GOP walks past wheelchair-bound Bob Dole to vote against disabilities treaty

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

Senator Dole, 89, was recently released from Walter Reed and made a rare public appearance to push for the treaty.

It failed in a 61-38 vote. 67 votes were needed.


(Bob and Elizabeth Dole are visible on the right)

Former Senate Republican Leader Bob Dole came to the Senate floor Tuesday to make a personal appeal for lawmakers to ratify a United Nations treaty for people with disabilities.

Dole, who was in wheelchair, came to the floor shortly before senators began to vote. Accompanied by his wife, former Sen. Elizabeth Dole, he listened as Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) made a final push for the treaty. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) walked over to greet Dole, smiling and patting Dole’s back.

In a touching moment, Rep. Jim Langevin (D-R.I.), who also uses a wheelchair and has publicly urged the Senate to ratify the treaty, joined Dole at one point, holding hands with him as they talked and listened to Kerry.

“Don’t let Sen. Bob Dole down,” Kerry told senators, gesturing toward Dole.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/on-congress/2012/12/dole-makes-appearance-on-senate-floor-151034.html

Rachel Maddow had this to say via Facebook:

"The spectacle of Senate Republicans voting against the UN treaty on the rights of the disabled -- and walking past Bob Dole in a wheelchair on their way to do it -- should be news, real and big news."

The GOP explained their heartless vote by spouting some Alex Jones/Glenn Beck-style, black helicopter conspiracy nonsense about losing our sovereignty. Funny they had no concern for any of that when they voted for every corporate globalization "free" trade deal of the past two decades.

[Kelvin Mace]

1. He should be glad they didn't step on him

to make their point.

[BlueStreak]

14. Isn't Bob Dole among the 47% takers that the GOP finds so contemptible?

Somebody should compile the complete list of Republicans that would not be welcome in today's GOP:

Ronald Reagan
Dwight Eisenhower
Bob Dole
Richard Lugar
etc.

[hifiguy]

24. Probably. That he earned those veterans benefits

the hard way in Italy would be of little consequence to today's GOPigs.

[BlueStreak]

25. What has Bob Dole done for me lately?

That is the bottom line to the 47% business.

If you are unemployed, you are worthless.

If you were once a soldier but now just consume Veteran's benefits, you are worthless.

If you are a student, you are worthless.

If you have special needs, God help you, because we won't. You aren't productive.

[GoCubsGo]

37. Little do they understand...

The majority of those "special needs" people are FAR MORE productive than the assholes who voted against that treaty, or those who believe them to be non-productive and worthless. Talk about complete wastes of flesh--that would be every last one of those who bitch about the 47%.

[nxylas]

96. Of course, just like those losers who are incapacitated by accidents at work

Gotta preserve freedom by allowing employers to dismiss those moochers on the spot, and doing away with the regulations that would have prevented the accident from happening.

[fasttense]

104. If there had been money involved the current RepubliCONS Senators would have run over him. n/t

[Ian David]

2. I hope Bob Dole is proud of what his party has become. n/t

[Cha]

16. I know huh? This is a total symbolic slap in the face from the koch

party to gop of yore.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

3. When he was hospitalized a few weeks ago...

...many of us were saying he was the last Republican with any decency.

Mitch McConnell and the Senate GOP's actions today proved that Dole would not be welcome in today's teabagging lunatic Republican Party.

[Skittles]

36. yup

I just don't remember ever despising or being disgusted by Bob Dole but today's right wing nut jobs are a different story

[rwsanders]

100. I remember a different Bob Dole before his run for president...

He was opposed to anything the democrats did just because they did it.
That is what I saw at the time. He even spoke differently.
But before that I would have said he was reasonable, and was fooled the same way by Fred Thompson.
I won't ever take any of them seriously ever again. That group is rotten to the core.

[1Greensix]

108. Dole, now he sees the light

Dole was a rabid skunk in the Senate. He helped raise this group of Republicans and is responisible for their ethics and morality. What else would he expect from bunch of selfish pricks? He looked like a fool at the voting down of the Treaty.

[Puzzledtraveller]

4. So it would have been pointless to vote in favor of the treaty right?

Then the yays are just pandering to one side, and the nays to another. I could care less.

[bullwinkle428]

51. Your compassion is noted.

[karynnj]

55. If you don't see a difference, it is because you haven't thought much about it

or you don't care about how people are affected.

[Ikonoklast]

58. Are you saying you care more?

I can see why you are puzzled, language seems to be confusing to you.

[Quantess]

72. They could at least have brought out an ice floe

to roll Bob Dole onto, and push him out to sea.

[Rambis]

5. George H W Bush and Bob Dole the party is over

the religious whack jobs have won good luck to you

[WinkyDink]

40. GHWB?! That old treasonous former CIA Chief??

[JoeyT]

69. I wouldn't include GHWB.

Sherman: What will you do to win the votes of the Americans who are atheists?

Bush: I guess I'm pretty weak in the atheist community. Faith in God is important to me.

Sherman: Surely you recognize the equal citizenship and patriotism of Americans who are atheists?

Bush: No, I don't know that atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered patriots. This is one nation under God.

"As you are aware, the President is a religious man who neither supports atheism nor believes that atheism should be unnecessarily encouraged or supported by the government.

GHW was the first of the religious fanatics. Or at least the first one that was really willing to pander to them full throttle.

[dotymed]

71. "One nation, under God" was added to "our" pledge of allegiance (grr) in 1954

at the height of McCarthyism. It has NO basis in our constitution and in fact is in direct violation of the separation of church and state
clause that was a large part of the reason that America felt a need to have a constitution.
GWHB (ex-head of the CIA) never (that I am aware of) represented any Christian principles as I know them.

[Chorophyll]

107. Yeah. He couldn't have cared less, but he was pandering.

I think that's true of most of 'em.

[scratcho]

6. Old news,I suppose.

1st post here. Still shiny. Never in my memory have the repubs shown to be who they really are,what they believe,how they will attempt to get their way by any means necessary,whom they represent and whom they don't represent, than currently.( Since I'm brand new here,please forgive me for stating the obvious that I'm sure has been stated many times before.) They're shameless.

[DocMac]

8. Welcome to DU.

You're gonna like it here.

[scratcho]

9. Thanks Doc-------

Hope so. Refugee from another forum I was on since '99. Still kind of confusing--but I'll git er!

[Panasonic]

81. Which one?

So we can laugh at them for losing a member

[Lochloosa]

11. Another DU Welcome. Thanks for stopping in.

[eShirl]

19. They're like poory-written villains in a poorly-written story.

[Canuckistanian]

50. Welcome.

You'll find a lot of people here who agree with you.

[We People]

54. Good point. They seem to have shamelessly removed their masks

that they've been hiding behind in different degrees for the past 30 years. Nowadays, the tea partiers have made it necessary for them to reach down into the depths of who they really are - shameless promoters of greed - and proudly wear their own personas. If they don't, they're terrified of looking anything like the Republican Party of Abe, Ike, or Bob (Dole).

I guess they don't want to even acknowledge that "self-made" folk (or actually men, right?) like them would ever need any assistance or not be totally able-bodied. That wouldn't be Ayn Rand-like. They haven't gotten the message that people who are down on their luck or haven't been "blessed by God" with financial success deserve - not blame or scorn - but compassion.

There's so much psychopathology down in their psyches that Freud, Adler, and other psychiatrists would probably consider them textbook cases for projection, antisocial behavior and base prejudice against people who are not so prideful and self-righteous as the nay-voting senators are.

[hrmjustin]

57. Welcome to DU!

[Le Taz Hot]

67. Welcome to DU, Scratcho.

Looking forward to more posts. Feel free to jump right in!

[freshwest]

80. Welcome scratcho. Your view is just as valuable as anyone else's. And truth bears repeating.

[BuelahWitch]

7. Both Kansas senators voted "nay." Shameful! n/t

[KamaAina]

28. Watch them trip over each other to be first in line at his funeral

when it comes.

[BuelahWitch]

60. Of course!

Rat bastards!

[Laurian]

10. For a little comic relief from this outrageous vote,

check out the comments at the end of this TPM article about the vote.



http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/12/republicans-un-treaty-disabled.php?ref=fpnewsfeed




I sometimes think humor is the only way to deal with the GOP. I only wish they could understand that they are being ridiculed.

[femrap]

42. Thanks....

I really needed that. My blood pressure and heart rate can go only so fast. I called Portman of OH and hollered at some pisshole, "You're a loser. Why? Your party is cruel and vile. I wouldn't doubt that Portman prays to Lucifer every night.'

Then I hung up on him as he was trying to be condescending....he's lucky I didn't whistle into the phone.

Oh, and Portman has NO OPINION on VAWA since it is not slated to come to the floor.

They really do go to great lengths to compensate for the small penis (post at TPM).

[Cha]

12. I agree with Rachael! "It should be real big news" and since I'm guessing

the US corporatemediawhores(you know who you are) Won't Do It.. It's up to us in Social Media!

Thanks A_H

[LynneSin]

13. I'm curious how Dole's wife would have voted

She was lockstep with the Republicans when she was a senator.

[lunasun]

56. +1 same thought here

[awoke_in_2003]

97. She was a co-sponsor...

of the Americans With Disabilties Act :

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:S3406:

[Dont call me Shirley]

15. The 38 Senators who voted against the disabled: YOU'RE FIRED!

[freshwest]

82. List of names for those who need to be shamed out of office is here:

This link shows the names of the yeas and the nays, states and party. Yes, this is the GOP's work:

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=112&session=2&vote=00219

Quoting from another thread:

But the majority of Republican senators is thwarting progress on the pact based on what proponents call groundless allegations that it would encourage abortions, threaten home-schooling, and separate children from their parents.

The conservative Heritage Foundation is among opponents who also have suggested expanding the rights of the disabled overseas could hurt the bottom lines of American multinational corporations.

Some in the GOP oppose it on procedural grounds, saying a lame-duck session of Congress should not entertain a treaty vote.

http://www.boston.com/politicalintelligence/2012/12/03/treaty-expand-disability-rights-overseas-stalls-senate-frustrating-senator-john-kerry-and-advocates/WB3LBv2IIuFYiXHz5GGuKO/story.html

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021921472

These people need to be evicted from the Senate by the people in their states.

[gateley]

103. Thanks for this -- tomorrow I'm going to call the Republicans who voted Aye and thank them for doing

the right thing. Except maybe for Brown. I feel kind of guilty, but since he's on his way out... I'll think about that one.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

17. How Christian of them

Being a sociopath must be a requirement to being a Republican.

[eShirl]

18. How could they look into those puppy eyes and vote no?

They are beyond redemption.

[Politicub]

20. This is just sad

What a slap in the face to all disabled people around the world.

[sarisataka]

21. Just when you think the world cannot get any more bizzare

the GOP votes against a treaty based on the laws we already have in place

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

22. Rachel is wrong -- This is not news

It's just par for the course with the modern GOP.

These guys have become human cartoon figures, who unfortunately have real power.

[closeupready]

23. Symptomatic of a culture that worships youth,

the younger Republicans think they know everything that's worth knowing. "Bob Dole? Who's that? Who cares?" is probably an oft-heard query about their own party's elder members.

[lunasun]

59. Umm, how old are you?? Many of the senators voting NO are not young by a stretch +

one making a statement about this rule is U.S. Senator from Mississippi that is 75 yrs old

and also not all disabled are old - plenty of youth would be affected thus the home school argument >
A majority of Republicans who voted against the treaty, which was modeled on the Americans With Disabilities Act, said they feared that it would infringe on American sovereignty.

Among their fears about the disabilities convention were that it would codify standards enumerated in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child — and therefore United Nations bureaucrats would be empowered to make decisions about the needs of disabled children — and that it could trump state laws concerning people with disabilities.

More like a culture that worships $$$$ imo

[freshwest]

86. Definitely worshipping the dollar, but their brand is not all old guys:

The conservative Heritage Foundation is among opponents who also have suggested expanding the rights of the disabled overseas could hurt the bottom lines of American multinational corporations.

http://www.boston.com/politicalintelligence/2012/12/03/treaty-expand-disability-rights-overseas-stalls-senate-frustrating-senator-john-kerry-and-advocates/WB3LBv2IIuFYiXHz5GGuKO/story.html

But they aren't all old. And at least two younger Tea Partiers were just elected to the Senate, so this problem isn't going to die off. Dole can count himself lucky to not have gotten this treatment, because he had Kerry and others there to protect him. If he'd been an unknown, no telling what would have happened. This is just one of the incredibly hateful things that occured during the healthcare debate:

I don't see any difference between them and Ryan who laughed at a disabled senior screaming in pain from an injury being handcuffed at a meeting. Not only did he mock the man, the GOP crowd also laughed at the whole thing. While some of these Senators are old, they've got children who are as bad or worse than them.

[TwilightGardener]

26. That's what your party is now, Sen. Dole. That's what they think

of people like you.

[lyingsackofmitt]

27. Just a bunch of assholes. nt

[Caeser67]

29. ATTENTION! PRESENT, ARMS!

I salute Bob Dole for his Military Service, and that's it. Whenever the end of time is near, or something hits close to home, Republicans all of the sudden "evolve." These people were NEVER your friends Mr. Dole, and they proved it to you today. Shameful.

Forward. Together, or Without You.

[awoke_in_2003]

98. Cannot speak for Bob...

but his wife co-sponsored the Americans With Disability Act.


http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:S3406:

[berni_mccoy]

30. The GOP is disabled...

Mentally.

[BainsBane]

31. There is no low to which the GOP will not sink

I bet Bob Dole, along with the rest of us, can't believe what has become of his party.

[Rider3]

32. Until they need it...

They are against it. Typical.

[Scootaloo]

33. These people are scum

Elected by other scumbags for whom "stupid" is an admirable trait.

[SummerSnow]

34. Pay attention ...

Disabled conservatives this is all for you as well.

[Festivito]

35. Sirs, at long last, have you no sense of decency?

They're all handled puppets of a hidden Senator Joe McCarthy.

[femrap]

38. I called Portman

of OH. He didn't like the 'procedure'...how the bill was brought to the floor. That did it. 'You lost. Why? Because you are a cruel and vile party. I wouldn't be surprised if Portman prayed to Lucifer every night.'

Oh and btw, he has NO OPINION on VAWA since it's not slated to come to the floor.

And these asshats are paid to just be bureaucratic poor losers.

How could they do that to Dole? All 38 should be )(*&%%^#%^$&%&.

[Faryn Balyncd]

39. Well, they trampled on Lincoln's grave while hustling after the George Wallace voters.

[Warren Religion]

41. Disgusting

Bob Dole was the last Republican presidential candidate I had any respect for. These assholes aren't fit to shine his shoes!

[quinnox]

43. the GOP has new lows to strive for every day

They have truly gone nuts, and the devastating defeat they took in the elections has driven them further insane to the gibbering lunatics stage.

[TxVietVet]

44. The conservanazis are heartless pricks.

The talk a good line of ''Christian" bu$hit, but it's only talk. j

[WillyT]

46. It's More Than That... My Old Man And Bob Dole Both Fought In WWII, And SAVED DEMOCRACY !!!

With millions of others of course...

Now they were in different theaters, and different political parties...

But there have been many times in the last couple of decades... that I was actually glad my old man was NOT around to sse this kind of SHIT!

(He died of Cancer in 1975.)

Bob Dole just got to see the UNGRATEFUL SOB's this country has produced, and who's wealth and success was greatly enhanced by people like my father and Senator Dole.

I'f sort of glad my father didn't have to see the betrayal.

[muriel_volestrangler]

48. And they fought for the "United Nations", which the Republican Birchers hate so much

and whose treaty they just blocked:

To achieve such laudable aims, Roosevelt and Churchill wanted to create "a wider and permanent system of general security". This was to become the United Nations.

After America joined the war in December 1941, the title "United Nations" was adopted – at the instigation of Roosevelt – by the Allies fighting the Axis forces. The title United Nations was adopted on January 1st 1942 and was used by all those nations who were at war with the Axis. This so-called United Nations Declaration stated that all signatories agreed with the principles of the Atlantic Charter. Twenty-six nations signed it in January 1942, including Britain, America, Soviet Russia and China. These four nations were essentially a ‘Big Four.

During the rest of the war, the ‘Big Four’ held a number of meetings to discuss how the Atlantic Charter could be put into place. In 1943, after meeting in Moscow, the so-called "Moscow Declaration" was issued which declared that a "general international organisation" would be established as quickly as possible and its task would be to maintain peace and security. All nations deemed ‘peace loving’ could become members.

http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/united_nations.htm

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

64. Bob Dole reached into their hearts today and found....

nothing. -Lawrence O'Donnell.

[eShirl]

65. Very well put!

[progressoid]

45. Good lord.

[lonestarnot]

47. That is exactly the scummy trash that they are.

[pipewrench]

49. The GOP is deplorable

Someone should hold a wheelchair protest outside of congress.

more links

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/12/bob-dole-cant-sway-republicans-to-back-un-disabilities-treaty/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/04/bob-dole-_n_2238046.html

[Ilsa]

52. "Hello Sen. Dole. And BTW, fuck you," says the GOP. nt

[baldguy]

53. More proof that the Republican Party is evil.

[druidity33]

61. Who were the Rs who voted for it? nt.

[Blue_In_AK]

88. Lisa Murkowski was one.

McCain, Snowe, Lugar, I think. Someone posted the yeas and nays somewhere in this thread or another one on this topic.

[mfcorey1]

62. KICK!

[malaise]

66. The ReTHUG Fundie nutters have taken over the party

This is très embarrassing!

[Le Taz Hot]

68. Behold, the List of Shame

for those who voted against this Bill -- every last one of the a Republican:

Alexander (R-TN)
Blunt (R-MO)
Boozman (R-AR)
Burr (R-NC)
Chambliss (R-GA)
Coats (R-IN)
Coburn (R-OK)
Cochran (R-MS)
Corker (R-TN)
Cornyn (R-TX)
Crapo (R-ID)
DeMint (R-SC)
Enzi (R-WY)
Graham (R-SC)
Grassley (R-IA)
Hatch (R-UT)
Heller (R-NV)
Hoeven (R-ND)
Hutchison (R-TX)
Inhofe (R-OK)
Isakson (R-GA)
Johanns (R-NE)
Johnson (R-WI)
Kyl (R-AZ)
Lee (R-UT)
McConnell (R-KY)
Moran (R-KS)
Paul (R-KY)
Portman (R-OH)
Risch (R-ID)
Roberts (R-KS)
Rubio (R-FL)
Sessions (R-AL)
Shelby (R-AL)
Thune (R-SD)
Toomey (R-PA)
Vitter (R-LA)
Wicker (R-MS)

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=112&session=2&vote=00219#position

If any of these assbites is your Senator, you might want to drop them a note and tell them what you think about their votes.

[Rob H.]

92. Fuck! Shoulda known Corker was one of 'em.

He's my senator, and he also wants to cut SS and Medicaid as part of the GOP's useless "counter offer."

Edited to add that I think he's also against TN accepting any monies from the Affordable Care Act.

[Odin2005]

94. Idaho has a senator named CRAPO???

[mountain grammy]

110. None are mine, thank God, but I will donate to their opponents.

And may just drop them a note anyway.

[Chef Eric]

70. More details about the treaty are at thehill.com

http://thehill.com/blogs/global-affairs/un-treaties/270831-senate-rejects-un-treaty-for-disabled-rights-in-vote

[Mr.Turnip]

73. Vile.

[Ganja Ninja]

74. Not only does the GOP suck but their suckitude grows worse by the day.

When it gets to the point they have to accept insane tinfoil sovereignty conspiracy as a valid argument then it's time to close down the party and give up.

[Ash_F]

75. They literally had no reason.

GOP would vote against Grandma and apple pie if they thought it would piss off Dems.

[scratcho]

112. Money.

It's ALWAYS about money. ALWAYS. Other BS reasons may be given,but it's always the same.

[Joey Liberal]

77. Republicans have no shame. n/t

[Bake]

78. If no one else will say it, I will...

May they ALL end up in wheelchairs. Poetic justice.

Fuckers.

Bake

[mfcorey1]

79. Disgusting rethugs!!!!!

[Blue_In_AK]

83. Thank god Lisa Murkowski took the high road.

I think I need to send her an email.

[KamaAina]

85. Please do that.

She was the ONLY one of nearly a dozen repuke senators on our swing vote list who did the right thing.

[Blue_In_AK]

87. Yes, I just shot one off to her.

My parting sentence was something to the effect that the 38 Republican senators who voted against this have cemented in my mind (yet again) their status as "heartless, obstructionist bastards." And I hope she tells them just that. I'll hand it to Lisa -- while I often disagree with her, she does occasionally get it right. She often takes the high road on veterans bills, too.

[KamaAina]

84. This is the first time I've seen a disability thread last more than one day

but bear in mind that we're not going anywhere once this news cycle ends. Except into nursing homes, if Boner and his gang are able to force massive cuts to Medicare and Medicaid.

Rachel had the radical disability rights group ADAPT on last night (also a first). They're a good source for what's going on in the movement:

http://www.adapt.org

Disclaimer: I particpated in ADAPT's national action last year.

[SoapBox]

89. I saw the story on Rachel's show...

stunning.

[Third Doctor]

90. Shelby and Sessions voted nay...

I think I'm going to find some way to move out of Alabama. These whack jobs do not represent me at all.

[Divernan]

91. All 38 nay voters doubtless self-proclaimed Christians. Jesus wept!

[DirkGently]

93. Grotesque. Republicans now seem to just stand for naked meanness.

The party that hates: government, teachers, taxes, journalists, the poor, taxes, science, Muslims, taxes, the environment, immigrants, Palestinians, the elderly, taxes, NASA, the disabled, the young, the ill, taxes, the non-white, women, college students, and of course, taxes.

Republicans love war and corporate profits and wars that create corporate profits. Oh, and fracking. Seems like a small constituency, but apparently they're going to stick with it.

What would the world look like if they got everything they wanted?

[Odin2005]

95. This is red meat to the "UN Black Helicoter" idiots.

[awoke_in_2003]

99. Classy as usual. nt

[libodem]

101. They just think it will cost somebody some money

To accommodate a worker. They hate the worker not the disabled. It's tough I've been there.

[AC_Mem]

102. I always say

Karma is damned near instant now.

You never know how the Universe will balance a condition of complete lack of empathy for those who are less fortunate or disabled.

You may have to experience a terrible disability to understand the error of your ways.

Karma creates understanding.

Annette

[Dorian Gray]

105. Wow

Just wow.

Heartlessness.....

I'm curious if Dole is regretting his party affiliation right now

[Chorophyll]

106. Ah, the Rethuglic party.

Soulless, conscience-less, hateful automatons. Every. Single. One.

[Historic NY]

109. Its like pretending you didn't see the disabled person...you look away.

[scratcho]

111. It's what they do-------

and who they are. They did not want SS in the first place. Did not want medicare. Did not /do not want womens rights. Did not want rights for blacks. Did not want WPA,CCC that employed millions in the BIG depression. They send young men to fight and die for the business of securing the resources of other countries for US businesses.(with collusive dems) Most of them are racist white pigs that want ALL THE MONEY,and they want the rest of us to have VERY,VERY little. They detest unions and have beaten and killed those that tried to form them over the past century in order for workers to gain protection from unscrupulous employers. Michigan is now poised to pass a "right to work" law,which is another way of busting unions. On and on and on I could go---so it's no surprise that they would vote against this bill--hell,they've voted against bills that would help veterans before!! They are blatantly un-american shown by their insatiable greed and lack of empathy for their "fellow" citizens.

These kinds of Randian pricks have most of the money and power and looking at posts on Yahoo,ect , leads me to believe that our education system has been and is being ruined on purpose. Critical thinking is inimical to their ends. The democrats seem to have lost their way these days.

And thanks to those that welcomed me.