Obama signs Franken’s anti-rape amendment into law.

[kpete]

Source: Think Progress

Obama signs Franken’s anti-rape amendment into law.

Al Franken The White House Press Office sent out a statement today announcing that President Obama signed the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2010 into law on Saturday:

H.R. 3326, the “Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2010,” which provides FY 2010 appropriations for Department of Defense (DOD) military programs including funding for Overseas Contingency Operations, and extends various expiring authorities and other non-defense FY 2010 appropriations.

Within the Appropriations Act is Sen. Al Franken’s (D-MN) amendment prohibiting defense contractors from restricting their employees’ abilities to take workplace discrimination, battery, and sexual assault cases to court. The measure was inspired by Jamie Leigh Jones, who was gang-raped by her co-workers while working for Halliburton/KBR in Baghdad. Many Republicans opposed the legislation — saying it was an unnecessary attack on their allies in the defense contracting business — and faced intense political blowback over their positions.

Read more: http://thinkprogress.org/2009/12/21/obama-franken/

[truthisfreedom]

1. OH, the stench of republican heads exploding. The junior Senator from Minnesota

has his own law and he's not even 1 year in yet.

[NYC_SKP]

34. And more than a few progressive's heads, sadly, who want to see Obama fail.

I'm serious. It's been evident especially over the past two weeks.

[AlbertCat]

39. And more than a few progressive's heads, sadly, who want to see Obama fail.

And who are they?

Who exactly, on the left WANT to see Obama fail? What progressives that are worried about a bad bill actually WANT the president to fail?

Who exactly?

Or did you just decide if someone doesn't like the watered down, toothless, HC Bill with a mandate helping the Insurance Industry but without cost containment... did you just decide they want Obama to fail at everything?... Y'know, like a Teabagger?

Not very rational of you. You sound like a Palinite.

[NYC_SKP]

41. Those who think he's a corporatist, for example.

And yes, that attitude is like a Teabagger and more than a few posts have come out and said exactly that.

You should get out more.

and Palinite?

Is that your sense of humor or just a failed attempt at insult?

[laughingliberal]

45. I'm glad the President signed the bill with Al Franken's amendment in it. It does not mean he is not

a corporatist.

[impik]

53. Do you have any proof that he's a corporatist, or do you just

recycle the memo of the month around the "Progressives" blogs?

[laughingliberal]

79. Well, I would start with the impending transfer of working & middle class wages to

the private insurance industry and pharmaceutical companies. That would be the latest example. We won't agree. And whether we do or not it won't change a damned thing that is going on right now.

[defendandprotect]

63. Sadly true . . .

we see some difference still on social issues, human rights . . .

but looks like they're giving up women for the Vatican????

[laughingliberal]

80. Yeah, they are and opening a door to allow for the challenge of Roe v Wade

It is a tragedy in my life to have lived long enough to see us lose so much ground that was so hard fought in my youth.

[The Hope Mobile]

108. We KNOW he is a corporatist because we choose to deal with reality

We KNOW that because he is a corporatist he is already failing the American citizenry and that ultimately he will fail as a president.

This is OBVIOUSLY NOT what we WANT.

We voted for change. This presidency is not about change-it is a disaster. Do you really need someone to list off the many corporatist things he's done and people he's appointed since he came into office? Are you not paying attention at all??


Check out my username . . . is that the name of someone who wanted Obama to fail????????? I think not. (But he IS a corporatist and there's no denying it).

[Gman]

48. Who are they? They're all over DU

Read DU. This post would get deleted if I named names.

[ima_sinnic]

94. could you at least provide links?

I hadn't noticed any progressives who wanted Obama to "fail," so I must have missed that.
As a progressive, I guess I've been under the mistaken impression that other people who call themselves progressives have had the highest hopes for this presidency--but they are the ones who actually voice disappointment when those hopes are shattered and call bullshit for what it is. They're the ones who actually hold the president to a higher standard instead of just accepting every broken and insincere promise as part of some "higher plan" that is "too complex" for average mortals to understand. Secret deals with pharmaceutical companies? NO PROBLEM! Actively fighting reinstatement of habeas corpus? GOTTA LOVE IT! Actively fighting same-sex benefits for federal employees? YAY! GO TEAM GO!

[impik]

54. Who are they???

All those who never liked him, way way before he won the election.

[freddie mertz]

113. I support the Barack Obama I voted for. I am worried that he is failing now.

That is a long way from "wanting him to fail."

That was a moronic thing to post, especially here.

[frylock]

59. we actually give credit where credit is due..

unlike the folks who are going to lick his ass regardless of what he does. it must be a terrible blow to realize that people here don't really hate obama like you all wish.

[ima_sinnic]

87. yeah, I "want to see Obama fail"

that's why, during the primaries, I talked him up to so many people and got them excited too, asserting quite loudly that he was a better pick than HRC. That's why I dug deep and encouraged others to do the same. That's why I was all over the neighborhood offering rides to people to the polls on Election Day. It was all a big set-up so later I could go back to them and say, nah nah, fooled ya, I really just wanted you to be disappointed--I went to all this trouble to help get him elected, but I just really wanted him to fail so we could all feel like fools.

just typical crap from unquestioning status-quo supporters who are threatened by the least disturbance to their utopian rose-colored kumbaya vision, where their president never lies to them (esp. when he has a D after his name) and even the most blatant insults, omissions, and empty insincere promises (also known as "lies") are dismissed as "not giving him enough time" or "out of his control."

[ima_sinnic]

90. oh, and my posts are still quite available from during the primaries and the GE

please link to any that would indicate my hidden agenda.

see if you can put it all together to show I'm a stealth republican--or maybe a bitter Hillary supporter, carefully crafting posts for 8 years--first to make it look like I "hated" *, biding my time until a Democrat got elected so I could also make it look like I supported Dean in 2004, then Kucinich at first in 2008, then a bit hesitatingly supporting Obama at first, then, after the candidate I "pretended" to support and had become increasingly "enthusiastic" about actually won the election, "pretended" to celebrate, still biding my time until he "failed" so I could feel all smug and self-righteous.

Yeah, it all makes perfect sense :eyes:

[The Hope Mobile]

109. Yup - me too!! That would really be helpful to the progressive cause I've worked for

:crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy:

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

114. Did anybody here say, or even vaguely insinuate, that they wanted the Franken amendment to fail?

I call BS until you provide a link.

[MiJaMu]

104. OH, the stench of republican heads exploding. The junior Senator from Minnesota

Actually an amendment (especially addressing something such as anti-rape) is much easier to get than a law. This was more of a layup for Franken to show he is doing something. But a good start for a new senator.

[earcandle]

116. Woo Hoo, go Franken and Obama!

Little by little.... 

[BlueIris]

2. Got to love the Al Franken. nt

[Cleita]

3. Some good news today. Thanks. n/t

[mzmolly]

4. K and R for my

senator. :toast:

[barbtries]

22. i'm kinda jealous -

i think he's wonderful.

[mzmolly]

30. I don't blame ya...

he is. ;)

[silverweb]

5. Wonderful news.

:applause:

[BlueJazz]

6. Many Republicans opposed the legislation.

Yeah...Women are just vessels for Cum. :mad:

And So-called Christians vote for these people...

[Enthusiast]

99. One thing we can all agree on,

Republicans and members of the Tea Party are IDIOTS.

[tblue]

7. He's brilliant, that Al. Love him!!! nt

[Blue Owl]

8. Aha -- REVERSING Bu$h-era policy

Now that's the kind of change we're talking about.

More of this, please!

[Odin2005]

9. YAY!!!

[gardenista]

10. Go Al!

[bluestateguy]

11. I'm sure somebody will find something to whine about with this

Al Franken is a fine senator and thank God Obama is the president.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

17. Yep. They're already whining. See post #11

[Moochy]

32. pre-emptory whining about the eventual, but yet non-existent whining here at DU

it's a long tradition.

[AlbertCat]

40. pre-emptory whining about the eventual, but yet non-existent whining here at DU

I dunno....

that "progressives want Obama to fail" post sure sounded like whining.

[Moochy]

42. I probably had that OP hidden

:blush: I need to stop generalizing about DU, I forget how many flame-starter posters I have put on the ignore list.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

115. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why I hardly even have an ignore list. Can't alert.

Please consider taking that poster off ignore, if only for a bit. That post was SO inappropriate it isn't even funny.

[valerief]

35. You cracked me up!

:spray:

[ima_sinnic]

91. +++1 yes, if nobody's bitching, they'll just pretend somebody is

it makes them feel good about themselves to be contrary and obnoxious.

[gaspee]

12. Yay

See - I say yay when he actually does something good - and now I want to see contracts actually taken away from some of these parasites.

[tomhayes]

13. Does this extend Cobra subsidies?

I think it does.

[defendandprotect]

65. They plan to subsidize COBRA further .... I've heard.

[SutaUvaca]

14. An actual Representative. Hooray for Al. nt

[asjr]

15. Republican allies--how droll.

[Bette Noir]

16. Good for him.

[Deep13]

18. What's amazing about this...

...was finding out that there is apparently a pro-rape lobby. :wtf:

[BP2]

29. Yeah the pro-rape lobby of the GOP. Amazing that

only seven Puke senators voted against it!

[Enthusiast]

100. But they rightly understand

the proper place for a woman is in the home. If they leave the home we can't guarantee they will be safe from rape. Doncha know? :sarcasm:

[madrchsod]

19. paul and hubert are smiling today!

al is on course to join the great senators from Minnesota.

well done al and barack!

[TlalocW]

20. I thought something had happened to derail this

What did I miss?

TlalocW

[barbtries]

21. this made franken look brilliant

in my opinion. he actually got the repukes into a no-win situation - and it's a good law. is it retroactive by any chance?

[DCKit]

84. From what I've read, several judges have chosen to ignore the arbitration clause.

They stated they felt that arbitration shouldn't apply in cases of criminal behavior. Go figure.

Damn activist judges (if we only had many, many more).

[ClarkUSA]

23. Good for President Obama, Senator Franken and the Democratic Party leadership.

:woohoo:

[Uncle Joe]

24. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, kpete.:thumbsup:

[laughingliberal]

25. Big Cheer for Al!!!

:bounce: :toast: :applause: :toast: :bounce:

[onehandle]

26. Bad day for the pro-rape Republican party. nt

[La Lioness Priyanka]

27. excellent. good for franken.

[alp227]

28. "an unnecessary attack on their allies in the defense contracting business"

:wtf:

This is just disguised deceptive typical Republiclanguage.

[laughingliberal]

44. I know. Despicable. nt

[Geek_Girl]

31. Go Franken and Something positive from the Obama administration. Yay!

nt

[Ellipsis]

33. He's come a long way since Dudley Riggs... good on you Senator.

[Love Bug]

107. I didn't know Franken did Dudley Riggs

I thought he came from Second City. Not that he couldn't have done both...

[Ellipsis]

110. Yup... as a writer and performer.

[and-justice-for-all]

36. Excellent news...nt

[mother earth]

37. Damned those republican a**holes, where is their humanity?

& Damned Halliburton who has raped this country on their own, double charging, no contract, electrocuting, honorless, Cheney-enabled slimeballs, may they find their inevitable karma, sooner rather than later, all of them, including those who put them in an endless supply of money and war, war profiteers and their sickening puppets.

[SeattleGirl]

38. Yay!

Thank you, Al, and thank you, President Obama!

[boomerbust]

43. Yep

Obama=Bush

[RBInMaine]

46. Gee, I hope the Obama bashers can at least be happy about this one. What do you think? Any chance?

[frylock]

58. it must be a tremendous disappointment to you that people are giving him kudos..

gotta have something to whine about though, don't you?

[ima_sinnic]

93. yeah, I can see how "concerned" you are about the "happiness" of "Obama bashers"

funny how some people can turn even a positive into a negative.
I'm sure you will satisfy your desire to find somebody dissatisfied and critical of this over at that "other" site.

[Usrename]

47. My favorite senator.

Go Al!

[impik]

49. Sell out!

Oh wait..

[blondeatlast]

68. He, heh--I remember some of that here before he actually won. I'm guessing it was bored

Heritage Foundation interns.

[ima_sinnic]

95. funny how some will waste no opportunity to bash other posters

even when we're celebrating, some have to insert denigrating insults to dampen the mood.
how "congratulatory" of you. Thanks for your support of Democratic Party principles and ideals.

[Plucketeer]

50. I love Al's drive and clarity

He's another of the "Grayson Corps" - REAL reps of the people!

[JNelson6563]

51. Nothin' but love for Al!

:toast:

[omega minimo]

52. Here's to Good News and the good Representative from the great state of MN

:toast:

[Hubert Flottz]

55. That's great.

We went after Saddam and executed him for his "Rape Rooms" only to have American contractors doing the same things in the same country. Why shouldn't the bastards that did this while they were abroad, being paid by the taxpayer, be strung up too?

[EmeraldCityGrl]

56. Congratulations to Senator Franken and Predident Obama.!

[frylock]

57. good..

knr.

[unkachuck]

60. thanks....

....Barack and Al for restoring some sanity and decency back into the workplace....I'm not happy about the bloated defense appropriations bill, but thanks anyway....

[Guilded Lilly]

61. Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you

it's one step in along road.

[defendandprotect]

62. Cheers for that one -- but anyone who didn't vote FOR it should be out of Congress . .. soon!!!

[Johnny ramone]

64. Senator Franken I love you !

:bounce:

[Berry Cool]

66. I am glad this was done.

A piece of good news in an otherwise frustrating time.

[Chorophyll]

67. Thank you, Senator Franken!

And thanks for posting, kpete. It's nice to hear some good news for a change. :patriot:

[blondeatlast]

69. GREAT news.nt

[liberalmuse]

70. That has to be the most recs I've ever seen.

I'm sure the Republicans will mark this day in infamy. Their overlords will no longer be able to rape women without judicial recourse. The horror!!! I love it that the news is calling it the 'Franken Anti-Rape Amendment'. I never, ever thought I would see the day where a single one of our representatives would come out against an anti-rape amendment. These times are unreal.

[JDPriestly]

71. Franken, one of the few bright lights in this dark time.

[Peggy Day]

105. Jeez remember how long it took to get him in there after the election?

Well worth the wait-great job!

[Loudmxr]

72. OK I'll whine about it. I regret that Al wasn't funny about it.

I know I know. He should be taken seriously but.... Al has the "Jack Benny" persona that can pull a scathing joke off with just a glance, a "huh" a "What". This is something that only we would get. Like Jack, who I loved.

But on a serious note I am soooo glad he is in the Senate. More power to Al our pal!!:hi:

[Robeson]

73. So Republicans are pro-rape?...

...not surprising.

[budkin]

74. Finally something positive... please keep it up Obama!

[proteus_lives]

75. Good news!

Go Franken and Obama!

[Starry Messenger]

76. Oh this is excellent.

:thumbsup: I'm glad the President remembered he isn't a Republican today.

[tonysam]

77. The most important part of this legislation, however,

is that Congress extended UI for another two months in addition to what has already passed.

Evidently our representatives and senators must have received a torrent of complaints after the stalling tactics of the last time UI was extended.

[Lindsey]

78. I have to say that Al is about 10 times better than I thought he'd

be. I knew he's be good, but not this good. He's one of the Dems. who stands up to the Repugs. and doesn't seem to take any shit. He's got balls!

[burning rain]

81. DU needs a Franken avatar.

That man is so full of goodness and WIN. This amendment was some great and important work.

[MellowDem]

82. See?

Obama wants what we want, but can only do what he can within the insane system of American politics. Thankfully, an anti-rape amendment got through Congress (despite a large chunk of asshole Repubs) because it seems like something that anyone could vote for.

[Lint Head]

83. I love Al!!!

[Triana]

85. How refreshing to see a man who doesn't consider women 'indicental' humans

..to be used, abused, trashed, beaten, raped, and whatever else anyone chooses to do to them.

[Name removed]

86. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[BluDemocratGirl]

88. Thank you, Al!

As for the pro-rape RePUKES, f*** you! I

[winyanstaz]

89. Thank YOU Sen. Al Franken :)

excellent job..well done!

[ima_sinnic]

92. We need several dozen more like Al

people who aren't on the take but sincerely dedicated to improving life for people here and everywhere, and who aren't using any particular group or issue to advance their own agenda.
He's also much more intelligent than the average bone-headed "public servant" who's been entrenched in insider politics for umpteen years for all the perks, bennies, and ass-kissing it brings him or her and has no particularly good ideas about anything.
Thank you Al Franken, and good work President Obama!

:bounce:

[boppers]

96. Another progressive win.

Yay!

[DisgustedInMN]

97. What a dichotomy!

I have the brilliance and humanity of Al Franken to represent me in the Senate, a true Populist that I was proud to help in his campaign and even more proud to watch display that unlike so many DINOs, he actually has a spine...

.. and on the other hand, I have the batshit craziness of Michelle Bachman as "my" rep in the House.

Way to go Al! Keep fightin' the good fight.

:yourock:

[Enthusiast]

98. Well done Senator Franken! nt

[Mad_Dem_X]

101. Bravo, Al, and thank you, Mr. President! n/t

[deacon]

102. A disappointment to the pro rape GOP. Thanks Al. n/t

[Tailormyst]

103. Finally some good news !!!!!!

[fascisthunter]

106. hear that right wingers? You can't just go around raping women

even if you are a merc... sucks huh? Sickos...

[freddie mertz]

111. Finally, some good news. Common decency passes Senate!

Al done good.

[davidwparker]

112. Dems need to do more like this. Good on Franken!

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

117. Apropos of this...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7298253

[Ter]

118. Serious qustion:

Why was this necessary, was rape legal there?

[Sparky 1]

119. Three cheers for Senator Franken, go Al!