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GOP Aborts 'Forcible Rape' Distinction, Daily Show Cracks Wise
By
John Del Signore
Published Feb 3, 2011
Modified Feb 3, 2011
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By
John Del Signore
Published Feb 3, 2011
Modified Feb 3, 2011
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House Republicans found themselves the butt of jokes on The Daily Show last night for attempting to make a risible distinction between rape and "forcible rape." The language had been part of a bill to limit government subsidies for abortions in instances of rape, and would have given an exemption for women who become pregnant as a result of "forcible rape." Instead, the bill’s author, Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.), tells Politico the modifier "forcible" will be dropped "so that the exemption covers all forms of rape, as well as cases of incest and the endangerment of the life of the mother." So the amendment is still risible, just not semantically. The Daily Show had fun with it:
In the segment, the Daily Show’s Kristen Schaal clarifies that there is "a whole rainbow of rape covering a wide spectrum of gray areas." Quoting Whoopi Goldberg on Roman Polanski, Schaal explained, "There's rape and there's rape rape!" According to Schaal, there's also rapeish and rape-esque: "And I don't think hard-earned tax dollars should go to women who are only rapeished! By proposing this legislation, Republicans are finally closing the glaring rape loophole in our health care system. You’d be surprised how many drugged, underaged or mentally handicapped young women have been gaming the system. Sorry, ladies the free abortion ride is over."
And asked by Jon Stewart if women raped by friends would qualify for benefits, Schaal replied, "Date rape is now classified "rape with benefits".... And by the way, Hollywood, if you're looking for your next big romantic comedy, you can't do better than that."
Tagged
abortion
forcible rape
rape
republicans
the daily show
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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