We talked earlier about Republican Richard Mourdock, his party's U.S. Senate candidate in Indiana, arguing in a debate last night that a rape pregnancy "is something that God intended to happen." This is quickly becoming a major national controversy for the candidate -- and Mitt Romney, who's championed Mourdock -- for good reason.
But just to flesh out the larger context a bit, I looked through my notes this morning on just how often Republicans, rape, and reproductive rights have come to the fore in recent months.
In August, Todd Akin (R-Mo.) said women have special powers to "shut down" pregnancies caused by a "legitimate rape." Soon after, Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), who cosponsored a bill with Akin to redefine rape, said he believes "the method of conception doesn't change the definition of life." The same week, Steve King (R-Iowa) said he "hasn't heard of" women getting impregnated by a rapist, while Senate candidate Tom Smith (R-Pa.) said rape pregnancies are "similar" to out-of-wedlock pregnancies.
In September, Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) compared the Middle East violence in response to an anti-Islam video to a judge telling a rape victim, "You asked for it because of the way you dressed." Around the same time, Roscoe Bartlett (R-Md.) told constituents, "There are very few pregnancies as a result of rape."
In October, we learned that Roger Rivard (R-Wis.) thinks "some girls rape easy." Soon after, Rick Berg (R-N.D.) said rape victims shouldn't be allowed to terminate pregnancies, but refused to explain what kind of penalties he'd impose on women who got abortions anyway.
For the record, 83% of Americans believe it should be legal to terminate rape pregnancies. With public opinion, and basic human decency, in mind, perhaps Republicans should try to avoid discussing the issue for a while until the party comes up with a more compassionate, and less extreme, position.
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Barefoot, pregnant, and obediantly waiting at home for their husband to arrive is most Republicans view of women. This is a 1950's regressive perspective and has no place in 21st century America. It is not enough to defeat Romney, it is necessary to defeat Republicans all the way down-ballot on November 6th. Perhaps then, Republicans will be more inclined to rejoin a progressive America rather than face the prospect of being thrown into the dustbin of history.
“No self respecting woman should wish or work for the success of a party that ignores her sex.” Susan B. Anthony, 1872.
The Republicans use womens rights and God to get elected....they found out during Reagan years..Moral Majority...that they could get the christian evangelicals to champion their cause big time and get them votes, and they have been using it ever since. You want proof...how many states have a GOP gpvernor, state senator, legislator?? How many radical bills and etc are going on in those states? From this they are now using it for voter suppression in how many states??? It seems to be working really well for them and how do you stop it..vote them out...not easy with so many voting for them just because of the womens rights and organizations that help women get abortions...christian coalitions keep them in office...The people are not really well informed and do not pay attention to how much they are being used. I don't know what the answer is ...just try to inform if they will listen....
And Romney want's all to forget about HIS $$$$ made from Stericycle.
The hypocrisy of the GOP on this issue is STUNNING. I just wonder, how many of these politicians who want to overturn Roe v Wade and want to outlaw abortion in every instance including rape, incest and the life of the mother - how many of them oppose capital punishment????? None? Surprised? I'm not. This is nothing more than an effort to subjegate women.
So if a rape results in conception, it is not a crime. It is God's Will, like any other act of God. The 'rapist' really isn't responsible for the action because God is all powerful. What choice could he have had? In fact, even if conception doesn't occur, the act is still god's will, so can not be a crime. Wait, wait , wait: if I kill or attempt to kill someone, it can't be a crime since the ending of life is just as much God's will as is the conception of life.
We need to release all murders and rapists using the logic of this moron.
WHEN IS HE SCHEDULED FOR HIS PSYCH EVAL.
If the women would dress in burqa like the Republican Taliban Tea Party wants them to, there would be no problem.
Sometimes I listen to C-Span... I am always stunned by the legislator's illiterate, illegitimate dialogue in their debates. These people are generally not our best and brightest, which leads me to suspect the intelligence of the people that elect them. I don't believe the race is as neck and neck as portrayed... if you remember they were all revved up about McCain / Palin until the end too. This is big business for media... they have to play along. I would not predict the winner, but it is a done deal. The truth is concealed for now.
Something I find kinda funny...the bumper stickers that read, "My Mom chose to give me life". I call that person, a Pro-choice. Whether you choose to have the child, or not, it's still a CHOICE!!! So.....Republicans are Pro-CHOICE!!!!!! Just wish they understood what choice means.
The other night the show explored how a rape exception clause would actually play out, pointing out that it is, practically speaking, impossible to implement do to the time sensitive nature of an unwanted pregnancy. But there are other major pieces to the fall out of a policy like this. For example, what happens when a young woman is resolved not to give birth to an unwanted baby, and has not in fact been raped? Her entire life is at stake--her status in her family, her financial welfare, her chances of marrying a decent person, her education and career goals. A huge, massive amount of sacrifice is being asked of her, to carry the baby to term. Or, she could say she had been raped. By who? Well, obviously her boyfriend--they can do a DNA test afterall, so there's really no point trying to protect him. A nice, 16 year old kid--hey, he could be your son, or your nephew, or your neighbor--no one even knew they had gone all the way! This "exception" would force her to choose between her life and his, plain and simple. Or, maybe we could just interpret the exception "to save the life of the mother" a little more freely!
Abortion has to remain a private, medical issue. It has to remain legal, funded, and available.