Walsh criticizes GOP for ‘piling on’ Akin

Though he’s continuing to criticize GOP Senate candidate Todd Akin’s comments over “legitimate rape,” Illinois Congressman Joe Walsh says he’s bothered by the lack of support Akin is getting from his own party.

“What he said was offensive, insulting and wrong, but I’m bothered by this rush to pile on,” Walsh said Tuesday evening at a Young Republicans conference in Yorkville. “And I’m bothered by the silence of members of our own party to stand up for him.”

The comments came just hours after Akin let a Tuesday deadline to bow out of the race pass by, despite calls from party leaders, including presumptive GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney and National Republican Senatorial Committee Chair John Cornyn of Texas, to do so.

Walsh, a McHenry Tea Partyer, has long portrayed himself as a sort of GOP outsider. Next week, during the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., he has chosen to stay home and campaign for re-election in the 8th Congressional District instead of “mingle with party insiders.”

On Monday, Walsh, who has called himself “pro-life without exception,” described Akin’s remarks as “not just idiotic and stupid” but “offensive to all women, especially those who have had to endure sexual abuse. He needs to try to make things right and apologize to those who he has offended.”

Other members of the Illinois congressional delegation, including House GOP Chief Deputy Whip Peter Roskam, of Wheaton, Rep. Judy Biggert of Hinsdale and Rep. Robert Dold, of Kenilworth, also criticized Akin’s statements. None, however, called for him to step down.