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“A dream you dream alone is only a dream; a dream you dream together is reality.” — Yoko Ono
Apr
24
Why We Need to Stop the Democratic Infighting
Filed Under Democrats, Republicans, assholes, class and economics, discrimination, legislation, misogyny, parenthood, patriarchy, politics, pregnancy, sexism, work | Posted by Cara |
Because John McCain is a misogynist nutbag. As are his fellow Republicans.
Yesterday, Republican Senators successfully filibustered — that’s right, not just voted against but fucking filibustered — a bill that would provide those who have been the victims of discriminatory pay with more legal recourse. In other words, they filibustered a civil rights bill. Because Republicans have so learned the error of their prejudiced ways.
Republicans said the proposal to ease the time constraints would prompt more lawsuits and lead to litigation over outdated cases. “This debate today is not about allowing, favoring or supporting discrimination,” said Senator Johnny Isakson, Republican of Georgia.
[. . .]
Mr. McCain, who was campaigning in Louisiana, skipped the vote but told reporters he would have opposed the bill since it could contribute to frivolous lawsuits harmful to businesses.
Senator Orrin G. Hatch, Republican of Utah, accused Democrats of unfairly trying to paint opponents of the bill as unsympathetic to victims of salary discrimination. “The only ones who will see an increase in pay are some of the trial lawyers who bring the cases,” he said.
Um, what exactly, Senator Hatch, is being unfairly represented? Victims of unfair pay discrimination need a recourse, and you are actively denying it to them. You’re openly protecting companies who have a history of discrimination. And you are allowing, favoring or supporting discrimination, Senator Isakson, by refusing to hold those corporations who have engaged in it responsible for their actions. This is pretty fucking simple.
John McCain didn’t show up to vote — but did support the “it would provoke lawsuits” argument (um, assholes, that’s the point), and had this to say:
“They need the education and training, particularly since more and more women are heads of their households, as much or more than anybody else,” McCain said. “And it’s hard for them to leave their families when they don’t have somebody to take care of them.
“It’s a vicious cycle that’s affecting women, particularly in a part of the country like this, where mining is the mainstay; traditionally, women have not gone into that line of work, to say the least,” he said.
Oh, I see: so Senator McCain, you’re going to start supporting flexible work schedules and reduced working hours for both parents? You’re going to promote men taking a more active role in child-rearing and support social services that help women with child care? You’re also going to support those who are genuinely stuck in low paying jobs because a lack of educational opportunity with resources, and work to improve school systems and economic equality?
Um . . . no. McCain supports the “free market” — the very same free market that allows employers to discriminate against women, racial minorities, the disabled and LGBTQ individuals. He’s just using an opportunity to remind everyone that women belong back in the kitchen with a child on each hip. He also needed to point out that women are only paid less is because we just can’t stop popping out the kiddies, are uneducated and don’t do equal work — even though the Ledbetter case shows that this argument is a bunch of shit.
Below the jump, what I think of McCain and the Senate Republicans (all but six of whom voted to block the measure).
[p.s. Sorry for the short posts as of late; I'm way over my head with work on various projects right now. And the more overwhelmed I get, the less productive I also get. Anyway, I'm working on it and more regular posting should resume soon.]
UPDATE: This is why I am on the mailing list for Moms Rising. Because they are awesome.
You know how a certain Republican Senator running for the presidency thinks that women are all unqualified and uneducated, and that’s why they don’t get equal pay in the workplace? Moms Rising asks women to send John McCain their resumes. Word.
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“Men, their rights, and nothing more; women, their rights, and nothing less.” — Susan B. Anthony
Not surprised that Orrin would say that. The man also referred to the polygamists in Hildale/Colorado City as fine people. (Which some may be, but Warren Jeffs and the other leaders manifestly ARE NOT.) Hatch couldn’t see privilege or discrimination if it bit him on the ass.
…
I’m not American. I haven’t been following.
The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act failed?
HOW? HOW? HOW????
Yeah, it is hard to understand. Let me see, how can I explain?
Republicans . . . are. ASSHOLES.
Yup, that’s it.
Yeah I am on the Mom’s Rising list as well and saw this just a bit ago. I am incensed – this hits so close to home as I am single mother about to be laid off and looking like crazy for work – it is really fucking bleak out there, even when you have a degree. I actually applied for a job dressing up as Chuck E Cheese yesterday.
I digress on my own bullshit….but yes, that is why it did not pass – the wingnuts think that we would all be better off staying home with the kiddies and they will use any tactic they can to drive that point home to us, “Don’t think that you are going to get anywhere close to the men, ladies – you might as well lay down and quit now.”
Diane Rehm also did a great show on this topic this morning on NPR
http://www.wamu.org/programs/dr/
The person that was arguing against it was actually a woman which always just blows me away when there are actually women out there fighting against women….*sigh*
Wow, women trying to get the money they deserve is a frivolous lawsuit? There isn’t even a religious “reason” to vote against this…
I agree, Cara. Infighting gets us nowhere fast.
As for the bullshit argument Sen. McCain and the GOP pulled, we now fnally have some more legit ammo to use against not only the Arizona Senator in his presidential campaign, but also to all of those who are up for re-election.
I took issue with McCain’s remark that more training and education would fix this and get women higher-paying jobs.
Um…Senator McCain, you do realise we are talking about Equal and Fair pay for the same jobs that our male counterparts perform. IE. WE ARE ALREADY TRAINED AND QUALIFIED FOR OUR JOB BUT OUR MALE COWORKERS MAKE MORE.
Lilly Ledbetter didn’t need more training. She needed more pay.
More training just means we’d be even more qualified for the money we won’t be getting.
This is the time to call your senators.
Here you can see the list of senators who voted yea (to bring the Fair Pay Act to the floor for a vote) or nay. All of the Democrats and six Republicans voted yea:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?r110:9:./temp/~r1102eu8ky::
If your senator is one of the Republicans who voted nay, call them and give them an earful. Tell them you do NOT support the position they took Wednesday night, and you want HR 2831 to get a fair vote on the senate floor. Furthermore, as a registered voter of state XX, you urge them to vote YES on HR 2831 when it does get a chance to be voted on.
Err..sorry, I guess that link isn’t working because it was done through the Congress search engine.
Here’s how to access the info:
-Go to the US Senate website
-On the left menu, click on “Congressional Record”
-In the middle of the page, click on “110th Congress (2007-2008″
-on the page it redirects you to, there will be a list of dates, click on the link “Senate” for April 23rd
-Click the link for 9. ” LILLY LEDBETTER FAIR PAY ACT OF 2007–MOTION TO PROCEED–Continued”
-Scroll down and check out the vote record
Tell everyone you know to check the vote record and call their senators!
Oh jeez, sorry for the comment spam.
I left something out:
-After you go to the US Senate homepage, click on “Legislation and Records” up on the red menu at the top. Then you’ll be redirected to a page with a menu on the left that has the link to “Congressional Record”
I really wish they had taught us how to navigate the federal and legislative websites in high school government. There’s nothing better than being able to look up the actual text of state and federal bills, the voting records, and the contact information for your representatives. Obtaining legislative info must have been such a pain in the butt before the internet!
Thanks Jessica.
And here I thought this would be in regard to his comments toward his wife, Cindy.
http://www.mydd.com/story/2008/4/7/19555/14030
FTA: In retort to a comment regarding his thinning hair, he reffered to his wife as a trollop and a cunt.
[...] news! Yesterday, the Senate passed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. The new Democratic-led U.S. Senate flexed its expanded muscle on Thursday by overwhelmingly [...]