BY SHARON MARTIN

Let me say a few words in defense of Todd Akin. The Missouri Congressman may not understand the science of conception, but he does understand the social conservatives who voted for him. They chose him as their voice.

The legality of abortion is an issue in the GOP platform, although I don’t believe it should be a political issue at all. It’s a medical issue. But party members are expected to toe the party line.

When a misspoken word becomes a political liability, the powerful in the party are ready to throw the tangle-tongued speaker away.

We know that rape is never legitimate. Todd Akin knows this, too. We all know that rape is force used on someone, but the adjective “forcible” defined rape in the Republican platform in earlier drafts.

If only Rep. Akin could have redrafted what he said.

If a woman could “shut that whole thing down,” the argument about abortion would not be taking place at all. But women can’t, and a candidate’s stand on abortion will be part of the discussion. It should not be the whole discussion; there are other issues to consider.

For example, the powers in Akin’s party should not have the right to replace a duly-elected candidate because he has some boneheaded ideas.

Then, there’s the case of the Ron Paul delegates from Maine. It seems that someone thought there were irregularities at the Maine convention. There’s that voter fraud problem again! The party replaced the doubtful delegates with the Romney variety.

It all puts one in mind of Vladimir Putin. The girl band, Pussy Riot, writes songs protesting Putin’s heavy-handedness. They have a point. He gets rid of opponents and wins by a landslide. If anyone protests his powers, he has them arrested.

Three members of Pussy Riot are in a Russian prison for the next two years, accused of hooliganism – you know, being thugs, ruffians, hoodlums. Two members of the band have left the country.

The GOP’s hooligans are probably conniving right now how to pass new political hooliganism laws in the U.S. That would solve the problems of what to do with Todd Akin and with all those Ron Paul supporters.

While the powerful plot, the dissatisfied of both parties need to start their own protest bands.

I’d be glad to write the words for their songs, starting with these: Let the people … and their boneheaded representatives … speak.

– Sharon Martin lives in Oilton, OK and is a regular contributor to The Oklahoma Observer