Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill went directly after Rep. Todd Akin in her opening statement Friday during their first Senate debate.
“This election’s gonna be quite a contrast for Missourians, but not because we’re at opposite ends. I’m right in the middle, it’s just he’s so far out on the fringe, and that’s where the contrast comes in.”
McCaskill said Akin has made many controversial statements — an allusion to Akin’s false comment that women’s bodies can prevent pregnancy in cases of “legitimate rape” — “but it’s his views that will be painful to many Missouri families.”
McCaskill blasted Akin for calling Social Security “a bad investment” and wanting to privatize it with a “triple whammy” that would cut benefits, and for calling Medicare unconstitutional. “I believe we can lower the deficit and debt, but I believe we cannot do it, we should not do it at the expense of these important programs and Missouri’s seniors.”
