Romney campaign stands by Mourdock

Amid ongoing controversy surrounding Indiana Republican Senate candidate Richard Mourdock's comments about pregnancies resulting from rape, the Romney campaign said today it will stand by the candidate, even while Mitt Romney "disagrees" with him regarding abortion policy.

Mourdock, a Tea Party-backed candidate who beat longtime moderate Sen. Richard Lugar in the state's Republican nominating contest earlier this year, came under fire from the left last night after suggesting that pregnancies resulting from rape are "something that God intended to happen."

"I struggled with it myself for a long time, but I came to realize life is that gift from God," Mourdock said in a Tuesday night debate with his Democratic rival, Rep. Joe Donnelly, in a debate. "And I think even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that it is something that God intended to happen."

• Richard Mourdock: Even pregnancy from rape something "God intended"

The Romney campaign immediately distanced itself from Mourdock's comments, and stressed that Romney's position on abortion - he supports exceptions in cases of rape, incest and when the mother's life is in danger - differs from that of Mourdock. Mourdock supports exceptions for abortion only when the mother's life is in danger, the same position that many conservatives, including Romney's vice presidential nominee, Paul Ryan, also espouse.

"Gov. Romney disagrees with Richard Mourdock, and Mr. Mourdock's comments do not reflect Gov. Romney's views. We disagree on the policy regarding exceptions for rape and incest but still support him," said Romney spokesperson Andrea Saul.

Romney, who has endorsed Mourdock, recently appeared in a TV ad on his behalf. According to the Campaign Media Analysis Group (CMAG), as of yesterday morning, the ad had aired 102 times in Indiana over the past week. Both Romney and Ryan have stumped with the Senate candidate in recent months.

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Mourdock: Any offense over rape comment "regrettable"

Mourdock attempted to clarify his comments in a press conference Wednesday morning, emphasizing "regret" that his comments were misinterpreted but standing by the essential nature of his remarks.

"I said life is precious. I believe life is precious. I believe rape is a brutal act. It is something that I abhor. And that anyone could come away with any meaning [other] than what I said is regrettable and for that I apologize," he told reporters. "Anyone who goes to the video tape and views that understands fully what I meant."

He also said that the Romney ads were still airing around the state.

The Obama campaign was quick to pounce on Mourdock's comments as "demeaning to women," and Democratic groups released a flurry of statements and videos seeking to tie Romney to the issue.

"The President felt those comments were outrageous and demeaning to women," said Jen Psaki, the Obama campaign's traveling press secretary. "This is a reminder that a Republican Congress working with a Republican president, Mitt Romney, would feel that women should not be able to make choices about their own health care. And this is an issue where Mitt Romney is starring in an ad for this senator. And it is perplexing that he wouldn't demand to have that ad taken down."

She argued that the comments were evidence that "many Republicans who are running for office, including him -- including Mr. Mourdock -- have very extreme positions on issues that women care deeply about in this country, and that if they have the opportunity to be partners in the White House and in the Senate, that that's something women should have and will have concern about as they're going to the voting booths."

Invoking the name of Todd Akin, another Republican Senate candidate who has come under fire for making comments about rape and pregnancy, David Axelrod on Wednesday cited Mourdock's comments as evidence of what he cast as the GOP's extremism: "Mitt's man Mourdock apes Akin in Indiana debate, reflecting a GOP that is way out of mainstream," he wrote on Twitter.

In the immediate aftermath of the controversy, the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) expressed its continued support for the candidate, who is locked in a tight race with Donnelly for Lugar's seat. Donnelly is also pro-life, though he supports allowing abortion in cases of rape and incest as well as to protect a mother's life.

"Richard and I, along with millions of Americans - including even Joe Donnelly - believe that life is a gift from God," said Sen. John Cornyn, chair of the NRSC. "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."

Sen. Mike Pence, R-Ind., however, this morning called on Mourdock to apologize.

"I strongly disagree with the statement made by Richard Mourdock during last night's Senate debate. I urge him to apologize," he said in a statement.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, meanwhile, announced that it, along with the Majority Pac, booked another $1.6 million worth of ad spending in the state on Tuesday.

[Crooked6p]

The conflict in this position is beyond ridiculous. Rape is a crime. The rapist belongs in prison. If he is out it is because the court system fails the survivor.

While you may decide on criminal paternity, a criminal does not have legal rights to the store he has robbed, the property of the person he has murdered, the child he has abused. It is a criminal act involving property not his own.

37 States support criminal rights to paternity. This does not make anything right, only legal. Nor does it make anyone religious or owner. It merely demonstrates the extents to which unthoughtful, insecure devout people will go to be heard.

The voice of devotion is a conviction. Godliness is not imposed on others, it is born in the heart. Otherwise we should have no criminal laws as everything has been predetermined. It is time the religious right went back to evangelism and gotten out of politics.

[stevehamilton858]

I believe that the wise voters of Ohio are going to save the country from the disaster that's waiting to happen if R&R get elected. For instance, when Lyndon Johnson declared war on poverty, he threw serious money at it to defeat poverty. These guys have a simpler, less expensive approach: deny support and medical care for poor people, and then they'll all die, and R&R can say they have won the war on poverty because there won't be any more poor people - "No poor people, no poverty".

[SiaraDelyn]

Thank you for publishing this CBS. I think that Romney's refusal to oppose this is something all American women should be aware of.

[stevehamilton858]

You don't know how right you are. I am a recent Mormon convert (formerly Episcopalian) and there is absolutely nothing in the scriptures or "Book of Mormon" that justifies the decision Romney has made to support Mourdock. Mr. Romney is a poor example of what the Mormon church stands for; it shows to me how the Republicans are willing to prostitute themselves just to try and win control of the Senate.

[Stuxnet]

You've got to ask, what woman in her right mind would vote Republican?

[stevehamilton858]

None!

[uncouthtownie]

Its shameful to what misogynistic lengths these republican politicians will go in their anti-abortion stance. Calling rape "legitimate" and "what god intended"? If you still believe that Romney is any different from these guys in his deep-seated beliefs, think again. Romney has fully endorsed Mourdock (the only senate candidate he has made a TV ad in support for), and his running mate Ryan co-authored an anti-abortion bill with Akin.

[ManOfSteel-Velvet]

Who is the real Mitt Romney? What does he truly believe?

1994: "I believe that abortion should be safe and legal in this country."
2001: "I do not wish to be labeled pro-choice."
2002: "I will preserve and protect a woman's right to choose."
2011: "I will advocate for and support a Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act."
2012: "There's no legislation with regards to aortion that I'm familiar with that would become part of my agenda."
2012: "Mitt Romney is proudly pro-life, and he will be pro-life president." - Romney campaign spokeswoman Andrea Saul

Like an ugly, cheap and old prostitute, Romney will shamelessly bend over and get into any position or say anything prospective John wants to hear to trade for his vote.

[stevehamilton858]

I am convinced that there is no "real Mitt Romney"; your comments are right on target. In fact, this campaign could yield a new substitute for the word "pander"; a lot of people will be using 'Romney" as a verb. I am surprised he doesn't have a serious lower back problem from all of the contortions he has gone through, first running for the nomination, as a far right radical, and now, trying to slither over closer to the middle. I hope the far right deserts him, and that real centrists don't buy his impersonation. My best feeling about the outcome of this election is now being provided by the wise voters of Ohio, who aren't buying into the "switcheroo" about the rescue of America's automobile industry. In keeping with his experience and position as the CEO of a private equity fund ( which only cares about the profit the fund (Bain Capital) makes), he would have let the entire industry go bankrupt and wind its way through the bankruptcy process - an expensive, inefficient, and time consuming process - while workers and potential buyers waited on the sidelines. I think his experience as Bain's CEO makes him a terrible candidate to fix the country's economic problems. He's a little bit left of Herbert Hoover, but that's not saying much, given that Hoover's reaction to the Depression is generally considered to have extended the recession by four of five years.

[bluejacket2-2009]

Richard Mourdock and Todd Akin pray to the cloth of the tea party... these are the type of men that the crazy tea party support and want running our nation...

[stevehamilton858]

Thanks for your observation. I believe that the Tea Party has done more harm to America that Osama bin Laden could have, even if he had lived another 10 years. These guys are misnamed; they should call themselves the "Anti Federalist Party"; that's what their predecessors called them selves about 200 years ago when the Constitution was being drafted - and they lost the debate, which is good, because if they had won, our country would have lost both World Wars, we would probably still have slavery, and you can forget about women or blacks voting.

[marychgo]

Why DO these idiots -- conservative white male Republicans -- think ANYONE should CARE what they "believe" about issues that are the business ONLY of the woman involved and her doctor, the woman involved and her God, and (in many but not all cases) the woman involved and her partner? You have the right to your own beliefs, Messrs. Mourdock, Walsh, Akin, Ryan, and Romney and we presume your beliefs will govern your OWN actions. But you have NO right to impose those beliefs on others -- who "coincidentally" happen to be persons of the female persuasion -- who don't SHARE those beliefs.
Isn't it ODD that the ever-so-moral male GOP politicians have such strong beliefs about what WOMEN can do with OUR bodies but haven't even expressed an opinion about vasectomies, Viagra, porn videos, or even masturbation?

[nearl451]

Where exactly do these doofus's come from?

[stevehamilton858]

My sense is that they're a throwback to the late 1800's, mixed with the views of the Anti-Federalist Party of 200 years ago. I personally think we should reprise the name of the "Know Nothing Party" of the late 19th century.

[stevehamilton858]

My sense is that they're a throwback to the late 1800's, mixed with the views of the Anti-Federalist Party of 200 years ago. I personally think we should reprise the name of the "Know Nothing Party" of the late 19th century.

[feminist50]

Mitt Romney is a vile, disgusting, morally vacuous creature with no core values, principles or a soul. That is why he still supports Murdouck. he handpicked Ryan who has similar views.