Republican senate candidate Richard Mourdock says pregnancy via rape is "God's plan"
Just how crazy of a Republican do you have to be to have Mitt Romney backing away from your remarks? Let's check in with Indiana Senate candidate Richard Mourdock.
Mr. Morlock, er, Mourdock was having a spirited debate against Democrat Joe Donnelly on Tuesday when he addressed my absolute favourite topics for old white dudes to talk about: abortion and rape.
When asked whether he would support abortion in cases of rape or incest, the Tea Party-backed Mourdock dropped this bomb on the assembled crowd:
“I struggled with it myself for a long time, but I came to realize that life is that gift from God. And, I think, even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that it is something that God intended to happen.”
That's right, ladies. If you get raped and subsequently get pregnant from said rape, well, that's just what God wanted. It has nothing to do with a repressive, patriarchial society that normalizes sexual violence and assault and victim-blames and slut-shames women every chance it gets. Nope, your rape-baby is what God wanted.
This morning, Mourdock backpedalled from his insane remarks in a press release, which states: "God does not want rape, and by no means was I suggesting that he does. Rape is a horrible thing, and for anyone to twist my words otherwise is absurd and sick."
No, you're right. You didn't say God wanted rape, Mr. Mourdock. You just said that if a rapist manages to knock up his victim, that's God's plan.
In summation, rape bad, rape babies good, and women are too stupid and delicate and, well, just downright irrational that they can't make decisions about their own bodies by themselves.
Thank God for people like Richard Mourdock.
Follow inveterate uterus-haver Miranda Nelson on Twitter at @charenton_.
Comments
9 Comments
pheldan33
Oct 24, 2012 at 11:12am
I actually took the time to listen to Mourdock explain himself later... now his comments seem less appalling. He simply meant to say: God is the one who is in charge of the creation of life... he didn't mean: God will's rape, or God likes rape...
But in a senate race abortion issues are really beside what is important. Senators aren't in charge of abortion policies anyway. Personally, I would like to see someone like Mourdock get in who is willing to cut spending and vote against more debt. Because spending is really what senators are doing to hurt this nation.
prenup
Oct 24, 2012 at 11:52am
the problem is there is no such thing as god, so his whole point means nothing.
He is as archaic as fanatical muslims.
out at night
Oct 24, 2012 at 12:02pm
Everything is God's plan: genocide, war, famine, murder, rape, but also butterflies, family picnics and Disneyland. Nothing unusual here, just another religious person laying out their beliefs, which aren't really that far off the map if you're a true believer. If people actually elect this guy (and the other Evangelical Christian Republicans like him) the US will soon come to resemble the America of Margaret Atwood's "Handmaid's Tale". No exaggeration, no hyperbole - that would actually happen!
It is scary as fuck that these people aren't members of some fringe party; they are in the political mainstream. Help us Jeebus!
poopedinpantsagain
Oct 24, 2012 at 1:08pm
its Gods plan that the USA will run up debt until they collaborate with China to overthrow Canada for the artic oil fields in 2025. So teach your kids to shoot and make roadside bombs now
DavidH
Oct 24, 2012 at 3:10pm
God doesn't really WANT armed robbery, but if store clerks get shot during a robbery ... oh well, that's just part of God's plan.
Makes ya wonder why conservatives are so big on crime and punishment. Yes, the crimes are bad, but the consequences (pregnant people, dead people) are part of God's plan.
Sad Pitt
Oct 24, 2012 at 5:54pm
Let's face it, Richard Mourdock's birth wasn't a gift from God, it was the work of the devil.
R U Kiddingme
Oct 24, 2012 at 6:24pm
How long is it going to be until politicians get no more points from their fondness for deity than for their fondness for a particular cologne, movie, food, or in the case of Mr Mourdock, unconvincing hair dye? Belief should be a personal, subjective comfort and not a basis for authority.
Birdy
Oct 24, 2012 at 8:31pm
re "If you get raped and subsequently get pregnant from said rape, well, that's just what God wanted. It has nothing to do with a repressive, patriarchial society that normalizes sexual violence.... blah blah blah"
Really, it's not the rapist's fault? It's society's fault when people get raped? That's equally as insane as blaming the victim. I know endorsing "personal responsibility" sounds kinda "right-wing" but maybe you could make an exception for rapists and blame them instead of blaming society. Society is a concept, it doesn't physically exist. So of course it can't be conscious, which means it can't make decisions, so it can't be at fault.
Karencheyne
Oct 24, 2012 at 9:20pm
Okay, Mr. Mourdock managed to extricate himself from his original comments about the birth of a baby under totally sad circumstances; however, to lay the blame on Obamacare for many 'hard to resolve issues' and to state it shouldn't even be in existence is simply ridiculous. He negates all the help it is given those who previously could not afford health care of any kind. He forgets that, previously, uninsured citizens needing emergency health care etc. and who could not pay meant expensive collection procedures from doctors, hospitals in order to recoup their fees. Millions of adult children under 26 ,who also couldn't afford health insurance must have accumulated many unpaid bills, as well. At least now they are covered under their parents' policies and doctors can get paid.
If Republicans are elected, this health care act will be eliminated. And....I would not believe for one moment that abortion will be tolerated for any cause whatsoever.