Boston Globe: Palin made rape victims pay

[Bluebear]

October 1, 2008

ONE QUESTION that Sarah Palin should answer during tomorrow's debate is why, during her tenure as mayor of Wasilla, the town started charging rape victims or their insurers for hospital emergency-room rape kits and examinations.

The policy so outraged the Alaska Legislature that in 2000 it passed unanimously a bill forbidding such fees. But Palin has never explained why, under her leadership, the town stopped picking up the cost of the swabs, specimen containers, and tests.

A spokeswoman for Palin wrote to USA Today that Palin "does not believe, nor has she ever believed, that rape victims should have to pay for an evidence-gathering test." But that was the practice in Wasilla while she was mayor. Note: her signature was on the budget

If Palin were like most vice-presidential nominees of the past, reporters would have long since had a chance to quiz her on this subject, and many others. So far, though, the McCain campaign team has treated her as though she were in the witness protection program, permitting just three interviews with television personalities and no open-ended press conferences.

After the Alaska legislature banned the fees, Palin's handpicked police chief, Charlie Fannon, complained that the state's action would force the town to spend $5,000 to $14,000 a year to cover the costs. "I just don't want to see any more burden put on the taxpayer," Fannon said. But the policy on rape kits may have had less to do with easing the burden on taxpayers and more to do with Palin's position on abortion. She has said she opposes it even in cases of rape or incest.

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2008/09/30/palin_made_rape_victims_pay/

[uppityperson]

1. k&r again, I cannot tell you how much this one thing she did disgusts me.

I wonder if she even knew what a "rape kit" was? I wonder if she not only is against abortion, but feels anyone raped deserved it and should pay more for it?

Charging a victim of a sexual abuse crime to gather evidence of the crime is just. plain. wrong.

[Bluebear]

2. Compared to Biden, who authored the landmark Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)

...Included in the 1994 Crime Bill is Senator Biden's landmark Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), the first federal law to comprehensively address domestic violence and sexual assault. This Act strengthened federal penalties for abusers, stalkers, and repeat sex offenders. It has provided over $4 billion to states to fund battered women's shelters, establish a national domestic violence hotline, and train police, prosecutors and nurses. Senator Biden also authored the widely acclaimed Violence Against Women Act of 2000 which improved existing measures and added new provisions like a dedicated legal assistance program for victims.



http://biden.senate.gov/committee_work/judiciary/

[uppityperson]

6. I hope this is one of the questions asked in the "debate"

About women's rights, or rather crime victims rights. DV, sexual offenses, etc. I hope this would be one but I doubt it.

[Lars39]

3. Let's not forget that while Wasilla rape victims were having to pay

for their own investigative rape kits, Mayor Sarah Palin spent $50,000 redecorating her office...without the authority to do so.
She is slime. :mad:

[Bluebear]

4. Well, whatcha gonna spend yer dough on, a stuffed crab centerpiece that lasts or some throwaway kit?

After all. :sarcasm:

[Bluebear]

5. .

[Naturyl]

7. Repukes hate victims. (n/t)