Republicans Love of Torture Would Be Inflicted on American Children as Well as Suspected Terrorists

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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/howie-klein/republican-party-love-of_b_485927.html

Republican Party Love of Torture Would Be Inflicted on American Children as Well as Suspected Terrorists

Howie Klein
Down With Tyranny
Posted: March 4, 2010 01:43 PM

Yesterday's D v. R showdown in the House wasn't about healthcare reform or even about the dirty filthy banksters stealing the national wealth. It wasn't about Afghanistan or about taking the ability of corporations to purchase the services of wily politicians. But it was a showdown that went to highlight one of the basic differences in worldview between conservatives and humans. George Miller's H.R. 4247, the Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools Act passed with a wide majority, 262-153, all but 8 conservative Democrats joined by two dozen mainstream Republicans pushing it over the finishing line (where Jim Bunning, Richard Burr and Jim DeMint are likely laying out their strategy to filibuster it to death in the Senate).

If God were to strike down all the obstructionists in the Senate and it were to become law, it would provide the first comprehensive protections for children against abusive disciplinary actions by schools. Cheered on by the American Federation of Teachers and dozens of disability groups, the 145 Republicans and their 8 motley ConservaDem allies -- mostly Blue Dogs like Jim Marshall, Gene Taylor, Kurt Schrader, and Harry Mitchell -- were brushed aside despite wailing and moaning by every single member of the pathetic GOP hierarchy, from John Boehner and Eric Cantor to Roy Blunt, David Dreier, Thaddeus McCotter and Paul Ryan. (Among the co-sponsors were normally very conservative Republicans like Gregg Harper of Mississippi and Cathy McMorris Rogers of Washington.)

The legislation stems in part from a government report last year that found evidence that hundreds of children -- from preschool age to high school -- had been traumatized or physically harmed by being held down or locked alone in rooms, some even tied to chairs. Many had developmental problems or were in special needs programs; many others were in regular classes. Some children have died, apparently because of overly aggressive discipline, according to numerous reports over the last decade.