The two federal lawmakers who call the Coachella Valley home took to Twitter today to blast Missouri Congressman Todd Akin for controversial comments he made about rape.

Akin, a conservative Republican running for U.S. Senate, made the comments in an interview when he was asked if he would support abortions for women who have been raped.

“It seems to me first of all from what I understand from doctors that’s really rare,” Akin said.

“If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down.”

Sen. Barbara Boxer, a Rancho Mirage Democrat, responded on Twitter just before 10 a.m. this morning.

“Akin’s outburst is an outgrowth of the GOP march to the right which includes @PaulRyanVP who wants to redefine rape and criminalize the pill.”

Republican Rep. Mary Bono Mack also used Twitter to react.

“I was totally appalled by Todd Akin’s comments about rape,” the Palm Springs Republican wrote. “They were offensive & demeaning.”

Akin is now backing away from his comments.