Do you still, despite all evidence to the contrary, believe that Todd Akin’s bizarre, insane comments about “legitimate rape” were an aberration? I mean, other than the fact that most House Republicans have cosponsored, and support, a so-called “personhood” amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which would effectively make all abortions – even in the case of rape, incest, the life of the mother, whatever – equivalent to murder? And other than the fact that personhood language is in the Republican Party’s official 2012 platform, which Romney and Ryan are running on (and which they both have said they agree with)? Well, now here comes another back-to-the-Dark-Ages, theocratic Republican, with an utterly bizarre, outrageous, but unsurprising comment (a la Todd Akin), this time in Pennsylvania. Listen here, or check out the full exchange here.
Vickers: So in cases of incest or rape…
Laura Olson, Post-Gazette: No exceptions?
[Pennsylvania Republican U.S. Senate nominee Tom] Smith: No exceptions.
Mark Scolforo, Associated Press: How would you tell a daughter or a granddaughter who, God forbid, would be the victim of a rape, to keep the child against her own will? Do you have a way to explain that?
Smith: I lived something similar to that with my own family. She chose life, and I commend her for that. She knew my views. But, fortunately for me, I didn’t have to.. she chose they way I thought. No don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t rape.
Scolforo: Similar how?
Smith: Uh, having a baby out of wedlock.
Scolforo: That’s similar to rape?
Smith: No, no, no, but… put yourself in a father’s situation, yes. It is similar. But, back to the original, I’m pro-life, period.
What. The. F***? Put yourself in the father’s situation, and somehow having a child out of wedlock is similar to RAPE?!? Is this person completely insane? Or, is he just another Republican man who wants to control women’s bodies, bully them, and take us back to medieval Europe? Again, I ask, why would any woman, or any man who cares about women’s health and well being, vote for the Republican Party at this point?
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