Thanks for posting this!

I, too, have been quite curious as to why VAWA has gone mostly unmentioned because it is the first thing (for a long time, it was the only thing) I think about when I think of Biden. I still haven't gotten a chance to write a full post about Biden as VP, but even I didn't mention it in the 1 paragraph I did write.

I don't think Biden is perfect, but I think it does deserve some more attention.

What funny timing, I just saw that a new timeline is up about Biden, I guess anticipating his appearance tonight at the convention.

Quincy Lucas' nomination speech for Biden was brief, but certainly touching.

Beau Biden also mentioned his father's involvement with VAWA, and I think this achievement should (will?) be made more prominent as the general election campaign rolls on over the next 60-something days.

It may be just that VAWA was a long time ago, and most people aren't aware of it the way they were in the 90s.

Let's remember: if you are on this site you are pretty plugged into this kind of thing, but I have to say I consider myself a relatively high-information voter and I didn't realize he was instrumental in VAWA. In fact, if you ask most people they wouldn't even remember it.

It's not fair, it's not good, but that's the way it is. Most people aren't too hip to the legislative records of Senators who aren't from their state. If you were to ask me what the major accomplishments of Barbara Boxer I'd be at a loss. Why? I'm not from California and in New York California might as well be on the moon. Delaware? Fugeddaboutit.

Biden is considered a national figure but if you ask most people I'd bet you $5 that before the convention, they might remember his questioning of Alito and Roberts. They might remember that he ran for the nomination a few times. Being nationally recognizeable is a pretty tall order for any senator. If you don't believe me try to name ten senators not from your home state without looking it up. If you can, I'll bet most are from a) major media markets -- New York, California, Chicago -- or b) ran for president or c) said something totally stupid and outrageous or were in a sex scandal.

I don't think the "silence" they describe is because reporters are a misogynistic lot. I'm saying that not everybody follows this stuff as closely as people here might, or for as long. And reporters aren't any different. I am one, and I can tell you that you never have time to do exhaustive research on legislative histories, and if you focus on the last few years you'll miss things or maybe not see them as important because they were so long ago.

(Yes, I know VAWA is important to people here, but folks on feministing aren't a terribly representative sample -- most voters, even women, aren't political junkies).

Then there's the memory factor. I was just starting my career when VAWA was passed. I wasn't following the political beat then. I was following it years later, so stuff that happened in the 2000s will be uppermost in my head.

Interesting quote from Joe Biden at Senate hearings on December 11, 1990

"In my house, being raised with a sister and three brothers, there was an absolute - it was a nuclear sanction, if under any circumstances, for any reason, no matter how justified, even self-defense - if you ever touched your sister, not figuratively, literally. My sister, who is my best friend, my campaign manager, my confidante, grew up with absolute impunity in our household."

"And I have the bruises to prove it. I mean that sincerely. I am not exaggerating when I say that."

...........

Basically, him and his siter beat the crap out of each other.