2012 Penn. Senate Debates: on Abortion


Tom Smith: Pro-life, period, but not for rape

In response to a question on Indiana Senate candidate Richard Mourdock's statement that a pregnancy resulting from rape is "something God intended," Casey called it "outrageous." Smith said he also doesn't agree with the statement but added that he is "pro-life period."
Source: Cumberlink Sentinel on 2012 PA Senate debate Oct 26, 2012

Tom Smith: No abortion under all circumstances, including rape & incest

Tom Smith inadvertently waded into the war of words over rape and abortion. Asked about his stance on abortion, Smith said he opposed it in all circumstances, including rape and incest.

He then seemed to equate the trauma of a pregnancy brought about by rape with a woman's deciding to have a child outside marriage. Smith backtracked under later questioning, saying that the situations were not exactly the same but that "a life is a life, and it needs to be protected."

Source: Philadelphia Inquirer on 2012 PA Senate debate Aug 29, 2012

Marc Scaringi: Pro-life

The moderator held a lightning round, where the candidates could only answer "yes," "no," or "abstain." All of the candidates said that they are pro-life, pro-second amendment, and would get rid of the Department of Education.
Source: PoliticsPA.com coverage of 2012 PA Senate debate Jan 21, 2012

  • The above quotations are from 2012 Pennsylvania Senate Debate.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Abortion.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Marc Scaringi on Abortion.
  • Click here for more quotes by Steve Welch on Abortion.
Candidates and political leaders on Abortion:

Retired Senate as of Jan. 2015:
GA:Chambliss(R)
IA:Harkin(D)
MI:Levin(D)
MT:Baucus(D)
NE:Johanns(R)
OK:Coburn(R)
SD:Johnson(D)
WV:Rockefeller(D)

Resigned from 113th House:
AL-1:Jo Bonner(R)
FL-19:Trey Radel(R)
LA-5:Rod Alexander(R)
MA-5:Ed Markey(D)
MO-9:Jo Ann Emerson(R)
NC-12:Melvin Watt(D)
SC-1:Tim Scott(R) 		Retired House to run for Senate or Governor:
AR-4:Tom Cotton(R)
GA-1:Jack Kingston(R)
GA-10:Paul Broun(R)
GA-11:Phil Gingrey(R)
HI-1:Colleen Hanabusa(D)
IA-1:Bruce Braley(D)
LA-6:Bill Cassidy(R)
ME-2:Mike Michaud(D)
MI-14:Gary Peters(D)
MT-0:Steve Daines(R)
OK-5:James Lankford(R)
PA-13:Allyson Schwartz(D)
TX-36:Steve Stockman(R)
WV-2:Shelley Capito(R) 		Retired House as of Jan. 2015:
AL-6:Spencer Bachus(R)
AR-2:Tim Griffin(R)
CA-11:George Miller(D)
CA-25:Howard McKeon(R)
CA-33:Henry Waxman(D)
CA-45:John Campbell(R)
IA-3:Tom Latham(R)
MN-6:Michele Bachmann(R)
NC-6:Howard Coble(R)
NC-7:Mike McIntyre(D)
NJ-3:Jon Runyan(R)
NY-4:Carolyn McCarthy(D)
NY-21:Bill Owens(D)
PA-6:Jim Gerlach(R)
UT-4:Jim Matheson(D)
VA-8:Jim Moran(D)
VA-10:Frank Wolf(R)
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Page last updated: Dec 04, 2018