Tag Archives: Barack Obama

Help teach Sarah Palin about the First Amendment


Sarah Palin needs to learn about the true meaning of the First Amendment. And that’s just what our friends at People For the American Way are setting out to teach her.

Palin’s recent statements about the Park 51 Islamic Cultural Center betray a contempt for the Freedom of Religion guaranteed by the First Amendment. And yet Palin has tried to use the First Amendment to stifle legitimate public debate that was critical of radio personality Laura Schlessinger.

Sign the petition to Palin and along with you signature People For the American Way will send Palin a copy of the First Amendment on your behalf.

Matt Lockshin, Campaign Manager
CREDO Action

Palin

Dear Ms. Palin,

Please take the time to read the text of the First Amendment, and try to understand it, before continuing to spread a flawed and ignorant misinterpretation of some of our most cherished constitutional principles.

petition button

Dear People For Supporter,

It is clear from her recent statements defending Dr. Laura Schlessinger’s egregious on-air racial insensitivity and attacking the so-called ‘Ground Zero Mosque’ that Sarah Palin does not know the first thing about the First Amendment.

Maybe she should read it again.

Our goal is to send tens of thousands… or hundreds of thousands… or with the help of Facebook and web users like you, maybe even a million copies of the First Amendment to Sarah Palin. If she reads it a million times, maybe the words will sink in and she might finally start to understand the concepts of Freedom of Religion and Free Speech.

Sign PFAW’s petition now and we’ll send Sarah Palin a copy of the First Amendment on your behalf!

Back when she was campaigning for vice president in 2008, Palin claimed her First Amendment rights were being violated because people criticized her rhetoric and some in the “lamestream media” questioned her scurrilous attacks on then-candidate Obama.

Now she has taken to Twitter to defend Dr. Laura Schlessinger’s repeated use of the “n-word” on her radio show in a screed about how minorities are too sensitive about race and need to have thicker skins. Palin claims that Schlessinger’s First Amendment rights are being denied because of the backlash against her remarks.

Unbelievable!

Someone needs to tell Sarah Palin that just as the First Amendment protects the right of Dr. Schlesinger to make racist, offensive comments, it protects our right to raise our voices in outrage. It’s shocking that we’d need to explain this to any political leader, much less a vice presidential candidate from the most recent election who has since been since granted major spokesperson status in the media!

Send her a copy of the First Amendment now and hopefully a basic understanding of its clauses will sink in with repetition.

But it’s not just the freedom of speech provision of the First Amendment that Sarah Palin doesn’t comprehend — she’s also unclear on the concept of freedom of religion. No one has been a more vocal critic of the planned Park51 Muslim community center in lower Manhattan. She has pointed fingers at Democrats, President Obama, “peace-loving Muslims” and others demanding that they take a position against a community center two blocks from where the Twin Towers once stood. One of the core principles expressed in the Constitution is the belief that people of all faiths, and of no faith at all, are equally welcome in public life. America betrays its deepest values when it says that minorities are welcome only if they know their place.

But Sarah Palin still doesn’t get it! Let’s help her.

Join our petition now to implore Sarah Palin to learn about this crucial piece of our Constitution which she invokes so recklessly and without understanding. We’ll send her one copy of the First Amendment for every signature.

And, please, tell your friends. Our goal for this one is to get a huge response.

Thank you for standing up for freedom of speech, expression, the press, assembly and religion — thank you for standing up for the First Amendment.

Sincerely,

Ben Betz, Online Communications Manager


Department of Interior responds to our comments


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Union of Concerned Scientists
Strengthening Science at the DOI
After receiving more than 10,000 comments from UCS supporters—Interior Secretary Ken Salazar issued a strong scientific integrity policy.

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Department of Interior Responds to Our Comments

Last month, we asked UCS supporters like you to submit comments regarding the Department of the Interior’s (DOI’s) draft scientific integrity policy. The policy would have done little to prevent the kind of manipulation and distortion of science that has skewed decisions on everything from underwater oil drilling to endangered species.

Last Wednesday—after receiving more than ten thousand comments from UCS supporters—Interior Secretary Ken Salazar issued a radically different scientific integrity policy that addresses most of the issues we raised. Read our reaction here.

I heard personally from staff at the DOI that they relied heavily upon our input in shaping the new policy, and it’s clear that this public pressure convinced them to do the right thing. Together, we made sure the DOI heard loud and clear that the public supports strong actions to protect government science.

On the heels of this victory, we need to ensure strong scientific integrity standards like these are in place throughout the federal government.

In September, UCS released the results of a survey of government scientists who work on food safety—hundreds reported political interference in their work over the past year. These results clearly illustrate the need for better protection for whistleblowers, the right for scientists to speak publicly about their work, and other critical reforms to defend science from political interference.

In March 2009, President Obama asked the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy to create a detailed plan to protect the integrity of science throughout the federal government. In September, the president’s science advisor told us a plan would come by the end of 2010, and we intend to hold the White House to this promise. In the meantime, you can track the administration’s progress here.

Sincerely,

MichaelHalpern_jpg
Michael Halpern
National Field Organizer
UCS Scientific Integrity Program

a message from Jim Dean …DFA


This past weekend I had the great honor to speak at the One Nation Rally in Washington DC. More than 200,000 people had turned out to work for a more united country — one with good jobs and equal justice.

When I stepped up to speak and I saw just how many people were there, I had to ask myself — Where’s that enthusiasm gap I keep hearing about?

For months, talking heads in the media have been telling us that Democrats are doomed. But DFA members never stopped working. We doubled down, knocking on more doors and making more calls than ever before. Now, our hard work is paying off. Polls are turning around for DFA-endorsed candidates Sen. Barbara Boxer in California, Joe Garcia in Florida and many, many more.

Now, we need to double down again to put our progressive heroes over the top. We’re running the biggest Get Out The Vote program in DFA history — call centers, phone bombs, and staff on the ground in more than 30 key races.

If we raise $50,000 by the end of the week, we won’t have to hold anything back. Every dollar raised will go directly to fuel DFA’s progressive Get-Out-The-Vote campaign and deliver victory in November. It’s time to put our progressive heroes over the top. Please contribute today.

Contribute $10 right now to fuel the biggest Get Out The Vote program in DFA history.

Earlier this year, DFA members told us they wanted to see DFA staff on the ground in races across the country, so we’re sending our entire Field Team on campaign leave and we hired five Dean Corps organizers specifically to help recruit volunteers and Get Out The Vote.

With our friends at the PCCC, we’ve opened a full-time campaign call center and recruited hundreds of volunteers for our Call Out The Vote actions. Working together, we’ll generate over 500,000 calls by Election Day.

Combined with the work DFA members are doing on the ground across the country, we’ll generate over 250,000 volunteer hours for DFA-endorsed candidates before Election Day.

It’s your support that helped more than two-thirds of DFA-endorsed candidates win tough primaries this year. Contribute now to help us win again in November.

DFA is the boots on the ground winning elections across the country — contribute to fuel the campaign for progressive victories.

Working together, we can lead progressives to victory and beat the Tea Party once and for all.

Thank you for everything you do.

-Jim

Jim Dean, Chair
Democracy for America

Democracy for America relies on you and the people-power of more than one million members to fund the grassroots organizing and training that delivers progressive change on the issues that matter. Please Contribute Today and support our mission.

thoughtful Tuesday ….&some News


Today definitely, feels like winter but the 206 should warm up a little by the end of the day. Though reports are that it is 37 across the water here in Seattle and the weather folks say Washington State might see some significant snow this year it is has just started to sunshine once again in the 206. Don’t get me wrong this is nothing compared to what is going on in parts of Phoenix, AZ and hoping everyone is holding on tight, moving to higher ground and or evacuating as soon as possible do not try to wait it out be safe. In other News today, President Obama will be holding a Community College Summit. The big news online is about solar panels, wind and clean energy. I just heard that the White House will be placing solar panels on the roof and they will be in full effect by next spring can we all just say its about time Mr. President. Though the White House did announce they would be getting solar panels the Obama admin has not taken any bids and no companies have been picked as of yet.  I wondered when the Obama admin and family would read my tweet and blogs stressing the need and questioning when they will in fact put up solar panels up… heehee.

In the days ahead people will be getting their ballots in the mail and there may be some early voting opportunities. I cannot stress how  important it is to read your voter pamphlets it is just as important to get your voted counted ..So Vote early for DEMS on Nov. 2nd

i saw a great quote  …

Change will not come if we wait for

some other person or some other time.

We are the ones we’ve been waiting for

We are the change that we seek.

barack obama, 2/2008

Other News …

**There is a bread recall of white bread which was made with a nut but 3others were accidently included and is sold at Safeway -cashews, etc…

**Community Colleges all over the country are holding summits as well today..outreach

**White House Community College Summit being held today

**Tougher Federaly vehicle ratings have produced only 2 scoring high –the BMW 5series and the Hyundai Sonata ..crash tests include female dummies as well

**Seattle Wa. Tunnel is in the news again and gets the green light

**Mr.Clinton will be in Seattle 10/18/10 to campaign for Patty Murray

**Kohls will be creating about 4thousand jobs over the next 3yrs all over the country

**For more info on the Travel Alert or travel in gen go to: travel.state.gov

**Seattle,WA Greenlake mtg on 10/16 @the Greenlake lib –a change in funding or cuts are coming to that area

**Only 4weeks until the mid-terms and reporter jake tapper reports republicans lead 49% to 43% …calls it a blow-out instead of a tsunami… DEMS need to vote Nov.2nd

**NYC ..bungled bomber plot perp is sentenced to life in prison

**Tumwater,WA has a $$45million jail empty due to major budget cuts and a lack of criminals

**The Federal improvement tax credit ends soon … don’t loose your opp to do some improvements on your house

**Meg Whitman voted against Cali’s prop187…immigration

CSPAN …

One Nation Working Together Rally One Nation Working Together Rally
Saturday

C-SPAN Debate Coverage of Campaign 2010 C-SPAN Debate Coverage of Campaign 2010
Monday
Pres. Obama Meeting with Economic Advisory Board Pres. Obama Meeting with Economic Advisory Board
Monday
Atty. Gen. Eric Holder Press Conference Atty. Gen. Eric Holder Press Conference
Monday
White House Briefing with Press Secretary Robert Gibbs White House Briefing with Press Secretary Robert Gibbs
Monday

Weekend rant &some News -#oneNATION


–The Democratic Party must Unite in Solidarity … Vote Dems  Nov 2nd–

Please understand that the President’s message the Democratic Party’s message is being held hostage by “The Media” clearly they are right of center !!!

Sunday buzz….It clearly is fall today …it feels like it but I am resisting the need to turn the heat on and have great thick socks on instead. The weather is mild compared to what my east coast and Caribbean folks are experiencing so the complaint is not that important. I will say how odd to have my ability to get my email subject to the damage tropical Nicole did and wow it did some that caused folks to come in for repair ….oh well.  Dems need to Unite in Solidarity

The last few weeks, months and years we have heard “the media” put out information about the usual then when it comes to all things political or the issues at hand it becomes more clear to me what side of the issues these reporters, hosts, commentators are. It is just my personal take but these opinions when given are suspect because reality is most stations and their owners are quite right of center. If you a political junkie and watch enough or listen to enough so-called progressive radio it is obvious they try to provide spots so that those of us are left of center get our bits and pieces of go get’em blah blah blah but the fact is right of center has more money and that added to  what Justice Roberts did has made it very difficult to get the Democratic Message out there. I found the Democratic Channel on YouTube and that helped to get the information needed that had no commercials, no person attacks by the station or their employee and instead of reading it you can hear what the politician said verbatim which is what we all should do; listen to what the politician says instead of heresy by talking heads. I cannot say how amusing offensive and troubling it is that someone gets paid to tell me I do not know what to think or feel about not only my political party but the issues and who may or may not be the right people to trust. That is offensive and it also makes me wonder are these people acting because sometimes the comments made are beyond anything anyone in their right mind should even say. I get it controversy sells but what we have going on before the November elections is rhetoric and vitriol on steroids from people on the right getting 75% of the airtime on cable and or the airwaves.

This leads to the 10-2-10 rally, which btw was such a great event. I watched it online and while I feel that any and all numbers being commented on by the “Media” they must include those of us who were on the #ONENATION website as well as face book and the unions; who also provided a plug-in, it is important that we all be counted as participants. However, while the “media” coverage was a disappointment the folks handling the rally in person on cnn and msnbc let alone mainstream television were not so surprising. If someone was lucky enough to be interviewed and do not get me wrong some did feel and say they felt the rally was in direct affront to the tea party rally. While others tried to get their message out the comments by most “reporters” was not about how diverse the audience, not how about the Republican tea party is against everything that remotely stands for #onenation and they(we) all came together at the National Mall. I saw no guns and or nasty racial or signs with words of hate of anyone in a Protected Class on them …It was a rally of Inclusion, it was a rally of people from diverse backgrounds who may not get angry, who may not be getting polled but who will be getting out the vote on November 2nd.

In the end, it has been strange to listen to the coverage of the 10-2-10 rally. It should make folks aware of again…what side of the aisle “The Media” is on, so this is a red flag for what we will all be subject to over the next few weeks because of the November elections. The mid-terms use to be a no big deal but in this election year, the importance of who gets in Congress is the difference between continuing the progress needed if we are truly getting out of the ditch the last guy left. It will be about whether it will be your family member out of work, social security, forced to give up their rights as a woman, become reasonably suspicious and carry papers or put in a gender box and without rights completely. The choice is obvious to me because my family is #onenation and what that means is a family who practices inclusion, believes in a person’s right to choose, a right to love and marry who you want and what makes me upset is that implication by folks on the right that being brown black or mixed like my family also means we are all criminals.  It is beyond offensive that anyone has to say that not all people of colour are gang members, or killers or you fill in the negative behavior but to take it further who says or believes that all white people are racist because i absolutely do not believe that either. The big difference at the 10-2-10 rally was people of varying races were standing side by side without the BS that glenn beck has been stirring up. The fact is reasonable adults can stand, work, rally and possibly agree to disagree without the nasty rhetoric and behave in a close environment. That needs to be acknowledged as an experience that was in direct conflict of the beliefs of those on the right who think engaging in legal racial profiling is necessary in order to control folks.  This attitude goes against how most Americans feel but SB1070 which includes the stupid birther law; ares vehicle to control dark folks from being apart of the political process. I would like you to ask yourselves how reasonable is that?

The Sunday coverage started for me with cnn’s Holmes, who decided to bring in david webb; a tea party organizer and while he is black I fear his words of hate about his fellow man truly offended me as he rattled off the various groups represented at the rally out on the National Mall. I am going to try accept that no matter how the “media” covers the 10-2-10 rally I know why it was important that it happened and for it to get national play. The fact is we will continue to hear from folks on the right who get more airplay then those of us left of center because they are more controversial. They not only practice Exclusion they epitomize a sad reminder that race, hate and discrimination of all kinds is an issue that will be alive and well us unless we truly become #onenation and fight for equality. Our Votes for the Democratic Party in November will  help continue the change that 53% voted for in 2008 the change we wanted we voted for means we have to get involved force push forward the change that includes ALL Americans not just a few it means everyone.

FYI the BS that happened even before President Obama took office is the reason things are still awful…the votes of No by the Republican Tea party has continued the slow move toward progress. It took at least 8 years of spending by the last guy, Wall Street and folks like AIG to cause an almost complete economical collapse. I do not understand why people do not get the obvious. The Republican party that caused the economical recession if in power again will strip everyone of their current programs your family friends and neighbors have used or paid into for years. They will not only get less government help but those who saw themselves as middle class or above will know they are not because the privatization of any social service program will mean no caps on cost increases given at any moment during the year you are a customer. The best example I have is if you have rent control then you are okay but if you do not “they” can increase your rent whenever their revenue is subject to being slashed, cut or folks just are not interested in living in their buildings or housing as much so the cost is then passed on to the current customers. This would be bad and that is what privatization is. It gives Corporations a right to control the costs; the services rendered the product you get. The alternative to what the Democratic Party is offering will increase the chaos, increase the numbers using the emergency rooms for medical services. The reports of how the public trusts Republicans to fix the financial situation more than Democrats is truly offensive and my question is have people lost their minds. I watched as the reports came out about how the 2Wars waged and the 2Bush tax giveaways to the rich were done WITHOUT PAYGO and this kind of behavior continues as Republicans stall block or make Democrats in the Senate scale down bills needed to get our country back on track. The blame is the Republican Tea Party and their agenda to ruin the Obama administration whether that means throwing their own constituents under the bus…When will they finally understand this.

Vote Dems if you agree to:   NO Privatization … NO Cuts medicare, medicaid, soc security, Nurses, Firefighters, Police and Teachers …That is what the Republican Tea Party wants!!!

Other News …

**The state dept has issued a travel alert to US citizens in Europe

**Top taliban leader killed in attack

**Cali lawmakers reach a deal on their budget

**News Corps gave $1Mil to Chamber

**1200 NASA workers will be laid off

**Grocery workers are in mtg with worker rights issues with  QFC,Fred Meyer,Safeway

**Rick Sanchez is fired after comments during a radio interview

**


CSPAN …

One Nation Working Together Rally One Nation Working Together Rally
Saturday
Weekly Addresses Weekly Addresses
Saturday
Finanical Stability Oversight Council Meeting at U.S. Treasury Dept. Finanical Stability Oversight Council Meeting at U.S. Treasury Dept.
Friday
Justice Elena Kagan Welcomed to Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan Welcomed to Supreme Court
Friday
Pres. Obama Announces Departure of W.H. Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel Pres. Obama Announces Departure of W.H. Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel
Friday
White House Briefing with Press Secretary Robert Gibbs White House Briefing with Press Secretary Robert Gibbs
Friday
State Department Press Briefing State Department Press Briefing
Friday
Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI) Speech on Afghanistan Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI) Speech on Afghanistan
Friday