2012 Missouri Senate Debates: on Abortion


Todd Akin: Resisted stepping aside after "legitimate rape" comment

Republican Todd Akin and incumbent Democrat Claire McCaskill debated on Thursday, but did not discuss Akin's "legitimate rape" remark that drew national attention to their US Senate race. Akin's comment in August that women have biological defenses against pregnancies that might be caused by "legitimate rapes," which he later retracted, drew widespread rebukes even from members of his own party. The 6-term congressman resisted requests that he step aside for another candidate to take on McCaskill.
Source: Reuters on 2012 Missouri Senate debate Oct 19, 2012

John Brunner: Pledges support to overthrow of Roe v. Wade

Asked whether the candidates supported a constitutional amendment saying life begins at conception, Akin staked out the strongest stance. "Yes, I would support a constitutional amendment," he said.

Brunner and Steelman both said they would want to look at the wording of a proposed amendment before endorsing it while still trying to portray a strong anti-abortion stance, with Steelman saying she does believe life begins at conception and Brunner pledging support to the overthrow of Roe v. Wade.

Source: Columbia Daily Tribune on 2012 Missouri Senate debate Apr 22, 2012

Sarah Steelman: Life begins at conception; consider Constitutional Amendment

Asked whether the candidates supported a constitutional amendment saying life begins at conception, Akin staked out the strongest stance. "Yes, I would support a constitutional amendment," he said.

Brunner and Steelman both said they would want to look at the wording of a proposed amendment before endorsing it while still trying to portray a strong anti-abortion stance, with Steelman saying she does believe life begins at conception and Brunner pledging support to the overthrow of Roe v. Wade.

Source: Columbia Daily Tribune on 2012 Missouri Senate debate Apr 22, 2012

Todd Akin: Life begins at conception; support Constitutional Amendment

Asked whether the candidates supported a constitutional amendment saying life begins at conception, Akin staked out the strongest stance. "Yes, I would support a constitutional amendment," he said.

Brunner and Steelman both said they would want to look at the wording of a proposed amendment before endorsing it while still trying to portray a strong anti-abortion stance, with Steelman saying she does believe life begins at conception and Brunner pledging support to the overthrow of Roe v. Wade.

Source: Columbia Daily Tribune on 2012 Missouri Senate debate Apr 22, 2012

  • The above quotations are from 2012 Missouri Senate Debate.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Abortion.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Todd Akin on Abortion.
  • Click here for more quotes by Sarah Steelman on Abortion.
Candidates and political leaders on Abortion:

Retired Senate as of Jan. 2015:
GA:Chambliss(R)
IA:Harkin(D)
MI:Levin(D)
MT:Baucus(D)
NE:Johanns(R)
OK:Coburn(R)
SD:Johnson(D)
WV:Rockefeller(D)

Resigned from 113th House:
AL-1:Jo Bonner(R)
FL-19:Trey Radel(R)
LA-5:Rod Alexander(R)
MA-5:Ed Markey(D)
MO-9:Jo Ann Emerson(R)
NC-12:Melvin Watt(D)
SC-1:Tim Scott(R) 		Retired House to run for Senate or Governor:
AR-4:Tom Cotton(R)
GA-1:Jack Kingston(R)
GA-10:Paul Broun(R)
GA-11:Phil Gingrey(R)
HI-1:Colleen Hanabusa(D)
IA-1:Bruce Braley(D)
LA-6:Bill Cassidy(R)
ME-2:Mike Michaud(D)
MI-14:Gary Peters(D)
MT-0:Steve Daines(R)
OK-5:James Lankford(R)
PA-13:Allyson Schwartz(D)
TX-36:Steve Stockman(R)
WV-2:Shelley Capito(R) 		Retired House as of Jan. 2015:
AL-6:Spencer Bachus(R)
AR-2:Tim Griffin(R)
CA-11:George Miller(D)
CA-25:Howard McKeon(R)
CA-33:Henry Waxman(D)
CA-45:John Campbell(R)
IA-3:Tom Latham(R)
MN-6:Michele Bachmann(R)
NC-6:Howard Coble(R)
NC-7:Mike McIntyre(D)
NJ-3:Jon Runyan(R)
NY-4:Carolyn McCarthy(D)
NY-21:Bill Owens(D)
PA-6:Jim Gerlach(R)
UT-4:Jim Matheson(D)
VA-8:Jim Moran(D)
VA-10:Frank Wolf(R)
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Page last updated: Dec 04, 2018