Todd Akin's comment about rape is possibly the most appalling rationalization that I have ever heard from a U.S. politician. It is really not OK for the halls of leadership in this country to be populated by people who are that detached from reality. Whats even more troubling is the idea that there may be many people involved in government who believe that nonsense.

What Akin said is likely a more common belief than most Americans realize. There are several examples of state lawmakers and even a federal judge nominee having expressed the same view (BuzzFeed has a rundown). And a quick Google search shows the view isn’t relegated to just a few rogue politicians; it’s one that some in the social conservative community believe — despite the medical community’s clear verdict that it’s nonsense.

The attached WAPO article takes the also somewhat creepy tact that its all strategy and politicians who rise from the ranks of the hard right need to be more careful about what they say when they move to a position where they are visible to the mainstream. How about this - how about we have politicians who aren't crazy. Thank you.