While one could argue for a charitable reading of Akin's statement, his use of the phrase "legitimate rape" demonstrates why such charity may be misplaced. This phrasing inherently (& charitably likely inadvertently) proposes a category of "illegitimate rape," carrying the dangerous and widespread implication that women frequently lie about assault or that some sexual violations are not "real" rape. One might counter that, in literal terms, false accusations occur, situational ambiguities exist, and sexual violations exist on a spectrum. However, to emphasize these rare edge cases and complexities in order to undermine the vast majority of genuine reports is a profound failure of epistemic responsibility.
Despite my disagreement with the politician, I find it irresponsible to impose a partisan interpretation on Todd Akin's words that adds a malicious connotation, specifically that his 'legitimate rape' comment was designed to undermine all genuine reports of rape. This imposed meaning is directly challenged by his own clarification. As seen in the Snopes article, if you take Todd Akin at his word, his stated intention was far from what the meme suggests. He issued a statement saying:
"As a member of Congress, I believe that working to protect the most vulnerable in our society is one of my most important responsibilities, and that includes protecting both the unborn and victims of sexual assault. In reviewing my off-the-cuff remarks, it's clear that I misspoke in this interview and it does not reflect the deep empathy I hold for the thousands of women who are raped and abused every year... I also recognize that there are those who, like my opponent, support abortion and I understand I may not have their support in this election."
'Republicans on rape' meme shows real quotes from politicians
Note: This analysis focuses mostly on the language of Akin's statement. His subsequent response to the backlash is not really examined here.
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