RADAR ALERT:
Outrage Over Sen. Biden's Latest Put-Down

Presidential candidate Joe Biden has a habit of saying the wrong things at the wrong time, like his recent remark about Illinois Sen. Barack Obama being "clean." This past week, Biden had this to say about male victims of domestic violence:

"There is no doubt that we have made tremendous progress battling domestic violence in the past decade ... Everyday women, children and sometimes men, in Delaware and across the nation live in fear in their own homes."

"And sometimes men," Mr. Biden???

Men are just as likely as women to be victimized by partner violence – a fact that was already well-known to researchers back when Sen. Biden first wrote the Violence Against Women Act. But thanks to Sen. Biden's VAWA, men who need help are instead ridiculed and shunned. Or worse – they're labeled "abuser" simply because they're men, and their abuser is labeled "victim" and given a free pass.

Besides discriminating against victims based on gender, VAWA also routinely violates the civil rights of the falsely-accused.

This week, RADAR is asking every person who reads this Alert to make a 1-minute telephone call to your two state senators. Their phone numbers are listed below.

When the receptionist answers your call, state your name and city of residence. Then explain,

"The Violence Against Women Act has engaged in widespread discrimination against male victims of domestic violence. I am calling to ask Senator __________ to help reform this harmful law."

If the receptionist requests additional information, refer them to RADAR's Special Report, "VAWA Programs Discriminate Against Male Victims" (http://www.mediaradar.org/docs/VAWA-Discriminates-Against-Males.pdf)

Your call will make it easier for our lobbyists to get the face-time they need to explain why VAWA requires a total overhaul. And let's hope Mr. Biden makes for a better presidential candidate than constitutional law professor.

Date of RADAR Release: February 20, 2007

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R.A.D.A.R. – Respecting Accuracy in Domestic Abuse Reporting – is a non-profit, non-partisan organization of men and women working to improve the effectiveness of our nation's approach to solving domestic violence. http://mediaradar.org