Democrats Jump on Mourdock Rape Comment
By: Michael C. Fehn
Updated: October 25, 2012
Democrats have come out swinging, hours after Indiana Republican Senate
candidate Richard Mourdock made controversial statements regarding rape.
The comments came during a debate Tuesday night in New Albany.
When asked whether abortion should be allowed in cases of rape or incest, Mourock replied, "I think even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that's something God intended to happen."
On Wednesday, Obama spokeswoman, Jennifer Psaki, said the President finds Mourdock's comments "outrageous and demeaning to women."
Following Tuesday's debate, Democratic candidate Joe Donnelly saying he doesn't believe "My God, or any God, would intend that to happen."
After the debate, Mourdock issued a statement to clarify his remarks. "God creates life, and that was my point. 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", he said.
On Wednesday, Mourdock held a press conference in Indianapolis to answer questions about his controversial comments. Click here to watch that press conference in its entirety.
The backlash from the debate continued in a steady steam on Thursday. Indiana Democratic Party Chair Dan Parker issued the following statement:
"Richard Mourdock is trying to walk away from his reprehensible comments last night and claim that we misrepresented his assertion that pregnancies resulting from rape are part of God's will. His Presidential nominee, Mitt Romney, who won't say if he still endorses Mourdock, took his words that way. I'm a pro-life Catholic, and I took his words that way. What he said was extreme and terribly disrespectful to rape victims, and he knows it. Before last night, Richard Mourdock was just a Tea Party Zealot, now he is an extreme Tea Party Zealot. He just disqualified himself to be Indiana's next U.S. Senator."
Indiana Right to Life Political Action Committee Chairman, Mike Fitcher came to Mourdock's support by saying, "Tonight, Richard Mourdock showed Hoosiers that he will stand up for all innocent, human life once elected to the U.S. Senate. Richard recognizes what our Founding Fathers wisely proclaimed in the Declaration of Independence. They declared that we are endowed by our Creator with the unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
The statement went on to call rape a vile act, committed in evil. "When a pregnancy results out of this horrific crime, every bit of care and love must be shown to the victim. We believe that life begins at fertilization and with fertilization comes the right to life as affirmed in the Declaration of Independence", Fitcher said.
Mourdock and Donnelly have been locked in a tight race since the Republican primary in May, when Mourdock defeated longtime GOP Sen. Richard Lugar.
The Mitt Romney campaign says the presidential candidate disagrees with Mourdock's comments, which came just a day after a new ad began airing across the state in which Romney offered his support to Mourdock. There is no word on whether the campaign will continue to air the ads as Romney tries to distance himself from the controversy.
What's your take on all of this? To join the conversation, head to our Facebook page. You can also head back to our main page to take part in an online poll on the situation.
The comments came during a debate Tuesday night in New Albany.
When asked whether abortion should be allowed in cases of rape or incest, Mourock replied, "I think even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that's something God intended to happen."
On Wednesday, Obama spokeswoman, Jennifer Psaki, said the President finds Mourdock's comments "outrageous and demeaning to women."
Following Tuesday's debate, Democratic candidate Joe Donnelly saying he doesn't believe "My God, or any God, would intend that to happen."
After the debate, Mourdock issued a statement to clarify his remarks. "God creates life, and that was my point. 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", he said.
On Wednesday, Mourdock held a press conference in Indianapolis to answer questions about his controversial comments. Click here to watch that press conference in its entirety.
The backlash from the debate continued in a steady steam on Thursday. Indiana Democratic Party Chair Dan Parker issued the following statement:
"Richard Mourdock is trying to walk away from his reprehensible comments last night and claim that we misrepresented his assertion that pregnancies resulting from rape are part of God's will. His Presidential nominee, Mitt Romney, who won't say if he still endorses Mourdock, took his words that way. I'm a pro-life Catholic, and I took his words that way. What he said was extreme and terribly disrespectful to rape victims, and he knows it. Before last night, Richard Mourdock was just a Tea Party Zealot, now he is an extreme Tea Party Zealot. He just disqualified himself to be Indiana's next U.S. Senator."
Indiana Right to Life Political Action Committee Chairman, Mike Fitcher came to Mourdock's support by saying, "Tonight, Richard Mourdock showed Hoosiers that he will stand up for all innocent, human life once elected to the U.S. Senate. Richard recognizes what our Founding Fathers wisely proclaimed in the Declaration of Independence. They declared that we are endowed by our Creator with the unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
The statement went on to call rape a vile act, committed in evil. "When a pregnancy results out of this horrific crime, every bit of care and love must be shown to the victim. We believe that life begins at fertilization and with fertilization comes the right to life as affirmed in the Declaration of Independence", Fitcher said.
Mourdock and Donnelly have been locked in a tight race since the Republican primary in May, when Mourdock defeated longtime GOP Sen. Richard Lugar.
The Mitt Romney campaign says the presidential candidate disagrees with Mourdock's comments, which came just a day after a new ad began airing across the state in which Romney offered his support to Mourdock. There is no word on whether the campaign will continue to air the ads as Romney tries to distance himself from the controversy.
What's your take on all of this? To join the conversation, head to our Facebook page. You can also head back to our main page to take part in an online poll on the situation.
