A few weeks ago, I wrote about the crass attempts by the Obama campaign to seek out a rape survivor for an attack ad against Gov. Sarah Palin. Well, I was just sent an ad with a similar theme and while it’s unaffiliated with his campaign, it still advances a horrible (and inaccurate) narrative of Palin.
*Triggering*
I dislike Palin and I think her views represent a step backward for all women. But, this ad really hurts. It’s hard enough experiencing the loss of control associated with sexual violence and re victimizing someone by denying them an abortion is even more traumatic. But, that doesn’t make it ok to distort someone’s record. Palin has NEVER said that she wants the Government to force rape survivors to carry their pregnancy to term. Take Palin’s interview with Katie Couric, where she expands on her views about rape-
Couric: But ideally, you think it should be illegal for a girl who was raped or the victim of incest to get an abortion?
Palin: I’m saying that, personally, I would counsel the person to choose life, despite horrific, horrific circumstances that this person would find themselves in. And, um, if you’re asking, though, kind of foundationally here, should anyone end up in jail for having an … abortion, absolutely not. That’s nothing I would ever support.
Unpacking that a bit, Palin is personally opposed to abortion. But, as a matter of public policy, I’m not sure if she would go so far as to ban all abortions, not that the V.P. has any power to do that. Still, there are a number of things I would like to see restrictions on but I wouldn’t call for policy to be formulated on my personal views alone. Couldn’t we say the same for Palin? Actually, I’m yet to find an interview where Palin explicitly calls for a ban on all abortions. She just talks about how she’s morally opposed to the practice and in my mind, they are two very different things.
And I don’t know, something about this ad and politicizing rape doesn’t sit very well with me. Really, how’s Palin supposed to respond to this?
-Indira
