House to drop “forcible rape” language in response to advocacy and satire

Breaking news: the House will drop “forcible rape” language that could have excluded some rape victims from being able to seek federal help to pay for an abortion. TPM attributes the decision to “pressure from women’s groups, Democratic politicians and Jon Stewart.”

Here’s one of those examples where humor brilliantly points out the absurdity of our national dialogue in a way that punditry, no matter how eloquent or well-intentioned, ever could. Schaall breaks down the arbitrary and profoundly ridiculous language–and the fuzzy thinking behind it–surrounding sexual assault, abortion, and government funding for Jon:

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-february-2-2011/rape-victim-abortion-funding