Watch Live: Congressional Hearing on IRS Scandal

Live Now on TheBlaze Radio: ‘The Buck Sexton Show’

Politics

GOP Senate Candidate Richard Mourdock: Pregnancies Resulting From Rape ‘Something God Intended to Happen’

Oct. 23, 2012 11:41pm Jason Howerton

Richard Mourdock Says Pregnancies Resulting From Rape Something God Intended to Happen

Republican Richard Mourdock, candidate for Indiana’s U.S. Senate seat, participates in a debate with Democrat Joe Donnelly and Libertarian Andrew Horning in a debate in New Albany, Ind., Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2012. (Credit: AP)

NEW ALBANY, Ind. (TheBlaze/AP) — Indiana Republican Senate candidate Richard Mourdock said Tuesday when a woman is impregnated during a rape, “it’s something God intended.”

Mourdock, who’s been locked in a tight race with Democratic challenger Rep. Joe Donnelly, was asked during the final minutes of a debate whether abortion should be allowed in cases of rape or incest.

“I struggled with it myself for a long time, but I came to realize that life is that gift from God. And, I think, even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that it is something that God intended to happened,” Mourdock said.

Mourdock further clarified after the debate he did not believe God intended the rape, but that God is the only one who can create life.

“Are you trying to suggest somehow that God preordained rape, no I don’t think that,” Mourdock said. “Anyone who would suggest that is just sick and twisted. No, that’s not even close to what I said.”

Still, his comments quickly drew criticism from Democrats, including challenger Joe Donnelly, who is locked in a tight race with Mourdock.

Andrea Saul, a spokeswoman for GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney, said Tuesday in an email to The Associated Press that Mourdock’s comments “do not reflect” Romney’s views. The candidate previously endorsed Mourdock.

Mourdock’s comments come a day after a new ad featuring Romney giving his support for the GOP candidate started airing. It was the latest effort by both parties to break open the Senate race.

The race between Mourdock and Donnelly has been one of the nation’s most expensive – and most watched – Senate races since the Republican unseated veteran U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar in May’s GOP primary. Mourdock’s comments come two months after embattled Missouri GOP Senate candidate Rep. Todd Akin said during a television interview that women’s bodies have ways of preventing pregnancy in cases of what he called “legitimate rape.”

Since his comment, Akin has repeatedly apologized but has refused to leave his race despite calls to do so by leaders of his own party, from GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney on down. It was not clear what affect, if any, Mourdock’s comment might have during the final two weeks before the Nov. 6 election.

But it quickly placed the tea party-backed candidate on the defensive, one day after Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell came to Indianapolis for a fundraiser and after the campaign released a spot from Romney asking Hoosiers to support Mourdock.

Indiana Republican Party spokesman Pete Seat referred comment to the Mourdock campaign. A spokesman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee and a spokeswoman for Romney did not immediately return a request for comment Tuesday night.

National Democrats quickly picked up on Mourdock’s statement and used it as an opportunity to paint him as an extreme candidate, calling him a tea party “zealot.”

Donnelly said after the debate in southern Indiana that he doesn’t believe “my God, or any God, would intend that to happen.”

Watch video of Mourdock’s remarks here:

Mourdock’s ad featuring Romney started airing Monday and is the latest effort to break open the Senate race. Republicans need to gain three seats, or four if President Barack Obama wins re-election, and seats that were predicted to remain or turn Republican have grown uncertain.

Top Republicans have been flocking to Indiana. Arizona Sen. John McCain and South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham campaigned for Mourdock last week, and New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte is due in the state Wednesday.

Romney’s coattails carry special significance in deeply conservative Indiana, where Mourdock has underperformed Romney by 12 points in most public polls. Karl Rove’s Crossroads GPS also has bought another $1 million of airtime in Indiana, making his group the biggest player in Indiana’s Senate race. A message left for Crossroads GPS spokesman Nate Hodson was not immediately returned.

More recently, Mourdock, who ran unsuccessfully for Congress three times before becoming state treasurer, has been trying to woo moderate voters as Donnelly has played up his moderate, three-term voting record in the House.

Featured image via AP.

In CONTROL, Glenn Beck presents a passionate, fact-based case for guns that reveals why gun control isn’t really about controlling guns at all; it’s about controlling us. Find out more HERE.

Back to The Blaze »

Comments (195)

Ragnars Repos
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 5:06am
I don’t get the anger towards the man.

He sounds like a good christian man to me. Just about as good as they get.

Someone tell me where his comment doesn’t jive with christianity.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- jay1975
  Posted on October 24, 2012 at 10:27am
  His comment suggests that rape is god’s plan. Who wants to believe in a god that supports rape? He sounds like an idiot and anyone who thinks like this is an idiot.
  
  Report this comment
ShiningRadiance
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 4:32am
If God wanted someone to get pregnant he’d just pop a baby inside them. He did before. He doesn’t need someone to rape them. Besides, God can’t directly control people. He has no say in the stupid choices we make, and God would never desire someone’s life being destroyed. Rape is like killing a girl.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
stotlaat
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 4:26am
Moron

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
hardiepiper
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 4:22am
He should be respected for being honest about his beliefs. It’s a tough pill to swallow when a politician actually sticks to his convictions, instead of tickling ears to win an election.

Most rapists walk away from their crime scott free. The few who are convicted serve minimal time. Yet the mob would convict an innocent baby of a crime it didn’t commit and have it literally torn from limb to limb. God did create that life and produced good from mans evil.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Goldi-lox
  Posted on October 24, 2012 at 5:21am
  “produced good from mans evil…”
  
  Don’t be such a pollyanna. Most criminals/rapists have LOUSY (PSYCHOPATH) GENES. Ever hear of DNA?!, heredity?!
  
  Thank God Romney at least recognizes that abortion in cases of rape and incest MUST be protected.
  
  PS Nowhere in the bible does it say God intends raped females to bear the rotten “fruit” of their perpetrator.
  
  Report this comment
Guitarcarl
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 4:05am
Very stupid way to make that argument. Amateur move. Piss poor debating skills lousy judgement what a disappointment.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Ragnars Repos
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 3:44am
All of religion is “extreme views”…

If Romney becomes POTUS, I hear that he will rule his own planet as a god when this life is over. Oh yeah, let’s elect this guy to the highest office. WTF are people thinking?

Religious people literally worship death. So, what’s so surprising when one of the holy ones says something like this?

“All the good stuff happens when you die. In the meantime, you’re suffering anyway, so give me your blind faith, your recruiting skill, and your money.” ~All Religion

What a sad, sad joke.

The opportunity cost for humanity is staggering.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
SIXFRIGATES
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 3:13am
What a fool… First of all, making a stupid statement like that only gives atheists and liberals ammunition against religion in general. Second, there are too many Christian denominations with these kind of views. There are religious extremist zealots in our own country, this is proof.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Ragnars Repos
  Posted on October 24, 2012 at 3:51am
  “…that only gives atheists and liberals ammunition against religion in general”
  
  There is no shortage of “ammunition” against religion. The whole enchilada is rancid.
  
  You fine humans can rationalize mutilating the genitals of baby males. So why wouldn’t your god make rape to make babies so you can terrorize them into submission with your “satan” monster, your priests can rape them, and you can take their money, and send them off to fight for “god and country”, and on, and on, and on?
  
  It’s a sickness, and it must be ended, if humanity is to evolve as it should.
  
  Report this comment
capitalismrocks
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 3:04am
This is where GOP candidates really put foot in mouth to ass to back in mouth again…

This topic is ALWAYS a trap, and these politicians need to learn to say “Situations such as these are a personal and private area that individuals need to pursue for their own best mental, emotional and health benefits and should not be up to a Politician to dictate such matters” and then leave it alone and get away from the subject. Basically give a very broad answer, so you are neither saying you condone or oppose abortion in rape, but you leave such a decision to the individual.

I’m Catholic, Abortion is the last possible resort, it should always try to come down to giving an unwanted child up for adoption and so many people want to adopt. But if a woman is raped, should she then have to suffer for 9 months with the result of a rape, then live a lifetime knowing that the progeny of rape is amongst the world.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Ragnars Repos
  Posted on October 24, 2012 at 4:32am
  “I’m Catholic, Abortion is the last possible resort.”
  
  So, killing god’s creation CAN be the last resort? Hmmm….I wonder how the almighty would feel about this?
  
  I never understood this about religious people. If you look at it from their perspective, there is a very real holocaust taking place, right now.
  
  If you all believe that abortion is murder, then how can so many millions of you SIT BY AND WATCH?
  
  Are you kidding me? I hope you don’t really believe it’s murder because that would make you all monsters. You will line-up by the thousands to defend a chicken restaurant…eh, wasting my time.
  
  There is something very wrong here.
  
  This is the sort of thing (and there are countless examples) that made me (former christian) run from religion. I didn’t walk, I ran.
  
  FTR, I am an a-theist, and I don’t believe abortion is murder. I loathe the idea of using it as birth control, but, what are ya gonna do? The church doesn’t approve of preventing pregnancy with contraception (evil on wheels, but the demons who run the church want power through numbers).
  
  Report this comment
Byrdi
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 2:35am
Why do these idiots think they have to comment on things like this? Why why why. Shut up or I won’t vote for you, you boob. Unbelievable.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
luxlife
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 2:30am
Just like the Detroit Lions in the red zone…chuck it in the dirt.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
HK
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 2:16am
This guy needs to be B-slapped all the way back to where he came from!!!!

As a former liberal, it never ceases to amaze me how conservatives find ever more spectacular ways to commit suicide!!!!

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
EqualJustice
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 2:02am
Here’s a GOOD one to spread around! Mourdock’s opponent Demort Joe Donnelly, was a co-sponsor with Akin of bill with “forcible rape” language. http://vlt.tc/j3j :)

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
neverending
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 2:02am
He is truly beyond disgusting. Where do this clowns come from. I suggest this moron sit down with a woman who has endured such a degrading, disgusting act. Rape and God should not be in the same sentence. First akin and now this clown – well guess we can say goodbye senate.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Ace4
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 1:56am
I think many are missing/twisting this man’s point. He is not saying that rape is God’s plan and I think for people that are twisting his words are purposefully trying to demonize the truth he is stating which is this: God is the only giver of life! No one or nothing else can create life. The atrocious crime of rape is evil, however the innocent life created is not. This is a very difficult situation for someone to come in with a black/white solution, but his statement is still true. Life is from God. So stop twisting his words to use for your pro choice political agendas!

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Goldi-lox
  Posted on October 24, 2012 at 5:27am
  “The atrocious crime of rape is evil, however the innocent life created is not.”
  
  Stop assuming that the spawn of a psychopathic rapist is “innocent.” Haven’t you ever heard of HEREDITY? There is more than one study that says CRIMINALITY is hereditary.
  
  Report this comment
Domandred
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 1:34am
Because rape, abortion, contraception and pregnancy are such important issues (/sarc)

GOP and Conservatives BOTH need to stop getting dragged down into these topics. They are NON-ISSUES. The only reason they are issues is the liberals know they can play gotcha on them and the libs can’t talk about jobs and the economy.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Goldi-lox
  Posted on October 24, 2012 at 5:28am
  Exactly. And these numbskulls always seem to walk right into the trap.
  
  Report this comment
kurtnut
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 1:27am
You people are ******* idiots! Who cares??????????? Shut up and back the candidate. What he said is only half as stupid as 3/4s of the s**t that you fools are spouting off. Stop crying over a gaffe.

Ever notice how the commies in the DNC overlooks literally days of priceless soundbites from the hyena, Biden? They know he’s a moron, BUT THEY BACK THEIR CANDIDATE TO THE VERY END…….NO MATTER WHAT STUPID THING THEY SAY.

Deal with it, or vote for the democrat/communist he’s running against if it bothers you that bad, you losers!

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
LMW
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 1:23am
I’m Pro Life but this idiot is nuts. It is not Gods plan that a women gets raped. In the case of rape or health danger to the women then I believe that the women has a right to abort if that is her choice. In that case it is between God and the women and we should keep our mouth closed.I’m tired of people always saying”It is Gods will”. It is not his will as everyone has fee choice and if some rapest rapes a innocent women then it is he not God that made the choice and she should be able to do what ever she feels is correct regardless of my thoughts or beliefs.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
LightvsDarkness
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 12:58am
Wow, how stupid can you be?

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
@MATHIASIAN
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 12:54am
This wasn’t said eloquently by any standards, and it will only add to Obama’s narrative that the GOP is waging a war against women.

Coming from a Christian perspective all life is created by god. If you believe that you are a creation of god, do you not believe that babies conceived from rape are created by another entity? Perhaps you believe they are soulless. Well, I guess we will all find out in the end.

also, I find the timing of this remark to be all too convenient for the left considering there may be an effort to smear Romney for attempting to convince a woman to keep her child even though the child may have had deformities. I wouldn’t be surprised if this isn’t some kind of set up for tomorrows MSM headlines.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- mauijonny
  Posted on October 24, 2012 at 2:33am
  The “war against women” comes from people who don’t view a woman’s gift of giving life as sacred…
  
  Report this comment
PointBreak
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 12:49am
Maybe you people should relax for a second and consider the point; suppose you are who you are right now – and your mom sat you down one night and explained to you that your dad wasn’t your dad. Your biological father was a rapist. Would your first instinct be to abort yourself? You are presumably a good person, with morals, hopes, dreams and a destiny. We all like to assume that we’re here for a reason. Although how you got here may be horrific would it be any more/less traumatizing than knowing your mom died in childbirth or you had a twin you vampired in the womb? I’m just saying that yes, it’s all horrible – but a human being in the 1st trimester doesn’t know any of that. It’s just a soul sharing it’s mother’s chemistry waiting for it’s shot in the physical realm. If you believe life begins at conception, when filtered through that set of values, I understand what he’s saying. Of course I couldn’t do it – but it doesn’t mean I don’t think you shouldn’t be allowed to be here because your origins weren’t ideal – NOR should you be silenced if you happen to view things differently. What if you were the only person who believed in abortion and the whole world as against you? You’d want others to consider what you had to say. So maybe we could all extend the same courtesy if, for nothing else, than to understand the opposition.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- PointBreak
  Posted on October 24, 2012 at 12:50am
  Not to mention, technically, God raped a 13-year-old to make Jesus. Just sayin’.
  
  Report this comment
- kurtnut
  Posted on October 24, 2012 at 1:30am
  Most everyone else here is just looking for something to whine about.
  
  As I said earlier, deal with it, or vote for the other fool he’s running against if it bothers you that bad.
  
  Report this comment
ruthere
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 12:44am
The Dem’s get these guys almost every time. Why don’t they just state “I am against abortion but the final decision will be the individual and the result will be between her and God. I also DO NOT want any tax payers money funding other peoples abortion as that would go against each individuals rights to their beliefs. ” Next question??

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- DOra Glasberg
  Posted on October 24, 2012 at 1:39am
  Because that would be a lie.
  
  Report this comment
- Goldi-lox
  Posted on October 24, 2012 at 5:32am
  Excellent reply. Could you please tell that to these GOP-doofuses who keep opening their mouths and sticking their smelly feet into them?
  
  Report this comment
Teufel Hunden
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 12:44am
Life is a gift from God, but in your case Richard Mourdock, he made an exception and allowed someone to drop their load in a flower pot and up sprouted a total blooming idiot! You are a moron!

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
daveamania
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 12:43am
Folks, this is nothing new. The man has been saying this his whole campaign! It just so happens his rival, Democrat Joe Donnelly jumped at the chance to spin this around. How about people focus on more important things like the ECONOMY instead of silly stuff like this. Social problems we can deal with later.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
NDPINDNT
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 12:41am
There goes a seat that could have gone Republican. What a stupid thing to say. If Romney wins but the House and Senate are Democrat he will get nothing done.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Goldi-lox
  Posted on October 24, 2012 at 5:34am
  These idiots who insist on talking about abortion and rape must have a death-wish.
  
  DON’T THEY REALIZE THAT JUST MOUTHING AN OPINION ON THIS TOUCHY TOPIC IS EQUIVALENT TO *ABORTING* THEIR RUN FOR OFFICE? (NOT TO MENTION CONTAMINATING MITT ROMNEY’S EFFORTS.)
  
  WHAT STUPIDITY!
  
  Report this comment
jmjaffe
Posted on October 24, 2012 at 12:40am
Wow. Murdock really is a buffoon for saying that. So unnecessary. First Akin, now Murdock not knowing when to just SHUT UP.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Dr Vel
  Posted on October 24, 2012 at 12:48am
  Why do ignorant people blame God for the evil acts of people with free will?
  
  Report this comment
- TRUTHandFREEDOM
  Posted on October 24, 2012 at 3:15am
  Dr Vel … no one did what you said
  
  What he did was show us that he is dumb enough to fall for the well known Democrat/ Alinsky tactic that is so blatantly used over and over. He should have known better and had less “propagandable” (new word!) answers. Every time that we get close to having a decent majority, it seems like people go into self destruct mode. Then we’ll have to watch Romney wind up one or 2 votes short of the votes that he needs to repair the damage that we suffered under progressivism in the last 100 years.
  
  Report this comment
- SacredHonor1776
  Posted on October 24, 2012 at 3:40am
  Sometimes I think these people’s god is actually Satan… I mean I thought Satan was supposed to be behind sin, violence and other terrible acts yet these people blame their God… They have a God like Allah, Baal, or Moloch…
  
  Report this comment
- SacredHonor1776
  Posted on October 24, 2012 at 4:02am
  Also the answer to a rape question like this from am anti-abortiom perspective is that the child is as much a victim much as the mother is.
  
  This firmly keeps the blame on the perpetrator.
  
  Report this comment
- AmericaMustBeFree
  Posted on October 24, 2012 at 4:39am
  All children are a gift from God.. rape is evil.. but it does not make the child evil. I never understood how anyone can abort a baby from rape… its still half of the mother. If you don’t want it, at least give it a life and allow someone else to love it!. Abortion is like putting a baby on trial for something it did not do! It is always innocent of the crime perpatrated by the real criminal! I could never kill something that was a part of me!
  
  Report this comment
- Deuteronomy22
  Posted on October 24, 2012 at 4:59am
  Rapist are sociopaths. They are defected human being and there is a big chance that their offspring will be sociopaths as well. Why should a woman be forced to carry an animals fetus? Or a child be forced to bear the anguish of a pregnancy in addition to the pain of being molested by a relative?
  
  Report this comment
- watashbuddyfriend
  Posted on October 24, 2012 at 5:50am
  @ Dr Vel
  Posted on October 24, 2012 at 12:48am
  
  “Why do ignorant people blame God for the evil acts of people with free will?”
  
  Ok, Dr Vel, as I understand it, you only have FREE WILL within the limits of the Plan of God!
  
  Report this comment
- Ivabig1
  Posted on October 24, 2012 at 6:50am
  “Are you trying to suggest somehow that God preordained rape, no I don’t think that,” Mourdock said. “Anyone who would suggest that is just sick and twisted. No, that’s not even close to what I said.”
  I knew he didn’t mean God ordained rape, how could this slip passed your mind?
  
  Report this comment
- kryptonite
  Posted on October 24, 2012 at 6:55am
  I see Satan in action here, not God. Don’t these people have a brain? If this guy were a Dim, he’d get nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize, but he’s a Republican. So what in the world was he thinking?
  
  Report this comment
- kryptonite
  Posted on October 24, 2012 at 7:16am
  @DEUTERONOMY
  These guys think in the abstract. I bet if a Charles Manson got this bozo’s wife or daughter pregnant, he’d get a clue.
  
  Report this comment
- 4xeverything
  Posted on October 24, 2012 at 7:22am
  It’s never the baby’s fault…ever.
  
  For those of you who wish he would just shut up I say, then when? When is a good time for you for this discussion to happen? At least he didn’t lie. Is nothing ever good enough?
  
  Report this comment
- johnjamison
  Posted on October 24, 2012 at 7:35am
  Well all know the child concieved during a rape is innocent. That being said it should be totally up to the mother in cases of rape or incest. However I also believ that if pregnancy accurs during consentual sex the father should have a say as to what happens…..Or if women want total rights to the child make by two then they need to assume total responsibility of the child after its born.
  In other words if the father has no legal rights before birth the father should have no legal responsibility after birth. It takes two to concieve but only one has legal rights before birth……equal treatment or no treatment
  
  Report this comment
- Individualism
  Posted on October 24, 2012 at 7:45am
  wow they sound like the christian version of the muslim brotherhood, abortion is never a winning issue for republicans and neither is social conservatism, most americans are repulsed by it.
  
  Report this comment
- SacredHonor1776
  Posted on October 24, 2012 at 7:54am
  http://www.openbible.info/topics/wonderfully_made
  
  He is likely referring to verses like in Psalm and Jeremiah that talk about Children in the womb being formed by God. However the act of rape itself is a satanic.
  
  The child is as much a victim as the mother.
  
  Report this comment
- kryptonite
  Posted on October 24, 2012 at 8:55am
  4XEVERYTHING
  When is a good time for you for this discussion to happen?
  —–
  Dang, it’s contagious. Maybe it’s that meningitis outbreak…
  
  Report this comment
- Konservative PUNK
  Posted on October 24, 2012 at 9:00am
  Exactly Doc. The church needs to have a discussion with itself about “the will of God” and how it relates to “the will of men”. Although I believe that God knows the end from the beginning, it does not mean that everything men do is God’s will. The BIble says that God’s will is for men to repent of their evil ways and turn to Him for salvation. We have a free will of our own, and he does not stop us from performing it except when He is asked in prayer to intervene in the affairs of men.
  
  Report this comment

It appears that you have Javascript Disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser preferences for a better user experience on TheBlaze. You can not comment without Javascript enabled.