was speaking in the Le Mars and Sioux Center, where he was campaigning, and the video of the news segment which includes his comments is on the television station's website. His spokesperson has since responded,