The Indiana House has approved one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the nation, but not after a bizarre debate led by sponsor state Rep. Eric Turner (R). When Democratic legislators asked for an exception for rape and incest, Turner cried foul and warned that women would just fake rapes to get some of those free abortions. The Indiana House agreed and rejected the amendment.
State Rep. Gail Riecken (D) introduced an amendment to exempt “women who became pregnant due to rape or incest, or women for whom pregnancy threatens their life or could cause serious and irreversible physical harm.”
In the video below, Turner stepped forward to warn of legions of false rape victims clamoring for free abortions:
Turner then stepped to the podium and insisted that Riecken’s amendment would create a “giant loophole” for women. That loophole? Women “could simply say they’ve been raped”:
With all do respect to Rep. Riecken, I understand what she’s trying to do. But as you know that when the federal health care bill was going through Congress there was a lot of discussion whether this would allow for abortion coverage and of course we were all told it would not. And the bill, my house bill 1210, would prevent that for any insurance company to provide abortion coverage under federal health care bill. This [amendment] would open that window and I would ask you to oppose this amendment.
I just want you to think about this, in my view, giant loophole that could be created where someone who could — now i want to be careful, I don’t want to disparage in any way someone who has gone through the experience of a rape or incest — but someone who is desirous of an abortion could simply say that they’ve been raped or there’s incest.
The House voted down Riecken’s amendment 42 to 54. There appeared to be little consideration of the fact that it is a crime to falsely allege a crime.
Source: Think Progress and found first on Reddit.
Jonathan Turley
eniobob, you’re right, it’s a tad dated.
Here’s a less comprhensive but updated database….one that illustrates that for women especially, it’s who you know that counts….
http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/pub/pdf/fvv.pdf
I’ll look for a study that attempts to show the relation between misogyny and abuse of women…..
anon,
You can only post two links in a comment. Otherwise, your comment will remain in moderation limbo until the end of time.
W=c
That report could be in line with todays date:=)
“While about 80% of all victims are white, minorities are somewhat more likely to be attacked.”
Not quite sure I understand that summation.
😉
Woosty,
Well done!
That should have started with the word “If”. It is getting late!
http://www.rainn.org/get-information/statistics/sexual-assault-victims
this database doesn’t mention the statistical percentage of woman faking rape….I’ve heard that it is hugely less than the percent of men that actually do respect you in the morning…..
Joeey,
F you don’t think that abortions can’t be outlawed, you haven’t been paying attention. Besides, I am old enough to remember when abortions were outlawed in most states and women died getting illegal and unsafe abortions in the shadows.
Women with money/resources will always have access to abortions and other medical procedures. Women without money/resources will never have access to abortions and other medical procedures. It doesn’t really matter what laws are in the books. The republicans may make it harder but they will never be able to end the practice.
These silly games that our elected officials play are just that- silly games. Does anyone seriously think your average republican legislator gives a sh*t about children? Does anyone seriously think your average democratic legislator gives a sh*t about the reproductive rights of women? They don’t- it is about firing up a specific base of voters and getting money.
It makes me angry too- free people in a free society should have absolute control over personal decisions in their life. I just find it hard to believe that abortion will ever be completely banned throughout the entire country- especially when something like one in four women have an abortion sometime during their lifetime (and women still get to vote- don’t they?).
Again the only women who won’t have access are the women who wouldn’t have access anyway- the poor.
mindless pigs
So I spent some time providing some links that Mike Appleton might find enlightening.
But to avoid the spam filter, I obfuscated the links slightly.
Well, chalk one up for a very smart blog that corrected every single one of my spam filter avoiding obfuscated links, linked them correctly, and then decided with so many links it must just be spam.
Seriously, that’s kind of funny.
Actually, all I should have done is link to this Google Search, because naturally, Professor Turley has often blogged about false accusations of rape: http://www.google.com/search?q=jonathan+turley+false+accusations+rape
Professor Turley, would you be so kind as to fish my post out of moderation?
Mike A.,
Great response to Anon’s post. He is obviously swallowing Turner’s hateful nonsense hook, line and sinker. Thanks for sharing your very personal story with us. Your Mother was an extraordinary woman.
Mike Appleton
1, March 31, 2011 at 7:54 pm
Swarthmore mom:
LOL. Thanks. I’d quote you, but it would be met with exaggerated groans and the rolling of eyes.
=========================================================
Lol … that just means you’re still being trained … it’s a never ending job!
Swarthmore mom:
LOL. Thanks. I’d quote you, but it would be met with exaggerated groans and the rolling of eyes.
the network media only covers what is not controversial. how many drunken assholes are going to call or write and complain about the coverage charlie sheen or lindsey lohan is getting.
untill a media outlet stops listening to complaints from organized rightwing groups about their coverage we will continue to get coverage of the lowest common denominator.
sarah palin likes to talk about the “lame stream media”. she knows they’re lame, they’ve been hamstrung by her and people like her.
Mike Appleton, I will echo it, also, and add that your wife is very fortunate to be married to you.
Stamford Liberal:
You’re quite welcome.
Mike Appleton,
I echo Blouise’s post – thank you.
Blouise:
Thanks for your kind words. The “fake rape” crap really gets my goat.
So 200,000 of the tea party people show up at the capitol,oooppss
my bad about 200 tea partiers show up at the capitol.
Maybe the tide is turning.
“By MARIN COGAN | 3/31/11 5:49 PM EDT
At a tea party rally outside the Capitol Thursday, the pressures facing Republican leadership as it navigates a budget impasse were on full display.
Tea party leaders and Republican politicians repeated similar talking points — that they did not want the government to shut down and that the onus was on Senate Democrats to finalize a deal that would keep the government funded through the rest of the fiscal year.”
The only problem? Whenever they pushed to avoid a shutdown, the crowd of roughly 200 people kept getting in the way
Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0311/52343.html#ixzz1IDqN1YFA