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Domestic Violence Law Center Stage in Dems' Fight

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    Chris Stirewalt, Rep Sandy Adams and David Mercer discuss the Violence Against Women Act

  • Duration 8:43
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Is imminent were actually re fighting long settled battles over women's rights is because.

Women -- fewer than one in five seats in congress.

That was again President Obama in a commencement address -- -- of Barnard college and women only college.

A New York's Columbia University this is powered -- welcome back welcome back to David Mercer who is fired up today and that's just look at David Mercer got extra guy as extremists that -- -- in his -- Will talk more than a minute.

But right now I want to introduce you to congresswoman sandy Adams from the sunshine state from Florida and -- -- on the Judiciary Committee.

And right now there is a serious tussle going on.

Between house Republicans and senate Democrats over what it's called violence against women act this up for reauthorization.

Congressman welcome to the show.

Thank you glad to be here.

All right -- what we're glad you're with us so.

The question is there's -- senate passed version of this legislation.

Right now you are working up the bill that you are that you co authored.

That is an alternate version can -- for our for those of us who don't follow this closely -- outlined what the differences between the legislation.

I believe are villains -- victims senator bill and we have not politicized that we have not taken the approach that.

We want to get it off tries reauthorize not politicize -- and it's very similar to the senate bill is set -- does not have some of the provisions that have made it political.

And right now all of us agree that we would like to see the bill we authorized not politicize.

So good that those provisions you're talking about -- those the ones that relate to the number of visas available.

For illegal immigrants who were deemed victims and also extra protections.

Four what are called big gay lesbian and bisexual and -- gender victims.

-- always said all along is that a victim is a victim.

And by a listing now do you eventually start excluding groups and the victims and what we want to do was remain a victim senator bill which means that.

A victim is a victim all victims of our victims.

So there's not spend so what you're saying as.

Everybody should be you believe -- that your bill protects everybody equally and it doesn't need special carve -- for individuals.

Because of their -- In this city -- sexual preference.

I think that we have to remember that this bill has always been for all victims.

And so what we want to do is remain that way we don't need to start listing because eventually once you start the listing you also start excluding.

And we never want to exclude any victim.

So the president you heard him there.

Of the New York yesterday.

He's out on the campaign trail you can guarantee that with the senate passed version of this legislation.

You're gonna be hearing more about this as Democrats -- the Republicans are obstructing an already passed senate legislation.

How long until house Republicans can passed a version of this legislation and and get this to a conclusion.

Well we're hoping to bring our version our -- to the floor -- -- Wednesday tomorrow.

And I will tell you this that I believe that what we have done by having a focus strictly on victims and victim services.

And not politicizing it that that is the approach that we need to tank.

Just -- we have input towards more funding to get the backlog of the rape -- done.

We want to make sure that the victim services in the victims.

Needs are met by this piece of legislation we don't need to politicize it and I I would hope that our colleagues on the other side.

And -- in the senate recognize that the best way to go forward with this is to stop politicizing it and let's reauthorize it because that's what victims are looking for.

Well I kind of that I I -- without fear of correction that you're going to have an interest in probably all stressing a couple of weeks ahead.

We wish you the best of luck and all of that.

Well I appreciate that and and that's what we do we work on behalf of the American people and I will tell you that I believe that this president by his statements.

He's only trying to deflect the -- from his failed policies.

And I would hope that our colleagues in the senate will take a look at what we have put together here recognize it's a -- senator bill.

And let's move forward to get this we -- because that's what victims of our country are asking us to do.

Records show also -- -- reflect congresswoman we thank you for your time have a great day thank here.

-- David Mercer.

You know we need to -- -- -- -- -- -- business to take care of we have neglected our -- today there and so let's let's let's move through the inventory first top quickly Vincent de Campo says.

But we had bills to protect special groups what happened to equal protection under the law.

That is have been very common sentiment on the right the sentiment on the left -- is that groups that were disenfranchised.

Or word discriminated against in the -- need help.

To get back to equal footing is that about right.

I would think -- -- the congress -- and I don't think many people could disagree with that as long as it does cover.

What we can assume to be groups that might -- it's be excluded.

Let's cover -- and whether that's a name or making it all encompassing.

I have no problem with that all right there you go.

It's in.

And I'm glad I'm glad you're gonna go ahead and go to -- on that one.

So.

Charles -- -- here's a good one.

VS LR a VS help seniors sense.

I don't care if you were married straight -- -- If you and your better half ain't got a job it ain't gonna last and the truth is of course you know we've talked about the first segment with AB.

The situation for the president.

Is this we are it's we were having an early battle of the silly season -- -- to descend to -- politics are about silly season is the time.

Between Labor Day and the election when everybody just sort of loses their minded people say absolutely cuckoo -- stuff all the time.

We've entered -- -- that we saw this in 2004.

Were you have faced a skirmish that happens early bush folks I was under Karl -- about it yesterday he's just sort of the bush folks cut came out 2004 and send a little which stiff arm shiver to John -- on the war record yet congratulations.

-- won the democratic nomination now we're gonna put -- -- in your face and that it dialed back.

Now this silly season and you had to carry people coming back after bush and then.

Because the American people are smarter.

Then we usually give them credit for they -- out of politics by about.

Memorial Day.

It's like enough with your yak yak about this stuff but we're seeing a longer and tougher still lease early silly season the scrimmage is tougher than usual right.

That's definitely tougher.

Com and you know look.

Do with them.

-- does not have a lot of room for maneuver on you know what's gonna happen with his VP choice we've seen on policy whether it's immigration -- other.

How he had to cater to the right.

And leaving him less room to maneuver into the general election -- looking at that VP choice is.

What signal is he gonna -- -- conservatives or is he gonna send different message to independents in the hopes of increasing his vote get leading into November I think that that is an enduring issue that's going to last until we see what -- VP choices and then there's going to be.

Just everybody.

Going after that choice in an examining inventing it and that's gonna extend I think.

The silly season as you -- And because the president and I think there's a probably pretty good chance you use that Romney will be perfectly Romney likened him vice president selection and that it will be unsurprisingly.

That it will be a by the book it will be it will be better than no one will go.

Can you believe what -- going to take rest like McCain did with an unknown such as well and also he's probably not going to be behind by the margin that every I think the expectation we hear from the president is.

This this man is going to be pretty close here this is going to be a tough decision just flew over the tough -- reelection campaign.

But I think we're gonna pull through and David Mercer it is Wheaties today he's pretty fired -- -- Internet as a good stuff for years you go let's check out -- Twitter SE several you can see some of the funniest David we thank you so much what you -- here -- and now as we like to do every day.

We want to leave you with the word from our friend Charles.

As we're deeply opposed to the militarization.

Of civil society.

It all kinds of -- -- -- into it and this is importing it because -- as you say it's cheap.

It's easy it's silent.

It's -- selling -- -- that you can easily deploy its going to be I think the Bane of our existence stopping here stopping now.