Raping to Win the War on Women

No, not metaphorical rape: literal, physical, actual forced penetration.

Soldiers rape in wartime because rape is an enormously effective tactic. It demoralizes not just the victims, but families, communities, and eventually the enemy's armed forces.

So no surprise that in the repug/freakazoid War on Women, state-sponsored rape is a favorite tactic.

Digby on "State Rape in Virginia:"

No Virginia, it's not really about the fetus. It's all about the probe. Democrats had sought to allow doctors to use other imaging methods but Republicans insisted that doctors put an instrument inside the woman's vagina. Why? Well, since there's no medical reason for it, the only possible explanation is that they want to "send a message." You know. About who's boss:

The bill, which passed the House of Delegates yesterday and the state Senate two weeks ago, would require an ultrasound to determine a fetus’ gestation age. It would then give the woman the option to view the ultrasound before her abortion.

[Democratic Del. David] Englin said the bill represents a level of government intrusion that “shocks the conscience.”

This bill will require many women in Virginia to undergo vaginal penetration with an ultrasound probe against their consent in order to exercise their constitutional right to an abortion, even for nonsurgical, noninvasive, pharmaceutical abortions. This kind of government intrusion shocks the conscience and demonstrates the disturbing lengths Republican legislators will go to prevent women from controlling their own reproductive destiny.

I offered an amendment that would have protected women from the unwanted vaginal penetration required by this bill. House Republicans rejected that amendment. The next time Virginia Republicans speak the words ‘government intrusion’ I hope voters will remember this vote and hold them accountable for their hypocrisy.

“If we want to talk about invasiveness, there’s nothing more invasive than the procedure that she is about to have,” said bill sponsor Del. Kathy Byron (R), according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

The fact that one is coerced by the state against the individual and the doctor's wishes in order to punish a woman for exercising her rights isn't relevant, of course. The little sluts need to learn their lesson:

“We hear the same song over there. The very tragic human notes that are often touched upon involve extreme examples,” said Gilbert, R-Shenandoah. “But in the vast majority of these cases, these are matters of lifestyle convenience.”

Wonkette has the deets.

A similar Rape the Sluts bill has yet again passed the Kentucky repug State Senate. It may be, yet again, killed in the Democratic House. But given the proven eagerness of the House's Democratic leadership to eliminate the general assembly's highest-profile liberal and disenfranchise her highly liberal district, I wouldn't put anything past those motherfuckers.