. >> and despite their efforts to focus squarely on the economy and trying to create new jobs, mitt romney and paul ryan were getting these questions. congressman todd akin of missouri have forced these republicans into a national conversation about the hot button social issues of abortion and rape. yesterday, paul ryan said he would follow mitt romney's lead on the issue. later ryan was pressed to explain the meaning behind the term forcible rape, which appeared in legislation that he cosponsored with akin and other republicans. take a listen. >> you sponsored legislation that has the language forcible rape. what is forcible rape? >> rape is rape. rape is rape period. end of story. >> so that forcible rape language meant nothing to you at the time? >> rape is rape. and there's no splitting hairs over rape. >> all right. hey, mark. >> how is it going?