Indiana Senate hopeful Richard Mourdock is the target of two new out-of-the-box advertisements: a talking direct mail piece from the liberal American Bridge, and a full page ad in the Indianapolis Star from Hustler magazine publisher Larry Flynt.
Flynt’s ad targets Mourdock for the comments he made in an October debate, that “even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that it is something that God intended to happen.”
Many understood those comments to mean that Mourdock felt God intended for rape to happen. Mourdock apologized for any misunderstandings, and said that he in no way meant to say that God endorsed rape or that rape was anything other than “evil.”
Flynt offers Mourdock “$1 million in cash, to be deposited in any bank you designate in the United States, Cayman Islands or Switzerland, for proof to substantiate your statement.”
Please be kind enough to verify your claim for a wondering nation. I will accept for purposes of this reward any verifiable transcript of your personal conversations with God; letters, email, text messages or videos from God, or messages addressed to you from God transmitted by any third party, including the Republican National Committee or the Romney/Ryan campaign.
I assume that you would not have made this statement unless you had been authorized by God. No one who believes in God would ever use the Almighty’s name in vain. That would be blasphemy. I am eager to receive your proof and pay my $1 million reward to you. Please send evidence immediately to me.
The “offer,” writes Flynt, “is valid until 8 P.M. (ET) on November 5, 2012,” the day before election day.
Mourdock is also being targeted by a talking direct mail piece from American Bridge, a Democratic Super PAC. Like the talking cards of childhood, the mailer begins to speak in Mourdock’s voice when opened. Mourdock recites what Democrats see as his most problematic comments: the rape comment, “we don’t need bipartisanship,” and a question whether the “Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard — in the 21st century is that necessary? I’m not sure that it is.”
The cover of the mailer says, “You don’t want to hear what Richard Mourdock has to say.”
“This is just another sleazy attack on Mourdock’s faith,” said Chris Connor of the Mourdock campaign. “Congressman Donnelly will have to defend the friends he keeps. As for us, we are talking about repealing Obamacare and creating jobs.”