Moneybag Democracy

post from My Left Wing - Front Page on 23 February 2009 03:33:38 PM. © My Left Wing - Front Page

To view the original art, please travel to "Moneybag Democracy" [Archive No. 9703]
copyright © 2008. Andrew Wahl. Off The Wahl Perspective.

"Now, that doesn't mean that questions of Taiwan, Tibet, human rights, the whole range of challenges that we often engage on with the Chinese, are not part of the agenda. But we pretty much know what they are going to say. We have to continue to press them but our pressing on those issues can't interfere with the global economic crisis, the global climate change crisis, and the security crises.
~ Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton (February 20, 2009)

The news appeared in cyberspace on Friday, February 20, 2009. As Babe Ruth once elucidated, it was as déjà vu, all over again. International and domestic activists have come to realize, once again, America is a democracy dependent on dollars. Amnesty International advocates shook their heads, wondered, and worried of what might be. Students for a Free Tibet collectively shrugged their shoulders and expressed a shared distress. Citizens at home, in America, barely blinked. An avid Obama supporter, was resigned to realities that, only weeks ago, she might not have thought she would willingly accept. Moneybag democracy lives. Hillary Clinton serves the President, the precedent past, present, and perhaps, future.
Days ago, with Secretary of State Clinton abroad in China, the world was given an opportunity to witness America's new direction. Most anticipated dollars would no longer have a greater influence on United States policy than humanitarian concerns did. Globally, people waited to cheer for the change that had certainly come. Then, Secretary Clinton, pleaded with Beijing to buy United States bonds. Contrary to her pointed comments on human rights, made during her presidential campaign, as a representative of the Obama Administration, Secretary Clinton spoke as though she no longer believes as she had, Chinese ownership of US government debt had become a threat to national security.

Perhaps, Hillary Clinton, and her President, surmised Capitalism, or a democracy devoted to dollars must survive at all cost. Certainly her husband, and his Secretary of State, Madeline Albright had reached this conclusion near a decade earlier.

Like Secretary Albright, Hillary Rodham Clinton, chose to sell America's soul. When the first woman Head of State spoke of her decision, few United States citizens said a word. In the 1990s, then Head of State, Albright, in a 60 Minutes interview, discussed the American policy decisions that caused the deaths of more than half-million Arab children in Iraq. She said without hesitation, the loss of young lives were the price the Clinton Administration thought wise to pay. Madeline Albright mused; the sacrifice of little ones was "worth it."

Hardships on fellow humans are the cost citizens in a comfortable and "civilized" society must pay for democracy. Apparently, Americans, even the most Progressive amongst us, seem to agree. Then, as now, few if any said a word.

Today when news came over the wires, Secretary Clinton stood firm in favor of economic relations with China, regardless of human rights violations, only a few countrymen responded. Activists were 'shocked' when they heard the American Ambassador, Clinton, take such a stance. Representatives from Amnesty International and Students for a Free Tibet spoke out.

T. Kumar of Amnesty International USA said the global rights lobby was "shocked and extremely disappointed" by Secretary Clinton's comment. The advocate for honorable and equitable civil liberties may have trusted that at least where China was concerned, the Clinton's had a record, or at any rate, had offered respectable rhetoric.

James Mann, a Johns Hopkins scholar who wrote a history of U.S.-China relations, also recalled. When asked of Secretary Clinton's most recent comment, Professor Mann stated he was struck by the contrast. Bill Clinton, he said, as president more than eight years earlier gave strong speeches on behalf of political freedom in the People's Republic. "Bill Clinton told the leader of China he was on 'the wrong side of history,'" Mann recollected. "Now, Hillary seems to be giving them the reverse message: that China is on the right side of history."

However, historians might consider the statement that President Bill Clinton is better known for was his truer agenda. "It is the economy stu***!" In March of 1997, writer for China Daily, Ren Yanshi avowed the Chinese government certainly perceived the United States had a record of human rights violations, during the Clinton years. In a "Moneybag Democracy," the United States of America caters only to the rich. In the States, a consumer culture allows the prosperous to profit further. The people, the poor suffer greatly.

In recent years, as the rich got much richer, this truth was revealed in radical ways. The word "Katrina" evokes much empathy. "Bank bailouts elicit more emotions within the ranks of what once was the Middle Class. Some might say, these truths are the reason that change has finally come to America. Until today, the thought was coins and currency would no longer guide an Administration or US policy. Barack Obama brought hope to the world.

Students for a Free Tibet embraced the new Administration. They believed the current White House could and would make a difference in the lives of all people. Surely, a President Obama would not serve only the affluent.

As a Senator, Barack Obama was among the sponsors of the act, which bestowed the nation's highest civilian honor, the Congressional Gold Medal, on the Dalai Lama. Senator Obama urged Chinese president Hu Jintao to "meaningfully address the Tibet issue." After the election, Tibetans were encouraged. They sent President Obama letters of Congratulations. Thus, it was an unexpected and an unwanted surprise to hear Secretary Clinton cavort, cajole, and say as she did. The proponents of social justice stated, Clinton's remarks "sent the wrong signal to China at a sensitive time."

"The US government cannot afford to let Beijing set the agenda," said Tenzin Dorjee, deputy director of the New York-based advocacy group.

Long-time activists, domestic supporters of Barack Obama, persons such as Jessica, see Secretary Clinton's statement differently. This woman who energetically endorsed Barack Obama from the moment he announced his campaign would have welcomed a more mindful position. She yearns for United States policy to be benevolent as she believes Barack Obama, the man, is. Jessica, who organized her community to come out and work for what she craved, an Obama White House, now thinks America cannot "afford" to do other than cater to the wishes of the Chinese government.

A jubilant Jessica has been joyful since her presidential candidate was chosen to serve. She avows; "Unfortunately, due to our greed, China owns us. If they pulled their money, this country would die. Sad fact but true."

American lives would be lost if foreign affairs focus on humanitarian concerns in China. There can be nothing worse. Who would buy the wares that please the people in the States, or Jessica might say, in her own defense, furnish jobs for those born in the Far Eastern nation. The argument could be made; and certainly, descendants of Wal-Mart founder, Sam Walton, would be the first to offer it. US dollars support a much-improved Chinese culture.

George W. Bush might have mused the latter claim an important one. Perchance, that is why the former President chose to attend the 2008 Summer Olympics. United States indebtedness served to justify relations with China, a country well-known for human rights violations. The desire to feed a Capitalist market, the need to assuage the hunger of citizens who habitually consume on credit, and a country famished for cash, will do all that they can to appease those who beat and brutalize Chinese citizens.

The people of China, many Americans cried at the time, cannot be punished because they live under totalitarian rule. Nor can US athletes be penalized. Cruel and inhumane treatment is not acceptable, or at least it would not have been months ago, to Jessica who did all she could to help place the now President, Barack Obama in the Oval Office.

In primary season, Jessica stood staunchly against what she then thought were Hillary Clinton's hawkish views. She, might have agreed with essayist Stephen Zunes when he wrote for the Foreign Policy in Focus on December 11, 2007, "(F)ront-runner for the Democratic nomination for president shares much of President Bush's dangerous attitudes toward international law and human rights."

Nonetheless, today, Jessica, the proud Progressive, a self-identified peace lover offers, "If there is no money, people will die. Fact. I hate it (almost) as much [as an idealist would.] I also agree we are a soul-less country."

Then, she quickly deferred to her disgust for the George W. Bush years. She stated the crimes committed by the former Administration were deplorable. Jessica concludes, "(W)e have to hold the previous administration accountable for their crimes."

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, whose position on censure has wavered would concur with Jessica, today. If the subject were an investigation or possible prosecution of the Bush White House, Nancy Pelosi would be on-board. However, Speaker Pelosi may, or may not, think the United States can ignore human rights violations on the part of China. One never knows. History and statements made in the past, are often inconsistent.

Almost a year to the day, on February 21, 2008, Secretary Clinton's good friend, the esteemed Representative from San Francisco, Pelosi, spoke eloquently of what she did not publicly discuss with fellow Democrat, Hillary Clinton, now in 2009.

"If freedom-loving people throughout the world do not speak out against China's oppression in China and Tibet, we have lost all moral authority to speak on behalf of human rights anywhere in the world," House Speaker Pelosi told reporters during a visit with the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, in Dharamsala, India.

Indeed, America, the Moneybag Democracy has forfeited ethical influence. Economics has replaced principled certitude as US policy. The press understands the priority. The commercial media knows dollars deliver. Damn the lives and liberties of our brethren abroad. In the United States there is but one mission, moneybag democracy.

Perchance this truth explains why coverage on the decision to forego human rights concerns is limited. An article appeared here, or there. Yet, few commentaries focused on the human rights aspect of the Secretary Clinton's travel. The Los Angeles Times reported, Clinton added environmental and security issues to economic talks in China. Most say Secretary of State Clinton has sealed the deal. She has merged the past with the present. Former First Lady, Hillary Rodham Clinton has performed laudably for her President, Clinton, Bush, or Obama.

References for varied reality . . .

Rights may take second place on Clinton China visit, By Arshad Mohammed. Reuters. February 20, 2009
Hillary Clinton; Chinese rights on hold, By Paul Richter. The Swamp. Chicago Tribune. February 20, 2009
The Global Listening Tour, By Glenn Kessler. Washington Post. Friday, February 20, 2009; Page A01
Hillary Clinton pleads with China to buy US Treasuries as Japan looks on, By Ambrose Evans-Pritchard. Telegraph. February 22, 2009
Obama's foreign affairs work focused on human rights, poverty, high-profile trips. Herald Tribune. February 26, 2008
Activists 'shocked' at Clinton stance on China rights Yahoo News. February 20, 2009
Clinton: Chinese human rights can't interfere with other crises. Cable News Network. January 22, 2009
Amnesty International
Students for a Free Tibet
Clinton, Chinese add environmental and security issues to economic talks. By Paul Richter and Barbara Demick. The Los Angeles Times. February 22, 2009
Pelosi calls on Bush to boycott Olympic opening ceremonies. Cable News Network. February 2008
The Chinese Debt. The Herald Tribune. October 2006
Hillary, Congenital Hawk, By William Safire. The New York Times. December 8, 2003
Hillary Clinton on International Law, By Stephen Zunes. Foreign Policy in Focus. December 11, 2007
Wal-Mart and China; A Joint Venture. By Sam Hornblower. Frontline. November 23, 2004
Clinton's Candor Abroad Draws Mixed Reviews, By Glenn Kessler. Washington Post. Monday, February 23, 2009; Page A12
"USA, a country in need of human rights" By Ren Yanshi. China Daily. March 5, 1997
Send a letter or card to President-elect Barack Obama. Students for a Free Tibet.

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Giving Trash a Bad Name

post from Talking Points Memo on 23 February 2009 03:33:00 PM. © Talking Points Memo

Most people who do rotten things have redeeming qualities if you look hard enough. Then there are the really low and vile characters like Sen. Jim Bunning (R-KY). After tastelessly predicting Justice Ginsburg's death in 9 months over the weekend, he's[...]

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Obama Announces More White House Staff

post from DemConWatch on 23 February 2009 03:32:25 PM. © DemConWatch

Today, President Barack Obama announced the following White House Staff: Elizabeth Jarvis-Shean, White House Research Director; Daniella Gibbs Leger, Director of Message Events; Macon Phillips, Director of New Media; Christina Reynolds, Director of Media Affairs; Dag Vega, Director of Broadcast Media; Dana E. Singiser, White House Office of Legislative Affairs, Amy Brundage, Regional Communications Director; Cammie Croft, Deputy New Media Director; Jason Djang, Deputy Director for Video; Corey Ealons, Director of African American Media and Coordinator of Special Projects; Shin Inouye, Director of Specialty Media; Jesse Lee, Online Programs Director; Katherine Lyons, Deputy Director of Message Events; Luis Miranda, Director of Hispanic Media; Moira Mack Muntz, Regional Communications Director; Katie Stanton, Director of Citizen Participation; Joelle Terry, Deputy Director of Message Events; Gannet Tseggai, Regional Communications Director; and Samantha Tubman, Assistant Social Secretary.

President Obama said, “Each of these individuals brings deep expertise in their fields, and a strong commitment to public service. I am confident in their abilities to fill these roles with distinction, and I welcome them to our team as we begin the work of bringing the change that the American people need in these troubled times.”

Bios after the break.

Elizabeth Jarvis-Shean, White House Research Director

Jarvis-Shean was the Head of Research for the Presidential Transition Team. Prior to that, she was Deputy Director of Content for the Obama campaign. She previously worked as a research and communications strategist at CNBC and as Vice President at IMS, Inc., a research consulting firm. A native of Sacramento, California, Jarvis-Shean studied at the University of Cape Town and was the fifth generation of her family to attend the University of California, Berkeley, from which she graduated with high honors in political science.

Daniella Gibbs Leger, Director of Message Events

Daniella Gibbs Leger was most recently the Vice President for Communications at American Progress. At the Center she specialized in domestic and economic policy, as well as the Center's overall communications strategy. Prior to joining the Center, Daniella was Deputy Director of Communications at the Democratic National Committee. She began working at the DNC in June of 2002 in the political department as Communications Director for the Women’s Vote Center. During her tenure at the DNC, Daniella also handled African American and specialty media and was a regional media director during the 2004 presidential cycle. Daniella spent two years at the National Newspaper Publishers Association as their marketing associate and political liaison before joining the DNC. Before moving to Washington, D.C., Daniella worked at Sony Music in New York City for three years. Daniella has been a guest on numerous TV and radio shows and has been quoted in various print publications. Daniella holds a degree in Government and a minor in Sociology from the University of Virginia.

Macon Phillips, Director of New Media
Since the election, Phillips has served as Director of New Media for the Presidential Transition Team, developing Change.gov and overseeing the transition's overall online communications. Prior to that, he served as the Deputy Director of New Media for Obama for America, managing the day to day operations of the campaign's online program. Before the campaign, Macon led Blue State Digital's strategy practice, working with clients like the Democratic National Committee and Senator Ted Kennedy. A native of Huntsville, Alabama, Phillips is a graduate of Duke University and lives with his fiancée in Washington, DC.

Christina Reynolds, Director of Media Affairs
Reynolds was most recently the Director of Rapid Response for the Obama-Biden campaign. Prior to that, she was research director and senior communications adviser for John Edwards' 2008 presidential primary campaign, and research director in 2004. She has also served as research director for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and Tim Johnson's 2002 reelection campaign and as communications director for Tom Daschle's 2004 campaign. Reynolds graduated from the School of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Dag Vega, Director of Broadcast Media

Most recently, Vega served as Director of Surrogate Press for the Obama campaign where he supervised the TV booking operation and managed the media outreach for elected officials and policy experts speaking on behalf of the campaign. Previously, he was Deputy Communications Director at the Democratic National Committee where he helped implement Chairman Howard Dean’s media strategy. A veteran of presidential races, he served as Deputy Communications Director for TV News during John Kerry’s presidential campaign in 2004 and a spokesperson for constituency media for Al Gore’s presidential bid in 2000. He also held communication positions in The White House Press Office during President Clinton's administration.

Dana E. Singiser, White House Office of Legislative Affairs

Singiser brings over 15 years of political, campaign, and legal experience to her position as Special Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs. At the White House, she serves on the team charged with promoting President Obama’s legislative priorities with the U.S. Senate. During the 2008 election cycle, she focused on the women’s vote, first as Director of Women’s Outreach for then-Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton’s campaign and then as Senior Advisor for the Women’s Vote to Barack Obama. Her other campaign experience includes serving as Deputy Political Director for Governor Howard Dean’s presidential campaign, and as staff on President Bill Clinton’s campaigns in 1992 and 1996. On Capitol Hill, Dana was Staff Director for the Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee under the leadership of former Senator Clinton and Majority Leader Harry Reid. At the Committee, she led the effort to strengthen core constituency support for Democratic party positions. She practice law at Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld for five years, and served in President Clinton’s Administration, both in the White House and the Department of Commerce. She grew up in Vermont and received her undergraduate degree from Brown University and her law degree from Georgetown University Law Center.

Amy Brundage, Regional Communications Director

Brundage most recently served as a spokesperson for the Obama-Biden Transition Team and as the Midwest Communications Director in the Chicago headquarters for Obama’s presidential campaign. Prior to the campaign, she served as then-Senator Obama’s Press Secretary in his Washington, DC office. Before joining the Obama team, Brundage was Senator John Kerry’s National Press Secretary. She also served as the Communications Director for Kerry’s political action committee in 2006. Brundage worked in the scheduling department in the national headquarters during Kerry’s 2004 presidential campaign, and joined Kerry’s Senate staff in early 2005. A native of Rockport, Massachusetts, Brundage graduated with a B.A. in both English and Political Science from the College of the Holy Cross.

Cammie Croft, Deputy New Media Director
Croft comes to the White House from the Obama-Biden Transition Project, where she served as the Deputy New Media Director, specializing in online communications. Prior to that, as the New Media Rapid Response Manager for the Obama for America campaign, she oversaw efforts to integrate new media and communications, including managing websites such as FighttheSmears.com and UndertheRadar.com. Before joining the campaign, Croft built the tracking and media monitoring program at Progressive Accountability, a rapid-response communications advocacy campaign that provided video of Republican Presidential candidates for the mass public. Croft also worked as the Rapid Response Mobilization Director for Americans Against Escalation in Iraq, where she led their new media efforts, working with MoveOn.org’s online tools to mobilize Americans opposed to the war. Croft holds a B.A. in Political Science and Communication from the University of Washington in Seattle, where she graduated with distinction. She is also an alumnus of the New Organizing Institute (NOI), a unique online organizing forum for technologically-savvy, progressive campaigners.

Jason Djang, Deputy Director for Video

Djang served on the New Media video teams for both Obama for America and the Obama-Biden Transition Project as an editor and producer. Prior to joining the campaign, he worked in documentary film and television in New York City and Los Angeles. Versed in all aspects of the production world, his experience includes commercials, broadcast series, and short films. Djang also has a background in church leadership and holds a Masters degree from Fuller Seminary in Pasadena, CA. He earned his bachelors degree from the University of California at Los Angeles.

Corey Ealons, Director of African American Media and Coordinator of Special Projects

Ealons served as director of African American Media during the General Election for the Obama-Biden campaign. Prior to joining that operation he was deputy chief of staff and communications director for U.S. Representative Artur Davis of Alabama for six years. A communications professional for nearly 15 years, Ealons’ experiences include three presidential campaigns and active duty service as the public affairs director and photojournalist for the 3rd United States Infantry (The Old Guard), the Presidential Honor Guard in Washington, D.C. Ealons graduated from the University Of Alabama School Of Communications with a concentration in public relations and political communications.

Shin Inouye, Director of Specialty Media

Shin Inouye was most recently a spokesperson for the Presidential Inaugural Committee. Prior to that, he was the Constituency Communications Coordinator at the Obama for America campaign. In that capacity, he served as the communications officer for a variety of campaign constituency groups, including: LGBT, AAPI, First Americans, Veterans and Military Families, Youth, Seniors, Faith, Jewish, Rural & Sportsmen, Americans with Disabilities, and Ethnic. Before the campaign, Inouye was the Communications Director for Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-8), the Chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. A member of the Congressman's Senior Staff, Inouye served as an official spokesperson. Prior to that, Inouye was the Senior Legislative Communications Associate at the Washington Legislative Office of the American Civil Liberties Union. During his tenure at the ACLU, Inouye played a key role in their "Keep America Safe and Free" campaign. He graduated with departmental honors from the Johns Hopkins University, with a degree in political science.

Jesse Lee, Online Programs Director
Lee worked in the New Media department for the Transition team doing online outreach, having done online communications for the Democratic National Committee during election season. Prior to that he was Senior New Media Advisor to Speaker Nancy Pelosi for the 110th Congress, having worked for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee online from 2004-2006. Lee graduated from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut in 2002.

Katherine Lyons, Deputy Director of Message Events

Lyons most recently served as the Southwest regional spokesperson for the 2009 Presidential Inaugural Committee. Prior to that, she served as the Obama campaign’s Director of Message Events for the general election. During the presidential primaries, Lyons was New Hampshire Deputy Communications Director and spokesperson in a number of other states. Before joining the Obama campaign, Lyons coordinated communications and grassroots strategies for Dewey Square Group in California. A native of Sacramento, California, Lyons graduated with a B.A. in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley.

Luis Miranda, Director of Hispanic Media

Miranda was most recently Deputy Communications Director at the Democratic National Committee, overseeing regional and specialty press. In that capacity Miranda was the Democratic Party's lead spokesperson for Hispanic and Spanish-language media. Prior to joining the DNC, Miranda worked for John Kerry’s presidential campaign, first starting the campaign’s internet communications program, and later working as a liaison to Hispanic media. Miranda has also worked with organized labor at the Service Employees International Union’s (SEIU) Florida State Council, among other things reaching out to the union's Hispanic members. Miranda has also worked on campaigns at the local and state level, served as a Research Analyst at the DCCC, and worked as the Miami-Dade Field Director for the 2000 coordinated campaign in Florida, where he also worked on operations for the Florida recount.

Moira Mack Muntz, Regional Communications Director

Mack has advised and managed earned media strategy for numerous political, ballot initiative and issue campaigns. Most recently Mack served as deputy national press secretary for Barack Obama's presidential campaign, managing the candidate’s national interview requests. Mack spent three years at Hildebrand Tewes Consulting where she advised non-profit organizations, labor groups and U.S. Senate campaigns on communications and served as spokesperson and communications director for the multimillion dollar Iraq campaign advocating a timeline to end the war. As researcher and program coordinator at Campaign for America's Future, Mack drafted policy materials on a variety of issues and coordinated the simultaneous release of television ads and state reports in nearly 50 states. A native of Albany, NY, Mack is a graduate of the George Washington University.

Katie Stanton, Director of Citizen Participation

Katie Jacobs Stanton joins the New Media team as Director of Citizen Participation. Prior to this role, Stanton was at Google where she was a Principal in the New Business Development team responsible for OpenSocial, Google Moderator, and various election-related initiatives. Also at Google, Stanton managed several real-time vertical products including Google Finance, Google News, and Blog Search. Stanton joined Google from Yahoo! where she helped build the investing program on Yahoo! Finance as well as lead Yahoo Finance's growth internationally. Prior to Yahoo!, Stanton worked for Chase as an Associate in the Corporate Emerging Markets group. Her professional experience also includes a Fellowship at the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, a volunteer position in Kenya, and a teaching role in Japan. Stanton has an MA in International Affairs at Columbia University and a BA in Political Science from Rhodes College.

Joelle Terry, Deputy Director of Message Events

Terry most recently served as the Director of Communications Planning for the 2009 Presidential Inaugural Committee and as the Deputy Director of Surrogate Press during the General in the Chicago headquarters for Obama’s presidential campaign. In the Primary Terry served as the Surrogate Press Secretary. Prior to the campaign, she served as an Associate in the Dewey Square Group’s Sacramento office. In 2004, Terry worked in the regional press office in the national headquarters during Kerry’s 2004 presidential campaign and later as a member of the national advance team. A native of Sacramento, California, Terry graduated with a B.A. in International Relations from the University of California, San Diego.

Gannet Tseggai, Regional Communications Director

Tseggai started on Obama’s presidential campaign as the Iowa Deputy Press Secretary in 2007 and worked in five states during the primary. During the general election, she served as the Northeast Communications Director in the Chicago headquarters. Before joining the Obama campaign, Tseggai served as Senator Edward M. Kennedy’s Deputy Press Secretary from 2005 to 2007. Prior to her work for Senator Kennedy, Tseggai spent the 2004 election cycle working for Missouri Governor Bob Holden’s re-election campaign and John Kerry’s Presidential Campaign in Missouri and Ohio. Tseggai is a Rolla, Missouri native and graduated with a B.A. in both Political Science and Communications from the University of Missouri.

Samantha Tubman, Assistant Social Secretary

Tubman served as a Press Wrangler for President-Elect Barack Obama’s presidential campaign beginning in January 2008. She first joined the campaign as a member of the Scheduling and Advance Team in February 2007. Tubman previously served as Deputy Press Secretary for Governor Edward G. Rendell’s gubernatorial campaign in 2006. Prior to this, she worked as a legal assistant at Williams & Connolly LLP in Washington, DC from 2001-2004. Samantha received her Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Haverford College in 2001 and received her Master’s degree in Governmental Administration from the University of Pennsylvania in 2006.

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Sanford Offers Unemployed South Carolina Resident
‘Prayers’ Instead Of Stimulus Funds

post from Think Progress on 23 February 2009 03:32:00 PM. © Think Progress

Following the lead of a number of his fellow Republican governors, Gov. Mark Sanford (R-SC) has given some indication that he will not accept some of the money slated for South Carolina in the $787 billion economic recovery bill President Obama signed into law last week. “At times it sounds like the Soviet grain quotas of Stalin’s time,” Sanford said yesterday on Fox News.

On C-SPAN’s Washington Journal this morning, Sanford received a call from a Charleston resident who said he lost his job because he has been taking care of mother and sister, both of whom have serious illnesses. The caller told Sanford he is “wrong” to decline the money. “A lot of people in South Carolina are hurting. And if this money can come and help us out we need it.” In response, Sanford could offer him only his prayers:

CALLER: I hope you all are not playing politics with this. People in South Carolina are hurting. You know how unemployment rates are high right now and going up higher. We are running out of money in the unemployment bank — we need money for that, the people that need help. And I?m one of them, I can?t get no help. […]
SANFORD: Well I?d say hello to Charleston because its home and I?d say hello to this fellow this morning and say that my prayers are going to be with him and his family because it sounds like he is in an awfully tough spot.

Watch it:

video details and more

Sanford offered no other alternative solution for his constituent and instead argued that the state could not accept money to extend unemployment benefits because “increasing the tax on unemployment insurance” would negatively “impact the caller?s family” (although he didn’t say how).

Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC) — who sponsored an amendment to the stimulus bill that would allow state legislatures to “accept stimulus funding over the objections of conservative governors” — chastised Sanford on MSNBC this morning. “This program is an opportunity for Governor Sanford to target” the “chronically unemployed” and “chronically sick” communities in South Carolina. “I have got to believe that he is willing…to help these communities,” Clyburn said, asking,”Why won’t he?”

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LETTING THEM TALK, OR QUORUM.

post from Ezra Klein on 23 February 2009 03:31:00 PM. © Ezra Klein

Ryan Grim's excellent article detailed Harry Reid's reason for not forcing long filibusters -- more on that here -- but didn't really explain he refuses to simply shut down the Senate and try and break the obstructionism. At the end of the day, letting[...]

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No rest for Rahm at the movies (Ben Smith/The
Politico)

post from memeorandum on 23 February 2009 03:25:00 PM. © memeorandum

Ben Smith / The Politico:
No rest for Rahm at the movies — A surprised fellow moviegoer passes on word that Rahm Emanuel took time out Saturday night to see The Wrestler at the E Street Cinema last night with a Secret Service Agent. — It was not a quiet night out. — “The guy sitting next to Rahm …

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No rest for Rahm at the movies (Ben Smith/Ben
Smith's Blogs)

Ben Smith / Ben Smith's Blogs:
No rest for Rahm at the movies — A surprised fellow moviegoer passes on word that Rahm Emanuel took time out Saturday night to see The Wrestler at the E Street Cinema last night with a Secret Service Agent. — It was not a quiet night out. — “The guy sitting next to Rahm …

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US Senate: Carly Coy on Boxer Battle

Failed Hewlett-Packard CEO and infamous golden parachute recipient Carly Sneed Fiorina was coy about a possible 2010 challenge to Barbara Boxer when speaking with the political press in Sacramento after her "remarkable" speech in which she said "when[...]

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Hey! Its me! Sarah Palin! Im still here! Listen
to me!

From CNN:In an interview taped last month for conservative John Zeigler’s new film “Media Malpractice,” Palin said it is “very frightening, I think, what the media was able to get away with, this go-around.?“?We are going to seek and we are going to destroy this candidacy of Sarah Palin?s because of what it is that [...]

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In Latest Plan for Banks, U.S. Could Demand a
Voting Stake (Edmund L. Andrews/New York Times)

Edmund L. Andrews / New York Times:
In Latest Plan for Banks, U.S. Could Demand a Voting Stake — WASHINGTON — The Obama administration put the nation's biggest banks on notice Monday that the government could become their biggest shareholder if regulators decide they are not strong enough to weather a deeper-than-expected downturn in the economy.

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http://www.memeorandum.com/090223/p95#a090223p95

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