On Tuesday, the Senate rejected a U.N. disabilities treaty, designed to embolden the rights of disabled people worldwide, that closely resembles the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. This is despite support from veteran and GOP leader Sen. John McCain, Sen. Dick Lugar and former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole. Dole, in a wheelchair, joined on the Senate floor just days out of the hospital.
Thirty-eight Republicans voted against the treaty, including Sens. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma and Mike Lee of Utah in part on the basis it could threaten U.S. sovereignty.
Joe Scarborough had words for those Republican senators on Wednesday morning’s show.
“I’m really surprised that this was killed by fringe concerns…I’m actually dumbfounded,” he said.
Mike Barnicle agreed. “Pick the adjective: sad, pathetic, outrageous, incomprehensible.” Scarborough added these types of votes have a broader impact for the Republican Party: So many war heroes, younger and older, came to support this bill. It was the right thing to do. And those that are suggesting this treaty in any way would compromise U.S. sovereignty are living in an alternate reality. And I’ve got to say, too, it’s another example of how Republicans continue to damage their brand. These sort of votes, these sort of stories have a lasting impact…it is scar tissue that slowly but surely builds up…Republicans you need to get this back on the Senate floor, and you need to pass it. The whole world may not be watching, but swing voters are, independent voters are…
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