There is nothing about this woman that could be deemed remotely pro woman.  This is part of the reason I become so ill when I find myself having to defend her against sexism.  She benefits from feminism but actively works to subvert it at ever level.  Even her own party that has suddenly found “feminism and embraced the idea that women are equal”, have no problem genderizing her.  The sexist buttons that they were at the RNC were enough to make me ill.   No sensible person could or should see Palin as standing for anything but a convenience.  She is a tool in the classic sense of the word.

Will this make people angry, though? I really do wonder. It seems like the majority of people who were planning on voting for McCain and Palin would think this kind of bullshit is just great. After all, those bitches were probably lying, anyway! I hope I’m wrong.

This woman has more skeletons in her closet than the first level of Legend of Zelda.

Every time I read a story like this, I mentally compare Palin to Britomart in the Faerie Queene.

This woman has more skeletons in her closet than the first level of Legend of Zelda.

Let’s hope the ones in her closet stab her in the ass, too.

I think that document is the last confirmatory piece in the puzzle to make this an ad-worthy story. PLEASE go for it, Obama campaign. Let’s see her homina-homina her way out of this one.

There is, of course, zero defense for Palin on this count.

I learned today that this sort of shit isn’t only happening in Wasilla—it’s gone on in other states as well. Here’s a U.S. News article from six months ago. I’m outraged that this happens in various places and without a massive outcry in the media or arising from NOW. Maybe you can bring some more attention to the broader issue after the election, Amanda.

I learned today that this sort of shit isn’t only happening in Wasilla—it’s gone on in other states as well.

Makes me appreciate my adopted state of Ohio a bit more- the state reimburses hospitals. Better yet, we forensic scientists fill out an evaluation form on each kit. If the hospital doesn’t collect the evidence properly, its reimbursement gets docked. You’d be amazed how fast the problems I used to see disappeared after that system was introduced.

There is nothing about this woman that could be deemed remotely pro woman.

Oh, didn’t you hear?! Being a career-woman who <strike>shamelessly pimps</strike> exploits all of the progress and accomplishments made by feminism, only to throw other women and girls to the wolves in order to secure your Queen Bee/Smurfette/Honorary-Man-status, *is like so totally feminist now!* Just as the PussyCat Dolls, Playboy’s Girls Next Door on E!, emulating Kim Kardashian and the young women on Girls Gone Wild, or going on Flavor of Love or Rock of Love, are *totally feminist now* rather than being degrading to women and girls. And once we bring back hobbleskirts and the literal “rule of thumb,” they’ll be seen as totally feminist too.

Check out page 10 of this document (testimony of Karen Vosburgh), from a 2002 congressional hearing detailing how a nonsectarian Alaska “Valley” (includes Wasilla) hospital board decided that they were a “God fearing” neighborhood and so would not allow abortions at their non-religious hospital. 
http://energycommerce.house.gov/reparchives/107/action/107-126.pdf

Every time I read a story like this, I mentally compare Palin to Britomart in the Faerie Queene.

You don’t happen to be an excruciatingly cute lesbian who lives in Brooklyn (or anywhere in the NYC area), would you?  Because, yeaow!  Be still my heart…

believe it or not, Jonathon Tobin at The Jewish Exponent basically said that the reason feminists don’t like the idea of Palin getting elected because they’re jealous that the first woman to bust through the glass ceiling is a conservative. 

To make matters worse, the reps (courtesy of Jewish republican groups) are targeting the fear mongering of an obama win (complete with pics of muslim terrorists) to Jews in rags like the exponent.  I’m ok with them accepting political ads, but ones that resort to that sort of implication should not be tolerated.

believe it or not, Jonathon Tobin at The Jewish Exponent basically said that the reason feminists don’t like the idea of Palin getting elected because they’re jealous that the first woman to bust through the glass ceiling is a conservative.

Does Tobin know about Palin’s “Mayor Stein’s a Jew” whisper campaign?

This is so awful, though I am sure it gets worse. Why would Americans vote for this? How are McCain-Palin ahead?

Does Tobin know about Palin’s “Mayor Stein’s a Jew” whisper campaign?

Apparently, they never heard of Geraldine Ferraro, either.

The way to exploit this is through the fear that mid-stream Americans have about sexual predators attacking them or their loved ones.

Simple.  If someone you loved was raped, or you were raped, you would want to have the best evidence possible to secure a conviction and keep the creeps off the street.  Here there is no political will - in fact, there is strong political desire - to allow violent pervs to continue to run free.

We must demonstrate what a Rape-Kit *is* and what it costs. 

Why a crime victim would be billed for collection of evidence is almost impossible to explain, other than blatant sexism, and racism too, since a large percentage of the victims are native americans.

Why would Americans vote for this? How are McCain-Palin ahead?

Haven’t you heard?  B. Hussein Obama is a black Muslim baby killing pervert who hates America, wants to take away all your guns, teach your kindergartner about anal sex, John McCain was a POW for 5 1/2 years, and take all of your hard earned money in order to form a socialized welfare state for illegal aliens.

Seriously.  Heard it on the internets.

Unfortunately, this will just make Palin an even more appealing candidate to conservative male voters, cause, you know, sluts just lie about rape, or they asked for it, or whatever.

I’m so afraid for my country and my gender.

ScarlettA,

Wow, just wow! Not only did the hospital board member admit that she didn’t not know that pregnancy is a medical condition, but several of the people testifying in favor of the bill were caught flat out lying. Also, did you know that there’s just no difference between individuals and corporate entities when it comes to, you know, “conscience” clauses. [Just read the entire transcript and you can see the blueprint for the recent HHS proposal.] 

All I can say is, if this is what goes on when deciding repro health policies, I am genuinely surprised female patients are still allowed to make *any* medical decisions without State or adult supervision.

If any Jewish people you know are undecided, send them to jewsvote.org or jcer.info for Jewish perspective on reasons to support Obama.

I find myself getting kind of dejected. I read on all of these blogs how horrible Palin is, but then I talk to women I actually know and very few have any idea and think she’s not that bad. My grandmother is having the same problem at her retirement community.

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!

Once this story makes it to the MSM the McCain/Palin candidacy is DEAD.  As soon as I clear up a few details I’m going to e-mail this to every big city newspaper editor I can find.  I would appreciate it if Amanda (or any commentor) could clarify the some minor points which I couldn’t quite pin down from the links in this post. Part of it may be that I’m just bad at interpreting the documents.

(1) In the Huffington post piece, Alperin indicates that the line item included in the budget to pay for the rape kits was identified as “contingency,” relying on the word of former Chief Stambaugh for this information.  Is there some independent documentary confirmation that “contingency” was defined as, or at least included, rape kits?  The budget document linked to was over 100 pages long, and Palin might try to lie her way around this (again) by claiming she didn’t see the word “contingency” or know what it meant.

(2) The Alperin HuffPo piece indicates that the former chief budgeted $15,000 for “contingency” in FY 1993, $5,000 each in FYs 1994-5 and $13,000 in 1996.  However, the FBI stats show that there were zero rapes in 1995.  If that is the case, then the $5,000 could not have been spent for rape kits.  Although there are no rape statistics for 1996-99, the stats between 2000 and 2004 show there were only 1 or 2 rapes a year.  If the stats were about the same for the prior years, someone could argue that it was unlikely that the $10,000-$15,000 “contingencies” were reserved for rape kits, again because there were no rapes. 

(3)  As noted, there are no rape stats for 1998, the year Palin put the “pay-for-your-own-rape-kit” policy into effect.  Since there were zero rapes in 1985, 1990 and 1995, and only 1 in 2000, someone could try to infer that there might have been zero rapes in 1998, meaning no one (or no one’s insurer) was billed for a kit.  Maybe there are more accurate state (as opposed to FBI federal) rape statistics that would prove that there was a spike in rapes resulting in a spike in rape kit billings?

(4) Did Wasilla/Palin make the victims pay for just the rape kit, or the entire investigation, as Amanda indicates?  The HuffPo piece seems to be talking only about the rape kit.  If it was the whole investigation, it would ABSOLUTELY “impossible to believe that this went on without Palin’s knowledge.”

(5) I think there’s enough in the HuffPo piece to spark an investigation even without further confirmation so I may go ahead in a couple of days anyway.  What newspapers should I e-mail first?  Would it be best to start with Andrew Sullivan, who really seems to be on Palin’s case lately?

Meritorious, if a victim couldn’t afford to pay for the kit, there wouldn’t *be* an investigation, as there would be no evidence to go on. And it could possibly keep the rape from even being reported, either because the woman, aware of the expense, decided not to deal with reporting it, or because she began to, but n o report was filed after it became clear no evidence would be gathered.

Pseudo-Adrienne - I love the phrase “Smurfette Status”. Please may I steal it?

he Alperin HuffPo piece indicates that the former chief budgeted $15,000 for “contingency” in FY 1993, $5,000 each in FYs 1994-5 and $13,000 in 1996.  However, the FBI stats show that there were zero rapes in 1995.  If that is the case, then the $5,000 could not have been spent for rape kits.

Actually, the word “contingency” precisely means that those quantities are a prevision for the possibility that a rape might happen. If the year ends and the contingency hasn’t been used, it remains as a superavit.
The budget is approved in prevision of the possible expendings, but it doesn’t mean it should be completely used. On the other hand, you can also fall short.

You don’t happen to be an excruciatingly cute lesbian who lives in Brooklyn (or anywhere in the NYC area), would you?  Because, yeaow!  Be still my heart…

Unfortunately, I live in Texas.

I’m confused.  You guys think that signature on a FINANCIAL STATEMENT means this was her idea or that she was even aware of the change?  ROTFLMAO

The signature means she approved the numbers her accountant gave her, nothing more.  It’s no more a statement of approval of the policy you guys are so upset about than your signature on your tax return means you approve the Bush tax cuts.

It’s no more a statement of approval of the policy you guys are so upset about than Bush’s signature on the Bush tax cut bill means that Bush approves of the Bush tax cuts.

Fixed.

I’m confused.  You guys think that signature on a FINANCIAL STATEMENT means this was her idea or that she was even aware of the change?  ROTFLMAO

Strick,

If you are going to accuse Gov. Palin of incompetence as a mayor—she wasn’t aware of the change—you need to support your accusation with some, you know, data.

Because, according to Gov. Palin, your accusation is baseless:

Responsibility for both the accuracy of the data [in the report], and the completeness and fairness of the presentation, including all disclosures, rests with the City. To the best of our knowledge and belief, the enclosed data is accurate…. (emphasis mine)

It’s no more a statement of approval of the policy you guys are so upset about than your signature on your tax return means you approve the Bush tax cuts.

Because as mayor, she was just as powerless to decide what money went where as we are when we pay our income taxes.

There’s this tiny little difference, you see, between what’s mandatory and what you have a say in.

The signature means she approved the numbers her accountant gave her, nothing more.  It’s no more a statement of approval of the policy you guys are so upset about than your signature on your tax return means you approve the Bush tax cuts.

And if it turns out that your accountant screwed up the numbers or used an illegal tax shelter and you signed off on it anyway, which one of you has to pay a large fine to the IRS?

I certainly hope you review your tax return with your accountant before you send it off, or you could be getting a very unpleasant visit from the IRS where you have to explain why you accepted legal responsibility for the contents of the document without actually knowing what was in it.

Mnem,

and of course it’s worse than that, because all of that buys into the ridiculous frame Strick is setting up that a budget for a HUGE* town like Wasilla is somehow analogous to one’s personal economy.

It’s one thing to fuck up your own finances (guilty) but to take responsibility for the finances of 9,000 and then state you weren’t responsible is high-level fail.

* Right? Isn’t that what Republicans were telling us?

This Huffington article is deficient as well. Where in Document Central is all this located? Huffington does not link to it directly. Under Police? If so, is it in “Animal License Application”, “Bike Registration Form”, “Citizen’s Report Form”, “Code Compliance Complaint Form” or “Public Records Request”?

C’mon guys, if you want this to hit MSM, you have to do a LOT better than this. Either provide direct and relevant quotes or give detailed directions on where to find it. So far, this has been nothing more than someone cranking up the Outrage Machine with nothing to back it.

Well, she was just being fiscally prudent. And those sluts probably were asking for it anyway. And 9/11. And POW.

So, Sarah Palin signed off on a rape tax?

Senator Mccain, are you in favor of Governor Palin’s rape tax?

The ads practically write themselves.

I love the phrase “Smurfette Status”. Please may I steal it?

Sure!

Jed,

Don’t play dumb.  It took me exactly ten seconds to get from the HuffPo link to the 1998-99 budget with the line item for “contingency.”  It’s on page 41, under “Public safety - police,” the sixth item down, between “Professional services” and “Insurance.”  EXACTLY as HuffPo said, the contingency was just $3,000 with only $205 of that spent.

Palin’s not going to wriggle out of this one, which will probably be on the NYT, WaPo and La Times in a week or two.  And it is going to be BAD.  As Amanda pointed out, you can’t separate out he evidence collecting from the the investigation so they made the victims pay for the whole thing. 

As I see it, we’ve got this scandal nailed down except for showing that “contingency” means “rape nvestigation.”  Elgie seems conversant with accounting lingo so maybe he/she can provide the authoritative source for that definition.  After that, it’s simple matter of proving the Wasilla rape spike and finding out where that contingency money really went.