Stock language excuse as Stock Answer

Paul Ryan is "proud of his pro-life record" -- suddenly not too proud of the English language.

Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan on Monday insisted that wording in a bill that he co-sponsored with Rep. Todd Akin (R-MO), which Democrats say would have redefined rape as “forcible rape,” was just “stock language.”

Hmmm...

The “No Taxpayer Funding For Abortion Act” redefines “real” rape as only that which is “forcible” and has been co-sponsored by 173 mostly Republican legislators and was called a “top priority” by Speaker of the House John Boehner. Likely knowing that fully criminalizing abortion is impossible, politicians are going after the funding of abortions in certain cases of rape and incest. Slipped a roofie and raped while you are unconscious? Raped while you are blackout drunk and unable to consent? Sexually assaulted by your uncle at age 19? If you are poor and need governmental funding to help terminate a pregnancy resulting from this horrific acts, there will be no help for you.

His stock language in other words, was not just filler because as he says now "rape is rape", but to make sure that women who are sexually abused while unconscious; or are 13-years old; or impregnated by a relative were not victims of a qualifying rape. So, the use of "forcible" was just a stock word. They could have just as easily called it "rape plus" or "super-rape" or "rape-classic" or "rapey-rape" or even "I've been rapin' on the railroad Hank Rearden-style" -- in fact, they probably damn near did and it would mean the same thing.

Just words, that's all rape is to Paul Ryan.

 [cross-posted at Firedoglake]