by Aleurophile
VA07 Republican nominee Yesli Vega has been caught on tape voicing the (completely false) view that it’s more difficult for a woman to become pregnant as the result of rape. In a secretly-recorded audio clip obtained by Axios, the Republican candidate for VA-7 stated that in her years in law enforcement, she’d known of only one instance where rape led to pregnancy. When she was then asked if she’d heard that it was more difficult for pregnancy to result from rape, she responded:
“Well, maybe because there’s so much going on in the body. I don’t know. I haven’t, you know, seen any studies. But if I’m processing what you’re saying, it wouldn’t surprise me. Because it’s not something that’s happening organically. You’re forcing it. The individual, the male, is doing it as quickly — it’s not like, you know — and so I can see why there is truth to that. It’s unfortunate.”
Vega was quite possibly the most extreme right-wing of the six candidates, all very right wing themselves, who lined up in the VA07 Republican primary for the chance to face Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA07) in November. Vega now appears to be the most gullible and uninformed as well.
Vega has responded to the overturning of Roe by declaring (erroneously) that legislation regarding abortion is now solely in the hands of the states, thus evading the question of her own vote when the matter inevitably comes before Congress. She has expressed support for the 15-week restriction backed by Gov. Youngkin. And she has stated that we should “respect and celebrate” what the far-right Supreme Court majority has done with Roe v Wade.
The outcome of the VA07 race is seen as crucial to the control of Congress this November. With the overturning of Roe, the stakes in this race are higher than ever. In stark contrast to Vega, Rep. Abigail Spanberger is unwavering in her support of reproductive choice as a basic human right, and will be a vote for federal protections.
But it’s not all about votes. It’s also that Rep. Spanberger’s voice is one we badly need in Congress. In addition to her background in law enforcement and in the CIA, Rep. Spanberger brings thoughtful and well-informed, well-reasoned arguments to the table. And, unlike her 100% anti-choice Republican opponent, she’s anything but gullible.
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