Democrat John Rogers Apologizes for Saying ‘Retarded’ Babies Should Be Aborted, but Maintains Stance on ‘Unwanted’ Babies

State Representative John Rogers apologized earlier this week for his comment that “retarded” babies should be aborted.

Late in April, Alabama Democrat John Rogers voiced his support for abortion during a House debate on a pro-life bill, stirring up controversy with his appeal. “Some kids are unwanted, so you kill them now or you kill them later,” he said. “You bring them in the world unwanted, unloved, you send them to the electric chair.”

Rogers continued his remarks: “Some parents can’t handle a child with problems. It could be retarded. It might have no arms and no legs.”

Although he initially defended his statements, according to Yellowhammer News the representative regretted his choice of words on Talk 99.5’s Matt & Aunie Show.

“The r-word is a word that’s old and dates way back to the 1940s. It’s not mentally challenged. It’s a different [meaning] to it now, but I did use it. … I was wrong about the retarded thing,” Rogers said. “I’m shying away from the fact that I used the word retarded.”

Rogers also commented on two mentally challenged friends whom he “loves to death.”

“I support special needs children, and they love me unconditionally. I have relatives and friends with special-needs kids, so [using that word] was wrong. Charge it to my head, not my…