Congressman: 'Life of the Mother' Never an Issue

Joe Walsh: No reason for abortion, ever
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 19, 2012 12:14 PM CDT

Looks like Joe Walsh won't be getting off Jon Stewart's list of the craziest guys in Congress any time soon: Last night in a debate with his opponent, Democrat Tammy Duckworth, the Illinois rep and Tea Party favorite explained that he is "pro-life without exception." He continued, "Understand though, that when we talk about exceptions, we talk about rape, incest, health of a woman, life of a woman. Life of the woman is not an exception." Duckworth accused Walsh of allowing a woman to die rather than get an abortion, and Walsh said that was unfair. After the debate, he explained further to the press, NPR reports.

  • He told CNN: "This is an issue that opponents of life throw out there to make us look unreasonable. There's no such exception as life of the mother, and as far as health of the mother, same thing, with advances in science and technology. Health of the mother has been, has become a tool for abortions any time under any reason."
  • He told WGN: "With modern technology and science, you can't find one instance … there is no such exception as life of the mother, and as far as health of the mother, same thing."
That's just not true, ThinkProgress points out: Pregnancy-related deaths are actually on the rise. Daily Intel notes that ectopic pregnancies, in particular, are dangerous. And the Huffington Post has video of one of Walsh's fellow members of Congress talking, on the House floor, about a pregnancy that nearly killed her. Not surprisingly, many are referring to this as Walsh's Todd Akin moment. (More Joe Walsh (politician) stories.)

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