Yesterday Gov. Bill Haslam decided not to veto a bill that criminalizes women who use drugs while pregnant, over the strenuous objections of women’s rights and healthcare professionals. Opponents said the law will actually deter drug dependent women from seeking treatment.
Under the law, prosecutors can charge pregnant women with assault if they use drugs that harm the fetus. Vessels, ladies.
Meanwhile, the state of Oklahoma — last in the news for actually making it illegal for a municipality like Oklahoma City to raise the minimum wage — presided over the botched execution of convicted killer Clayton Lockett, who writhed in agony, clenched his teeth, and even sat up to say “man, something’s wrong” before dying of a heart attack 43 minutes later.
Oklahoma was using an untested and unproven chemical cocktail to perform the execution, since the drugs previously used have been withdrawn by manufacturers who oppose the death penalty. Free hand of the market, etc. etc.
Oh and by the way, this was Oklahoma’s second botched execution this year.
I am reminded that the Tennessee legislature celebrated Holy Week by voting to keep secret its lethal injection method, as well. Because things done in secret are always okay, amiright?
Outrage over the botched execution prompted noted conservative douchenozzle and former CNN contributor Erick Erickson to express the following on Twitter:
Meanwhile, last week Sarah Palin thought her team had come up with a real humdinger of a zinger when she told the NRA’s national convention,
“Well, if I were in charge, they would know that waterboarding is how we baptize terrorists.”
Blood-lust, much? The viciousness, inhumanity, and cruelty displayed by the right in such a short period of time is astonishing. It appears sadism is the new black for your modern Republican Party. That’s certainly the message I’m getting loud and clear.
Botched executions. Criminalizing pregnant women who need treatment, not prison. Secrecy and state-sanctioned torture. State-mandated poverty. Equating torture with baptism to get a laugh. Republicans, y’all are a sick, sick bunch.
