Paul Ryan: the term “forcible rape” is just stock language

I guess this is one way to explain why Republicans like Paul Ryan feel the need to draw a distinction between “forcible rape” and what rational people know simply as rape (emphasis added).

“Democrats have been accusing you of trying to redefine rape,” Fox News Channel host Bret Baier said to Ryan in an interview that aired Monday night. “You co-sponsored legislation seeking to distinguish between statutory and forcible rape. Why?”

“Well, look. All of these bills were bills to stop taxpayer financing of abortion,” Ryan said. “Most Americans agree with us, including pro-choice Americans, that we shouldn’t use hardworking taxpayer dollars to finance abortion. Rape is rape, period. This is language that was stock language used for lots of different bills – bills I didn’t author – and that language was removed, to be very clear, and I agree with that, removing that language so we are very clear. Rape is rape, period. End of story.”

I’m not sure what’s more disturbing: the fact that Republicans feel they need to define “forcible rape,” considering that rape is always forcible, or the fact that the term “forcible rape” is simply “stock language” that Republicans in many cases can’t be bothered to change.

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2 thoughts on “Paul Ryan: the term “forcible rape” is just stock language

  1. Forcible is an adjective and intensifier, not a defining term. The noun is the defining term. I do not get lost in the Sea of Words, liberal or conservative ones. I am looking for the substance of an issue. the GOP seems to be the ones making issues out of the wrong parts of speech. Grammar always was an obscure study.
    And, YES, insofar as abortion in a rape case is healthcare at its most needed, I AM all for spending “hardworking” and not-so-hard-working,i.e. the 1% tax dollars, to fund abortions. I wish we had single payer coverage nationwide, with complete coverage for ALL abortion services, in the first trimester, or late-term to save women’s lives. Any Dems wanna sign on for THAT. I doubt it.
    MBB

  2. Perhaps I have not seen it, but are you aware of any reporter asking the obvious followup questions to Paul Ryan or any of these other politicians who think government has the right to compel a woman to have a child of rape:
    ‘What is your vision for the rapist? Will the government compel a woman whom it has forced to bear a child to share custody with her rapist? Will the government compel a rapist to pay child support? Since the US does not offer mandatory maternity leave, will the government compel a rapist to fund a victim’s maternity leave? What will the government consider to be the woman’s rights? The child’s? The rapist’s?’
    That would be a question I’d like to see Paul Ryan & Co. answer. In detail.

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