CRPD and Patriot Voices

Three days ago Senator Santorum sent a tweet (https://twitter.com/ricksantorum/status/489797871751794689) urging the rejection of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and a link to some talking points on the Patriot Voices website.

Those talking points don't take into account some indisputable facts. According to Wikipedia the U.S. was a partner in 100 treaties between 1776 and 1949. I counted them. Since 1950 we have been a partner in 72. Not once has the U.N. or any other international body told us how to do something, changed how we govern ourselves, or used force against us in our country because they didn't like how we were complying with a treaty. It is incredulous that Senator Santorum believes this will happen if the Senate ratifies the CRPD.

Well, he might say, "there's always a first time, once something is on the books."

Not likely. He ignores the recent Supreme Court decision in Bond vs. the U.S. He is silent on the legally binding reservations, understandings, and declarations which will accompany the CRPD, one of which will explicitly address parents' rights. Why?

Only he knows. He is a smart man. He has aspirations to become a national leader. One of his priorities is to promote U.S. manufacturing. Another is to restore economic freedom and opportunity for all Americans. Few of us find fault with these. But, if he wants to be taken seriously by a broad range of us, he needs to stop saying things that scare some people and leave the rest of us shaking our heads in disbelief.

According to the Patriot Voices website 21,000 plus people have signed a petition asking the Senate to reject ratification of the CRPD. We must counter this petition with calls to Senators urging ratification. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee will vote on the CRPD on July 22, 2014 at 10 AM in S-116 of the Capitol. After that, all Senators will vote on ratification of the CRPD the week of July 28th.

Clear-headedness is with us. The facts are with us. Joining 147 other countries in ratifying the CRPD is a smart move, the right move.

Thank you.
Common Grounder

New Kindle book --  A Moral Imperative:  U.S. Ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Book link: http://t.co/Vigyant7aM

If you are interested in supporting the ratification of the disability rights treaty, Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, also check out:
www.disabilitytreaty.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/RatifyCRPD
Blog: www.wecandothisifwetry.blogspot.com
Twitter: @AuntPip