The Senate passed the Violence Against Women Act, with no help from these 22 assholes:
And if you want to know just how far some men will go to protect their right to abuse women, listen to FreedomWorks keen about how VAWA is unfair to men:
FreedomWorks also worried that the legislation would be unfair to men.
“The newest version of the VAWA, S.47, contains very vague and broad definitions of domestic violence,” the organization wrote. “A man that raises his voice at his partner, calls her an offensive name, stalks her, causes her any emotional distress, or simply just annoys her can potentially be prosecuted under the VAWA. Calling your spouse a mean name is not advised or polite, but it isn’t the same thing as violence towards her.”
Yeah… except that’s total horseshit:
In response, the National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence Against Women (NTF) — a coalition of more than 250 national, tribal and local advocacy organizations — called Heritage’s claims “egregious” and accused it of “misrepresent[ing] the truth.”
NTF documented evidence of VAWA’s success and its constitutionality, and called Heritage Action’s claim of an excessively broad definition for domestic violence “a complete fabrication.” It said: “There is no such change to the definition of ‘domestic violence’ proposed in S.47. The current definition of domestic violence is limited ‘to felony or misdemeanor crimes of violence.’”
Keep it up, assholes.
[via Think Progress]
[cross-posted at ABLC]
Kristin
Wait, stalking is ok?
Robin G.
Please proceed, Republicans.
NonyNony
Did this asshole just say that it’s a fucking problem that abusive assholes can be prosecuted for stalking their victims?
Un-freaking-believable.
If you are stalking your “partner” you’re an asshole. Also you don’t have a “partner” in any meaningful sense of the word.
Litlebritdifrnt
@Kristin:
That’s what I was going to say! WTF!
Ben Franklin
They prefer a Golden Age when females had no property rights and could not vote.
The fear of an Amazonian/Maternalistic world haunts them.
PeakVT
Who knew conservatives were cool with stalking? I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised by that.
Ben Franklin
OT;
Dorner reportedly still in Big Bear……..2 deputies shot.
http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2013/02/12/authorities-responding-to-big-bear-home-on-report-of-hostage-situation-unknown-if-connected-to-dorner/
Anna in PDX
Although it is named the “Violence against women act” because most domestic violence is against women, it actually protects against domestic violence towards men as well. Which is not only not unheard of but is getting more common. Claiming it is damaging to *men* is just ludicrous. If they were honest they would say that they feel that it is damaging to abusers and those are the only people they want to protect.
MikeJ
@NonyNony:
They believe “partner” means “the girl across the alley who doesn’t draw her curtains”.
ranchandsyrup
Rubio’s salsa dance with the teatards continues…….he’s gonna twist himself into knots like some sort of baked dough with salt on it.
Mike in NC
@Kristin:
Well, IOKIYAR, we must assume.
This list includes Rubio, Coburn, Paul, Turtleface, and Lady Lindsay. Big surprise.
Cacti
@Ben Franklin:
Dorner has gathered quite a fan club on DU(mb).
I guess dislike for the LAPD excuses murder.
MomSense
@Kristin:
Perhaps they think it has something to do with corn production?!
More likely they are just big time a$$holes.
Zifnab25
@ranchandsyrup: This. I’m a bit shocked. Thought the man had Presidential ambitions. You’re not going to win swing states with this kind of voting record.
Cacti
Both of my GOPer Senators voted yea.
bemused
These senators must believe stalking or any violence towards women could never happen to their daughters, wives, any family or friends. Pretty cold to dismiss that possibility for political reasons.
This vote plus Cruz and Inhofe being asshole wingnuts in the Hagel hearing in one day has been jaw dropping. Ugly.
Commenting at Balloon Juice since 1937
There is no GOP war against women.
There is no GOP war against women.
There is no GOP war against women.
There is no GOP war against women.
.
.
.
Kristin
@Litlebritdifrnt: It’s almost as if they are totally clueless about everything. Are they unaware of stalking laws? It’s insane.
Helen Bedd
Here’s the list, broken down by region
West:
Jim Risch (Id)
Orrin Hatch (Ut)
Mike Lee (Ut)
John Barrasso (Wy)
Mike Enzi (Wy)
Plains:
Chuck Grassley (Ia)
Pat Roberts (Ks)
Roy Blunt (Mo)
Mike Johanns (Ne)
Midwest:
Ron Johnson (Wi)
South:
John Boozman (Ar)
Jeff Sessions (Al)
Marco Rubio (Fl)
Mitch McConnell (Ky)
Rand Paul (Ky)
Lindsey Graham (SC)
Tim Scott (Sc)
Tom Coburn (Ok)
James Inhofe (Ok)
John Cornyn (Tx)
Ted Cruz (Tx)
One blue state vote, two swing state votes [including “moderate” Rubio], 19 red state votes.
No “no” votes from New England, The Northeast, The Mid-Altantic or the West Coast….and one lonely vote from the upper Midwest.
All the female Senators voted yes.
Kristin
@MomSense: I laughed at the corn joke, but I think you’re right. They’re just assholes.
Ella in New Mexico
We in the anti-Domestic Violence movement fought these same, stupid ideas in the original push for the VAWA. I can’t believe these morons think no one has a memory in this country.
ranchandsyrup
@Zifnab25: I’m surprised as well. Then I remember that this ain’t the GOP of old and Rubio prolly has people telling him that he can thread that needle ’cause he’s a brah person.
Anna in PDX
@Helen Bedd: Thanks for the list. I want to know who is the guy on the lower left – he looks like a cartoon by Matt Wuerker.
Bighorn Ordovican Dolomite
@Kristin:
Yeah that pretty much jumps out doesn’t it? Words fail. I’d like to make some bitter joke about this, but the vileness of this just pretty much precludes it.
GregB
This looks like it should be called The Shitheel Identification Act.
muddy
@Anna in PDX: I thought it was a caricature at first.
Hungry Joe
From a Kos post: “House Majority Leader Eric Cantor is allegedly on the case, trying to get the Violence Against Women [Act] reauthorized.”
“Eric Cantor is allegedly on the case”! That line just kills me, and probably will for the rest of day.
Ben Franklin
@GregB:
SHIA…i like it.
mir13
@Cacti: Then they should be BIG fans of the LAPD and other area Law Enforcement agencies, amirite?
John Revolta
That would be Roy Blunt of Missouri, and a bigger asshole you won’t find anywhere.
Patricia Kayden
I’m shocked that the Senate passed it. Great. Wonder what Boehner is going to do now. I can’t see T’Baggers passing it.
Matthew Reid Krell
A thought: if your Gooper Senator voted the right way, call and tell the staffer you appreciated their vote on VAWA.
Gives you more credibility the next time Tim F. whips us to call Senators about something we want them to do, AND helps establish your reputation with the staff as someone who’s not just a crank.
You may disagree, but I will call both my Republican Senators and thank them for their VAWA vote. Regardless of whether they were needed, doing the right thing ought to trigger an attaboy.
Comrade Dread
@NonyNony:
Sure you do. She just doesn’t know it… yet. But she will… she will…
/creepy Freedomworks guy schtick
Tonybrown74
@Kristin:
I was just about to say the same thing.
How screwed up is he to defend stalking?
Full Metal Wingnut
There is an accidental partial truth there. The definition of domestic violence is difficult to pin down. I work with a woman who is involved with violence against women services in Central America and they don’t call it domestic violence. If you look at gender violence internationally, nomenclature is a problem.
Full Metal Wingnut
Shorter: No fair! I like my male privilege!
kc
I see my new Senator, Tim Scott, is already covering himself in glory.
Ben Franklin
@Cacti:
It seems Dorner invaded a home, tied up two occupants, then stole their car/truck.
It’s a good thing they weren’t armed. This sort of home invasion never happens.
Higgs Boson's Mate
The “Happy Party.” The problem is with what makes them happy.
UpisDown
Holy smoke … for once both my senators, Flake and McCain, are on the right side of things. Is something freezing over somewhere?
Gus
@Ben Franklin: Jesus, if you want to kill your appetite read the comments at that link. It’s like a Palin rally/Klan meeting all mixed together.
Mustang Bobby
…and they think all they have to do to get women to vote for them is “change the tone.”
Yeah, that’ll work.
Elizabelle
Ah, the diversity in this group.
Tim Scott gives them credibility.
Your modern GOP.
Full Metal Wingnut
@Ben Franklin: I’m not familiar with your history so I don’t know how you meant the post. But I for one am not against weapons for home defense. I think that if someone tries to tie you up in your own home you have the right to shoot them. Granted, confronting a man like that is probably dangerous, but if that’s a risk you’re willing to take I don’t think you should be stopped. I’m in favor of stricter regulations and banning handguns and concealed carry. But I was in South Florida during Hurricane Andrew. That was a shitshow. My old man had to use his shotgun to get people out of our house. That left an impression.
Aji
@Matthew Reid Krell: You should. Thank you for doing that. This is one of those instances where EVERYBODY who votes on the right side of something deserves a thank-you.
/personal hobbyhorse. [I’ve worked on these issues for years, particularly regarding NDN women, and the outrageous attitudes and behavior by the Republicans obstructing the VAWA reauth has really gotten to me.]
Cacti
@Ben Franklin:
Not sure where you’re going with this one.
Is it that the victims should have been armed, because when both sides are armed, the good guy always wins?
Elizabelle
Here’s a NYTimes summary of the vote.
Republicans voting for:
David Vitter of Louisiana (!), both senators from Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee and Arizona (President McCain and Jeff Flake).
Richard Shelby of Alabama. Dan Coats of Indiana.
Some surprises there.
Actually, South Carolina and Kentucky are the only Southern states where both senators voted against VAWA. We know they’re considered wingnut central, and McConnell and Graham fear being picked off by teahadists in the 2014 primaries.
Utah, Wyoming, Texas, Oklahoma: 2 male GOP votes each against.
Not a single Republican female senator voted against.
I see some progress in this vote.
Ben Franklin
@Cacti:
I live a short distance from Big Bear and when this story first broke I stated that I am keeping the doors locked, weapons ready. Several seemed to believe it was paranoid as such situations rarely happen.
Phoenician in a time of Romans
Ironically, the vast majority of those 22 have faces that look just MADE for punching…
Ben Franklin
@Full Metal Wingnut:
too lazy to write it twice@Ben Franklin:
Elizabelle
@Anna in PDX:
Not a handsome man.
Roy Blunt would scare you, if you opened your shades and he was standing outside. (Stalking you, even.)
And he does look like a pixie or some spokescartoon, like Snarky Kilowatt or whatever.
Scotius
@Phoenician in a time of Romans: As soon as I saw that photo of Lindsey Graham the word Backpfeifengesicht popped into my head.
johnny aquitard
@Ben Franklin: Well good thing you were all locked and loaded. No doubt that kept Dorner well away.
kay
Really surprised they included stalking.
I think there’s broad recognition that stalking is an intimidation tactic that intrudes on the right of others to be left alone, even if it doesn’t end in violence, which of course it often does.
johnny aquitard
@Full Metal Wingnut:
There are risks you take for yourself alone, and then there are risks that you think you’re taking for yourself, but by doing so you are exposing others to those risks.
I don’t know his situation either, but if there are others in the house, it’s more than just a gunfight involving just him and Dorner. He confronts this guy with a gun and a prudent person can assume there will be a gunfight.
Does he assume 1) he’ll never lose and 2) neither of them will ever miss.
If neither of them miss, it kinda puts #1 in doubt, don’t it? And if either of them misses, it puts everyone else in the house at risk.
But maybe he’s already thought of that.
johnny aquitard
@kay:
Well, these are the guys who make a distinction between “rape” and “legitimate rape”.
Tomolitics
@Helen Bedd:
You missed Thune (R-Bobo Pinup).
kay
@johnny aquitard:
Right. Someone may want to sit them down and give them the “stalking talk” sometime after “the rape talk”.
I live in a conservative county and stalking is taken quite seriously. That’s a result of hard lessons learned when it wasn’t taken seriously.
Baud
Tell me there was a follow-up press release that said, “Oops, I’ve said too much.”
Full Metal Wingnut
@johnny aquitard: I completely agree. But *especially* if you live in a secluded area, you should have the option.
Full Metal Wingnut
@Cacti: You’re coming awfully close to a straw man there. I would never argue that the good guy always wins, just that you should have the option to defend yourself at home (with strict limits in the weapons and grades of ammunition you can use of course). I’m for gun control, but I’m not for this sort of R vs. D blindly take your team’s side. I don’t think people should use guns outside of their home unless they’re hunting. But if Ben Franklin wants to use a gun to defend himself against Dorner, I think he should be able to. Even if there’s a strong risk Dorner is better than him at shooting, and hurts or kills him, it should be up to Ben Franklin to decide to take that risk for himself. Protect people from other people, sure, but only protect people from themselves in limited circumstances.
Helen Bedd
@Tomolitics:
whoops! sure did…
John Thune (SD)
thanks
kay
@johnny aquitard:
Stalkers are really persistent bullies. A subset of a larger category, IMO. The relentless nature is what drives the target nuts. The every-fucking- DAY-ness of it.
In any event. I think the 22 will probably have to defend this notion that it’s a minor annoyance. Not mainstream or supported by reality.
Nerull
I’m sure that if the couple had been fumbling for weapons when the well armed trained killer entered their house everything would have turned out much better.
Mike in NC
Looking at this assemblage of maggots, no doubt most of them have raped or at least roughed up some woman at some time in their lives, but no doubt the bitch had it coming, right?
Citizen_X
@Nerull:
Some more pertinent detail.
gbear
The Washington Post story started out with “The Senate has agreed to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act, showing bipartisan support…”
I kind of stopped bothering to read after that. The comments are putrid.
Ted
Caption of pic:
Ladies, these are the men that feel they should be allowed to stalk you…
Winter
@NonyNony: Yes, yes he did…and clearly that should be allowed…
These losers still get elected by women voters.