Dems Use Domestic Violence as a pawn…. Until you sit with a victim DO NOT DICTATE YOUR IGNORANCE!

The New York Times 03/15/12 Jonathan Weisman

“Women Figure Anew in Senate’s Latest Battle”

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/15/us/politics/violence-against-women-act-divides-senate.html?pagewanted=all

With emotions still raw from the fight over President Obama’s contraception mandate, Senate Democrats are beginning a push to renew the Violence Against Women Act, the once broadly bipartisan 1994 legislation that now faces fierce opposition from conservatives.

The fight over the law, which would expand financing for and broaden the reach of domestic violence programs, will be joined Thursday when Senate Democratic women plan to march to the Senate floor to demand quick action on its extension. Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the majority leader, has suggested he will push for a vote by the end of March.

Democrats, confident they have the political upper hand with women, insist that Republican opposition falls into a larger picture of insensitivity toward women that has progressed from abortion fights to contraception to preventive health care coverage — and now to domestic violence.

“I am furious,” said Senator Maria Cantwell, Democrat of Washington. “We’re mad, and we’re tired of it.”

The legislation would continue existing grant programs to local law enforcement and battered women shelters, but would expand efforts to reach Indian tribes and rural areas. It would increase the availability of free legal assistance to victims of domestic violence, extend the definition of violence against women to include stalking, and provide training for civil and criminal court personnel to deal with families with a history of violence. It would also allow more battered illegal immigrants to claim temporary visas, and would include same-sex couples in programs for domestic violence.

As suggested by Mr. Sessions, Republicans detect a whiff of politics in the Democrats’ timing. The party just went through a bruising fight over efforts to replace the Obama administration’s contraception-coverage mandate with legislation allowing some employers to opt out of coverage for medical procedures they object to on religious or moral grounds.

Common Sense Review

As a volunteer at the Domestic Assault Response Team here in Grand Rapids MI, this irritates me. Domestic Violence is not a new crime yet suddenly this year (coincidently an election year) the issue needs to be addressed.

I called Sen. Cantwell’s office and told the aid how until Sen Cantwell goes on a call of a woman having her face smashed in to the point she needs plastic surgery or a women hit by a car driven by her drunk boyfriend after a fight, do not use this issue as a platform that the govt cares.. That crap doesn’t fly!

The Dems want the programs to reach the Indian reservations and rural areas. Many of these areas are being serviced by programs funded by private grant or funding directed by the tribe…
So once again, the Dems want ignorance to guide the elections…