Ami Bera puts Republican Lungren on defense on rape, abortion

Ami Bera on the War on Women California Democrat and Orange to Blue candidate Ami Bera is demanding that his opponent Rep. Dan Lungren step up on abortion and rape. Along with every other Republican trying to save his political skin, Lungren has denounced Todd Akin for his comments on rape, but won't talk about his own record on the redefinition of rape and abortion.

Bera, in a statement, accused both Akin and Lungren of "injecting politics into the definition of rape" and called on Lungren to withdraw his support of the bill, which cleared the House in 2011.

Lungren consultant Rob Stutzman said Democrats' efforts to draw a connection between Lungren and Akin's "outrageously offensive statement" are misguided.

"Anyone that was in the same dining room in Washington as Todd Akin isn't guilty of anything," he said. "Anyone who worked with him on any legislation in Washington isn't guilty."

He's not guilty? Lungren's name is on H.R. 3: No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act, which redefines rape. That's not just working with Akin on legislation, that's a no-exceptions abortion ban. Full stop. Lungren doesn't have to agree on a rape victim's magical no-baby defense shield to share an extreme position with Akin. When it comes to policy, there's not the tiniest smidgeon of daylight between them.

Lungren has reason to be defensive on this: He's running in a district that's more hostile to him as a result of redistricting. But he can't run from his record in the House. He can't run from his 100 percent rating from the National Right to Life Committee.

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