How Republicans Have Gained The Upper Hand In The Fight Over The Violence Against Women Act

[boston bean]

An obscure parliamentary snafu has stymied Democrats’ aggressive efforts to extend Violence Against Women Act protections to same-sex couples, illegal immigrants, and tribal communities, and provided the GOP leverage to keep those provisions out of legislation to reauthorize that law.

It has been weeks since Senate Democrats — and several Republicans — passed VAWA legislation, and left House Republicans in the tough position of arguing that the law’s scope should not be explicitly widened. Last week House Republicans passed a narrower reauthorization bill, which the White House has threatened to veto, giving Dems what they believed to be an upper hand.

Typically, this ordering of events would give Democrats a great deal of leverage over Republicans, and possibly force them to agree to provisions that would alienate GOP voters by benefiting constituencies the base is hostile to.

“The House Republicans passed a bill that takes us backward in terms of protections for women,” House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi declared Thursday.

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/05/vawa-violence-against-women-republicans-blue-slip.php

continue on reading for the reason... it's hard to follow, but should have been something Democrats should have avoided.

[vi5]

1. "should have been something Democrats should have avoided"

Do you realize how many times that phrase could be used to sum up any number of situations over the past 10-15 years?

[iverglas]

2. I'll have a look ;)

but just off the top of my head, I'd say the way they've done it is how they've done most other things. By lying.

It's hard to avoid a whole lot of things when you face lies day after day after day.

[seabeyond]

3. thank you BB. i was wondering what was up with the. little toads that they are.... nt