Indiana’s Republican Candidate for Senate, Richard Mourdock, sent shock waves through social media and later network television during his final debate before the November 6 election on Tuesday evening, October 23rd.  The candidates were asked for their perspective on exceptions to a strict anti-abortion position in the case of rape, incest or the life of the Mother.  Mourdock’s response was “Life is that gift from God. I think that even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that it is something God intended to happen,…”.  Add another pea to the pod inhabited by Troy Akin of Missouri. 

The social media site Twitter lit up immediately from people following the debate. Some referred to him as “a nut job.” Others tweeted that it “renders him disqualified.”

Ironically, earlier that same day, a campaign ad taped by Mitt Romney endorsing Mourdock, began to air.  But near the end of the debate, Romney’s campaign was disengaging from Mourdock’s statement while still endorsing him for US Senate.  Many of us in Indiana question how you can simultaneously endorse a candidate but not his policies. 

Joanne M. Sanders

CLUW National Vice President (IATSE)