General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Akin's apology should be publicly and stridently rejected. [View all]CoffeeCat
(24,411 posts)...because Akin and Ryan co-sponsored HR 3. They actually sat down together and wrote legislation that narrowed the definition of rape!
They came up with a new term "forcible rape." Why did they do this? Paul Ryan and Mr. Akin didn't like it that Medicaid funds abortions for women who are raped. So, they decided to sponsor legislation that stipulated that the woman must have been "forcibly raped" to receive Medicaid funds to pay for the abortion.
In effect, if a woman was raped, but there was no overt violence--or she lacked bruises or broken bones--then she would have a difficult time proving that she was "forcibly raped", denied Medicaid benefits to pay for the abortion and she'd be sent on her way to carry this pregnancy to full term.
So, women who were raped with a date rape drug--so sorry. Your rape wasn't "forcible" enough. Women who were drunk and taken advantage of? Ooops, you must have asked for it. A thirteen year old girl who is repeatedly raped by her father and traumatized into submission? Too bad, you were too traumatized to fight back, and you lose.
People, THIS IS SICK!!
Paul Ryan was NEVER held to account for attempting to redefine what rape is. He was never forced to explain the difference between rape and his new term "forcible rape."
This bastard has a lot of explaining to do--and because the scientifically illiterate Akin stepped in it--we may just get that explanation that we deserve.