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Koster.jpg
Days before the election, there's a controversy in the 1st Congressional District race involving Republican John Koster's use of the phrase 'rape thing' when talking about abortion in a secretly-recorded conversation. Democrat Suzan DelBene is leading Koster 47 percent to 44 percent, according to the most recent poll. (John Koster campaign photo)

1st District candidate explains comment about the 'rape thing'

October 31, 2012 @ 8:14 pm (Updated: 5:33 am - 11/1/12 )

A Washington state congressional candidate, in one of the state's tightest races, says abortion should not be legal, even when it involves "the rape thing."

John Koster was caught in a secretly-recorded conversation saying "rape thing" a couple of times as someone questions him about abortion.

Listen to the audio below in the YouTube video. Here's a transcript of the conversation:

Questioner: "Is there any time that you would agree with abortion?"

Koster: "When a mother's life in in danger. I'm not going to make that decision. You know, I know they go out and... incest is so rare, I mean, it's so rare. But the rape thing...you know, I know a woman who was raped and kept her child, gave it up for adoption, she doesn't regret it. In fact, she's a big pro-life proponent. But on the rape thing, it's like, how does putting more violence onto a woman's body and taking the life of an innocent child that's a consequence of this crime, how does that make it better? You know what I mean?"

Questioner: "But she has to live with the consequence of that crime."

Koster: "Well you know crime has consequences, but how does it make it better by killing a child?"

When asked to explain his comment, Koster issued this statement: "Rape is a vicious and horribly violent crime, and no one in Washington State has been tougher on criminals and sex offenders than I have been, period."

The Koster camp claims the "secret recording" was edited to "suit DelBene's agenda."

Suzan DelBene is running against Koster in the close race.

"Consider that John was at a dinner with many people trying to get his attention. He very clearly and honestly stated his thoughts on an extremely sensitive subject. He has nothing to be ashamed of here," says Larry Stickney, Koster's campaign manager.

He also says it is unfair to insinuate that Koster is "callous" or "cavalier" when it comes to the subject of rape.

By LINDA THOMAS

More from Linda Thomas

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Comments (137)


  • Add A Comment

  • CH wrote...
    Trick or Treat - Vote Republican . . . .
    November 1, 2012 5:40 am
    even 'they' don't know what you will get! LOL
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Splinge wrote...
    Obama was like a box of chocolates...
    November 1, 2012 11:01 am
    But now we know what we got. And we don't want no more...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • SickofSeattleite wrote...
    you can't judge a party
    November 1, 2012 5:53 am
    on one politician...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • SeattleD wrote...
    If it were only one politician
    November 1, 2012 6:01 am
    but it's not.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Paul Kersey wrote...
    How dare he compete with Joe Biden
    November 1, 2012 6:28 am
    Joe has firmly established himself as the biggest dope in DC.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    True that
    November 1, 2012 7:36 am
    Just look at the obama administration. The LIARS Club!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Splinge wrote...
    One word...
    November 1, 2012 11:03 am
    Anthony Wiener
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Richardb787 wrote...
    SickofSeattleite
    November 1, 2012 9:18 am
    One Politican? Are you nuts? Koster is just one more NeoCon nut job comming out of the wood work. And as you name would suggest, why are still here? (Seattle)
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • SickofSeattleite wrote...
    he has a point...
    November 1, 2012 6:06 am
    just because your raped....why can't you give it up for adoption? I don't understand why 9 months is to much effort but having a needle stab your vag and a vacuum suck out your uterus is no problem. Ever heard of counseling people? Better yourself by being a good person. Don't be a selfish victim.
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  • William Lawn wrote...
    Except it is not you who is doing the carrying, now is it sick
    November 1, 2012 6:16 am
    Koster either.

    Let us see, 9 months of your life, your career, relationships, your life.

    As a result of a forced act.

    You people are mad, like in crazy.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ElenaT wrote...
    if you could get pregnant
    November 1, 2012 8:45 am
    you'd shut up. it's not a child anymore than it's an adult. it's a couple of cells unable to think or feel growing inside an innocent victim of violence that will eventually violently tear its way out. do you know what an episiotomy is? maybe someone should slice open your perineum so that you can empathize a bit more with what pregnancy *actually* is.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Splinge wrote...
    Yeah,
    November 1, 2012 11:09 am
    Right, what the heck, why should the little baby that had nothing to do with the rape get a life, just kill him and solve the problem... I'll take being called mad or crazy any time over murderous and selfish.
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  • ElenaT wrote...
    when men develop a way
    November 1, 2012 11:50 am
    to transfer the pregnancy to themselves, then they can be welcome to the conversation.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Madison2Seattle wrote...
    are you kidding me?
    November 1, 2012 9:56 am
    Perhaps if you were raped and had the opportunity to experience the horrid act of a man overpowering you to pleasure himself sexually you would understand why a woman may be tortured by the memory of what happened for the nine months it takes to have the baby and give it up for adoption. Isnt the threat of AIDS or some other horrid STD bad enough? Forcing a raped woman to remain pregnant with the perp's child....talk about a constant reminder... morning sickness alone can prevent a woman from keeping her job. Is that too much effort? Are you going to advocate financial support for pregnant victims of rape if they lose their job due to their pregnancy? IT HAPPENS... A LOT. Not all pregnant women glow for nine months and pop out a baby without effort ya know - many of us are pale, sick all the time, and uncomfortable in way too many ways (not even counting labor)! Keep your opinion if you wish but let me keep my choice!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cameron wrote...
    How many more Trina Curry's does Delbene want to create and support?
    November 1, 2012 6:08 am
    It leads to the question, what do the Delbene Democrats want to do when the Trina Curry's of the world exercise their choice not to have an abortion? http://www.q13fox.com/news/kcpq-police-seek-publics-help-in-locating-endangered-infant-20120907,0,7707669.story
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ron prevost wrote...
    There is, at least, a consistency in Mr. Koster's view.
    November 1, 2012 6:16 am
    Assuming a woman has waited so long after a rape that a pregnancy is confirmed, THEN from the viewpoint of those religiously opposed to abortion, a human life exists. And while a qualitive evaluation may be made between the life of the mother and the fetus, if there is no physical health danger, a strict right to lifer would not allow an abortion for rape.

    BUT, we make life and death decisions every day regarding post natal human beings. So, then, qualitive evaluation can, in my humble opinion, be extended. ........... There IS a verse in the Bible that states 'the sins of the father shall be visited onto the children.'

    .

    All that said, this brews a tempest in a tea cup. I doubt that Mr. Koster's views come as a shock to ANYONE in the First Congressional District at this late time and date. ... This is hardly an October (or now November) surprise.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • FormerMarineSgt wrote...
    @ron....
    November 1, 2012 3:35 pm
    "Assuming a woman has waited so long after a rape that a pregnancy is confirmed, THEN from the viewpoint of those religiously opposed to abortion, a human life exists" ---------- HUH? What? do you know a secret method of how women know they are pregnant after a rape BEFORE anyone can test to find out whether they are or not?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ron prevost wrote...
    I'm not any better at using the wrond words as anyone else, Mr. Jarhead.
    November 2, 2012 5:45 am
    Of course, I don't consider "Plan-B" an abortion - and I don't think any woman would test to confirm a pregnancy before using such. ... Just WHY would anyone wait to test ?

    What I was trying to do, however, was get into the mind set of the absolute right to lifers, noting Koster's consistency with them.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • WingNut2 wrote...
    What a tool!
    November 1, 2012 6:23 am
    His message would be perfect for Arkansas or West Virginia, but he's not the kind of candidate that Washington needs.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Rick W7PSK wrote...
    I dont agree with Mr Koster her
    November 1, 2012 6:24 am
    But I disagree with Ms Delbene on a 100 other things.

    So there lies the dilemma.

    Does this one thing out weigh the 100 other things.

    Do you really support Ms Delbene who is so far out there that the Star Ship Enterprise would have a problem reaching her.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • DesertRez wrote...
    Romans
    November 1, 2012 6:24 am
    17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. 18 If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord."
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ces wrote...
    I love how
    November 1, 2012 6:34 am
    men are commenting on this and saying, "Its just 9 months, its not that big of a deal." Clearly you don't understand what it's like to be pregnant let alone what it's like to give birth. I would suggest not weighing in on this subject because you don't know what the he!! you are talking about.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Chuck Gould wrote...
    I would speculate there's a lot of psychic trauma involved...
    November 1, 2012 6:48 am
    with carrying a rape child to term.

    The woman is pregnant, 24/7, for nine months. Every time she endures some hormonal weirdism, or sees her belly in the mirror, she is going to relive the assault.

    I'm personally pro-life, but I stop short of insisting that everybody has to see the issue from my personal perspective.

    Killing the fetus isn't going to kill the memory of the rape, but asking a raped woman to put her life on hold while she bears the child of the rapist is asking more than most people might be willing to endure.

    Question for my conservative friends: Suppose that the raped woman is poor, and has no health insurance. Suppose that Romney wins next week, and that health care will be put back on its "proper" course, available only at outrageous prices and only to the highest bidders. Would you support publicly funding the expenses for the poor woman's pregnancy, (in order to avoid an abortion), or would you simply insist that she needed to demonstrate some "personal responsibility" and deal with $10,000 in medical bills on her own?

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Seattle Dad wrote...
    Obviously living in fantasy land
    November 1, 2012 7:34 am
    if you believe that poor people can't get free medical care. I've been without insurance and you don't have to go to emergency rooms to get treatment. I didn't have trouble finding clinics in LA or Seattle to give free/greatly reduced healthcare. Obama's healthcare law has only increased the costs of my company's health insurance rates since we didn't get the exemptions the unions got. About 20% a year for the last 2 years. Poor people get free healthcare. It's called Medicaid. Rape and abortion have traumatic emotional consequences. I know women who relive their choice to have an abortion and kill their baby every time they see a newborn. Not a simple subject. One politician is not going to change laws on abortion. "It's the economy stupid"
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Chuck Gould wrote...
    Seattle Dad....yeah, you can have a baby in the ER
    November 1, 2012 7:51 am
    but what about decent pre-natal care? Would you be willing for the public to foot the bill for poor women without health insurance to carry their babies to term, in order to get rid of abortions?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • FormerMarineSgt wrote...
    @chuck
    November 1, 2012 3:42 pm
    I would agree with the mental trauma of rape and the 9 months of additional trauma to be forced to bear a 'rape child'. One could get dramatic and say that some women would consider and commit suicide rather that endure those 9 months of continually 24x7 reminder of being raped. I'm entirely shocked and saddened by the fact that ANYONE would care so little for the rape victim as to be blindly willing to force her to go through this. If the woman is willing to bear the child, so be it, but for someone to force her because of YOUR OWN religious convictions? Shameful. In my mind even more shameful than abortion or rape. And I'm against abortion (although as a man, I am not in the position to force that opinion upon any woman).
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