Controversial rape remark unleashes wave of statements

The statement from Richard Mourdock, a Tea Party backed candidate in Indiana, came during a debate on Tuesday night when he was asked about abortion:

“The only exception I have to have an abortion is in that case of the life of the mother. I struggled with it myself for a long time, but I came to realize that life is that gift from God and I think even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape that it is something God intended to happen.”

The answer quickly gained traction on social media, as people on Twitter attacked it. Mourdock remained a trending topic through much of the morning.

After the debate, Mourdock tried to clarify his words, saying:

“God creates life, and that was my point. God does not want rape, and by no means was I suggesting that He does. Rape is a horrible thing, and for anyone to twist my words otherwise is absurd and sick.”