Franken Wins Bipartisan Support For Legislation Reining In KBR’s Treatment Of Rape
Franken Wins Bipartisan Support For Legislation Reining In KBR’s Treatment Of Rape
In 2005, Jamie Leigh Jones was gang-raped by her co-workers while she was working for Halliburton/KBR in Baghdad. She was detained in a shipping container for at least 24 hours without food, water, or a bed, and “warned her that if she left Iraq for medical treatment, she’d be out of a job.” (Jones was not an isolated case.) Jones was prevented from bringing charges in court against KBR because her employment contract stipulated that sexual assault allegations would only be heard in private arbitration.
Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) proposed an amendment to the 2010 Defense Appropriations bill that would withhold defense contracts from companies like KBR “if they restrict their employees from taking workplace sexual assault, battery and discrimination cases to court.” Speaking on the Senate floor yesterday, Franken said:
The constitution gives everybody the right to due process of law … And today, defense contractors are using fine print in their contracts do deny women like Jamie Leigh Jones their day in court. … The victims of rape and discrimination deserve their day in court [and] Congress plainly has the constitutional power to make that happen.
Watch Franken’s speech:
On the Senate floor, Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) spoke against the amendment, calling it “a political attack directed at Halliburton.” Franken responded, “This amendment does not single out a single contractor. This amendment would defund any contractor that refuses to give a victim of rape their day in court.”
In the end, Franken won the debate. His amendment passed by a 68-30 vote, earning the support of 10 Republican senators including that of newly-minted Florida Sen. George LeMieux. “He did what a senator should do, which was he was working it,” LeMieux said in praise of Franken. “He was working for his amendment.”
Appearing with Franken after the vote, an elated Jones expressed her deep appreciation. “It means the world to me,” she said of the amendment’s passage. “It means that every tear shed to go public and repeat my story over and over again to make a difference for other women was worth it.”
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Al could be president someday.
How crazy would that drive dumbass republicans?
October 7th, 2009 at 11:27 amWHAT A CLOWN!
Getting things done! Obviously as a comedian, he is not fit to be a Senator. How dare he approach issues with actual legislative action….
October 7th, 2009 at 11:28 amI would love to hear any republican who voted against this legislation explain in public why victims of rape should have no recourse.
October 7th, 2009 at 11:31 amThirty Republican Senators are pro-rape. I’m surprised. I thought it would be even more.
October 7th, 2009 at 11:32 amOn the Senate floor, Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) spoke against the amendment,
I guess this means legalized gang rape is part of the Republican Party platform now. The next Republican National Convention should be a doozy.
October 7th, 2009 at 11:32 amWell, well, well… Another Repug supporting a Corporation over people. Sessions vote should be broadcast all over in ads during his campaign. Let the women in his district now how insensitive he is.
October 7th, 2009 at 11:35 amGood on you, Al!
I am struck by the irony of this blog posting in comparison with those regarding Shelley “The Bimbo” Bachmann that precede it.
Franken suffered so much derision during his election campaign for being a comedian. Well, he is showing his true character and competence now and Shelley is the one who comes up the incompetent comic.
October 7th, 2009 at 11:36 amKudos to Franken. A swift kick in Sessions stupid ass.
October 7th, 2009 at 11:36 amO’Reilly is going to be really PO’d about this. Looks like he will have to withdraw his clown comments on Franken.
October 7th, 2009 at 11:36 amI can take calls from Senator Franken. But mom says if David Vitter ever calls I should just hang up.
October 7th, 2009 at 11:37 amrepublicans are pretty when it comes to rape. they did a really good job of this country.
October 7th, 2009 at 11:37 amI don’t know what’s more surprising…that so many Senators can be effectively “pro-rape”, or that Chuck Grassley supported the amendment?
Anyone remember back in December, when McCain said he’d be a friend of the administration?
Ahahahahahahahahahaha
McCain voted against the amendment. As did John Engisn, though Ensign’s never been a big supporter of “women’s rights” when they interfere with his rights as a upstanding Christian man above the rules and laws of non-believers.
Two senators didn’t vote. I can understand Byrd skipping (though I hear he’s been doing better in recent weeks); why Specter skipped is a bit of a mystery
October 7th, 2009 at 11:39 amI’m sure Fox news will cover this at great length wanting to know why 30 republican Senators voted no on this. I’ll be holding my breath. /snarc
October 7th, 2009 at 11:41 amSo, the party of Jezuz and family values voted to prevent women from bring rape cases to court if it meant private contractors would be barred from receiving government contracts?? I thought this would be a no brainer even for THEM. Imagine my surprise.
October 7th, 2009 at 11:41 amWe really should start calling them the rapist rights party…
October 7th, 2009 at 11:41 amTwo of the Republicans who voted against gang rape were women, Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins. Six out of 38 male Republicans were anti-rape for a total of 15%. I wonder if that is representitive of Republican men as a whole.
October 7th, 2009 at 11:41 amAndrew says:
WHAT A CLOWN!
As an employee of mine you have to be the clown. ACORN, damnit, ACORN!
October 7th, 2009 at 11:44 amGreat for Al helping this women against basterd contractors for justic, These contractors should be all put of business it is are military job to do always was. Only when dipshit bush and channey were in they changed the rules so there roten frinds could make billons of bucks on the american people.It is time to get rid of these merks who could not make it in the military taken orders.
October 7th, 2009 at 11:44 amFeingold/Franken for 2016!
October 7th, 2009 at 11:44 amOn the Senate floor, Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) spoke against the amendment, calling it “a political attack directed at Halliburton.”
News flash: Sessions accuses Halliburton of rape.
.
shoeless says:
I guess this means legalized gang rape is part of the Republican Party platform now.
They took a number of pro-rape positions during the 2008 elections as well.
October 7th, 2009 at 11:45 amRepugs has no respect for women. They are still angry we got the right to vote. If it were up to them, we would be chattel. You can see it in the way they act and look. Take Rick Santorum, just his demeanor says it all. Repugs believe woman shouldn’t work OR have assests. And don’t forget, to Repugs, it’s all the ‘Feminists’ fault.
October 7th, 2009 at 11:46 amTake Rick Santorum…Please. Couldn’t resist P.D.
October 7th, 2009 at 11:49 amEven if was an attack on Halliburton, who cares? These are things no company should be allowed to do.
October 7th, 2009 at 11:50 amGo get those f**king Lying Liars, Senator Franken! That’s why we sent you there!
What a breath of fresh air Al Franken is. Long have we waited for this good of a statesman to serve. He will take his place among the greatest of progressive Congresspersons in our history.
October 7th, 2009 at 11:50 amIt,s not the GOP any more it is RCN it new name is the Republican Communist Party. The great party of NO NO NO just screw the american people all the time for big business and the rich.That should make republicans happy a new party clean slate.
October 7th, 2009 at 11:51 amWe’re stewards of the taxpayers. We fund mercenaries who overcharge the government, do shoddy work, rape, conspire to kill witnesses, kill unarmed civilians, and bribe military personnel.
The GOP always has your back, taxpayer-efficient mercenaries. Any effort to defund our bloated civilian braintrust will be labeled as Weak on Defense ™.
October 7th, 2009 at 11:51 amThe hell with these Republicans. They think this is still the George Bush era where they walk in lock step. Do any of these dissenting Republicans have a reason other than the Bill was proposed by a Democrat?
October 7th, 2009 at 11:51 amWhy are you against free enterprise? Are you a commie?
October 7th, 2009 at 11:53 am“..because her employment contract stipulated that sexual assault allegations would only be heard in private arbitration.”
That’s insane and we’re fortunate to have someone like Senator Franken (and those who voted in the affirmative) to put an end to such lunacy.
One can only surmise Haliburton (or whomever) knowingly hires (potential) rapists and assorted sexual deviants (hence, the “stipuolation”) and accept that as part of “doing business”.
Despicable – but we’ve come to expect this from scum like Erik Prince, et. al. – those “good Christians”.
October 7th, 2009 at 11:54 amAndrew says:
WHAT A CLOWN!
Getting things done! Obviously as a comedian, he is not fit to be a Senator. How dare he approach issues with actual legislative action….
The irony, I failed to see the snark inherent in this post.
**hangs head in shame**
October 7th, 2009 at 11:54 am“He did what a senator should do, which was he was working it,”
Oh, sure, but when a Republican gets caught “working it” in an airport bathroom, suddenly it’s a huge scandal…
October 7th, 2009 at 11:55 amWell done, Senator Franken!
Thank you!
It’s a shame an amendment was necessary to protect employees from such inhumane abuse from an American corporation,
October 7th, 2009 at 11:56 amcontracted by our federal government, but it was.
Shame on degenerate Halliburton/KBR.
Shame on Cheney for funding this criminal behavior with our money.
So, Vitter voted against it, huh? What a pig. If he survives re-election, I will be amazed.
October 7th, 2009 at 11:56 amLevi the Oracle says:
Feingold/Franken for 2016!
Why wait?
2012!!!!
October 7th, 2009 at 11:57 amFranken won the debate. His amendment passed by a 68-30 vote, earning the support of 10 Republican senators
– - This is what passes for ‘bipartisan’ these days, and on something so cut and dried. Pathetic.
October 7th, 2009 at 11:58 amNo surprise from the Republic Party as they have been gleefully raping the middle and lower classes in America for decades. Bush/Cheney sponsored contractors have been killing American soldiers and Iraqi civilians for years without any action taken. In the Repub’s eyes, what’s a little gang rape on the side. Contracting’s hard work dontcha know?
October 7th, 2009 at 11:58 amSenator Al Franken already making a difference!
I knew he would. The guy is brilliant.
October 7th, 2009 at 12:00 pmWhy isn’t MSM reporting on this? Oh, I guess they are too busy talking about Letterman.
October 7th, 2009 at 12:01 pmThe GOP just wants enforced sexual healing. They tend to know what’s best for us, for our pocketbooks and in our bedrooms.
October 7th, 2009 at 12:01 pmOops, you got me! ;)
October 7th, 2009 at 12:02 pmInteresting – when you click on the link to see how the senators voted (look at the grouping by state), you will see that a lot of the “nay” votes come from the deep south. What I want to know is why did we ever fight a war to keep them in the union? They just aren’t worth it
October 7th, 2009 at 12:05 pmWhat a contrast to our noisiest Congress-critter, Crazy Shelly.
October 7th, 2009 at 12:08 pmSo what is wrong with making our contractors hold to a basic standard of legality and decency ? And why do 3/4 of repubs oppose it ?
Not to mention that as our paid staff sent around the world, the contractors thus represent us to the world.
I only wish that the following exchange had happened:
Franken: Introduces amendment
October 7th, 2009 at 12:09 pmSession: You’re singling out Haliburton.
Franken: I didn’t say a thing about Haliburton. Why are you implying that Haliburton is the only contractor that rapes ?
Yet, they find all the problems in this country to be the fault of ACORN.
ACORN never killed or raped anyone. They aren’t ripping off the country by billions of dollars. They aren’t shooting up Iraqi’s on the streets of Iraq and electrocuting our soldiers in their showers.
RePugniScums — all hypocrites all of the time.
October 7th, 2009 at 12:11 pm34. Loki,
Actually…don’t be TOO surprised if Feinhold mounts a primary challenge to Obama in 2012. Buchanan challenged Bush in 92, Kennedy challenged Carter in 80, Reagan challenged Dole in 76…any time a President is deemed to have fled the base, there’s a primary challenge in the next cycle.
Much as I would’ve liked to see President Feingold get inaugurated in 2009, there’s still time for President Obama to make good on his campaign.
October 7th, 2009 at 12:27 pmJust because it’s in a contract doesn’t make it legal. You can’t circumvent the constitution by use of a contract. These people need to be prosecuted to the hilt and the employer needs to loose his contract and Go To Jail.
What ahole put these protections in – oh, iy happened during the Bush administration. Figures.
October 7th, 2009 at 12:28 pmSenator Franken (D-MN)
Rep. Bachmann (R-MN)
Who’s more likely to accomplish something in D.C.?
Batshit Bachmann would have voted AGAINST rape accountability…
in the name of Jesus!
I swear, things are getting crazier by the minute nowadays.
October 7th, 2009 at 12:28 pmIf this goes to the Supreme Court Antonin Scalia will rule that there is nothing against gang rape in the Constitution.
October 7th, 2009 at 12:31 pmIn Saudi Arabia a man gets 1000 lashes and 5 years for talking about sex on television.
In the U.S. you can be a private contractor, make 150k a year, and rape women as part of your “job” and not be prosecuted – or even be fired.
Where are we going?
October 7th, 2009 at 12:34 pmYes, also in Saudi Arabia, the woman gets whipped for getting raped. That is where Republican want to go. right-wing fundamentalism is the same, no matter where it occurs.
October 7th, 2009 at 12:39 pmSen. Franken: “The victims of rape and discrimination deserve their day in court…”
30 Republican senators: “No they dont!”
October 7th, 2009 at 12:43 pmNow we are holding rapists accountable for their actions. If this keeps up, someday we may hold war profiteers accountable.
October 7th, 2009 at 12:45 pmI want Senator Franken to propose an amendment directing that every elected official who ‘pays money to be diapered’ appear in both HUGGIES/PAMPERS commercials and donate his earnings to CHARITY . .
Make Jesus proud, Senator Vitter . .
October 7th, 2009 at 12:46 pmjb says:
“Now we are holding rapists accountable for their actions. If this keeps up, someday we may hold war profiteers accountable.”
Maybe one day even war criminals
October 7th, 2009 at 12:51 pmLook at this discussion! It’s Al Franken’s amendment and not one troll crawls out of his hole to defend gang-rape by KBR.
I think this is progress.
October 7th, 2009 at 12:51 pmI just called Specter’s office to ask why he chose not to vote on this and the person that answered the phone said, “he had personal matters to attend to.”
I say let’s give him all the personal time he needs, Support Joe Sestak! Send him money, volunteer, do whatever you can to retire Specter, Please!
Joe is running an ad with Specter’s qoute about voting for McCain/Palin because they were the better choice. Everyone in Pa needs to know that Specter’s got to Go!
October 7th, 2009 at 12:52 pm“quote”dammit!
October 7th, 2009 at 12:53 pmSen. Franken and Rep. Grayson….Finally some balls on the Dem side.
October 7th, 2009 at 12:55 pmThe Raper in Chief, Dick Cheney is turning over in his grave. Accountability is supposed to go to the top.
October 7th, 2009 at 12:59 pmI didn’t think the Republicans were capable of sinking this low. What kind of sick, psychotic, disgusting excuse for a human being would dare to vote to prevent the prosecution of rapists? This is beyond of the pale of any sort of human decency. These people are so desperate to oppose anything supported by Democrats that they are willing to allow their mercenary contractors to commit gang rape without fear of prosecution? I’m going to be sick.
October 7th, 2009 at 1:01 pm48, You’re right ‘Niner, Franken’s good. Not a single troll. I’m glad I donated to his campaign.
October 7th, 2009 at 1:05 pmWow, I haven’t posted in a long while and it’s interesting to see the number of “vote downs.” I can only surmise that there are 7 trolls lurking or some trolls have multiple user Id’s to get the number that high?
October 7th, 2009 at 1:09 pmApparently, even the trolls are shamed to publicly advocate in favor of gang rape, so they are just lurking and casting down votes against those of us who are anti-rape.
October 7th, 2009 at 1:19 pm.
30 (R)epublican Senators think it morally defensible to protect a rapist just because they work in the defense industry. More corruption, just not in money but in spirit.
.
October 7th, 2009 at 1:20 pmSo, Sen. David Vitter and the 30 other Republicans who voted against Franken’s amendment are pro gang rape.
October 7th, 2009 at 1:20 pmOops. Those aren’t down votes.
October 7th, 2009 at 1:20 pmDidn’t KBR employees receive abstinence-only education?
KBR had the worst government intervention possible: pay for their expenses, then pay for profit, no taxes or accountability to law. They should pay their own expenses under strict scrutiny, be paid to break even, and pay U.S. citizens as employees earning abroad (plus pension IMO). It’s like paying AIG… oh… or just dropping money in a crate… umm…
Of course with that blind trust they committed war crimes. Mission accomplished!
October 7th, 2009 at 1:22 pmOwned.
October 7th, 2009 at 1:26 pmWhy not? After you murder a few hundred thousand Iraqis for profit, gang rape seems like a walk in the park.
October 7th, 2009 at 1:27 pmMr Sessions, Al Franken is here with a package.
October 7th, 2009 at 1:29 pmIt’s your ass and he would like to hand it to you.
Yes, gang-rape is too much for even our trolls to defend but not for 30 Repugnacant Senators!
NinerFan says:
October 7th, 2009 at 1:31 pmLook at this discussion! It’s Al Franken’s amendment and not one troll crawls out of his hole to defend gang-rape by KBR.
I think this is progress.
Both Al Franken and Michele Bachmann are from Minnesota. O’Reilly and his gang railed against Franken while supporting Bachmann. What’s wrong with this picture?
October 7th, 2009 at 1:35 pmRape is just a form of torture. Granted that it is sexual torture, but it is torture nevertheless. Republicans do not feel they have to obey laws regarding the sexual torture of woman or the non-sexual torture of American prisoners.
Until the Republicans that have tortured our prisoners, and the companies/individuals that sexually tortured woman are brought to justice, America shall remain a nation that exists outside the rule of law.
October 7th, 2009 at 1:41 pmI love how Sessions extends the victimization mentality that the GOP suffers to Halliburton. Never mind the rape victims, the true victim is Halliburton which is a target…ugh…
October 7th, 2009 at 2:19 pmSometimes I wonder what would have happened if Normie did make it to the Senate. While we may have seen an amendment like this, I doubt it would have gotten the votes had another Democratic Senator proposed it.
October 7th, 2009 at 2:32 pmFranken 2012.
October 7th, 2009 at 2:50 pmHow do you vote against this? Or did these 30 stop sleeping long ago?
October 7th, 2009 at 3:02 pmWhat I find very telling about this vote is that all 17 female senators, regardless of party, voted in favor of this amendment, but the 30 men that voted against them greatly outnumber them. Isn’t this a sign that women need more representation in government?
October 7th, 2009 at 3:14 pmI hope Dems make campaign commercials out of this. Keep the collection going, we have the cheering over USA losing the Olympics from these folks, we have voting in favor of rape of US Citizens, we have that old GOPer in California on tape bragging about screwing the lobbyist, sending her home dripping, ewwwww; Oh and that Republican talking about how women shouldn’t have the vote — that’s pretty choice.
October 7th, 2009 at 3:27 pmshoeless says:
“If this goes to the Supreme Court Antonin Scalia will rule that there is nothing against gang rape in the Constitution.”
Yeah, and Roberts, Alito and Thomas will join him as “strict constructions” opposed to “judicial activism.”
October 7th, 2009 at 3:51 pm“Jones was prevented from bringing charges in court against KBR because her employment contract stipulated that sexual assault allegations would only be heard in private arbitration.”
Ok, the “company” did not rape her, a gang of men did. But personnel, working for the company, confined her for 24 hours, in effect kidnapping her. Seems like there were two things that went on there, the rape and a
kidnapping.
Now 30 Republican Senators have raped her all over again by voting against this amendment.
BTW, the company was well aware of the problem with sexual assaults taking place or they wouldn’t have put the clause in the employee’s contracts.
October 7th, 2009 at 4:47 pmProgressives do make a distinction
October 7th, 2009 at 5:07 pm—
Wanna support the thesis? Thanks.
Way to go Al! And my response to Diaper Vitter’s vote against proposed an amendment to the 2010 Defense Appropriations bill? Not surprised at all. He is anti-protection for sexual harrassment and rape victims in a workplace but he is pro-sex with hookers.
October 7th, 2009 at 5:18 pmkscitydude,
I think a case can be made that the company was complicit in the rape and should be held liable as well.
October 7th, 2009 at 5:56 pmThe fact that Franken made his living as a comedian doesn’t bother me in the least. After all, it’s not like he made his living as an attorney or a used car salesman. His career as a comedian was an honest way to make a living which is more than the majority of those in both houses who take money from corporations and special interests can claim.
We need (desperately) more representatives like Franken and Kucinich in both Houses. Sadly, there aren’t that many – it wouldn’t take very many hands to count them. Two? Three, maybe? We will know how our representatives in Congress voted on this and other issues and whether they represented the People or the corporations and special interests that line their campaign coffers, and when the primaries roll around again, we’ll know who was serving the People who elected them and who was serving his/her own selfish interests by selling their souls to the corporations willing to pay, all in order to protect their jobs (i.e. getting reelected).
October 7th, 2009 at 8:32 pmTo Lady Edith (#79),
October 7th, 2009 at 8:33 pmI hadn’t even read the Bachmann thread. But, at your request, I went back to look at it and flagged Crazy a few minutes ago.
This whole Jones-Rape story is sickening, and that 30 republicans still don’t grasp that is just as disturbing.
October 7th, 2009 at 9:24 pmThank you, AL FRANKEN!
i am so glad i helped!!!
the least i could do for all you’ve taught me… thanks again.
October 7th, 2009 at 9:35 pmWell done !!! Sock it to me Al
October 7th, 2009 at 9:48 pmJeff Sessions, Senator from Alabama. Remember that name. He spoke out against the amendment that would allow women who are drugged and raped to have their day in court, and not have their rights stolen by “arbitration”. He said the amendment was an “attack on Halliburton”. How much do you suppose Halliburton paid for Senator Sessions? They didn’t just buy his vote, they bought his soul.
No wonder those creeps at KBR drugged and raped her; they knew she had signed away her human rights when she signed that moronic “arbitration” clause.
October 7th, 2009 at 11:32 pmIt is time to boycott Halliburton and all of its subsidiaries. Halliburton has long fed at the public pig dish, overcharging the USA billions of dollars from $1000 hammers to $300 screws–but the true screw was Halliburton raping the taxpayers and then paying Cheney millions of dollars in bonuses that he never earned or qualified for. It admitted to the SEC that it spent more than $2 million in bribes to corrupt Nigeria politicians, is deeply involved in Iran, Iraq, and other anti-American nations political affairs, works tirelessly against climate control or a quality environment, etc (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halliburton). Vitter, Ensign, and the rest who are members of The Family of C Street in DC footed their religion which demands women be subordinate to men at all times, and that rape is what Jesus wants. There is a detailed book “The Family” now in paperback that is a must read–it exposes the GOP and those who support rape. Halliburton should be closed down by the government.
October 8th, 2009 at 10:46 amTo respond to MaskedMarvel’s question–how much did Halliburton contribute to Jeff Sessions: $2000; but Sessions “energy” sources have funneled in far more:
Anadarko Petroleum $9,000
Ashland Inc $1,000
BP $2,000
Chesapeake Energy $5,000
Chevron Corp $9,500
ConocoPhillips $3,000
Energen Corp $5,000
Exxon Mobil $5,500
Halliburton Co $2,000
Independent Petroleum Assn of America $2,500
KBR Inc $1,000
Koch Industries $4,500
Midstream Fuel Service $2,000
Mobile Gas Service Corp $2,000
Occidental Petroleum $3,000
Shell Oil $2,000
Southwest Gas $500
Valero Energy $5,000
Williams Companies $1,000
Source: http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/pacs.php?cycle=2008&cid=N00003062§or=E&seclong=Energy%2FNat+Resource&cat=E01&induslong=Oil+%26+Gas
All companies who have funneled money to Sessions have been accused of ignoring rape complaints filed by female workers.
Vitter’s record is worse–and his use of paid “escorts” (prostitutes) in DC is legendary–including carrying the “guests” to his quarters at The Family on C Street in DC.
October 8th, 2009 at 10:53 amBoy, we oughta be able to get real mileage out of the Repubs organized and official support of corporate rape, literally and figuratively….
Gawd, I love ya, Al! You were worth every agonizing minute of this winter and spring, counting and counting and counting and….
October 8th, 2009 at 8:25 pmWe now know why the rightys fought so hard to keep Senator Franken from being seated. göz kapagi estetigi
October 13th, 2009 at 6:43 amThank you for your sharing.!
October 14th, 2009 at 9:06 am