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HOUSTON (August 28, 2012): It seems like all of America, including Mitt Romney and scores of other Republican leaders, have denounced and distanced themselves from Rep. Todd Akin’s comments about “legitimate rape” and have demanded that he drop out of the Missouri Senate race.

Washington has finally found an issue everyone can agree on!

Well, almost everyone. “Why haven’t John Culberson and the Texas Republican Congressional Delegation joined in such denouncements?” James Cargas, the Democratic Candidate for Texas’ Congressional District 7, asked.

A little searching reveals the answer: the entire Texas House Republican Delegation has already gone on the record with the same views. All of our Texas Republicans Representatives, including John Culberson, are listed as H.R. 3 co-sponsors, which allows federal funding for abortions only in instances of “forcible rape.” This week the Republican National Committee missed an opportunity to also distance itself from Akin’s comments or show its members care about getting the science right when it adopted its anti-abortion platform.

“Akin and Culberson astonishingly believe there are different degrees of rape, and that Congress should be involved in deciding when to force a woman to carry their rapist’s baby to term. House Science Committee member Akin also believes that a woman’s body has the ability to distinguish between the degrees of rape and therefore cannot get pregnant unless the rape was ‘legitimate’ or ‘forcible’ which has been long been proven to be false,” stated Cargas. Physicians across the country are outraged at such lack of basic biology knowledge by House Republicans.

“Rep Culberson has a duty to Houstonians to stand up against such outrageous beliefs. He sits on the Science Appropriations Subcommittee, and therefore carries weight within his own party. The fact that he has chosen to co-sponsor this bill and continues to stay quiet after Akin’s outrage shows either acceptance, cowardice, or both,” Cargas continued, “He is clearly the wrong person for the job.”

And, it makes no difference that the word “forcible” was later dropped from the legislation. Each of our Texas Republicans signed the original version, including John Culberson who became a co-sponsor on March 8, 2011. As of today, none of them have dropped their co-sponsorship.

Houston Deserves Better!

“I have always believed,” Cargas explained, “that every woman knows what is best for her body and for her beliefs.”

“Congress needs to spend its time and resources on our national economy, American jobs and balancing the federal budget,” Cargas concluded. James Cargas will represent ALL of Houston. He will protect Medicare and Social Security, and he will work with the White House and Senate to once again balance the federal budget.

James Cargas offers substantial public service experience. He has served in the U.S. House of Representatives as a deputy press secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as a law clerk, Clinton White House as an aide, and U.S. Department of Energy under Secretary Bill Richardson as a political appointee. He is currently the Senior Assistant City Attorney for Energy for the City of Houston. James and his wife, Dr. Dorina Papageorgiou, a neuroscientist are members of the Greek Orthodox Annunciation Cathedral.