As a Senate candidate, Josh Duggar’s dad said that rape and incest should be ‘punishable by death’

Last week, 19 Kids and Counting reality TV star, Christian activist and former executive director of the Family Research Council Josh Duggar admitted that allegations he molested 5 underage girls, including his sisters, were true.

Duggar’s family, and countless conservative figures, including potential 2016 GOP presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, have vigorously defended him in the press, emphasizing a theme of compassion and “forgiveness.”

But that doesn’t quite square with statements made by Duggar’s dad, Jim Bob, when he was a candidate for the Senate in 2002, where he opined that crimes like rape and incest should be punishable by the death penalty.

On Jim Bob’s former campaign website (captured by Gawker via web cache), the Duggar patriarch clearly states that he believes “rape and incest represent heinous crimes and as such should be treated as capital crimes.”

duggar platform
Image via Gawker

Jim Bob lost his bid to Tim Hutchinson of Arkansas. It was during this time (2002-2003) that Josh’s molesting of children as they slept occurred.

Sky Palma

Before launching DeadState back in 2012, Sky Palma has been blogging about politics, social issues and religion for over a decade. He lives in Los Angeles and also enjoys Brazilian jiu jitsu, chess, music and art.

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