If you were feeling nostalgic for the good old days of 2012 and the never-ending cries of the GOP’s “War on Women,” good news! While Congress managed to put together an abomination of a fiscal cliff deal and avert the “milk cliff” with a temporary farm bill extension, legislators let 1994’s Violence Against Women Act expire. Since the House GOP is being blamed for everything else, why not take the fall here as well? Obviously, Republican representatives hate women and are pro-rape, right?
GOP stops Violence Against Women Act because they don't want Native Americans #Immigrants or #LGBT protected? WHAT? #VAWA
— Pauley Perrette (@PauleyP) January 2, 2013
https://twitter.com/lawalker13/status/286632477978681345
I am sincerely losing faith in the US government. Unbelievable news about #VAWA. I cannot for one moment comprehend why this law is partisan
— Angelica Garcia (@_AngelicaCarmen) January 3, 2013
The only logical conclusion to draw is that there are several mentally ill reps in DC. How else to explain lack of common decency? #VAWA
— Wondering Woman (@Ndelible) January 3, 2013
https://twitter.com/Mason3K/status/286631275886944256
#VAWA shot down, but women matter so little that this doesn't make breaking news on Google or the NY Times.
— Sara Paretsky (@SaraParetsky) January 3, 2013
https://twitter.com/HermanCainsHat/status/286628591834365952
https://twitter.com/lovelyladypa/status/286627414291910656
Blocking the funding for #VAWA is a disgrace. We need MORE funding. And now we have an expired bill and a GOP that is bat****. Jesus.
— Zerlina Maxwell (@ZerlinaMaxwell) January 3, 2013
Maybe we're all asking to be raped some more, eh, ladies? Once wasn't enough. #VAWA #americafail
— ??♀️Amber Love Ofgus (@elizabethamber) January 2, 2013
and they are not going to put #VAWA to a vote either! #HouseGOPlosers
— Jennifer (@jenniferd0902) January 2, 2013
#USA: House Republicans' objection to Violence Against Women Act? It covered all women…you know…even the brown and gay kind. #VAWA
— Ms. Entropy / سيدة الفتنة (@MsEntropy) January 2, 2013
If feminists & progressives cave & agree not to include #VAWA protections for Native, LGBT, & undocumented folks, we're just as bad as GOP.
— Shelby Knox (@ShelbyKnox) January 2, 2013
I think Patty Murray should be allowed to punch GOP House members in the junk at random until the #VAWA gets passed. #p2
— Jason Karsh (@jkarsh) January 2, 2013
#Boehner & #GOP negligence allowed the critical #VAWA expire, this is immoral & should be criminal #WaronWomen
— Marshall ????????? (@MarshallSbar) January 3, 2013
#VAWA has expired. @SpeakerBoehner, this affects me directly. From where I sit in the cross hairs, this sure looks like a #WarOnWomen
— Catherine – Wear a mask for everyone else!? (@Birdmischief) January 3, 2013
Many consider the VAWA to be “bipartisan” legislation that should have no problem being renewed. So while many blame the House GOP for suddenly blocking legislation that the Senate passed in April, they fail to note that the House passed its own version of the bill in May. Among the points of contention between the bills were expanded protections for green card holders, which some feared could be abused by immigrants to obtain visas. The Senate version would also expand the jurisdiction of Native American courts, allowing tribal courts to prosecute non-Native Americans.
Just curious, @stevebenen: Why not mention in your whole post on VAWA that R's passed a 5 year extension in MAY? http://t.co/RJKp6khz
— (((AG))) (@AGHamilton29) January 2, 2013
@ag_conservative Answer 1: because @stevebenen is a hack. Answer 2: he might not have even known that because see Answer 1.
— Gabriel Malor (@gabrielmalor) January 2, 2013
@AG_Conservative That's simply not convenient to the agenda, AG. You're asking quite a lot – like integrity and honesty. Shame on you.
— GoldenEagle (@GoldenEagle) January 2, 2013
https://twitter.com/Shaqfuey/status/286567724526759936
With Congress managing to leave so much undone in 2012, it doesn’t take a war on women to explain how the VAWA fell through the cracks. Congress will almost certainly take up the bill in the next session, and programs that receive money from the VAWA will continue to be funded through March. That doesn’t keep the House GOP from shouldering the blame for keeping the war on women going into the new year, though. Will Republicans manage to get a handle on the “war on women” meme before 2016? Could they start now?
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