Mitt Romney retroactively calls Sarah Palin a
racist

post from Daily Kos on 22 August 2012 01:18:21 PM. © Daily Kos

BREAKING NEWS! Seriously, it's time to Cue The Conservative Outrage, because this one is BIG! Last night, the former half-term governor of Alaska used "chains" as a political metaphor to attack President Obama and Vice President Biden.

It's doable, it's winnable, Missouri is. And that leads to winning the Senate. And that leads to reversing a lot of the things that Obama and Biden have done to put our children and grandchildren in the chains of dependency.

You read that right. Sarah Palin said President Obama and Vice President Biden were putting children into "chains." Not only that, she said it on Fox. And since I'm pretty sure that a lot of the people who watch Fox are white, Sarah Palin basically just accused this administration of enslaving the entire white race. Outrage!

If you're a Republican, the good news is that Mitt Romney has already gotten out in front of this story. In fact, he did it last week when he flipped his mind after Joe Biden used the exact same metaphor.

Mitt Romney leveled his harshest criticism of President Obama's reelection campaign to date in Ohio Tuesday, declaring that Obama should "take your campaign of division and anger and hate back to Chicago." [...]
Referring to Joe Biden's comment that Romney and Republicans would let big business put Americans "back in chains" Romney said Obama's "campaign and his surrogates have made wild and reckless accusations that disgrace the office of the presidency. Another outrageous charge just came a few hours ago in Virginia."
"This is what an angry and desperate presidency looks like," Romney said.

According to Romney, Biden's comments proved that Obama was running a racist campaign. "The divisiveness based upon income, age, ethnicity, and so forth, it's designed to bring a sense of enmity and jealousy and anger," he said.

Given that Mitt Romney prides himself as nothing if not a totally fair and reasonable guy, it's safe to assume that with those remarks he was retroactively accusing Palin of being every bit as racist as Barack Obama and Joe Biden. I mean, Mitt would never do anything that was hypocritical, right? The retroactive nature of the condemnation is just a bonus.

And the good news for Mitt is that he wasn't alone. Sarah Palin herself said that her future rhetorical stylings were "disgusting."

Sarah Palin said Tuesday that Vice President Joe Biden?s remark that Republicans ?are going to put y?all back in chains? was ?disgusting? ? and added that it should make the Obama campaign seriously consider kicking him off the Democratic ticket.
The former GOP vice presidential candidate told Fox News?s Greta Van Susteren that Biden?s comment at a Tuesday rally in Danville, Va., should mark ?the nail in the coffin? for the vice president.

Nail in the coffin indeed. And I'll give her some credit for forward-thinking: It's been more than three years since she quit her job as governor of Alaska, because anyone who might one day use the word "chains" in a political metaphor surely is unfit to hold public office.

Read The Full Article:
http://feeds.dailykos.com/~r/dailykos/index/~3/cKC5Mg4nQkM/-Mitt-Romney-retroacti
vely-calls-Sarah-Palin-a-racist

Digg this

Fees, Fines, and Debt: How Governments and
Companies are Jailing Poor People to Make a Buck

post from ThinkProgress on 22 August 2012 01:10:00 PM. © ThinkProgress

Our Guest Blogger is Inimai Chettiar, a Leadership Fellow at the Center for American Progress Action Fund and Director of the Justice Program at the Brennan Center for Justice. This week?s St. Louis Patch dispatch reported this story: Wakita Shaw’s troubles started with a $425 payday loan, the kind of high-interest, short-term debt that seldom [...]

Read The Full Article:
http://thinkprogress.org.feedsportal.com/c/34726/f/638927/s/22a0c357/l/0Lthinkpro
gress0Borg0Cjustice0C20A120C0A80C220C7258110Cfees0Efines0Eand0Edebt0Ehow0Egovernments0Eand0Ecompanies0Eare0Ejailing0Epoor0Epeople0Eto0Emake0Ea0Ebuck0C/story01.htm

Digg this

American Family Association's Bryan Fischer
Compares Todd Akin to Jesus Christ, Rape Victim

post from Crooks and Liars on 22 August 2012 01:00:57 PM. © Crooks and Liars

In one fantastically wingnutty segment, the American Family Association's Bryan Fischer managed to compare Todd Akin to Jesus Christ -- as well as a victim of rape.

FISCHER: Denis Prager wants him out, Charles Krauthammer wants him out, Hugh Hewitt wants him out, Ann Coulter wants him out, The National Review editorial board wants him out, The Wall Street Journal editorial board wants him out, The Tea Party Express wants him out. Virtually nobody other than the Family Research Council and yours truly even Rush, apparently now is out saying he ought to step aside.
So everybody is gang tackling, uh, Todd Akin. Now you talk about a um, forceable, uh, situation, you talk about somebody being a victim of kind of forceable assault, that would be Todd Akin.

As always, the real victims of bigotry and discrimination in this country are white Christian conservatives.

Read The Full Article:
http://crooksandliars.com/blue-texan/bryan-fischer-compares-akin-to-rape-victim

Digg this

Why are all the GOP celebrities such nuts

post from US Politics | AMERICAblog News on 22 August 2012 01:00:18 PM. © US Politics | AMERICAblog News

Hank Williams, who previously compared President Obama to Hitler, now is telling crowds at his concerts that the President is a Muslim who hates the US. And the crowds roar with delight.Someone does appear to hate the US, but it's not the President. (He also hates the truth, but that's typical of the fringe now running the Republican party. It's the same problem the GOP hate...

Read The Full Article:
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Americablog/~3/qf5aGeGab10/why-are-all-gop-celebri
ties-such-nuts.html

Digg this

Blue America Welcomes Dr. Syed Taj

post from DownWithTyranny! on 22 August 2012 01:00:18 PM. © DownWithTyranny!

The only Michigan Democrats Steve Israel is allowing the DCCC to help this cycle are Blue Dog Gary McDowell (MI-01) and virulent anti-Choice fanatic Steve Pestka (MI-03). No doubt John Boehner and Eric Cantor would prefer actual Republicans but they know they'll be able to count on conservatives like McDowell and Pestka most of the time. The race that's the most primed for a Democratic takeover, MI-11, is being studiously ignored by Steve Israel. Although three districts have around the same advantage with Obama on the ticket. Under the new boundaries MI-01 and M-011 were won by Obama 50-48 and MI-03 was won by Obama 50-49. MI-11, unlike the other two, is an open seat with no Republican incumbent-- a prime takeover opportunity. But, apparently-- and for whatever reason-- not in Steve Israel's eyes. For one thing, the Democrat running, Dr. Syed Taj, is a strong progressive, which isn't what Steve Israel is looking for in candidates.

But, regardless of the DCCC, when voters in the 11th head to the polls in November they will be presented with a stark choice. On the Republican line will be a far right-wing libertarian being backed by Ron and Rand Paul and on the Democratic line will be a pragmatic progressive who has spent his entire life dedicated to saving and improving lives.

This week Blue America is endorsing that pragmatic progressive Democrat, Dr. Syed Taj and he'll be joining us for a live chat at CrooksandLiars.com today at 2pm (ET). Normally we meet our candidates on Tuesdays but Dr. Taj informed me he meets with his patients on Tuesdays at that time. The excuse says a lot about who he is and what motivates him.

His opponent, Kerry Bentivolio, is an accidental candidate who wound up on the GOP line when the incumbent, Thaddeus McCotter, was forced to resign to stay out of prison after a series of election fraud scandals. Horrified, Establishment Republicans tried running a normal candidate but it was too late and they got stuck with Bentivolio, a reindeer rancher who made some extra money as an actor in a low-budget conspiracy film that blamed George W. Bush for the 9/11 terrorist attacks, has a vision for obstruction and turning the clock back to the Nineteenth Century. He thinks the Ryan Budget is just a good start and he would go further in gutting Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and the rest of the social safety net that we have fought so hard to build.

"My opponent," Dr. Taj told us this week, "will not just be another vote for Speaker Boehner. He will be a ringleader for efforts that build on the type of hyper-partisan zealotry the House Republican Caucus has come to use as their standard operating procedure. In short, my opponent has the potential to be
one of the worst Members of Congress in history. That may sound like hyperbole but even his ultra-conservative primary opponent took to calling him 'Krazy Kerry'.?

Dr. Taj is running to make sure we never have to worry about ?Krazy Kerry? causing Americans problems by a stint in Congress. Dr. Taj has worked for over 40 years as a physician and understands the vital roll that programs such as Medicare and Social Security play in everyday people?s lives. He told us he not only understands how important it is to keep the Affordable Care Act in place but that we urgently need to iron out the wrinkles, improve and expand it?s programs and insure that every American has access to quality health care without undue financial burden.

"I came to this country because of the great opportunities and freedom that it provides. My family and I have lived the American Dream. That is why it pains me to see the dream slipping away from so many people. These are good folks, they?re my neighbors and friends that played by the rules and worked hard but through no fault of their own now find their American Dream turning into a nightmare. I will fight to insure that our economy works for everyone, that we use every option available to spur job creation and continue to grow our economy. Here in Michigan we are proud of the work President Obama has done to save the auto industry and reinvigorate American manufacturing. My opponent opposed the GM and Chrysler rescues that have proven to not only have saved those companies but also our state and national economy. I support American manufacturing and real fair-trade that protects workers and the environment here and across the globe. I am running to provide voters a choice between going back or moving forward."

However, Dr. Taj needs our help to make sure every voter in the 11th District knows just how stark the differences are between him and the crackpot running against him.

"When the people of my district know all the facts they will make the correct choice and vote for me. The National Republicans and the Ron Paul Super PACS know this and they will spend limitless amounts of money to obscure the facts and play to people?s fears. I need your support so we can counter these attacks and layout the real choice that voters will have to make.

This task will not be easy, because as you may have noticed I do not have the most average name. Nor do I practice the same religious faith as most Americans. But only in America could an immigrant from India that proudly attends a mosque be able to run for Federal Elective Office. This is the greatness of our country and why I know that with your support we can win this election. So, please consider making a contribution to my campaign, we cannot afford more obstruction-- we truly need a 'Doctor in the House'.?

Read The Full Article:
http://downwithtyranny.blogspot.com/2012/08/blue-america-welcomes-dr-syed-taj.htm
l

Digg this

Paul Ryan campaigns against defense cuts he voted
for

post from Daily Kos on 22 August 2012 12:50:53 PM. © Daily Kos

Paul Ryan, fraudPaul Ryan is showing his stripes as just another typical, hypocritical Republican. From abortion to stimulus funding to the Medicare cuts in his budget, to now, defense spending. Big surprise here: He was for cutting defense spending before he was against it.

Ryan voted for the Budget Control Act, the law that sets up an automatic trigger, or sequester, to cut spending on defense and other domestic programs. The cuts were included in the act to try to force Congress to come up with alternative cuts through a bipartisan supercommittee. But House Republicans, including those on the supercommittee, have been so focused on abortion, repealing Obamacare, and naming post offices, they didn't actually succeed in coming up with those alternatives.

Even though Ryan voted for the BCA, and thus for the sequester, he's slamming President Obama for the cuts. The cuts he voted for. And in doing so, he's embracing something he says he doesn't believe in?jobs created by federal spending.

It?s either lose defense-related jobs in Pennsylvania or put small businesses further at a competitive disadvantage,? Ryan said on Tuesday at a helicopter museum in West Chester, Pa. ?I got a good idea?why don?t we take away President Obama?s job and create jobs for everybody no matter what industry they are in??
Ryan said that ?almost 44,000 jobs? are at stake if the cuts go through, breaking with his usual small-government argument that federal spending does not spur employment.

Paul Ryan is as much of a fraud as his running mate.

Read The Full Article:
http://feeds.dailykos.com/~r/dailykos/index/~3/Y-10Zl14DxI/-Paul-Ryan-campaigns-a
gainst-defense-cuts-he-voted-for

Digg this

Court Allows Texas To Cut Off Womens Health
Funding, Leaving Doctors And Low-Income Women In A Lurch

post from ThinkProgress on 22 August 2012 12:50:44 PM. © ThinkProgress

Back in March, the federal government cut Texas’ Medicaid funding for the state’s Women’s Health Program (WHP) after Texas officials barred any “abortion affiliates” from the health program for low-income women. Because WHP is a joint federal-state program, states cannot to block any specific provider. By trying to force Planned Parenthood out of the system, [...]

Read The Full Article:
http://thinkprogress.org.feedsportal.com/c/34726/f/638927/s/22a10638/l/0Lthinkpro
gress0Borg0Chealth0C20A120C0A80C220C7255410Ctexas0Ewomens0Ehealth0C/story01.htm

Digg this

Ex-Gay Ministry Leader Continues Spin Without Any
Answers

Last night, OWN’s Our America with Lisa Ling aired a new interview with Alan Chambers, executive director of Exodus International, an umbrella organization for various ex-gay ministries. He reiterated his claims that the organization will no longer promote the harmful therapy, but again stopped short of explaining what Exodus will offer instead. The organization still [...]

Read The Full Article:
http://thinkprogress.org.feedsportal.com/c/34726/f/638927/s/22a105b8/l/0Lthinkpro
gress0Borg0Clgbt0C20A120C0A80C220C7274310Cex0Egay0Eministry0Eleader0Econtinues0Espin0Ewithout0Eany0Eanswers0C/story01.htm

Digg this

NYT Picks Up on Cuts to Current Medicare
Beneficiaries Arising From Romney-Ryan Plan

The story I covered on Sunday about how the Romney-Ryan campaign would have to cut current Medicare benefits because of the box they've shoved themselves into by promising to "restore $716 billion in Medicare cuts" finally gets picked up by the New York[...]

Read The Full Article:
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/firedoglake/fdl/~3/t22QDXZ3_sQ/

Digg this

The Tax Returns are Hurting Romney, Badly

I didn?t mention this in my previous post, but in addition to the aforementioned questions, NBC News and the Wall Street Journal asked respondents about the recent controversies over Bain Capital and Mitt Romney?s tax returns to gage whether they affected support for the Republican nominee. Neither result was good. Here?s the first question:

Has what you have seen, read, or heard about Mitt Romney?s previous business experience managing a firm that specializes in buying, restructuring, and selling companies made you feel ? more positive or more negative about him, not made much difference in your opinion or do you not know enough about this to have an opinion at this time?

Twenty-five percent said it made them feel more positive, 28 percent more negative, and 27 percent said it made no difference. When you remember that Romney has made this his chief qualification for the presidency, it speaks to the failure of his campaign to effectively rebut the charges. At best, Bain Capital is a non-factor for Romney, and for a significant number of people, it?s a detriment.

The ongoing fight over his tax returns has done even more damage to the former Massachusetts governor. Here?s the question:

Has what you have seen, read, or heard about Mitt Romney?s tax returns and the percent he has paid in federal income taxes made you feel ? more positive or more negative about him, not made much difference in your opinion or do you not know enough about this to have an opinion at this time?

Only 6 percent of respondents say that it has made a positive difference in their opinion of Romney. Thirty-six percent say that it has made a negative difference, and 41 percent say that it hasn?t made much difference at all. Seventeen percent don?t know either way. Romney?s anger over the Obama campaign?s decision to go after his tax returns makes more sense in this light; the controversy is doing real damage to his campaign, and more important, it has the potential to do more if Team Obama can return it to the forefront of the discussion.

I wouldn?t bet against that possibility. As long as Romney refuses to release his returns, Obama can continue to hit him on the issue. Death by a thousand cuts is an exaggeration, but it?s not far off from what might happen; Romney could become defined by the things he won?t reveal, and gradually loses the trust of the public. His low favorability becomes a burden he can?t lift, keeping him behind Obama through the fall, and into the election.

Mitt Romney Romney Mitt Romney presidential campaign Public image of Mitt Romney Politics

Read The Full Article:
http://prospect.org/article/tax-returns-are-hurting-romney-badly

Digg this