Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, defended Indiana Senate candidate Richard Mourdock’s comment in a debate Tuesday night that pregnancies from rape are God’s will.
Cornyn defended Mourdock’s pro-life stance and also took the opportunity to play-up Democratic candidate Joe Donnelly’s own opposition to abortion.
“Richard and I, along with millions of Americans – including even Joe Donnelly – believe that life is a gift from God. To try and construe his words as anything other than a restatement of that belief is irresponsible and ridiculous. In fact, rather than condemning him for his position, as some in his party have when it’s come to Republicans, I commend Congressman Donnelly for his support of life.
“But this election is about big ideas and the reality that our country is going in the wrong direction. If you support Obamacare, government bailouts, reckless spending and higher taxes than you should vote for Joe Donnelly. But if you believe, as I do, that our government is too big, our taxes are too high, and we are passing an irresponsible debt onto future generations, than Richard Mourdock is your candidate to help get our country back on track.”
In explaining his opposition to abortion in the instance of rape, Mourdock said Tuesday: “And even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that it is something that God intended to happen.”
The Romney campaign distanced Romney from Mourdock’s comment. “Gov. Romney disagrees with Richard Mourdock’s comments, and they do not reflect his views,” campaign spokesperson Andrea Saul said.
