I believe Thomas Jefferson would have backed Akin's right of free speech without recrimination. I am appalled by the Republican pressure to railroad this guy out because he made one slip of the tongue. He said he made a mistake and apologized. Even if he didn't admit a mistake and stood by his "legitimate rape" comment, he has every right in this country to run for Congress. I know the Republican Party is worried he'll bring Romney down but this orthodoxy stance of only certain words or phrases being acceptable is really a slap in the face of individual rights. If we don't stand up for individual rights, we will lose them.

Robert Newton

Birch Bay