Levin calls out Cantor over VAWA: 'it's time to step down' (UPDATE)

Levin sounded the alarm on another threat last night. No, not by Obama this time, but by the so-called Republican House 'Leader', Eric Cantor. And once again, as we've seen before with Boehner, we have a member of the Republican leadership threatening conservatives if they vote against what they're pushing...and boy, is what they're pushing a total piece o' crap!

RedState: If we’ve come to the point where Republicans believe that dealing with domestic violence is within the purview of the federal government, we should just stick a fork in the party. Yet, not only do Republicans in the House plan to reauthorize the wasteful and politically-motivated Violence Against Women Act, they plan to pass the Senate version (S.47), which contains egregious anomalies.

The Senate bill expands “coverage” to men, homosexuals, transgendered individuals and prisoners. It expands the definition of domestic violence to include causing “emotional distress” or using “unpleasant speech.” It ostensibly nullifies the legal presumption of innocence until proven guilty. The bill also expands the law’s reach to give tribal Indian authorities jurisdiction over non-Indians accused of abusing Indian women. Finally, what good is a social engineering bill without tossing in bones to the most sacrosanct constituency, illegal immigrants? It would grant more visas to illegal immigrants who are victims of domestic abuse.

Last year, the House passed a version that was, more or less, a clean reauthorization. That was the best we could expect from them. But now, in the hopes of not being outbid in gender warfare, they plan to bring the bill to the floor in a way that will ensure the Senate bill passes.

And Cantor's backing this crud? Yeah, folks, this fool is no conservative alternative to Boehner, that's for damn sure.



And it's one thing to fall for this and support it, but it's another to start using crisis tactics to threaten your members...

NRO: House majority leader Eric Cantor is increasingly frustrated with a group of House Republicans who are working against the leadership, and he’s not afraid of voicing his dismay.

In a closed-door conference meeting on Wednesday, Cantor told one GOP member that if they blocked the Senate-passed Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) from coming to the floor, they’d cause “civil war” in the ranks.

Cantor’s comment irked some Republican aides, who told National Review Online that such strong language is inappropriate. In recent days, some conservatives have been upset about the Senate’s version of VAWA, saying that parts of the bill are unconstitutional.

Nevertheless, Cantor’s warning may have had an effect. When the bill came to the floor on Wednesday, only nine Republicans voted against the rule to take up the bill.

Tensions between backbenchers and the leadership, however, are evident. Behind the scenes, House Republicans raised concerns about VAWA throughout the day. Eventually, though, the rule passed, 414–9, and the House plans a final vote on the Senate’s version of VAWA on Thursday.

The nine who voted against the rule include Georgia Senate candidate Paul Broun and potential Iowa Senate candidate Steve King.

So, as Levin points out, Rove, Cantor, Boehner and McConnell are all working together on this "piece of crap law." Thus, Mark called for a Levin Surge!, flooding Cantor's office with calls (202-225-2815), telling him we oppose the VAWA and that "it's time for him to step down."

UPDATE: FOOLS! Passed 286-138. Follow this link to the roll call. Notice Cantor voted 'No', after strong-arming Republicans to vote for it...WTF?! McCarthy voted for it, and I can't find Boehner's vote even recorded...? Next, this piece o' crap goes to Obama's desk to sign.