Posted on 08/10/2013 8:21:12 PM PDT by EinNYC
The junior senator has the support of Republican colleagues Rand Paul and Sen. Ted Cruz on a measure to overhaul how the military handles sexual assault allegations. Her work has garnered praise from GOP members as a Democrat they’d like to work with and is helping her own set of issues in Washington.,/i>
WASHINGTON — It was a head-turning sight on Capitol Hill. There was Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, a New York Democrat, standing with firebrand Republican Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) to showcase their support of her measure to overhaul how the military handles sexual assault allegations.
Her relentless campaign for the measure, which landed Gillibrand on “The Daily Show” on Thursday, has helped to transform perceptions of the junior New York senator. "She's being taken seriously," said Norm Ornstein, a scholar at the American Enterprise Institute. "She's clearly raised her profile and become a leader on this." Since 2009, when then Gov. David Paterson appointed her to the seat vacated when Hillary Clinton became secretary of state, Gillibrand has become known as a prodigious fund-raiser, and she has even generated some presidential buzz.
She played a role in enacting some high-profile legislation, most notably a repeal of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell law that prevented gays from openly serving in the military, and a bill to pay for medical care for first responders sickened by working at Ground Zero after the Sept. 11 attacks. Still, Gillibrand was privately seen by some as a legislative lightweight, with New York’s senior senator, Democrat Chuck Schumer, coaching her politically and suggesting legislative issues to pursue. With her fight to combat military sexual assault, Gillibrand has established that, win or lose, she has legislative chops.
The Pentagon believes that 26,000 members of the military were sexually assaulted in 2012, but only 3,400 reported attacks.
Under Gillibrand’s measure, military commanders no longer would have the power to decide which sexual assault cases to try. That power would be given to military prosecutors — a step Gillibrand says would increase the number of people who report assaults without fear of retaliation.
In arguing for the bill, Gillibrand has taken on several senior Democrats, including Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.). At a hearing, she even dressed down members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
On “The Daily Show,” Gillibrand announced she has 46 backers for her measure, close to the 51 needed for passage — but short of the 60 required to overcome a filibuster. Still, closing in on 50 votes — many from across the aisle — is a legislative achievement. Gillibrand has sought to meet every senator on the issue and the Senate’s August break "gives us more time to make the case," she told the Daily News.
Republicans said her polite persistence, factual command and respectful approach established her as a Democrat they wanted to work with.
“I was persuaded by Sen. Gillibrand’s exceptionally passionate and able advocacy,” Cruz said at the news conference with Gillibrand last month.
Said Paul, “Senator Gillibrand asked to talk to me ... I thought there were one or two things that maybe were included in this that we should exclude (and) she was very open to the discussion."
Support from conservatives like Paul and Cruz shows the bill does not fall into an easy partisan category. It divides lawmakers partly over their willingness to take on the Pentagon.
Gillibrand said she picked the issue because she was “heartbroken” by the stories of victims. Whatever the motive, the push benefits the senator, too.
Gillibrand, who already headed a political action committee to raise money for female candidates around the U.S., is further boosting her standing with women’s groups, said political consultant Hank Sheinkopf.
“She is raising her national profile, and she is raising a lot of money for people,” he said. “That makes her someone in the Senate that people want to talk to.”
Cruz is my senator and I’m very proud of him as well.
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Terrific!
Now, can we replace Cornyn with another Cruz-missile?
The zoo of NYC mayoral candidates just promises more of the above. I have never seen such a thoroughly sorry lineup. The so-called Republican candidates are an incompetent former head of the poorly-run transit system and a billionaire grocer with no political experience (we see how one of those worked out). The Democraps include the infamous Weiner, the disgusting-in-so-many-ways Quinn, the "Justice for Trayvon" Thompson, the grand marshall in an LGBT parade DiBlasio, the Asian with ties to organized Asian crime Liu, and a couple other people just as liberal/pro-illegal immigrant.
BTW, I looked up what a "concern troll" is. I am not a concern troll. I was just appalled to see the names "Cruz" and "Gillibrand" linked together. I didn't want to see Cruz be seduced to the "dark side" by Gillibrand, who has already proven herself to be a demagogue. She is truly Schumer's mini-me.
Firebrand Senator Cruz. Why is it our outspoken folks are labeled firebrands? Sen. Cruz speaks the mind of many of us. Are we too firebrands for having the same thoughts?
Damn right I’m mad and my brand is XXLXM extra-extra large and extra mad.
As for this supposed consort with Gillebrand, it’s just a story contrived to make us mad and shake our faith. Pay no attention to that reporter behind the curtain.
Execrable sluts murdering geese?
Are you sure you’re feeling well?
What does animal protection schemes have to do with conservative politics?
Remember... “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.”
How about... he’s keeping a close eye on potential shenanigans by Gillebrand, et al?
Too much late-night espresso there? Why not call Cruz’ office in Monday and ask them to explain it? Problem solved.
*ON Monday
What makes you think she is a slut? Do you know her sexual history?
Was this scientific estimate of exactly what we don't know put together by the Global Warming experts, or the guys who told us about WMD in Iraq?
Thou shalt not change the title of an article..You can editorialize in parentheses.
To prevent duplication, please do not alter the published headline, thx.
I got my eye on you.
I take it back, but I’ll still wander around lookin’.
So folks like you can fabricate stories that detract from his conservatism.
We have plenty of folks willing to try to smear our best hopes at starting to move in a more conservative direction - why don't you search them out and start your own version of FR? You can call it "All Conservatives Have Flaws, So We Need To Keep Ceding Elections To the Commies". Descriptive and long enough to remain as unwieldy as the torturous "thoughts" that bubble up..
Still wondering if there are any “firebrand” Democrats.
There was Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, a New York Democrat, standing with firebrand Republican Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) to showcase their support of her measure to overhaul how the military handles sexual assault allegations... Under Gillibrand’s measure, military commanders no longer would have the power to decide which sexual assault cases to try.
Thanks for the common sense. It's not as though we're FOR sexual assault in the military.
I'm not sure whether I support this bill or not... but my concerns rest with "chain of command issues" and not whether the bill is sponsored by a democrat.
Very informally, I've gotten hints that sexual assault incidents are rising, and many are homosexual assaults.
Done shooting off your mouth aimlessly?
I am not advocating dropping Cruz. I am impressed by him, particularly in these times of playing fast and loose with our Constitution. Nor am I fabricating stories. This is exactly how the article appeared in its original source, written by an obviously left-leaning reporter. I was simply expressing concern that he would be at all impressed with a demo-crap Senator who is a protege of Upchuck Schumer.
Who knows? Gillibrand is very prone to flinging around figures to suit her agenda. That is one reason for my concern of Cruz being associated with her on anything. I don’t want him to be adversely affected by any subsequent dirt generated by her far left activities.
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