Submitted by Elaine Magliaro, Guest Blogger
The new Republican majority in the House of Representatives is moving to make changes in abortion law. The new No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act (H. R. 5939) has 173 co-sponsors—most of them Republicans. According to The House GOP’s Plan to Redefine Rape, an article in Mother Jones that was written by Nick Baumann, John Boehner (R-OH) considers the bill a top priority for the new Congress. The bill, reportedly, includes a
provision that rewrites the definition of rape.
Federal laws that have restricted the use of government funds for abortions have contained exemptions for pregnancies that resulted from rape and incest and for pregnancies that could endanger the lives of women. Evidently, the new legislation proposes that the rape exemption be limited to “forcible rape.”
Laurie Levenson, an expert on criminal law at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said that the authors of the bill used language that was unclear. She thinks that some women will probably lose protection if the bill becomes law. Evidently, the term “forcible rape” is not defined in the criminal code—and the authors of the new bill did not provide their own definition of the term. In addition, there is no legal definition of “forcible rape” in some states. This would make it unclear whether any abortions could be covered by the rape exemption in those states.
What are some types of rape that would no longer be covered by the rape exemption if this bill becomes law? The rapes of women with limited mental capacity and rapes in which women were drugged or given excessive amounts of alcohol.
Sources: Mother Jones
Swarthmore mom,
I remember the debate.
It’s funny the things that can bring tears to the eyes of John “Crybaby” Boehner. On the other hand, he seems to have no compassion for women who might be given a date rape drug and then violated…or victims of incest…or women who are mentally incapacitated and who are sexually molested.
BTW, Matt Taibbi has an interseting article about Boehner in the January 20th issue of Rolling Stone–“The Crying Shame of John Boehner.”
Here’s the beginning sentence:
“John Boehner is the ultimate Beltway hack, a man whose unmatched and self-serving skill at political survival has made him, after two decades in Washington, the hairy blue mold on the American congressional sandwich.”
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/matt-taibbi-the-crying-shame-of-john-boehner-20110105
Already had this debate on here. Many said Pelosi should go and it would have no effect on a woman’s right to choose. Strong women – I think Bachmann would agree with these men. These people always take things farther than you can imagine when they come into power.
Where have the strong female political voices been in this, the woman who have and hold power, where is their voice to this bit of absurdity???
As far as I am concerned all rape is forcible whether through mental indimidation, drugging, or physical force. One of the biggest enablers are the false charges of rape, which make them so despicable, and in my estimation should be unlawful.
Men (like these bozos) seem to think because a woman looks just the same she can’t have suffered so much and the child is more important than her mental and spiritual health.
I suspect it’s something someone who has not experienced it cannot really understand so everyone should try to be aware of their inability to really grasp the totality of violation.
People who have experinced robbery or home invasion often talk of feeling violated. They have some small sense of what it must be like.
I’m back to my projected “sensor machine” designed for all politicians to be required to use so they might experience all situations psychologically before serving in office. A good sci fi story, I always thought.
I feel so safe….
rafflaw,
Republicans are always at war … the problem is that one can’t eat gun powder or hug C-4 … angry voices can’t sing a lullaby so the children cry … angry words can’t form compromises only divisions … Reagan sent them to war within their own country and the Bush’s incited further fear and hate so they no longer know what a peaceful home is let alone how to build one … The Orange Man cometh astride his fire-breathing mount doing his master’s bidding … 2012 will be filled with anger and hate for it is all the Republican know and all they have to offer.
You are absolutely correct Blouise. The Republicans don’t care about the middle and lower classes. They only care about getting the uninformed and ill-informed and the gullible to believe their crap which is designed to keep corporations in power.
And so it begins … the presentation of issues designed to divide … let’s gear up for 2012 … the Orange Man cometh
James M.,
I think is part incrementalism as you suggested, but it is also related to the victim’s gender, in my opinion. Will date rape incidents fall under this new suggested category because there was no forcible penetration?
eniobob and Woosty, well said. Women are not equal when it comes to being raped! Are stonings next?
not just the poor women….everyone is affected by abortion and everyone is affected by unwanted children in the heavy burden on the cost of medical intervention and social aid….remember, the manner of creep that rapes does not usually prey on wealthy and socially well protected people…they are cretins whose behavior is predatory and self serving, not self governed….
…and when rape is redefined to a more relaxed definition….there will be more of them.
This is, however, an opportunity to take aim at the CAUSES of the needs for abortion…ie; stricter definition of anti-social actions resulting in unwanted pregnancy through trickery and/or rape…stricter and faster consequences for rapists and sexual predators, more funding for sexual education for those who are at risk, ….and heres a thought, support of the victim regardless of her choice should she find herself in the position of having an unwanted pregnancy…THIS, in and of itself, would lead to fewer abortions and greatly reduce the very real stigma that accompanies rape in any of its various guises….
It always amazes me how these”men”seem to always know whats best for women.Their thinking is try to make people forget our history.
“The New Deal administration of Franklin Roosevelt brought an unprecedented number of women to Washington to serve in positions of power and influence. “Beyond Suffrage” is a study of women who achieved positions of national leadership in the 1930s. Susan Ware discusses the network they established, their attitudes toward feminism and social reform, and the impact they had upon the New Dears social welfare policies and on Democratic party politicsThe New Deal administration of Franklin Roosevelt brought an unprecedented number of women to Washington to serve in positions of power and influence. “Beyond Suffrage” is a study of women who achieved positions of national leadership in the 1930s. Susan Ware discusses the network they established, their attitudes toward feminism and social reform, and the impact they had upon the New Dears social welfare policies and on Democratic party politics”
Elaine,
Clearly, but what I meant was some particular type of non-forceable rape they don’t think is bad enough to justify funding abortions.
My guess is its just incrementalism, but if anyone has another insight, I’d love to hear it.
James M.,
I’d have to deduce that poor women would be those most affected by passage of this bill.
Do you think this is just standard incrementalism or are they targeting some particular group?
Good posting Elaine. If this proposed legislation becomes law. some women who were raped by their fathers or relatives and were too afraid to file a report will probably fall outside the “forcible” rape designation. It is just one more way for the Republican crazies to denigrate women in our society. The Republicans should ask the Taliban for assistance in writing the their “new” definition of rape.
Warning: /Civil discourse model off/
Ah, the boring and trite culture wars…
Its one thing to have an opinion based on deeply held personal beliefs, it’s another to want to cram them down everyone else’s throats by law. There’s a distinct psychotic fervor that surrounds the concept of abortion and those who vehemently oppose it. Their rationales always fall to magical thinking premises like claiming that human rights starts at conception for which there isn’t the slightest shred of evidence to warrant such a position.
I consider the people who would support the legislation mentioned above to be spiritually addled, intellectually corrupt and fascist in their desire to enforce their moral choices on the rest us. They are idiots not because of their personal beliefs about abortion, but because of their belief that it is ethical to universally enforce their beliefs by legislation. That they can’t understand that error in thinking demonstrates perfectly how out of touch and psychotic they are.
So whats the skewed thinking on this??? I see its not law as of yet however whats the thought process to get to this point?? These poor women who will fall under this bit of legislation if passed will be deeply marginalized and forgotten, left to their own devices it seems. I wonder where the compassion is that I hear about so often from my neighbor to the south is when I read such tripe as this. Am wondering just how John Boehner ( R-OH ) would visualize this if say it was his wife or daughter who was raped under such a cruel & heartless law???
Er, for “saving” read “raving”. I should probably get a smartphone.
For now, I’m filing this under “sounds too ridiculous to be true, even from the most saving anti-abortion nuts” and “watch closely, just in case”. This is vague as yet.