Someone Tell Conservatives That Domestic Violence is Not a Partisan Issue

Republicans vote against reauthorization of Violence Against Women Act

Native Americans have some of the highest levels of domestic violence of any group. It’s disturbing that anyone - no matter their party affiliation - would object to a measure to protect women and families from abuse. Also disturbing is the reasoning behind the conservative opposition to the reauthorization. In a radio interview, one such person, Janice Shaw Crouse of Concerned Women for America, explained her opposition as, in part, because of, “A general view in society that a woman is - she can say anything and a man has to bear the consequences of her accusations. She is allowed to have free law enforcement. She is allowed to have consultation with lawyers, and the person who is accused is not. So those kinds of inequities, I think, are inherent in this bill.” Crouse also went on to say the standard argument conservatives use to object to federal help for victims: 1) Blame Feminism 2) Cite Duke Lacrosse 3) But what about all the male victims? 

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Crouse is making the point that since reports of domestic violence have gone up since 1994 the VAWA has failed, but logically that statistic can be seen as more women reporting the crime to the police. Domestic violence is traditionally a crime where victims are alone and suffering in private and silently, afraid to report. Legislation and funding like the VAWA is meant to help those women and encourage them to report the violence and seek help. Also notable is that Crouse's opposition is backwards. The VAWA has not done enough to help victims so we should just get rid of it? How about a bigger VAWA with more funding?  

Furthermore, victims, no matter their gender, should have sufficient resources and know that those resources are available to them in their communities. The VAWA allows for those resources to have proper funding and visibility so that victims no matter who they are can get help.  This should not be a matter of party, it’s a matter of humanity.

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Hear Joe Biden speak on VAWA below: