From ThinkProgress:
Pennsylvania GOP Senate Candidate: Getting Pregnant From Rape Is ‘Similar’ To Having A Baby Out Of Wedlock
By Tara Culp-Ressler on Aug 27, 2012 at 3:17 pm
In the aftermath of Rep. Todd Akin’s (R-MO) offensive and medically inaccurate comments that “legitimate rape” doesn’t often lead to pregnancy, Republicans have been scrambling to distance themselves from Akin. However, in addition to pushing policies that are very much in line with Akin’s anti-choice views, some GOP candidates have similar ignorance about the nature of sexual assault.
Tom Smith, the Republican challenging Sen. Bob Casey’s (D-PA) seat, suggested that having a child out of wedlock was analogous to rape during an interview with a reporter at a press club this afternoon, claiming that it would have a “similar” effect on a father:
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.
This man would never be near my child.
Hell, he would never be near me again.
Look at his language.
Look at the fundamental disrespect of women.
Women, are you waking up?
How many more times do they have to slap you literally with their misogyny.
This, along with Paul Ryan saying in an interview that
RAPE WAS JUST ANOTHER FORM OF CONCEPTION.
How much more do you need to know that your female self better be registered to vote, and that your only choice is President Obama.
More from The Ed Show:
Ryan says that ‘ FORCIBLE RAPE’ was just ‘ stock language’ in HR3 – the bill that they wanted to use to REDEFINE RAPE.
SMOOCHES TO YOU… for finding this
Did you watch LO tonight? Tom Brokaw, Joy Reid and Jonathan Capehart took on Romney & birtherism. Tom tried to carry that water for Romney, Jonathan and Joy wasn’t having it. How this white man gonna sit on a panel with Joy & Jonathan and try to say Mitt Romney wasn’t dogwhilsling? GTFOH!
I have addressed this issue on my blog. I am originally from Pennsylvania and still have family there. I worked in Domestic Violence in Pa and was a counselor for Rape Crisis. There is no such thing as legitimate rape. Women don’t listen to anyone who tells you that. It is a lie, a con, a sexist ploy.