30 Republicans voted against Senator Al Franken's amendment that would stop the Department of Defense from contracting with companies that require employees to resolve workplace complaints through private arbitration rather than the courts. This includes complaints of sexual assault.
Franken's amendment will be used during the coming campaign year.
Women from coast to coast will be asking their Replublican Congress
Critter, "What the Hell were you thinking of?"
http://www.politico.com/...
But because of one of his first pieces of legislation, Democrats now have their most brazen attack line of the emerging 2010 campaign season: that Republicans are insensitive to rape victims.
Privately, GOP sources acknowledge that they failed to anticipate the political consequences of a "no" vote on the amendment. And several aides said that Republicans are engaged in an internal blame game about why they agreed to a roll-call vote on the measure, rather than a simple voice vote that would have allowed the opposing senators to duck criticism.
And just this week, Franken and his wife, Franni, had dinner with Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) at the Capitol Hill Thai restaurant Sanphan. Durbin said Franken ordered "everything on the menu" for the three but has done a better job of keeping things in check at work.
"I think he struck the right balance," Durbin said of Franken’s effort to transition from celebrity to freshman senator. "Al has this great sense of humor, this booming laugh that you can’t miss, but he has really rolled up his sleeves and taken on tough issues."
The article also suggests that just maybe this will work against Senator
Franken in Minnesota. To this I say (ala Saturday Night Live) "Oh Realllllly?) I'll just bet those Minnesotans are going to hold it against Senator Franken for calling for jusice for rape victims.
Yes, Minnesota will make him pay...and I venture to guess, in 5 years they will re-elect him.
Will they punish him? When pigs fly, not a minute sooner.