Remember When: The Key Moments in Decision 2012
When Is Rape “Legitimate”?
Oh, that’s a hard question! Oh, wait. No, it’s not. Missouri Senate candidate Todd Akin tried to explain why he thought abortions were always just plain wrong, even in the cases of rape, by saying, “It seems to me, from what I understand from doctors, that’s really rare. If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down.” Now, what’s interesting to me about this, is that Akin is actually citing doctors in his idiotic observation. That’s practically like using science! Which is super rare for a Republican! Unfortunately, there is no science behind this, nor is there any such thing as “legitimate” rape. In the words of Paul Ryan, “Rape is rape.” Well, Ryan said that after he was caught differentiating between “forcible rape” and…well, I don’t know. Non-forcible rape? Hmm.
But, all of this is better than what Indiana Senate candidate Richard Mourdock said recently, which is that, “even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that it is something that God intended to happen.” That’s right. Mourdock believes that your rapist’s baby is actually a “gift from God.” But where to send the thank you note? Mourdock doesn’t say.
Obviously not all Republicans feel this way about rape and abortion and God. But it’s important to remember that Mourdock was specifically endorsed by Romney, in a direct-to-camera commercial that makes it crystal-clear that Romney wants Mourdock with him in Washington. Gross.