Tag Archives: Barack Obama

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Google … In the White House


by on Apr 2, 2012

Members of the Google Art project and the Google Street View team recently came to the White House to create a new way for people to tour the White House. Take a look at the process that went into creating a 360 degree virtual walk through of the White House public tour.

In their continuing effort to make the White House more accessible, President Obama and the First Lady have teamed up with the Google Art Project. People all over the world can now take a 360-degree tour of the White House’s public rooms. The White House is the only building in the world that is simultaneously the home of a head of state, the executive office of a head of state, and is regularly open to the public for tours.More
 

 

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Special message to Planned Parenthood & Supporters … from President Obama


by     on Mar 27, 2012

President Obama knows how important women’s health is, and he respects the right of every woman to make her own medical decisions.

Watch the video to see his special message to Planned Parenthood Action Fund supporters — and then sign our letter thanking him for standing strong for women’s health:

http://bit.ly/GU7tG4

Already, 20 million women have received preventive care without a co-pay because of the health care reform law. When the health care reform law is fully implemented, women will no longer be discriminated against by insurance companies, and essential services including cancer screenings, birth control, and HIV testing and counseling will be covered with no co-pays.

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a message to Mark Oxner – Alan Grayson just say NO to Racism



Someone Please Explain This to Mark Oxner.           

           

           

           

In 2010, my opponent Dan Fanelli ran a TV ad arguing that white people should not be “pulled out of line at the airport,” because it’s an “invasion of our privacy,” and it’s “time to stop political correctness.”

Apparently, Fanelli had never heard of white terrorists Timothy McVeigh or Ted Kaczynski.  But he may have heard later about Jared Loughner, who killed six people in his attempted assassination of Rep. Gabby Giffords, and Anders Breivik, who killed 93 people in Norway.

Well, the Silly Season is upon us again.  My opponent Mark Oxner has topped Dan Fanelli.

Oxner is running an ad depicting Barack Obama, our first African-American President, as the captain of a slave ship.  Populated by white children in chains.

The ad does feature some utterly incoherent, random references to “corporate subsidies,” “free healthcare,” bank bailouts, “the 99 percent,” Guy Fawkes, Cialis and “my husband’s solar company.”   Much like a fevered, quick-cut dream of a junkie, strung out on meth.  Or Glenn Beck.  One or the other.

But the centerpiece of the ad is a maniacal photoshopped image of President Barack Obama, shouting “uh, no questions on this ship.”  Plus a tight close-up of two 10-year-old white girls, in chains, rowing furiously.   And in case you missed that oh-so-subtle point, there are balloons with the President’s campaign logo gently floating up and down, and the ship is called the “U.S.S. Obamaboat.”

In other words, prejudiced, demented garbage.

And I’m in the ad; my head is photoshopped onto the body of a parrot.  Because, as everyone knows, I never have any thoughts of my own.

When Oxner posted this ad on YouTube, he understandably disabled the “like/dislike” ratings function, perhaps knowing that in Fanelli’s case, “dislike” beat out “like” by 10-to-1.  Oxner also has assiduously deleted the cascade of criticism that was posted.

But he can’t censor the entire Internet.  What did people say about Oxner’s ad?  Well, I’ll give you a hint.  If you google “Oxner racist,” you get 26,000 hits.  Alternet called it “overt racism.”  The Huffington Post called it “bizarre.”  Facebook, without even bothering to comment on it, simply banned it.

Why is Mark Oxner running for Congress?  Because KKK Grand Wizard David Duke isn’t a Florida resident?

I try really hard to give people good reasons to vote for me.  Things I stand for.   Things I care about.  Things I’ve done.  Things I’m going to do.  But Mark Oxner has provided one of the best reasons I can think of:  if I’m elected to Congress in November, then Mark Oxner won’t be.

We have set up a special ActBlue page, in honor of Mark Oxner, called “Beat the Bigot.”  Because in every election, even if there isn’t always someone to vote for, there’s always someone to vote against.  If you are just as disgusted with racist cranks like Mark Oxner as I am, then click here, and do something about it.

Courage,

Alan Grayson

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Tell the GOP: Trayvon Martin was racially profiled


Last Friday, President Obama reminded the country how personal Trayvon Martin’s death feels to any parent of a Black child. He said, “You know, if I had a son, he’d look like Trayvon.”1

There is no doubt that Trayvon — a 17-year-old boy armed only with Skittles and iced tea — was considered “suspicious” and subsequently killed because of the color of his skin. But many on the right — including presidential candidates Rick Santorum2 and Newt Gingrich3 — want to avoid acknowledging the clear role that race and stereotypes played in this case.Instead, they’re attacking the President for telling the truth, and they’re trying to push race out of the picture.

We have reached a critical moment. Americans of all walks of life are talking openly and honestly about racial profiling, targeting and the dehumanization of Black boys and men. We can’t stand by while politicians who claim to want to lead all Americans play dumb and deny the racial realities surrounding Trayvon’s death.

Please join us in calling on the Republican National Committee — which leads the party and coordinates the GOP’s election strategy — to withhold its support from any candidate who uses Trayvon Martin’s killing to divide Americans and distort honest conversations about race for political gain. If the RNC refuses, it will send a clear message about the GOP’s willingness to lead on the most critical issues facing all Americans. Click here to take action, and please ask your friends and family to do the same:

http://act.colorofchange.org/sign/trayvon_gop

Trayvon’s death had everything to do with what he looked like. But some conservatives are determined to deny the reality of racial prejudice in America and the mortal threat it poses.

It’s no great surprise that right-wing radio host Rush Limbaugh responded to President Obama’s comments last week by saying, “It is the least important thing, what the kid looks like.”4But Americans have reason to expect better from the GOP’s presidential candidates, men who claim to be able to represent all of us.

Rick Santorum accused the President of trying to “drive a wedge in America.”5 Newt Gingrich lashed out with: “What the president said, in a sense, is disgraceful. It’s not a question of who that young man looked like.”6

The Republican National Committee, chaired by Reince Priebus, has the power to reign in cynical, dishonest comments like these. The RNC develops and promotes the Republican political platform and coordinates its fundraising and election strategy.

Please join us in calling on the RNC to withhold its support from any GOP candidate who responds to Trayvon Martin’s killing by sweeping its race-related realities under the rug.If the RNC refuses, it will send a clear message about the party’s willingness to lead on the most critical issues facing Americans. And when you sign, please ask your friends and family to do the same.

http://act.colorofchange.org/sign/trayvon_gop

Thanks and Peace,

— Rashad, Gabriel, Dani, Matt, Natasha, Kim and the rest of the ColorOfChange.org team
March 29th, 2012

Help support our work. ColorOfChange.org is powered by YOU—your energy and dollars. We take no money from lobbyists or large corporations that don’t share our values, and our tiny staff ensures your contributions go a long way. You can contribute here:

http://www.colorofchange.org/donate

References

1. “Obama Speaks Out on Trayvon Martin Killing,” The New York Times, 03-23-12
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/1253?akid=2397.1174326.IMRSDR&t=7

2. “Plouffe calls out GOP candidates over Obama reaction,” CNN.com, 03-25-12
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/1248?akid=2397.1174326.IMRSDR&t=9

3. “Newt Gingrich: Obama’s Trayvon Martin Statement ‘Disgraceful’,” Huffington Post, 03-23-12
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/1249?akid=2397.1174326.IMRSDR&t=11

4. “Rush Limbaugh hits Obama: Trayvon Martin not a race case,” Politico, 03-26-12
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/1250?akid=2397.1174326.IMRSDR&t=13

5. See reference 2

6. See reference 3

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Patient Protection – Affordable Care Act Case – March 26 – 28, 2012 and the Supreme Court


March 26-28, 2012

The Court has granted review of cases challenging provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The orders, briefs, and other information are available at this link. The Chief Justice’s 2011 Year-End Report

The Clerk’s Office and was told that they will post audio files and transcripts on their website >>>  http://www.supremecourt.gov with morning session information being posted by 2pm that day and the Wednesday Session will be held from 1pmET – 2pm ET with audio & transcripts being available by 4pm ET

The C-SPAN cable network said it would play back the arguments on a broadcast channel and on radio as soon as they are available.

Listed below are live links to the orders, case filings, and other information pertaining to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act cases. Click on each item to access further information.

 
Orders
 
11-14-11 Grant Order
11-18-11 Amici Appointment Order
12-08-11 Briefing Schedule
02-21-12 Allocation of Oral Argument Time
   
   
Case Filings
 
11-117 Thomas More Law Center, et al., v. Barack H. Obama, President of the United States, et al.
Petition for Writ of Certiorari
Brief in Opposition
Reply Brief
 
11-393 National Federation of Independent Business, et al., , v. Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of Health and Human Services, et al.,
Petition for Writ of Certiorari
Appendix to Petition
Brief in Opposition
The American Bar Association has provided a link to the briefs at the merits stage of this case at this link.*
 
11-398 Department of Health and Human Services, et al., v. Florida, et al.
Petition for a Writ of Certiorari
Appendix to Petition
Brief of Private Respondents
Brief of State Respondents
Reply Brief
The American Bar Association has provided a link to the briefs at the merits stage of this case at this link* for the anti-injunction act and this link* for the minimum coverage provision.
 
11-400 Florida, et al., v. Department of Health and Human Services, et al.
Petition for Writ of Certiorari
Brief in Opposition
Reply Brief
The American Bar Association has provided a link to the briefs at the merits stage of this case at this link.*
 
11-420 Virginia, ex rel. Kenneth T. Cuccinelli, II, Attorney General of Virginia v. Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of Health and Human Services
Petition for Writ of Certiorari
Brief in Opposition
 
11-438 Liberty University, et al., v. Timothy F. Geithner , Secretary of the Treasury, et al.,
Petition for a Writ of Certiorari
Brief in Opposition
Reply Brief

The Court has granted review of cases challenging provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The orders, briefs, and other information are available at this link. The Chief Justice’s 2011 Year-End Report

I spoke to the Clerk’s Office and was told that they will post audio files and transcripts on http://www.supremecourt.gov  with morning session info being posted by 2pm that day and the Wednesday Session held from 1pmET – 2pm ET with audio&transcripts being available by 4pm ET

The C-SPAN cable network said it would play back the arguments on a broadcast channel and on radio as soon as they are available.