On Tuesday night, Republican Senate hopeful Richard Mourdock forgot to moderate some of his extreme views, declaring during a debate that when a woman becomes pregnant during a rape, "that's something God intended," which is why he's comfortable with laws that force women impregnated by rapists to take their pregnancy to term.
Jay Leno helped keep the story alive, asking President Obama about the controversy on NBC's "The Tonight Show."
For those who can't watch clips online, Obama seemed to summarize the thoughts of many when he said, "I don't know how these guys come up with these ideas." It wasn't long before the president connected the controversy to the bigger picture.
"[T]his underscores, though, this is exactly why you don't want a bunch of politicians -- mostly male -- making decisions about women's health care decisions. Women are capable of making these decisions in consultation with their partners, with their doctors. And, you know, for politicians to want to intrude in this stuff, often times without any information, is a huge problem. And this is obviously a part of what's at stake in this election. You've got a Supreme Court that, typically a president is going to have probably another couple of appointments during the course of his term. And, you know, Roe vs. Wade is probably hanging in the balance. You've got issues like Planned Parenthood where, you know, that organization provides millions of women cervical cancer screenings, mammograms, all kinds of basic healthcare.
"And so I think it's really important for us to -- to understand that women are capable of making these decisions and that these are not just women's issues. These are family issues."
As it turns out, Obama wasn't the only national figure talking about Mourdock's mess; the president's 2008 rival was, too.
In fact, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) had thrown his support to the Indiana Republican, but is now reconsidering.
"I think it depends on what he does," McCain told CNN's Anderson Cooper, when asked if he still counts himself among Mourdock's supporters. "If he apologizes and says he misspoke and he was wrong and he asks the people to forgive him, then obviously I'd be the first. ... But, you know, in the years that I've been around, I've made a few, Anderson, and I've asked for people's understanding and forgiveness when I won't -- when I own up to it," he continued. "It's when you don't own up to it when people will not believe you."
As of this morning, Mourdock has not backed down. Mitt Romney, who has championed Mourdock's candidacy, also has not made any additional efforts to distance himself from the right-wing Senate candidate.
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You mean it's not a one night stand? Aw shucks. Now I have to introduce Mourdock to my parents...
He's an Oil Can, Oil Can man. He used to work for an oil company. So, he is just pandering to the far right. Someone oughta ask him about that 526 million dollars he misplaced when he was treasurer in his second term. Romnesia must be contagious. He is just trying to divert Americans away from the real issues, he is the fall guy. The large Corporations are trying to takeover our Country. We are just a nuisance to them, they want to destroy the Middle Class.
And don't forget that thanks to predominately male legislatures in our states, the majority of them give rapists parental rights. How many times exactly can our politicians tell women they are screwed?
How many dirty rotten Republicans does it take to screw the Womens' Rights movement, not to mention every other humanitarian movement ever set forth by American Citizens, the real United Citizens, not the backwards Citizens United.
Alll this talk about "God's Will" as cover for their extremism is not supported by their own misguided beliefs. Have you ever known anyone who does not do God's will if it is God's will. If it is God's will that a rape victim becomes pregnant then it must have been God's will that she got raped in the first place by their own logic huh. Therefore it must be God's will if she has an abortion because obviously that fetus was never meant to come into this world huh. It must all be God's will huh? For to say any of this is NOT God's will means that none of it is.
By the same logic that says it must be His will she got raped because it was His will she got pregnant and then call the rape horrible but still God's will then why not apply the same logic to an abortion...call it horrible but God's will all the same. See what idiocy come from such belief systems. All begins when you personify God.
Remember...God is not "a Being" God "IS" Being. Existence is His will...the how to is up to us.
I just love it when these guys prattle on about knowing God's intentions. The absurdity of it is beyond words. What qualifies someone to know the intentions of the Creator? Thirty years of teaching Sunday school and now you can speak for Him? Maybe they figure they were made in God's image, so He must be a one-dimensional knee-jerk religious zealot. Methinks they might be wrong, they might be discounting their God-given capability to question.
Good point there Keeping Track. Now wouldn't it be better to listen to some people who have had Psychic and Paranormal experiences with that unknown world to most people. And it is absolutely good to question I do it all the time.
I'm reminded of South Park, Orientation in Hell episode I believe, where new arrivals are told:
"I'm sorry, the correct answer was Mormon".
When these people "prattle on about knowing God's intentions" and everyone is right in knowing Gods intentions then ....
Gods a Schizophrenic.
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I watched that clip. It looked like he was talking about how he believes that if an egg is fertilized and viable, then God intended on that happening (basis: life starts at conception). It looked a bit like unfortunate timing. And if that was the case, he could have at least explained that and moved on. But he didn't. That shows the public that he really did mean to say that God intended to create this life and used rape to do it, which is the bigger mistake and wrong, wrong, wrong. God doesn't brutalize women and impregnate them - rapists do.
We might ask what god they are talking about. Maybe he is talking about Zeus, who according to myth, was a serial rapist.
I do not accept a god who sanctions rape.
If a zygote is life, so is the unfertilized egg and the sperm even before they meet. So is a blood cell and an apendix. So is an ant. All higher life forms are colonies of cells. An embyo is not a human being until it is born and begins to breath on its own.
I just love these points you people have made. And God has given us that freewill to explore to accumulate knowledge to question and to find those right answers and solutions without having all this senseless misery, abuse, despair, and death that religious hypocrites cause.
DON'T GET ME STARTED!! THESE PEOPLE ARE MAKING ME CRAZY!!!
I don't know what happened to republicans. Somebody sucked out their souls and now they are possessed by some other creatures, posing as real people.
Imagine Paul Ryan's daughter getting raped- that is some stranger forcing her down, pinning her to the ground, hurting her, and well... ejaculating inside of her. So she gets pregnant. He- being the devout Christian that he is- never thinks a thing about his 16 yr old daughter waddling around 8 1/2 months pregnant with some stranger's "baby" inside her. Can't understand why she would be depressed or feel like killing herself. Can't understand that she has PTSD and the thought of looking at the product of this attack as a constant reminder of the experience.... well he does not feel inclined to try to see it from her perspective. Expects her to feel blessed at this "alternative form of conception". GIVE ME A BREAK !! To add to the fantasy, lets suppose the sperm donor/rapist is of a different race- so Paul Ryan's grandchild would be a BI-RACIAL child to an UNWED MOTHER. And he would feel humbled and blessed by this. RIGHHHHHHHHT !! He's not only a LIAR, he is also a RACIST. He would have his daughter under the GYN's suction hose before you could say "bull@!$%#".
Republicans are guilty of the sin of hubris, that they believe they can know the Will of God. Assuming there is a Creator of the Universe, when one considers the vastness of that universe, an entity capable of creating it is so far beyond human understanding...
Which is why humans have been given the ability to figure out things like the physical laws of the universe. If there is a Creator, this is how one comes to understand that entity, to the degree that humans can do so.
That a tribe of Late Stone Age sheep fornicators, for whom a "long distance" was the other side of the hills across the valley, would have the understanding to write down the precise Words of God is Hubris personified.
You want to know a real good ironic thing for me even though I was raised in a not so good environment. By one of those psychological tests I tested out as a Psychic which is fine. But my first Psychic experience was in a church and one of the things I was told was do not go to them, because they will do you harm. Plus I would come to understand why. Well I have been speaking up plenty why. And I have been questioning plenty of things and finding answers.
Adding to Marilyn Paventy great point
Imagine if the 16 year old was poverty stricken , under romney ryan rule , no doctor visit , not enough food to eat while pregnant , no planned parenthood
Republicans have become even more out right disgusting , they use to have to hide this thinking , now they run on it and get SUPPOSED moderate repubicans voting them into office
And then there is the transmission of disease - HIV is still a very real threat. So the 16 yr. old gets raped, has the kid - maybe gives it up for adoption but then is sick for the rest of her life - maybe the child is too. My talke on all this "God sanctions rape" is that the male sexual dominance is slipping away and by saying this stuff, males in power are essentially telling other males that it's perfectly all right to rape women. It's a pitch to stay in power and by useing God sanctions rape because of the life it creates, also creates an atmosphere of fear for women. I still don't hear how men who may be married to a rape victim would react. Male partners seem to be left by the wayside on this rape issue - even though they would be (and are) on the frontlines with their partner (if they are caring enough).
Anyone who thinks that Romney will back down on Mourduck has already forgotten who his VP pick is.
They are espousing the Republican platform...this is what they want to force on all of us.
Some are saying there is no difference between Mourdock and Akin, and on policy and general cluelessness there isn't any real difference, but Akin is a wild card on issues aside from rape and Mourdock is a standard modern Republican. The Republican elite was probably looking for a reason to throw Akin under the bus and they could afford to lose one Senate vote, but Mourdock is one of them. They have to protect their brother.
Look it up. Mourdock and Akin vote together lock step, and Ryan is right with them. Mourdock brags about his partisanship more than literally anyone in Congress.
Is it only me,
Do more people than I think: The more these Republicans talk the more I believe they're trying to legitimize their "sex lives".
Some girls rape easy? What??
Legitimate rape ... Made a baby so it wasn't rape. Really?
What?
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You're right: to me they are betraying their clear inadequacy to the task of finding consenting, equal partners.
If it wasn't for date rape and masturbation, most Republican males couldn't have any sex.
and there's always the foot signal under the bathroom stall, don't forget.
It's another example of exploiting those of ignorant faith: if it happens, then god intended it. Of course, unless it is inconvenient for their own lives or the business ventures of their cronies. Then, it is the work of satan, who must be voted out of whatever office they want to use to further their own interests.
So... I am a Christian. I am not ignorant. I happen to know that God is a God of free will. He didn't create robots, He gave us choices and we determine our own fates. I addressed this in another comment, but God doesn't cause women to create life through rape. That is completely an action by a rapist and it was his choice to brutalize and violate a woman. God didn't make him do it because God intended to make a baby. That is plain sick to think and Mourdock should be ashamed of himself.
If a woman's faith dictates that she does not take a "morning after pill" and her faith dictates that she carry her rapist's child, that is her choice and her business. If a woman wants to stop a potential pregnancy or chooses to not carry a child forced on her through rape, than that is also her choice. God won't stop her, and neither should a Republican. God doesn't need their help.
Most of the time, I'm not sure what I intended ... yeesh!
At least in about 20 years these kind of male-centered ideas will no longer exist. We are moving towards a more gender-balanced society and the fact that a vast majority of people disagree with Mourdock proves that.
I've been waiting for these clowns to die off for 20 years. Unfortunately I may not live long enough to see it (being 64).
You are so right! They reproduce themselves. I wonder how??
@Ryan
I'm not so sure. In 1992 did anyone really expect that we'd be having this argument in 2012?
Remember, the election that sent Ann Richards to the statehouse after her opponent said the a rape victim should "just lay back and enjoy it" was in
1990!!!!!!
These GOP politicians are "Boys in the Bubble"
They live so deep in the conservative Foxified alternate reality that they are just stunned when people object to these statements that they consider are 'normal'
My concern is that with the critical mass of these statements, that they're beginning to lose their shock value, or that they're otherwise mainstreaming sentiments that would have had you frog-marched out of mainstream politics 6 years ago. After all, the RNC platform actually has a personhood plank in it now -- that never would have happened 10 years ago, but you get these talking points out there, let people be nice and outraged, and then keep them coming, there's a point where people get inured to this sort of statement.
I think the only way to stop this tide is through a firm, unequivocal, and stinging rebuke at the ballot box. And it might take multiple tries, which means we need to make sure that everyone we know understands what's at stake (not just for themselves, but for the women they care about in their lives) and that they vote, and that they vote again in two years.
Just like Dems won't touch gun control anymore, we need to make the Republicans understand that a woman's right to choose is unassailable. We need to make this a third rail. We can do this.
Right on, Mighty Ponygirl!!
And they keep voting every election, just like The Enemy does. That's why Democrats fail - that they don't do this.
Maybe (fingers crossed) this will get people to look at this guy, and by extension many of the other candidates more closely. This guy has all but openly declared his support for Morality by legislation and religion by law.
For those who understand the reference : Strength through unity Unity through faith
if nothing changes-nothing changes... until people who tend to vote republican realize they are being played by the right, by appealing to their "moral conscience", these guys will continue to be in power. It's time someone smacks these people in the face and wake them up -because they keep voting against their own best interest. The majority of republicans in the south (voters), are the people that democratic social programs benifit the most. Besides i don't believe you can be racist, masoginistic etc.. and claim to be a christian. These are the people Jesus talked about who in the end will say Lord, Lord, and Christ will say i never knew you -vipers...
I noticed that Murdock's voice cracked while giving this answer during the debate. It was clear that however idiotic his answer, it was a belief that mattered to him.
When Ryan was asked, he said that "the method of conception" didn't figure into his calculations ... cold as ice.
Now, which do you think is scarier????
Does it matter which one is the scariest? Is the repub party in a race to see who can be the scariest member of their party? Just like they are in a race to see how far they will go to bring THIS COUNTRY down to get their people into power. Remember when mitt talked about working in a bi partisan way when he was governor? He didn't have the top 14 members of the opposition party (on Jan 20, 2009) make a pact to not pass anything that he proposed just to bring him down. They didn't care if it was good for the country, it's citizens or the global economy.
Remember that mitt VETOED 800 bills that the dem legislature sent to him. Also know that 750 of those vetoes were overridden. Does that sound like "he worked across the aisle?" Kind of like THE FACT that gwb NEVER VETOED a single bill for the FIRST Six years of his presidency (until he lost control of all three branches of government.) Remember when boehner stood on the capitol steps with his cabal in 2011? This is an email that I sent in August 2011 the day that happened:
Aren't you glad that boehner is happy, HE got 98% of what HE wanted. Just think if he had gotten 100%! Anybody want a AA rating.
Don't forget the tea party was gloating the other day about how much they had ACCOMPLISHED. Thanks tea party.
Who do you think is driving this bus??? Could it be a terrorist??
This IS trickledown/reaganomics/voodoo economics.
Welcome to The USA, the newest third world country.
Go repubs-see you at the bottom, if the country survives.
I underestimated ( and I think that President Obama did too) just how greedy and power hungry they were and still are.
THANK YOU!!!!!!
alls most hard working americans get is a snap shot of mitt , with the press showing every side he takes , which is all sides of every issue , so he can't miss , so they figure he is not such a bad guy , at least WE can stay informed , and tell others , this race has outed the msm as a massive failure
These men are absolute cretins. I believe the new rule about talking about women's reproductive rights should be:
It doesn't matter where you stand on the issue; if you don't have a uterus, shut the f**k up.
why won't anyone talk about what personhood ammendments will mean to the fertilization industry???
will in vitro become premeditated murder????
And what about the big pharma companies that make the birth control products? How much money will they lose and how many jobs will be lost?
Romney doesn’t have any balls to stand up for what is right to do; he is the sneaky dirty type. Just as Romney supported the Vietnam war than hide in France. But than got people to do his dirty work, especially holding down a teen to brutally cut his hair. It is unfortunate that teen who was brutally attacked isn’t here to have his say about Romney’s actions, but it is strangely convenient for Romney that the teen is dead. Romney probably has no real remorse over the teen’s death anyway and probably is happy the teen is dead that someone like this teen isn’t around to have the chance to really speak up about what Romney really is. If Romney actually had any real ethical morals he would never have done most of the things he has done to get huge wealth. Every time you look at Romney’s past it is just full of awful things with no concern for anybody, except himself. And to think what Romney would do in the future, if he was in the White House that is horrific. No, Romney grew up on some very bad family values and tries to carry those same bad family values on to everybody else. Romney’s irresponsible behavior doesn’t bold well when he thinks he can be a President that is too awful to even imagine.
I believe what the Republican party is saying should be heard Loud and Clear, that they believe women have no say on just about anything except maybe what they are going to be making for dinner. I hope the American women stand up for themselves and vote against this insanity and intrusion into their personal lives. Whether you believe in abortion or you are pro life it is your decision and your conviction and that is a decision you must make. But please do not leave it up to the government to decide what your choices are. We live in the greatest country on earth, but if the Romney/Ryan ticket wins, we the people, are in a big heap of trouble. Ladies get out there and vote, and if you don't you have no one to blame but yourself.
Don't these Rape-publicans have a steering committee or a campaign manager to moderate their message should an issue arise? There aren't that many issues likely to come up in a debate or on the campaign trail, it literally takes an afternoon to go over what NOT TO SAY!!!!
I never know whether religion is a tool people use to rationalize their deep seated hatreds, or if they really believe this crazy @!$%#. If God is the divine almighty and creator of all life, then no life he creates can be viewed as a mistake, even in instances of rape, incest or medical complications. Therefore, any kind of reproductive control threatens the very notion of God.
I hope it's the former, but I think it's the latter.
The problem stems from religion trying to define the concept of God. These types think they have the inside scoop about God's will and God's plan. They try to make concrete the concept of God because they are concrete thinkers who can't or won't think metaphorically or realize that God, whatever it is or isn't, is something that defies definition.
It's just amazing how people can believe in their own bull @!$%# so adamantly and to the exclusion of reason and fact!
Greatest danger of Religion is it predisposes people to believe what they want to believe.
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“The more I study religions the more I am convinced that man never worshiped anything but himself.”
-- Richard Burton
Perhaps Mourdock needs another god. I would prefer that there were no abortions, but there were a lot of them prior to Roe vs Wade. The Supremes voted against abortion three times before Roe vs Wade. There were abortions before and there will be abortions if Roe vs Wade is over turned which it might be. You know that Romney would appoint one or two justices like Thomas and Scalia, which would almost assure Roe vs Wade overturn. As I said, I prefer no abortions, but I know there will be legal or not. If there are going to be abortions I prefer that that be safe and not as dangerous to the woman. According to Todd Akin the situation Mourdock is talking about will never happen, because Akin said women can shut that thing down in a legitimate rape.
The women of America are being attacked and so are their civil liberties. Women of the United States of America, now is the time to make yourself heard by voting. Now, more than ever are you rights and freedoms being challenged like never before. If you do not stand up for who you are, you have no one to blame but yourself. This issue of pro-life or not is not the real issue. The real issue is that now you have a choice, and if the Romney/Ryan ticket wins you will have no choice. Romney has more flip flops than a party on a beach, so he will say anything to get elected. Whether you are Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Muslim or an Atheist, rape is rape, and no women should have to bear a child from that form of CRIMINAL and sexually deviant behavior. One other point I would like to throw out there when it comes to pro-life is this; who is responsible for raising these children that were created by rape or incest? We all know that the Republican Party is all about reducing Government and all kinds of programs for those people. So again I ask who is going to raise these unfortunate souls who are brought into this world in this fashion??
Who is going to decide if the rape was legitimate?
Middle-aged white men apparently.
TERRIFIC! Mitt has no more debates to make up lies to the public during... so Obama can link Romney to Mourdock, keep re-running clips from Romney's ad supporting him and so much for the female vote gap closing in Romney's favor. THANK YOU GOP!
Something to think about...
"IF" romney wins and SCOTUS reverses R v. W, this does not stop abortions for all women! No, it only stops abortions for the working class. Just like the good ol days when abortion was not law, women with money and means go to their GYN docs and have a simple procedure called a D&C to eliminate an unwanted pregnancy.
Women have D&C's ALL the time for medical reasons like endometriosis. It's a simple procedure that gynocologists perform when there is no pregnancy. If there is nothing on a woman's medical record that states she is pregnant....it's called a D&C. If the record states that she is pregnant, it's an abortion.
So, how do you suppose they'll monitor which doctors are performing D&C's vs abortions??
My mom, God bless her, had 10 children. I'm the youngest and when I was 12, I asked her if she would have had 10 children if there was birth control around when in her day? She laugh at me!
You are right globalove. Women will always find ways to get an abortion even if they do it themselves. Desperation will be the cause of all kinds of horrors with women going to back alleys, taking strange brews and herbs, going to Mexico or going to quacks, or using a coat hanger. I remember those days all too well.
I just can't understand why these men would rather that happen then see women in clinics. The absolute narrow mindedness of these people just amazes and angers me.
If there was a fourth debate, Mitt would say he was deeply offended and appalled by Mourdock's comments and they show a reckless attitude towards women that has no place in his policies.
Then the next day his campaign would walk those comments back and there would be no change in his support of Mourdock.