Mitt Hailed Doctor Behind 'Legit Rape' Theory in 2007

Though Mitt Romney is giving Rep. Todd Akin grief for his "legitimate rape" birth control theory, he once hailed the doctor who cooked up the idea in the first place. Dr. Jack C. Willke, considered the father of the anti-abortion movement, believes the trauma that occurs during a "violent rape" can trigger a shutdown of the woman's reproductive system, therefore making pregnancies in such cases rare—a theory not supported by medical evidence.

The last time Romney ran for the GOP presidential nomination, a 2007 statement from his campaign hailed Willke as a "leading voice within the pro-life community," adding that he would be an important "surrogate" for Romney's "pro-life and pro-family agenda," the Los Angeles Times reports. “I am proud to have the support of a man who has meant so much to the pro-life movement in our country,” Romney said in the statement. (More Mitt Romney stories.)