After a full day of the original "voice vote" in the US Senate, some Republicans and the only Democrat have joined the majority in co-sponsoring the anti-lynching resolution. Yet still, 15 Republicans have refused to co-sponsor the resolution. What is even more outrageous is Republican Bill Frist vetoed a “roll call” vote, in which each Senator would be recorded in how they voted towards the resolution. This was against the original intentions of Mary Landrieu (D-LA) who wanted an official “roll call” vote. From AmericaBlog:

Frist then tried to blame the debacle on Senators George Allen (R-VA) and Mary Landrieu (D-LA), saying THEY didn't want a real roll vote to put Senators on the record. Not true, say Landrieu and Allen. They WANTED a real vote, but Frist would not allow it. He did NOT want Senators to have to go on the record. Nor did Frist want the issue to come up at all during daytime, because evidently he didn't want the resolution getting much media attention.

And why is that? Was the Republican leader of the Senate afraid that all 100 Senators would support a resolution opposing lynching, and that would be a BAD thing? God forbid America speak with one voice against lynching black people.

What’s even more disgusting are the comments by Republican Senator Lamar Alexander who’s staff was told to reply for the reason in not sponsoring the anti-lynching resolution because she already supported "black history month":

She was very polite and read a prepared statement. It started off with a little misdirection: assuring me that he did not oppose the legislation, and that it passed unanimously, and that he didn't co-sponsor "because" he had already co-sponsored legislation celebrating black history month, and that he intended to bring that one up again.

The All Republican Pro-Lynching Wall of Shame*:

Lamar Alexander (R-TN)
Robert Bennett (R-UT)
Thad Cochran (R-MS)
John Cornyn (R-TX)
Michael Crapo (R-ID)
Michael Enzi (R-WY)
Chuck Grassley (R-IA)
Judd Gregg (R-NH)
Orrin Hatch (R-UT)
Kay Hutchison (R-TX)
Jon Kyl (R-AZ)
Trent Lott (R-MS)
Richard Shelby (R-AL)
John Sununu (R-NH)
Craig Thomas (R-WY)

Permalink | | Comments (2) | Post a Comment |