Harry Reid Questions GOP's Rationality On Fiscal Cliff After Disability Treaty Fails

[Cali_Democrat]

Source: Huffington Post

WASHINGTON -- The failure of Republicans to ratify a treaty on disabilities raises questions about their rationality in fiscal cliff negotiations, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid argued Wednesday.

Republicans opposed ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities Tuesday, based on the debunked grounds that it threatens United States sovereignty and the rights of homeschoolers.

"Consider yesterday's failure, the disabilities convention, at the hands of the Tea Party," Reid said on the Senate floor. "This shouldn't have been a battle, but extreme elements of the Republican Party picked a fight where there was nothing to fight about."

Reid noted that even some of its supporters -- including GOP cosponsors -- turned on the measure, which is unpopular with people on the right who think the U.N. is trying to take over the United States.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/05/harry-reid-fiscal-cliff-gop_n_2244928.html?utm_hp_ref=politics

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Reid is right. The GOP can't even help to ratify a treaty on disabilities. How can they possibly be negotiating in good faith when it comes to the fiscal cliff talks?

The is also another example of why filibuster reform is needed in the Senate now.

[NHDEMFORLIFE]

1. They see grassy knolls everywhere they look n/t

[KamaAina]

2. More on disability and the fiscal cliff

from Bob Kafka of the radical disability rights group ADAPT.

http://www.adapt.org/main.crpd

ADAPT’s MY MEDICAID MATTERS proposes real Medicaid reform that would contain spending while modernizing Medicaid so that people with disabilities have greater control over their lives and be able to live in the community rather than be forced into institutions.
(www.adapt.org/main/medicaid_rally/medicaid_savings)

“Now that the vote on the CRPD is done, Republicans in Congress have a fundamental choice. They can embrace ADAPT’s proposals for true entitlement reform and broaden their base to include people with disabilities or they continue to represent the interests of party extremists and push people with disabilities off the fiscal cliff,” said Bob Kafka of ADAPT of Texas.

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. Actually, in this case this was the vote to ratify

I'd forgotten that this was the actual vote - but treaties have to be approved by a 2/3rds majority.

Vote Summary

Question: On the Resolution of Ratification (Resolution of Ratification Treaty Doc. 112-7 )
Vote Number: 219 Vote Date: December 4, 2012, 12:06 PM
Required For Majority: 2/3 Vote Result: Resolution of Ratification Rejected
Treaty Number: Treaty Doc. 112-7
Treaty Title: The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 13, 2006, and signed by the United States of America on June 30, 2009 (the "Convention&quot
Vote Counts: YEAs 61
NAYs 38
Not Voting 1

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

While the filibuster does need to be reformed, it wouldn't affect treaty votes.

[Cha]

5. Brilliant Harry for Stating the Obvious!

Thank you, Cali_Democrat!

[JudyM]

6. Yes, this would be a good example to show them up if only it would be given sufficient airtime. nt

[MrModerate]

7. Rationality, hell . . .

I question their sanity.

[GatorLarry]

8. Agreed

It seems to me that most Republicans live in a bubble-fantasy world with fingers in their ears humming as loudly as they can, "No! No! No!"

[indepat]

9. Men of bad faith cannot possibly negotiate in good

faith.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

10. Give 'em Hell, Harry!

The Tin Foil Hat party has taken over.

[JanT]

11. tin foil hats will most likely be available at a Wallymart near you soon. nt

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

12. I don't patronize Walmart, but I might just to buy a Tin Hat to send to my Senator, Toomey, who

voted against ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities. I guess I'd have to buy another to send to his leader, Rick Santorum.

[wordpix]

13. no, you've gotta be totally nuts to vote against that treaty, not just irrational

call it like it is, these radical repugs are just