Tom Smith, GOP Senate Candidate: Pregnancy From Rape Similar To 'Having A Baby Out Of Wedlock'
Source: Huffington Post
Laura Bassett
Trying to distance himself from the "legitimate rape" comment that Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.) made last week, Pennsylvania Senate candidate Tom Smith (R) stirred up further controversy by comparing a pregnancy caused by rape to "having a baby out of wedlock."
Smith said Monday at the Pennsylvania Press Club that although he condemns Akin's comment, he agrees with Akin that abortion should be banned without any exceptions, including for rape and incest victims. Pressed by a reporter on how he would handle a daughter or granddaughter becoming pregnant as a result of rape, Smith said he had already "lived something similar to that" in his family.
"She chose life, and I commend her for that," he said. "She knew my views. But, fortunately for me, I didn't have to ... she chose the way I thought. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't rape."
When a reporter asked Smith to clarify what kind of situation was similar to becoming pregnant from rape, the candidate responded, "Having a baby out of wedlock."
FULL story at link.
Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/27/tom-smith-rape_n_1834234.html
Tom Smith, a Republican Senate candidate in Pennsylvania, speaks during an AP interview on July 19, 2012, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
The War on Women continues!
livetohike
(22,163 posts)southernyankeebelle
(11,304 posts)Recoverin_Republican
(218 posts)WestWisconsinDem
(127 posts)the state that just RE-elected Scat Walker Governor and emperor. You've got Santorum, this guy, and his ilk, and we've given you Scat, Paul Ryan, and others less known at this time.
Sigh... at least we've still got the Steelers and Packers. And BTW, rooting like hell here for the Bucs to get the wildcard.
Faygo Kid
(21,478 posts)He would take that choice from her, obviously.
Where does the GOP dig these guys up?
yardwork
(61,703 posts)"Didn't have to...." do what? Beat her into submission? Throw her out of the house if she chose to have an abortion? Lock her in her room until she was past the first trimester?
What exactly did this man not have to do because his relative "chose the way he thought."
Chilling.
Live and Learn
(12,769 posts)Quite telling actually.
CarmanK
(662 posts)These politicians talk crap to make headlines. Never heard of this guy til today. But, I think that if they are so willing to surmise that RAPE victims should carry violence induced pregnancies to term, that the state should take on the RESPONSIBILITY OF getting treatment for the mother and then of course take on the fiscal support of all babies born to rape victims til age 18. It only seems fair, if the state feels it necessary to legislate sexual activities, voluntary and not, that it should take on financial load also. Lady parts are not the business of the state. The GOP is off base and out of line. they are not only intruding on religious beliefs, they are dictating decisions in a woman's health care .
solara
(3,836 posts)Live and Learn
(12,769 posts)I thought about it and decided they would do so happily if they could take the children and put them in work houses.
olegramps
(8,200 posts)Bernardo de La Paz
(49,036 posts)sakabatou
(42,174 posts)Jackass
stubtoe
(1,862 posts)Keep it comin, you troglodytes.
FiveGoodMen
(20,018 posts)They're not digging their own graves, they're making America meaner and stupider, thus digging OUR graves.
BlueInPhilly
(870 posts)so let him say whatever he wants.
christx30
(6,241 posts)Donations to buy this guy and the rest of the GOP a rope factory.
GOP: here is a talking point for you. Based on what you have said lately, it's not too far off.
*ahem* "Menstration is a sin because it kills half of a baby."
Feel free to use that. Offer up promises to jail rape victims that get abortions. Please. You're turning apathetic people into people that are terrified of putting you in charge.
markpkessinger
(8,401 posts)Amonester
(11,541 posts)47of74
(18,470 posts)And that also goes for any teabilly inbred doucherocket stupid enough to support Mr. Smith.
Stuart G
(38,445 posts)AlinPA
(15,071 posts)tiredofthemall
(2 posts)I live 3 miles from Tom Smith and I haven't met a person in my circle that is voting for him.....not ALL ignorant slobs, but I agree, they're out there running the asylum.
Coyotl
(15,262 posts)worth subscribing to: http://lesaucoin.org/2012/08/27/rape-pregnancy-is-simply-birth-out-of-wedlock/
sarcasmo
(23,968 posts)wordpix
(18,652 posts)She chose life and had a baby out of wedlock----so maybe she loved her lover.
That's a far cry from getting raped and then forced to carry the baby to term.
truthisfreedom
(23,154 posts)These guys are showing us the insides of their skulls, and it's not pretty.
Berlum
(7,044 posts)Disgustipating
Shankapotomus
(4,840 posts)Tomorrow's news story handed to us on a silver platter. Thanks!
surrealAmerican
(11,364 posts)It can't be easy hearing your father say crap like, and knowing how little he cares about you.
JBoy
(8,021 posts)She got "damaged" - in this case, by an "accident". Presumably one she willingly participated in, and I hope, enjoyed.
In his mind, that's no different than an unwanted, horrible assault. The end result is the same. His property got damaged.
Kind of like how there's not much difference if your fence gets broken by your neighbor accidentally backing into it, or by some vandals willfully smashing it. Your fence is busted and you've been wronged.
Fucker needs a kick in the nuts. Oops, sorry.
Rozlee
(2,529 posts)actually raped, her assailant could have given him fifty shekels of silver for her and he'd have turned her over to him so he could keep raping her for the rest of her life. Sounds like he'd have been very comfortable living in those days.
olegramps
(8,200 posts)oldsarge54
(582 posts)But the Republicans seem to be working real hard on supporting athlete's foot of the tonsils.
lunasun
(21,646 posts)Ah Ok idiot
why would it matter as according to you it is all the same???????????
BadGimp
(4,018 posts)..seems to be going around the GOP..
solara
(3,836 posts)Becoming pregnant from a RAPE is NOTHING like having a baby out of wedlock. A pregnancy from a RAPE is not about "oops I had unprotected sex and got pregnant" RAPE is a CRIME OF VIOLENCE.
RAPE is a VIOLENT CRIME. RAPE is a CRIME of MURDEROUS RAGE and HATRED, of ANGER and BRUTALITY towards the target and is only about sex because the RAPIST uses his PENIS as a WEAPON.
Let me repeat this so that maybe you will begin to understand the difference... A RAPIST USES HIS PENIS AS A WEAPON!!!!!!
There is nothing NOTHING about RAPE that is 'sex as usual' and for you to suggest that RAPE is just 'another way for a woman to get pregnant' is beyond FOUL and DISGUSTING- your smug pronouncement that a woman who becomes pregnant from a RAPE is just like having a baby out of wedlock is amoral and almost criminal in its recklessness and shows how absolutely ignorant and lacking in compassion and human grace you truly are.
You and all your ignorant contemporaries who keep spewing this LIE about RAPE make me sick.
It is clear you have no love or understanding of women AT ALL. You need to get educated or you need to go away.. you should not be in any position of leadership.
SHAME on you
SHAME on all of you who perpetuate this absolute fallacy about RAPE.
And DOUBLE SHAME on the people who are considering giving you their vote
yardwork
(61,703 posts)PossumSqueezins
(184 posts)EXCEPT IN ONE CASE A WOMAN IS RAPED.
Democrats need to pound this home until November.
alfredo
(60,075 posts)daleo
(21,317 posts)These politicians are spouting inanities.
catbyte
(34,447 posts)Tom Ripley
(4,945 posts)kiranon
(1,727 posts)oberliner
(58,724 posts)Guess that means he is pro-choice?
tclambert
(11,087 posts)These Republicans just seem to put on their dunce hats every time they talk about rape. . . . Or abortion. . . . Or women. . . .
Who elects such dumb asses to Congress?
LynneSin
(95,337 posts)Casey Jr. is class all the way. One of the few people I actually call 'pro-choice' because he votes for families, for jobs, for unions and for healthcare. He's also said there are enough rules for abortions on the books that we don't need anymore.
usregimechange
(18,373 posts)Monk06
(7,675 posts)daughter having an out of wedlock pregnancy. First of all what kind of father would see rape and teen pregnancy as equivalent?
Even more sinister and the principal that lies at the rotten core of Republican ideology is the belief that the FATHER's feelings and judgments trump all concern for his daughter's views, interests and most important her CIVIL RIGHTS.
This is why Mormons, Catholics and Evangelicals agree with each other on 'social issues'. Those issues are based on the bedrock belief the men should have total control of the lives of women.
Monk06
(7,675 posts)they think. Akin showed them that they can't actually reveal their true beliefs and agenda regarding women's rights until after Romney wins.
They are hell bent on turning the clock back to 1918 when women were jailed, beaten and tortured for advocating women's right to vote. I have seen Freeper's actually advocating the repeal of the 19th amendment.
Make no mistake the only women Republicans want to see in public is their own rich wives.
niyad
(113,552 posts)markpkessinger
(8,401 posts)... That is that implicit in Smith's comment is the suggestion that a rapist who impregnates his victim holds a legitimate parental stake in a fetus that results from his violent crime. How morally repugnant is that?
rks306
(116 posts)What is wrong with these people. I guess to defend rapist will be their next request. If you are raped and get pregnant, don't let the rape bother you, you've just been blessed.
FlaGranny
(8,361 posts)is that their minds got stuck and stopped developing at around the age of 13. An adolescent's view of sex and a mind that has no use for scientific fact.
Edit: Don't mean to diss 13 year olds. Most of them have more sense than today's right wing.
spooky3
(34,476 posts)because they have never been a victim (so they can't empathize) and many of them have either engaged in date rape or have manipulated or pushed a date/partner into having sex and made her feel so uncomfortable where she felt she couldn't get out of the situation, blamed herself, etc. Because she didn't scream, cry, or get a gun and shoot him, they think this is just normal dating. "Women really want it (at least with me) but sometimes you have to use a little persuasion", etc. Their total inability to empathize, and their belief that they are entitled, and society's tolerance of their behavior and views, makes it impossible for them to understand rape.
olegramps
(8,200 posts)Karmasue
(95 posts)[link:|
So powerful. I hope these clueless men who wish to lead us could understand this.
YankeyMCC
(8,401 posts)This is just getting to surreal
benld74
(9,909 posts)McCamy Taylor
(19,240 posts)(who was forcibly impregnated through the ear by an angel) and treat the children of rape victims as gods, this strategy will work.
But telling them "Hey, you're just an unwed mother" will not cut it. Unwed mothers in our society have it rough.