Here a Great Idea for Republicans Trying to Win Back Women’s Vote

Defeat the Violence Against Women Act – That Will Attract Them

The Senate has resurrected a law called the Violence Against Women Act which failed last year.  The vote to consider the legislation passed like 5,000 to 1 (actually 85 to 8).

The measure foundered last year on Republican concern over obscure issues like the bill’s inclusion of additional visas for abused illegal immigrants, its treatment of same-sex couples and its strengthening of American Indian courts. Final Senate passage is expected by the end of the week — with broad, bipartisan support.

So yes, if the vote to consider the measure is 85 to 8 then it is pretty certain to pass the Senate and head for the House.  Wonder what will happen there?

Christopher Gregory/The New York Times

Senator Susan Collins at the Capitol 

in Washington on Monday.

 “This is not and never should be

 a partisan political issue,”

 she said of the anti-violence measure.

House Republican leaders are struggling for a way forward. On Tuesday, Representative Eric Cantor of Virginia, the House majority leader, will meet with Representative Tom Cole, Republican of Oklahoma, to try to compromise on the biggest sticking point, a provision that would allow American Indian women assaulted on reservations by non-Indians to go to tribal courts, which have no jurisdiction over assailants who do not live on Indian land.

Many Republicans see that as a dangerous and unconstitutional expansion of tribal court power, while victims’ advocates say women on reservations have virtually no recourse when raped by non-Indian interlopers.

And of course Conservatives, with a logic that defies logic think the act will actually make things worse for women.

Some Republicans still oppose using money set aside for domestic violence cases to aid victims in same-sex relationships. Last week, the conservative Independent Women’s Forum said the Violence Against Women Act, passed first in 1994, was a waste of money that could actually be intensifying domestic violence.

“Although there is little credible evidence that V.A.W.A. programs are reducing the effects and occurrence of domestic and sexual violence, there is evidence that several of the policies instituted under V.A.W.A. may actually be harming the very victims they were designed to protect,” wrote Christina Villegas, a visiting fellow at the group.

Right, additional protection for women against violence just makes men more violent against women. Can't argue with that logic.  And that’s right, there no reason to protect women in a same sex relationship, Conservatives think they get what they deserve.

But that’s okay, if Republicans succeed in blocking the legislation we are certain they will get what they deserve.