Violence Against Women Act Receives Opposition from Republicans
In their latest attempt to point out that the Republican Party hates women’s rights, Democrats in the Senate spoke on Thursday for the re-authorization of the The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). For the first time since it was passed in 1994, the Republican party is pushing back on the bill, causing many women, both in government and out, to protest. Female democratic senators are in an uproar over the GOP’s push back, especially after the past few months and what Democrats have come to call the GOP’s “war against women.”
On Thursday, Senator Patty Murray, chairwoman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, said from the Senate floor that, “Protecting women against violence shouldn’t be a partisan issue.” A group of female senators joined her on the floor in a push to renew and expand the law, which fights violence against women, and also pays to help its victims. The timing for the Senate debate could not have been more perfect, as it comes after
The main reason for resistance from Republicans is that a few new provisions in the VAWA add protections for undocumented people (such as illegal immigrants), the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) community, and also those who reside on Indian reservations. These proposed changes have made people, such as anti-immigrant Republican Jeff Sessions, cringe. Session stated that, “there are matters put on that bill that almost seem to invite opposition.”
Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said of both the bill and the timing that “[the Democrats'] plan isn’t to work together to make it easier to create jobs but to look for ways to make it easier to keep their own, then use it for campaign ads in the run-up to the November elections.” McConnell protested Thursday’s debate, reportedly because it was distracting from another issue that was on the agenda for discussion–a small business bill that could potentially create jobs.
Do you think that Republicans’ “war on women” is a reality?
Tags : gop, GOP war on women, mitch mcconnell, Patty Murray, Politics, Republican war on women, senate debates, VAWA, VAWA reauthorization, Violence Against Women Act, Violence Against Women Act renewal, war on women
Posted: March 15, 2012
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Mar 16, 2012
So if its an illegal immigrant woman or a lesbian woman, or an indian woman, that's not so good. But a war on women?
Nah, they love women, as long as they aren't born yet, or stay in the kitchen and only have sex missionary style in their husbands bed when he wants to.
War on women is a myth, its just a war on a change from tradition, the days when women couldn't vote, or "speak out of line".
Those were the good old days, when women were respectful, respectable, honored, and in their place.
(sarcasm for those lost).
Mar 16, 2012
Once again, they take a bill that would pass and add a bunch of other riders on the bill that make it unpassable. Walter Hanagriff III, try reading the story a little slower so you can understand what it actually said. It didn't say they wanted to exclude illegal immigrant women, lesbians or Indian women. The bill included things that protected the groups as a whole……..not a damn thing to do with extra protection for these women.
Mar 16, 2012
Let's put politics and emotions aside, and have an honest conversation. VAWA is a deeply flawed law that rips families apart, violates men’s fundamental rights, squanders resources through a complete lack of accountability, and does not effectively protect families (men, women and children) from domestic violence.
The law should NOT be reauthorized in its current form, but reworked to be gender neutral and to provide accountability, so that it can truly help families.
Some positive changes are outlined in the proposed Partner Violence Reduction Act, which:
– Removes provisions that violate the Constitution and restores civil rights to the accused.
– Gives first priority to real victims and reduces false allegations by constraining definitions and distinguishing between “alleged” victims and “adjudicated” victims.
– Seeks to protect and restore families when the abuse is minor.
– Removes harmful mandatory arrest, predominant aggressor, and no-drop prosecution policies, thus helping to restore due process.
– Allows legal assistance to be provided both to the alleged victim and alleged offender, thus affirming the Constitutional guarantee of “equal protection of the laws.”.
– Requires third-party accreditation of domestic violence training, education, and public awareness programs to assure the accuracy and balance of the information presented.
– Makes the law gender-inclusive and removes discriminatory policies.
– Improves the accountability of domestic violence organizations.
– Curbs immigration fraud.
Mar 19, 2012
If you can't do violence on women, then how the hell can you make that slut get back into the kitchen and make you a sandwich? (sarcasm for the common sense challenged like the GOP senate).
Apr 2, 2012
Just as one Senator put it… "If the bill was the same bill put forward originally, it would still get 100% support!" That would seem to me that it has been change so significantly, that a whole population of people are willing to take it on the chin for opposing it, and therefore we as responsible citizens should look beyond the smear to get a proper picture of what is being said.. Your sarcasm is lost.. and forgotten!
Apr 4, 2012
Gene Corrigan So as long as the violence is perpetrated against a woman that enjoys citizenship, is heterosexual and isn't a Native American residing on a reservation, then those women should be protected. But an illegal immigrant woman, a member of the LGBT community or a Native American living on a reservation is on her own? We should simply turn on a blind eye on violence perpetrated against her? We should refuse to protect her? I would say that the push is to protect only "our own," but that would be inaccurate as both members of the LGBT community and Native American women ARE our own. And frankly, the idea that VAWA should only cover heterosexual, female citizens NOT living in on a reservation is repulsive.
Apr 4, 2012
Natasha Hayes-Harhold Did you read the bill put before the Senate? Were these protections the only thing on this bill? Doubtful, because that is not the way things are done in Washington by either party. I too find that covering only heterosexual female citizens not living on reservations repulsive. I also find the political misrepresentations that are rampant especially during an election years repulsive. I find those who jump on those misrepresentions for their own political purposes dishonest, which renders anything they have to say unreliable.
Apr 5, 2012
Paula Qualls Gurley Why yes I have. Have you? I've also read comments from Republican politicians that don't support it and most have cited many of the aforementioned issues as to why they "cannot" get behind it. While I don't think that VAWA is perfect, I don't believe anything in life is. Of all of the research I've done on the matter, the one thing I keep reading is that those opposing the Act don't like the provisions pertaining to the LGBT community, illegal immigrants and Native Americans. I also find misrepresentations to push political agendas dishonest which is why I tend to do a lot of reading before coming to any conclusions on issues.
Apr 6, 2012
Paula Qualls Gurley So you admit that you havent read the bill, but are asking us if we read it?
How about you point out what we are missing if you agree with the parts we discuss but say we are missing something else?
How about you read the bill then get back to us on what we are missing.
Also the opposition didnt say that if only the bill covers all women that we point out that it would pass, no, they say it has to be the original to pass.
We made our argument, now make a better one instead of telling us to read something you clearly havent.
Apr 23, 2012
Good to see the GOP has their priorities straight… Not!
Jan 4, 2013
The Rwpubs are morons and phony but what do about all the women that are harmed by radical Islam? We seem to love these individuals and the way they treat women and children.