ABC: Critics Question Palin on Rape Epidemic, Domestic Violence

[JPZenger]

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=5804581&page=1

"... critics say Palin has not addressed the rampant sexual abuse, rape, domestic violence and murder that make her state one of the most dangerous places in the country for women and children. Alaska leads the nation in reported forcible rapes per capita, according to the FBI, with a rate two and a half times the national average – a ranking it has held for many years. Children are no safer: Public safety experts believe that the prevalence of rape and sexual assault of minors in Alaska makes the state's record one of the worst in the U.S. And while solid statistics on domestic violence are hard to come by, most – including Gov. Palin – agree it is an "epidemic."

State troopers respond to most domestic violence calls outside of Alaska's major cities, but they're too short-staffed and under-funded to do it well, according to Robert Claus, a recently retired trooper. "The training says you always respond to domestic violence with two people, for most of my career that hasn't been possible," said Claus, who lives on the remote island he patrolled for 15 years. "So how do you go down the list and do what you're supposed to do – separate the people, transport one person while taking care of the kids and victim? You have to pick and choose. We haven't seen the money to do that."

... a March study by a state task force found that level of funding only covered the cost of helping women and children hurt by the epidemic of sexual violence. It was not enough to try to prevent assaults from happening – or to ensure "accountability of offenders," as the panel phrased it."

[JPZenger]

1. NY Times Looks at Palin on Social Issues

By the Editorial Board of the New York Times, September 10, 2008

http://theboard.blogs.nytimes.com/2008 / ... ly-agenda/

"The alliance said that attendees at a “women’s summit” in 2007 had urged the new governor to tackle the following problems, but got no response:

Increase funding for Denali Kid Care (Alaska’s State Children’s Health Insurance Program, or Schip). Alaska is one of a minority of states that fail to fund health insurance for families up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level.

Decrease the incidence of domestic violence and sexual assault in Alaska. Alaska’s rape rate is 2.5 times the national average and Alaska is No. 1 in the nation, per capita, in women murdered by men.

Provide medically accurate sex education in public schools. Alaska leads the nation in the rates of chlamydia and gonorrhea, and has high rates of teen pregnancy.

Health-care advocates expressed acute disappointment about the failure of the expansion of Denali Kid Care, which would have covered about 1,200 children, and 530 pregnant women, using only $825,000 of state funding. They said the measure had the strong support of a broad range of constituencies — including hospitals, pharmacists, nurses, women’s and religious organizations — but died in committee after the governor rebuffed the advocates’ pleas to speak up on its behalf.

The alliance provided a list of other dismal social indicators that it says Alaska — with its multibillion dollar state budget surplus — should be hard at work reversing:

Alaska ranks near the bottom for providing children’s health care.
Alaska ranks 43rd in the nation for percentage of children in preschool.
Alaska is 39th in the nation for high school graduates; 10 percent of high schoolers drop out.
Alaska ranks near the bottom for students completing college and for levels of high school dropouts.
Alaska is one of only 11 states without a pay-equity law.
Alaska has the nation’s highest suicide rate."

[tblue]

2. K&R! Just think what she can do for America!

[Wickerman]

3. Headline not actually accurate

How can critics question her? No interviews. No public forums. She is sequestered, fully insulated from the public, her only "outings" being her fumbling, lie-packed speech which she regurgitates to carefully hand-selected audiences.

[Dervill Crow]

4. Wish I could also give YOUR post a K&R! It brings a lot to this thread.

[Dervill Crow]

5. K&R

:kick:

[enough]

6. I think the issue of rapist-protection and forced child-bearing in an environment

of rampant sexual assault deserves a lot of attention. Great to see the media going after it, so that some of the tabu rubs off and maybe the Obama campaign can address it too.