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Galraedia

(5,025 posts)
Mon Jun 24, 2013, 01:23 PM Jun 2013

Texas Legislator Claims Rape Kits Are A Form Of Abortion

Source: ThinkProgress

In the midst of all the chaos on Sunday night as the Texas legislature pushed through a series of stringent restrictions on abortion and women’s health, it was easy to miss what might have been the most inaccurate and dangerous claim of the evening: One state representative tried to argue on the State House floor that rape kits are a form of abortion.

Texas Rep. Jody Laubenberg (R) sponsored several anti-abortion measures currently making their way to the Governor’s desk. Taken together, they would shut down the vast majority of the state’s women’s health clinics and criminalize abortions after 20 weeks. But in reasoning out why she did not support an exemption for rape victims in the 20-week ban, Laubenberg betrayed a woeful lack of information on the procedures a victim of rape undergoes — namely, the “rape kit,” which is used to collect data on the assailant and in no way relates to pregnancy:

When Rep. Senfronia Thompson, D-Houston, called for an exemption for women who were victims of rape and incest, Rep. Jody Laubenberg, R-Parker, explained why she felt it was unnecessary.

“In the emergency room they have what’s called rape kits where a woman can get cleaned out,” she said, comparing the procedure to an abortion. “The woman had five months to make that decision, at this point we are looking at a baby that is very far along in its development.”

The remark about rape kits, which is not accurate, sparked widespread ridicule on social media sites. Laubenberg, who has difficulty debating bills, then simply rejected all proposed changes to her bill without speaking until the end of the debate.


Read more: http://thinkprogress.org/health/2013/06/24/2201171/texas-legislator-claims-rape-kits-are-a-form-of-abortion/
42 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Texas Legislator Claims Rape Kits Are A Form Of Abortion (Original Post) Galraedia Jun 2013 OP
. blkmusclmachine Jun 2013 #1
What the bloody hell? Rape kits are swabs, combs, stuff to collect evidence. Good lord. uppityperson Jun 2013 #2
We're being misled by the article in the OP. No idea why. Buzz Clik Jun 2013 #4
I don't believe that Laubenberg claimed that rape kits are a form of abortion. Buzz Clik Jun 2013 #3
She actually did Lithos Jun 2013 #6
Hm. She doesn't say it directly, but it's inferred. Buzz Clik Jun 2013 #8
I think it's implied rather than inferred. LanternWaste Jun 2013 #15
Inferred? Hell, she SAYS it. 66 dmhlt Jun 2013 #30
Not in the quotes I read. A little help? Buzz Clik Jun 2013 #33
You are either being willfully obtuse, or ... 66 dmhlt Jun 2013 #38
Wow. I'm willfully ignorant because you didn't read this subthread? Buzz Clik Jun 2013 #39
Don't put words in my mouth ... 66 dmhlt Jun 2013 #40
My apologies for substituting "ignorant" for "obtuse". Regardless, we covered this. Buzz Clik Jun 2013 #41
This message was self-deleted by its author hack89 Jun 2013 #32
"women get cleaned out" is a direct reference to abortion & totally inaccurate wordpix Jun 2013 #31
She's a Koch whore through and through hobbit709 Jun 2013 #5
It was a painful thing to watch from the gallery Melissa G Jun 2013 #17
My lord Iliyah Jun 2013 #7
There is no excuse for any woman to be that totally ignorant Warpy Jun 2013 #9
People ELECT these people Marrah_G Jun 2013 #10
Yeah? Who counts the votes? ALEC? blkmusclmachine Jun 2013 #22
I was thinking the same thing. ZombieHorde Jun 2013 #27
Maybe she thinks it contains a morning-after pill VWolf Jun 2013 #11
Plan B doesn't abort pregnancies, so even if she did think that, ZombieHorde Jun 2013 #28
Riiiight .. Why Syzygy Jun 2013 #12
The stupid! It hurts! sakabatou Jun 2013 #13
It's not stupidity. It's premediatetd evil, with an "aw, shucks" veneer. blkmusclmachine Jun 2013 #23
Surely you can't be serious. iandhr Jun 2013 #14
What is crazy is that 45% of this state is not that stupid Ash_F Jun 2013 #16
Somebody failed sex education 101. She's been left behind. MichiganVote Jun 2013 #18
OMG I just had a break through.... Cutting S.S. and food are a kind of abortion.... midnight Jun 2013 #19
The Stupid Strong and Thick down there in Texas. BadGimp Jun 2013 #20
Their phony "stupidity" is nothing more than a cover for their evilness. blkmusclmachine Jun 2013 #24
That woman sounded like a Stepford Wife on Valium. vanlassie Jun 2013 #21
She reminds me of Jan Brewer in AZ. Bleached Koch Stepford Wife. SunSeeker Jun 2013 #26
Dumber than dirt. vanlassie Jun 2013 #29
This message was self-deleted by its author SunSeeker Jun 2013 #25
Does Texas elect stupid people on purpose? tclambert Jun 2013 #34
Hey, when you're on a Stupid Roll, why stop? Jerry442 Jun 2013 #35
GOP women have joined the war on women. caseymoz Jun 2013 #36
She's asking for a little cream in her coffee... Spitfire of ATJ Jun 2013 #37
How depressing and disgusting... LeftishBrit Jun 2013 #42

Lithos

(26,403 posts)
6. She actually did
Mon Jun 24, 2013, 01:38 PM
Jun 2013

Even clarified her stance when questioned...

******

Thus the Texas bill's sponsor, Republican Representative Jodie Laubenberg, found herself making this argument last night about why she opposed adding an exception for women who have been raped (apologies for the quality of the video, which is after the jump):

n hospital emergency rooms, we have funded what’s called rape kits that will help the woman, basically clean her out. And then hopefully that will alleviate that.”

She was then interrupted by Democratic Representative Dawnna Dukes, who wanted to hear that part again, please:

Representative Laubenberg, you said these ladies would be able to acquire an abortion at one of the emergency rooms?

And so Laubenberg said it again, only more so:

In the emergency room they have what's called rape kits that the woman, she’ll get cleaned out, basically like a D&C, and emergency contraception, where they can also do the morning-after pill.

http://maddowblog.msnbc.com/_news/2013/06/24/19117053-in-texas-rape-kits-debate-the-sound-of-abortion-politics?lite

Laubenberg is one of the least curious representatives in Texas from a very hard right district. (East of Plano - Murphy/Wylie)

L-

 

Buzz Clik

(38,437 posts)
8. Hm. She doesn't say it directly, but it's inferred.
Mon Jun 24, 2013, 01:48 PM
Jun 2013

D&N is a rare way to perform a first trimester abortion.

If this is truly what she meant, her idiocy knows no bounds.

 

Buzz Clik

(38,437 posts)
39. Wow. I'm willfully ignorant because you didn't read this subthread?
Wed Jun 26, 2013, 09:28 AM
Jun 2013

We covered this. Thanks for playing.

66 dmhlt

(1,941 posts)
40. Don't put words in my mouth ...
Wed Jun 26, 2013, 09:50 AM
Jun 2013

[1] I didn't say "willfully ignorant" (See these things here --> " ... " There called quotation marks, and they mean the person actually said it.)

[2] While were on quotation marks, try this one:

Laubenberg said that currently, in "the emergency rooms they have what’s called rape kits, that the woman can get cleaned out, basically like a D and C" -- dilation and curettage surgery


http://www.politifact.com/texas/statements/2013/jun/24/jodie-laubenberg/jodie-laubenberg-says-texas-rape-kit-dilation-and-/

And you can take your smartass "Thanks for playing" comment and shove it where the sun don't shine.
 

Buzz Clik

(38,437 posts)
41. My apologies for substituting "ignorant" for "obtuse". Regardless, we covered this.
Wed Jun 26, 2013, 09:52 AM
Jun 2013

You were needlessly insulting, you got it returned in kind. No apology for that.

Response to Buzz Clik (Reply #8)

wordpix

(18,652 posts)
31. "women get cleaned out" is a direct reference to abortion & totally inaccurate
Tue Jun 25, 2013, 09:46 AM
Jun 2013
This legislator's lack of factual information is astounding

hobbit709

(41,694 posts)
5. She's a Koch whore through and through
Mon Jun 24, 2013, 01:35 PM
Jun 2013

From JuanitaJean's mention of this and comments
http://juanitajean.com/2013/06/24/you-know-kinda-like-a-car-wash-for-your-lady-parts/

This woman represents a very conservative district in Collin County.
Her website also states that she is the “Texas Chair for the American Legislative Exchange Council”…. also known as ALEC. And, just a guess…. ALEC wrote the legislation for her….. which is why she couldn’t in any intelligent way answer any questions on it, and why no amendments were allowed. Needless to say, the Koch Brothers probably bankroll her campaigns. She has be re-elected six times, and it’s sure not because she’s all that bright. She’s one more Koch head we need to vote out of office.

Melissa G

(10,170 posts)
17. It was a painful thing to watch from the gallery
Mon Jun 24, 2013, 04:29 PM
Jun 2013

She is really a case in point for showcasing the need for a better educational system in Texas. Not. Very. Bright.

Warpy

(111,264 posts)
9. There is no excuse for any woman to be that totally ignorant
Mon Jun 24, 2013, 01:49 PM
Jun 2013

even if she's been bible schooled at home and told nothing about her own body. She should have been curious enough to read, the information is out there.

I hope the good people of Texas send this Republican halfwit back wherever she belongs. She sure as hell doesn't belong in office.

Marrah_G

(28,581 posts)
10. People ELECT these people
Mon Jun 24, 2013, 01:54 PM
Jun 2013

A group of folks get's together and says "We think this person is smart enough to represent us all"

ZombieHorde

(29,047 posts)
27. I was thinking the same thing.
Tue Jun 25, 2013, 01:18 AM
Jun 2013

I can respect people who have very different opinions than me, but the rape kit/abortion thing isn't an opinion.

Ash_F

(5,861 posts)
16. What is crazy is that 45% of this state is not that stupid
Mon Jun 24, 2013, 02:49 PM
Jun 2013

What difference 51% will bring. Our 2 party system at work.

SunSeeker

(51,559 posts)
26. She reminds me of Jan Brewer in AZ. Bleached Koch Stepford Wife.
Tue Jun 25, 2013, 12:58 AM
Jun 2013

I see a lot of them here in Orange County, CA. These are evil people. I'd like to think it was simple stupidity, but it takes an evil, cold heart to say this shit with a smile on your face.

Response to Galraedia (Original post)

Jerry442

(1,265 posts)
35. Hey, when you're on a Stupid Roll, why stop?
Tue Jun 25, 2013, 12:09 PM
Jun 2013
...she’ll get cleaned out, basically like a D&C...

...then they convert her to a Jihadist, teach her how to make IEDs, hand her an ATM card that can tap unlimited funds from the Treasury for life, give her materials for the teaching of evolution and atheism (not quite sure how that squares with the jihadist thing), and turn her into a man-hating lesbian who will give birth to a dozen illegitimate young Edward Snowdens.

caseymoz

(5,763 posts)
36. GOP women have joined the war on women.
Tue Jun 25, 2013, 12:40 PM
Jun 2013

And a few are some of the worst apparatchiks. (No pun intended.) They are totally mis-educated, misinformed and are airtight ignorant.
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