Gail Collins: McCain against fair pay for women bill because of "lawsuits"

[Eric J in MN]

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/26/opinion/26collins.html?em&ex=1209355200&en=e6bdc99d0fee25a9&ei=5087

So McCain made it clear that if he had been in Washington, he would have voted no because the (Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act) “opens us up for lawsuits, for all kinds of problems and difficulties.”

How much straighter can talk get? True, this is pretty much like saying that you’re voting against the federal budget because it involves spending. Still, there is no denying that a bill making it possible for people who have been discriminated against to go to court for redress would open somebody up to the possibility of a lawsuit.

Lilly Ledbetter was a supervisor at a Goodyear Tire plant in Gadsden, Ala., for almost 20 years — the only woman who ever managed to stick it out in what was not exactly a female-friendly environment. When she was near retirement, she got an anonymous letter listing the salaries of the men who held the same job. While she was making $3,727 a month, the lowest paid man, with far less seniority, was getting $4,286.

...A jury awarded her $223,776 in back pay and more than $3 million in punitive damages.

Goodyear appealed, and the case arrived at the Supreme Court just as President Bush’s new appointees were settling in. The court ruled 5-to-4 against Ledbetter, saying that she should have filed her suit within 180 days of receiving her first paycheck in which Goodyear discriminated against her.

The fact that workers generally have no idea what other people are making when they start a job did not concern the court...

Please share information on John McCain and this bill with a swing voter, if you know one.

[bluestateguy]

1. President Obama or President Clinton will sign that bill

Just a reminder to all of you crybabies (on both sides) who want to stand on "principle" and not endorse the nominee, no matter who it is.

[JDPriestly]

2. Lawsuits are necessary. They are the only way to right wrongs such as these.

Why does John McCain fear the courts? Why does he fear a fair, legal process? What does John McCain have against justice in a court of law? What is he hiding? Does he think that employers have a right to discriminate for years?

Administrative hearings cannot right wrongs caused by discrimination. It just doesn't work that way.

[Eric J in MN]

4. John McCain also voted for the Military Commissions Act.

He doesn't want our traditional court system to be used for civil or criminal trials.

Women who were discriminated in pay starting over 180 days ago shouldn't be able to sue.

People accused of being terrorists should go before a military commission where evidence obtained through torture is allowed.

[mwb970]

3. McCain is a fraud.

Pure and simple.