"PALIN AND RAPE-KIT CHARGES...it turns out, the policy really was that bad."

[ProSense]

PALIN AND RAPE-KIT CHARGES.... Reponding to the story about Sarah Palin charging rape victims for medical exams, Atrios noted today, "I actually haven't mentioned this story because there were a few details I wasn't quite sure about so I wasn't sure if it's as bad as it sounded."

I was thinking the exact same thing. There just had to be more to this, some exculpatory information that didn't make Palin sound awful. The Anchorage Daily News looked into the matter and, as it turns out, the policy really was that bad.

(Former Gov. Tony Knowles (D)) broke new ground while answering a reporter's question on whether Wasilla forced rape victims to pay for their own forensic tests when Palin was mayor. True, Knowles said.

Eight years ago, complaints about charging rape victims for medical exams in Wasilla prompted the Alaska Legislature to pass a bill -- signed into law by Knowles -- that banned the practice statewide.

"There was one town in Alaska that was charging victims for this, and that was Wasilla," Knowles said

A May 23, 2000, article in Wasilla's newspaper, The Frontiersman, noted that Alaska State Troopers and most municipal police agencies regularly pay for such exams, which cost between $300 and $1,200 apiece.

"(But) the Wasilla police department does charge the victims of sexual assault for the tests," the newspaper reported.

What's more, USA Today reported that the state sponsor of the legislation on rape kits wrote the bill with Wasilla in mind. It was that one small town, in other words, that necessitated statewide legislation to protect rape victims from this absurd fee.

A Palin spokesperson, contacted by USA Today, said the governor "does not believe, nor has she ever believed, that rape victims should have to pay for an evidence-gathering test."

That's good, but there's still the record to deal with. The town of Wasilla had rape victims to pay for their own medical exams during Palin's mayoral tenure, and Palin's hand-picked police chief publicly opposed the state law when it was passed in 2000.

Asked when Palin learned of the policy, and what Palin did to try to change the policy, her spokesperson chose not to respond.

[redqueen]

1. "her spokesperson chose not to respond"

Sounds promising.

Time to get this out there!

[Ashy Larry]

2. John McCain has a troubling history on this issue as well.

In 1994, John McCain voted against legislation -- pushed through Congress by Joe Biden -- that helped put an end to the practice of charging rape victims for sexual assault exams.

http://www.jedreport.com/2008/09/mccain-voted-against-biden-law.html

[myrna minx]

Gee, her spokesperson chose not to respond. Sick!!

Oh, and why has 9/11 become Palin day on CNN and ABC. :grr: Crass.

[InternalDialogue]

3. Hmm. I'm starting to concoct a good debate question from this story...

[central scrutinizer]

4. rapists have the right to chose the mother of their child

the taxpayers should not have to pay these costs :sarcasm:

[AzDar]

5. Again, words fail.

:mad:

[ebdarcy]

6. They need to make an ad out of this.

They need to include both Palin's and McCain's positions on this issue. It needs to be an ad that lays it all bare. Maybe something that includes reported rape stats, and then mentions the estimated number of unreported rapes. And then the announcer says how many more would go unreported if you had to pay for the evidence gathering. And then pictures of little innocent girls with an announcer saying "would you want his for your daughter?" I want a tearjerker of an ad. I want people to be horrified. Fuck both McCain and Palin.

[dsc]

7. north carolina charged until just recently

a totally appalling situation.

[nc4bo]

8. Alaska ranks #1 with rape against women. nt

[nam78_two]

9. Wtf is wrong with this,,,,creature?

Yeah she is the who is going to advance women's rights :puke:.