Off The BusNew Evidence: Palin Had Direct Role In Charging Rape Victims For Exams

[CatWoman]

Despite denials by the Palin campaign, new evidence proves that as mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, Sarah Palin had a direct hand in imposing fees to pay for post-sexual assault medical exams conducted by the city to gather evidence.

Palin's role is now confirmed by Wasilla City budget documents available online.

Under Sarah Palin's administration, Wasilla cut funds that had previously paid for the medical exams and began charging victims or their health insurers the $500 to $1200 fees. Although Palin spokeswoman Maria Comella wrote USA Today earlier this week that the GOP vice presidential nominee "does not believe, nor has she ever believed, that rape victims should have to pay for an evidence-gathering test...To suggest otherwise is a deliberate misrepresentation of her commitment to supporting victims and bringing violent criminals to justice," Palin, as mayor, fired police chief Irl Stambaugh and replaced him with Charlie Fannon, who with Palin's knowledge, slashed the budget for the exams and began charging the city's victims of sexual assault. The city budget documents demonstrate Palin read and signed off on the new budget. A year later, alarmed Alaska lawmakers passed legislation outlawing the practice.

News of the controversial policy has leaked slowly into the press this week as the presidential campaign has heated up and Palin's record has been subject to increasing scrutiny. The practice of charging rape victims has called into question Palin's stated commitment to women's issues, her judgment as an executive and her honesty about her record.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jacob-alperinsheriff/sarah-palin-instituted-ra_b_125833.html

[GodlessBiker]

1. I can't even imagine a woman overcoming rape trauma and getting a bill for evidence collection.

What a stupid fucking asshole she is.

[kestrel91316]

2. HuffPo today, WaPo and NYT tomorrow.........drip, drip, drip.....

[LiberalFighter]

3. I wonder if that is the type of executive experience voters want as VP or President?

[SammyWinstonJack]

4. K&R!

x( Horrible person!

[kaisersayzo]

5. Has anything she said so far....

Been even remotely true? 1st post!

[CatWoman]

7. welcome to DU, Kaisersayzo

:hi:

[hootinholler]

8. Remote is relative

I mean pluto is not remote when compared to Alpha Centari.

:hi: Welcome to teh DU!

-Hoot

[AzDar]

6. Ugh.

:puke:

[Festivito]

9. Pay for test law would protect rapists and young boys.

I wonder if the new chief has young boys. In cold Alaska drinking, drugging, screwing, and vandalism are all there is to do.

If you keep the girl from getting the test, the boys are safe for a while, until aborted or adopted, then they are off scott free.

She could be protecting her boys knowing boys will be boys.