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Community => Politics and Government => Topic started by: Rabbit of Caerbannog on February 27, 2013, 03:58:27 pm

Title: Republican Doesn't Understand DV
Post by: Rabbit of Caerbannog on February 27, 2013, 03:58:27 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIW5Rtkxlu0

While the federal Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) is still in limbo (http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/28/us/politics/clearing-a-path-for-renewal-of-violence-against-women-act.html?_r=0), another fresh batch of stupidity was cooked up by Rep. Mark Warden (R-NH) who was discussing a proposed bill that would, in some cases, change the penalty for assault from a misdemeanor to a violation-level offense. While discussing the impact this would have on domestic violence cases, Warden declared that (http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/nh-lawmaker-says-some-people-might-like-being?ref=fpb) "a lot of people like being in abusive relationships." He went on to say that "more government" is not a solution to abusive relationships because people are always "free to leave." This is absolutely breathtaking. A relationship marred by domestic abuse is in no way like mere bickering between a couple. Such a relationship is usually characterized by one partner (usually the male) exerting such control over the other partner that she can no longer have a life of her own. The abuser uses violence, threats of violence and other methods to control his partner, often making her too terrified to attempt leaving the relationship or going to the authorities. Additionally, violence in a relationship often works in a cyclical pattern (http://www.dvsolutions.org/info/cycle.aspx), in which the abuser is violent and then moves to a "honeymoon phase" wherein the abuser acts kind and caring. The woman then may take this as a sign the abuse is over and recommits to the relationship only for this phase to terminate and violence to begin once again. Adding finances and children to the mix (which is often the case) and things are even more complicated, and it may be even more difficult for a battered partner to leave. This, of course, is radically different from this Teabagger's description of women liking abuse.

And as a final thought, why does it always seem to be Republicans who say batshit things about women?
Title: Re: Republican Doesn't Understand DV
Post by: Auggziliary on February 27, 2013, 05:42:55 pm
I don't even understand how someone could be this blatantly stupid. Who the hell loves getting abused?
Title: Re: Republican Doesn't Understand DV
Post by: starseeker on February 27, 2013, 05:56:13 pm
I don't even understand how someone could be this blatantly stupid. Who the hell loves getting abused?

Masochists?
Title: Re: Republican Doesn't Understand DV
Post by: Witchyjoshy on February 27, 2013, 06:01:05 pm
I don't even understand how someone could be this blatantly stupid. Who the hell loves getting abused?

Masochists?

I'm pretty sure a fair number of masochists would object to being beaten without consent.
Title: Re: Republican Doesn't Understand DV
Post by: kefkaownsall on February 27, 2013, 06:26:23 pm
I think he doesn't get S&M is about concent
Title: Re: Republican Doesn't Understand DV
Post by: Auggziliary on February 27, 2013, 06:32:30 pm
I think he doesn't get S&M is about concent

I don't even think he was referring to S&M.
Title: Re: Republican Doesn't Understand DV
Post by: R. U. Sirius on February 27, 2013, 06:36:33 pm
I think he was, but completely misunderstanding it, whether deliberately or otherwise.
Title: Re: Republican Doesn't Understand DV
Post by: Witchyjoshy on February 27, 2013, 06:37:31 pm
We are talking about the guy in the video, right?

I haven't actually watched the video yet :X
Title: Re: Republican Doesn't Understand DV
Post by: MadCatTLX on February 27, 2013, 10:48:20 pm
This guy has to be pretty fucking stupid. Honestly, I would think this to be willful ignorance, were it not for having witnessed stupidity of this caliber regularly.

Also, am I the only one who would like this to be changed from Violence Against Women Act to something to the effect of Violence Against Domestic Partners Act? That way it covers all violence, be it man on woman, woman on man, man on man, woman on woman, married or dating, and anything else I might have forgot.
Title: Re: Republican Doesn't Understand DV
Post by: ironbite on February 28, 2013, 12:31:37 am
But men are never the victims of Domestic Violence.

Ironbite-because they have a penis.
Title: Re: Republican Doesn't Understand DV
Post by: MadCatTLX on February 28, 2013, 12:38:43 am
And it's a fucking weapon.
Title: Re: Republican Doesn't Understand DV
Post by: Rabbit of Caerbannog on February 28, 2013, 06:40:05 am
This guy has to be pretty fucking stupid. Honestly, I would think this to be willful ignorance, were it not for having witnessed stupidity of this caliber regularly.

Also, am I the only one who would like this to be changed from Violence Against Women Act to something to the effect of Violence Against Domestic Partners Act? That way it covers all violence, be it man on woman, woman on man, man on man, woman on woman, married or dating, and anything else I might have forgot.
Actually men are covered by VAWA (http://www.ncdsv.org/images/FAQ_VAWA%20and%20Gender.pdf). As for same-sex abuse, that's what Republicans are trying to exclude from the bill. It's titled VAWA because the overwhelming amount of DV is inflicted on women.
Title: Re: Republican Doesn't Understand DV
Post by: erictheblue on February 28, 2013, 08:05:36 am
Also, am I the only one who would like this to be changed from Violence Against Women Act to something to the effect of Violence Against Domestic Partners Act? That way it covers all violence, be it man on woman, woman on man, man on man, woman on woman, married or dating, and anything else I might have forgot.

Nope. Part of my paper for my DV class was about how the VAWA is discriminatory towards men in both language and application. One of my recommendations is that all gender-specific language be changed to gender-neutral.

Also, although VAWA does allow funds to be provided to help men, the office that oversees administration does not spend the funds that way. Programs will only be funded if they primarily help women. (So a shelter that takes both men and women would be funded, provided more women than men use the shelter. But a hotline for male victims would not be funded.)

As for the guy in the video, I just don't get it. Really, I don't. How can someone be that stupid? Even before going to law school and taking a class on DV, I knew that it isn't just a matter of "well, she can just leave." (To add to reasons given above, sometimes the victim actually loves their abuser.)
Title: Re: Republican Doesn't Understand DV
Post by: kefkaownsall on February 28, 2013, 08:30:03 am
Team Rape is at it again.
Title: Re: Republican Doesn't Understand DV
Post by: Material Defender on February 28, 2013, 09:11:52 am
Oh god damnit. Why do they go to such shitty reasonings for opposing things sometimes?
Title: Re: Republican Doesn't Understand DV
Post by: Auri-El on February 28, 2013, 09:48:21 am
It's almost like they're deliberately trying to sabotage the Republican party's public image or something.
Title: Re: Republican Doesn't Understand DV
Post by: Material Defender on February 28, 2013, 09:56:05 am
You know, I wish we had productive parties that would argue about things that mattered, like economics and stuff. Not whether we should protect same sex couples.
Title: Re: Republican Doesn't Understand DV
Post by: ThunderWulf on February 28, 2013, 10:20:37 am
Yes because people like being beaten all the time.  WTF?
Title: Re: Republican Doesn't Understand DV
Post by: Rabbit of Caerbannog on February 28, 2013, 02:46:11 pm
Yes because people like being beaten all the time.  WTF?
Usually I'd say something like, "Makes sense if you don't think about it." In this case, it doesn't even make sense in that context either.
Title: Re: Republican Doesn't Understand DV
Post by: Rabbit of Caerbannog on February 28, 2013, 10:17:16 pm
And this seems appropriate here:
(http://cdn.uproxx.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Picture-125.png)