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Raping a Basic Right
Author: BobR    Date: 10/26/2012 12:51:32

If you turn on the political pundit shows these days, or watch discussion trends on Facebook, there's an awful lot of talk about rape. Rape, rape, rape, rape... It's both amazing and disgusting. Why is this? It's because of the discussions revolving around abortion and the exception for victims of rape and incest. Most any person with any sort of moral core would agree that a woman who becomes pregnant due to rape should not be required to carry the pregnancy to term.

Because of this presumed exception, Republicans have been trying to narrow the definition of rape. They've also been trying to imply that pregnancies due to rape are so rare as to be practically non-existent, so an exception is unnecessary. Here's a chart from this Daily Kos entry which fairly sums up the worst of the comments:

http://s3.amazonaws.com/dk-production/images/8907/large/gop_rape_advisory.gif?1351126298


Rachel Maddow has also commented on the practical/logistical application of a "rape-only" exception to abortion: How would that be enforced? Would a woman need to bring a police report to the doctor's office? What if a woman didn't want to file charges?

All of this, though, is a red-herring argument. It is a re-framing of the discussion. There's one thing that's very important to remember:

Abortion is a medical procedure that has been legally protected by the Supreme Court. It is a 14th Amendment right.

All of this discussion regarding "exceptions for rape" is giving credit to the notion that denying a woman the right to terminate a pregnancy for any reason is a legitimate political position. It's an attempt to slide the window to the side of banning abortion in some cases. It assumes that banning it is inevitable. It assumes that banning it in some (or even most) cases is acceptable.

It is not.

Abortion on demand is a legally protected right that can only be taken away via a constitutional amendment. The only amendment that has ever been ratified to restrict personal liberties was Prohibition, and that was later revoked. Republicans know they can't create a law to ban abotions, so they have been pushing for a constitutional amendment to do so. It seems inconceivable that it would make it through Congress and end up on the ballot in all 50 states, and even if it did, it seems extremely unlikely that it would get enough votes to be ratified.

So why does all this matter?

It matters because it cheapens the discourse. It reduces women to breeding stock, places them in an inferior position compared to men. Minorities in general and women in particular have faced a long hard uphill struggle in America to reach equality. To rephrase the Declaration of Independence, we should be at a place where the notion is that all people are created equal, and more so assumed to be equal. Dismissing a woman's right to her own body goes against the very core of what our forefathers fought for.

So while we can all agree that a politician trying to parse rape should be forced into early retirement, let's not let the discussion be pivoted from what's really at stake here: A woman's right to control her own life.
 

89 comments (Latest Comment: 10/26/2012 22:43:39 by Will in Chicago)
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Comment by Raine on 10/26/2012 13:02:31
Make sure you don;t spew coffee. and keep the volume down if you are at work






Comment by Raine on 10/26/2012 13:02:52
Good morning!

Comment by TriSec on 10/26/2012 13:10:29
Morning, comrades! May you all have a Blessed Eid.



Comment by Raine on 10/26/2012 13:12:05
Quote by Raine:
Make sure you don;t spew coffee. and keep the volume down if you are at work




For Mondo:

Meat Loaf Endorses Mitt Romney To Win Cold War
Campaigning for Mitt Romney in Ohio, the 80s power ballad star explains his foreign policy views.


"Because there has storm clouds come over the United States. There is thunder storms over Europe. There are hail storms, and I mean major hail storms, in the Middle East. There are storms brewing through China, through Asia, through everywhere."

He went on, "And there's only one man that on the other night when Pres. Barack Obama, God bless him, said to Mitt Romney, 'The Cold War is over.' I have never heard such a thing in my life. The man needs to understand Putin and Russia."
Romney has stressed the need for tougher diplomacy with Russia throughout the campaign, an emphasis President Obama mocked in Monday's foreign policy debate.

Still, Meat Loaf said Romney's rhetoric has inspired him, and even led him to call three friends in California and try to talk them into voting for his guy.


http://s3-ec.buzzfed.com/static/enhanced/terminal05/2012/10/25/22/enhanced-buzz-1845-1351218168-0.jpg


Comment by BobR on 10/26/2012 13:23:19
blog is posted.

Comment by TriSec on 10/26/2012 13:25:24
Meat Loaf offends all my musical sensibilities. (I saw him once, that was more than enough.)

Now he offends my political sensibilities, too. Awesome!

Comment by Raine on 10/26/2012 13:30:56
Thank you Bobber.

This blog truly means a lot to me.

Comment by Mondobubba on 10/26/2012 13:44:50
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Raine:
Make sure you don;t spew coffee. and keep the volume down if you are at work




For Mondo:

Meat Loaf Endorses Mitt Romney To Win Cold War
Campaigning for Mitt Romney in Ohio, the 80s power ballad star explains his foreign policy views.


"Because there has storm clouds come over the United States. There is thunder storms over Europe. There are hail storms, and I mean major hail storms, in the Middle East. There are storms brewing through China, through Asia, through everywhere."

He went on, "And there's only one man that on the other night when Pres. Barack Obama, God bless him, said to Mitt Romney, 'The Cold War is over.' I have never heard such a thing in my life. The man needs to understand Putin and Russia."
Romney has stressed the need for tougher diplomacy with Russia throughout the campaign, an emphasis President Obama mocked in Monday's foreign policy debate.

Still, Meat Loaf said Romney's rhetoric has inspired him, and even led him to call three friends in California and try to talk them into voting for his guy.


http://s3-ec.buzzfed.com/static/enhanced/terminal05/2012/10/25/22/enhanced-buzz-1845-1351218168-0.jpg



Oh Mr. Loaf! Silly man. Lemme splain somesing. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia has not maintained the level of funding for their military that the USSR did. Many of parts of their fleet have ended up in the hands of newly created countries (like Ukraine). Russia, unlike the USSR is not able to project force past its borders.

Comment by trojanrabbit on 10/26/2012 13:54:53
(Christopher Lee) Ladies & Gentlemen, I'd like you to meet.....Loaf (/Christopher Lee)

Comment by Raine on 10/26/2012 13:56:42
Oh sweet Jeebus:
Meat Loaf was a member of the cast of "Celebrity Apprentice," notably getting into a heated argument with eccentric actor Gary Busey. That program is run by Donald Trump, who has also attempted to keep himself relevant this election cycle.

Also on Thursday: Ann Romney made meatloaf on the "Rachel Ray Show."


Comment by Mondobubba on 10/26/2012 13:59:52
Quote by Raine:
Oh sweet Jeebus:
Meat Loaf was a member of the cast of "Celebrity Apprentice," notably getting into a heated argument with eccentric actor Gary Busey. That program is run by Donald Trump, who has also attempted to keep himself relevant this election cycle.

Also on Thursday: Ann Romney made meatloaf on the "Rachel Ray Show."



Have I mentioned how much I dislike Rachel Ray? Seriously she is a human bobble head. I do like meatloaf though.

Comment by Raine on 10/26/2012 14:08:09
Quote by trojanrabbit:
(Christopher Lee) Ladies & Gentlemen, I'd like you to meet.....Loaf (/Christopher Lee)



Comment by Raine on 10/26/2012 14:17:17
SO exited for James Taylor!

Comment by TriSec on 10/26/2012 14:17:42
Musical Loaf Here
Turns out to be right-wing tool
I prefer mine meat.

Loafing on the stage
Endorser of the Lying
Mitt still has no clue.

When loaves are reviewed
It comes down to meat or grain
But both are tasty.

Ok, I'll stop now.


Comment by Raine on 10/26/2012 14:27:15
Quote by TriSec:
Musical Loaf Here
Turns out to be right-wing tool
I prefer mine meat.

Loafing on the stage
Endorser of the Lying
Mitt still has no clue.

When loaves are reviewed
It comes down to meat or grain
But both are tasty.

Ok, I'll stop now.
You can't stop now...

The Naked Cowboy endorsed Mittens.
http://cbshot937.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/screen_shot_2012-10-25_at_2-33-04_pm5.png?w=300


Comment by Mondobubba on 10/26/2012 14:28:06
Quote by TriSec:
Musical Loaf Here
Turns out to be right-wing tool
I prefer mine meat.

Loafing on the stage
Endorser of the Lying
Mitt still has no clue.

When loaves are reviewed
It comes down to meat or grain
But both are tasty.

Ok, I'll stop now.



If I may quote "Snowball" from "Clerks," "That's beautiful, man."

Comment by Will in Chicago on 10/26/2012 14:32:52
Good morning, bloggers, BobR, thanks for a great blog.

I was listening to the radio yesterday, and I recall that Thom Hartmann had a guest who mentioned that legislators in Arizona tried to pass a bill to allow a boss to fire an employee who had an affair. We have politicians on the Right saying that contraception is wrong and married couples should abstain from sex until they are ready to have children. We have a war on women and a war on sexuality, both of which are common in authoritarian regimes. See point 5 in the 14 points of fascism addressed in this article "Fascism, Anyone?" by political scientist and author Laurence W. Britt who looked at what happened in Italy and Germany.

5. Rampant sexism. Beyond the simple fact that the political elite and the national culture were male-dominated, these regimes inevitably viewed women as second-class citizens. They were adamantly anti-abortion and also homophobic. These attitudes were usually codified in Draconian laws that enjoyed strong support by the orthodox religion of the country, thus lending the regime cover for its abuses.



As for Meatloaf, I guess he needs some attention as his last hit song was perhaps 20 years ago. So, I guess he joins Journey in the ranks of musicians who are increasingly irrelevant who have endorsed Mitt Romney.



Comment by TriSec on 10/26/2012 14:38:14
Nude Cowboys Campaign
He holds up a campaign sign
To cover small tool.



Comment by Raine on 10/26/2012 14:39:35
Quote by TriSec:
Nude Cowboys Campaign
He holds up a campaign sign
To cover small tool.





Comment by Mondobubba on 10/26/2012 14:41:26
Quote by TriSec:
Nude Cowboys Campaign
He holds up a campaign sign
To cover small tool.




:single tear washes down face: :whisper: Genius!

Comment by Will in Chicago on 10/26/2012 14:43:41
TriSec, a Happy Eid to you and your family. By the next Eid, may you be able to eat to your heart's content.

Comment by Raine on 10/26/2012 14:44:32
If ever EVER there was a doubt that Romney is rooting against progress, this should remove any questions.

Romney calls economic growth report discouraging

Comment by Will in Chicago on 10/26/2012 14:44:55
Quote by TriSec:
Nude Cowboys Campaign
He holds up a campaign sign
To cover small tool.




Somewhere, Freud and Jung must be having a good time trying to analyze these guys.

I suspect that their professional diagnosis could be translated loosely as "These guys are fricking nuts."

Comment by TriSec on 10/26/2012 14:50:07
Quote by Will in Chicago:
TriSec, a Happy Eid to you and your family. By the next Eid, may you be able to eat to your heart's content.


Ah, Will...all I really want is a cold drink. I haven't had an iced beverage since cycle #1 back in August.

I was recently reading a Surah in the Qu'ran that gave me pause; it described all my side effects perfectly, right down to only having hot water to sip. Think I better work on those five pillars some more....



Comment by TriSec on 10/26/2012 14:51:38
Quote by Raine:
If ever EVER there was a doubt that Romney is rooting against progress, this should remove any questions.

Romney calls economic growth report discouraging


They really and truly do want America to fail, don't they?

Then we can go "back" to...what is it again? We've already had our robber-baron era; that's the only thing I can figure that they want again.


Comment by Raine on 10/26/2012 14:53:13
Breaking: Berlusconi was sentenced to four years in prison for tax fraud.


Comment by Will in Chicago on 10/26/2012 14:55:47
Also in line with today's blog, via Huffington Post.

Richard Mourdock One Of At Least 15 GOP Senate Candidates Who Oppose Abortion For Rape Victims

Amanda Terkel
Posted: 10/25/2012 5:59 pm EDT Updated: 10/25/2012 6:25 pm EDT


WASHINGTON -- GOP Senate candidates Richard Mourdock and Todd Akin have faced outrage and derision from both Democrats and Republicans for their controversial comments about whether rape victims should have access to abortion.

Akin famously said that women who have been victims of a "legitimate rape" are physically unable to become pregnant. Mourdock, more recently, said he believes that pregnancies resulting from these horrific assaults are "something God intended."

At the heart of these comments is their belief that rape victims who become pregnant should not be able to have access to abortion. While Akin and Mourdock perhaps stumbled in explaining why they hold this view, it's a position that is actually not that uncommon in their party: At least 13 other GOP Senate nominees this cycle, as well as dozens of House candidates and incumbents, agree.


I will not have any person in this nation reduced to second class status. Tomorrow, I am volunteering time for a calling party for Democratic candidates here in Northwest Indiana. It was initially scheduled to take place at a home, but the response was so large that it is now going to be held at a union hall. It is time to take a stand. Is Joe Donnelly in complete agreement with me on the issues? No. However, he will be one more vote to ensure that the Democrats control the Senate and we don't end up with a Republican Senate that would approve any Republican House moves to impeach President Obama if he wins and we end up with a GOP House and Senate.

Comment by Will in Chicago on 10/26/2012 15:02:01
Comment by TriSec on 10/26/2012 15:07:44
Just circled back through yesterday's blog. What the hell is up with that Romney picture? What are they, the freakin' Duggars or something?



Comment by BobR on 10/26/2012 15:08:09
Quote by Will in Chicago:
BREAKING NEWS from the BBC:

Silvio Berlusconi sentenced to four years for tax fraud




Comment by BobR on 10/26/2012 15:08:34
Quote by TriSec:
Just circled back through yesterday's blog. What the hell is up with that Romney picture? What are they, the freakin' Duggars or something?


The face swap was definitely freaky

Comment by trojanrabbit on 10/26/2012 15:09:52
Latest forecast shows Sandy hitting Delaware as a hurricane then heading into PA.

Mappie

Comment by Mondobubba on 10/26/2012 15:12:17
Quote by Will in Chicago:
BREAKING NEWS from the BBC:

Silvio Berlusconi sentenced to four years for tax fraud







This is not a shock. When is he going to be convicted for the Italian version of statutory rape?

Comment by Raine on 10/26/2012 15:12:50
I cannot get enough of this:



Comment by Will in Chicago on 10/26/2012 15:16:34
Quote by BobR:
Quote by Will in Chicago:
BREAKING NEWS from the BBC:

Silvio Berlusconi sentenced to four years for tax fraud





Justice has been served. Berlusconi shows why monopolies are not a good idea in a democracy. He monopolized much of the Italian media and propelled his way to office.

Comment by TriSec on 10/26/2012 15:18:53
Loaf looks like he's about to hurl. I'd get out of there.



Comment by Raine on 10/26/2012 15:21:18
Paul Ryan is a bigger prick than I ever imagined. This was put up on September 1:

Paul Ryan & his wife, Janna Little Ryan Campaigned at the Janesville Labor Day Parade. Janna Little got angry when a voter dared to ask Paul Ryan a question and Paul Ryan mocked laborers by promising "Candy & a Packer's Schedule."

Comment by Raine on 10/26/2012 15:30:50
I think I found the ENTIRE event!


Comment by Raine on 10/26/2012 15:37:05
I miss Chris Farley on days like this.

Comment by Raine on 10/26/2012 15:40:48
Quote by Raine:
I miss Chris Farley on days like this.
Actually Bobbi Moynahan Should DEF do a spook of the Loaf on SNL tomorrow night.


Comment by Raine on 10/26/2012 15:56:37
Quote by trojanrabbit:
Latest forecast shows Sandy hitting Delaware as a hurricane then heading into PA.

Mappie
Ugh.

I am so not looking forward to this.


Comment by livingonli on 10/26/2012 15:56:41
Good morning everybody. It does seem to be significant that the biggest supporters of Romney are all has-beens or freak shows between Meatloaf, Ted Nugent, and Lindsey Lohan.

Comment by livingonli on 10/26/2012 15:57:12
Quote by Raine:
Quote by trojanrabbit:
Latest forecast shows Sandy hitting Delaware as a hurricane then heading into PA.

Mappie
Ugh.

I am so not looking forward to this.

Neither am I since I am moving next week.

Comment by livingonli on 10/26/2012 16:14:59
Now I just got to look for where I put my ticket for the sexy Liberal show tomorrow at the Beacon Theater.

Comment by wickedpam on 10/26/2012 16:34:55
afternoon all!

finally back from the dentist - *sigh* 2 root canals and crowns in my future - at least right now my jaw doesn't hurt.

So what did I miss today?

Comment by Raine on 10/26/2012 16:38:26
Quote by wickedpam:
afternoon all!

finally back from the dentist - *sigh* 2 root canals and crowns in my future - at least right now my jaw doesn't hurt.

So what did I miss today?
MEAT LOAF.


Comment by Raine on 10/26/2012 16:39:29
Quote by Raine:
Quote by Raine:
Make sure you don;t spew coffee. and keep the volume down if you are at work




For Mondo:

Meat Loaf Endorses Mitt Romney To Win Cold War
Campaigning for Mitt Romney in Ohio, the 80s power ballad star explains his foreign policy views.


"Because there has storm clouds come over the United States. There is thunder storms over Europe. There are hail storms, and I mean major hail storms, in the Middle East. There are storms brewing through China, through Asia, through everywhere."

He went on, "And there's only one man that on the other night when Pres. Barack Obama, God bless him, said to Mitt Romney, 'The Cold War is over.' I have never heard such a thing in my life. The man needs to understand Putin and Russia."
Romney has stressed the need for tougher diplomacy with Russia throughout the campaign, an emphasis President Obama mocked in Monday's foreign policy debate.

Still, Meat Loaf said Romney's rhetoric has inspired him, and even led him to call three friends in California and try to talk them into voting for his guy.


http://s3-ec.buzzfed.com/static/enhanced/terminal05/2012/10/25/22/enhanced-buzz-1845-1351218168-0.jpg
for Mala


Comment by Raine on 10/26/2012 16:40:18
Quote by livingonli:
Now I just got to look for where I put my ticket for the sexy Liberal show tomorrow at the Beacon Theater.
I thought you said you were going to put it in a place where you wouldn't lose it?


Comment by wickedpam on 10/26/2012 16:42:38
Quote by livingonli:
Quote by Raine:
Quote by trojanrabbit:
Latest forecast shows Sandy hitting Delaware as a hurricane then heading into PA.

Mappie
Ugh.

I am so not looking forward to this.

Neither am I since I am moving next week.



Guess no Halloween decorations this year - might not be a bad thing though. Had 2 small things stolen from my stoop. I suspect my neighbors kids, so when I asked them if they'd seen anyone by my door, they said no. So I made the comment of why should I decorate when people are just going to steal. Might just help me prove my point, that I follow thru with my threats.