Todd Akin (Source: House of Representatives)

Missouri Rep. Todd Akin makes one misstep after another. His “legitimate rape” comments are well known and nearly sank his senate race. Despite pressure from the Republican Party, he refused to withdraw. Yet his stubbornness may have paid off. New polls show him in a very competitive race with his opponent Claire McCaskill.

A recently released video from May had Akin inviting people to send checks to him as a route to access. The only way to interpret this is as thinly veiled bribery, although it is legal bribery. None of this is a surprise as the entire political system is rotted by money.

Nevertheless, his most recent comments are a bit more shocking. They sound like something from the 1950′s when male chauvinism was at its peak and women were expected to do just things that women are supposed to do. They were expected to act like ladies and know their place. Running for office was not a proper option.

Akin’s comment followed last week’s debate between Akin and McCaskill:

“I think we have a very clear path to victory, and apparently Claire McCaskill thinks we do, too, because she was very aggressive at the debate, which was quite different than it was when she ran against Jim Talent,” Akin said. “She had a confidence and was much more ladylike [in 2006], but in the debate on Friday she came out swinging, and I think that’s because she feels threatened.”

The sexism drips from this comment. Akin finds something uncomfortable that a woman senator dares to be aggressive and challenge him in the debate. In his attitude, there is even a touch of contempt, as if it is beneath him that he has to run against a woman — one’s who doesn’t even act like a lady.

Akin’s a dinosaur from another age. It’s nothing short of amazing that he remains a viable candidate.