Today In "Joe Walsh Says Stupid Things:" Abortion To Save The Life Of The Mother Doesn't Exist Thanks To "Modern Technology And Science."
By Chuck Sudo in News on Oct 19, 2012 4:10PM
Illinois Rep. Joe Walsh and his opponent in November’s general election, Tammy Duckworth, squared off in a candidates forum on WTTW-TV’s Chicago Tonight Thursday. It was lacking in personal attacks and an audience fueled by liquor, which allowed the two to focus on the issues.
The forum became heated when it was focused on Medicare and. On the latter subject, Walsh restated his position he was opposed to abortion in any case, including rape, incest and if the life or health of the mother was at stake.
After the discussion, Walsh gave a curious reasoning for that.
“With modern technology and science, you can't find one instance,” he said. “... There is no such exception as life of the mother, and as far as health of the mother, same thing.”
Eric Ming of the CREDO SuperPAC pointed out to Chicagoist if Walsh wanted to dig deep, he could find one instance in Congress. In February 2011, California Rep. Jackie Speier recounted an abortion procedure she had where the baby moved into the cervix at 17 weeks. Responding to comments from New Jersey Rep. Christopher Smith, Speier said:
“(T)hat procedure is a procedure that I endured. I lost a baby. But for you to stand on this floor and to suggest, as you have, that somehow this is a procedure that is either welcomed or done cavalierly or done without any thought is preposterous."
Planned Parenthood Executive Vice President Dawn Laguens released a statement:
“Joe Walsh’s ignorance about women’s health is alarming. It is deeply troubling that he and some politicians have such a fundamental disregard for women and women’s health. As the advocate for Planned Parenthood health centers, we know that ending a pregnancy can often be a very complex, personal decision and that there are absolutely times that a woman’s life depends on it.
“If Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan are elected, these ignorant statements will be more than words -- they would become law. Joe Walsh and the Tea Party Congress are ready to completely ban abortion, and Mitt Romney has said that he ‘would be delighted’ to sign an abortion ban into law. The Romney/Ryan ticket has promised that they would put women’s personal medical decisions in the hands of politicians like Joe Walsh and Todd Akin.”
In August Walsh criticized media and politicians in both parties of “piling on” Missouri Republican Senate candidate Todd Akin, whose comments on "legitimate rape" caused a national furor.
Here is the full segment from Chicago Tonight
After the forum, Walsh reiterated his comments about abortion to save the life of the mother. (Forward to the 2:20 mark in the video.)