Claim:
An October 2025 meme, titled, “Republicans on rape,” authentically presented quotes from six Republicans who either campaigned as candidates or held elected office.
Rating:
Context
The first sentence of the quote attributed to 1990 Texas gubernatorial candidate Clayton Williams paraphrased one of his remarks. Also, former Maine state Rep. Lawrence Lockman apologized for his comment about rape after it resurfaced in 2014. Several Maine-based publications reported on the quote at the time, though we have not yet located the originating source material for the 1990 quote online.
A meme, titled, “Republicans on rape,” circulated online in October 2025, offering six alleged quotes on the subject of rape from Republicans who either campaigned as candidates or held elected office in the U.S.
On Oct. 14, a user managing the progressive Occupy Democrats Facebook and Instagram pages posted the meme. The poster added, “You can fact check all of these quotes. They REALLY said all this.”
(Occupy Democrats/Facebook)
In short, the meme authentically presented real quotes from all six Republican Party members, including from 1990 Texas gubernatorial candidate Clayton Williams, former U.S. Rep. Todd Akin of Missouri, former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, 2012 Indiana U.S. Senate candidate Richard Mourdock, former Texas state Rep. Jodie Laubenberg and former Maine state Rep. Lawrence Lockman.
Snopes contacted Santorum, Mourdock and Lockman for comment — the only three people mentioned in the meme who are still alive. We will update this story if we receive further information.
Clayton Williams
“Rape is kinda like the weather. If it’s inevitable, relax and enjoy it.”
On March 24, 1990, Williams, campaigning for the Texas governor’s seat, hosted a group of newspaper reporters for a cattle roundup at his ranch on a chilly, drizzly and foggy morning in the city of Alpine. While sitting around a campfire with cowhands and the reporters, Williams likened the weather to rape, saying, “If it’s inevitable, just relax and enjoy it.”
The following day, Austin American-Statesman newspaper writer David Elliot reported the names of journalists who were on the scene and heard the remark, including from the Houston Post, Houston Chronicle and Dallas Morning News:
Clayton Williams, already under fire for saying he would feel more comfortable facing a male opponent in November, refused to retract a joke he told Saturday involving rape.
Williams, the front-runner in the governor’s race, told the joke to reporters and others who were on hand at his West Texas ranch for a roundup of approximately 900 cattle.
The weather in Alpine, about 150 miles southwest of Williams’ home in Midland, was drizzly and chilly. Dense, rolling fog delayed the roundup, leading Williams to link bad weather with rape.
“If it’s inevitable, just relax and enjoy it,” observers quoted Williams as saying.
The remarks were made around a campfire early in the morning, while Williams was drinking coffee and sharing stories with some cowhands and reporters John Gravois of the Houston Post, R.G. Ratcliff of the Houston Chronicle and Sam Attlesey of the Dallas Morning News.
Later, William said he found nothing wrong with his remark and criticized reporters’ interest in it.
Houston Chronicle reported Williams apologized hours later while also defending the comment as “just a joke”:
“If anyone is offended, I apologize deeply,” William said, sweeping his sweat-stained cowboy hat.
But he staunchly defended the comment as “just a joke” made around a campfire in a man’s world.
“That’s not a Republican women’s club that we were having this morning,” he said. “It’s a working cow camp, a tough world where you can get kicked in the testicles if you’re not careful.”
“I just don’t think there’s fairness in holding me to a rule when we’re sitting around an outdoor camp in my bailiwick in leggings and boots and working men and cow camp.”
“That’s the way we live here,” Williams said. “We have jokes. We have fun. It’s not the political arena.”
The Associated Press featured further quotes from Williams, including, “It’s a man’s world where we were today. Rape is not funny in any way. It’s a terrible thing. … I was trying to be light and humorous to the men. I am not a sexist. I have women in my upper management.”
“Rape is kinda like the weather,” the first sentence in the meme’s quote, did not appear in any newspapers hosted on the newspaper-archival website Newspapers.com until 2019. No newspapers from March 1990 directly quoted Williams’ remark just before saying, “If it’s inevitable, just relax and enjoy it.” This lack of information prior to 2019 indicated the first sentence of the quote was a paraphrase.
Williams died in 2020.
Todd Akin
“If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to shut that thing down.”
On Aug. 19, 2012, Akin, seeking reelection to his U.S. House seat for the state of Missouri, participated as a guest on journalist Charles Jaco’s St. Louis Fox affiliate TV show “The Jaco Report.”
The Fox 2 St. Louis YouTube channel hosted videos from Jaco’s interview with Akin. The relevant question and answer begin at the 3:56 mark in the clip:
Jaco’s question specifically asked Akin for his thoughts about abortion in the case of rape:
JACO: Ok, so if an abortion could be considered in a case of say, a tubal pregnancy or something like that, what about in the case of rape? Should it be legal or not?
AKIN: Well, you know, people always wanna try and make that as one of those things, “Well how do you, how do you slice this particularly tough sort of ethical question?” It seems to me, first of all, from what I understand from doctors, that’s really rare. If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down. But let’s assume that maybe that didn’t work or something. You know, I think there should be some punishment, but the punishment outta be on the rapist and not attacking the child.
JACO: Ok, let’s go to the economy …
Within hours, Akin attempted to clarify his remarks in a statement he released on his Akin.org website, reading in part:
As a member of Congress, I believe that working to protect the most vulnerable in our society is one of my most important responsibilities, and that includes protecting both the unborn and victims of sexual assault. In reviewing my off-the-cuff remarks, it’s clear that I misspoke in this interview and it does not reflect the deep empathy I hold for the thousands of women who are raped and abused every year. Those who perpetrate these crimes are the lowest of the low in our society and their victims will have no stronger advocate in the Senate to help ensure they have the justice they deserve.
I recognize that abortion, and particularly in the case of rape, is a very emotionally charged issue. But I believe deeply in the protection of all life and I do not believe that harming another innocent victim is the right course of action. I also recognize that there are those who, like my opponent, support abortion and I understand I may not have their support in this election.
His campaign also released a TV ad asking voters for “forgiveness.”
Akin further discussed his comment during an MSNBC TV appearance in 2014. He died in 2021.
Rick Santorum
“Rape victims should make the best of a bad situation.”
On Jan. 20, 2012, CNN broadcast an interview with Santorum, who at the time was seeking the Republican nomination in that year’s presidential election. Piers Morgan, then a CNN TV host, conducted the interview for “Piers Morgan Live.”
During the interview, Morgan asked Santorum about his views regarding whether he was in favor of abortion in cases of rape, including raising a hypothetical situation involving Santorum’s daughters. In one part of Santorum’s answer, he said:
SANTORUM: Well, you can make the argument that if she doesn’t have this baby, if she kills her child, that that, too, could ruin her life. And this is not an easy choice. I understand that. As horrible as, as horrible as the way that that son or daughter and son was created, it still is her child. And whether she has that child or doesn’t, it will always be her child. And she will always know that. And so, to embrace her and to love her and to support her and get her through this very difficult time, I’ve always, you know, I believe and I think, you know, the right approach is to accept this horribly created, in the sense of rape, but nevertheless gift in, in a, in a very broken way, the gift of human life, and accept what God has given to you.
As, as you know, we have to, in lots of different aspects of our life. We have horrible things happen to … I can’t think of anything more horrible. But, nevertheless, we have to make the best out of a bad situation. And I would make the argument that is making the best [of it].
CNN uploaded a video of Santorum’s answer on YouTube and also hosted a transcript of the full interview on CNN.com.
Richard Mourdock
“Even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that is something that God intended to happen.”
On Oct. 23, 2012, Mourdock participated in the final debate for an Indiana U.S. Senate seat. Moderator Dennis Ryerson asked a question about abortion, contraception and whether life begins at conception. He answered Ryerson after two other candidates provided their answers:
RYERSON: The issue of abortion and contraception continue to divide the country, and questions we received from voters reflected that divide. For example, one voter wanted to know your position on a woman’s right to abortion, but not only that but to contraception and other reproductive health services, and whether the government should provide those services. Another asked if you believe that life begins at conception, and in that person’s view, what would you do to protect the babies who could be aborted during your term in the Senate? So, where do you stand on these issues?
…
MOURDOCK: You know, this is that issue that every candidate for federal or even state office faces, and I, too, certainly stand for life. I know there are some who disagree and I respect their point of view, but I believe that life begins at conception. The only exception I have for, to have an abortion is in that case of the life of the mother. I just, I struggled with it myself for a long time, but I came to realize life is that gift from God. And I think even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that it is something that God intended to happen. You know, Mr. Donnelly’s comments about Obamacare …
The WANE 15 News YouTube channel reposted part of Mourdock’s answer, while the IndianaDebate YouTube channel hosted the full debate video:
CBS News reported Mourdock later said he intended to say “God creates life,” not that God “pre-ordained rape”:
Mourdock, seeking to clarify his comments in a press conference following the debate, said he had intended to say that “God creates life,” and that any interpretation of his comments to mean God “pre-ordained rape” were “sick” and “twisted.”
“What I said was, in answering the question form my position of faith, I said I believe that God creates life. I believe that as wholly and as fully as I can believe it. That God creates life,” Mourdock said. “Are you trying to suggest that somehow I think that God pre-ordained rape? No, I don’t think that. That’s sick. Twisted. That’s not even close to what I said. What I said is that God creates life.”
Jodie Laubenberg
“In the emergency room they have what’s called rape kits, where a woman can get cleaned out.”
On June 23, 2013, Laubenberg participated in a Texas House debate regarding her own sponsored anti-abortion bill. The debate continued into the wee hours of the following morning.
NBC News reported Laubenberg argued about “why she opposed adding an exception for women who have been raped”:
“[I]n hospital emergency rooms, we have funded what’s called rape kits that will help the woman, basically clean her out. And then hopefully that will alleviate that.”
She was then interrupted by Democratic Representative Dawnna Dukes, who wanted to hear that part again, please:
“Representative Laubenberg, you said these ladies would be able to acquire an abortion at one of the emergency rooms?”
And so Laubenberg said it again, only more so:
“In the emergency room they have what’s called rape kits that the woman, she’ll get cleaned out, basically like a D&C, and emergency contraception, where they can also do the morning-after pill.”
A low-quality YouTube video, the best clip available, showed Laubenberg’s remarks:
Two days later, on June 25, Dallas Morning News reported the facts about rape kits, and that Laubenberg clarified her comments:
The problem: Rape kits are used to collect evidence in hopes of prosecuting the perpetrator. They play no role in preventing pregnancy or serving as an abortion.
…
The response: Laubenberg told North Texas talk radio host Mark Davis on Tuesday that she was momentarily confused by Democrats’ questions and misspoke. “What I was trying to say is, when a woman goes to the hospital, that they have the procedures there” to help her obtain emergency contraception and other treatment, she said. “No, rape kits do not cause an abortion.” As for the reaction, Laubenberg added: “If that’s the worst that you can complain about me, go ahead.”
Laubenberg died on Sept. 1, 2025.
Lawrence Lockman
If a woman has (the right to an abortion), why shouldn’t a man be free to use his superior strength to force himself on a woman? At least the rapist’s pursuit of sexual freedom doesn’t (in most cases) result in anyone’s death.”
In 2014, blogger Mike Tipping — whom voters later elected in 2022 to a Maine state Senate seat — published an article about Maine state Rep. Lockman on the Maine-based Bangor Daily News website with the headline, “Maine Rep. Lawrence Lockman’s decades-long history of extremism.” The story featured the quote from the meme:
In the early 1990s, Lockman was active on the issue of abortion. He became a director of the Pro Life Education Association and in 1990 was quoted as saying “If a woman has (the right to abortion), why shouldn’t a man be free to use his superior strength to force himself on a woman? At least the rapist’s pursuit of sexual freedom doesn’t (in most cases) result in anyone’s death.”
Tipping’s mention of “was quoted as saying” referenced a letter to the editor a reader published in the Oct. 28, 1995, edition of the Sun-Journal newspaper in Lewiston, Maine. That letter in turn referenced a ballot measure from 1995, titled, “Maine Question 1, Limiting Protected Classifications Measure”:
In my opinion, the groups that are urging passage of this referendum, Concerned Maine Families and the Coalition to End Special Rights, rely on dishonest tactics such as misinformation and confusing messages, and attempt to exacerbate fear-based hatred. Their literature and their message are frightening. Take, for example, this statement by Lawrence Lockman, vice-chairman and press secretary for Concerned Maine Families, on the topic of violence against women:
“If a woman has (the right to abortion), why shouldn’t a man be free to use his superior strength to force himself on a woman? At least the rapist’s pursuit of sexual freedom doesn’t (in most cases) result in anyone’s death.” (Oct. 4, 1990)
This is the mindset of the leaders of the pro-discrimination movement.
University of Miami Law Review, MaineBeacon.com, CentralMaine.com, Portland Press Herald and Chicago Tribune all reported the quote. We did not locate an article, book, document or other record of this quote from 1990.
Bangor Daily News reported Lockman apologized after the publication of Tipping’s article. Lockman did not challenge the authenticity of that quote, as well as other quotes featured in the story:
In his statement, Lockman said he holds no ill will toward any individual as a result of his beliefs, but did not address whether he still believes being gay is choice, or whether his views on rape, abortion or AIDS have evolved.
“I have always been passionate about my beliefs, and years ago I said things that I regret,” said Lockman in a statement released by the House Minority Office. “I hold no animosity toward anyone by virtue of their gender or sexual orientation, and today I am focused on ensuring freedom and economic prosperity for all Mainers.”
A search did not locate an archived version of the House Minority Office statement page, which someone removed on an unknown date — possibly around the time Lockman left office in 2020.
Sources
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