In the late 1980s, in response to protests by disabled Americans, who demanded access to public places and services that the rest of us enjoy routinely, moderate Republicans had a great idea that came to fruition as the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. It worked so well, that the UN sought to make it the standard for the entire world. Sadly, moderate Republicans have no influence in the party today.
Republican lawmakers on Tuesday blocked a treaty to protect people with disabilities from discrimination despite a passionate plea from former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole, who was severely wounded in World War Two.
The Senate voted 61-38 to pass the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, falling short of the 66 votes needed to ratify the treaty.
The former Republican presidential nominee and Senate majority leader from Kansas tried to persuade Republicans to ratify the treaty and sat in a wheelchair on the sidelines of the Senate floor as lawmakers voted.
Only eight Republicans, including Vietnam War veteran Senator John McCain of Arizona, voted with the Democratic majority in the Senate.
"It is a sad day when we cannot pass a treaty that simply brings the world up to the American standard for protecting people with disabilities because the Republican Party is in thrall to extremists and ideologues," said top Democratic Senator Harry Reid of Nevada… [emphasis added]
Inserted from <Reuters>
Both Ed Schultz and Rachel Maddow covered this shameful Republican extremism. Ed discussed it with Ilyse Hogue and Howard Fineman.
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John Kerry is spot-on. In the absence of any rational reason to oppose this treaty, Republicans have resorted to dishonest Teabuggery.
Rachel covered the issue’s history discussed this InsaniTEA with Steve Clemons.
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Once again, today’s Republicans have rejected a non-controversial measure that began as a Republican idea. I don’t believe for a minute that the Republican leadership believes Rick "Google My Name" Santorum’s wacko conspiracy theory. I suspect that that their real opposition stems from wanting to help multinational corporations increase their profit margins by refusing assess to disabled people.
18 Responses to “The Republican War on the Disabled”
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I urge GNOP and Tea-Bags to rethink their position but, as the picture above indicates their head is up their a$$.
Rehink? ? Clearly they cannot think past the heads up the Ass !! How in the hell did these idiots get elected ? How many asses are out running loose and voting!! Disgusting !
I agree 100% Phyllis and I will never understand the subjective minds that vote for example, Rick Scott (Medicare thief – Tea-Bag Governor of Florida) where I live… sigh
The Republicans clearly need a rectal craniectomy.
I think these republicans are doing exactly what their corporate overlords want them to do. Imagine what it would be like for Chinese sweatshops if there was a bill to treat the disabled fairly. Rick Santorum could not have lost my respect – I never gave him any – but bringing his disabled daughter to the proceedings to block passage of this bill is a new low for him.
I agree. That's low sleaze even for him.
It's actually the small business Tea Baggers that scream the most about disabled access. Disabled toilets are twice as large and twice as exspenive, neither here nor there in a high but in a small office quite the increase. Disabled carparks means loosing a carpark, in 100 carparks it's not missed, in 5 it's a real loss. Same goes with ramps. Then there are the additional signage requirements etc.
Tea baggers scream about every exspence, every cost that stops them from becoming billionaires, no matter how small their business. The GOP has sold them on the delusion they can all become billionaires if it wasn't for regulations, if it wasn't for unions, if it wasn't for government, if it wasn't for socialism, if it wasn't foreignors etc. ie. only with the help of the GOP can they all those small businesses become billionaires.
So now the GOP attacks anything they feel they can add to the promotional delusion, to the them versus us caimpagn, no matter how ludicrous.
All the RepublicanTs and InsaniTea-baggers who voted against this should be ashamed of themselves.
Do they even know what the Treaty calls for? Do they realize this Treaty was negotiated by then President G. W.Bush? Maybe they are only doing it so they can say that President Obama failed to keep yet another campaign promise.
Check Politifact on this:
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/obameter/promise/88/sign-the-un-convention-on-the-rights-of-persons-wi/
Even China and Russia voted for it. China! One of the biggest human rights abusers in the world saw the need for this Treaty. But not the Party of Greedy Olde Pharts! They care more for their corporate buddies who shipped so many jobs overseas so they could take advantage of cheap labor. Just think how it would hurt them monetarily to have to install ramps and other conveniences for the disabled they would have to hire. They would not be able to buy that new jet or yacht or whatever.
Sickening!
Excellent article Patty. Yes, there was nothing controversial in this treaty.
Disgusting behavior on the part of the g o p pukes / teabaggers in voting this issue down! They, republican lawmakers, on Tuesday blocked a treaty to protect people with disabilities from discrimination.
Unbelievable!
The cartoon is very appropriate!
Ty, Tom.
.
YVW Jim. I agree that I chose well with that graphic.
I've been keeping an eye on the far-right rhetoric surrounding the disabilities convention, and it's disgusting. There's so much paranoid rhetoric among the far right about how the document will supposedly undermine U.S. sovereignty, end homeschooling, promote abortion (!), and worse. Such rhetoric played no small part in the GOP Senators' votes, I'll bet.
I agree, Ahab. They have nothing legitimate with which to stoke the bloodlust in their rabid base, so they make stuff up.
I weep and hide my face is shame that this has what's become of the republican Party.
This was a NON-BINDING TREATY. HELLO, GOP … ARE YOU THERE?!?
NON-FUCKING-BINDING!!!
It required NO change in US laws.
republicans renewed themselves as the Party of "NO!"
NO to the poor
NO to non-Talibangelical christianists
NO to women
NO to people of color
And now NO to the disabled
I only hope they will become a Party NO LONGER!
I too hope they become a Party No Longer!
Nameless, I didn't even realize it's non-binding.
No to the Republican Party!
Senator John Kerry — "If the facts are against you, then argue the law. If the law is against you, then argue the facts. And if both are against you, just make it up." — Seems like the Republican/Teabaggers did just that! They made up this bogus claim of the UN trying to usurp American sovereignty. What a pathetic bunch of little people, if you can justify calling them people.
I find it interesting to note that the country which insisted on having a permanent seat on the UN Security Council could also be the country so concerned about the UN usurping its sovereignty. I also find it interesting that the country upon whose law the treaty was based could also be so concerned about the UN usurping its sovereignty. Steve Clemons layed it out well when he said "This is a branch of the GOP that doesn't represent all Republicans, but this is the pugnacious, obnoxious, nationalist wing that really resents any international deal making . . ."
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And to quote Dandelion (Care2):
In my mind, with the actions of the Republican/Teabaggers in the US Senate, the US has shown itself unworthy of its own claim to be the "leader of the free world", for leadership must include ALL people, not just the ones deemed deserving.
If this is what it means to ask the world to raise it's standards to those of the US, then surely the world is going to hell in a handbasket.
Remember Rome . . .
The only things the Republican Party leads is sheeple.