Gage Skidmore/Flickr
Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-Mo.)
It's one thing for congressional Republicans to vote against the Violence Against Women Act. It's another for some GOP lawmakers to try to deceive the public about their votes.
At first glance it seemed as though Republican Rep. Vicky Hartzler of Missouri had broken with the majority of her fellow conservatives in the House of Representatives last week to renew an expanded version of the 1994 Violence Against Women Act, which funds programs to assist survivors of sexual assault and domestic abuse.
A statement from her office proclaimed: "Hartzler votes to protect women from acts of violence."
"Violence against women, in all its forms, is unacceptable," Hartzler said in the statement.
Reading the Hartzler press statements, one would believe she voted for the law. She didn't -- like most Republicans in Congress, Hartzler opposed VAWA when it was brought to the floor for final passage. But she voted for a watered-down version that was brought to the floor in order to be defeated, and Hartzler, aware of the popularity of the law, assumes the public won't be knowledgeable enough to tell the difference.
This way, she can get the credit for pretending to do the popular thing, while actually doing the opposite.
A spokesperson for Hartzler told McClatchy "there wasn't any intention to deceive." Oh no, of course not. Hartzler opposed legislation, then issued press releases to make it seem as if she supported the legislation. Why would anyone think she intended to deceive?
What's worse, Hartzler wasn't the only one playing this cynical game.
A Democratic source emails this afternoon to note that Reps. Tim Griffin (R-Ark.), Tim Walberg (R-Mich.), Keith Rothfus (R-Pa.), Tim Murphy (R-Pa.), Steve King (R-Iowa), Robert Pittenger (R-N.C.), and Rep. Bill Johnson (R-Ohio) all did the exact same thing.
What happened to far-right conservatives having the courage of their convictions? If they opposed the Violence Against Women Act and felt the need to vote against it, then why pretend otherwise? Why try to deceive the public instead of explaining why they opposed the legislation?
Extremism is disconcerting, but by some measures, cowardice is worse.
Leave a Comment:
Then it is up to the Dems and sympathetic organizations to get the information about the lies out to their voters. It means getting it into the local media in each district. That would lead to some interesting town hall meetings.
Sad truth is their voters just don't care. Their districts have been gerrymandered to contain mostly christian wingnuts who fervently believe women who are disobedient to their husbands deserve to be slapped around by their men at will without fear of legal reprisals.
We're working on it. We progressives here in MO are already looking to change things here in MO. I'm from Columbia, home of Mizzou, Stephens College, + Columbia College. We've just been redistricted into Vicky Hartzler's district + many of us are pretty unhappy about it. The vote for House reps in November was around 55% GOP to 44% Dem but 75% of our House delegation is Republican. Our state legislature is currently dominated by the GOP. They've just about had their day, though. The pendulum will be swinging the other way. Promise!
I'm with Liz and so are others in my small town in MO. To be fair Vicky did say later that she voted for the "House" version of the bill and gave a poor excuse for not voting for the bill that was passed. We stumped door to door for Claire and we will do it again and again and again to get people in Washington who will work for ALL of us and not just their "clique". Promise!
The Native American excuse is an absolute lie. Everyone needs and deserves protection under our laws...no excuses. I can remember calling the police on several occasions in the 70's when my neighbors were being abused. I was told that it was a "family matter" and none of my business. The neighbor had sent her 6 year old son over to ask for help. On another occasion a neighbor escaped to my house for sanctuary and her husband stood in his driveway with a shotgun, called me and told me to throw his wife out of my house. Can you believe when I called the police for help they told me that as long as he was on his property they could not do anything. Isn't this the stupidest thing you have ever heard? Unfortunately, those shells in that gun did not respect property lines. Needless to say, when my husband finished with him there were no more incidents like this. These cowards won't stand up to a real man.
This is what it was like, folks. Don't let Republicans send us back.
Ya Ya, the Republicans are such devils and all Democrats are little angels. What a terrible political system we have. Bad, bad Republicans!!!
??? so sarcasm??? I do not think that is what the article says... the GOP are devils and Dems are angels.
In the context of this issue, nobody said Dems are angels. You said that, but no one else did. Not Benen, nor any comments to Benen's post.
However, in the context of this issue, yes... you are right to condemn the hypocrisy therein. This is at the root of the phrase IOKIYAR.
In fact, this is a perfect example of IOKIYAR.
IOKIYAR
Just out of curiosity, rev3, have the Republicans ever done anything to convince you that they're not angels, or has that "everybody does it" got you bamboozled.
No, this article is about her pretending she is for something in a statement that SHE made but actually voted AGAINST it. That is called a fact. Facts are not the same as opinions. Example, when Carl Rove said Romney would still win late on election night, well, that was opinion. The results, well those were facts. I know you still don't get it, but the rest of the nation does, which is why the GOP lost and apparently not learning from it, still pretending and complaining about the very media they try to manipulate.
Yep, the rev3 is making up an argument.
This is being programmed into people that listen to RW sources too much.
I propose they need to add to the oath of office that they cannot lie to constituents. This should be implied because they represent us. They need to be called out when they serve a party agenda which is not necessarily what their constituents want to do.
THAT is the problem. Serving the self or party or donor is not what you swore an oath to do. Swearing to protect, defend and preserve the Constitution, which says government foundation is the people. The basic premise is that the government exists for the collective "people", all the people.
I'd guess that quite a few women voted for this woman. It's not that I can tell what the voters liked about her, but I HAVE to ask: Why did she think the constituents wanted her to vote no on VAWA? I seriously doubt that entered her mind. She serves the party.
Please remove head from ass, Rev, before participating.
But thanks for the daily demonstration that "The only 'good Republicans' are pushing up daisies."
My Congressman LaMalfa said he voted NO on the Senate verion of VAWA as it gutted TVPA, it cost too much and the tribal judge portion is unconstitutional. He voted yes on the HOUSE version.
I am tracking down the truth of the matter but if anyone can give me links to reliable sources for this, I would appreciate it. LaMalfa's office has promised to send me email with info that goes beyond his "form" letter.
I am all for US representatives voting against a bill if in doing so they are proposing legislation they feel will be better, and/or otherwise explaining why it is that they feel the current legislation is unacceptable. That is if the reasoning is something I can follow and that I find valid (someone saying "I didn't like the letter font, for example, I would deem an invalid reason for voting down a bill). Stating that you feel one portion of the bill grossly undercuts Native Americans is a good reason for proposing alternative legislation. With that said it still brings up some questions: was the bill in question going to harm amendments that could have addressed the issue stated by the congressman? If yes then the vote against is justified. If no then the congressman should have proposed amendments for the bill as opposed to voting it down. That or the congressman should have introduced new legislation to address that particular area of concern. In and of itself saying "I voted against this bill because it didn't go far enough" isn't a valid reason for the nay vote since the US Congress is capable of going back and amending or otherwise adding to current laws/policies at any time. There has to be something more substantive to justify the nay vote.
You can find out how everyone voted on the VAWA here: http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=112&session=2&vote=00087
That site has all the information on all the voting being done.
The tribal part of VAWA gives tribal governments and authorities the right to arrest and proceed against non-Indians committing violence against Indian women on tribal lands. Up to now, women-battering/assaulting non-Indians could not be arrested or stopped by tribal authorities because they were not members of the tribe and State authorities did not have the jurisdiction to answer domestic violence calls on tribal lands. It put Indian women in a no-man's land where the perpetrators could continue to abuse them with impunity. This corrects the problem and retains tribal sovereignty at the same time. In fact the clause PROTECTS Indian Women's First Amendement rights as American citizens under the Constitution which, until now, were being consistently violated.
The GOP argument is that no American citizen is subject to the laws of other sovereign entities. This is an argument of convenience. When it comes to Native sovereignty, they argue that all lands within the United States are within the authority of the United States Government.
Too bad their fleshy integuments cover but soulless beings!
Such shenanigans should be left to banshees and leprechauns and are quite untoward for actual elected officials in the world's greatest democracy!
If shame could be felt, it would, but it would take a real Christian, and if any of the politicos you've listed above contends s/he is indeed a Christian, s/he will surely go to hell when the integument withers, dies and becomes dust! -Kevo
This is exactly why they lost the election, under-estimating the American people's ability to think and see for themselves. Their total surprise at losing an election they thought they had won, should have been a wake up call, but they they have gone so far down the rabbit hole they believe the lies they make up. It's pathetic.
I can't imagine a woman voting against this act, much less lying about it afterward. She's obviously never been the victim of violence; it must be wonderful to be living such an idyllic existence.
To have no empathy for suffering humans on earth, but to believe to the point of froth in a jewel-foundationed heaven...
I keep thinking that they are part of a giant cultural studies project on how idiotic can you be and still live.
Actually she believes in "authoritarianism" and has never known someone from her own "class" that has been an abused mate. Empathy would require that she actually be able to understand the plight of others and the GOTP have enough just dealing within there bubble world.
I think you miss the point. The reich wing repukes are for a Violence Against White Women Act. It's those others who they are ok with violence against.
It would appear that someone must have hit her in the head more than a few times.
Ask her how much her family receives in farm subsidies. Then check out how much she's worth (in literal money, not subjective character). She's a tea party favorite! SMH...
Either that or, she subscribes to the dominance that her husband supposedly has over her! If so, she doesn't really represent the voter-her husband does!!Maybe he should run for her seat!
This reminds me of the all the Republicans who cried until the cows came home over the stimulus, but was all too happy to attend the many ribbon cuttings the stimulus created.
I absolutely love your show. For someone who doesn't really understand politics and economics, you make it entertaining and I've really learned a lot. On last nights show you said you read all your email so here's mine to say keep up the good work. You really enlighten me to what's going on in our country and I look forward to seeing you at the University of Arizona when you come in April!
Vicky Hartzler only wants certain women of power to be immunized to violence against women. The rest of you are rabble!
Thank you for this, and thank you, also, for including links to the representatives doing the deceit. The link to the Ohio rep went directly to his web page where he was having a facebook town meeting, and I saw that one of his constituents confronted him on the deceit. I was able, then, to share with his constituent (as a facebook comment) that she'd be happy to know that the deceit is being made public. And, of course, the real message is to the Congressman. Ha!
Rep. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee (R) who often shows up on MSNBC also voted against this "version' because she said it included "other groups"... I wonder what groups she was talking about...she did not specify....
I bet I can guess.
I believe it was the Native Americans from what little has been said. That was the uproar a couple weeks ago.
The "other groups" were Native American women and lesbians. She didn't want them to have the same protections as the privileged have.
Gays, Lesbians, Transgendered and Indians... you know the things bigots hate.
Minorities of every ilk. Every race but white, every sexual orientation but straight and every religion but Christian! Other than that, she probably wouldn't go against her husband either-so, she really didn't have a choice but to vote no! For people that scream LIBERTY, Country and the Constitution, they haven't a clue about the meaning much less their obligation to protect everyone equally! Living in TN without being a Christian or white is difficult at best!
It is difficult even if you are white and a Christian. Their version of Christianity makes me want to puke. I believe in God, but not their version. Religion is the greatest threat to our country. When people are prone to brainwashing in their church, they can be easily controlled otherwise. I have lived in the Texas Bible Belt for 7 years. These people spew hatred 6 days a week, go to church on Sunday, pick up their Christianity, sing and praise the Lord for an hour, exit the church leaving their Christianity safely tucked away in the pew so they can use it for an hour the next Sunday. You couldn't penetrate their closed minds with a meat cleavr.
To thepatsy: Amen to that, from a former Texas Bible Belt resident.
I wonder what would happen if the votes in Congress were in private instead of put up on the big board for all the world to see. They could then vote their conscience instead of what Grover or Dennis Hastert says. Whomever authors the bill would need to get out and sell his/her ideas to get it passed.
Then again getting something like this passed in this day and time would be next to impossible.
I see your point but I think constituents have a right to know how their representatives are voting. They have to be held accountable.
Don't forget Michele Bachmann.
Bachman can't read, so she doesn't know what she votes for... just which ever one her handlers tell her to. She's like Palin, only uglier, and not as intelligent...
This is news??
GOTP SOP
She's a good Christian Right liar. She can sort it out on Judgment Day with St. Peter. He's no fool even though she thinks voters are.
She should be accountable NOW.
Maybe if she got raped she would change her vote?
Vicky Hartzler is an embarrassment to all the women - all Domestic Violence victims - of Missouri. Another Christian Right Liar.
why would a woman vote against this??? maybe she is afraid her husband will beat her up?
She voted against the inclusion of Indian women and lesbians... because she is a bigot. End of story.
The only things Repubs care about are religion, money and guns...and not necessarily in that order.
My congressman, Mick Mulvaney, just quietly voted against it and didn't issue any press release about it. Not sure if that is better or worse.
What do you expect from these slimy right wing bastards? They do everything they can to subvert womens rights to their own bodies, subvert science, subvert homosexual equality... BUT they are trying to rebrand themselves for the next election cycle. Expect many more of these types of votes, many more asinine, half assed bills that will never pass, but they can point to as "proof" that they are with the immigrants, the women, the gays... These are the most dishonest politicians in History, and that is saying alot from the party of Nixon.
Politicians lie, never more than this generation. But this generation has Project Vote Smart. I dislike a website starting a video without clicking on it first, but other than that this is a great group and a great source of unbiased info.
http://votesmart.org
Shame on them, they owe us the truth.
Liar, liar, pants on fire... Typical GOP modus operandi!!! Sharing on The Platzner Post Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ThePlatznerPost, and Twitter https://twitter.com/ThePlatznerPost.
I'm shocked. SHOCKED! A member of The Party caught lying? Why, that's unprecedented! Well okay, I am not in the least bit surprised that Party Member Hartzler lied: I would be shocked if she did not.