Here we go again. Another Republican congressional candidate dared to open his mouth about rape and something insane came out. Would you expect anything less by now?

During the Indiana Senate debate Tuesday night, Republican nominee Richard Mourdock stated that he is against abortion in the instance of a child being conceived from rape because even pregnancies resulting from such horrible circumstances are a “gift from God” and “it is something that God intended to happen.”

Here’s the full statement the tea party-backed candidate made during the debate:

I believe life begins at conception. The only exception I have for to have an abortion is in the case of the life of the mother. I struggled with myself for a long time but I came to realize life is that gift from God, even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape. It is something that God intended to happen.

Jezebel

has more:

In response to Mourdock’s comment, Democratic candidate Joe Donnelly said after the debate that he doesn’t believe “my God, or any God, would intend that to happen.” Nicely handled, Joe, way to sound not completely fucking insane like Dick over there.

Mourdock tried to do damage control afterward with an attempt to spin his way out of the mess he created by contradicting his own position that “God creates life.”

“What I said was, in answering the question from my position of faith, I said I believe that God creates life. I believe that as wholly and as fully as I can believe it. That God creates life,” he said. “Are you trying to suggest that somehow I think that God preordained rape? No, I don’t think that. That’s sick. Twisted. That’s not even close to what I said. What I said is that God creates life.”

Incidentally, Mitt Romney, who supports Mourdock in an ad that just began running in the state this week, has endorsed the Indiana Republican. However, the GOP presidential nominee’s campaign is trying to distance its candidate from Mourdock in the wake of the controversial remarks.

“Governor Romney disagrees with Richard Mourdock’s comments, and they do not reflect his views,” spokeswoman Andrea Saul said Tuesday night.

Watch Mourdock discuss abortion and rape below:

— Posted by Tracy Bloom.

Wait, before you go…

If you're reading this, you probably already know that non-profit, independent journalism is under threat worldwide. Independent news sites are overshadowed by larger heavily funded mainstream media that inundate us with hype and noise that barely scratch the surface. We believe that our readers deserve to know the full story. Truthdig writers bravely dig beneath the headlines to give you thought-provoking, investigative reporting and analysis that tells you what’s really happening and who’s rolling up their sleeves to do something about it.

Like you, we believe a well-informed public that doesn’t have blind faith in the status quo can help change the world. Your contribution of as little as $5 monthly or $35 annually will make you a groundbreaking member and lays the foundation of our work.

Support Truthdig