Pennsylvania Senate Candidate Tom Smith (R) tried to distance himself from the “legitimate rape” controversy stirred up by Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.) last week while speaking before the Pennsylvania Press Club.
Smith told reporters at the meeting that although he condemns Rep. Akin’s comments, he agrees that abortion should be banned without exception to include victims of rape and incest. When pressed by a reporter to explain how he would handle the situation if he had a daughter or granddaughter who became pregnant as the result of rape, Smith replied that he had already “lived something similar to that” in his family.
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When further pressed to explain what he meant by similar, Smith replied “having a baby out of wedlock” and added “Put yourself in a father’s position. Yes, it is similar.”
When asked to clarify his statement, Smith said he wasn’t comparing the two.
“No, I didn’t not say that. I said I went through a situation (with a daughter). It’s very, very difficult. But do I condone rape? Absolutely not. But do I propose life, yes I do. I’m pro-life, period.
A life is a life and it needs protecting. Who’s going to protect it? We have to. I believe life begins at conception. I’m not going to argue about the method of that conception. It’s life. And I’m pro-life. It’s that simple.”
You can watch the video below from local NBC affiliate WGAL in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
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