Akin, Rivard and now Walsh (or Not Interested in the Facts)

I can't say I am surprised- however, every time a 40-60 something year old white male politician gets science-y on women's reproductive health system a part of my soul dies. Or at least my uterus's soul.

What is it this time? State representative candidate Joe Walsh said this referring to an abortion exception for saving a women's life:

“with modern technology and science, you can’t find one instance” of a woman dying from childbirth. Walsh claimed pro-choice advocates simply used the prospect of maternal death “to make us look unreasonable.”

You can't find one instance? You aren't unreasonable?

Well, let's consult the facts shall we?

As a Global Studies major I get a great sense of satisfaction on researching things like a country's GPD, birth rates, age structure etc...

My favorite website for this is the CIA World Factbook.

Amnesty International has great resources for this type of research as well.

The CIA World Factbook states that as of 2010 the Maternal Mortality rate in the Unites States is 21 per 100,000 live births. The MMR is the annual number of female deaths per 100,000 live births from any cause related to or aggravated by pregnancy or its management (excluding accidental or incidental causes).

This brings the number to around 600 deaths each year caused by childbirth. The statement? ZERO the facts SIX HUNDRED.

The facts? Since Walsh made his statement he has tried to backtrack by saying that outside of "very rare circumstances ... an invasive and traumatic procedure like abortion is often, thankfully, not necessary to save the life of a mother."

Now what tends to happen after these gaffes is that the opponent will capitalize on the abortion issue and the moron who uttered the inaccuracies to begin with will start saying things like "Now all my opponent wants to talk about is abortion- I want to talk about the issues."

Here is what these gentlemen don't understand. When you say things that are blatantly untrue about the bodies, minds and rights of over half the population, you're going to realize that they care a lot about things like science, or personal experiences. Ask a women who has lost a child in order to save her own life what it feels like to have a rookie tea-party candidate say that she in fact doesn't exist.

It's kind of a big deal.

So Todd Akin, Roger Rivard and now Joe Walsh- why don't you consult women and the intelligent before laying down absolutes to show how despicable and out of touch you are with women and reality in general.