I know, right? We are such complete pains in the ass, asking to be treated with respect and shit. Demanding equality is SO 2008.
With the recent upswing of racist rhetoric and gun tottingness coming from teabaggers far and wide, I have noticed another disturbing trend also emerging from the rightwing: accepting or condoning threats or violence against women. This is some amazingly scary crap, ladies and gentlemen. It's not only sexist in the extreme, but it emboldens would-be predators into taking advantage of the fairer gender in unspeakable ways.
First, of course, we have this load of complete manure:
It turns out that in eight states, plus the District of Columbia, getting beaten up by your spouse is a pre-existing condition.
Under the cold logic of the insurance industry, it makes perfect sense: If you are in a marriage with someone who has beaten you in the past, you're more likely to get beaten again than the average person and are therefore more expensive to insure.
In human terms, it's a second punishment for a victim of domestic violence.
Well, that's just outstanding! Kudos to you, asshole insurance companies! You have really outdone yourselves this time. I mean, hell, you let people die without getting treated all the goddamned time and everything, but what's next on your agenda of putting money well ahead of human life? Is it refusing to insure children whose dads are pedophiles?
The fun states who pull this unbelievable crap are:
Idaho
Mississippi
North Carolina
North Dakota
Oklahoma
South Carolina
South Dakota
Wyoming
I truly feel for the women living in those states. In 2006, Senator Patty Murray (D-Womyn) tried to change this thing in committee. Our favorite senator, Mike Enzi (R-WTF), and his Republican collegues killed the reform. Regarding Enzi:
At the time, Enzi defended his vote by saying that such regulations could increase the price of insurance and make it out of reach for more people. "If you have no insurance, it doesn't matter what services are mandated by the state," he said, according to a CQ Today item from March 15th, 2006.
All you single ladies out there, holla! Don't you just wanna marry that guy? He's such a dreamboat!
Next up, we have this great diary I stumbled across earlier today by 123idaho, detailing Blake Hall's (R-Stalker) impending demise from power in Idaho:
Seventh District Judge Penny Stanford's order prohibits Hall, 56, from going within 900 feet of the woman or her residence. A temporary order was issued at the woman's request Sept. 1. Stanford extended the order after a closed hearing. The restraining order issued last week prohibits the 56-year-old Hall from coming within 900 feet of his former girlfriend or her residence until Sept. 9, 2010. He is also prohibited from contacting the woman by telephone or other means.The order by 7th District Judge Penny Stanford said Hall "represents an immediate and present danger of domestic violence" to the woman.
Superb. I'm very glad that the judge made this kind of decision, and I'm certain that she was under pressure to "overlook" said behavior, since Mr. Hall is a major networker in ID. That being said, at least one fellow Republican (Damond Watkins) came to his defense:
According to the Post Register, chairman Watkins argued against the resolution on Thursday, saying Hall should be judged by his work on the RNC's budget committee. Hall has helped raise millions of dollars for Republican candidates in statewide races and is desperately needed again in the next election cycle, Watkins said.
"In my opinion, Blake should be evaluated on his performance on the committee, not on his personal life," Watkins said.
Oh, goody! Fuck it, if the woman can't take a "joke"! Also, was she wearing skimpy clothing in a bad part of town? Because, if so, you just know it was her fault.
And tell me again all about Monica Lewinsky! And about how Bill Clinton abused and degraded her and all of that. Because you guys are all SO consistent with your statements.
But I digress. Now I'm getting all angry and stuff.
Unfortunately, Republican Steve Nunn's ex-girlfriend was found murdered this week, and the dude was placed on "administrative leave" in February for violence against her:
Former state lawmaker and gubernatorial candidate Steve Nunn has been placed on unpaid administrative leave from his state job after a Lexington woman accused him of domestic violence.
Nunn is deputy secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, which oversees the state's domestic violence programs. He was placed on administrative leave on Feb. 19, according to cabinet spokeswoman Vikki Franklin.
A day earlier, Amanda Ross filed a domestic violence petition that claimed Nunn "hit me four times in my face, broke a lamp, scratched the hallway wall (and was) verbally abusive," according to a report by WHAS-TV in Louisville. Ross said she called police "because this has happened many times before," but did not file criminal charges, the TV station reported.
I report this with a heavy heart, as Ms. Ross was found dead this week:
Hours after his former fiancee was found fatally shot Friday morning outside her Lexington home, former Republican gubernatorial candidate and lawmaker Steve Nunn was in state custody after authorities said he had slit his wrists near his parents' graves in Hart County.
Nunn, 56, the son of former Gov. Louie B. Nunn, was being treated at the Bowling Green Medical Center, where a hospital spokeswoman said he was in fair condition Friday afternoon.
Kentucky State Police said Nunn was charged with six counts of wanton endangerment of police officers for pointing or "at least brandishing" a gun at officers who found him between 9:30 and 10 a.m. CDT at the Cosby Church Cemetery in Hart County. He will be jailed on the charges once he is released from the medical center, police said.
Nunn tried to commit suicide, and we certainly don't know all of the details here, but he was arrested for murder, among other things. I guess Nunn has quite a history of violent behavior, as outlined here.
Interestingly enough, Daryl Metcalfe (R-Paranoia) thinks that curbing domestic violence is part of the (heh) "homosexual agenda":
A simple resolution to recognize October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives was halted by Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, a Republican representing Butler. Why? Because, he said, "It has a homosexual agenda."
No, I’m not making this up. Here is the rest of the quote from his remarks on the House floor, objecting to the resolution: "I protest, this is not non-controversial, and if you read the language it has a homosexual agenda."
On the same day, also on the House floor, he made matters worse. The House was about to vote on increasing marriage license fees from $3 to $28, with the increased amount going to a fund for victims of domestic abuse. Metcalfe opposed the measure, calling the funding a domestic violence programs "a slap in the face to family values." The bill passed despite his outrageous claim.
Yeah. How much you wanna bet that Metcalfe either:
- Beats his wife,
- Beats his kids,
- Beats both,
- Has done so to an ex in the past,
- Secretly loves men, and/or
- Has a small penis?
I'm giving this 50 to 1 odds. On all of 'em. I also demand to know what this homosexual agenda entails. Does it involve a manifesto? Does it involve a toaster?
I want answers.
I could go on and on here (exposing the Republican operatives who are either violent, sexist, or pedaphiliac in nature), but that would take forever. Please trust me when I say that women just HEART this kind of behavior and that we strongly support men who "take the reigns" from us and want us to do nothing more than look good. I, myself, always appreciate being eye candy in the eyes of American dudes. Makes me feel totally special.
Now get the hell out of my cave, goddamnit!
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UPDATE: Thanks to my friend boofdah for letting me know. Keystone Progress has a letter-writing campaign going to make Daryl Metcalfe apologize. Let's do it!
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UPDATE II: Please read playtonjr's heartwrenching diary here, and send him as much love and support as you can. playton, I am so, so sorry for your loss.