My opponent, who is now raising tens of thousands of dollars a day through his appearances on right-wing radio and television, and thanks to his endorsement by Sarah Palin, has offered a textbook case of waffling. The subject is Roe v. Wade.

For those who wish to see waffling in its barest form, you can watch the four-minute video here. For those who prefer straight talk on this issue, please consider contributing to my campaign.

Here is a partial transcript of the back-and-forth between my opponent, Sean Bielat, and the editorial board of the Gatehouse newspapers:

BIELAT: “Roe v. Wade has been in effect since before I was born so it’s a moot point.”

EDITOR: “So do you choose to answer the question.”

BIELAT: “I think I did answer.”

EDITOR: “But we’re looking for your personal view. Or do you pass?

BIELAT: [SILENCE]

See the entire video for more dodging and squirming. In terms of waffling, it is a textbook case.

Because of my opponent’s stand on this issue, he has won the endorsement of an anti-choice organization, which is spending considerable money this election in an effort to defeat me.

If you would like someone in Congress who speaks frankly about this and many other issues, I would be grateful for your generous contribution to my campaign.

Barney Frank

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

A message from Speaker Pelosi

10/23/2010 Nativegrl77

Less than two weeks from today, the American people go to the polls. House Democrats are under attack from secret money from corporate special interests that favor shipping American jobs overseas, turning Social Security over to Wall Street, and turning Medicare over to the insurance companies.

According to news reports, these secretive special interest groups have spent more than $42 million on television ads that have aired more than 100,000 times attacking me. But this election is not about me; it is about the middle class.

Republicans want to privatize and cut Social Security and Medicare, give tax breaks for the wealthy, and send jobs overseas. Democrats want to preserve Social Security and Medicare, cut taxes for the middle class, and “make it in America.”

Please make a generous contribution to my campaign today. Your contribution will make a difference. It allows me to continue helping House Democrats facing special interest attacks from groups that are angry at the progress we have made for the American people.

We cannot wake up with a single regret that there was more we could have done to protect our Democratic House Majority.

Please contribute today so we can help courageous House Democrats fight back.

Onward to victory.

Nancy Pelosi
Speaker of the House

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Sarah Palin hates this website

10/22/2010 Nativegrl77

RepubliCorp.

That’s our new name for the shadowy network of corporate front groups who’re spending millions to sway the election—and the Republican politicians they’re buying.

RepubliCorp prefers to operate in secrecy. So we decided to do a little public relations for them. We created this website, www.RepubliCorp.us, and this spiffy promotional video.

Check ’em out and pass ’em on.

Because the more light we can shed on the corporate interests trying to swing this election, the more we’ll help the progressives they’re targeting. And because during a dark time, a little humor never hurts.

www.RepubliCorp.us

Thanks for all you do.

–Ilyse, Robin, Marika, Duncan, and the rest of the team

PS. Remember—next time you’re talking about all those secretive groups spending millions to buy Congress, they have a name: RepubliCorp.

~ Recent Post

The beginning of the end of the war on drugs?

10/22/2010 Nativegrl77

Stand in support of California’s landmark proposition to reform marijuana laws.

The phrase “war on drugs” conjures up images of DEA agents locking up big-time drug King Pins. But the reality is much less glamorous and a lot closer to home. Over 700,000 people were arrested in the United States in 2009 just for possessing marijuana — not selling or buying it.

Police waste valuable resources targeting non-violent marijuana consumers in communities across the country, while thousands of violent crimes go unsolved. After decades trying to make America “drug free,” marijuana is easier for kids to get than alcohol. The “war on drugs” is a massive failure. Yet we waste $40 billion every year fighting it.

But California has a game-changing proposition on its ballot in November. Proposition 19 would make marijuana available to adults over 21 in California and make that state the first to regulate, tax and control marijuana. If passed, Prop 19 could be the tipping point we need to wind down our country’s failed “war on drugs.”

The vote is less than two weeks away – take action now and stand in support of Prop 19 and the reform of marijuana laws today.

With a devastating economic downturn and increasing violence associated with criminal drug cartels, Americans are beginning to realize that prohibition has failed, and taxing and regulating marijuana is just smarter policy. Political strategists originally thought Prop 19 was a long shot, but public support has recently grown as mainstream organizations have joined in support and a grassroots movement has begun to build.

The state’s biggest union – SEIU – has come out in support of Prop 19 along with the California NAACP. Reflecting the position of many, the President of the state NAACP recently said, “I am not advocating for a higher use of drugs. I am advocating for it not to be a crime.”

It’s time for an honest debate about our country’s marijuana laws – and with Prop 19 we could actually make real progress toward reform. National opinion polls show growing support for legal access to marijuana for both medicinal and other responsible uses. It’s time for public policy to catch up.

Please stand in support of the movement to legalize, tax and regulate marijuana today.

Thanks for taking action,

The Change.org Team

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Every Woman Deserves Human Rights

10/21/2010 Nativegrl77


	Every Woman Deserves Human Rights



	It’s time to start addressing the unique needs of pregnant and parenting mothers behind bars.

My name is Shawanna Lumsey and I was shackled when I gave birth to my son. I’ve made some mistakes in my life, but no expectant mother, no woman, no person should ever be treated the way I was.

Eight years ago, I was convicted of credit card fraud and received a six-year prison sentence. At the time, I was five months pregnant.

I vividly remember the day I went into labor. I was in my cell at the McPherson Unit in Newport, Arkansas. It was very early in the morning and my labor pains were very sharp. I contacted the guard and was given two Tylenol. Those two Tylenol were the only pain pills I ever got.

After some delay, I was taken to the hospital. The pains were so intense that I literally had to grab the wall to steady myself. I got to the van outside for my short drive to the hospital and that’s when the shackles were put on. At the hospital there was only one brief moment when they removed the shackles — when I put on my hospital gown. My ankles were shackled to the bed throughout my hard labor, and I was unable to readjust myself to lessen the pain. It was only when the doctor arrived, just moments before I delivered, that he ordered the shackles to be removed.

At a mere 123 pounds, I gave birth to a 9 pound, 7 ounce baby son, while shackled to my bed for most of the labor. My experience was horrible and continues to haunt me.

Six years ago, I filed a lawsuit against the Arkansas Department of Corrections on the grounds that shackling is unconstitutional. The case has been long and difficult, but a year ago a federal court ruled that shackling women during labor violates their civil rights. I’ll continue to speak out so that no woman, no matter what her life circumstance, has to endure the pain and trauma I have.

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder has shown a desire to end the inhumane practice of shackling women giving birth, but that’s not the only issue that mothers behind bars face. Women are often denied pre-natal care and the opportunity to bond with their babies after birth and as they grow. Join me and women like me in thanking Attorney General Holder for his attention to shackling, while urging him to continue to address the needs of mothers behind bars and ensure that they have healthy pregnancies, deliveries, and opportunities to enter family-based drug treatments.

Your voice will help prevent another woman from experiencing what I went through.

Sincerely,

Shawanna Lumsey
Women’s Advocate

P.S. Learn more about the inhumane practice of shackling women during childbirth and other important issues affecting pregnant and parenting women behind bars by downloading the new report from the National Women’s Law Center and the Rebecca Project for Human Rights, Mothers Behind Bars.