More on Sarah Palin, the rapist's friend

[ciphergoth]

Previously: While Sarah Palin was mayor of Wasilla, victims of rape in that town were charged $500-$1000 by the city for the costs of their forensic examination. Yes, really.

• The story has now hit the mainstream. This USA Today story seems to have led the charge.
• It seems to be pretty much established as fact that it was going on, so the only remaining question is whether she knew about it.
• It obviously reflects badly on her if she did know about it and did nothing to stop it, and almost as obviously it reflects pretty badly on her if it was going on under her nose in her tiny town and she didn't know about it.
• Palin's people have responded to the story:

  Palin spokeswoman Maria Comella said in an e-mail that the governor "does not believe, nor has she ever believed, that rape victims should have to pay for an evidence-gathering test."

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

  Comella would not answer other questions, including when Palin learned of Wasilla's policy or whether she tried to change it. The campaign cited the governor's record on domestic violence, including increasing funding for shelters.

  In other words, evasion on the central question of the story - did she know about it at the time?
• Update: Finally another meaty bit of mainstream coverage, from CNN.

  In a statement, Jill Hazelbaker, communications director for Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign, said that "to imply that Gov. Palin is or has ever been an advocate of charging victims for evidence gathering kits is an utter distortion of reality."

  "As her record shows, Gov. Palin is committed to supporting victims and bringing violent criminals to justice," Hazelbaker said. "She does not, nor has she ever believed that rape victims should have to pay for an evidence gathering test."

  Those who fought the policy are unconvinced.

  "It's incomprehensible to me that this could be a rogue police chief and not a policy decision. It lasted too long and it was too high-profile," Croft said.

  Again, the campaign avoids the question.
• Reporters would probably like to ask her directly, but of course she has not held a press conference since joining the ticket three weeks ago. There's a lot more to say about her avoiding the press but it's a subject for another entry.
• Weak evidence that she knew is provided here: she signed off on a budget that included charges for these kits.
• She fired the previous police chief to appoint Fannon, the police chief responsible for this policy. The fired chief claims the policy started with Fannon.
• The only defender of Palin writing about this I can find doesn't seem to advance any kind of defence at all. (Update: another non-defence, and another)
• Updated: the National Review has a more serious go.
• It's sometimes pointed out that health insurance will carry most of the costs of the kits. However
  • The poorest women may not have health insurance, and they deserve justice too
  • Even those with health insurance will have to pay an excess
  • Even if neither of the above were true the charge is wrong in principle - where else are victims expected to pay the cost of evidence gathering?
• Given Alaska's unusually high rape rate, we might expect that about 30 or so women will have reported rapes in the time between her appointing Fannon as police chief, and the 2000 legislation barring the practice across Alaska which Fannon spoke against. If she didn't know about it, we're expected to believe that of those 30 women who were charged for their kits (and their friends) not one drew this extraordinary injustice to the attention of the mayor. I'm hoping we'll be hearing from some of those 30 women over the coming weeks.

Comments

[palmer1984.livejournal.com]

I don't understand why more isn't being made of the fact that McCain voted against making free rape kits accessible to all rape victims in the US.

[phantas.livejournal.com]

one of the thing that shocks me is on how little it is being portrayed in the news. as one opinion article says: "Palin supporters ought to be taking a much closer look at her record on these types of issues (charging rape victims for evidentiary examinations so their attackers can be brought to trial) than whether she can juggle five children and the vice presidency"

[actionreplay.livejournal.com]

this is unreal.

[booklectica]

Simon just told me (which I hadn't realised) that the act to repeal this law (which used to be widespread in the US apparently) was spearheaded by Joe Biden. And indeed, a quick google suggests that Joe Biden is way more of a feminist than Palin.

[jhg.livejournal.com]

Bloody hell, she's really is essentially Sutekh, isn't she?

('Your evil is my good.')

[ex-pipistre.livejournal.com]

Sarah Palin really is all my worst nightmares come true. She makes me like and respect Pope Ratzinger!

Have you seen the footage where McCain refers to 'President Putin of Germany"?!

has mccain thrown the election?

[(Anonymous)]

John McCain, to the chagrin of his party, threw a gutterball when he selected that ridiculous creature from Alaska as his running mate. The Senator from Arizona who - for better or worse - can't tell a Baptist from a snake-handler, doesn't know what he has on his hands. Mayor Palin belongs to the "Dominionist" movement, a cult whose "support" for Israel is highly suspect (the Jews must be gathered in Israel for the Coming of Christ, who will then "perfect" them as Christians). We'd likewise be interested in her position vis-a-vis the infamous 13th forgery known as "Revelation 2:9." McCain's obvious ignorance of these matters has alienated a sizable portion of both the Orthodox and Reform Jewish communities. He had a clear opportunity to nominate the young congressman from Richmond, Eric Cantor, but chose instead to align himself with the sketchy Governor from Alaska, a lady who once tried to ban the teen classic "I Capture the Castle" from her local library. McCain's choice wasn't simply an insult to Jews, but to thoughtful Gentiles as well. Let's hope that he realizes his error before it's too late.

Cordially,
Matthew Anger