CNN Covers Palin Rape Kit Story (VIDEO)

Multiple newspapers have confirmed reports in blogs that Sarah Palin's town charged rape victims for their forensic exams while she was mayor. Now CNN has covered the story, interviewing the sponsor of a law aimed at ending the practice. He finds it hard to believe this practice could go on without the mayor's knowledge. Watch:

Comments

[Daisy1111]

Kudos to the Axel-rod for astroturfing this story because it's the first 20-pages on Google results making it impossible to find links to what I knows is true. But here is something I found by another online commentor that makes the point:

"If you are assaulted, involved in an automobile accident, shot on the street corner, burned in an arson fire, or injured in any during a criminal act and you go to the hospital, your insurance will be billed for it.

If you were shot, the bullet they take out of your body is evidence and will processed by the police department. But your insurance will be billed for the surgery.

In cities where they do their own lab work, the rape kit is collected at the hospital, turned over to the police and then it is processed by the department. In other jurisdictions, it may be processed by a state agency or lab, or, it may be done at a private lab. If it's done at a private lab, it will be either paid for on a case by case basis or it will be under contract.

The hospital charges to collect the evidence and it is charged to the rape vicitms's insurance company. This was also the practice in Wasilla. Rape kits were charges to the victim's insurance comapny. And if there was no insurance, it came out of the city's miscellaneous fund.

This is common practice in US cities. There is no scandal here.

[nicciaugust]

Your analogy is faulty. The rape kit is not done to heal the injuries of the victim. It's done to collect evidence of a crime to facilitate criminal prosecution, and it's not done solely for the benefit of the victim. It's done for the benefit of the citizens of the state where the crime occurred to allow the perpetrator of a crime to be prosecuted.

[Daisy1111]

The majority of states CHARGE THE VICTIM'S MEDICAL INSURANCE FOR THE RAPE KIT because the procedure IS CONDUCTED IN A HOSPITAL.

Show me one link that PROVES this is not true.

[Territc]

And In Wasilla's case, it did not come out of the city's miscellaneous fund. It came out of the victims pocket. Unless of course they were reimbursed by the city.

[Tropiholic]

stop defending this outrageous practice hillbot!

[SeanGardner]

It was good to see CNN finally report on this issue. But I was disappointed that Jessica Yellin sort of punked out. So I sent CNN anchor John Roberts the following e-mail:

"Hi John. I just saw Jessica Yellin's report on whether Sarah Palin had a direct role in charging rape victims. I was surprised that Ms. Yellin said she couldn't find anything that proved Ms. Palin had a direct role. There is a great, exhaustive piece that came out two weeks ago that proves she had a direct role. The piece even has Palin's signature. Here is that link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jacob-alperinsheriff/sarah-palin-instituted-ra_b_125833.html?page=2. Why wasn't Jessica as thorough in her research? I'm furious.

"And why haven't you guys reported that John McCain, in 1994, voted against legislation -- pushed through Congress by Obama's V.P. Sen. Joe Biden -- that helped put an end to the practice of charging rape victims for sexual assault exams? In fact, McCain not only opposed Biden's legislation, but also has voted against funding it as recently as October 2007 - LAST YEAR!!! Here is the link about that: http://www.jedreport.com/2008/09/mccain-voted-against-biden-law.html.

"I watch your show every morning John, and on these issues, CNN has let me down.
We'll see if Jessica Yellin does her research this time, and if you guys hit McCain for voting against Biden's bill."

[Daisy1111]

Thanks to astroturfing this story the first 20-pages on Google results make it impossible to find links to what I knows is true: MOST US CITIES CHARGE THE VICTIM'S INSURANCE COMANY FOR THE RAPE KIT. But another online commentor makes the point well:

"If you are assaulted, involved in an automobile accident, shot on the street corner, burned in an arson fire, or injured in any way during a criminal act and you go to the hospital, your insurance will be billed for it.

If you were shot, the bullet they take out of your body is evidence and will processed by the police department. But your insurance will be billed for the surgery.

In cities where they do their own lab work, the rape kit is collected at the hospital, turned over to the police and then it is processed by the department. In other jurisdictions, it may be processed by a state agency or lab, or, it may be done at a private lab. .

The hospital charges to collect the evidence and it is charged to the rape vicitms's insurance company.

This was also the practice in Wasilla. Rape kits were charges to the victim's insurance comapny. And if there was no insurance, it came out of the city's miscellaneous fund.

This is common practice in US cities. There is no scandal here.

[SeanGardner]

"There is no scandal here"

Wait a minute...rape victims in Wasila, AK were charged $300 to $1200 for rape kits, and that's not a scandal? What are you smoking? A victim of a crime should have to pay for the kit that gathers evidence for the prosecution of a rape? Is that what you are saying?

This says scandal all over it. If there is no scandal, why is the McCain camp terrified that Palin's direct role in charging rape victims for rape kits could give Obama a landslide victory with "older, middle aged white women" - the demographic Palin was brought on board to capture?

This is a major scandal!!!

[mikelartist]

You failed to read the whole story. The Police Chief has stated in several that the rape kits are charged to the victim regardless of insurance to gather evidence. He was not comfortable with that. He went on to say that if there was a successful prosecution then the victim was reimbursed, but only then. It was outside the Federal law, sponsored by Joe Biden, that put an end to this practice nationwide.

[suvbaby]

Please be mindful that we are speaking about Alaska having the highest incidence of violent crimes against women. There is just no way to justify any of this or to justify Palin's lack of a stand on this issue. She did nothing but fire the one GUY who attempted to get some help for these women. I would be absolutly mortified to be the mayor or gov of a state with this stat.

[jiml1956]

Why didn't Wasilla provide crime report numbers to the the FBI for 1996 though 1999?

Look at -

http://www.disastercenter.com/alaska/crime/35.htm

[valleygent]

MORE stories on the Bookburner. She is yesterday's news.

[Mattplastik]

http://alaskareport.com/news98/x61620_rape_palin.htm

A link to an Alaskan news paper with the "rape kit" story....incredible...

Palin's pathetic.

[oregondemgrl]

Thanks for the link. I am beyond outraged.

[TheHandyman]

Thanks for the link. I too am outraged that anyone, let alone another woman would promote and vote for this poor excuse for a human being! I cannot how anyone in her home town could possibly believe that she is competent and knowledgable enough to be the head of anything?

[grata2ude]

Why is this a story. The republican party has been raping the citizens of this country since Bush took office and it's obvious that almost half the country is willing to bend over and take some more by voting for McCain/Palin.

For crying out loud what is wrong with the people in this country to even think of voting republican?

[MarkieBee001]

our rape kit will cost $2 TRILLION for Iraq and we just got the rape kit bill for the banks. That kit will cost $700 BILLION. An aggressive dose of contraception starts Nov. 4

[Thundrsong]

Whether she knew it was happening and was fine with it or she was oblivious to the "city" charging rape victims - it demonstrates a severe lack of executive competence. If she knew it was going on and fine with it, whether there were 10 rapes or none, whatever - if the potential for it happening was even there, it was flat out wrong. Whereas if she was clueless, I'm sorry, but I have a hard time believing she was plugged in and somehow missed that it was happening.

I'm willing to grant that she has executive experience, but this example points to her either being an executive who doesn't mind charging people for being a victim OR being an executive who doesn't know what anyone under her is doing or how money is being managed.

Ringing endorsements either way!!

I must be missing something, cause I have yet to see anything even hinting at her having leadership skills.

[TheHandyman]

What is not being diferentiated here is what constitutes good executive experience and bad executive experience. Palin has not showed through any of her actions that she has a good fundamental understanding of how to manage people or situations. She relies on her beliefs about things rather than knowledge. She substitutes friendship and loyalty for competency. When you put your high school dentist friend in charge of the Dept of roads and maintenance that cannot have a good outcome.

[Thundrsong]

Exactly right! Exec. Experience, great, but if that experience proves her as incompetent or just plain wrong - I don't see how that kind of exec experience makes her even remotely the right person for the job.

[Daisy1111]

My last comment on this topic...

I supplied enough links below to show that MANY STATES have the exact SAME policy as Wasilla did during the time she was mayor: These states charge the victims insurance company (like in Illinois) and then reimburse those who do not have insurance.

In her town, if you didn't have insurance the kit was paid for out of a miscellaneous fund (see CNN article linked below). And all date I've found to date shows there were no rapes reported when she was mayor.

Many of you probably LIVE in states that charge victims' insurance comapnies for rape kits yet you don't even know it. I think it's hypocritical to assume no other city in the USA had the same policy.

[jiml1956]

Daisy,

Are you talking about charges for evidence collection or medical treatment?

Do you understand the difference?

[Daisy1111]

...caseworkers in Illinois, Georgia, and Arkansas reporting that rape victims continue to be charged for their forensic exams.


http://www.usnews.com/blogs/on-health-and-money/2008/2/21/rape-victims-can-be-hurt-financially-too.html

[DefeatedAnOfficer]

Another interesting angle to the story is that Alaska enacted the state law to start paying for rape kits in order to comply with the VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT, which was of course written by none other than Joe Biden.

[ricitizen]

And you know who voted against the VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT - John McCain.

[WhyNaught]

The state law was enacted TO STOP this practice, in direct response to Wasilla's policies.

"The new law makes it illegal for any law enforcement agency to bill victims or victims insurance companies for the costs of examinations that take place to collect evidence of a sexual assault or determine if a sexual assault did occur."

http://www.frontiersman.com/articles/2000/05/23/news.txt

[Daisy1111]

Several states charge rape victims for rape kits. Most have a policy that if the victim has NO INSURANCE they will reimburse them for out of pocket payments:

...caseworkers in Illinois, Georgia, and Arkansas reporting that rape victims continue to be charged for their forensic exams.


http://www.usnews.com/blogs/on-health-and-money/2008/2/21/rape-victims-can-be-hurt-financially-too.html

[Daisy1111]

North Carolina bills rape victims for rape kits.

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/health_science/story/941202.html

[misskamm]

are you a woman, Daisy? So do you think it is right to charge a woman that has been raped to collect evidence to catch the rapist? If you were raped, would you want to face this insult? Even if it happened in every city in the US, that doesn't make it right. And as Mayor, Palin had the power to do the right thing. As a woman, it is a disgrace that she allowed this to happen.

[ricitizen]

The point here Daisy is that it is wrong no matter where it is happening. And as the mayor of small town and governor who claims to have executive experience superior to all others in the fields, it should be a cake walk for Shara to explain her policies in an interview. And as a women in particular Palin who is trying to claim that she is following Hil, should have done everything in her power to support victims. Biden and Obama have a record of supporting people who are victims either from crime or economic heart ship. What has Palin done? And if their are questions, it's because there seems to be many lies in her statements or no statements at all. Most people don't know because she just won't sit down for questions. Biden and Obama have faced the challenge. As they say in Alaska "Where is Shara?"

[jiml1956]

This link specifies that North Carolina capped the reimbursement at $1,000 for evidence collection.

Earlier you quoted Illinois law on coverage of medical costs versus evidence collection.

I'm confused as to how the link you provided applies to IL, GA, or AR.

[DelbertR]

A part of Palin's normal responsibilities as Mayor would have included line-by-line knowledge of her town's budget -- which is unquestionably the truth -- she planned her budget each year with the assistance of the department heads in her government, so it's unquestionable that she knew where all her costs and revenues were coming from. Obvious: SHE KNEW about the charges for the rape kits to alleged victims. Add this to a growing list of reasons to doubt her truthfulness and her commitment to what is fair and "right," in spite of her professed religious ideals. But as hurtful, inconsiderate, and women-hostile as this was, it's only another of many indications of her being an utter joke for as vice-presidential candidate. As we say in the South, "SHE AIN'T READY TO RUN WITH THE BIG DOGS." Women everywhere should be insulted at all these tactics that insult one's intelligence!

[Daisy1111]

While "O" was in the Illinois senate and to this day, Illinois CHARGES RAPE VICTIMS for kits. Only those WITHOUT INSURANCE are reimbursed by the state. But you won't see that story here.

QUOTE:

"According to the Sexual Assault Emergency Treatment Act, the Illinois Department of Public Aid will reimburse the costs of ER treatment if you do not have public aid or private medical insurance. Under the Illinois Crime Victim"s Compensation Act, if you report the assault to the police within 72 hours of the crime and if you file a claim application within two years of the date of the crime, you can be reimbursed for out-of-pocket medical expenses, loss of earnings, psychological counseling, and loss of support income due to the crime. Reimbursement can be up to $27,000."

[jiml1956]

Apples and oranges. Your quote talks about the medical treatmen. Wasilla would not pay for collecting the evidence that would be used in court. Wasilla wanted to charge the victim to collect the evidence.

Uh, you left out the "without insurance" part of the quote.

Gotta link for that?

[Phidippides]

nice reply

[Daisy1111]

I did not leave it out - read above:

"...if you do not have public aid or private medical insurance."

You want a link? Google: Illinois Sexual Assault Emergency Treatment Act

More on Illinois and other states charging rape victims for kits. Quote:

...caseworkers in Illinois, Georgia, and Arkansas reporting that rape victims continue to be charged for their forensic exams.

...How forensic exam costs are handled varies. In some locations, hospitals bill patients' insurance and absorb whatever the insurers don't pay or bill patients for the balance. Some states have special funds to cover a portion of the costs. Others require convicted offenders to pay into a fund to reimburse the costs of the exams.

http://www.usnews.com/blogs/on-health-and-money/2008/2/21/rape-victims-can-be-hurt-financially-too.html

[ricitizen]

Any person who is a victim of battery will usually incur the cost of their treatment. But most states will cover the cost for the victims if they don't have insurance. If you show me this provision in Alaska then you have a point. If not, then you have nothing.

102.7 STATE SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS EMERGENCY TREATMENT
PROGRAM
The Illinois Sexual Assault Survivors Emergency Treatment Program covers
emergency medical expenses for sexual assault survivors who seek emergency
services from a certified hospital and who are not eligible for Medical Assistance or
KidCare and are not covered by other health insurance.
Another resource for these patients is:
Office of the Attorney General of Illinois
Crime Victims Compensation Program
100 W. Randolph St., 13th Floor
Chicago, IL 60601
Telephone [phone]
Other inquiries on this program should be directed to the Bureau of Comprehensive
Health Services at [phone].

[jiml1956]

ricitizen, please realize that daisy if contrasting the cost of medical treatemnt (in Illinois's case) to the cost of collecting criminal evidence (in Wasilla's case).

Two seperate things.

[Daisy1111]

If you read the CNN article in its entirety, you'll see when Palin was Mayor the Sheriff wanted to CHARGE THE RAPISTS for the kits and the state law did not allow him to do so. You'll also see rape kits were paid for by Wasilla's miscellaneous budget when the victim did not have insurance to cover it. Now tell me how is this different than Illinois? It's not. It's exactly the same. Do you want truth? Or is it only bad when the opposition spreads lies and half truths?

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/21/palin.rape.exams/?iref=hpmostpop

I'm also in the process of tracking down this tidbit with various sources. It has been put forth that the SHERIFF had jurisdiction over the cost of crime investigation, not the mayor. If this is true, it would mean she did not have the power as Mayor to change the policy.

[kristycu]

it doesn't even mention anything about rape kits- it talks about other things like how about the cost of just going to the hospital and when they charge you for ever gauze, needle, the stay- and that is at any hospital. you have no point- hello It says Treatment nothing about- a sexual assult kit is not treatment it is official police evidence collecting, every thing after that- treatment for maybe burns, scars, etc. Do you just copy and paste, i think you need to start comprehending things

[sjmarie]

wow! City can't pay for rape kit but can pay for a recreational complex costing over 1 million for a city of 9000 people. Unbelievable!

[nowalnuts]

Signs a person is a sociopath :

not learning from experience
no sense of responsibility
inability to form meaningful relationships
inability to control impulses
lack of moral sense
chronically antisocial behavior
no change in behavior after punishment
emotional immaturity
lack of guilt
self-centeredness

Dear McCain/Palin,

Do not worry. I will not be charging you for this diagnosis.

xo,
Obama/biden 08

[Ged2012]

Why the hell is CNN making this a major talking point only now?

This news is over a week old.

[HopeGirl]

they just got the memo that she is uncool?

press is hideous.

[Cinnamonape]

Except that they likely took notice ONLY when Palin said that the head of Alaskas Dept. of Public Safety was fired because he travelled to Washington D.C. without her permission...then it came out that the trip was to try and get Federal funds for improving services to Rape Victims.

But Palin's excuse then broke down...as the Commissioner HAD obtained approval from Palin's Chief of Staff to go. So once more Sarah is caught out in a lie...she fired the guy, not for insubordination...but because he wouldn't fire her ex-brother-in-law.