Whatever It Is, They're Against It

[babylonsister]

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2009_10/020320.php

WHATEVER IT IS, THEY'RE AGAINST IT.... It's tempting to think a measure like this one would pass unanimously. After all, it's not as if voters would elect monsters to the Senate, right?

In 2005, Jamie Leigh Jones was gang-raped by her co-workers while she was working for Halliburton/KBR in Baghdad. She was detained in a shipping container for at least 24 hours without food, water, or a bed, and "warned her that if she left Iraq for medical treatment, she'd be out of a job." (Jones was not an isolated case.) Jones was prevented from bringing charges in court against KBR because her employment contract stipulated that sexual assault allegations would only be heard in private arbitration.

Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) proposed an amendment to the 2010 Defense Appropriations bill that would withhold defense contracts from companies like KBR "if they restrict their employees from taking workplace sexual assault, battery and discrimination cases to court."

All Franken's measure would do is allow victims of rape and discrimination to have their day in court -- not exactly controversial stuff. When Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) accused Franken of pushing a "political attack directed at Halliburton," the Minnesota senator explained that it would apply equally to all defense contractors.

The good news is, Franken's measure passed, 68 to 30.

The bad news is, 30 Senate Republicans -- 75% of the entire Republican Senate caucus -- voted against this.

Perhaps I should be thankful that 10 GOP senators voted with the majority -- by contemporary standards, I suppose that's a lot -- but what possible rationale could three-fourths of the Republican Senate caucus have for voting against this?

Let's not overlook the larger context here. Democrats are expected to try to find "bipartisan" support on practically everything. Some GOP lawmakers think health care reform isn't "legitimate" if it doesn't have 80 votes.

And yet, when the Senate considered a measure yesterday to give rape victims who work for U.S.-subsidized defense contractors a day in court, 30 out of 40 Republican senators said, "No."

The notion that the majority should be able to reach constructive, worthwhile compromises with this minority is clearly ridiculous.

—Steve Benen

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

1. 10 Pugs is a shitload.

It's a virtual tsunami of support.

[Ruby the Liberal]

2. The same kind of people who un-rec'd this.

Happy to bring it back to 0.

:eyes:

[babylonsister]

4. Proof positive we have some repiggies on here, methinks.

Thanks, Ruby! :hi:

[Cha]

12. Oh, you know we

do.

[AllentownJake]

3. Good advertisement to run against those 30

if they are up for re-election.

[DCKit]

21. Their base still thinks * was the bestest Resident.

I'm sure they could rationalize the defense of rape - as long as Oxyrush and Glenn Beck say it's OK.

[alsame]

5. K&R. Thank you Senator Franken.

[SIMPLYB1980]

6. K&R.

[MrModerate]

7. When I was in Iraq, I was reliant on KBR for a variety of support services . . .

Not the least of which was transport to and from the airport. They were so hopelessly fucked up (not following protocol, freelancing routes and convoy makeups, improper use of PPE, and even fucking running out of fuel on one run) that we eventually gave up using them and bummed rides from the helicopter pilots next to our camp. We also knew that KBR management treated their employees like shit, and -- based on harassing behavior -- none of the women in our camp ever traveled alone (and this was in the Green Zone) when they might be in KBR-administered areas.

KBR was, is, and always will be scum.

[Winterblues]

8. I think they are for War..any war at any time and they will line up going rah rah rah

They are for sending more American soldiers to their death in Afghanistan. They are for bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran...Guns, tobacco, death penalty, virtually anthing that kills actual people they are for...I do not consider a fetus a person. A person has to be born...

[rocktivity]

9. Well, SOMEBODY had to post it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtMV44yoXZ0&feature=related

:rofl:
rocktivity

[Faygo Kid]

13. Horse Feathers! Good for you, and thanks.

The coming health care floor debate:

[FatDave]

15. If you hadn't, I would have.

[Forkboy]

16. I'm posting the other one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYn8l-f53og

[phantom power]

10. Republicans are mostly *for* patriarchal control of women's bodies.

Also, they are *against* anything that they think a Liberal might be *for*. So I'm sure this was an easy "no" vote on both counts, for most Republicans.

[Staph]

11. Groucho Marx had it right in 1932!

I don’t know what they have to say,
It makes no difference anyway --
Whatever it is, I’m against it!
No matter what it is or who commenced it,
I’m against it.

Your proposition may be good
But let’s have one thing understood --
Whatever it is, I’m against it!
And even when you’ve changed it or condensed it,
I’m against it.

I’m opposed to it --
On general principles I’m opposed to it!

Chorus: He’s opposed to it!
In fact, in word, in deed,
He’s opposed to it!

For months before my son was born,
I used to yell from night till morn,
Whatever it is, I’m against it!
And I’ve kept yelling since I commenced it,
I’m against it!


(Song lyrics to Whatever It Is, I’m Against It, by Harry Ruby (music) and Bert Kalmar (lyrics), performed by Groucho Marx in Horse Feathers (1932))

[Cha]

14. Here's the list crossposted from GDP..Stupid wannbe pres mccain

is on the list..no shock there.

onehandle (1000+ posts) Wed Oct-07-09 05:06 PM
Original message

Full List of Pro-Rape Senators
All Republicans, natch.

Meet The Senators Who Voted Against The Franken Amendment
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/07/meet-the-senat...

Alexander (R-TN)
Barrasso (R-WY)
Bond (R-MO)
Brownback (R-KS)
Bunning (R-KY)
Burr (R-NC)
Chambliss (R-GA)
Coburn (R-OK)
Cochran (R-MS)
Corker (R-TN)
Cornyn (R-TX)
Crapo (R-ID)
DeMint (R-SC)
Ensign (R-NV)
Enzi (R-WY)
Graham (R-SC)
Gregg (R-NH)
Inhofe (R-OK)
Isakson (R-GA)
Johanns (R-NE)
Kyl (R-AZ)
McCain (R-AZ)
McConnell (R-KY)
Risch (R-ID)
Roberts (R-KS)
Sessions (R-AL)
Shelby (R-AL)
Thune (R-SD)
Vitter (R-LA)
Wicker (R-MS)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8688759

This should go Viral and remind everyone..who we're dealing with in the Senate.

[GirlAfire]

17. The Link...

...for some reason doesn't work for me. Is there another place I can see the list (even though you've posted the names already)?

[Cha]

18. Yes, it's in GDP under..

"Full List of Pro-Rape Senators
All Republicans, natch."

The link worked for me but sorry it's not for you..

[GirlAfire]

19. Wow, That's Weird, but...

...thank you for letting me know another place at which I could find the link! :hi:

[Jennicut]

23. McLame...and Lindsey Graham. The war mongers, not surprised.

Glad that the women from Maine voted for the amendment. They are not totally brain dead.

[GirlAfire]

20. Surely, the Ladies...

...will remember Sessions when he's up for reelection.

That's my Senator! Oh, I'm just so proud.

How are there Republican women?

[Odin2005]

22. OMG, this REALLY pisses me off!

Misogynistic monsters! :grr:

[dflprincess]

24. The Republicans who voted against this

need to have ads run against them about how they oppose the prosecution of rapists.