Mourdock: When Rape Leads to Pregnancy, God Intended It
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified the Indiana state treasurer. His name is Richard Mourdock.
After an Indiana Senate debate, Democratic Rep. Joe Donnelly's campaign pounced on comments GOP Treasurer Richard Mourdock made about pregnancy resulting from rape being something "God intended to happen."
Mourdock, when asked about his stance on abortion during the debate:
"I've 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 happen."
Donnelly released a statement shortly after the debate ended.
"I think rape is a heinous and violent crime in every instance," said Donnelly. "The God I believe in and the God I know most Hoosiers believe in, does not intend for rape to happen -- ever. What Mr. Mourdock said is shocking, and it is stunning that he would be so disrespectful to survivors of rape."
Moudock followed up with a statement of his own."God creates life, and that was my point," he said. "God does not want rape, and by no means was I suggesting that He does. Rape is a horrible thing, and for anyone to twist my words otherwise is absurd and sick."
He's not the first GOP candidate to catch heat for remarks on abortion this year: Missouri GOP Senate nominee Todd Akin caused a huge firestorm of controversy with his comments this summer about "legitimate rape" rarely causing pregnancy.
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