Republicans Finally Decide Not To Redefine Rape

Republicans, who tried to narrow what is defined as rape by allowing federally funded abortions only for women who could prove “forcible rape,” have decided that was not a good idea.

The bill, called the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act, seeks to permanently bar federal funds from being used to subsidize abortions. It allows exceptions in cases in which the pregnancy resulted from incest or when the life of the mother would be threatened if the fetus was carried to term.

In the original language, it also allowed exceptions in cases of “forcible rape.” The term provoked an outcry from critics, who said that rape is by definition committed by force and that lawmakers were seeking to exclude from coverage certain kinds of rape by adding the modifier – for example, cases in which the victim was underage or unconscious.

The bill now would allow exceptions in all cases of rape.

Sadly, rather than admit their error, bill sponsor Christopher Smith (pictured) of New Jersey blamed those who didn’t understand what was meant, claiming the term was being “misconstrued.”

By: Alan

Alan Colmes is the publisher of Liberaland.