Amendment Killed that Would Have Allowed Abortion for Military Rape Victims

Did you know that government won't provide abortions for military rape victims?

Rape is all too common in the military. Military rape victims are reluctant to come forward due to a long history of a "boys will be boys" attitude combined with an unsympathetic male-dominated hierarchy and the fact that reporting rape can be a career-ending move for a woman in the service.

According to the Pentagon, rapes are on the rise in the military, but only 10-20% of rapes are reported to authorities. And only a small number of those actually go to court. So numbers are vague, but we can guess that roughly 0.1% to 1% of rapes in the military are actually prosecuted.

Now add to that terrible statistic the fact that a servicewoman who becomes pregnant by her rapist can't get an abortion through the military medical system. She has to go to an outside doctor and pay for it herself. And that's assuming she's in a country where that's even possible. A woman who is serving in Iraq or Afghanistan is just out of luck, because you can bet there are no abortion clinics.

Recently, it looked like there was a chance to change this terrible policy. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) introduced an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that would lift the ban on using government funds for abortions in the military.

But Senator Shaheen's amendment was killed on a technicality: it was ruled "non-germane" by the chair.

It's time to end this immoral, fundi-inspired discriminatory law. And you can do something about it. ContactingTheCongress.org is a wonderful web site that provides instant access to your Senators and Representatives. We timed it: in just seven minutes my wife wrote and sent three emails supporting Senator Shaheen's amendment to Senator Feinstein, Senator Boxer and Congressman Bilbray.

While this battle appears to be over, the war is not. It's time to end this immoral and discriminatory law that victimizes rape victims in the military. Write to your representatives. Do it now. Why are you still reading this? And if you're one of my fellow bloggers, I hope you'll blog about this too!

(H/T to Laurel for this story.)

(Update: The title has been corrected from "Bill" to "Amendment.")

Herman Cain Happy to Usurp States on Abortion, Marriage

What ever happened to honest conservatives? You know, the ones that believed in minimal government, states rights and individual freedom?

It seems they're turning those tasks over to the liberals. When it comes to abortion, marriage, gay rights and religion, the Republicans are showing their true colors: the conservatives are one hundred percent in favor of taking away individual liberties and states' rights.

CBN (the Christian Broadcasting Network) got an exclusive interview with Herman Cain that perfectly illustrates how Republicans are advocating a federal takeover.

"Yes I feel that strongly about [a pro-life Constitutional amendment banning abortion]. If we can get the necessary support and it comes to my desk I’ll sign it. That’s all I can do. I will sign it. ... I think marriage should be protected at the federal level also. I used to believe that it could be just handled by the states but there’s a movement going on to basically take the teeth out of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act ... we do need some protection at the federal level ... I would support legislation that would say that it’s between a man and a woman.

I just don't get how Republicans can talk out of both sides of their mouths with such ease. One minute they paint the federal government as a huge, evil, corrupt beast that is sucking the country dry, interfering with free trade and taking away our guns. The next minute, they want the federal government in our bedrooms, doctors' offices and wedding ceremonies.

But there is one good thing coming out of the Republican party this election. The candidates are eating each other alive. They're trying to out-conservative each other in order to appease the Tea Baggers Party, and in the process they are alienating moderate Americans so badly that President Obama may have a virtual cakewalk to his reelection.

Cain: No Abortions Allowed ... At All

At least Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain can't be called indecisive on abortion. He wants to overturn Roe v. Wade. In fact, he wants to outlaw abortion altogether.

"I believe in life from conception and I do not agree with abortion under any circumstances. Not for rape and incest ... Because if you look at rape and incest, the percentage of those instances is so miniscule [sic] that there are other options. If it’s the life of the mother that family is going to have to make that decision."

So, if a thirteen-year-old girl is raped by her stepfather, then neither she nor her mother can choose whether to carry that man's child? Even the very next day, when the egg hasn't even implanted itself in her uterus and has no spinal cord or brain cells?

Exactly. That fertilized cell, according to Cain, is a full human being with more rights than the girl and her family.

And why does Cain block abortions for rape and incest? Just because it's a rare crime. From what Cain says, it sounds like he might reconsider if rape and incest were more common. Does that make sense to you? Do you think it makes sense to rape and incest victims?