[Vision2020] The GOP War On Women Accelerates
Scott Dredge
scooterd408 at hotmail.com
Thu Aug 23 20:49:14 PDT 2012
The religious right have controlling personalities. They not only want to preach about how people 'should live their personal lives according to God's wisdom', but they also want to force you to live that way by physically restricting your access to birth control, to emergency contraception, to abortion. I haven't checked Doug Wilson's blog lately, but I'm guessing he's thrilled that such 'men' like Paul Ryan and Todd Akin are fighting tooth and nail to enshrine God's law into the law of the land.
-Scott
From: debismith at moscow.com
To: ngier006 at gmail.com; lfalen at turbonet.com
Date: Fri, 24 Aug 2012 20:29:11 -0500
CC: vision2020 at moscow.com
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] The GOP War On Women Accelerates
Thanks, Nick. Cogent, as usual....too bad the
religious right can put their hands over their eyes and ignore
it....
Debi R-S
----- Original Message -----
From:
Nicholas Gier
To: lfalen
Cc: vision2020
Sent: Thursday, August 23, 2012 1:30
PM
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] The GOP War On
Women Accelerates
How the Body Reacts to Sexual
Assault
Dana Goldstein on
August 20, 2012 The Nation
Embattled US Senate candidate Todd Akin
claimed yesterday that “legitimate rape” somehow turns off the female body’s
reproductive capabilities. As I demonstrate below, that is absurd. But it is
important to note that Akin’s ideology is part of a
broader set of misconceptions about how the body reacts to sexual
assault.
There’s nothing new about the idea that vaginal
lubrication, orgasm and pregnancy can occur only after a wanted sexual
encounter. None of this is true. A 2004 paper from the Journal of Clinical Forensic
Medicineaddresses some of these misconceptions. The authors, Roy Levin
and Willy van Berlo, considered reports from doctors, nurses and therapists
who work with rape survivors. Many of the clinicians had experienced
distraught victims’ asking why they felt lubrication or even orgasm during
rape.
One British nurse-therapist reported the
following:
“Approximately 1 in 20 women who come to
the clinic for treatment because of sexual abuse report that they have had an
orgasm from previous unsolicited sexual arousal. It is not detailed in the
[professional] literature because the victims usually do not want to tell/talk
about it because they feel guilty, as people will think that if it happened
they must have enjoyed it. The victims often say, ‘My body let me down.’ Some,
however, cannot summon the courage to say even that.”
Heartbreaking. Levin and van Berlo found
that victims report evidence of physical arousal in as many as 21 percent of
rape cases, even when they also report violence and high levels of fear and
mental distress. Why? The researchers note that many rapes are comitted by
acquaintances or romantic partners of the victims; initial familiarity or even
attraction might be supplanted by terror as an encounter becomes coercive.
This is relevant, I think, to the charges against Julian Assange, who is
accused of sexual assault for refusing to wear a condom with female partners
who had earlier consented to sex. If that occured, it is still rape: physical
force was used to violate the initial, consensual terms of the
encounter.
Then there is the simple fact, obvious to
most women, that the vagina can become lubricated during sex as a defense
mechanism against tearing and pain, regardless of one’s level of enthusiasm or
emotional buy-in.
And it isn’t just women who can experience
these confusing sensations. In men, Levin and van Berlo actually found some
links between “anxiety-inducing threats” and increased blood flood flow to the
penis.
All of this is really hard to write and
talk about it, because it exists in the murky area between what we desire and
what we fear. Yes, force can provoke arousal, but that
doesn’t condone the non-consensualuse of force.
The authors conclude:
“A perpertrator’s defence against the
alleged assault built solely on the evidence that genital arousal or orgasm in
the victim proves consent has no intrinsic validity and should be
disregarded.”
One of the many problems with
Romney/Ryan-like rape exceptions to broad abortion bans is that they encourage
anti-choicers to draw a thousand false distinctions between worthy and less worthy rape
victims, which is what Akin was really attempting to do. What he cares about
is saving as many fetuses as possible, regardless of what calamity befell the
women forced to bear them. For example, if you were raped by an ex-husband or
ex-boyfriend, is your fetus as unwanted as that of a woman raped by a
stranger? If you were raped by a man with whom you were drinking, do you
deserve that free pass abortion? Non-consensual sex is non-consensual sex. It
exerts unwanted control over a woman’s body—as does forced
pregnancy.
On Wed, Aug 22, 2012 at 5:53 PM, lfalen <lfalen at turbonet.com> wrote:
Nick
Most
social issues are not hot button items for me. I am more interested in
economic issues. In general though, I favor more freedom for the individual
and less interference by the government. I am nether strongly pro-choice or
pro-life, but tend to be closer to the pro-life position. Abortion should
not be used as a form of birth control. In extremely rare surrmonstances
such as the life of the mother, her life should dominate. I think that some
of the positions of some democrats such as partial term abortions and
allowing a baby that survived aan attempted abortion is much more extreme.
Fortunately that is a minority opinion even for democrats.
I am not
aware of the legislation you mentioned, but I doubt that there is any such
thing as justifiable rape.
Roger
-----Original message-----
From:
Nicholas Gier ngier006 at gmail.com
Date: Wed, 22 Aug
2012 10:26:45 -0700
To: lfalen lfalen at turbonet.com
Subject: Re:
[Vision2020] The GOP War On Women Accelerates
> Hi
Roger,
>
> Where do you stand on the extreme, no exceptions GOP
plank on abortion? As
> a local GOP leader you should tell us
what you believe.
>
> And do you support Ryan after he teamed up
with Akin in proposing a bill
> with "justifiable rape" in it, which
is what Akin said he meant when he
> said "legitimate rape."
Fortunately the language was rejected. Ryan and
> Akin are
two peas in a pod with regard to social issues.
>
> Inquiring
mind wish to know.
>
> Nick
>
> On Wed, Aug 22, 2012
at 10:12 AM, lfalen <lfalen at turbonet.com>
wrote:
>
> > The Republicans want him to drop out. His
opponent wants him to stay in.
> > Apparently both sides think he
will be easy to beat. The rumor has it that
> > Mccaskill's backers
funneled a lot of money into his campaign in the
> >
primary.
> > Roger
> > -----Original message-----
>
> From: Art Deco art.deco.studios at gmail.com
>
> Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2012 06:11:15 -0700
> > To: vision2020 at moscow.com
> >
Subject: [Vision2020] The GOP War On Women Accelerates
> >
>
> > V
> > > [image: The New York Times] <http://www.nytimes.com/>
> > >
> >
> <
> > http://www.nytimes.com/adx/bin/adx_click.html?type=goto&opzn&page=wwwnytimes.com/printer-friendly&pos=Position1&sn2=336c557e/4f3dd5d2&sn1=a36510e4/68ad5fe5&camp=FSL2012_ArticleTools_120x60_1787508c_nyt5&ad=RubySparks_120x60_June25_NoText&goto=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Efoxsearchlight%2Ecom%2Frubysparks
>
> >
> > >
> > >
------------------------------
> > > August 21, 2012
>
> > Akin Controversy Stirs Up Abortion Issue in Campaign By
JENNIFER
> > > STEINHAUER<
> > http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/s/jennifer_steinhauer/index.html
>
> >
> > >
> > > WASHINGTON — As an orator,
Representative Todd
> > > Akin<ttp://
> > topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/a/todd_akin/index.html?inline=nyt-per
>
> >of
> > > Missouri may stand out for his clumsiness. But
as a legislator, Mr.
> > > Akin
> > > has a record
on abortion that is largely indistinguishable from those of
> >
> most of his Republican House colleagues, who have viewed
restricting
> > > abortion rights as one of their top
priorities.
> > >
> > > That agenda — largely
eclipsed for two years by a protracted fiscal
> > crisis
>
> > and the fight over how to manage the federal deficit — has wedged
its
> > way,
> > > for now at least, to the center of
the 2012 campaign. It is focusing
> > > attention on an issue
that helped earn Mitt
> > > Romney<
> > http://elections.nytimes.com/2012/primaries/candidates/mitt-romney?inline=nyt-per
>
> >,
> > > the presumptive Republican presidential
nominee, a reputation as a
> > > flip-flopper, threatening the
Republican quest for control of the Senate,
> > > and leaving
Representative Paul D.
> > > Ryan<
> > http://elections.nytimes.com/2012/candidates/paul-ryan?inline=nyt-per>of
>
> > Wisconsin, Mr. Romney’s vice-presidential pick, in the
uncomfortable
> > > position of distinguishing himself from Mr.
Akin, with whom he has often
> > > concurred.
> >
>
> > > It is an agenda that has enjoyed the support of House
leaders, including
> > > Speaker John A. Boehner and
Representative Eric Cantor, the majority
> > > leader, who has
called anti-abortion measures “obviously very important
> >
in
> > > terms of the priorities we set out initially in our
pledge to America.”
> > It
> > > became inextricably
linked to the near-shutdown of the federal government
> > > last
year when an agreement to keep the government open was reached only
>
> > after it was linked to a measure restricting abortion in the
District of
> > > Columbia.
> > >
> > >
Even as Congressional Republicans, including Mr. Boehner, denounced
Mr.
> > > Akin’s remark that victims of “legitimate rape” were
able to somehow
> > > prevent pregnancy, an agenda to roll back
abortion is one that House
> > > Republicans have largely moved
in step with.
> > >
> > > In an anti-abortion
measure once sponsored by Mr. Akin, Mr. Ryan and
> > scores
>
> > of other Republican lawmakers, an exemption was made for victims
of
> > > “forcible” rape, though that word was later
removed.
> > >
> > > *On Tuesday, Republicans
approved platform language for next week’s
> > > nominating
convention that calls for a constitutional amendment outlawing
> >
> abortion with no explicit exceptions for cases of rape or incest.
That
> > is a
> > > view more restrictive than Mr.
Romney’s, who has said that he supports
> > > exceptions to
allow abortions in cases of rape. *
> > >
> > > *
*Mr. Ryan’s more conservative views, which have been reflected in
votes
> > > that would restrict family planning financing
overseas, cut off all
> > federal
> > > funds to
Planned Parenthood and repeal President Obama’s health care
> >
> law<
> > http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/health/diseasesconditionsandhealthtopics/health_insurance_and_managed_care/health_care_reform/index.html?inline=nyt-classifier
>
> >,
> > > have come into sharp relief as Mr. Akin
struggles for his political life.
> > > Mr. Akin and Mr. Ryan
each have voted in this Congress for 10
> > >
abortion-restricting measures as well as those that limited other
family
> > > planning services.
> > >
> >
> Both Mr. Ryan and Mr. Romney have earned praise for their positions
from
> > > the National Right to Life group and other
anti-abortion organizations.
> > > “The right-to-life
Romney/Ryan ticket is now complete,” wrote Barbara
> >
Lyons
> > > and Sue Armacost, executive director and legislative
director for
> > Wisconsin
> > > Right to Life, on the
organization’s Web site.
> > >
> > > It is a
legislative theme Democrats plan to highlight, even as House
> >
> Republicans try to keep the focus on economic issues.
> >
>
> > > “All you need to know is that the House Republicans
were willing to shut
> > > down the government rather than fund
Planned Parenthood,” said
> > > Representative Nancy Pelosi, the
House Democratic leader, in an e-mail on
> > > Tuesday. “This is
in keeping with their efforts — whether it’s
> >
Congressman
> > > Akin or Chairman Ryan or others — to deny
investments in critical women’s
> > > health services, weaken
the definition of rape, and take away access to
> > > preventive
care like cervical and breast cancer screenings.”
> > >
>
> > The House Republican agenda has troubled the half-dozen or so
Republican
> > > House members whose views differ from those of
their colleagues.
> > >
> > > “I have time and again
spoken out against this to leadership,” said
> > >
Representative Robert Dold of Illinois, who is in a tough
re-election
> > > battle. “I’ve tried to talk to them about the
issues that we ought to be
> > > moving forward on, like
out-of-control spending.”
> > >
> > > Mr. Dold has
voted in favor of half of the abortion restriction measures
> >
in
> > > this Congress, far fewer than most of his colleagues.
“There is no
> > question
> > > that there are times
when I may disagree with a vote that’s brought to
> > the
>
> > floor,” he said in an interview, “and the majority of my
Republican
> > > colleagues, but that is just part of what we
deal with every day.”
> > >
> > > There have long
been lawmakers, like Mr. Akin, whose main legislative
> > >
agenda centers on the abortion issue. They got a boost after the
2010
> > > election when a large group of conservative members
joined them.
> > >
> > > Mr. Romney’s views align
with that of the Mormon Church, which opposes
> > > abortion
except in cases of rape and incest or when the life of the woman
>
> > is in danger. He has said he is personally opposed to abortion; as
a
> > Mormon
> > > bishop in the 1980s he attempted to
talk a congregant out of terminating
> > a
> > >
pregnancy after doctors advised her to do so because of a
potentially
> > > lethal blood clot.
> > >
>
> > But abortion has proved to be a politically volatile topic for
Mr.
> > Romney,
> > > whose evolving views have
disappointed liberals and stirred distrust
> > among
> >
> conservatives.
> > >
> > > In 1994, when he
challenged Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Mr. Romney said he
> > >
would “not force our beliefs on others on that matter.” In 2002, as
a
> > > candidate for governor, he claimed to support “the
substance” of Roe v.
> > > Wade. By 2005, though, when he was
beginning to consider a presidential
> > > run, he had reversed
course and described himself as a “pro-life governor
> > > in a
pro-choice state.” Now, as a presidential candidate, he refers to
>
> > himself as solidly “pro-life.”
> > >
> > >
Aides to Mr. Romney declined to say on Tuesday whether he would call
on
> > the
> > > convention delegates to reconsider
their position on abortion.
> > >
> > > Reince
Priebus, the chairman of the Republican National Committee, tried
>
> to
> > > deflect questions on behalf of Mr. Romney, saying
on Fox News that “this
> > is
> > > the platform of the
Republican
> > > Party<
> > http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/organizations/r/republican_party/index.html?inline=nyt-org
>
> >;
> > > it is not the platform of Mitt Romney.”
>
> >
> > > The idea of outlawing any exceptions for
abortion is not new in American
> > > political discourse or in
legislation, nor are proposals to narrow the
> > > definition of
rape to distinguish between what some call “forcible rape”
> > >
and cases involving statutory rape or even some types of date rape.
>
> > Anti-abortion activists have long been concerned that women would
falsely
> > > claim to have been raped to gain an exemption to
terminate a pregnancy.
> > >
> > > Historians and
other experts on abortion politics say the no-exceptions
> > >
idea became part of the debate virtually as soon as Roe v. Wade
legalized
> > > abortion in 1973. “It has deep roots,” said
Donald Critchlow, a historian
> > > at Arizona State University
who has studied abortion politics. He added,
> > > “It’s
appealing to segments within the Republican Party to show that
> >
you’re
> > > pro-life.”
> > >
> > >
Susan Cohen, director of government affairs for the Guttmacher
> >
Institute, a
> > > research group in Washington that supports
abortion rights, said the
> > > no-exceptions idea is “not new
and it’s not fringe.”
> > >
> > > “It is something
that has been part of mainstream anti-abortion
> >
movement,”
> > > she said. “The record is replete with evidence
of the fact that there was
> > > this no-exceptions attitude,
and of course this makes logical sense from
> > > the
perspective of people who believe an embryo should have the same
>
> legal
> > > status as you and I do.”
> >
>
> > > In the 1992 election, the Republican Party included
in its platform
> > > language opposing abortion, allowing no
exceptions and calling for a
> > > constitutional amendment to
make abortion illegal. Similar language
> > > opposing any
exceptions was included in 2000 and 2004, even though George
> >
> W. Bush also supported outlawing abortion except in cases of
rape,
> > incest,
> > > or when the life of the woman
was in danger.
> > >
> > > Four years ago, the
Republican Party adopted a platform seeking an
> > >
unconditional ban on abortion, though its nominee, Senator John
McCain,
> > had
> > > urged the party in the past to
allow certain exceptions. After this
> > year’s
> > >
abortion plank language was approved with little debate, the chairman
of
> > > the platform committee, Gov. Bob McDonnell of Virginia,
praised the
> > > committee for “affirming our respect for human
life.”
> > >
> > > Pam Belluck and Michael Cooper
contributed reporting from New York.
> > >
> > >
--
> > > Art Deco (Wayne A. Fox)
> > > art.deco.studios at gmail.com
>
> >
> > >
> >
> >
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