February 23, 2012

Senate Democrats hammer opponents over social issues

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/senate-races/212175-senate-dems-hammer-opponents-on-social-issues

Democratic Senate candidates are hammering their Republican opponents on social issues, echoing a trend in the presidential race.

(snip)
And it's not just birth control. Other social issues have dominated the national conversation: a push from conservatives in some states to pass a law that would define “personhood” as beginning at conception, some state attempts to ban birth control and the House Republicans' repeated attempts to defund Planned Parenthood.

Democrats running for the Senate haven't been afraid to take the fight on social issues to states ranging from deep-blue Massachusetts to swing-state Virginia to Republican-leaning Montana.

(snip)
Former Gov. Tim Kaine, in a conference call on Tuesday, described the bills as part of a "very extreme and unnecessary anti-women agenda” and sought to tie Allen to the bills, which are opposed by Virginia voters by a 19-point margin, according to a Richmond Times-Dispatch poll.

February 23, 2012

President Obama sends letter of apology to Afghan president

The Afghan president's office says it has received a letter from President Obama formally apologizing for the burning of Qurans at a U.S. military base in Afghanistan.

(snip)
In the letter, which is quoted in the statement, Obama expresses his "deep regret for the reported incident" and offers his "sincere apologies."

According to the statement, Obama wrote: "The error was inadvertent; I assure you that we will take the appropriate steps to avoid any recurrence, to include holding accountable those responsible."

http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/usatoday/article/53216996?odyssey=mod

President Obama apologizes over Quran burning as two US troops shot dead in Afghanistan

(snip)
A statement from President Hamid Karzai's office said the U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan had delivered the letter from Obama Thursday.

http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/23/10485148-obama-apologizes-over-quran-burning-as-two-us-troops-shot-dead-in-afghanistan

February 23, 2012

Arizona Audience Boos Birth Control During GOP Debate

http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2012/02/22/430909/arizona-audience-boos-birth-control-during-gop-debate/

Republicans in Arizona booed CNN moderator John King for asking a birth control question during Wednesday’s GOP presidential debate, adding another item to the long list of jeers and cheers in the 2012 campaign primary. Past Republican audiences booed a gay soldier, applauded the death penalty, and cheered the death of an uninsured individual.

Watch it:
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Debate crowd boos contraception question
http://thehill.com/video/campaign/212161-crowd-boos-contraception-question-at-gop-debate

February 23, 2012

Romney Flips On His Own Tax Plan, Admits He’d Give Huge Tax Break To Top 1 Percent

http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2012/02/22/430890/romney-flips-on-his-own-tax-plan-admits-hed-give-huge-tax-break-to-top-1-percent/

(snip)
Upon unveiling the plan, Romney claimed that it would actually force the richest Americans to pay their fair share. Speaking of tax exemptions and deductions, Romney said, “For the high-income folks, we’re going to cut back on that, so that we make sure that the top 1 percent keeps paying the current share they’re paying or more.”

But when former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA) attacked Romney at the GOP debate tonight, Romney admitted that his tax plan contained a massive tax cut for the wealthiest Americans:

SANTORUM: Governor Romney even today suggested today raising taxes on the top 1 percent, adopting the Occupy Wall Street rhetoric. I’m not going to adopt that rhetoric. I’m going to represent 100 percent of Americans. We’re not raising taxes on anyone.

ROMNEY: Number one, I said that we’re going to cut taxes on everyone across the country by 20 percent, including the top 1 percent. So that’s number one.

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February 23, 2012

Pelosi blames Wall Street for spike in gas prices

http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/212137-pelosi-blames-wall-street-for-gas-price-spike

Oil speculators, not a lack of domestic drilling, are to blame for the nation's rising gas prices, the top House Democrat argued Wednesday.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said unscrupulous Wall Street investors have artificially inflated prices at the pump, which are climbing toward $4 per gallon.

The California Democrat called on Congress to take "strong action" to rein in the allegedly excessive speculation, and accused Republicans of protecting Wall Street profits at the expense of consumers.

"Wall Street profiteering, not oil shortages, is the cause of the price spike," Pelosi said in a statement. "Unfortunately, Republicans have chosen to protect the interests of Wall Street speculators and oil companies instead of the interests of working Americans by obstructing the agencies with the responsibility of enforcing consumer protection laws."


Pelosi Statement on Rising Gas Prices
http://www.democraticleader.gov/news/press?id=2498

“Independent reports confirm that speculators are driving up the cost of oil, hurting consumers and potentially damaging the economic recovery. Wall Street profiteering, not oil shortages, is the cause of the price spike. In fact, U.S. oil production is at its highest level since 2003, and millions of acres have been cleared for additional development.

“We need to take strong action to protect consumers from this speculation. Unfortunately, Republicans have chosen to protect the interests of Wall Street speculators and oil companies instead of the interests of working Americans by obstructing the agencies with the responsibility of enforcing consumer protection laws. They have also repeatedly opposed our efforts to end billions of dollars in outdated taxpayer subsidies for oil companies enjoying record profits.

“We support efforts by the Obama Administration to expand domestic energy resources, including natural gas and renewable sources like wind and solar that create jobs in America and will end our dangerous dependence on foreign energy supplies. This can be achieved because today, the United States currently has more oil and gas rigs at work than the rest of the world combined, and imports of foreign oil have decreased.

“We call on the Republican leadership to act on behalf of American consumers and join our efforts to crack down on speculators who care more about their profits than the price at the pump even if these spikes harm the American consumer and our economy.”

(Nancy Pelosi on with Rachel tonight)

February 22, 2012

BREAKING: DOMA's Federal Definition of Marriage Unconstitutional, Judge Rules in Golinski Case

Today, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California issued its order finding that Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act -- the federal definition of marriage -- is unconstitutional in Golinski v. Office of Personnel Management, Karen Golinski's challenge to the denial of her request for equal health insurance benefits for her wife.

Golinski, a federal court employee, brought suit after denied the request. She is represented by Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund.

In part, U.S. District Court Judge Jeffrey S. White found:

The Court concludes that, based on the justifications proffered by Congress for its passage of DOMA, the statute fails to satisfy heightened scrutiny and is unconstitutional as applied to Ms. Golinski.

http://www.metroweekly.com/poliglot/2012/02/domas-federal-definition-of-ma.html

BREAKING NEWS: DOMA ruled unconstitutional in California case
(snip)
District Judge Jeffery White, an appointee by President George W. Bush in 2002, ruled that DOMA violates the rights of Karen Golinski, who was denied spousal health benefits by her employer, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco.
http://sdgln.com/news/2012/02/22/breaking-news-doma-ruled-unconstitutional-california-case

February 22, 2012

BREAKING: Bush Appointee Finds DOMA Unconstitutional

http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2012/02/22/430779/breaking-bush-appointee-finds-doma-unconstitutional/

Moments ago, Judge Jeffery White of the District Court for the Northern District of California ruled that the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) violates the Constitution’s equal protection clause in a case brought by Karen Golinski. Golinski, represented by Lambda Legal, “was denied spousal health benefits by her employer, the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco.” White was appointed to the court by President George W. Bush in 2002. The decision represents a serious setback for House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), whose Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group (BLAG) defended DOMA after the Obama administration announced it would no longer defend the law. Read the full opinion here. (HT: GinnyLaRoe)

Update

The Court has ruled that considerations of discrimination against people based on sexual orientation should be held to heightened scrutiny for all four factors that determine such scrutiny:

HISTORY OF DISCRIMINATION: The first factor courts consider is whether the class has suffered a history of discrimination. There is no dispute in the record that lesbians and gay men have experienced a long history of discrimination.

more at link

Update
The Court rebuked Congress for BLAG’s argument that caution should be taken with issues that can be socially divisive:

BREAKING NEWS: DOMA ruled unconstitutional in California case
http://sdgln.com/news/2012/02/22/breaking-news-doma-ruled-unconstitutional-california-case
(snip)
District Judge Jeffery White, an appointee by President George W. Bush in 2002, ruled that DOMA violates the rights of Karen Golinski, who was denied spousal health benefits by her employer, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco.

In Blow To Boehner Lawyers, Bush Appointee Declares DOMA Unconstitutional
http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entries/in-blow-to-boehner-lawyers-bush-appointee-declares

February 22, 2012

Obama will find ‘something better to do’ than watch GOP debate

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/gop-primaries/212089-obama-will-find-something-better-to-do-than-watch-gop-debate

President Obama won’t be watching the GOP presidential candidates duke it out during Wednesday night's GOP debate.

"I suspect, knowing him, knowing his viewing habits that he will not watch it," White House Press Secretary Jay Carney told reporters Wednesday. "He has a family at home.

"He tends to, when he watches TV at all, it's either sports or a movie, so I don't expect he will," the press secretary added. "But the president obviously keeps up with what's in the news . And I'm sure he will be aware of the general back and forth of the debate come tomorrow morning. “

(snip)
"He'll be prepared when that time comes, he might look at a little tape when that time comes," Carney said. "But for now I think he'll continue his practice of finding something better to do."

February 22, 2012

Stocks Return More With Dem in White House

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-02-22/stocks-return-more-with-dem-in-white-house-bgov-barometer.html

While Republicans promote themselves as the friendliest party for Wall Street, stock investors do better when Democrats occupy the White House. From a dollars- and-cents standpoint, it’s not even close.

The BGOV Barometer shows that, over the five decades since John F. Kennedy was inaugurated, $1,000 invested in a hypothetical fund that tracks the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index (SPX) only when Democrats are in the White House would have been worth $10,920 at the close of trading yesterday.

That’s more than nine times the dollar return an investor would have realized from following a similar strategy during Republican administrations. A $1,000 stake invested in a fund that followed the S&P 500 under Republican presidents, starting with Richard Nixon, would have grown to $2,087 on the day George W. Bush left office.

“The market does tend to do better under Democrats than under Republicans,” Sam Stovall, chief investment strategist at S&P Equity Research in New York, said in a telephone interview. “Is it because Republicans mishandled the economy, or inherited a weak economy? I’ll leave that to others.”

February 22, 2012

Bankrupt

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PrioritiesUSAaction


Mitt Romney's message was clear: "Let Detroit go bankrupt."

There's little question he made a fortune from businesses he helped destroy.

Romney pocketed huge fees shortly before companies collapsed.

Even when the businesses failed, Romney came out ahead.

Are those the values we want in an American president?