As I said in an earlier comment, I think this is a case where semantics, aside from the political issues that polluted the case, may have made matters worse.

I think the word "rape" is thrown about in too many discussions about sexual violence to mean all forms of sexual violence. It's become a metaphor for violence involving sex and not the specific act and specific intent it used to have 25 years ago. There seems to be an absolutist stance about the word in this country that no matter what it looks like, all sexual violence is rape.

Having been involved in an abusive relationship in which I was sexually assaulted, I strongly disagree with that line of thinking. I think "rape" is a very distinct act that needs to be set apart from all the shades of grey that are implied in the term "sexual assault".

Unfortunately too many people in this country don't want to delve into the shades of grey. I guess it's that Puritan ethos.