Ryan: "Rape is just another method of conception"

[katietornado]

www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/08/24/ryan-on-abortion-exceptions-rape-is-just-another-method-of-conception/

Why this is up for discussion is beyond me. You'd think this would be settled by now.

Vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan says that he personally believes that rape is just another “method of conception” and not an excuse to allow abortions.

During an interview with WJHL this week, Ryan was asked his view about Rep. Todd Akin, who recently asserted that women could not get pregnant from “legitimate rape.”

“Specifically where you stand when it comes to rape, and when it comes to the issue of should it be legal for a woman to be able to get an abortion if she’s raped?” WJHL reporter Josh Smith wondered.

“I’m very proud of my pro-life record, and I’ve always adopted the idea that, the position that the method of conception doesn’t change the definition of life,” Ryan explained. “But let’s remember, I’m joining the Romney-Ryan ticket. And the president makes policy.”

“And the president, in this case the future President Mitt Romney, has exceptions for rape, incest, and life of the mother, which is a vast improvement of where we are right now.”

MSNBC’s Steve Benen noted that responses like this were probably the reason that Romney is refusing to take any questions about Akin or abortion.

“In this case, when Ryan says ‘the method of conception’ is irrelevant, he’s talking about rape,” Benen wrote. “In other words, the Republicans’ vice presidential nominee clearly believes the government should force women to take their pregnancy to term if they are impregnated by a rapist.”

“Republicans can only distance themselves so much from Todd Akin before we realize they share his views.”

[darnkatz]

Aug 24, 2012 18:34:14 GMT -5 nuggetbrain said:

Fuck him. Seriously. Fuck him with a rusty motherfucking chainsaw.

This. Holy fucking shit.

[dev22]

Someone please tell me that I was kidnapped, shoved into the delorean, and taken back to 1800, cause there is no way that people are saying this shit now.

[bqbride]

Hello USA Taliban! How fucking barbaric.

Yay fiscal conservatism and small government?

[gpw]

Let them keep flapping their gums...because the hole gets deeper and deeper. Jobs? What jobs?

[y4m]

Holy headline not matching the quotes.

I see pro-choice folks here constantly saying that if you truly believe life is life, rape exceptions are hypocritical (and I agree). But isn't that exactly what Ryan is saying here?

[marie427]

The pro-choicer in me is cringing, HOWEVER...I don't see how he's at all saying that rape is NBD. Technically, isn't this what we were questioning about the pro-life movement - that if they believe in no abortion under any circumstances, their frame of thinking would be more consistent than if they believed in abortion under some exceptions?

He's saying a life is a life. I can respect that belief even if I don't share those views.

ETA: Whoops, ditto Y4M. Shows how I need to read the thread first!

[dev22]

Aug 24, 2012 18:53:44 GMT -5 y4m said:

Holy headline not matching the quotes.

I see pro-choice folks here constantly saying that if you truly believe life is life, rape exceptions are hypocritical (and I agree). But isn't that exactly what Ryan is saying here?

Sure it is. But I can still think that a VP candidate that wants to force rape victims to carry to term sucks donkey balls, since I am not pro-life.

[soontobeka]

Aug 24, 2012 18:53:44 GMT -5 y4m said:

Holy headline not matching the quotes.

I see pro-choice folks here constantly saying that if you truly believe life is life, rape exceptions are hypocritical (and I agree). But isn't that exactly what Ryan is saying here?

To say that rape is a form on conception is disgusting. We can argue about whether exception should be allowed or not but rape is not a "ponies and rainbows" way of having a child. Rape is a violent sexual act committed by a person against another person that can result in pregnancy. The way he stated it appears to diminish the violent nature behind a pregnancy that is a result of a rape.

[y4m]

He doesn't say rape is a method of conception. He says the method of conception is irrelevant in determining what is or isn't a life.

[llama]

I agree for a prolifer it is probably more consistent, but since it's the complete opposite of my viewpoint I can't say that helps his case much with me.

I just can't get over how dismissive it sounds.

[y4m]

Please show me the quote where he says "Rape is another method of conception"

[basilosaurus]

Conception come in all forms. Missionary sex, reverse cowgirl, IVF, donor sperm, rape.

[gpw]

Aug 24, 2012 19:05:12 GMT -5 basilosaurus said:

Conception come in all forms. Missionary sex, reverse cowgirl, IVF, donor sperm, rape.

No, I found out that women's bodies "shut it down" and can't get pregnant when they've been raped.

Learn something new everyday. YWIA.

[soontobeka]

Aug 24, 2012 19:03:03 GMT -5 y4m said:

He doesn't say rape is a method of conception. He says the method of conception is irrelevant in determining what is or isn't a life.

You are right. That is putting rape, an unintended pregnancy and an intended pregnancy in the same category as methods of conception. Rape is a method of conception. He is also saying that for him the method of conception does not change his definition of life. IMO, it is very dismissive of the violence behind rape. Yes, it can result in life but also is a result of a violent, forced beginning.

[basilosaurus]

Aug 24, 2012 19:06:00 GMT -5 nuggetbrain said:

Aug 24, 2012 19:05:12 GMT -5 basilosaurus said:

Conception come in all forms. Missionary sex, reverse cowgirl, IVF, donor sperm, rape.

Yeah but only one of those is non-consentual.

Oh, you noticed that? I don't think Ryan did.

[basilosaurus]

I'm not concerned about the very poor.

[decemberwedding07]

Oh, women. Always looking for an excuse to have an abortion. I can't wait to finally become pregnant so that I can have one! I've been dreaming of that moment since I was a little girl...

[mcgee]

Aug 24, 2012 18:53:44 GMT -5 y4m said:

I see pro-choice folks here constantly saying that if you truly believe life is life, rape exceptions are hypocritical (and I agree). But isn't that exactly what Ryan is saying here?

Most mainstream pro-life people are okay with an exception to an abortion ban for victims of rape or incest because they understand that those women did not consent to sex, and there was no way for them avoid the pregnancy. We point out the logical inconsistency (ie, it's a life worth protecting but only if it's made a certain way) because it demonstrates the underlying belief that criminalizing abortion is about PUNISHING women for having sex. It's all about slut-shaming.

[emmybean]

I know that congruency is a dirty word around these parts, but even though I totally and vehemently disagree with him on this subject, at least he tows a steady line with it as far as I've seen---but by all means, let's continue to mock him and his views.

Coexist, right?

[IIOY]

Aug 24, 2012 18:58:49 GMT -5 marie427 said:

The pro-choicer in me is cringing, HOWEVER...I don't see how he's at all saying that rape is NBD. Technically, isn't this what we were questioning about the pro-life movement - that if they believe in no abortion under any circumstances, their frame of thinking would be more consistent than if they believed in abortion under some exceptions?

He's saying a life is a life. I can respect that belief even if I don't share those views.

ETA: Whoops, ditto Y4M. Shows how I need to read the thread first!

+1

To my ear, there is no way a pro-lifer can discuss rape without it sounding offensive and crass to those of us who are pro-choice, because the entire concept of being pro-life in a rape scenario is beyond repugnant. However, it's the ideologically consistent opinion and I have more respect for this than pro-lifers who would allow for exceptions but swear up and down that their position has nothing to do with moral judgment of the woman.

[teflep]

What is going on here? Some seem to need to take a breath/gain some rational thought,

[y4m]

Aug 25, 2012 7:15:25 GMT -5 teflep said:

What is going on here? Some seem to need to take a breath/gain some rational thought,

Possibly also to review the meaning of a quotation mark, and get some new news sources.

[2vermont]

Actual quote:

“I’m very proud of my pro-life record, and I’ve always adopted the idea that, the position that the method of conception doesn’t change the definition of life,” Ryan explained.

Could he have said this differently? Sure. Maybe rather than "method of conception" he could have referred to "how a child is conceived".

But let's admit it. This article is meant to be inflammatory, so it must change his quote to sound even worse. And even if he said it a different way, I'm sure they would have found a way to make him look worse.

[aw]

I know that this is an entirely different thread, but I think this is interesting in light of yesterday's abortion discussion. Posters in that thread "taught" me that a fact is a fact. You can't dispute that according to the medical definition of conception, rape would technically be just another method of conception. If, in fact, Ryan had said this (which he didn't) he wouldn't be wrong. But since he didn't say it, I don't understand the outrage.

I think this article proves that the way we feel politically, religiously, or personally DOES impact the way we define things and how we interpret scientific data. It is crass to say that rape is just another form of conception. But it doesn't change that it is fact, right?

I can also see how people's disgust over consistency in cases like this could be clouding their ability to actually be consistent themselves. Everything sort of makes more sense now...

ETA - I only say this because NB asked me to point out her inconsistency.

[soontobeka]

Aug 25, 2012 7:21:30 GMT -5 y4m said:

Aug 25, 2012 7:15:25 GMT -5 teflep said:

What is going on here? Some seem to need to take a breath/gain some rational thought,

Possibly also to review the meaning of a quotation mark, and get some new news sources.

Here is the original interview: www2.wjhl.com/news/2012/aug/23/4/exclusive-interview-paul-ryan-ar-2151697/

It is the same as quoted in OP of this thread.

[soontobeka]

Aug 25, 2012 7:33:36 GMT -5 2vermont said:

Actual quote:

“I’m very proud of my pro-life record, and I’ve always adopted the idea that, the position that the method of conception doesn’t change the definition of life,” Ryan explained.

Could he have said this differently? Sure. Maybe rather than "method of conception" he could have referred to "how a child is conceived".

But let's admit it. This article is meant to be inflammatory, so it must change his quote to sound even worse. And even if he said it a different way, I'm sure they would have found a way to make him look worse.

the article does not change his quote. I just posted the video of the actual interview. He says what the article quotes him to say. The headline does not say exactly what he said but the quote used in the article is verbatim from Ryan.

[y4m]

The quotation in the subject line of this thread. It never happened. We all know this, yes?

[soontobeka]

Aug 25, 2012 8:39:31 GMT -5 y4m said:

The quotation in the subject line of this thread. It never happened. We all know this, yes?

I can only speak for myself but I have been referring to his actual quote (ignoring the headline which I agree is inflammatory).

[emmybean]

Aug 25, 2012 7:10:20 GMT -5 nuggetbrain said:

Aug 24, 2012 21:08:54 GMT -5 emmybean said:

I know that congruency is a dirty word around these parts, but even though I totally and vehemently disagree with him on this subject, at least he tows a steady line with it as far as I've seen---but by all means, let's continue to mock him and his views.

Coexist, right?

What the fuck ever. Just because someone is consistent with a belief I find morally repugnant doesn't mean I have to be all roses and unicorn farts about you. Fred Phelps is pretty goddamn consistent so why don't you go harp on coexisting with that noise.

It doesn't have to be one or the other, for fucks sake. There is a giant middle ground between 'roses and unicorn farts' and openly mocking of a belief system and blatant twisting of words to fit ones own agenda. Fred Phelps is a cute Red herring, BTW. Might as well have thrown out hitler, if you were going to be that fucking obtuse about my point.