Tag Archives: Keith Ellison

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Just Dumb


By ThinkProgress War Room

Sequester: “A Fancy Word for a Dumb Idea”

That’s what the President of the AFL-CIO, Richard Trumka, called the sequester — and he’s absolutely right.

Republicans have once again shown that they’ll do almost anything to protect the wealthy and special interests like Big Oil — no matter the cost to the rest of us and to the economy. This time, they have allowed devastating across-the-board spending cuts to kick in.

Just yesterday, the Senate voted on a balanced plan to replace this year’s indiscriminate cuts with a mix of targeted cuts and new revenues from ending loopholes for the very wealthiest Americans and corporate special interests. This plan got 52 votes and should have passed but Republicans blocked it by insisting on a 60-vote margin.

It’s clear that Republicans would rather impose painful spending cuts that will hurt the economy and millions of Americans than end a single tax loophole for the wealthy and special interests like Big Oil and Wall Street.

As a reminder, here’s a list of things Republicans apparently prefer to happen instead of eliminating wasteful giveaways in the tax code:

  • 70,000 kids will get kicked off of Head Start
  • 10,000 teacher jobs will be at risk
  • 7,200 special education teachers, aides, and staff could be cut
  • Nearly 140,000 fewer children will receive life-saving vaccinations
  • Up to 373,000 seriously mentally ill adults and seriously emotionally disturbed children could go untreated
  • 2,100 fewer food inspections will take place
  • Tax returns and refunds will be delayed
  • The long-term unemployed will see their benefits cut by about 10 percent
  • Nearly a billion dollars in loans to small businesses cut
  • It could take several hours to get through security at the airport
  • More than 100 airports might have to simply close down
  • Our military leaders have said it would weaken our national security
  • The Secretary of Homeland Security said the cuts will make it harder to protect the country from a terror attack and that the border will be less secure

Not all these things will happen overnight, but they will happen. And the longer the sequester goes on, the worse things will get. Worse yet, unless a permanent replacement is agreed to, these painful and damaging cuts will continue for nine years.

BOTTOM LINE: Instead of standing by and watching as our economy and millions of Americans are hurt by these irresponsible and devastating cuts, Republicans need to agree to reduce our deficit with the kind of responsible, balanced approach that three-quarters of Americans prefer. Their reckless behavior got us into this mess in 2011 and now it’s time for them to come back to the table and help get us out of it before the worst impacts of these indiscriminate cuts happen.

Evening Brief: Important Stories That You Might’ve Missed

Draft State Department report says the Keystone XL pipeline is environmentally sound.

How sequester cuts to the IRS might raise the deficit.

President Obama: marriage equality should be the law of the land.

Happy 100th Birthday, Big Oil tax breaks!

VIDEO: The GOP constantly pretends we haven’t already cut trillions in spending.

Sean Hannity launches Islamophobic attack on Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN).

Austerity fail: European unemployment hits record high, again.

Another day, another extreme anti-abortion bill enacted by the GOP.

Don’t worry, the next manufactured crisis is just over three weeks away!

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Support Congressman Keith Ellison



Thomas Jefferson’s Koran.

Congressman Keith Ellison started life outside the White Anglo-Saxon Protestant English-Speaking Straight mainstream.  He is African-American, and he was raised as a Catholic.

Many people who find themselves out of the mainstream swim desperately toward it.  They seek the shelter and comfort of conformity.
Not Keith.

At the age of 19, Keith Ellison converted to Islam.  He has raised his four children within Islam.  He explained it this way:  “When I looked at my spiritual life, and I looked at what might inform social change and justice in society . . . I found Islam.”

Converting to Islam is perhaps not the best way to further political aspirations in America today.  But in Keith Ellison’s case, it shows the courage of his convictions.

When Keith Ellison was sworn into Congress, he took the oath of office with his hand on the Koran – specifically, Thomas Jefferson’s personal copy of the Koran.  And remember, he’s a Muslim; what did you expect him to put under his hand, “Green Eggs and Ham“?  (That would definitely not be halal.)

And that’s when the hating started.  The poorly-named Congressman Virgil Goode from Virginia bleated: “If American citizens don’t wake up and adopt the Virgil Goode position on immigration there will likely be many more Muslims elected to office, and demanding the use of the Koran.”  It’s interesting to think about what kind of immigration policy would have kept Keith Ellison’s ancestors out, since they arrived in America in chains.

Glenn Beck, then on CNN, invited Keith Ellison on his show, and asked this not-so-perspicacious “question”:  “Sir, prove to me that you are not working with our enemies.”  Keith responded with a quiet dignity utterly foreign to that show:  “I have a deep love and affection for my country.”

Think about how much easier it would have been for Keith Ellison to change his religion not to Islam, but to Protestantism, and to go along, and to get along, and to try to fit in.  But that just wouldn’t be Keith Ellison. He draws his strength, and his courage, from not being just like everyone else.

Keith Ellison understands that the things that make us special are not the things that make us the same – they’re the things that make us different.  That our differences are not something to overcome, or even to tolerate, but something to cherish.

Keith Ellison is facing a primary next Tuesday.  I hope that you will support his campaign.  Because the mere existence of Congressman Keith Ellison represents a very important principle:

E Pluribus Unum.

Courage,

Alan Grayson

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House Democrats will match your gift dollar-for-dollar …Rep.Keith Ellison


I know you’re busy with the year-end holidays so I’ll get straight to the point: The only reason Republicans backed down on the payroll tax cut was because we had the American people standing behind us. Now, we need you again.

At midnight on December 31st, the big ball drops in New York City, our books close on 2011, and both parties have to report their year-end fundraising totals.

That means we have just 5 days to raise the $1 million we need to show that Democrats are strong, united and determined to defeat Republicans in 2012.
Make a year-end contribution of $3 or more to our Republican Accountability Fund and House Democrats will match your gift dollar-for-dollar, doubling your impact.

A funny thing happened last week.

When Speaker Boehner announced that Republicans would give up their Tea Party demands — for now — and pass the payroll tax cut for the middle class, he actually said these words:

“…why not do the right thing for the American people – even though it’s not exactly what we want?”

That’s exactly what we’ve been asking all year! Why won’t Republicans do the right thing for the middle class instead of kowtowing to Tea Party extremism?

It’s not just this fight over middle-class tax cuts. They were willing to bring down the government in March over a woman’s access to Planned Parenthood for health care. Then it was the Paul Ryan budget that would eliminate Medicare as we know it, their refusal to touch tax breaks for billionaires and Big Oil companies, and on, and on, and on.
Thanks to you, we’ve stopped them in 2011. With your gift today, we can defeat them in 2012.

Contribute $3 or more to our Republican Accountability Fund before the end of the year and House Democrats will match your gift dollar-for-dollar, doubling your impact.


Thanks for standing with us.
Rep. Keith Ellison
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Support Senator AL Franken


With so much at stake in 2012, I’m doing everything I can to help Democrats win across Minnesota and around the country. But every time someone asks me if Midwest Values PAC (MVP) can help out another great candidate, the answer is the same: “I’ll have to ask my team.” By which I mean you.

After all, it’s your support that has made it possible for MVP to get involved in some of 2012’s most important races, supporting progressive heroes like Sherrod Brown and Kirsten Gillibrand. And, of course, we’re standing with Minnesota’s own Amy Klobuchar, Keith Ellison, and Tim Walz.

But I want MVP to be able to support even more great candidates in 2012 — which is why I’m asking you to help me help them by making a contribution of $5 or more today!

I’ll give you a perfect example: Elizabeth Warren. This progressive champion and consumer crusader is running for Senate in Massachusetts, and she’d be a powerful voice standing up to the special interests in Washington.

I’m proud to give her my endorsement — but I want to be able to do more. Your contribution to Midwest Values PAC will make it possible for me to stand with even more great candidates like Elizabeth when they need it most — so click here to donate today!

I wish I could help every single one of our party’s great candidates stand up for Medicare and Social Security, fight for good jobs and clean energy, and take on the right-wing special interests. And with the Senate majority at stake — and the House in play — there are lots of races to choose from.

I’ll keep fighting to support progressive candidates around the country no matter what. But MVP can only help if MVP members like you are there with me.

So, on behalf of all the progressives hoping MVP will be there for them: How about it? Can you contribute a few dollars to help me elect great Democrats in 2012?

Thanks for all you to do support me — and all the other great progressives out there.

Al

~ my 2cents ..., ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

mashup Monday &some News …


Featured photo is on Bloody Sunday-with police officers waiting for demostrators

FYI … a sad but true reality …Today marks the anniversary of Bloody Sunday

In this year 2011, the definition of freedom of speech seems misused manipulated and disrespected mostly by right-wingers.

Now, Representative Peter King, a part of homeland security seems to be using his position to pursue Muslims. For months, he and his conservative comrades have talked about the radicalization of young Muslims here in the US of A. He was a part of that whole don’t build a mosque near ground zero group and is doing his part in the whole fear mongering department. However, the mongering has moved from just words to an attempt to find the underlying cause of why “they” are so radical and that “they” need to cooperate and talk to the FBI. While watching the interview with him and Representative Ellison I got the feeling freedom of religion and singling out a group of people instead of dealing with radicalization as a whole was not on his mind whatsoever. I definitely yelled at the television machine because yes it hurt to see this guy, a so-called public servant who should represent the people, all people talk like what he was about to do was acceptable. Even though he said, it is only a small percentage of Muslims and when asked to provide more information he preceded to say 1 or 2 as well as the general comment about speaking to some police and or the FBI. I found most if not all of his comments and reasons for the Muslim hearings offensive and wondered how anyone would vote for a guy who does not seem to believe in the constitution. I was offended when he compared what he is doing as nothing different from when the government singled out and went after the Mafia, Gangs, and groups appearing radicalized beyond at least his or their taste. At first, i thought that he might just be discussing the need for hearings but then dashed by reality when Representative Ellison stated he would be testifying at the hearing. I am relieved that Rep.Ellison will be there if not to say all the things others might be too scared and or worried to say while seating in what clearly will be a hot seat. I have to say March Madness comes in all shapes and sizes but more and more madness from the right by people who seemed sane clearly are feeling very comfortable to express their extremely right side. Can i just say March madness is catching and it makes you wonder who can we support, vote for and trust anymore because the definition of a public servant is becoming a blur and disrespected. It was nice to hear ms.crowly call out mr.King and when she did all you had to do is replace with any group that might be on the “watch list”. I wish more talking heads would challenge people who hold public office making comments, specifically folks like MBachmann, McConnell, Boehner, Huckabee, SBrown and SPalin though freedom of speech is a right.

The uptick in rhetoric coming from conservatives, tea party and in some cases the Republican Party does promote fear, hate, and in some cases incite violence. The act or use of freedom of speech also means you should not only use it responsibly but also held accountable for it.

Other News …

**Costco agrees not to sell fish on the endangered list

**Gadhafi is using airstrikes to either scare and kill his own people

**Egyptian protesters fight troops over Mubarak documents

**Gates says we must stay in Afghanistan

**S.Korea makes 2nd try at sending N.Koreans home

**Oil tops $106 a barrel

**Rep. Daniel Akaka will not seek re-election

**Samsung exec says their tablet is “inadequate”

 **Rep.Peter King will hold his hearings starting Thursday -peaceful protests needed

CSPAN …

Iowa Conservatives Hosts GOP Presidential Hopefuls

2012 Iowa Caucuses in View

http://c-span.org/Events/Iowa-Conservatives-Hosts-GOP-Presidential-Hopefuls/10737420004/

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Attorneys General to Meet in Washington

focus on economy

http://c-span.org/Events/Attorneys-General-to-Meet-in-Washington/10737420017/

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Senate to Consider Long-term Spending Measure

Procedural votes on Tuesday

http://c-span.org/Events/Senate-to-Consider-Long-term-Spending-Measure/10737420016/

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Civil Rights Spies

Rick Bowers is the author of, “Spies of Mississippi: The True Story of the Spy Network that Tried to Destroy the Civil Rights Movement.” The book is about the State of Mississippi’s Sovereignty Commission that tried to stop integration and the Civil Rights Movement. Mr. Bowers discusses his book at the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC.

http://c-span.org/Events/Civil-Rights-Spies/10737419933/

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Dred Scott

On March 6th, 1857, the United States Supreme Court issued its decision in the Dred Scott Case, which ruled that slaves were not citizens and were not protected by the Constitution. The National Association of Attorneys General hosted this discussion on the importance of the Dred Scott decision.

http://c-span.org/Events/Anniversary-of-the-Dred-Scott-Case/10737419934/

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– 5 Things Unions Have Done for You

America’s unions have been one of the major forces in building a middle class and have fought over the past century to improve the lives of all Americans. READ MORE

http://act.alternet.org/go/5165?akid=6611.231355.8aH2z2&t=25

 By Zaid Jilani / Think Progress