Controversy never worked as imagined for political candidates. Indiana Senate candidate Richard Mourdock sparks controversy saying rape pregnancy is what God wants.
Whenever GOP politicians talk about abortion, it is mind-boggling there still are women who’d vote for them. In a debate Tuesday night, Indiana Senate candidate Richard Mourdock said that rape pregnancy is “something that God intended to happen”. After his comment sparked controversy, Mourdock denied it, saying it is “twisted” to imply he believes God wants women to be raped.
“I think even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that it is something that God intended to happen” Indiana Senate candidate Richard Mourdock said during a debate on Tuesday. It was his way of slamming down opponent Democratic Rep. Joe Donnelly, who backs abortion in situations of rape and incest.
But Mourdock’s attempt to score popularity points against his opponent, fired back. The next day, after his controversial comment went viral, Mourdock explained he did not believe that God wants some women to be raped. “Are you trying to suggest somehow that God preordained rape, no I don’t think that. Anyone who would suggest that is just sick and twisted. No, that’s not even close to what I said” the Indiana senate candidate defended himself.
Democrats immediately took the opportunity to put the entire GOP under the spotlight. “Richard Mourdock’s rape comments are outrageous and demeaning to women” said Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz. “Unfortunately, they’ve become part and parcel of the modern Republican Party’s platform toward women’s health, as Congressional Republicans like Paul Ryan have worked to outlaw all abortions and even narrow the definition of rape” she added.
Mitt Romney’s campaign people tried to minimize the damage as fast as possible, but the harm has already been done. Spokeswoman Andrea Saul said that “Gov. Romney disagrees with Richard Mourdock’s comments, and they do not reflect his views”. Obama strategist David Axelrod’s tweet explains it best: “Mitt’s man Mourdock apes Akin, reflecting a GOP that is way out of mainstream”.
In August, Todd Akin, Senate Republican candidate for Missouri, said in an interview that “if it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down”. Comments like these make us think Republicans need an update on sex education.
Interesting to watch the Democrats try and spin this election into a referendum on abortion. They will try anything to misdirect attention from the economy, the real issue of our time. It’s pretty disgusting and desperate. The American people hopefully are smarter than to fall for these shenanigans.