The Strange Language of Rape

When rape by definition requires the act to be “without consent” and “against one’s will”, it is more than a little disconcerting to discover that our government, in this day and age, wants to discriminate against victims by the degree of violation.  In the “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act” (HR 3), ”forcible rape” is the standard, presented by a bipartisan anti-abortion group in the House of Representatives, against which a victim’s need for an abortion is measured.

Current law through the “Hyde Amendment” bans the use of taxpayer subsidies for abortion with exemptions for women who have become pregnant as a result of rape, incest or life-threatening illnesses, but HR3 changes the wording to:

‘[I]f the pregnancy occurred because the pregnant female was the subject of an act of forcible rape or, if a minor, an act of incest;

Amid the outcry against the bill and its “forcible rape” phrasing, supporters have started backing away from the idea of re-defining rape.

No doubt, Kristen Schaal of The Daily Show helped to change some minds with her brilliant satirization of a “rainbow of rape” during Tuesday night’s show. She also proceeded to educate viewers as to the distinguishing characteristics between “rape-rape” and merely “rape-ish,” as well as the clear and compelling need to protect the American people from “money rape” at the hand of budget busting sexual rape scammers.

Of course, “money rape” by bankers and corporations still appears to be okay.  No doubt congress will be re-defining fraud next.
** Update**
Rep. Christopher Smith [R-NJ4] is the sponsor of HR3 and the co-sponsors are listed below (h/t TeakWoodKite)

Robert Aderholt [R-AL4]
Todd Akin [R-MO2]
Rodney Alexander [R-LA5]
Justin Amash [R-MI3]
Steve Austria [R-OH7]
Michele Bachmann [R-MN6]
Spencer Bachus [R-AL6]
Lou Barletta [R-PA11]
Roscoe Bartlett [R-MD6]
Joe Barton [R-TX6]
Dan Benishek [R-MI1]
Gus Bilirakis [R-FL9]
Rob Bishop [R-UT1]
Marsha Blackburn [R-TN7]
Jo Bonner [R-AL1]
Dan Boren [D-OK2]
Charles Boustany [R-LA7]
Kevin Brady [R-TX8]
Mo Brooks [R-AL5]
Paul Broun [R-GA10]
Vern Buchanan [R-FL13]
Ann Marie Buerkle [R-NY25]
Michael Burgess [R-TX26]
Dan Burton [R-IN5]
Ken Calvert [R-CA44]
Francisco Canseco [R-TX23]
Eric Cantor [R-VA7]
John Carter [R-TX31]
Bill Cassidy [R-LA6]
Steven Chabot [R-OH1]
Jason Chaffetz [R-UT3]
Howard Coble [R-NC6]
Mike Coffman [R-CO6]
Tom Cole [R-OK4]
Michael Conaway [R-TX11]
Jerry Costello [D-IL12]
Chip Cravaack [R-MN8]
Eric Crawford [R-AR1]
Ander Crenshaw [R-FL4]
Mark Critz [D-PA12]
Geoff Davis [R-KY4]
Scott DesJarlais [R-TN4]
Mario Diaz-Balart [R-FL21]
Joe Donnelly [D-IN2]
Sean Duffy [R-WI7]
Jeff Duncan [R-SC3]
John Duncan [R-TN2]
Renee Ellmers [R-NC2]
Jo Ann Emerson [R-MO8]
Michael Fitzpatrick [R-PA8]
Jeff Flake [R-AZ6]
John Fleming [R-LA4]
Randy Forbes [R-VA4]
Jeffrey Fortenberry [R-NE1]
Virginia Foxx [R-NC5]
Trent Franks [R-AZ2]
Cory Gardner [R-CO4]
Scott Garrett [R-NJ5]
Jim Gerlach [R-PA6]
Bob Gibbs [R-OH18]
John Gingrey [R-GA11]
Louis Gohmert [R-TX1]
Robert Goodlatte [R-VA6]
Paul Gosar [R-AZ1]
Trey Gowdy [R-SC4]
Kay Granger [R-TX12]
Samuel Graves [R-MO6]
Morgan Griffith [R-VA9]
Michael Grimm [R-NY13]
Brett Guthrie [R-KY2]
Ralph Hall [R-TX4]
Gregg Harper [R-MS3]
Andy Harris [R-MD1]
Vicky Hartzler [R-MO4]
Jeb Hensarling [R-TX5]
Walter Herger [R-CA2]
Tim Huelskamp [R-KS1]
Duncan Hunter [R-CA52]
Robert Hurt [R-VA5]
Lynn Jenkins [R-KS2]
Samuel Johnson [R-TX3]
Timothy Johnson [R-IL15]
Walter Jones [R-NC3]
Jim Jordan [R-OH4]
Mike Kelly [R-PA3]
Peter King [R-NY3]
Steve King [R-IA5]
Jack Kingston [R-GA1]
Adam Kinzinger [R-IL11]
John Kline [R-MN2]
Doug Lamborn [R-CO5]
Jeff Landry [R-LA3]
James Lankford [R-OK5]
Steven LaTourette [R-OH14]
Robert Latta [R-OH5]
Christopher Lee [R-NY26]
Daniel Lipinski [D-IL3]
Frank LoBiondo [R-NJ2]
Billy Long [R-MO7]
Blaine Luetkemeyer [R-MO9]
Daniel Lungren [R-CA3]
Connie Mack [R-FL14]
Donald Manzullo [R-IL16]
Kenny Marchant [R-TX24]
Thomas Marino [R-PA10]
Kevin McCarthy [R-CA22]
Michael McCaul [R-TX10]
Tom McClintock [R-CA4]
Thaddeus McCotter [R-MI11]
Patrick McHenry [R-NC10]
Mike McIntyre [D-NC7]
Howard McKeon [R-CA25]