“Posted on 08/21/2012 2:53:18 PM PDT by NYer
Rebecca Kiessling, a pro-life attorney from Michigan, fully understands the national debate going on concerning the controversial comments Missouri Senate candidate Todd Akin made about abortion and rape. Kiessling was conceived when her mother was victimized by a rapist.
“It seems to me, first of all, from what I understand from doctors, if it’s a legitimate rape, that’s really rare. The female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down,” Akin said. “The punishment ought to be on the rapist, and not in attacking the child.”
Kiessling responded to the comments saying that the use of the term “legitimate rape” was unnecessary and improper and she gave her advice for how pro-life candidates can thoughtfully and articulately address the sensitive subject of rape and abortion.
“
First of all — never say ‘legitimate rape,’” Kiessling said. “Ron Paul used the same terminology last January and he got lambasted for it too. This kind of remark only serves to perpetuate the suspicion of rape victims’ accounts. It’s estimated that only 1% of rape victims ever see their rapist convicted as charged. Rape is rape. “Legitimate rape” almost sounds as if it was somehow justifiable.”
“If you are 100% pro-life with no rape exceptions, there is no need to question the veracity of a rape victims’ account, because you are against all abortions. It would not matter if a woman was not or not raped,” she continued.
While abortion advocates often talk about supporting a woman’s right to privacy, Kiessling says rape exceptions in abortion laws turn that notion on its head.
“Rape exceptions in the law actually put the government in the position of having to ascertain when the child was conceived, who the father is, whether the child was conceived during the alleged rape or during intercourse with her husband or boyfriend, and if the child was conceived during the time frame of the alleged rape, then the government would need to determine whether the sexual intercourse was consensual or not,” she explained. “So rape exceptions serve to perpetuate the injustice against rape victims that their accounts are to be viewed with skepticism, and it further leaves the majority of impregnated rape victims wholly unprotected under the law. Rape exceptions suggest that a “real rape victim” couldn’t possibly love “the rapist’s baby” and that rape victim mothers don’t exist.”
The pro-life attorney says pro-life candidates need to be coached on how to answer the media’s inevitable question.
“Senator Rick Santorum, during his presidential campaign, said that he thinks that a child conceived in rape is “a gift from God,” and he was made fun of for that. Just Google images for “Santorum rape” and you’ll see all of the posters where he is mocked for this statement. While I believe it’s true that every child is a gift from God, including children conceived in rape, I don’t believe this was the best response for the interview,” she explained. “If it had been my birthmother sharing that she believes that I’m a blessing and a gift from God, she would not be mocked and ridiculed in the same way he was. And then Sharron Angle, during her Senate race in Nevada, said it’s a “lemonade situation,” which did not come across well at all. The problem is not with these candidates’ values. The problem is how they express them.”
Kiessling gives a three-step process in terms of how candidates should answer the question:
1. The Supreme Court has said that the death penalty is cruel and unusual punishment for rapists and that rapists don’t deserve the death penalty. I don’t think the innocent child conceived in rape deserves the death penalty for the crimes of her father. It seems to me that is cruel and unusual punishment.
2. Rape victims are four times more likely to die within the next year after the abortion, with a higher rate of suicide, murder, drug overdose, etc.. As someone who really cares about rape victims, I want to protect them from the rapist, and from the abortion, and not the baby. A baby is not the worst thing that could ever happen to a rape victim — an abortion is. We need to educate the American public on the truth in this matter and not make public policy based on myth and misinformation.
3. Rape victims choose abortion at half the rate of the average unplanned pregnancy, which is over 50%. Only 15-25% of rape victims choose abortion, depending on the study. The majority of rape victims choose to raise her child — not “the rapist’s baby” — HER child.
Of course, I also think it helps to share a personal story and there are lots available, of women who became pregnant by rape and either regret aborting, are raising their children or are birth-moms, as well as stories of those of us conceived in rape and/or incest. You can find those stories on my website: www.rebeccakiessling.com/Othersconceivedinrape.html and www.rebeccakiessling.com/PregnantByRape.html
” But is the answer to forbid MURDER, or discourage it?”
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“welcome” newbie. Odd post of yours.
Good post, D1. I had the same reaction.
Rebecca Kiessling’s website says she’s been married 11 years, and is the mother of 5 homeschooled children. I think she also has some very valid points concerning the legal ramifications of proving a child was concieved due to rape.
It’s hell being born in the 50’s, and having a notion of ‘normal.’
When did he lie?
I say Akin is one of the few who’s not afraid to ignore the false narrative created by the marxists.
Excellent article. Thanks for posting it.
There is always the option of adoption. I am both an adoptee and an adoptive parent.
Sadly some must go the way of the Whigs to learn that some subjects are outside the business of government control.
I fear more that the democrat party will milk this failure and control our lives even more than they do now.
Great article! And along the lines of this author...if you take the position that abortion should be legal for rape, you put at disadvantage all prosecution of ANY rape. If “rape” then becomes ‘the go-to excuse’ to have an abortion, police, knowing that less than 1% of all abortions are factually due to rape will not prosecute any claims of rape. Let me tell you that the left would turn this on a dime to our disadvantage. That is why this writer is right. As an RN, I understand anyone having difficulty encouraging someone who was raped NOT to have an abortion. However, there are a lot of young people out there today who are the products of rape, and the stories I’ve read from them are heartwarming. The baby is still half the mother’s bloodline. Evil is not inherent. It can be overcome with love.
Has Whoopie asked if it was really a rape-rape?
For the uninitiated, this situation is truly a conundrum. Ultimately, using common sense, one realizes that the true victim is the child. Kudos on recognizing this!
Bump her words.
If her mother had listened to Akin, she may have been more likely to ABORT...out of shame in feeling that she was COMPLICIT in her (own) rape.
AKIN MUST GO.
Not sure where you two are at on this. Thought it interesting.
Thank you! .. for the post and ping. When you consider her contributions to your employer, imagine life without her. She did not choose to be conceived in this manner but society benefits from the gifts she brings to this world. Many thanks!
... and posting history is even odder...
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/by:phxtm06/index?tab=comments;brevity=full;options=no-change
"An' I halped!"
This Rebecca Kiessling absolutely nailed it. Akin slipped up in expressing his position and the drive-by media is having a field day with it, that’s all that is going on here.
I am disappointed in Romney’s reaction to this.
I totally love this little lady. I read of her yesterday.
It’s not a “punishment,” per Obama. My grandchild is one of the grandest blessings in my life. We are helping mom and are all being drawn closer to God and each other. Wouldn’t’ve missed it for the world. Love is awesome.
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