Yet Another GOP Senate Candidate Says Something About Rape

New Rule of Politics: If you're a Republican running for Senate, just never talk about sex or anything related to it . You will do better pretending storks bring babies to worthy parents and/or welfare applicants.

Tom Smith is running for Senate against Democratic Sen. Bob Casey. An intrepid Associated Press reporter decided to ask the candidate what he would tell a family member who was raped about his desire to see her keep the baby against her will. This is not a "tell me what happens during rape" question, nor is it a "tell me about Todd Akin without using the letter 'e'" question. All Smith has to do is say something along the lines of " all life is precious " and he's pretty much homefree.

MARK SCOLFORO, ASSOCIATED PRESS: How would you tell a daughter or a granddaughter who, God forbid, would be the victim of a rape, to keep the child against her own will? Do you have a way to explain that?

SMITH: I lived something similar to that with my own family. She chose life, and I commend her for that. She knew my views. But, fortunately for me, I didn’t have to.. she chose the way I thought. No don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t rape.

SCOLFORO: Similar how?

Just you wait.

SMITH: Uh, having a baby out of wedlock.

SCOLFORO: That’s similar to rape?

SMITH: No, no, no, but… put yourself in a father’s situation, yes. It is similar. But, back to the original, I’m pro-life, period.

You put yourself in a father's situation? Like the father of the child with the woman he raped situation, or the father of the raped woman? It would just be handy to know how to properly confront your raped child, because it's a topic not often confronted in most parenting books.

"Dad...I was raped."

" How much is this gonna cost me? "

"I...what?"

" Do you love this guy? You gonna marry him? How much am I shelling out? "

"Are you listening to me?"

" Oh, I suppose you're going to want a registry with your little rapey friend now. "

Healthy, well-adjusted children come from healthy, well-adjusted families that equate rape to pretty much any inconvenience ever.

[ ThinkProgress ]