A 527 really should push the rape-kit story

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

The campaign certainly doesn't want to engage Palin on anything, and is probably correct in that.

But McCain/Palin does need to have their new-found female support chipped down some before it hardens.

Women are divided on choice, but there's not a big pro-rape female swing-vote constituency.

That's exactly what 527s are for... stuff the campaign doesn't want to touch, but is too powerful to pass up.

[MadBadger]

1. Let's start our own 527.

[VeraAgnes]

2. I'm confused on this situation ...

Since when does any Governor get involved with medical expenses? The billing is determined by the Clinic or Hospital; whoever provides the assessment services..just like any other medical test. If someone is shot or beaten up; they're given a fee bill...I see no problem here, violent crime happen, victims pay their bills. Back to Palin, I see this rape kit issue as a clinical expense and is not an issue a Governor would be bothered with...What happens in other states?

[rhombus]

3. No. It was when she was Mayor of Wasilla

She bought herself a $30,000 SUV as mayor of that small town with tax payer money, and yet charged rape victims for rape kits. Disgusting.

[VeraAgnes]

4. To be honest

I don't see the connection. A rape kit is no different than say a urine or blood test..It's a far, long stretch to connect these dots. Let's spend our money on more tangible issues; something with real impact and grounded on real clear facts...we don't have time to waste.

[woolldog]

6. You're in a tiny, tiny minority of people

who wouldn't be outraged by this. This is a big deal. I hope NOW or some other groups publicize this.

[VeraAgnes]

7. Why not check with your

local ER and ask if they charge for their rape kits...Lets do a little research before going off on a mission. I''ll ask here in Pittsburgh.

[blondeatlast]

16. They don't. I know from experience. Thankfully not my own, but I still know.

Educate yourself--but not the way I found it, I hope. :cry:

[yellowdogintexas]

9. rape kits are part of a criminal investigation and should be covered by law

enforcement.

[ljm2002]

23. Bullshit!

Or should I say, Mooseshit!

A rape kit is taken from the VICTIM when a violent crime has been perpetrated against them.

Also, if there's no difference from those other tests you refer to -- then why did the Alaskan state legislature pass a law, in reaction to the situation in Wasilla, making it STATE LAW that a rape victim cannot be charged for the rape kit?

Geez Louise, I get tired of people defending this worthless bitch. And I'm sorry, but in her case I feel free to use the B-word. She doesn't want women to have reproductive choice, she charged victims for rape kits (the only town in Alaska to do so), she now defends her firing of Monegan because he was too aggressive in pursuing sex crimes -- quit saying there are more important things. There are few more important things than making sure this woman gets nowhere the White House, and we need to attack on ALL FRONTS. She is very vulnerable here, certainly for women who want to preserve reproductive rights, and who don't want to return to the dark ages when rapes went un-reported because of the shame involved.

[cynatnite]

13. I didn't know about the SUV n/t

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

14. ---

[TorchTheWitch]

10. You must be joking

A rape kit is for evidence gathering the results of which can and are used to find the perpetrator and as evidence at trial. It is NOT medical treatment, and I have to wonder about anyone who thinks it is. A rape kit is a FORENSIC TOOL. In the case of rape, the crime scene is essentially the victim's own body. Combing through pubic hair, swabbing for DNA material, photographing of body parts, etc. is NOT medical treatment and should never be the burden of the victim to pay for.

Yes, violent crimes happen and victims pay their medical treatment bills, but a rape kit is NOT medical treatment... it is a FORENSIC TOOL the sole purpose of which is to gather evidence of the crime. No victim of rape should be expected to pay for law enforcement's evidence gathering any more than a victim of robbery should be expected to pay for law enforcement's evidence gathering.

And yes, victims of other violent crimes are often subjected to similar evidence gathering such as skin scrapings under the nails, examination for and retrieval of cloth or other fibers, photographs of wounds, etc. and they are NOT charged for these evidence gathering procedures nor should they be.

Clearly you have no idea of the difference between evidence gathering and medical treatment.

[VeraAgnes]

11. Do you know if the

rape victim is billed for the services in you area?

[blondeatlast]

17. IT'S EVIDENCE GATHERING! Jeezus, are you REALLY this vile or just ignorant?

Watch CSI or Law and Order sometime, willya?

And yes, I know from personal experience that the victim is not charged for this.

You're disgusting.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

19. Millions of women get raped on purpose just to cash in on the free rape-kits

Those "rape-kit queens" are the primary reason for our $9.7 Trillion national debt.

Don't you know ANYTHING???

(I don't like smilies, but feel free to visualize a sarcasm tag here.)

[blondeatlast]

21. Yeah, the exam is just so... "fun."

I'm willing to bet the other forums VA visits are pushing that same tripe--just a hunch on my part.

:mad:

[Piewhacket]

24. Did you know, VeraAgnes, there are reukes posting here on DU?

Some even have lots of posts and pretend they vote democrat.
Shocking, huh?

Investigation and prosecution of crime is the responsibility of government.
A rape kit is used for evidence gathering during investigation of an
particularly serious crime of rape. It is not usual, in fact it is generally disgusting,
despicable, and repulsive, to charge a victim of crime for the
investigation of a serious and violent crime. It compounds the victimization
of the victim.

Yet Repuklien's like Sarah are just too butt stupid and bigoted to get that.
Thats just so true, huh?

The police chief was pressured by Mayor Palin to cut the budget (to
pay for Sarah's lavish excesses - $50,000 redecorating her home to look
like a brothel - buying a $30,000 car, all at taxpayer expense for a
town of 7,000). It was SARAH who OK'd recharge of the rape kit.
In any, event, even if she denies it, IT WAS NOT ONLY ON HER WATCH,
but the practice continued even after it became common knowledge and
until the legislature MADE IT ILLEGAL.

How sick a piece of garbage is SARAH PALIN?
On a scale of 1-10 I would say, obviously an 11.
So what do you say?

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

15. ---

[Phredicles]

5. Jon Stewart saw the issue clearly enough and was pretty disgusted by it

on Monday night's show.

[VeraAgnes]

8. Jon is a comedian

not a journalist with rational resources to validate this issue as being an outrage. Show me where it is uncommon to charge someone for an exam and/or a rape kit?

[Phredicles]

12. The issue is that Palin's Wasilla was the ONLY town in all of Alaska to charge

complainants for rape kits until the legislature forbade such a policy. The state legislature had to pass a law to correct one city's callousness, and that city was the one Palin headed up. And her hand-picked appointee was the point man for this policy.

Here's a case where we have a visceral issue to show the other side as out of touch with commonly accepted values. Why don't you show me where it is common for people to regard Palin's policy as anything but repugnant? We all pay taxes to support the police, and that includes providing them with the necessary tools to investigate crimes, including rape. If someone robbed your house, would it be right for you to be billed if the police dusted for fingerprints?

Let me spell out the political calculus as I understand it, in terms I believe Palin herself would appreciate: Her policy is wandering out alone on the tundra. We're flying over it in a helicopter armed to the teeth with bazookas, laser cannons, and whatever other destructive implements you care to name. I say we blast the vermin.:P:evilgrin:

[brentspeak]

20. Your wish is my command:

http://news.bostonherald.com/news/2008/view.bg?articleid=1118416&srvc=2008campaign&position=9

Eight years ago, complaints about charging rape victims for medical exams in Wasilla prompted the Alaska Legislature to pass a bill -- signed into law by (then Governor) Knowles -- that banned the practice statewide.

"There was one town in Alaska that was charging victims for this, and that was Wasilla," Knowles said

A May 23, 2000, article in Wasilla’s newspaper, The Frontiersman, noted that Alaska State Troopers and most municipal police agencies regularly pay for such exams, which cost between $300 and $1,200 apiece.

"(But) the Wasilla police department does charge the victims of sexual assault for the tests," the newspaper reported.

Hope this helps.

[blondeatlast]

18. Definitely. nt

[hasssan1]

22. I am with you , how van we do it ? who's the best 527 in our side ??

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

25. I don't know. Presumably some one shot formed just for the camapign