Tom Smith, GOP Senate Candidate: Pregnancy From Rape Similar To 'Having A Baby Out Of Wedlock'

[Omaha Steve]

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

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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]

1. My state is so screwed already

We look like complete idiots. It wasn't always this way.

[southernyankeebelle]

2. Stupid has spread across the US. Or should I say in the repub party.

[Recoverin_Republican]

6. hey, they're running lose in every state. We've all go our share.

[WestWisconsinDem]

59. I live in Wisconsin...

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]

3. "She CHOSE life"

He would take that choice from her, obviously.

Where does the GOP dig these guys up?

[yardwork]

37. "But, fortunately for me, I didn't have to ... she chose the way I thought."

"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]

40. Yep, that "didn't have to" got me too.

Quite telling actually.

[CarmanK]

4. THINK PA ought to do right thing. ALL children born out of wedlock, RAPE, shld be supported by STATE

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]

25. Hear Hear!!

[Live and Learn]

41. Sounded like a good idea to me but then

I thought about it and decided they would do so happily if they could take the children and put them in work houses.

[olegramps]

48. This should apply to every birth where the mother was denied her rights to terminate the pregnancy.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

5. Could be Tom Smith in this GOPpertone ad or rather a huge pack of mongrels.

[sakabatou]

7. Becaise consent has NOTHING to do with rape

Jackass

[stubtoe]

8. Man, these guys just keep sticking their foot in it.

Keep it comin, you troglodytes.

[FiveGoodMen]

53. Don't kid yourself.

They're not digging their own graves, they're making America meaner and stupider, thus digging OUR graves.

[BlueInPhilly]

9. Don't worry... he's trailing Casey badly

so let him say whatever he wants.

[christx30]

42. Currently accepting

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]

55. And Casey is also anti-choice n/t

[Amonester]

10. From where do all these insane neeRdenthals come from?

[47of74]

11. Fuck you, Tom Smith

And that also goes for any teabilly inbred doucherocket stupid enough to support Mr. Smith.

[Stuart G]

28. Well said a good fuck you to this jerk..........nt

[AlinPA]

57. I am surrounded by the stupid teabaggers who love Tom Smith here. Ignorant slobs, all of them.

[tiredofthemall]

60. Not me!

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]

12. Picked this up from Les AuCoin's blog

worth subscribing to: http://lesaucoin.org/2012/08/27/rape-pregnancy-is-simply-birth-out-of-wedlock/

[sarcasmo]

13. Keep speaking Republican idiots!

[wordpix]

14. what an asshat, typical authoritarian male with no critical thinking skills makes a poor analogy

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]

20. I would say grotesque analogy.

These guys are showing us the insides of their skulls, and it's not pretty.

[Berlum]

15. Wow - how crude the "thoughts" of Republican chickenhawk leaders

Disgustipating

[Shankapotomus]

16. Lovely

Tomorrow's news story handed to us on a silver platter. Thanks!

[surrealAmerican]

17. I feel sorry for his daughter.

It can't be easy hearing your father say crap like, and knowing how little he cares about you.

[JBoy]

18. Quite simply, he thinks of his daughter as property.

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]

26. If he'd lived in Old Testament days and she'd been

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]

49. He probably would have stoned her if it wasn't outlawed by those liberal un-believers.

[oldsarge54]

19. Not Sure if it is a war on Women

But the Republicans seem to be working real hard on supporting athlete's foot of the tonsils.

[lunasun]

21. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't rape.

Ah Ok idiot
why would it matter as according to you it is all the same???????????

[BadGimp]

22. Brain/Mouth Gate Malfunction

..seems to be going around the GOP..

[solara]

23. Dear Tom Smith: I have heard enough of this sexist crap from you and your regressive party

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]

38. Thank you. Great rant. +1000

[PossumSqueezins]

24. Yes, having a child out of wedlock and rape are virtually the same....

EXCEPT IN ONE CASE A WOMAN IS RAPED.


Democrats need to pound this home until November.

[alfredo]

27. What an ass.

[daleo]

29. And being beaten and robbed is like losing your wallet

These politicians are spouting inanities.

[catbyte]

30. What an asshole

[Tom Ripley]

31. Sounds like something a rapist would say

[kiranon]

56. Agree. n/t

[oberliner]

32. Uses the phrase "she chose" twice

Guess that means he is pro-choice?

[tclambert]

33. What? I mean, . . . Did you say . . . What?

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]

34. This douchebag has a shot in hell beating Bob Casey Jr.

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]

35. WTH?

[Monk06]

36. The guy justified his remark by saying THE FATHER would see no difference between rape and his

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]

39. And another thing, these Republican senate candidates aren't careless with their words. This is how

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]

43. k and r

[markpkessinger]

44. There is a far more profound level of outrageous here that the media has not picked up on...

... 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]

45. Really

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]

46. I think what is wrong with them

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]

47. Here's a radical thought: RW men really do not believe that there is such a thing as rape

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]

50. LIke if she didn't want to be raped, why did she dress that way to arouse me?

[Karmasue]

51. Here's one big difference Tom Smith:

[link:|

[tiredofthemall]

61. Wow!

So powerful. I hope these clueless men who wish to lead us could understand this.

[YankeyMCC]

52. Is this really happening in this nation??

This is just getting to surreal

[benld74]

54. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa The stoopids BBUURRNNSSssssssssssssssssss!!!!!

[McCamy Taylor]

58. Mabye if they declare the mothers the equivalent of the Virgin Mary

(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.