Hullabaloo

Saturday, March 06, 2010

 
Conservatives vs Humans

by digby


Howie Says:

Yesterday's D v R showdown in the House wasn't about healthcare reform or even about the dirty filthy banksters stealing the national wealth. It wasn't about Afghanistan or about taking the ability of corporations to purchase the services of wily politicians. But it was a showdown that went to highlight one of the basic differences in worldview between conservatives and humans.

What was this issue that so illuminated these clashing worldviews?

George Miller's H.R. 4247, the Preventing Harmful Restraint and Seclusion in Schools Act passed with a wide majority, 262-153, all but 8 conservative Democrats joined by two dozen mainstream Republicans pushing it over the finishing line (where Jim Bunning, Richard Burr and Jim DeMint are likely laying out their strategy to filibuster it to death in the Senate).

Yes, there were actually 8 Democratic non-humans and 145 Republican non-humans who voted in favor of torturing children:

The legislation stems in part from a government report last year that found evidence that hundreds of children-- from preschool age to high school-- had been traumatized or physically harmed by being held down or locked alone in rooms, some even tied to chairs. Many had developmental problems or were in special needs programs; many others were in regular classes. Some children have died, apparently because of overly aggressive discipline, according to numerous reports over the last decade.

The bill would prohibit, except in cases of imminent danger, any restraint that restricts breathing; any mechanical restraint, like straps; and chemical restraint, by drugs other than those prescribed by a child’s doctor. It allows for “time outs” but not for a child to be locked in a room, away from supervision. It requires states to keep careful records of incidents of restraint and seclusion, and for schools to report incidents promptly to parents.

One of them was the insane Virginia Foxx, of course. She doesn't want kids to even have school lunches, so the fact that she thinks torturing them is fine isn't surprising. Another one was Ken Calvert, who Howie describes this way:

Calvert, who was arrested in the act of receiving fellatio from a young, drug addicted prostitute in his car, and who steals from taxpayers and refuses to pay child support or alimony, has no empathy and no respect for anyone in a position of vulnerability. I was able to contact the Democrat running against him, Bill Hedrick, who is a public school teacher in Corona. He's been a teacher for 35 years and is currently in his 5th term as president of the Corona-Norco Board of Education, which is responsible for over 50,000 children. Bill's wife is also a school teacher. Unlike Calvert, Bill favored this legislation:

"Every child deserves to be treated with dignity. Schools need to use the many research-based, humane behavior techniques available. The prohibited practices read shockingly like a page from the Inquisition.

"I don't know what is worse-- the need to end such abusive practices through federal action, or the fact that 153 members of Congress saw fit to oppose ending medieval methods."

Coincidentally, Bill is the latest challenger to be added to the Blue America list of endorsed candidates.

Howie hosted a chat today with Hedrick over at Crooks and Liars if you'd like to get a better sense of who he is.

Is it really too much to ask that our elected officials at least be among the human species? This vote is yet another sign that this rightwing assault on basic decency toward your fellow man is inexorably defining deviancy down. If you can defend a vote to allow the continued torture of special needs children you can defend anything.

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digby 3/06/2010 01:30:00 PM |