Rachel Maddow Interviews Jamie Leigh Jones

[democracy1st]

Run time: 07:14 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpzyKw5_4YE   Posted on YouTube: October 22, 2009 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: October 22, 2009 By DU Member: democracy1st Views on DU: 933

 
Rachel Maddow: GOP Senators Indefensible Rape Case Vote


MSNBC's Rachel Maddow: Republican Senators' Indefensible Rape Case Vote - 10/21/09



Franken Wins Bipartisan Support For Legislation Reining In KBR’s Treatment Of Rape

In 2005, Jamie Leigh Jones was gang-raped by her co-workers while she was working for Halliburton/KBR in Baghdad. She was detained in a shipping container for at least 24 hours without food, water, or a bed, and “warned her that if she left Iraq for medical treatment, she’d be out of a job.” (Jones was not an isolated case.) Jones was prevented from bringing charges in court against KBR because her employment contract stipulated that sexual assault allegations would only be heard in private arbitration.

Sen. Al Franken (D-MN) proposed an amendment to the 2010 Defense Appropriations bill that would withhold defense contracts from companies like KBR “if they restrict their employees from taking workplace sexual assault, battery and discrimination cases to court.” Speaking on the Senate floor yesterday, Franken said:

The constitution gives everybody the right to due process of law … And today, defense contractors are using fine print in their contracts do deny women like Jamie Leigh Jones their day in court. … The victims of rape and discrimination deserve their day in court Congress plainly has the constitutional power to make that happen.

Watch Franken’s speech:


http://thinkprogress.org/2009/10/07/kbr-rape-franken-amendment/

[bulloney]

1. Notice that virtually all of the "no" voting senators are from Bible-belt conservative states.

This makes me even more cynical toward the religious right than I already am. The almighty dollar supercedes everything to these hypocrites.

And give me one good reason why Haliburton/KBR continues to receive multi-million dollar government contracts, given their track record since we invaded Iraq?

[evenso]

7. Great point - Could not have said it better myself.

[DWinNJ]

2. It looks like

Al Franken may get back at as many as 30 republicans for the trouble the GOP gave him in being seated.

He gave them the rope and now they are hanging themselves.

[Hubert Flottz]

3. We hung Saddam because of his "Rape Rooms" but the GOP

defends Halliburton's rape rooms?

[midnight]

4. What a brave young women.... Let's correct this horrible practice of giving

contracts to corporations that do not honor the constitution and their employees.

[AsahinaKimi]

5. Tell me again how the Republican party

Is the party of "Family values"??

[Lena inRI]

6. Kudos to Jamie, Todd, and Rachel. . .

. . .they all exposed the ugly decadence of corporate corruption by giving this excellent interview.

First, Jamie Leigh Jones has my utmost admiration and gratitude for painfully presenting her case publicly. She's one tough woman and will be a great role model for all us women. Also, my hope is that her COURAGE will ultimately bring her the spiritual healing she well deserves.

Second, Todd is the perfect legal spokesman for this case, showing SENSITIVITY for Jamie's view, not just his legal arguments. His concluding defense of Congressional oversight of corporations like Halliburton was excellent.

Finally, Rachel is proving daily how wondrous her reporting is because she is loyal first and foremost to TRUTH-TELLING. I'm really in awe of her journalistic skills and COURAGE.

A heartfelt thank you to all three. . .from the thousands whom the resulting law will help for many years to come.

:yourock: :applause: :yourock: :applause: :yourock:

[Turborama]

8. She was held captive by the Gurkhas? They're British troops!

The Brigade of Gurkhas is the collective term for units of the current British Army that are composed of Nepalese soldiers. The brigade, which is 3,640 strong, draws its heritage from Gurkha units that originally served in the British Indian Army prior to Indian independence, and prior to that of the East India Company. The brigade includes infantry, engineer, signal, logistic and training and support units. They are famous for their ever-present kukris, a distinctive heavy knife with a curved blade, and for their reputation of being fierce fighters and brave soldiers.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brigade_of_Gurkhas

Apart from the fact that British troops aided and abetted this heinous crime, how come KBR are even "hiring" British troops?