Hey, Republicans – I have a little bit of advice for you guys ’cause this is Current and I know y’all watch. Congratulations on all the mileage you’ve gotten from those scandals you’re using against President Obama.
But here’s the thing — it’s not working for you. Obama’s poll numbers keep going up the more you keep talking about Benghazi and the IRS. So allow me to suggest that you start screeching about one of the many real, actual scandals in America today.
You see, a recent Department of Defense report revealed the estimated number of sexual assaults in the U.S. military increased last year, to 26,000. That’s in one year. Pentagon estimates break that down to 12,100 of the women on active duty being the victims of sexual assaults and 13,900 men in uniform. That’s 38 men, 33 women per day being sexually assaulted in the military. The DOD acknowledges that male survivors do report their assaults at a much lower rate.
You still with me, Republicans? ’Cause it gets worse.
Ya see, less than 10 percent of victims actually reported their assaults last year, and less than 1 percent of sex abuse perpetrators were convicted last year under the Pentagon’s current system of “justice.” And less than 10 percent of victims ever even report it.
Sixty-two percent of those who reported assaults felt they got retaliated against — revictimized — after they reported these attacks to their superiors. That’s why most cases are never even reported.
Now, I know what you’re thinking, Republicans: “This really is a disgusting scandal, but how do we blame Obama?” Well, hang on. It gets worse.
In our VA system, one in five women and one in 100 men screen positive for military sexual trauma. Men made up almost 40 percent of patients treated for conditions like PTSD related to military sexual trauma. In 2012, 334 veterans per month filed for disability benefits related to sexual trauma and almost a third were men.
All told, 85,000 vets were treated last year for abuse; 4,000 sought disability benefits. This is costing us valuable tax dollars that could, of course, be spent on your next 37 attempts to repeal Obamacare.
Our service men and women deserve better. But there has been no congressional hearings about this, my Benghazi-crazed Republican friends. So if you want to find a way to appeal to those who dwell outside of your bubble — like women voters — the obscenity of military sexual assaults needs to be on your front burner. If this doesn’t make you angry, you don’t take rape seriously, you don’t respect the military and you’re not a patriot.
Now, you could follow your usual playbook and just find a way to convince your base that it’s all Obama’s fault. Or take a page out of my book and declare that any soldier who sexually assaults another soldier needs to be tried for treason.
Treason is, after all, an act of disloyalty against a nation by one of that nation’s citizens. Under Article 3, Section 3, of the U.S. Constitution, any person who levies war against the U.S. has committed treason. Soldiers who rape other soldiers — and the officers who protect them — make our military less effective, compromise readiness and endanger our national security.
Start putting these star-spangled sex crimes on trial in civilian courts where the CO’s can’t overturn a verdict. Then find out how many officers ignored reports of assault under their commands and put them on trial too.
Now, I realize this involves you guys doing something that doesn’t allow you to exploit Obama hate for cash or votes, but you can do it. You can take the lead on this, Republicans, and you’d get results.
The only disadvantage — the donations you’d lose from the vast pro-military rape lobby.
But you gotta act fast, ’cause Democratic senators are already leading the fight here. The Military Justice Improvement Act allows independent prosecutors to go after military sex offenders and takes away a CO’s right to overturn a military court verdict.
Are you gonna let Democrats lead the fight on this, Republicans? You have a chance to do something at your job that doesn’t involve Obama hate — besides naming more buildings after Reagan.
Or, you know what? Just be like Pope Benedict and blame all the sexual abuse because someone let the gays in.
WESTBORO BAPTIST IS ACTIVE IN NORMAN TODAY, AND THEY ARE BY NO MEANS WELCOME. THEY ARE PLANNING TO PROTEST THE FUNERALS OF CHILDREN KILLED IN THE RECENT TORNADO. SHOW THEM WHAT AN ANGRY OKIE IS LIKE, Y’ALL!
REBLOG REBLOG REBLOG!
Further confirmation that hate ruins you. “Hatchet-faced” doesn’t even BEGIN to describe her.
Today, Amazon announced the imminent launch of its newest endeavor, Kindle Worlds, a publishing platform for fanfiction. When I read the announcement, I was horrified, then angry, then sad. I want to take a moment to explain why this is such a tragedy.
I don’t care if it’s “not your type of blog”, I’m shocked and disappointed that my dash isn’t flooded with prayer and best wishes for all of those in Oklahoma.
You still have a home to sleep in tonight, and your life is not literally uprooted. Let’s have some decency here and let everyone effected know that all of America is rooting and praying for them to come out on top of this disaster.
I don’t think you guys understand. It was TWO STREETS AWAY! The 7-11 LITERALLY 250 yards from my house is flattened! There is nothing left! Though I don’t need anything personally, my community does. Please. If you have anything to spare, please send it. It will not go unappreciated.
Guys, my house did get flattened. Just… reblog. Sometimes, it just makes us feel better to know that someone cares.
My home is literally three streets away from where it all happened… how it managed to not be flattened is anything short of a miracle…
Our community is really suffering right now, its just… please guys…
tw: ableism, abuse culture, anti-plural, anti-otherkin, gaslighting, neglect
I’m posting this for the general public because it’s needed but I was ‘inspired’ by this post: [link redacted by mod, contains a response to a meme mentioning multiples and calling them “special snowflakes”.]
I…
Virtual supermarkets are popping up in subway stations in South Korea, where commuters can virtually shop for items while waiting for the train to come. Customers simply scan an item’s QR code using the free “Homeplus” app and can have it delivered to their doorstep before they even get home. Ranked as the 2nd most hard-working country in the world to Japan, South Korea is rewarding its workers with this timesaving gem.
Wow! I kinda love this idea.
