Republican Missouri Rep. Todd Akin Says “Legitimate Rape” Not Likely To Lead To Pregnancy—Here In Texas, State-Mandated Rape Is The Law Of The Land

Republican U.S. Senate nominee Todd Akin of Missouri has said that women who experience a “legitimate rape” are unlikely to get pregnant.

Mr. Akin is a current U.S. House member who is running against incumbent Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill. Mr. Akin has been leading in the polls against Senator McCaskill.

(Above–Todd Akin)

Mr. Akin made these comments in response to a question about if abortion should be allowed in cases of rape. This conversation took place on a political interview show in Missouri.

Here is the exchange—

“If abortion could be considered in case of, say, a tubal pregnancy [which threatens the mother’s life], what about in the case of rape?” asked KTVI host Charles Jaco, in a clip that was disseminated by Talking Points Memo. “Should it be legal or not?”

“It seems to me, from what I understand from doctors, that’s really rare,” Akin said, referring to conception following a rape. “If it’s a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down. But let’s assume that maybe that didn’t work or something, I think there should be some punishment, but the punishment ought to be of the rapist, and not attacking the child.”

Here is a video of the exchange.

The American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology reports that about 5% of women of reproductive age who are raped also get pregnant from that rape. 

Mother Jones magazine reports that Rep. Akin has worked with Republican Vice Presidential nominee Paul Ryan to narrow the definition of rape. The matter of who is “legitimately raped”, and who might be raped in a more severe way that would draw the disapproval of Mr. Akin and Mr. Ryan matters to them because it impacts who gets government funds for a constitutionally protected abortion.

Here in Texas, women who seek a constitutionally protected abortion are forced to undergo the state-mandated rape of the forced sonogram law.

And while it is easy to say it is only Republicans who are part of the War on Women,—and for the most part that is true—the Texas law passed the Texas State Senate with the votes of three Democrats.

Below is a post I wrote last March about the state-mandated rape of the Texas forced sonogram law and three Texas Senate Democrats who helped make the law a reality. This post is just as relevant today as it was five months ago.

From March 15, 2012—-

Recently I wrote about how the Texas forced sonogram law is state-mandated rape and about how Texas State Senator Dan Patrick defends state mandated-rape.

Senator Patrick was feeling sorry for himself and saying that he was the victim of unfair attacks.

Here is some of what Senator Patrick said—

“Once again I couldn’t care less about what the opposition says no matter how mean spirited. We did the right thing in passing this bill on many levels. Mr Trudeau has conveniently skipped over the fact that our bill passed by only one vote and that it was 3 Latino pro life Catholic Democrats who joined me to pass the bill. But that storyline isn’t convenient for Trudeau or the opposition. Heaven forbid they have to acknowledge that Democrats, even if only 3, voted for this bill and were the final votes for passage.”

The Mr. Trudeau that Mr. Patrick is referring to is Doonesbury comic strip writer Gary Trudeau. Mr. Trudeau has written a Doonesbury series in which he says that the Texas forced sonogram bill is rape. Here is a link to the comics that Mr. Trudeau authored about this state-mandated rape.

In the excerpt of from Senator Patrick above, he references the fact that three Democrats voted for the forced sonogram bill in the Texas State Senate. I appreciate this reminder Senator Patrick. It is important that we know the names of the three Democrats in the Texas State Senate who voted for the forced sonogram bill.

The three Democratic Texas State Senators who in 2011 voted for the forced sonogram law were Eddie Lucio Jr. of Brownsville, Carlos Uresti of San Antonio and Judith Zaffirini of Laredo.

Because of this law, the precedent has been set that the State of Texas can force politically motivated unwanted medical produces on free citizens.

Also, the State of Texas now mandates the rape of its own people.

Why is the Texas forced sonogram law rape?

From Nicholas Kristof of the New York Times—

“Here’s what a woman in Texas now faces if she seeks an abortion.  Under a new law that took effect three weeks ago with the strong backing of Gov. Rick Perry, she first must typically endure an ultrasound probe inserted into her vagina. Then she listens to the audio thumping of the fetal heartbeat and watches the fetus on an ultrasound screen. She must listen to a doctor explain the body parts and internal organs of the fetus as they’re shown on the monitor. She signs a document saying that she understands all this, and it is placed in her medical files. Finally, she goes home and must wait 24 hours before returning to get the abortion. “It’s state-sanctioned abuse,” said Dr. Curtis Boyd, a Texas physician who provides abortions. “It borders on a definition of rape. Many states describe rape as putting any object into an orifice against a person’s will. Well, that’s what this is. A woman is coerced to do this, just as I’m coerced.”

From a 2011 opinion column in the Houston Chronicle by local writer Beverly McPhail —

“Not only is this law an insult to women in Texas, a close reading of the Texas Penal Code, Section 22.011, suggests that the new law may also constitute a sexual assault upon women, which is a second-degree felony. The code defines a sexual assault as an offense in which a person intentionally or knowingly causes the penetration of the anus or sexual organ of another person by any means, without that person’s consent. Furthermore, the law stipulates that one condition of nonconsent is met when the actor is a public servant who coerces the other person to submit or participate. “

This is rape. It is about the State of Texas doing whatever it wants to free citizens. It has nothing to do with the legally protected procedure of abortion.

The issues here are politics, and the power the State of Texas exerts for the purpose of state-mandated rape.

Eddie Lucio, Jr., Carlos Uresti and Judith Zaffirini Were The Democratic Texas State Senators Who Voted For The State-Mandated Rape Of The Texas Forced Sonogram Law—The Texas Forced Sonogram Law Is Rape

Recently I wrote about how the Texas forced sonogram law is state-mandated rape and about how Texas State Senator Dan Patrick defends state mandated-rape.

Senator Patrick was feeling sorry for himself and saying that he was the victim of unfair attacks.

Here is some of what Senator Patrick said—

“Once again I couldn’t care less about what the opposition says no matter how mean spirited. We did the right thing in passing this bill on many levels. Mr Trudeau has conveniently skipped over the fact that our bill passed by only one vote and that it was 3 Latino pro life Catholic Democrats who joined me to pass the bill. But that storyline isn’t convenient for Trudeau or the opposition. Heaven forbid they have to acknowledge that Democrats, even if only 3, voted for this bill and were the final votes for passage.”

The Mr. Trudeau that Mr. Patrick is referring to is Doonesbury comic strip writer Gary Trudeau. Mr. Trudeau has written a Doonesbury series in which he says that the Texas forced sonogram bill is rape. Here is a link to the comics that Mr. Trudeau authored about this state-mandated rape.

In the excerpt of from Senator Patrick above, he references the fact that three Democrats voted for the forced sonogram bill in the Texas State Senate. I appreciate this reminder Senator Patrick. It is important that we know the names of the three Democrats in the Texas State Senate who voted for the forced sonogram bill.

The three Democratic Texas State Senators who in 2011 voted for the forced sonogram law were Eddie Lucio Jr. of Brownsville, Carlos Uresti of San Antonio and Judith Zaffirini of Laredo.

Because of this law, the precedent has been set that the State of Texas can force politically motivated unwanted medical produces on free citizens.

Also, the State of Texas now mandates the rape of its own people.

Why is the Texas forced sonogram law rape?

From Nicholas Kristof of the New York Times—

“Here’s what a woman in Texas now faces if she seeks an abortion.  Under a new law that took effect three weeks ago with the strong backing of Gov. Rick Perry, she first must typically endure an ultrasound probe inserted into her vagina. Then she listens to the audio thumping of the fetal heartbeat and watches the fetus on an ultrasound screen. She must listen to a doctor explain the body parts and internal organs of the fetus as they’re shown on the monitor. She signs a document saying that she understands all this, and it is placed in her medical files. Finally, she goes home and must wait 24 hours before returning to get the abortion. “It’s state-sanctioned abuse,” said Dr. Curtis Boyd, a Texas physician who provides abortions. “It borders on a definition of rape. Many states describe rape as putting any object into an orifice against a person’s will. Well, that’s what this is. A woman is coerced to do this, just as I’m coerced.”

From a 2011 opinion column in the Houston Chronicle by local writer Beverly McPhail —

“Not only is this law an insult to women in Texas, a close reading of the Texas Penal Code, Section 22.011, suggests that the new law may also constitute a sexual assault upon women, which is a second-degree felony. The code defines a sexual assault as an offense in which a person intentionally or knowingly causes the penetration of the anus or sexual organ of another person by any means, without that person’s consent. Furthermore, the law stipulates that one condition of nonconsent is met when the actor is a public servant who coerces the other person to submit or participate. “

This is rape. It is about the State of Texas doing whatever it wants to free citizens. It has nothing to do with the legally protected procedure of abortion.

The issues here are politics, and the power the State of Texas exerts for the purpose of state-mandated rape.

This Is How Texas State Senator Dan Patrick Defends State-Mandated Rape—The Texas Sonogram Law Is Rape

Republican Texas State Senator Dan Patrick is a leading architect of the Texas forced sonogram law.

Above you see a picture from the past May of the 15 men and 2 women who worked out final language of the sonogram bill in the Texas Legislature.

Senator Patrick is in the middle of that picture shaking hands with Texas State Rep. Sid Miller  in the white hat.

Here is how the forced sonogram law has been described in a recent opinion column by Nicholas Kristof of the New York Times—

“Here’s what a woman in Texas now faces if she seeks an abortion.  Under a new law that took effect three weeks ago with the strong backing of Gov. Rick Perry, she first must typically endure an ultrasound probe inserted into her vagina. Then she listens to the audio thumping of the fetal heartbeat and watches the fetus on an ultrasound screen. She must listen to a doctor explain the body parts and internal organs of the fetus as they’re shown on the monitor. She signs a document saying that she understands all this, and it is placed in her medical files. Finally, she goes home and must wait 24 hours before returning to get the abortion. “It’s state-sanctioned abuse,” said Dr. Curtis Boyd, a Texas physician who provides abortions. “It borders on a definition of rape. Many states describe rape as putting any object into an orifice against a person’s will. Well, that’s what this is. A woman is coerced to do this, just as I’m coerced.”

Senator Patrick is aware of the opposition this has generated. Below you will see one of the three notes that Senator Patrick has written in recent days on his Facebook page about the  forced sonogram law.

I don’t need to offer much rebuttal to what Senator Patrick has said. The facts are going to speak for themselves. Just read what he says. Just listen to the tone.

And then, knowing the elected officials behind the law, think about what is taking place.

Senator Patrick writes of “the left, the pro abortion crowd, and the media elite.” The Senator says— “I have been screamed at by total strangers in the street who recognize me.”

Senator Patrick sees himself as the victim.

People in Texas, across the nation, and internationally are going to know that the State of Texas mandates state-sponsored rape on women seeking a legal medical procedure.

This law has nothing to do with abortion. It has everything to do with the power of the State of Texas to rape citizens of Texas who seek to exercise their rights.

From Senator Patrick—

As I predicted, once the courts upheld our sonogram bill, it would be model for other Republican states to follow. Virginia passed a bill very similar to ours and worked with our office last session on crafting their bill.

I’ve also told you how the left, the pro abortion crowd, and the media elite would attack us because they are increasing losing this fight. They can’t really rationally explain their opposition to a bill that simply gives women the choice to see a sonogram, or hear the heartbeat, of their child before an abortion. So they have resorted to launching personal attacks against me, Republicans and anyone who is pro-life. (It doesn’t bother me because it proves how effective our bill is) 

I have been screamed at by total strangers in the street who recognize me. I have been roundly criticized by Austin media, area Democrats, and the pro abortion crowd. Now the attacks have reached an entirely new level of attention. Gary Trudeau has become a multi millionaire as creator of the “Doonesbury” comic strip. He has now written a new cartoon strip attacking the sonogram bill, me, Republicans, and pro lifers. 

His attack is another sad example of the desperate, cold hearted, ill-formed, radical leftist elites in our country. No clear thinking intelligent person should be against our bill, not even a pro abortion advocate. You can read two stories below from both the Chronicle and San Antonio News who plan to run the strip, not on their normal comic page because it’s not fit for children, but on their editorial page. SEE THE TWO POSTS BELOW

Once again I couldn’t care less about what the opposition says no matter how mean spirited. We did the right thing in passing this bill on many levels. Mr Trudeau has conveniently skipped over the fact that our bill passed by only one vote and that it was 3 Latino pro life Catholic Democrats who joined me to pass the bill. But that storyline isn’t convenient for Trudeau or the opposition. Heaven forbid they have to acknowledge that Democrats, even if only 3, voted for this bill and were the final votes for passage.

Texas Forced Sonogram Bill On Way Towards Passage—15 Men And 2 Women

The Texas forced sonogram bill is on the way to Governor Rick Perry’s desk. The Governor intends to sign the bill.

Below is what Republican State Senator Dan Patrick–the Senate sponsor of the bill– said about the picture you see above—

“Speaking at the House press conference this morning on their acceptance of the latest version of the bill. Thanks to Rep Miller (white hat) and House members who worked with us to pass this bill.”

Senator Patrick is the gentleman shaking hands with the fellow in the white hat.

I count 15 men and 2 women in that picture.

Those are some of the people responsible for the fact that in Texas the state government will soon force some women to undergo unwanted highly invasive medical procedures.

Here are some details about the forced sonogram bill from the Houston Chronicle—

“… a bill requiring a woman seeking an abortion to view sonogram images of her fetus tentatively passed the state Senate. The vote was 21-10. State Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston… said he was confident the legislation would pass the House and make it to the governor’s desk, thereby giving Texas what he called “one of the strongest bills dealing with this issue in the country.”  Labeled “emergency” legislation by Gov. Rick Perry early in the session, the bill would require the image to be shown to the woman at least 24 hours before an abortion is performed. It also would require doctors or medical professionals to play audio of the fetal heartbeat if there is one and point out to the woman the arms, legs and internal organs of the fetus. A woman could choose not to view the sonogram or hear the heartbeat but would be required to listen as the medical professional points out the arms, legs and internal organs that are visible on the screen.Victims of rape and incest would be exempt from the sonogram requirement, under Patrick’s bill.”

If the state can force one medical procedure on free citizens, why can’t it force any medical procedure on free citizens?

Yet the same people turn around and say it is wrong to compel people to buy health insurance as part of health care reform.

In Texas, “Choose life” appears to mean choose a crappy life with no health insurance, no social security, no steady work, and no quality education.

Will women who refuse the sonograms be arrested? Will they be in some way forced to get the sonogram? Will doctors be forced to detail patient conversations in order to prosecute women who refuse to comply?

This is how the State of Texas defines small government and personal freedom.

The good news is that we all have the ability to fight back and win. Please consider giving to the lobbying arm of Planned Parenthood. You can do so at the national level or where you live.

Here is some information about what Planned Parenthood does in Texas. Planned Parenthood provides many vital health services for women in Texas.

There are always things you can do to make progress. Don’t leave the work of freedom to others. Others don’t always do a very good job with freedom. Especially in Texas.

Democrats, Liberals & Others Have The Right And The Obligation To Ask More Of Annise Parker

According the Facebook of Republican Texas State Senator Dan Patrick, Houston Mayor Annise Parker was the only Democrat to attend the Lincoln-Reagan Day fundraiser of the Harris County Republican Party.

How you view this fact could be a kind of Rorschach Test.

(Above–Rorschach Test. I see a polar bear climbing Mt. Everest.)

It could be that Mayor Parker was conning Republicans as she works to fend off possible challengers in the 2011 election.

It could that Mayor Parker is a political moderate and that she is reaching out to voters of all parties.

It could be that Mayor Parker is deserting Democratic voters for political reasons even though she was elected Mayor in 2009 as a Democrat.

In any case, Democrats, progressives and liberals have the right to ask more of the Mayor in what was a  61% Obama city in the 2008 election.

How is that Mayor Parker can attend a Republican fundraiser where Senator Patrick and Mike Huckabee took the stage to play a tune, but she could not attend the rally outside Houston City Hall last week to address the sharp cuts to vital public services being considered in the ongoing session of the Texas legislature.

Democrats, progressives, liberals, and others who would reliably vote for Democrats, merit a Mayor who consistently addresses basic questions of economic fairness and opportunity in Houston.

Given the wide  divide between the two major  parties at the moment, and given the strong divisions between the parties on civil rights questions that Mayor Parker has championed in the past, you have to wonder what the Mayor is sacrificing for the rest of us as she seeks the political support of the Republican far-right in Houston.

(Below–Senator Patrick (left) and Mike Huckabee (right) jamming at the Lincoln-Reagan Day Harris County Republican Fundraiser.)

Texas State Senator Dan Patrick Announces Sugar Cookie Recipe & Tea Party Caucus

Far-right Republican Texas State Senator Dan Patrick has announced the Patrick Family Sugar Cookie on his Facebook page.

Here is the recipe–

This is not a sweet cookie, but a pure flour-sugar cookie-really different-like peanuts, once you eat one you can’t stop

1 pound butter

4.5 to 5 cups sugar

6 eggs

1.5 teaspoons salt

2 teaspoons nutmeg

½ cup milk

2 tablespoons butternut flavoring

2 teaspoons almond extract

8 cups flour

1.5 teaspoons baking powder

Cream butter and sugar. Beat in eggs. Add the salt, nutmeg, and milk. Beat all together. Start working in baking powder and flour. Let it rest for a few hours or overnight. Roll out very thin and bake at 400 degrees for about 6 minutes or until edges are just turning brown.

Senator Patrick also announced that the new Tea Party Caucus he has formed in the Texas Legislature now has 5o members.

You thought that the so-called Tea Party consisted of average citizens working to take their government back?

Well…maybe. Or maybe it’s just another official wing of the Republican Party and not about average people at all.

Below you see a picture of cookies that have been baked using the Patrick recipe.

You see there are some angel cookies and some cookies shaped like Texas.

An angel is what you become if you live in Texas and eat too many of the Patrick sugar cookies after the Texas Tea Party caucus has made sure that you don’t have health insurance.

Top Tea Party Blogger Says Texas Senator Dan Patrick’s Tea Party Caucus Is Phony—Also Says Tea Party Followers Are Dupes If Loyal To GOP

Texas State Senator Dan Patrick is setting up a “Tea Party Caucus” in the Texas Legislature.

I guess Mr. Patrick thinks the Tea Party can help him in some way.

Here is the release from Mr. Patrick on this matter.

Top Harris County Tea Party blogger Dave Jennings at Big Jolly Politics says  this caucus is a bad idea.

Mr. Jennings says that Senator Patrick is just using the so-called Tea Party to serve his political purposes. Mr. Jennings says that once the Tea Party is of no further value to Senator Patrick, the Senator will move on to something else.

As a matter of fact, Mr. Jennings thinks that Republicans overall are taking Tea Party backers for a ride.

Here is a portion of what Mr. Jennings says—

“In other words, Tea Party peeps, you are going to be SORELY disappointed if you think that your support of Republicans is going to pay off in any big, fundamental way after the 2010 election. Yes, it will put a halt to President Obama’s largess in some areas but he’s still going to be playing golf and eating Kobe beef while an ever increasing number of Americans are on food stamps. And Republican leaders are going to fall all over themselves if he invites them to one of his parties….And for you tea parties that have basically sold yourselves to the Republican party, enjoy your lunches and handshakes with R’s because that is all you are going to get for your efforts.”

A few weeks back, Business Week ran a cover story on why many big business folks are wary of the Tea Party.

The Republican Party and the big business folks who own the Republican Party  will take the efforts and energy of the Tea Party, but as soon as possible, they will go back to standard practices. They will have their hands out to government every chance they get for a heaping helping of tax dollars and government subsidies.

A few days ago, I wrote about how some elected Democrats support a policy on drug arrests that needlessly ruins the lives of hundreds of thousands of young minority men and women.

Many elected Democrats are decent people who want a better world. Yet the facts are that even Democrats will sell their own people, in a quite literal fashion, down the river.

You’ve got be involved and you have to remain aware.

While I have nothing at all for the Tea Party or for the Republican Party, what Mr. Jennings and I am are saying strike a similar note.