Mourdock attempts apology for rape remarks
October 24th, 2012 at 4:17 pm by Jim Shella under Jim Shella's Political Blog
Republican Senate candidate Richard Mourdock is now saying that his comments about rape and pregnancy during Tuesday’s debate have been twisted. Democrats are trying to capitalize on this self-inflicted injury but Republicans from Mitt Romney to Mike Pence have issued statements distancing themselves from Mourdock’s comments.
Mourdock called reporters together at state GOP Headquarters to perform damage control directed at voters who might be turned off by his suggestion that God that sometimes intends for rape victims to become pregnant. He was emotional as he said he abhors violence and believes God does, too. “If they came away with any impression other than that I truly regret it,” said Mourdock. “I apologize that they came away and I have certainly been humbled by the fact that so many people think that that somehow was an interpretation.”
But Mourdock made no effort to back away from the principles that were stated this way in the New Albany debate. “Life is that gift from God,” he said, “and I think even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape that it is something that God intended to happen.”
Democrats, including Mourdock’s Senate opponent, Joe Donnelly, see opportunity. Donnelly stood in front of a domestic violence shelter to issue a brief statement. “His words were extreme,” said Donnelly of Mourdock, “but maybe as important to survivors of sexual abuse, and there are too many hard working people in the building behind us who deal with this on a daily basis.”
But Mourdock also tried to use this circumstance for political advantage. “I spoke from my heart, I spoke with my principle,” he said, “I spoke with my faith and if others want to somehow turn those words and use them against me, again, that’s what’s wrong with Washington today.” Yet if Mourdock is to get to Washington he needs to change the subject and his lukewarm apology likely failed to accomplish that goal.
Mourdock’s schedule changed considerably because of this controversy. He passed up a rally staged by the National Federation of Independent Business and New Hampshire Senator Kelly Ayotte didn’t come to town as planned. She was to make 3 campaign stops with Mourdock today.
Tags: abortion, Joe Donnelly, rape, Richard Mourdock
Does this “idiot” have daughters? Maybe we should lock him up in a prison and let the inmates have at it.
Jim,
I disagree on your views as stated on the 10 o’clock news (CH13 news isn’t on then) about the Mourdock apology. First HE DID NOT SAY RAPE IS GOD’S WILL. Mourdock has humbly apologized and clarified his debate statement. You would think that all would know that rape is a violent, deplorable, immoral, and illegal act. Any reasonable person would know what rape is just by saying the word! We need to realize that Mourdock’s statement was for life not rape, for that I applaud him. He stands by his convictions and I will support him, because we need that, not wishy washy compromise.
Mr. Mourdock has made IN the laughing stock of the country.
Apparently Mr. Mourdock has never known anyone that has been raped. If you are lucky enough to even live through this horrific experience then you have the right to carry the child or terminate the pregnancy. This should be the victim’s right without question.
Why are you bringing God into the act of rape? Rape is a decision that is made by the individual committing the crime.
Any one with common sense would understand he was talking about the beginning of life or the conception of a baby and not the act or the situation. I agree with him. God condemns all sin and every one will have to answer for their sins at one time or another, but if God allows the miracle of life to begin, then it was intended to happen. At least some thing good can come from some thing evil. God created the world without sin/evil and man brought it into the world.
It amazes me when some one does not want to acknowledge a truth, they will bend and twist it into something it is not. I have the same thing happen all the time. I don’t care how careful you try to word or say something, when people don’t want to acknowledge it, they will attack and twist it.