Dr. Jack Willke, a longtime leader of the antiabortion movement and the leading proponent of the theory that pregnancy resulting from rape is rare, served as a Mitt Romney surrogate in 2007, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Romney has distanced himself from the Missouri Republican Senate nominee, Rep. Todd Akin, R-Mo., for repeating the theory — which conflicts with scientific evidence — that women’s bodies reject pregnancies following rape, which conflicts with scientific evidence. Romney called for Akin to end his campaign. Akin has apologized for using the phrase “legitimate rape” and acknowledged that rape can lead to pregnancy, but he has refused to drop out of the race.
In an October 2007 statement, Romney said, “I am proud to have the support of a man who has meant so much to the pro-life movement in our country,” after Willkes endorsed him for the Republican nomination, the Times reported.
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