Don't worry, Todd Akin — your political future might be in doubt, but you have a legitimate supporter in Kirk Cameron.
Former "Growing Pains" star and noted showbiz conservative Cameron appeared on CNN on Tuesday morning to defend embattled Missouri congressman Todd Akin, following Akin's controversial statements regarding rape and pregnancy during an interview with local media on Sunday.
After encouraging viewers to watch Akin's entire interview (it can be viewed here), Cameron defended Republican representative Akin — who's currently running for Senate in Missouri — and said that he's in "a tough spot."
“He is clearly a pro-life advocate and I respect him. He said that he misspoke and that he misphrased something and that he apologized,” Cameron said. "I'm the kind of person that believes that … I would like to be evaluated by my entire career and my entire life, not two words that I misspeak, and then later apologize for. So he's in a tough spot."
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Akin sparked controversy — including among members of his own party — during an interview on a St. Louis Fox affiliate Sunday, when asked about whether abortion was justified if the pregnancy resulted from rape.
"[I]f it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut the whole thing down,” Akin offered.
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Akin subsequently apologized, saying that he "misspoke" but maintaining his pro-life stance.
"In reviewing my off-the-cuff remarks, it's clear that I misspoke in this interview and it does not reflect the deep empathy I hold for the thousands of women who are raped and abused every year," Akin said. "I recognize that abortion, and particularly in the case of rape, is a very emotionally charged issue. But I believe deeply in the protection of all life and I do not believe that harming another innocent victim is the right course of action."
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Earlier this year, Cameron drew criticism when he appeared on CNN's "Piers Morgan Tonight" and opined that gay marriage is "unnatural," and "detrimental and ultimately destructive to so many of the foundations of civilization."
Watch Cameron defend Akin in the video.