“I can’t even finish this sentence without getting dumber”: Tina Fey didn’t mince words when discussing recent comments by relatively prominent Republicans on the topic of rape while speaking at the Center for Reproductive Rights Inaugural Gala in New York City. Check out the 75 second clip for a brief clip of Fey’s thoughts on redefining rape, Richard Mourdock, and Todd Akin. source
Walsh said he was against abortion “without exception,” including rape, incest and in cases in which the life or health of the mother was in jeopardy.
Asked by reporters after the debate if he was saying that it’s never medically necessary to conduct an abortion to save the life of a mother, Walsh responded, “Absolutely.”
“With modern technology and science, you can’t find one instance,” he said. “… There is no such exception as life of the mother, and as far as health of the mother, same thing.”(via Walsh, Duckworth clash on Medicare, abortion - chicagotribune.com)
From a practical policy standpoint, firebrand Rep. Joe Walsh’s “no exceptions” attitude is in step with the GOP’s party platform, though out of step with the Romney/Ryan ticket’s newfound claims to support such rape and incest exceptions.
Newton to the rescue: Embattled Missouri Senate Candidate Todd “Legitimate Rape” Akin may have been abandoned by the Republican establishment, but he’s not entirely without friends: Akin is getting an assist from failed presidential candidate and “Definer of Civilization“ Newt Gingrich, who will be attending a $500-a-plate fundraiser for Akin’s candidacy this Monday (Photo credit: AP). source
It might be really sordid and bad sexual etiquette, but whatever else it is, it is not rape or you bankrupt the term rape of all meaning.George Galloway, Respect Member of Parliament for Bradford West • During a video blog expressing his support for Julian Assange following widespread anger over the Wikileaks founder’s decision to seek political asylum in Ecuador. Galloway’s comments have been widely condemned by fellow British politicians, including Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament Jo Swinson, who told reporters that she couldn’t believe an MP would “be so grossly irresponsible as to suggest that sex without consent is anything other than rape.” source (via • follow)
Dr. Willke is a leading voice within the pro-life community and will be an important surrogate for Governor Romney’s pro-life and pro-family agenda.A statement from the 2008 Mitt Romney presidential campaign • Lauding the endorsement of Mitt Romney by Dr. Jack Willke, the former president of the U.S. National Right to Life Committee, and a vocal advocate of a certain theory about rape and pregnancy that got Rep. Todd Akin in hot water this week. Subsequent to Akin’s big fail on reproductive biology, the Romney campaign of 2012 has gone to great pains distancing itself from the Missouri congressman – Romney himself turned up the heat in the days following the remarks, condemning Akin and urging him to withdraw from his Senate race. As the quote above illustrates, however, the Romney campaign was undeniably pleased to receive the endorsement of Dr. Willkes four years ago, who pioneered his belief that rape victims rarely become pregnant in a book all the way back in 1971. source (via • follow)
Perhaps he doesn’t plan to drop out? The Missouri Senate candidate, who was rumored to be dropping out as of yesterday afternoon, appears to be at least trying to salvage his campaign right now, releasing this ad. Akin didn’t have the best day on Monday, facing sharp rebukes from his own party and skipping out on “Piers Morgan Tonight” at the very last second. Akin drew stern criticism over the weekend after he claimed that women couldn’t get pregnant from “legitimate rape” — a claim that suddenly gives Claire McCaskill a chance to win re-election.
“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.
“But I also believe that this election is about a wide-range of very important issues, starting with the economy and the type of country we will be leaving our children and grandchildren. We’ve had 42 straight months of unacceptably high unemployment, trillion dollar deficits, and Democratic leaders in Washington who are focused on growing government, instead of jobs. That is my primary focus in this campaign and while there are those who want to distract from that, knowing they cannot defend the Democrats’ failed economic record of the last four years, that will continue to be my focus in the months ahead.”
The comments have clearly riled people up today, understandably.
martj42 asks: So what is the % of rape victims who get pregnant from the rape?
» SFB says: While definitive statistics for this sort of thing are difficult to come by, they’re not impossible to figure out. An estimate from RAINN puts that number at 5 percent of all victims, on average — a number matched by a 1996 study of the matter. — Ernie @ SFB
“First of all, from what I understand from doctors [pregnancy from rape] is really rare,” Missouri Rep. Todd Akin said in a Sunday interview. “If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down.” Akin, who is running against Sen. Claire McCaskill in November, then claimed that even if these biological mechanisms don’t work, the perpetrator, not the child, should be punished. Kind of tough to defend that.
UPDATE: Akin has apologized for the comments.
It’s made it extremely hard to interact with authority figures. During my tour in Afghanistan, I was a little bit more scared of everything. I can’t work with certain individuals just since they remind me of Staff Sgt. Walker.A reported victim of Staff Sgt. Luis Walker • Discussing how she felt in the months and years after having been sexually assaulted by the Air Force instructor. She was one of five women to speak at his sentencing hearing on Saturday. Walker, convicted of multiple counts of rape and sexual assault, will face 20 years in prison for these crimes. He could have gotten life.
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The problem is it’s like when you give something to a child. They’re always going to figure out how they can get away with a little more.South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley • In a written statement, explaining her reasoning for slashing the budget of the state’s rape crisis center. Crisis centers only help a small portion of residents, and distract from the state health department’s goal of providing treatment to all residents of South Carolina according to Governor Haley. ”Being raped is traumatic enough, but having to navigate that system, going to court by yourself, going to the hospital for a really intrusive and painful exam by yourself is horrific,” counters South Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault executive director Pam Jacobs, adding, ”Unfortunately, that’s the solution rape victims may be in if this veto is not overridden.” source (via • follow)
Hey, Belvedere, here’s a free marketing tip: Sex sells! Rape, on the other hand, doesn’t. Unless it’s the first half of a horror film, and it’s followed by the victim exacting sweet revenge on her assailants. Belvedere pulled the ad an hour after tweeting it, and promptly apologized, but still, we’re rather shocked this got past even the initial stages of consideration. source
Virginia Lawmakers Drop Invasive Ultrasound Requirement From Abortion Bill
After an understandable uproar over a mandatory procedure that federal law would consider rape, Virginia legislators have opted to forgo the invasive and most definitely uncomfortable procedure for women seeking abortions. On top of a big invasion of privacy for all women, the legislation could have re-traumatized women who sought abortions because of rapes. A meeting last night led legislators to reconsider the vagina wand provision, reaching a compromise that would make the procedure voluntary, but not mandatory, reports The Washington Post. We’re not sure what woman might choose to have an ultrasound used in this way, but, now they get a choice. And with that, the never-ending reproduction debates continue.
A victory for activists in the latest round of the culture wars.
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