Sarah and Todd Palin have released the following statement in conjunction with the McCain campaign:
"We have been blessed with five wonderful children who we love with all our heart and mean everything to us. Our beautiful daughter Bristol came to us with news that as parents we knew would make her grow up faster than we had ever planned.
We’re proud of Bristol’s decision to have her baby and even prouder to become grandparents. As Bristol faces the responsibilities of adulthood, she knows she has our unconditional love and support.
"Bristol and the young man she will marry are going to realize very quickly the difficulties of raising a child, which is why they will have the love and support of our entire family. We ask the media to respect our daughter and Levi’s privacy as has always been the tradition of children of candidates."
All parents know that despite our best wishes, and most carefully crafted plans, often life throws you a curve. I am sure that watching their daughter, drop out of school, give up, or put on hold any plan of college; because she got pregnant, was not the film they played in their heads. But as a family they made choices based on their beliefs, values and priorities- and I respect their choices.
What upsets me is Sarah Palin unwillingness to let others have the power to make these tough choices according to their own belief set.
My wife and I discussed the "What if" question of Down Syndrome when she was pregnant, We did not have to face that heart-wrenching choice, but if we did- our decision would have been not to carry to term. If faced with our 17 year old child informing us that she was with child, we would not encourage her to get married; but instead to have an abortion or give the child up for adoption. If I had a 17 year old son that told us how he got his friend pregnant, I would not encourage him to marry the girl. Of course I would not tolerate him just "Walking-away"- but I could not in good conscience let him give up his dreams. He would be selling himself short, and living a life filled with regret, and what ifs that would tear him apart and result in him being an unhappy husband and father, which would make both the mother and child's lives both miserable.
But, maybe I'm wrong?
The point is, while I respect her right to follow her Beliefs and values; she wants to make it illegal for me to follow mine. That is what I object to - that is what gets me angry.
Sure I think we should respect the privacy of candidate's children; however
When you force others to follow your will, People have the right to call you on it.
during Sarah Palin's 2006 gubernatorial race, Palin again stated that she is against abortion unless a doctor determined that a mother's life would end due to the pregnancy. That even in the case of her own daughter being the victim of rape, she would still oppose the right to an abortion. These views are well outside the mainstream. I am sorry to say this, but, I cant help but feel that the impending marriage of her daughter,is less a tale of "Star-Crossed-Lovers" and more an example of old fashion "Shotgun-Wedding".
But that might be popular not just with Anti-Abortion crowd, but the NRA as well.
Larry Lubell
Showing posts with label Rape. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rape. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Charges Dropped against Duke Lacrosse Players
Today it was announced that State prosecutors will drop all charges againstthe three Duke atheletes accused of sexual assaulting a stripper at a team party.
This action of dropping all charges would end the criminal prosecution of Collin Finnerty, Reade Seligmann, and David Evans.
Like most people of good will, I was angered when I first heard the story of an innocent woman being brutalized and humiliated by both sexual violence as well as racial taunts, emanating from a bunch of out of control rich white kids. The fact that the "White community" in general and, Nifong,a white prosecutor,in particular took the Black woman's allegations seriously, represents a step forward. For far too long woman, particularly woman of color, were ignored, or attacked when they came forward after being raped. It is a good thing to see that society is starting "To get It". To understand that No means No.
I do not know exactly what when on in that house the night of the party. Being a "Guy" I can assume there was likely a bit too much drinking, and behavior that was less than exemplary. This was not a house full of young men, playing chess and discussing Franz Kafka. It seems clear that they were acting in an unbecoming manor, but equally clearly the accuser's story was a cruel lie.
It was a lie that turned the lives of three men up-side-down, hurt the entire Lacrosse team and Duke University, and most damaging of all, made it more difficult for woman who were actually victims of assault to be taken seriously in the future.
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This action of dropping all charges would end the criminal prosecution of Collin Finnerty, Reade Seligmann, and David Evans.
Like most people of good will, I was angered when I first heard the story of an innocent woman being brutalized and humiliated by both sexual violence as well as racial taunts, emanating from a bunch of out of control rich white kids. The fact that the "White community" in general and, Nifong,a white prosecutor,in particular took the Black woman's allegations seriously, represents a step forward. For far too long woman, particularly woman of color, were ignored, or attacked when they came forward after being raped. It is a good thing to see that society is starting "To get It". To understand that No means No.
I do not know exactly what when on in that house the night of the party. Being a "Guy" I can assume there was likely a bit too much drinking, and behavior that was less than exemplary. This was not a house full of young men, playing chess and discussing Franz Kafka. It seems clear that they were acting in an unbecoming manor, but equally clearly the accuser's story was a cruel lie.
It was a lie that turned the lives of three men up-side-down, hurt the entire Lacrosse team and Duke University, and most damaging of all, made it more difficult for woman who were actually victims of assault to be taken seriously in the future.
Call 1-800-680-0707 for a Free quote
or Fill out the request form for and we will provide you with a quote
to get your insurance started. Get a free quote.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
What will it take for District Attorney Mike Nifong to admit he got it wrong?
Friday, January 12th, 2007
UPDATE: State Attorney General Takes Duke Case
Attorney General Roy Cooper’s office office agreed Saturday to take over the sexual assault case against three white Duke University lacrosse players at the request of the embattled district attorney.
“I wish I could tell you this case would be resolved quickly,”. “Since we have not been involved in the investigation and prosecution, all of the information will be new to our office. Any case with such serious criminal charges will require careful review.” Cooper said at a news conference Saturday.
Cooper said Jim Coman, a former director of the State Bureau of Investigation and head of the attorney general’s Special Prosecution Section, and Mary D. Winstead, a prosecutor in that division, would now oversee the case.
Duke Accuser Says One Player Didn’t Assault Her
Judge Orders Paternity Test for Woman’s Child
When this story first broke I was outraged by what was described as racist, violent, dehumanizing behavior carried out by a group of white rich kids, against two woman who grew up without equivalent privilege and opportunities. So when the district attorney Nifong announced his promise to “Bring the guilty parties to justice”, I applauded his dedication and echoed his sentiment. It was so easy to believe, but in the days that followed and more information came to light, doubt began to creep in.
The accusers story was shown to be inconsistent with that of eyewitnesses, the other dancer hired for the party, and most important, inconsistent with earlier versions of her own story. It was clear that her description of events was in a state of flux. The time line changed, the number of attackers changed, the descriptions changed, even whether or not she was penetrated changed.
At the same time the defense was steadily both chipping away at the woman’s credibility while confirming difficult to dismiss evidence helpful in proving that these three men could not have done that of which they stood accused. One of the three, Reade Seligmann. was able to show records and photos taken from an ATM machine, a credit card slip, cell phone calls as well as a coded entry into his dorm room all time stamped and all inconsistent with guilt. But in a shocking display, the district Attorney, refused to meet and look at the evidence.
It also came to light that the accused was only show line up pictures taken out of the Duke Lacrosse book, and that her person and underwear confirmed that she had engaged in sex, but the DNA was from men other than the Duke athletes To quote from Alice in Wonderland Things just keep getting “Curiouser and curiouser,”
The accuser in the Duke lacrosse sexual assault case told prosecutors in December that one of the three players charged did not commit any sex act on her during the alleged attack, according to papers filed Thursday by the defense.
The attacker identified as Reade Seligmann was repeatedly urged to take part in the alleged attack, she told an investigator, but he said he could not because he was getting married, the papers said. “The accuser’s most recent recollection of events demonstrates clearly that she cannot accurately recall and describe her attackers and that any identification made by her is necessarily unreliable,” the defense filing said.
A defense spokesman said The new description of Seligmann’s role in the alleged assault in March was one of several changes the accuser made in her story during a Dec. 21 interview with an investigator from District Attorney Mike Nifong’s office.
During that same interview, the accuser also said she was no longer certain she had been penetrated vaginally by a penis, a necessary element of rape charges in North Carolina. It was that statement that forced Nifong to dismiss rape charges against Seligmann and fellow defendants Dave Evans and Collin Finnerty.
Thursday’s motion added to a previous defense attack on the photo lineup in which the accuser identified the three players. The defense plans to argue at a Feb. 5 hearing that the lineup should be tossed out. Experts have said there appears to be little evidence outside of the accuser’s testimony to support the charges, and without the photo lineup, they argue Nifong would probably have to drop the case.
Which leads to the question, why has this case not been dropped months ago/
It seems that Mr.Nifong, thought he had an issue he could use to play for the votes he needed in his reelection bid. The plan worked but clearly the time to pay the piper has arrived.
http://www.urbaninsuranceagency.com/
UPDATE: State Attorney General Takes Duke Case
Attorney General Roy Cooper’s office office agreed Saturday to take over the sexual assault case against three white Duke University lacrosse players at the request of the embattled district attorney.
“I wish I could tell you this case would be resolved quickly,”. “Since we have not been involved in the investigation and prosecution, all of the information will be new to our office. Any case with such serious criminal charges will require careful review.” Cooper said at a news conference Saturday.
Cooper said Jim Coman, a former director of the State Bureau of Investigation and head of the attorney general’s Special Prosecution Section, and Mary D. Winstead, a prosecutor in that division, would now oversee the case.
___________________________________________________________
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Call us today at (800) 680-0707
or Fill out the request form for and we will provide
or Fill out the request form for and we will provide
you with a quote to get your insurance started. Get a free quote.
_____________________________________________________________Duke Accuser Says One Player Didn’t Assault Her
Judge Orders Paternity Test for Woman’s Child
When this story first broke I was outraged by what was described as racist, violent, dehumanizing behavior carried out by a group of white rich kids, against two woman who grew up without equivalent privilege and opportunities. So when the district attorney Nifong announced his promise to “Bring the guilty parties to justice”, I applauded his dedication and echoed his sentiment. It was so easy to believe, but in the days that followed and more information came to light, doubt began to creep in.
The accusers story was shown to be inconsistent with that of eyewitnesses, the other dancer hired for the party, and most important, inconsistent with earlier versions of her own story. It was clear that her description of events was in a state of flux. The time line changed, the number of attackers changed, the descriptions changed, even whether or not she was penetrated changed.
At the same time the defense was steadily both chipping away at the woman’s credibility while confirming difficult to dismiss evidence helpful in proving that these three men could not have done that of which they stood accused. One of the three, Reade Seligmann. was able to show records and photos taken from an ATM machine, a credit card slip, cell phone calls as well as a coded entry into his dorm room all time stamped and all inconsistent with guilt. But in a shocking display, the district Attorney, refused to meet and look at the evidence.
It also came to light that the accused was only show line up pictures taken out of the Duke Lacrosse book, and that her person and underwear confirmed that she had engaged in sex, but the DNA was from men other than the Duke athletes To quote from Alice in Wonderland Things just keep getting “Curiouser and curiouser,”
The accuser in the Duke lacrosse sexual assault case told prosecutors in December that one of the three players charged did not commit any sex act on her during the alleged attack, according to papers filed Thursday by the defense.
The attacker identified as Reade Seligmann was repeatedly urged to take part in the alleged attack, she told an investigator, but he said he could not because he was getting married, the papers said. “The accuser’s most recent recollection of events demonstrates clearly that she cannot accurately recall and describe her attackers and that any identification made by her is necessarily unreliable,” the defense filing said.
A defense spokesman said The new description of Seligmann’s role in the alleged assault in March was one of several changes the accuser made in her story during a Dec. 21 interview with an investigator from District Attorney Mike Nifong’s office.
During that same interview, the accuser also said she was no longer certain she had been penetrated vaginally by a penis, a necessary element of rape charges in North Carolina. It was that statement that forced Nifong to dismiss rape charges against Seligmann and fellow defendants Dave Evans and Collin Finnerty.
Thursday’s motion added to a previous defense attack on the photo lineup in which the accuser identified the three players. The defense plans to argue at a Feb. 5 hearing that the lineup should be tossed out. Experts have said there appears to be little evidence outside of the accuser’s testimony to support the charges, and without the photo lineup, they argue Nifong would probably have to drop the case.
Which leads to the question, why has this case not been dropped months ago/
It seems that Mr.Nifong, thought he had an issue he could use to play for the votes he needed in his reelection bid. The plan worked but clearly the time to pay the piper has arrived.
http://www.urbaninsuranceagency.com/
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