Todd Akin on Principles & Values Republican Representative (MO-2); Senate Challenger 2012

I'm no career politician; I left a safe district

Akin, a six-term congressman, took exception. "If I were a career politician, I'd stay in a safe congressional district, wouldn't I?" While Akin listed jobs in a steel mill and for IBM, he also painted his experience in Washington, D.C., as an attribute. "I don't think the Senate is the place for on-the-job training," he said.

Brunner, who has poured more than $2 million of his own money into his campaign and has outspent his opponents, called Akin's remarks about on-the-job training "political talk." His opponents' recent job experience "is a little different than being on the production line," he said.

Experienced conservative voice in Congress

Rated 0% by the AU, indicating opposition to church-state separation.

OnTheIssues.org interprets the 2006 AU scores as follows:

• 0%- 20%: opposition to church-state separation (approx. 232 members)
• 21%- 79%: mixed record on church-state separation (approx. 79 members)
• 80%-100%: support of church-state separation (approx. 153 members)

Americans United for Separation of Church and State (AU) is a religious liberty watchdog group based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1947, the organization educates Americans about the importance of church-state separation in safeguarding religious freedom. AU is a nonpartisan organization dedicated to preserving the constitutional principle of church-state separation as the only way to ensure religious freedom for all Americans.

Americans United is a national organization with members in all 50 states. We are headquartered in Washington, D.C., and led by the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director. AU has more than 75,000 members from all over the country. They include people from all walks of life and from various faith communities, as well as those who profess no particular faith. We are funded by donations from our members and others who support church-state separation. We do not seek, nor would we accept, government funding.

Recognize Christianity's importance to western civilization.

• Whereas Christmas is a holiday of great significance to Americans and many other cultures;
• Whereas there are approximately 225,000,000 Christians in the US, making Christianity the religion of over 3/4 of the population;
• Whereas there are approximately 2,000,000,000 Christians throughout the world, making Christianity the largest religion in the world;
• Whereas Christians and Christianity have contributed greatly to the development of western civilization;
• Whereas the United States, being founded as a constitutional republic in the traditions of western civilization, finds much in its history that points observers back to its Judeo-Christian roots;
• Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives recognizes the Christian faith as one of the great religions of the world;
• Acknowledges the role played by Christians and Christianity in the founding of the US and in the formation of the western civilization; and
• Rejects bigotry and persecution directed against Christians, both in the US and worldwide.