Richard Mourdock On Abortion: Pregnancy From Rape Is 'Something God Intended'

Richard Mourdock On Abortion: Pregnancy From Rape Is 'Something God Intended'
Indiana GOP U.S. Senate candidate Richard Mourdock declared Tuesday night he opposes aborting pregnancies conceived in rape because "it is something that God intended to happen."

Debating Rep. Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.) in their final Senate race showdown, a questioner asked them and Libertarian candidate Andrew Horning to explain their views on abortion.

All three said they were anti-abortion. But Mourdock went the further, putting himself in territory near Missouri GOP Senate candidate Rep. Todd Akin, the anti-abortion congressman who infamously asserted that women don't get pregnant from "legitimate rape."

"The only exception I have to have an abortion is in the case of the life of the mother," said Mourdock, the Tea Party-backed state treasurer. "I struggled with it myself for a long time, but I came to realize life is that gift from God. I think that even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that it is something that God intended to happen."

Mourdock unseated veteran Republican Sen. Richard Lugar in the May primary, and has battled Donnelly for the longtime senator's supporters since. Abortion has been a touchy issue for the candidates, with Mourdock accusing Donnelly of lacking strength on the issue because Donnelly backed the health care reform law. Donnelly has criticized a requirement that ensures women can get birth control, even when their employer objects to contraception.

"I believe in pro-life," Donnelly said, carving out somewhat more moderate anti-abortion stance. "I believe that life begins at conception. The only exceptions I believe in are for rape, incest and the life a mother."
Horning argued that the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision was unconstitutional, and that abortion issues should be state matters.
Mourdock tried to clarify his comments soon after the debate, saying God does not intend sexual assaults.

"God creates life, and that was my point," Mourdock said in a statement. "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."

Nevertheless, Democrats jumped on the comments as further proof that Murdock is an extremist.

"I think rape is a heinous and violent crime in every instance," said Donnelly in his own statement. "The God I believe in and the God I know most Hoosiers believe in, does not intend for rape to happen -- ever. What Mr. Mourdock said is shocking, and it is stunning that he would be so disrespectful to survivors of rape."

"Richard Mourdock's disturbing comment about rape is a window into Mourdock's extreme view of the world, " said Shripal Shah, spokesman for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. "Indiana can't afford to send a self-proclaimed 'zealot' and Tea Partier like Richard Mourdock to the Senate."

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[Max Zomboni]

You know what? The Republictards will still vote for him. These people are sick.

[GoldenSheIlback1]

It's a PRO-RAPIST comment SHITHEAD! By saying that the resulting pregnancy from a rape is a gift from God, you ARE in fact saying the rape is too. If you think God would make a woman pregnant out of an act of violence, forcing her to be reminded daily of that act, to make a good thing bad, that's a God I want nothing to do with, and that's some pretty twisted thinking to justify a violent act. Spin it some more and try again.

[Natalie Pe]

Her getting pregnant from rape is in no way a gift from God. However the the life of that child is a gift. Just because the child came out of a horrible traumatizing situation doesn't mean it should be slaughtered.

[thenewkid191]

humans are animals, so we are all animals

[EYEWEWPE]

Rapists are animals.  That's why they go to jail and get caged up like an animal.

[EYEWEWPE]

When some hoe commits a felony by attacking a woman, forcing himself on her, it is NOT an act of God. The hoe gets caged up in jail where he belongs. Republictards!

[CPTR111]

This is just awful. I am glad he did not win. How disrespectful and hurtful to women

[EYEWEWPE]

Glad this Republictard did not get re-elected. This man has no place in government.

[EYEWEWPE]

An utterly barbaric and ignorant pontification



[Darth Ferder]

i'm not sure if i should like the video because you warned the people, or dislike because this man tells bullshit... :/

[fAshSon]

I don't think all the rape victims would agree with him, it's so convenient coming from a man. I'm a man and not a US citizen, this is just sick.