Tag Archives: Barack Obama

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

03/26/2012 Nativegrl77

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Cases

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

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.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Women: You’re On Your Own … by DemRapidResponse

03/21/2012 Nativegrl77

Uploaded by DemRapidResponse on Mar 20, 2012

DNC video “Mitt Romney to Women: You’re On Your Own”

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Thank them for their service … Ron Pierce, Democrats.org

03/20/2012 Nativegrl77

“Welcome home.”

That was President Obama’s message to troops at Fort Bragg in December, marking the end of the war in Iraq.

Today is the nine-year anniversary of the start of that war.

More than 1.5 million men and women served there over the past nine years. Some troops are still stationed overseas, in Afghanistan and elsewhere.

I’d like to ask you to take a moment today to reflect on the sacrifices our troops and their families have made — and the sacrifices some are still making — and invite you to leave a message to thank them for their service:

http://my.democrats.org/Thank-our-Veterans

President Obama recently announced one of the largest increases in funding for veterans‘ health care in decades, so they can return to the care they need.

He’s also working to make sure veterans get the jobs they deserve, taking executive actions and signing legislation that provides help for them to re-enter the workforce.

It’s an important part of his promise — not just to bring the war in Iraq to a responsible end, but to honor our commitment to our service members.

And it all comes down to one simple principle: Because they got our backs, we’ll get theirs.

Please take a moment to honor our troops’ service on this anniversary, and if you’d like, send a message to thank them:

http://my.democrats.org/Thank-our-Veterans

Thanks,

Ron

Major Ron Pierce (Ret.)
Director of Outreach for Veterans and Military Families
Democratic National Committee

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Help tell the story of health care reform in Washington

03/19/2012 Nativegrl77

Two years ago when health care reform was on the line, thousands of Washingtonians shared their personal stories — and that helped shape the national debate.

Then, President Obama accomplished what presidents from both parties had tried to do for more than 70 years. He’ll be the first to admit he didn’t do it alone — he was bolstered by people like you who stood up to fight for reform.

Now, as we approach the two-year anniversary of the Affordable Care Act, we want to check in on the progress that’s been made. This is going to be a key issue in this election, and your stories will help show voters how this law is already helping millions.

Share how health care reform has helped you or someone you know.

If you’d rather make a video to tell your story, we’re all for it: Just upload it to YouTube and send us the link.

Before reform, hundreds of thousands of families each year would find themselves on the brink of bankruptcy just because someone got sick. Pre-existing conditions allowed insurance companies to deny coverage to children. A coverage gap for prescription drugs caught seniors by surprise, costing them hundreds of dollars out of pocket.

But then you spoke up and stood with President Obama for change. And on March 23rd, 2010, we made history by helping pass the Affordable Care Act.

Now, two years later, folks are starting to see the real-life impact of reform.

In Washington alone, 2.4 million people no longer have a lifetime limit on coverage; 483,000 women have seen their coverage for preventive services like mammograms expanded; 500,000 seniors and people with disabilities who have Medicare have already received free preventive care; and 52,000 young people who would otherwise be uninsured are staying on their parents’ insurance plans until they turn 26.

This isn’t where the story ends. The other side is bent on taking down the health reform we fought so hard for.

Will you help tell the story of the Affordable Care Act and why it matters to families in Washington, and across the country?

Or, submit a video telling your story:

Thanks,

Jen

Jen O’Malley Dillon
Deputy Campaign Manager
Obama for America