The Akin controversy has reignited the debate over abortion and diverted Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney from his focus on the economy just days before the Republican convention this coming week. Willke’s theory that the emotional trauma and physical stress of rape can fend off pregnancy makes sense to many people. Representative from Missouri, apologized for using the word “legitimate” to describe a type of rape, but did not back off the premise that pregnancies from rape are rare - a long-time tenet of Willke’s teachings. His name was quickly cited as a source for Missouri Republican candidate Akin’s comment that a woman’s body has natural defenses against a trauma such as “legitimate rape.”Ī furor erupted and Republican leaders quickly distanced themselves from Akin, stripping him of financing and party support. Willke’s work not only spawned many of the today’s anti-abortion leaders, but also influenced the anti-abortion positions of key lawmakers. His writings were extremely important,” said Scheidler. “He was one of the first to be organizing on the pro-life issue, the right-to-life issue. Scheidler was a child when his father Joseph, the national director of Pro-Life Action League, took him to hear Willke speak. “I grew up with the name of Jack Willke ringing in my ears,” said Scheidler, now 45 and executive director of the Pro-Life Action League. Wade Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion. His teachings, delivered in pamphlets, books, speeches and radio broadcasts, became a bedrock study for many anti-abortion activists fighting to overturn the 1973 Roe v. Willke’s use of graphic photos of “unborn children” energized followers in the nascent anti-abortion movement of the 1970s. Willke’s teachings resonated four decades later in the controversy this week over Missouri Senate candidate Todd Akin’s remarks on pregnancy and rape. “Jack” Willke was renowned as a physician-turned-advocate for abolishing abortion. It was the 1970s and the now 87-year-old Dr. KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Reuters) - Eric Scheidler was in grade school when he was introduced to the power of John Willke’s persuasion.
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