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.”
It will be aimed at you.
Fire away. I have excellent armor against mindless threats from anonymous members of the ether. You’re just a bunch of electrons, buddy. And this after I posted how sorry I was that you lost your cat.
Why are you backing filthy Commie scum Demo-rats like McCaskill and Levin?
Who on earth said I was backing McCaskill and Levin? They are scum. So is Gillibrand. Rand Paul and Ted Cruz are not scum. Clear enough for ya?
Who on earth said I was backing McCaskill and Levin? They are scum. So is Gillibrand. Rand Paul and Ted Cruz are not scum. Clear enough for ya?
Ah, thank you! You get it.
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I do get it. Texas is generally a conservative state, but my current members of the TX State Lege, as well as in the US House, are all died-in-the-wool Liberal Dems. No sense in even trying to call their offices or email them. They are not listening.
That’s why I don’t even bother to call Schumer, Gillibrand, or Meng’s offices. They are useless.
That’s why I don’t even bother to call Schumer, Gillibrand, or Meng’s offices. They are useless.
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I feel your pain.
In years gone by, I did call Schumer’s office once — got into a lively argument with one of his staffers. Kind of interesting, but nothing gained.
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