Dutchess County Legislator Joe Incoronato (R-Wappingers Falls) says that if you’ve had a drink or taken drugs and get raped that you may have “induced” the attack.
During a question and answer period at a June 9, 2016 committee meeting of the Dutchess County Legislator, Incoronato began by asking about whether stats on rapes involving alcohol or drug use were being tracked but quickly veered off the cliff and into a political ravine in his explanation of why.
“Your guard is lowered when you’re [in] a state of semi-conscious or unconsciousness. So I think its important to stress this factor as a prime mover of rapes, ok, of forcible rapes and other assaults….,” said Incoronato. “If they’re unconscious they don’t know what’s going on but to some extent they may be a contributing factor, a self-inflicted wound.”
“Point of information!”, interrupted progressive Legislator Joel Tyner (D-Clinton). “I am incredibly offended by Legislator Incoronato’s remarks.”
“This is the reality Mr. Tyner,” responded Incoronato before the floor was handed to a Republican colleague Angela Flesland (R-Poughkeepsie) who — while not calling out Incoronato directly — pointed out what should be obvious in 2017: that the only cause of rape is rapists, not alcohol that the victim consumed, not drugs, not what a woman is wearing.
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Dutchess County is the battleground county in NY State holding the keys to both the state senate and CD19 in 2018. Organizing and winning in 2017 will help provide the momentum to make that happen.
Every member of the county legislature is facing re-election this year and Dutchess County Democrats have fielded a slate of excellent candidates to challenge the GOP super-majority, including many members of the Indivisible movement. Republicans currently hold 18 of 25 seats.
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Got some political insight (or dirt) from Dutchess County? Send it my way at eyesonhudsonvalley@gmail.com.