GOP put off by Franken's silence

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2 (UPI) -- Silence by Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., is being seen as part of a partisan effort to paint Republicans as being sympathetic to rapists, some GOP lawmakers say.

At issue is an amendment to the Pentagon spending bill that would bar "future and existing" contracts with defense contractors and subcontractors who mandate employees use arbitration for workplace discrimination claims, including claims of sexual assault. The measure passed 68-30, with 10 Republicans voting yes and 30 voting no.

Franken said the measure was motivated by the story of KBR employee Jamie Leigh Jones, who alleges that she was drugged, beaten and gang-raped while stationed in Baghdad. She fought the arbitration clause in her contract, and the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that her allegations weren't related to employment, allowing her to proceed in the court system.

"Trying to tap into the natural sympathy that we have for this victim of this rape -- and use that as a justification to frankly misrepresent and embarrass his colleagues, I don't think it's a very constructive thing," Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, told Politico in an interview published Wednesday.

Franken aides point out that he has turned down requests to appear on any show or blog that have attacked Republicans on the matter

While he may not control the tenor of the debate, Franken could let folks know the attacks are coming from someplace other than his office, said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who voted against the amendment.

"What's going on politically with the amendment Sen. Franken can't control, but I think it would be helpful for him personally to just let the rest of us know that's the views of others -- not him," Graham said.