Republicans for Rape
20 10 2009| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon – Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
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If you have not heard of the horrible story of Jamie Leigh Jones, a 19-year old woman working for KBR in Iraq, you won’t believe it. She was brutally raped by coworkers, evidence was destroyed by her employer, and she was locked in a shipping container to keep her from coming forward until a guard took pity and let her use a cell phone to call the embassy.
No rapes were ever heard of at KBR because they use mandatory arbitration for rapes and assault, which include a non-disclosure agreements. Rapists are never brought to justice at this federal contractor because the corporation actively covers up rape, “protects their employees and the work environment,” and makes evidence disappear to keep a good image.
Senator Al Franken (D) got an amendment to a defense bill passed that would keep the government from signing contracts with corporations that keep employees from taking rape and sexual assault cases to court. An employee who was raped at KBR could actually be sued for talking about it.
To compound the horrible crime, and the outrageous policies of this defense contractor (and others), this bill did NOT have unanimous support. It passed 68-30. 68 to THIRTY.
30 Republicans voted against an anti-rape amendment for federal military & civilian contractors. Any government contractor who uses mandatory arbitration for rape and sexual assaults will not receive any more federal funding. In other words, any contractor who covers up rape and sexual assault by using a behind-the-doors non-disclosure agreement with the victim will not receive any more of your tax dollars.
A satirical website called “Republicans for Rape” is encouraging people to call the thirty Republicans who voted against Franken’s amendment, and tell them what they think about that. There is also a petition you can sign to voice your agreement that the Republican Party is a “pro-rape organization.” The site is pretty hard-hitting and well done.
Who are the thirty Republicans who used their vote, representing their constituents to vote against Jamie Leigh Jones?
Lamar Alexander (R-TN)
John Barrasso (R-WY)
Kit Bond (R-MO)
Sam Brownback (R-KS)
Jim Bunning (R-KY)
Richard Burr (R-NC)
Saxby Chambliss (R-GA)
Tom Coburn (R-OK)
Thad Cochran (R-MS)
John Cornyn (R-TX)
Bob Corker (R-TN)
Mike Crapo (R-ID)
Jim DeMint (R-SC)
John Ensign (R-NV)
Mike Enzi (R-WY)
Lindsey Graham (R-SC)
Judd Gregg (R-NH)
Jim Inhofe (R-OK)
Johnny Isakson (R-GA)
Mike Johanns (R-NE)
Jon Kyl (R-AZ)
John McCain (R-AZ)
Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
James Risch (R-ID)
Pat Roberts (R-KS)
Jeff Sessions (R-AL)
Richard Shelby (R-AL)
John Thune (R-SD)
David Vitter (R-LA)
Roger Wicker (R-MS)
When you hover over the pictures on the website, their phone numbers will pop up. These men are not fit to hold office in the United States of America, and need to be told so.
My Democratic senator Mark Begich voted for the amendment. And I am very pleased to say that my Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski, in addition to all the women senators in that party voted for Franken’s amendment as well.
October 20th, 2009 at 8:15 PM
Wow. No surprise. Cavemen supporting cave man ways.
October 20th, 2009 at 8:39 PM
Why has this not been on all the news station? I would not have known about it, had I not read it here.
I didn’t see any Senator from Iowa on the list of 30. But will check again to make sure.
October 20th, 2009 at 10:39 PM
lol, actually Trixie don’t apologize, it so applies…….republi cants, sizes them up perfectly. All bs hot air, get nothing accomplished, going no where man. Frustrated old men. Hmmm, perhaps their pharmaceutical lobby buddies can help with some little blue pills. Oh yeah, they already are, so it’s artificial, just like the Repub party (sorry to those who use the blue pill). But maybe, just maybe they need to think with the other brain a little more. eh? me thinks so.
October 20th, 2009 at 10:57 PM
Sadly, the Dirty Thirty are such [hi, Snoskred] that it is unlikely that any amount of condemnation will have any effect on them. At least, the list gives us a pretty good look at the worst of the worst. I mean, just look at the names. If you wanted a list of the Usual Suspects, you wouldn’t have to go far afield.
The only ones that even remotely surprise me are Graham and McCain (and I certainly hope you all in AZ will bear this vote in mind — this was a vote that was certainly going to pass, and Johnny Mac still voted NAY, which I presume means he really believes in his vote).
This isn’t just politics — these guys are disgusting.
October 21st, 2009 at 6:12 AM
Both of my loser rethug Senator’s are on the nay list. I don’t know why, but I felt a little tinge of shock. It just goes to show you what the rethugs work for. And it’s NOT their Constituents.
Sick and pathetic.
October 21st, 2009 at 9:19 AM
ANd in a related matter: don’t this beat all?
Florida Woman’s Rape Called A “Pre-Existing Condition” By Insurance Companies
A Florida woman, who is a victim of sexual abuse, claims that rape was called a “pre-existing condition” by several health insurance companies, which would have disqualified her for care.
In 2002, Chris Turner, a health insurance agent from Tampa, Florida, was drugged and raped during a business trip. When she conferred with a doctor after her assault, Turner was prescribed preventative anti-HIV drugs, and she later entered counseling to help deal with the residual psychological effects of her rape.
A few months later, when Turner was forced to buy new insurance on the individual market, she suspected, based on her knowledge of the approval process, that she may no longer qualify for coverage. She called a series of insurance underwriters and asked them about a hypothetical client who had been raped, and every insurer she called had the same response: “Nope, we won’t take her.” Turner’s treatment for her rape, it turns out, constituted a pre-existing condition that the companies said would disqualify her from coverage.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/21/insurance-companies-rape-_n_328708.html
October 21st, 2009 at 9:44 AM
TODAY
(WASHINGTON D.C.) – A federal appeals court has ruled a woman who says she was gang-raped by co-workers of the war contractor KBR can pursue her case in open court.
October 21st, 2009 at 11:02 AM
Thirty Against Women | Thirty Men Against Women – not satire. Contains Al Franken’s address to the Senate and further forums.
October 21st, 2009 at 11:03 AM
sorry try again
October 21st, 2009 at 11:05 AM
grrr ..
http://ThirtyAgainstWomen|ThirtyMenAgainstWomen
http://30against.org/
October 21st, 2009 at 3:40 PM
I wonder, how many of these men have daughters? I wonder, how many of these men have daughters that have survived raoe &/or other kinds of sexual assault? I have been working with sexual assault survivors for over 20 yrs. The people I have had the privilege to work with are among the most courageous & inspirational people I have met. A lot of survivors, after their initial recovery, volunteer their time to helping other victms. using cohersive acts to prevent vicyims from filing the ocurrence of a sexual crime, is re-victimizing the victim & covertly blames her for what happened. The military is one of the biggest perpetrators of this practice. I hope the 30 republicans who voted against Frankelin’s bill never experience the nightmare of having a child of theirs raped. It takes a life time to recover from this experience, longer if you helped to protect the perpetrator(s) from justice.
October 21st, 2009 at 5:33 PM
Rachel just covered this very story tonight and what a brave, strong young woman she (Jamie Leigh) is. She was very gracious in saying that she couldn’t understand why the senators voted against Franken’s bill, but was glad at least it was being discussed and getting media coverage.
Those 30 senators should be ashamed. Like others here I wonder how they would feel if she were their daughter, sister, wife or mother.
Kudos for Rachel for bringing this to her show.
October 21st, 2009 at 7:23 PM
Judd Gregg is toast. No way will the people of New Hampshire allow him to continue representing them.
As for the woman not being allowed to sue due to a contract… I believe there may be one or more SCOTUS decisions on whether a person can be forced to contract away their Constitutional rights. If gang rape isn’t a violation of the most basic tenet of the Constitution, then all our laws are just plain meaningless.
Those 30 stupid boostards owe the entire country an apology.
October 21st, 2009 at 7:40 PM
@ saurkaraut:
Wow…I couldn’t have said it better. Those “boostards” not only owe the entire country an apology, they owe their wives/sisters/daughters/nieces/grandmas/aunts/ and every woman on the planet…….an apology.
October 21st, 2009 at 8:23 PM
I can’t talk about rape anymore without losing it. Republicans are going backwards for women and basic human rights. I am so angry and sad.
I believed it would get better through time, it is worse. Rape progressed from hush, hush, married, slut, you’ll never prove it, provocation, inebriated, so many more excuses into this? I feel physically ill.
Jamie deserves millions of supporters and I truly am I one. I urge anyone who cares to also support local groups in their communities.
Thank – you AKM and to Rachel Maddow for reporting tonight. To Jamie Leigh Jones, I am so proud of you. You’re gonna make it through this and come out bright and shining. It’s okay baby.