Richard Mourdock - Political Positions

Political Positions

Social Security and Medicare

Mourdock has questioned the constitutionality of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, saying to a group of supporters: "I challenge you in Article I, Section 8 of the United States Constitution where those so-called Enumerated powers are listed. I challenge you to find words that talk about Medicare or Medicaid or, yes, even Social Security." Mourdock does not support cutting benefits for current Medicare beneficiaries, but he does support a new voucher plan for those under age 55. Mourdock also believes the age of eligibility for Medicare should be increased from 65 to 67. Mourdock believes Social Security should be reformed to allow younger workers to invest in personalized retirement accounts. and that it will be necessary to increase the retirement age to collect Social Security benefits.

Abortion

As a candidate for Congress in 1992, Mourdock stated that he supported legal abortion in the case of some "crisis pregnancies", but did not believe abortion should be used as a form a birth control. During his 2012 U.S. Senate race, he has indicated that he opposes abortion except to save the life of the mother. At an October 23, 2012, candidate debate, Mourdock explained why he is opposed to abortion even when the pregnancy is the result of rape:

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

Dan Parker, chairman of the Indiana Democratic Party, immediately attacked Mourdock, saying that, "I'm stunned and ashamed that Richard Mourdock believes God intended rape", and that he is an "extremist" who is out of touch with Indiana. Speculation that Mourdock's remark could affect the outcome of the Senate race centered on attempts to liken his comments to those of Todd Akin.

Responding to Parker, Mourdock issued a statement 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." He later added, "I believe God controls the universe. I don't believe biology works in an uncontrolled fashion." A number of Republican officials and candidates, including Sen. John McCain, called for him to issue an apology, but Mourdock refused. He instead aired a television ad titled "Leadership" several days after the comments stating that Democrats and Democratic PACs were “mocking Richard Mourdock’s religious faith and twisting his words(...) playing politics and distracting from the real issues”. One week after the remark, Mourdock was greeted enthusiastically by the attendees of a semiannual dinner for prominent Indiana Republican officials and supporters.

Mourdock lost to Donnelly in a tight race.

Federal spending

Mourdock has called for cuts in federal spending and for a balanced budget. On his website, Mourdock has said that he supports the Ryan Path to Prosperty Plan. However, Mourdock has also said that "'Ryan's overall budget proposal might not go far enough, fast enough"; Mourdock would like to shrink government spending by $7.6 trillion in 10 years, (as opposed to Ryan's budget which would cut $5.5 trillion). Mourdock said he would not have supported the Troubled Assets Relief Program and opposed the bailout of GM and Chrysler which included measures causing losses to secured bondholders in retirement funds he managed as treasurer. He would abolish earmarks.

Immigration

Mourdock opposes amnesty for illegal immigrants and opposes the DREAM Act.

Views on bipartisanship

In February 2012, Murdoch told the Conservative Political Action Conference(CPAC) that bipartisanship has nearly bankrupted the country, and that confrontation, not collegiality was needed. In an interview on MSNBC in May 2012 Murdoch said, "bipartisanship ought to consist of Democrats coming to the Republican point of view...If we win the House, Senate, and White House], bipartisanship means they have to come our way". In the same interview he said, "To me, the highlight of politics, frankly, is to inflict my opinion on someone else." Republican 2012 Vice Presidential nominee Paul Ryan later expressed his disagreement with Mourdock's statement, saying, "I obviously don't agree with that."