Meet The Senators Who Voted Against The Franken Amendment

I think that all homo sapiens can understand how the mere thought of an organization that receives government money through contract mechanisms being tangentially involved in setting up a fake tax shelter for a fake pimp and his fake prostitution ring of fake prostitutes can justifiably lead to lawmakers going absolutely cross-eyed with white-hot, impotent rage. But what happens when a similarly taxpayer-endowed contractor attempts to cover up employee-on-employee gang rape by locking up the victim in a shipping container without food and water and threatening her with reprisals if she report the incident? Somehow, it doesn't engender the same level of anger!

Credit new Senator Al Franken however, for introducing an amendment to the Defense Appropriations bill that would punish contractors if they "restrict their employees from taking workplace sexual assault, battery and discrimination cases to court." You'd think that this would be a no-brainer, actually, but that didn't stop Jeff Sessions from labeling Franken's effort a "political attack directed at Halliburton." Franken, of course, pointed out that his amendment would apply broadly, to all contractors, because otherwise, 'twould be a bill of attainder, right? Right?

Franken's amendment ended up passing, 68-30. Here's a list of the Senators who showed broad support for Roman Polanski by voting against it:

Alexander (R-TN)
Barrasso (R-WY)
Bond (R-MO)
Brownback (R-KS)
Bunning (R-KY)
Burr (R-NC)
Chambliss (R-GA)
Coburn (R-OK)
Cochran (R-MS)
Corker (R-TN)
Cornyn (R-TX)
Crapo (R-ID)
DeMint (R-SC)
Ensign (R-NV)
Enzi (R-WY)
Graham (R-SC)
Gregg (R-NH)
Inhofe (R-OK)
Isakson (R-GA)
Johanns (R-NE)
Kyl (R-AZ)
McCain (R-AZ)
McConnell (R-KY)
Risch (R-ID)
Roberts (R-KS)
Sessions (R-AL)
Shelby (R-AL)
Thune (R-SD)
Vitter (R-LA)
Wicker (R-MS)

ADDENDUM: It's been pointed out to me that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce lobbied against the Franken amendment as well:

Republicans point out that the amendment was opposed by a host of business interests, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and applies to a wide range of companies, including IBM and Boeing.

I guess we must cover up crimes like rape in order to save capitalism.

RELATED:
Franken Wins Bipartisan Support For Legislation Reining In KBR's Treatment Of Rape [ThinkProgress]

PREVIOUSLY, on the HUFFINGTON POST:
Franken Gets His First Amendment Passed By Roll Call Vote

[Would you like to follow me on Twitter? Because why not? Also, please send tips to [e-mail] -- learn more about our media monitoring project here.]

Comments

[ChefLito]

All of these conservative Republicans, particularly these 30 that include Graham and McCain claimed strong strong Christian values as part of their platform. what kind of Christian values do they have, anyway, supporting rapists? after all, these companies who refused to prosecute rapists in their midst and even harassed women who who were raped, are rapists and perpetrators themselves. And as supporters of these rapists, these 30 Republicans are no better off, particularly considering their claim for Christian values. what a bunch of hypocrites!
Well, Ensign, perhaps we can excuse him given his philandering and his way of treating his wife and all :(

[42skidoo]

The "R" votes only shine a light on their general attitude about women. If I were the wife, mother, daughter, sister, etc of any of these weasels there were be hell to pay. Corporate privilege, comes before humanity? Somehow it doesn't seem right to have protection from rape prosecution as a company perk.

[Bill Housewright]

Both of my states senator's Coker and Alexander from Tennessee voted NO, so here is a copy of my new bumper sticker,
Tennessee’s Sen. Corker and Sen. Alexander
voted against contractor
Rape Liability bill.
Shame on them!

[booker52]

I noticed that all who voted against this measure are retrugs. No surprise there, they want to protect big business and not the public. Sick.

[expired]

This is an outrage. It is even more telling that this has not been mentioned by any of the network news outlets. newspapers or major cable channels, other than the progressives. This says a lot about this country. How sad. Money talks.

[unclej0]

I was commenting on how ubiquitous corruption is, worldwide, when the Latino limo driver added this: money makes the monkey jump. Very true and it is as true in the USA as everywhere else. My sources: Animal Farm, Penguin Island, Threepenny Opera, and the Congress of the United States of America.

Well, we are what we are. If we want protection from the most egregious behavior there are three pathways:

1) Genetic engineering (maybe, but not in my lifetime).
2) Cultural evolution, doable ( if we have the will) but it will take a couple of generations at least.
3) Rigorous regulation, rigorously enforced. We can start that right now; use the internet, use the public media, use the ballot box, use the streets!

It is not enough to have a friend at the top. He needs vigorous encouragement.

Think of it; President Obama has top level banksters at the helm of the Treasury and the Fed. There's a bit of personal conditioning to be overcome in the regulation of financial institutions. We need some proven state attorneys general in the cabinet or as "czars." Has anyone opposed czars recently? Yes, the reliably corrupt Right.

[dancucich]

my two Georgia Senators voted against the Franken ammendment
One of them is is fairly moderate (isakson)
while the other (saxby shameless) is a loon
and a scoundrel.

. Still, I would like to read the entire ammendment exactly as it was written,
to see who is really misrepresnting what the ammendment says.

Why cant HuffPoprint the document for all to see?

As it stands now,
I have to take someody's word for what it says and
what effect it would have.

[DANOSC]

What IS wrong with Geogia?

[rtlr1004]

What is wrong? There is entirely too much "church" influence. The Republicans profess their faith in God and their belief in demanding family values. The Republicans have convinced the majority of white church goers that Democrats are the spawn of Satan. In addition, church members listen to their pastors slyly endorse the Republican. Unfortunately, the majority can not make a decision for themselves; they are brain-washed by the ridiculous claims of family values, yet they NEVER take the time to look at what these two loons actually do. They both are against health care reform. They both voted no on the Franken Amendment, and I promise you very few, if any, of the Christian voters in Georgia will ever see the hypocrites they make themselves by continuing to vote for self-serving Republicans. Pretty much, if you are white and live in Georgia, you are Republican. Georgians see them as tight with money and God-fearing. I am white and live in Georgia. I thank God I can see the truth. It is embarassing.

[nm11928]

It's rape you loco! Read all you want, but these Senators who voted against this bill are all despicable! You understand loco? Unbelievable!

[Celebrindan]

This is not news.

There is no court in the land that would uphold a clause of that nature.

Courts have already issued rulings that you cannot lawfully sign away legal rights, by contract or otherwise.

The woman has the right to both file charges and seek compensation from ALL parties responsible, contract or otherwise.

Companies try to get away with putting all kinds of crap in contracts.

It doesn't mean it's legal or that it will stand up in court.

She just needs to find a lawyer with some sack.

[PinkoPanther]

I wonder how Meghan McCain feels about her father voting for Halliburton employees to be able to drug and rape young women and then lock them in shipping containers if they complain to the boss?

[deirdreflanagan6]

Where is Fox Nooze on this? Glenn Beck should be sobbing at the thought of any American woman being raped by cotracted workers in a foriegn country. Sean should be sputtering at the unjustice. Even Meagan McCain should be calling out her father for his dispicable vote. When one sees the entire Repuican bloc voting one way,it's very suspect of pure politics. Shame on all of them.

[Jason Wisdom]

I have never seen anything that has so utterly and completely shocked me, in a repulsive way, as this story.
WHY was this vote not on the news headlines more. I just checked the WSJ to see the conservative trolls response to this... looks like the story wasn't even published there.

[Angrygrrl]

Men, we love them, but some of them just don't get that this is about POWER, not sex,
so it doesn't matter if a man "thinks" a woman is coming on to him...it's CONTROL over a weaker being.
It's very annoying to know who these "people" are,...because living outside their states (thank you, God) won't always allow me to communicate with their offices.
I once wrote to SD about Thune, he's got a great rep. He's the one that pushed an anti-abortion bill even in rapes, unless....wait for it...the woman could prove she'd been a virgin....Kid you not....why doesn't SD pay attention....and ID and AL and OK....stepping off the soapbox now...

[sukiyhtaky]

As a Republican (yes yes Republicans CAN read people and we DO read Huffington) and as a woman, I am thoroughly ashamed of these senators. Thankfully none were from my state of California. That being said though, this whole country devalues women when we don't look at rape for what it is a CRIME. When you have Hollywood celebrities saying that forced sodomy, rape and drugging of a child is not a "rape rape" (I know; I know you're all saying she is probably a closet Republican for that) and signing petitions to let the perpetrator off virtually free from punishment and you have the government on its own and through its senators and DOD condoning by refusing to condemn then we have a very serious issue of teh basic violation of a womans civil rights and the way women are still perceived. And Ms. Schafley if my husband tried to get non-consensual sex out of me...he'd never be able to have sex with anyone again. Because not only would I cut IT off, I'd put it down the garbage disposal to insure it didn't get sewn back on.

[MerhabaAbi]

The only part that confuses me is: why are you a Republican? You are aware of Abu Graib aren't you? Please look over all of the issues and see where your party stands vs, the Democrats.

[zetacplus]

I'm from California as well so I know our two female Senators would never vote the way these idiots did. These 30 Senators must suffer the wrath of their constituents and if they don't then they deserve them. People in these states must stand up to their elected officials, you elected them to represent you, make sure they are doing that. All 30 should be looking for new employment come next election. Their souls are rotten to the core.

[DANOSC]

All 30 are probably safe in the next election, given the majority of their constituents.

[ponderingmuch]

I do not know who all the senators are. Did any females vote against this?

[ecoflame]

Outside of two names on the list that I'm not familiar with - Johanns (R-NE) & Wicker (R-MS) - these are all male senators.

Women in the U.S. Senate - currently:

http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/briefing/women_senators.htm (names are in bold).

It does not look as though ANY woman in the Senate voted 'AYE.'

[Caliwoman]

We need to go after businesses who market to women to leave the Chamber of Commerce in protest of this. Its disgusting.