How low can Eric Cantor, the Republican House Majority Leader go?
Well, the man whose political power is tied to kowtowing to extreme right wing Republicans (Tea Partiers) by obstructing anything and everything President Obama has tried to do to make life better for middle class, poor, and senior Americans, has hit a new low with an adulterated GOP version of a reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).
VAWA, incredibly important legislation introduced by Joe Biden and passed by the House and the Senate two decades ago, has protected millions of women in America from being abused, battered, beaten, and murdered by domestic partners and now seeks to protect all women . . . even LGBT women, even Native American women, and (gasp!!!) even undocumented women.
The reauthorization of VAWA was just resoundingly approved by the United States Senate and, as it does, the Senate is sending their bill to the House for its approval.
But, because the Senate VAWA bill protects women not deemed worthy (LGBT, Native American, and undocumented women) by the Tea Party, Eric Cantor has had to come up with a new GOP adulterated version of the VAWA.
The poor boy’s in a tough political spot . . . he’s stuck between the devil, also known as the Tea Party who’d happily ‘Primary’ Cantor in 2014 if he dares to get out of line, and the deep blue sea of women’s votes so desperately needed by Republican candidates in 2014 and beyond.
I readily confess that while Eric Cantor may be lots of things most Americans wouldn’t be proud to be, he isn’t stupid.
Cantor knows very well that he and his Republican colleagues in the House cannot afford to cross swords with mouthy Tea Partiers who so self-righteously believe that LGBT women, Native American women, and undocumented women do not deserve to be protected by the VAWA like ‘real’ American women.
Cantor also knows that he and his Republican cohorts can't afford to allow women in America to even suspect that House Republicans are perfectly willing to allow certain elements of the female population to be abused, beaten, and even murdered in order to protect their positions of political power.
So, I ask, what on earth could poor Eric do?
Before you answer, put yourself in Eric’s place . . . try to think like a political weasel and you’ll come to terms with two conflicting realities: 1. Political power is far more important to you than protecting innocent women from abuse, beatings and murder and, 2. You cannot do anything to offend millions upon millions of women voters because if you do, you may well lose your cushy $174,000.00 per year place at the public trough.
What to do, what to do?
Ah hah!
Bet you came up with the same answer I finally came up with: As Republican Majority Leader in the House of Representatives, Eric could simply come up with a watered down version of the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act that doesn’t really protect LGBT, Native American, and undocumented women . . . and Eric could hide that fact by using a women to enthusiastically announce the GOP’s version of VAWA.
Right?
Sure.
Pure evil genius!
And that is exactly what Cantor did.
He stayed out of sight while Megan Whittemore, an unwitting spokesperson, stood before the media and made the following announcement: “The House is expected to take up a strong Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization next week so we can protect all women from acts of violence and help law enforcement prosecute offenders to the fullest extent of the law.”
Hmmmm . . . sounds good . . . until you analyze the legislative language Cantor and friends used to compose this so-called ‘strong’ VAWA reauthorization Ms. Whittemore is so proud of and you realize that ‘all women’ means all regular, normal, acceptable women . . . not LGBT, Native American, or undocumented women.
And that, dear reader, is the character of the 2nd most powerful man in United States House of Representatives, the man the nation has entrusted with setting the legislative agenda for the 113th Congress to protect and serve the best interests of all Americans.
Are you kidding me?
If you’d like to ask the Honorable Representative Eric Cantor (R-VA) to explain why he’s willing to put the lives of millions of LGBT, Native American, and undocumented women at risk, you may contact him at: 303 Cannon HOB - Washington DC 20515-4607 - Phone: (202) 225-2815
Comments? Questions? Contact the author at: davyjones@businesswriters.biz or Tweet: @DavyZJones
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