Tag Archives: republicans

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Don’t let the FCC cave on net neutrality.



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We can’t allow Chairman Genachowski to cut a backroom deal that would eviscerate net neutrality.

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Right now, the FCC is convening closed-door meetings with a few massive corporations to cut a deal to eviscerate net neutrality protections.

This is deplorable. FCC Chair Julius Genachowski has pledged to protect an open Internet. He has all the authority he needs to take action to protect American consumers, and he has the backing of Barack Obama and the Democratic leadership of the House and Senate to stand up for net neutrality. The only thing Genachowski seems to lack is the will to actually do so.

Call him today and tell him not cave on net neutrality.

The deal under consideration would let broadband providers build priority access reserved only for the largest companies that can afford to pay the toll. AT&T and Comcast would be allowed to favor their own video services, voice applications and social media. Verizon would be allowed to insulate itself from competition by upstart innovators that want to show consumers how things can be done better and more cheaply.

A free and open Internet is an important part of 21st Century democracy. We can’t let the Information Superhighway turn into a toll road simply because the Chair of the FCC doesn’t want to ruffle the feathers of the telecom industry.

Call Genachowski today and tell him not to cave on net neutrality. Let’s give him the spine to end the backroom deal-making that endangers the Internet’s future, and live up to his promises to protect the public.

Click here for the number to call and a sample script.

Thank you for working to preserve a free and open Internet.

Matt Lockshin, Campaign Manager
CREDO Action from Working Assets

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Federal judge declares Prop. 8 unconstitutional!


Human Rights Campaign


BREAKING NEWS:

Federal judge declares Prop. 8 unconstitutional!

The two loving couples who were plaintiffs in this case deserve our gratitude.

Today we moved a step closer to full equality.

After the first-ever federal trial on whether it’s legal to ban same-sex couples from marrying, the district court ruled that Proposition 8 violated the U.S. Constitution.

This court’s ruling will undoubtedly be appealed, so our struggle is far from over. But it was a tremendous step forward for equality and a critical win.

The two courageous couples who acted as plaintiffs in this suit opened up their lives to months of public scrutiny and helped bring about this victory, fighting alongside the legal team of Ted Olson, David Boies and the American Foundation for Equal Rights. They deserve our gratitude. Will you take a moment to thank them?

Here is another way to get involved. Today, people in cities across the country will be gathering for peaceful “Day of Decision” rallies to take advantage of this moment and show the broad support for marriage equality among both LGBT and straight Americans. Find out if there’s a rally near you.

This case was a landmark. Over the course of the months-long trial, the plaintiffs introduced substantial testimony and evidence to finally show that Prop. 8 had discriminatory motivations – and that same-sex couples are entitled to equal rights. Because this is a district court decision and will most likely be appealed, it may not have an immediate effect on marriage bans in California or any other states. Nonetheless, it’s a significant moment. It’s a vindication of the grassroots work we’ve done across the country to give every loving couple the same rights – and a shot of momentum to continue that work.

The trial also showed that the other side remains as ferocious as ever. Not content with simply defending Prop. 8, they tried to persuade the judge to stop California state agencies from recognizing the marriages of the 18,000 same-sex couples who tied the knot in the months before Prop. 8 passed.

So without question, the forces of bigotry will appeal this ruling. After the Court of Appeals, this case could very well end up before the highest court in the land – just another reason we must fight to get fair-minded judges like Elena Kagan on the Supreme Court.

We know we will prevail in the end. Because we are on the right side of history and the law. Because public opinion is increasingly in our favor. Because even conservatives like Ted Olson – who argued for the George W. Bush side in Bush v. Gore – share a passion for this cause.

But it will take more sacrifice and more grueling hard work. It will take more people like you standing up for what you believe – and more heroes like the plaintiffs in this case refusing to accept second-class status.

Thanks for your continued support on this defining issue.

Sincerely,

Joe Solmonese
Joe Solmonese
President

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Dangerous Drilling: BP is at it AGAIN
Brave New Foundation
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BP is at it again!

Despite the catastrophe in the Gulf, BP is moving forward with a controversial project to drill in the Arctic. In order to get around the Obama Administration’s moratorium on off-shore drilling, BP has built “Liberty Island” three miles off the Alaskan Coast and plans to drill two miles under the sea and then six to eight miles horizontally to tap an underwater reserve.

An oil spill in the Arctic would be far worse than what continues to unfold in the Gulf. There is no proven technology for cleaning up oil in icy water and the nearest emergency and relief supports are thousands of miles away.

Ignoring the lessons of this most recent disaster, Federal regulators even allowed BP to write its own environmental review for the project. We cannot allow for history to repeat itself.

Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar, has the ability to STOP this catastrophe before it happens and YOU have the ability to influence Secretary Salazar.

Tell Secretary Salazar to stop BP’s dangerous and unregulated drilling in the Arctic

Sincerely,
Robert Greenwald and the Brave New Foundation team
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The Pentagon and DADT


UNDER THE RADAR

JUSTICE — PENTAGON TRIES TO ADDRESS DADT SURVEY PRIVACY CONCERNS WITH ‘CERTIFICATE OF CONFIDENTIALITY’: After a copy of the Pentagon’s “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” survey was leaked last month, LGBT groups quickly condemned the survey’s questions — which ask servicemembers to speculate on the sexuality of their colleagues, as “derogatory and insulting.” At the time of the questionnaire’s release, the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) warned gay and lesbian soldiers against participating, citing privacy concerns. “While the surveys are apparently designed to protect the individual’s privacy, there is no guarantee of privacy and DOD has not agreed to provide immunity to service members whose privacy may be inadvertently violated or who inadvertently outs himself or herself,” the group said. In an attempt to allay fears and encourage gay and lesbian soldiers to participate in the Pentagon’s survey, the Department of Defense is publicizing that the private company hired to administer the survey, Westat, has obtained a Certificate of Confidentiality from the Department of Health and Human Services. According to the certificate, Westat “cannot be forced (for example by court order or subpoena) to disclose information that may identify you in any federal, state, local, civil, criminal, legislative, administrative, or other proceeding.” According to the Pentagon, the certificate would apply retroactively to anyone who has already taken the questionnaire. And more importantly, individuals would be protected from forced disclosure of their sexual orientation. Since the surveys were sent out to servicemembers last month, only 10 percent of the 400,000 “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” surveys were completed as of July 27.

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SenateDemocrats’s Channel …youtube


Today Senate Democrats voted for passage of a bill that will prevent thousands of teachers from being laid off and provides Medicaid funding to states. “I think what this bill is a reminder of even when we’re going through these incredibly trying times, that it’s our obligation as a generation to make sure that we provide more opportunity, not less to our kids and grandkids,” said Sen. Michael Bennet.

Senate Republicans are pushing a job-killing agenda that includes opposition to tax cuts for small businesses, opposition to clean energy jobs, and protection for tax loopholes exploited by multinational corporations. More info and vote details at: http://democrats.senate.gov/gopjobkilling/

At a press conference in the U.S. Capitol today, Senate Democrats discussed the next steps for a clean energy bill. Republicans are blocking 700,000 clean energy jobs, but they’re protecting tax breaks for CEOs who ship American jobs overseas. “It’s a terrible disappointment,”said Reid. “But everyone should understand we are not giving up on energy.”