Thursday, September 11, 2008

Feminist for Life

It's been a long time since I've posted, but Puddy suggested - after I regained my motor skills, which were mostly lost due to apoplexy upon reading about this - I mention this bit on Sarah Palin that I found via Steve Benen at Washington Monthly. Apparently, while the so-called "Feminist for Life," Palin, was mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, it was the only city in the state that required victims of rape to pay on their own for the use of rape kits, which can cost anywhere from $300-$1200. Due to the practice, the Alaska state legislature stepped in and passed a law banning the practice. There's no record of Palin's stance at the time victims of violent crimes were being charged for a service every other city in the state was already paying for, but the police chief she had appointed is on the record for opposing the state's legislation.

A friend of mine who was a Hillary supporter, and more than a little bitter that Obama won the nomination went on the warpath over the Palin nomination when it was announced. "How stupid do they think we are that they can put up a woman who stands for everything Hillary or any other Democrat is against and expect to gain women's votes?" I mocked the whole thing as just a stupid idea on the part of the McCain campaign as well. Now - and I can't believe it took me so long - I'm just disgusted.

Feminist for Life... As if feminist is just a term. It's taking action to support and further the advancement of equal rights for women. So, while her spokesperson has said Palin "does not believe, nor has she ever believed, that rape victims should have to pay for an evidence-gathering test." Her silence and failure to stand up for women on this issue, even as the police chief she appointed was dangerously on the wrong side of this issue, is deafening. All I have left to say is this, and I'll put it in terms Republicans can understand since they only know how to read mischaracterizations and distortions of comments by the Obama campaign... You can put all the lipstick on Phyllis Schlafly that you want, but in the end, you've still got a pig. And it's name is Sarah Palin.

1 comment:

Comrade Kevin said...

If Feminism is worth its salt still as a movement, it is out to advance the cause of all humans---not reach instead for identity politics.