
Associated Press
We talked last week about an unfortunate attempt at political spin: at least eight House Republicans issued press releases claiming they voted for the Violence Against Women Act, even though they opposed the bipartisan legislation signed into law last week.
Sen. John Cornyn's (R-Texas) rhetorical tactics weren't quite as outrageous, but they were close.
Shortly after Obama signed the VAWA reauthorization, Cornyn released a statement titled, "Cornyn Bill to Eliminate Nationwide Rape Kit Backlog Signed Into Law." He hails the passage of the Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence Reporting (SAFER) Act, which helps to reduce the number of rape kits in the possession of law enforcement authorities but not yet tested. The SAFER Act was rolled into the VAWA bill before it passed the Senate.
"An unacceptable national backlog of untested rape kits has compounded the pain for too many victims of sexual assault over the years. Today, we take a significant step toward reducing that backlog," Cornyn said. "I'm pleased with the wide bipartisan support the SAFER Act received and with the President's signature today, law enforcement can begin working immediately to test outstanding kits and see that justice is served."
Now, it's true that Cornyn supported the SAFER Act. I'll gladly give him credit for doing so and I'm glad the proposal was included in the Violence Against Women Act. But what he neglected to mention while celebrating its success is that if Cornyn's position had prevailed, the entire proposal would have failed -- he supported an amendment to legislation he opposed and voted to kill.
In other words, Cornyn voted against VAWA, then cheered VAWA's success after it passed despite his opposition. The Texas Republican backed a provision within the law, which apparently gave Cornyn some pride of authorship, even though, if he had his way, both the SAFER Act and the Violence Against Women Act would have failed.
I'd like to propose a simple rule: those who reject legislation don't get to send out laudatory press releases when the legislation passes anyway.





Another jack-off that needs to go home sit down, and re-learn CIVICS 101. What a creep.
His Ted Cruz-like primary opponent will jot this down and hammer him...
This guy can spin faster than a nuclear powered top!
is this guy a rapest... Lets see how fast he changes his mind when it happrens to him or one Godfided a loved one...
Today's Republicans telling the truth? You jest . . .
Certain politicians must think the average American is naive to their ways - we all know a lie when we see it. Spinning words does not make it true.
The problem is that there are too many people who believe the lie (despite evidence to the contrary) or don't care when their "guy" lies.
Reasonable Texans see new evidence every day about why we have to work harder to unelect the Cornyns and Cruzes and Perrys and don't forget the idiot Gomert. All hat and no cattle.
They only say they have a hat.
Oops!
Actually it is all B---S--- and no hat or cattle ! Lying , smarmy snake oil salesmen.
for the party of conspiracy theories-- they lay the groundwork for doubt in everything.
WHAT.....????.....You want politicians to start telling THE TRUTH............EGADS...!!!
He is, and always has been, an a$$hole. I remember when he was attorney general of Texas.
Dennis, are you by any chance from the SA area? The name is very familiar.
cronyn is a repoopliCON, a fraud, a liar, and a pimped out anything for money thief. he steals life.
Cornyn is running again in 2014. Remember"BIG BAD JOHN" from the last time. It made me laugh thinking how long he would last in my neck of the woods. Western Canada.
All Republican lies become truths when all ignorant people believe them!!!!
Ah, geeze, you guys just don't understand the love that is in John Cornyn's heart. He was against the bill because he thought it could be better, much better, with the John Cornyn Concealed Carry amendment. That's where all women are mandated to carry a concealed weapon in their handbags.
That's how its done in Texas.
He was actually wanting to join the concealed carry with the forced ultrasound, kill two birds with one device.
How about this: those who reject legislation don't get to have their citizens benefit from that legislation when it does pass?
"I was for it before I was against it before I was against it before I was... wait... reverse that... I was against it before I was against it before I was for it but voted against it before I was ... hold on... I'll get this figured out some way to take credit for it eventually."
"Slower voters keep right" (bumper sticker seen in -- of all places -- Williamson County, Texas)
Where can I get one of those?
..and he is our MODERATE senator! God have mercy on us.