U.S. Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.) speaks to reporters after addressing the Missouri Farm Bureau in Jefferson City, Missouri. Anger continues to grow over Akin’s comments – that pregnancy from “legitimate rape” is rare. (MCT Campus )

Mark Twain tersely summed up my views on American politics when he said something along the lines of, “Politicians are a lot like diapers: they must be changed often and for the same reason.”

One might think that I would get more of a kick out of electoral politics by virtue of being a political science major, but as I’ve learned more and more about our elections I find the opposite to be true.

Every day I read headlines about Joe Biden suggesting that Republicans want to put us “back in chains.” Or that Mitt Romney wants us to believe his budget plan is different from Paul Ryan’s even after signing the Congressman on as his running mate and I just shake my head. Sometimes I feel like nothing is shocking anymore and all I can do is laugh.

But sometimes I come across a jarring news story that transcends my jaded outlook and sparks genuine outrage. That happened earlier this week when I read about Missouri GOP Senate candidate and current U.S. Congressman Todd Akin and his comments about what constitutes “legitimate rape.”

According to Akin, women who have been raped shouldn’t need to get abortions because if the act resulting in the pregnancy was actual rape, the woman couldn’t have gotten pregnant in the first place. I can’t remember the last time I was offended on this many levels.

First and foremost, this man’s constituency is Missouri’s second Congressional District, which is exactly where most of my extended family is centered and where I used to live as a young child. I’m embarrassed that this person represents such a significant chunk of my kin.

Secondly, as someone who is close to multiple people who have been victims of sexual assault, I’m insulted on an emotional level.

I think people who have actually experienced rape have a better idea of what that crime entails than someone like Congressman Akin.

Finally, his comment was just borne of sheer ignorance. Has this man ever opened an introductory biology textbook? I don’t expect all of my elected officials to be able to explain the Krebs cycle to me, but I think an accurate understanding of what goes on during the act of sexual intercourse is important, especially if Congress insists on continuing to legislate over the matter.

I don’t intend to write from a partisan position on this matter. My political views are already somewhat obvious, but even more importantly I don’t want this to become an endorsement of Sen. Claire McCaskill in her bid for reelection when I know so little about her to begin with.

I simply think that what Akin said is genuinely atrocious, and I want him to be known for the embarrassment that he is.

I am comforted by the fact that commentators from the left and right have made their disdain for Akin’s comments obvious. Mitt Romney, Sen. Scott Brown of Massachusetts, Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin, every living sitting and former Republican Senator from Missouri and countless others have all made it clear that Akin needs to halt his campaign immediately and let a stronger candidate take his place.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee and GOP SuperPAC American Crossroads both withdrew their funding from the race.

While some of the outrage on the right is troubling simply because many seem more concerned about electoral prospects rather than holding Akin accountable for his ignorance (I believe Sean Hannity told Akin that this could “cost us the senate”), I like to believe that most of us have some tiny shreds of decency left and that people are still capable of being angry when such affronts on human dignity are possible. After all, I need to sleep at night somehow.

Brandon is a junior majoring in English, political science, and history.