Ohio Lawmaker Says Pregnancy from Rape Is an ‘Opportunity’
"It's a shame that it happens, but there’s an opportunity for that woman, no matter how young or old she is,” said Republican state Rep. Jean Schmidt.
AbortionPolitics
Getting pregnant by your rapist is actually “an opportunity,” according to Ohio state Rep. Jean Schmidt (R), who testified Wednesday in favor of a bill to curb abortion in Ohio. Schmidt says rape is “difficult” and may leave emotional scars on its survivors—“but if a baby is created, it is a human life. And whether that mother ends that pregnancy or not, the scars will not go away. Period. It is a shame that it happens, but there’s an opportunity for that woman, no matter how young or old she is,” Schmidt said.
Yes, it was a pretty disturbing choice to add the “how young” in there, but rather than dwelling on the idea of children being forced to carry a pregnancy by their rapist, Schmidt just barreled forward: “To make a determination about what she’s going to do to help that life be a productive human being. She can choose to raise the child,” she told the committee. “She can choose to give that child to a loving family member, or give it to someone else. And that child can grow up to be something magnificent, a wonderful family person, uh, cure cancer, etc.”