Palin's Fetal Position

We really don't need to know anything more about the Sarah Palin celebrity action figure.

We don't need to know where she buys her glasses, when she decided to start wearing her hair in an up-do or how she handles the demands of motherhood and government work.

We don't even need to hear her answers on energy policy, the Iraq war or God's will.

What an awful lot of voters really need to know about Palin may already have been revealed -- years ago -- by one dark and unforgivable policy instituted under her watch as mayor of the small town of Wasilla.

After taking office in 1996, she allowed the town's police department to begin charging rape victims for the forensic work done in their cases. She signed off on the budget that detailed the new police policy -- a directive instituted by her hand-picked police chief after she fired his predecessor. The unexplained reversal in Wasilla's procedure dictated that rape victims, unlike the victims of other crimes, now would have to pay for the investigative work done at the crime scene.

In a rape case, of course, the crime scene is the woman's body.

When Sarah Palin was mayor of Wasilla, the town suddenly started charging rape victims between $300 and $1200 to have the rapist's DNA and other forensic evidence taken, tested, cataloged and investigated.

That meant that women who came to local police for help after being battered, brutalized and victimized, faced one more violation. These women had to pay for the privilege of having their cases treated as crimes.

Palin's then-police chief Charlie Fannon defended this policy with the explanation that he wanted to save taxpayers' money. He said the raped women's insurance policies were billed -- when possible. In those cases, the women only had to pay the deductible. Of course, this being America, many women were uninsured, unprotected from both their attackers and the big bills.

Gee, thanks, guys.

Oddly enough, Fannon did not make the same kind of choice in other criminal cases. He did not make people injured by hit-and-run drivers or mugging victims or the families of murdered men and women cough up money to investigate their cases or collect evidence to catch their attackers.

It only happened in rape cases.

Hmmm.

Now, why would that be?

There is one terrible possibility: that this happened because somebody in charge in Wasilla -- either the police chief or the Mayor or both -- hails from the craziest corner of the pro-life community, the people who believe that birth control is abortion.

These people oppose paying for forensic work in rape cases because as part of that process -- as a final step in a humiliating and dehumanizing procedure -- a woman is typically asked if she would like a "morning after" pill, a medication that will prevent a fertilized egg from implanting in the lining of her uterus. The treatment is believed to be about 80% effective in preventing pregnancy.

Sarah Palin has not deigned to take questions from the unwashed masses in the media, but if she ever does, this might be a good place to begin.

Does she believe that giving a rape victim a "morning after" pill is committing murder? Does Palin believe that the taxpayers shouldn't pay for this or that police shouldn't offer this as a matter of course? Does she really believe that a woman should have to bear the child of her rapist?

We already know that's what she would want for her daughter.

During her successful gubernatorial campaign in 2006, Palin declared that she would not choose an abortion for her daughter -- then 14 years old -- even if the girl was raped and became pregnant. "I would choose life," Palin said.

Eric Croft suspects that these pro-life beliefs were the reason behind Wasilla's no pay police policy on rape victims.

He is the Democratic legislator who got the system changed by sponsoring a state proposal in 2000 that required local police departments in Alaska to pay for victims' "rape kits," as the evidence-gathering process is called. He wrote the bill with Wasilla's misguided police procedure in mind.

Croft told me that he was working at the time with a victim support group called "STAR" -- for Standing Together Against Rape. "We kept hearing reports out of the Mat-Su Valley that a police department there was charging for rape kits," Croft says. "We didn't know who it was."

Finally, a rape victim came forward with a copy of her insurance bill, which listed the rape kit charges filed by Wasilla police. Croft says his organization contacted the town's police chief who confirmed the policy but could not be convinced to change it.

Croft says he was dumbfounded. "I thought they'd be shamed out of it. But they weren't. They weren't."

So he proposed a change in state law. As a result, there were public hearings, public testimony and overwhelming public support. The bill passed unanimously. Democratic Governor Tony Knowles made a point of signing the bill into law in front of cameras outside a sexual assault clinic.

The amazing thing is that, through all of this, Palin herself apparently didn't speak publicly, didn't come out for or against her police chief's policy, didn't take responsibility for what her town was doing to already wounded women.

Part of what makes this suspicious is that Wasilla's policy is not the first time rape victims have found themselves in the crosshairs of the country's culture wars over abortion.

In fact, their bodies have long been a battleground.

Right-to-life groups around the country have often stepped into rape cases, fighting to make sure that pharmacists, police and medical personnel don't have to participate in procedures they deem "immoral."

From the Deep South to South Dakota, from Missouri to Arizona, rape victims have too long had to fight for the kind of equality and empathy that other crime victims can regularly expect.

The question of emergency contraception -- who gets it, who pays for it and who gets to decide -- is at the heart of this heated debate.

A few years ago, there was a dustup down here in Texas, when a pharmacist in a Dallas suburb refused to fill a rape victim's prescription for the "morning after" pill, saying that he couldn't dispense the medication "because it ends life." This poor woman had to go to a different pharmacy in order to protect herself in the most personal, most private, most important way possible.

When the story became public, dozens of outraged Texas women showed up outside the pharmacy with signs saying, "Rape violates my morals."

Those same women -- and thousands more who feel the same way -- could be headed for a Republican rally soon if Sarah doesn't start talking.

Her partner in the old policy seems to have gone to ground.

Charles Fannon, the former police chief, now has a disconnected home phone number.

And Sarah Palin seems to be in the process of completely disconnecting herself from the policy.

Palin's spokeswoman, Maria Comella, told USA Today in an e-mail last week that the Governor "does not believe, nor has she ever believed that rape victims should have to pay for an evidence-gathering test.

"Governor Palin's position could not be more clear. To suggest otherwise is a deliberate misrepresentation of her commitment to supporting victims and bringing violent criminals to justice."

According to USA Today, Comilla would not answer other questions, including when Palin learned of Wasilla's policy or whether she tried to change it.

Maybe this is all some kind of unthinkable misunderstanding. Maybe Palin didn't know this was happening, didn't hear about it even the whole state joined the conversation, maybe this tough-talking Mayor couldn't control her police chief.

Maybe she has changed over the years, maybe she now recognizes the immorality of treating rape victims this way.

Whatever the answer -- before we vote -- before we are treated to another story about her taste in shoes or her time as Governor, would someone please pin Palin down and ask her what the hell was going on with rape victims in Wasilla?

And more importantly, why?

This person who says she's prepared to be a heartbeat away from the presidency could clear this whole thing up in a heartbeat.

Why won't she?

When Palin's name was announced as McCain's vice-presidential pick, I initially viewed her as some kind of sop to disgruntled Clinton supporters, somebody who was supposed to appeal to those of us who would rather have seen Hillary at the head of the ticket.

In the campaign, Palin has been presented as a kind of born-again Christian comic book hero -- the ultimate in multi-tasking mothers -- a woman who flies around the country in labor, kills big animals in the woods and dictates the details of other people's lives while juggling babies, Bibles and bullets.

It is beginning to look like she may be something colder, creepier and more complicated.

She has run Alaska like Dick Cheney in drag, a person who thrives on secrecy, loyalty and control.

On foreign policy, she's reminiscent of George W. Bush, without the sparkling curiosity.

And if she worked to deny rape victims emergency contraception, she is women voters' worst nightmare -- she is Phyllis Schlaffly with PMS, power and an automatic weapon.

It is long past time to figure out who Sarah Palin really is.

Getting answers on how and why she allowed her hometown to adopt a policy towards crime victims that was so beyond the pale, so outside the bounds of human decency, so heartless is a good place to begin.

In the end, it may be all we need to know.

Like Sarah Palin, I believe in the power of prayer.

I am praying that reporters can pull themselves out of the fetal position and start asking Palin some hard questions -- about hers.

Comments

[ConnieInCleveland]

Sad isnt it, women cant afford to be raped? Raped by an individual, then robbed by the government. Two crimes in one. SAD! SAD! SAD! .

[feo]

These Bible followers should follow the Bible: stone rape victims to death for the dishonor they've brought on the family. Come on Aarah, let's start reading the Good Book.

[mergina]

Here is a question for Palin in the debates. "Governor Palin, if you were brutally gang raped next to your daughter who was also brutally gang raped, and your daughter became pregnant from this violent attack, and it was proven that the men who raped you were genetically abnormal, would you force your daughter to have the rapists child?"

[djarvis]

Very good post. All of the women who like Palin and view her as a "feminist" should read this. They also should know that Palin does not support the Equal Pay for Equal Work bill. I have nothing against a woman being vice president or president - just not THIS woman.

[SeanGardner]

And, despite the fact that Alaska has a surplus, she cut funding for teen mothers and cut funding for W.I.C. (women, infant, children) recipients.

[SeanGardner]

Very good article Ms. Mapes. It pretty much mirrors what I have been posting about Palin on this site for weeks.

Because when I saw Palin's signature on the document authorizing rape victims be charged (seen here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jacob-alperinsheriff/sarah-palin-instituted-ra_b_125833.html), and saw where she signs off with "Respectfully Yours", I was mortified. The words "Respectfully Yours" on that document is a slap in the face because there is nothing "respectful" about being raped. Its already a wretchedly painful experience, only to be charged for the rape exam that you may not have any money for.

You supported Hillary during the primary. And even though she didn't make it, you have good sense to not vote for Palin just because she's a woman. No, you're voting on the issues. Thank you.

OBAMA/BIDEN '08 & '12

[KHAAANNN]

The key thing to remember here is what the McCain-Palin campaign has said, and to read it CAREFULLY.
They said; "Governor Palin's position could not be more clear.....­." Note they SPECIFICALLY said "GOVERNOR" Palin, not "MAYOR Palin".
She was NOT GOVERNOR when this all occurred! She was the MAYOR of Wasilla and her hand-picked crony Police Chief implemented the plan and refused to change it when challenged.
By the time she became GOVERNOR the law had already been changed and she HAD to follow it.
PAY ATTENTION PEOPLE!

[SeanGardner]

no, Palin had a direct role in charging rape victims. You obviously didn't see the document with Palin's signature on it. Palin knew exactly what she was doing. This link proves it: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jacob-alperinsheriff/sarah-palin-instituted-ra_b_125833.html

Please don't be an apologist for the anti- working woman and anti-family stances and actions of that god awful Govenor of Alaska.

Palin gave her blessing for rape victims to be charged for rape exams. Nothing you can say will wash that fact away. The proof is in the documents.

[gooseisloose]

Read the comment you replied to again carefully -- KHAAANNN is not absolving Palin. He/she is saying that the McCain/Palin campaign is choosing its words very carefully in order to circumvent the truth, by referring to her as Governor Palin vs. Mayor Palin -- Palin did not sign the document during her tenure as governor, she signed it as mayor.

[Sundialsvc4]

Actually, Mary, I think this is just "the Karl Rove Principle" in action once again.

This principle is as subtle as it is effective: "say polarizing things at every opportunit­y." Divide the country against itself. Give media folks endless things to write about and to talk about ... except the things that you do not want them to see, such as a war that has so-far killed more than a million people.

Didn't Palin's comment strike you as ... extraordinarily "extreme?" Rape victim. Plus morning-after pill. Equals first-degree murder.

What did that comment actually do? It took a great big mallet and whacked at three very prominent buttons, and it set-off the intended reaction. All of these politicos, on both sides of the aisle, are doing exactly the same thing at every opportunity.

I seriously doubt that a single word of it is meant in earnest.

[oncesung]

You what?? You expect reporters to start asking hard questions?? Like MSNBCs reporters who are now serving Fox Lite, except for Matthews and Olbermann.
I watched Mika and Joe this morning smirking over McCain's raw and smirking insistence that his ad about Obama's "sex education" for kindergartners could be proven by going to his website.
No one is calling out the Repugs because the Repugs have been clever and corrupt enough to freaking buy up the media.
duh!

[SheenaVa]

I stopped watching Joe and Mika, when she got on the Palin bandwagon. Must be something in their Venti Starbucks cups. I now only watch Keith, Chris and Rachel. Although you can see Chris does lust after her.

[Hajji]

For three years, Jill served (part time) as a Pickens county rape and child abuse forensic investigator. She's done rape and abuse exams on hundreds of women, children (and yes, adult men, too) and testified in numerous trials.

It is a heinous tactics used by perpetrators of the crimes (through their lawyers, of course) to do everything possible to cause public shame, embarassment and legal expense to their victims.

Physical violence threats, threats to employment, etc, were de’ rigeur, even (especially?) in a backwards, backwater like this place.

Causing someone to pay for their own investigation is CLEARLY DESIGNED TO SUPRESS THE NUMBER OF REPORTED OFFENSES, since many victims wouldn’t stand a chance of prosecution without physical evidence and many would pile that on top of all the other threats and not press charges.

Full disclosure­...Someone very dear to me was raped, became pregnant, didn’t press charges and gave the child up for adoption. She’s far nobler than I would have been, but she HAD A CHOICE and made it from her own heart and mind.

My blood boils.

When I think about someone in office, in places where such violence in endemic…even epidemic…who does NOTHING to advance and many things to THWART the fight against such diabolical evil, and then see them held up as some kind of “hero” to women…and families..­.and lawful gun owners...

I wanna do something I shouldn’t.

Y'all keep defending her... go ahead...

Go ahead... Keep it up...

[FirstShirt]

Question: If you believe in abortion, do you also believe in the death penalty? Seems to be the same thing except for the due process for rapists and murderers.

[FlippyO]

Yeah, I'm one of those wacky liberals who thinks for myself and I think women have the right to choose what to do with their own bodies (up to a point - not a third trimester abortion), but I also am perfectly happy to see murderers be put to death. However, none of that circumstantial evidence - I want the death penalty when there is absolutely no doubt the person is guilty. Actually, and let's add a few more crimes other than murder to the death penalty while we're at it - serial rapists & serial child molesters.

Sometimes with just one case, you can't be positive of the circumstances or who is/isn't telling the truth - I served on a child molestation case jury and most of the women on the jury wanted to convict the guy because their "gut" said he did it...excep­t for me and an elderly woman who was molested as a child by her father - we had to convince them that it was based on "evidence", not their "gut"....a­nd after that, it was a unanimous not guilty verdict.

[SheenaVa]

Thank you for the post Mary. Palin is wrong for women on so many levels, I can't comprehend how a woman could vote for her. We need to start showing up at her rallies and asking the questions that she hasn't answered. There needs to be a louder roar from the electorate and the media on why she can't be interviewed.

[Fudgefase]

We are Woman! Hear us ROAR!!!

[Fudgefase]

This woman disgusts me. Every facet of her beliefs, her hobbys (!) and her political extremism. End of story.

[Setu]

Contd...

So people, please refrain from getting your thongs and boxers all into a knot thinking about why Wasilla charged upto (and over) $1000.00 a-pop to rape victims. It wasnt Wasilla raping the rape victims all over again. It was just Wasilla's godly Mayor, that holier-tha­n-thou-god­less-heath­en-elites following her religious beliefs. Amen.

Now if you are willing to kindly undo the knotted thongs and boxers, let me share with you what happened next.

One senator tried to push a bill hard in Washington to get Federal dollars for such town and counties across the US that didnt have money to pay for rape test kits - just so the towns and counties dont charge rape victims instead. Now I am sure you silly boys and girls would imagine that such a bill would have passed smoothly - without even a single 'Nay' vote. Right? Wrong!!!

So, boys and girls, here is a little quiz for you. Name the senator who pushed the bill to ensure that rape victims are not forced to pay for the rape test kits? Since I dont want you to knot up what you just unknotted, here is the answer. Senator Joe Biden, pushed hard to get the bill through to prevent rape victims from having to pay for their rape test kits.

Onto the next question. Which senator voted 'no' to prevent the bill? Here is the answer: Sen. John 'Maverick' McCain!

Go figure.

- Setu Madhavan

[indypete]

I'm gonna have a heart attack from not surprise.

[vegancheesenut]

You can't just make this stuff up........­.coupled with the "she can't run a company" thing.

OMG...she is going to self destruct any time now.

[Setu]

Why dont you people just get to the true facts as to why Sarah Palin felt compelled to charge rape victims, instead of chasing your tails regurgitating make-believe theories till the cows come home.

Here is the real reason why Sarah is justified in charging rape victims. Amen.

Read on, you unholy heathens.

One line item in the cost towards the rape test kit includes money towards EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION typically used if the victim was ovulating during the rape to pre-empt pregnancy. (Remember pre-emption? Yes the same pre-emption from the 'pre-emptive strike, definition of the Bush Doctrine, that caused Sarah 'pitbull' Palin to give Gibson the 'why are you doing this to me, Charlie,' look).

Now Sarah believes that any form of contraception, that prevents/pre-empts conception is a sin. Do you think such a pro-life person as her (that loves to shoot wolves from the air, fire at bear cubs on trees, and anything that moves on four legs in Alaska for pleasure- even as she is doing her best to deny the eskimos and native Alaskan population their right to subsistence hunting/fishing) would be able to face her lord on the day of judgement when she is asked how she allowed Wasilla to pay for 'emergency contraception' for such sinful people as the 'contraception demanding rape victims' of Wasilla.

Sarah therefore decided to take the moral religious high road. Amen. Hallelujah!!

- Setu Madhavan (Continued)

[SecretSister]

I guess it really is true that Palin can be considered the trojan moose. She is a politician disguised as a woman who is deficient in compassion and kindness to women who are victims of sexual violence.

I think that a woman who would make the victims pay for their own rape kits (when they are outrageously expensive) is someone who is doing everything that she can to punish woman who find themselves in this situation. I also think that she is also the kind of person to probably blame the victim for the rape. After all, she probably thinks that they did something to deserve this.

I think that Palin is one of those women who are competitve in the extreme on everything with other women. If you are a female voter and you think that she gives a fig about your life, then you are deluded. After all, she is more than willing to take away your freedom in reproductive rights.

I am tired of the Republicans trying to take away my constitutional and reproductive rights. Don't they have better things to do like fix the economy and catch Bin Laden?

In November, I will be voting to fire some of this Republican deadwood that can't seem to work anymore for the Americans that elected them. I have convinced my mom and husband to join me in this endeavor.

[FirstShirt]

Palin has the same credentials Bill Clinton had when he became President.

[feo]

Bill Clinton had that elusive quality that Republicans never have: intelligence.