A Liberal's Hit List: Oct 17, 2009

Fox News -- Home of Outrageous Smears, Falsehoods -- Promotes "Tea Parties" Protesting "Journalistic Malpractice"

Saturday, October 17, 2009

By Media Matters

Fox News has promoted what it has referred to as October 17 "tea part[y]" protests by "Operation: Can You Hear Us Now," an organization that plans "to show the MSM [mainstream media] that we as the American Public are absolutely fed up with their journalistic malpractice." However, Fox News has committed acts of "journalistic malpractice" including outrageous smears against Obama administration officials, passing off Republican press releases as its own research, deceptively editing videos and quotes, and invoking the Nazis to smear President Obama.

Fox News promotes October 17 "tea parties" protesting "journalistic malpractice"

Fox News website The Fox Nation has promoted October 17 "tea parties marching on media outlets." Linking to the website OperationCanYouHearUsNow.com, a post on The Fox Nation stated:

Operation: Can You Hear Us Now? organizing October 17 protests against "journalistic malpractice." According to the Frequently Asked Questions page of the Operation: Can You Hear Us Now? website, the protests are a "nationwide event meant to show the MSM that we as the American Public are absolutely fed up with their journalistic malpractice."...(Remainder.)

Limbaugh and the NFL: The Pity Party Continues!

By Eric Boehlert

Media Matters

The talker takes to the friendly pages of the WSJ today to explain why being rejected by the NFL reflects poorly on everyone else but him and the brand of hate speech he's perfected.

And get this, it's all Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson's fault! They totally hypnotized NFL owners, players (both current and former) and union reps into rejecting the Limbaugh offer. I mean, who knew? Sharpton and Jackson, who both belatedly wrote letters to the NFL's commissioner's office in opposition to Limbaugh, apparently have super-human powers over not only African-American NFL players, but the all white, country club owners of the NFL.

Is there nothing Sharpton and Jackson can't accomplish?

And of course Limbaugh's still steamed about a couple race-baiting quotes that were attributed to him and which he claims he never said. Limbaugh conveniently believes they're the entire reason the NFL told him to get lost and frankly, Rush is dismayed:

I never said I supported slavery and I never praised James Earl Ray. How sick would that be?

How sick would that be? It would be about as sick as making this comment, which Limbaugh quite clearly did:

"We are being told that we have to hope [Obama] succeeds, that we have to bend over, grab the ankles ... because his father was black."

Fox News Fires Liberal Commentator for Being Too Liberal

By Eric Boehlert

Media Matters

So much for that experiment.

In August, I gave Bill O'Reilly credit for having the guts (since almost nobody else at FNC will) to put an smart, persuasive, articulate liberal on his show. At the time he invited Fox News contributor, and Columbia University professor, Marc Lamont Hill to discuss the right-wing's unhinged response to Obama's presidency. Hill, as the old saying goes, made mince meat out of O'Reilly.

Well, no more awkward moments for the over-matched O'Reilly, because Hill, one of Fox News' few liberal contributors, has been fired for his political views. Apparently, right-wing purifiers were calling for his head, so Roger Ailes showed Hill the door.

More conservative political correctness run amok. (Quick, somebody alert Rush Limbaugh!)

P.S. Why on earth would Mediaite.com think Fox News' decision to fire Hill was "surprising"? Because Fox News is such a bastion of diversity? Please, the move is utterly predictable as the RNC's cable outlet continues to narrow its sanctioned talking point between far-right and really far-right....(Remainder.)

Indicted Man Threatened To Kill President And Scrawl "Fed ..." On His Chest

By Zachary Roth

Talking Points Memo

In the latest unhinged threat on Barack Obama's life, a California man has been indicted by a federal grand jury after allegedly writing a deranged and racist email screed that urged recipients to "kill the 'president,'" and seemed to invoke the recent death of a Census Bureau worker in an apparent act of anti-government violence.

On September 28th, according to the indictment filed by prosecutors and examined by TPMmuckraker, John Gimbel of Crescent City sent an email whose subject line read:

Operation kill big-[epithet]-rig: kill the 'president' [epithet], then write 'fed shit' on his chest with a felt tip.

That last clause appears to be a reference to the recent death of a Census Bureau worker, who was found in rural Kentucky with a rope around his neck and the word "Fed" scrawled on his chest, in what many have suggested was an act of anti-government violence.

In the body of the e-mail, as reproduced in the indictment, Gimbel, 59, used a string of crude and racist epithets in additionally calling for the murders of Michelle Obama and the couple's two children "in front of" the president. You can read the sick diatribe here.

Prosecutors did not say who the email was sent to. Asked by TPMmuckraker, a spokesman for the US attorney's office declined to elaborate beyond the indictment....(Remainder.)

Grand Magi Retarded Baby Jesus Manufactures Remarks by Dunn to Attack Her

By Media Matters

During the October 15 edition of his Fox News program, Sean Hannity distorted remarks by Dalia Mogahed, a member of the President's Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, by claiming that Mogahed shared "thoughts about spreading Sharia law" on a British television channel and falsely suggesting that Mogahed said that "[t]here's a lot of Americans who think Muslim countries should be governed by Sharia law." In fact, Mogahed said that she was "sure there are people out there" who believe that "the United States and Britain and other countries should be open to, the concept of, you know, integrating Sharia into laws in Muslim-majority societies"; during the exchange, she did not discuss what "a lot of Americans ... think" about Sharia law....(Remainder.)

Comandante Generale Fucktard Completely Ignores the Pig-Man's Racist History

By Media Matters

Discussing the controversy that erupted around Rush Limbaugh's failed bid to become part owner of the St. Louis Rams, Fox host Bill O'Reilly claimed "[f]air-minded Americans know that playing the race card is easy and hateful. The only thing we can find about Rush Limbaugh is that he thinks quarterback Donovan McNabb is overrated by some people who want black quarterbacks to succeed." But contrary to O'Reilly's claim that the "only" racially charged or insensitive remark that Limbaugh has made is about McNabb, Media Matters for America has documented numerous such remarks, including his comments that "[w]e are being told that we have to hope [Obama] succeeds, that we have to bend over, grab the ankles ... because his father was black" and that "Obama's entire economic program is reparations."...(Remainder.)

Sen. Schmuck Assley (R-Obstructionville) Changes His Tune on Health Reform Timetable

Michael Moore Destroys Bartiromo's Corportist BS

By Heather

Crooks and Liars

Michael Moore had a few things to say about the Dow rallying past 10,000 today on the set of Morning Joe. First on how well the markets are doing.

Moore: Oh! It’s so incredible. Yes. Fifteen million people out of work.
Scarborough: Isn’t this a perfect example for you? Isn’t this a great example of what you’re trying to say? How there’s a disconnect between what’s going on on Wall Street, 10,000, and Main Street, 10% unemployment?

Moore: Oh, it’s not a disconnect. It’s connected very well. It’s connected just the way our economic system is set up. It’s set up so that the pyramid scheme that we call capitalism—it’s become a pyramid scheme now—the very few at the top get away like bandits making billions and billions of dollars. And everybody else in the lower parts of the pyramid are told to work really hard and maybe some day they can come up and be on top of the pyramid too. Well guess what? There’s only a few people that can sit on top of the pyramid and it’s just so revolting and so immoral when we live in a country—the wealthiest country on earth—fifteen million people unemployed. One in every eight homes right now is in foreclosure or delinquency. And they’re celebrating on Wall Street? And they’re paying each other bonuses?

Surprisingly Moore gets some agreement from Joe and Mike on the disparity of wealth in the United States. Maria Bartiromo however disagrees with Moore’s view of the news on Wall Street. Shocker right? The Wall Street flack tries to come to their defense....(Remainder.)

Comandante Generale Fucktard & Former Journalist, Juan Williams, Whine & Commiserate About the Pig-Man

By David Neiwert

Crooks and Liars

Bill O'Reilly held an extended whinefest on The O'Reilly Factor last night about how poor Rush Limbaugh was the victim of a "witch hunt" by racial political-correctness police. For a bunch of people of pooh-pooh the "victimology" of minorities, it would be hard to find a bigger bunch of crybabies than American right-wingers these days.

Indeed, that's a key part of what's going on here: In addition to Ann Coulter and Sean Hannity later that evening, O'Reilly -- with Juan Williams chiming in with his usual sycophancy, agreeing wholeheartedly that Limbaugh is being victimized by the conservative Republicans who run the NFL -- is basically claiming that blacks and liberals who are bringing up Limbaugh's long history of racially incendiary rhetoric are "waving the bloody shirt" -- "the demagogic practice of politicians referencing the blood of martyrs or heroes to inspire support or avoid criticism."

Watch how O'Reilly and Williams focus on three apparently bogus quotes attributed to Limbaugh -- while ignoring a mountain of genuine quotes that make the point irrevocable: Limbaugh does like to play the race card with divisive and false claims, and he does it with great frequency.

The one sane commentator O'Reilly brings on -- talk-show host Warren Ballentine -- manages to make this point with a handful of counter-examples, but even that is not really representative.

For every three bogus Limbaugh quotes, it's a very simple matter to provide thirty bona-fide comments that are consistent examples of real race-baiting rhetoric from Limbaugh.

But this is an old tactic of American conservatives: Turn their own foul behavior on its head, and accuse those who would hold them accountable for it. That's what "waving the bloody shirt" has always been about, since the phrase was first coined....(Remainder.)

Rep Gohmert (R-Crazyfuckistan) Claims Dems Would Allow Seniors to "Die Off More Quickly"

By Matt Finkelstein

Media Matters

A few weeks ago, Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) mockingly suggested that the GOP's plan for health care reform was "don't get sick" or else "die quickly." At the time, Republicans claimed to be shocked by the comments, even though many of them have used similar rhetoric to attack Democratic reform plans. Speaking on the House floor last night, Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) became the latest Republican lawmaker to play the "death card," suggesting that reform advocates would allow seniors to "die off more quickly."

REP. GOHMERT: I was talking to a senior that I consider a very wise individual, and this weekend she said, "You know what concerns me about the 500 billion in cuts to Medicare? Maybe not, but I can't help but think they know that as seniors we've been through World War II, we've seen the evils that lurk in this world, we have gained great wisdom from our years, and they're willing to let us die off more quickly so that we're not around to try to get our wisdom across to the young people of what is at risk by this government takeover."

Maddow Blasts AFP's Tim Phillips as "Parasite", "Bad for the Country"

By Scarce

Crooks and Liars

Rachel had an extended segment with America For Prosperity (AFP)'s Tim Phillips tonight. AFP is yet another of those 501 organizations on the right funded by the insanely wealthy, founded for no specific purpose other than keeping taxes as low as possible and government out of their day-to-day activities as much as possible. The amorphous nature of the group means they can quickly adapt to whatever issues are popular at the moment and likely to draw the most cash donations. Mostly though they're a tool of a the Republican Party. The past president of AFP went straight from Koch Industries to the AFP, and then onto the McCain campaign as a spokeperson, Nancy Pfotenhauer. Enter Tim Phillips.

Prior to becoming the AFP President Phillips main claims to fame were as a political operative, with connections to Ralph Reed and Jack Abramoff. Phillips was instrumental in the infamous Max Cleland-Saxby Chambliss race for Senate in 2002, often described as one of the dirtiest campaigns ever. Since becoming president of AFP they've been involved in every conservative cause, from drilling on ANWR in Alaska and denying Global warming; to helping organize the Tea Party movement (along with Dick Armey's Koch-sponsored sister group Freedom Works); to now taking an active role in opposing health care reform under the "Patients United Now" ad campaign, with one of them the infamous Shona Holmes ads. Phillips makes regular appearances on all the cable news networks but especially Fox News, of course. His "aw shucks" manner plays well there and he's fairly adept at denying the reality of his work as some homespun, grassroots organization when it is anything but. Phillips is among the slimiest of this faux movement, and Rachel rightly calls him out on his foul history....(Remainder.)

Toe-Sucking Troll From Under the Bridge Says Obama Delayed Troops to Afghanistan Because of Nobel

The Pig-Man Says Ex-Ram Farr Has Been Reading "Lies, Drivel, and Junk"

The Oxy-Moron Attacks Maine

The Retarded Baby Jesus Give Flat Out Insane Jerome Corsi a Forum to Spread is Moronic Conspiracy Theories

Beck Guru Cleon Skousen Explains the Communist, Capitalist, Biblical Conspiracy

By Simon Maloy
Media Matters

Just a few short weeks ago, Glenn Beck was voicing his concern about the potential effects Rev. Jeremiah Wright's sermonizing might be having on President Obama's policy toward Israel. Remember, Beck believes that the president is a racist who hates white people, so don't be surprised that Rev. Wright is still a hot topic of discussion on his program. Anyway, Beck asked former United Nations ambassador John Bolton: "Do you think it's possible to sit in the church with somebody who is as anti-Semitic as Jeremiah Wright is and not come away with an anti-Semitic view?" Beck went on to allow that Obama's Israel policy "may not be anti-Semitic," but the implication was clear -- Obama's thinking was influenced by Wright, and is therefore suspect. Beck clearly thinks the views and opinions of a person's mentors, if that's the proper word, are tremendously important when understanding the view and opinions of that person. So perhaps we should be taking a closer look at Beck's own "mentors."

Beck's affinity for the writings and theology of ultra-conservative activist W. Cleon Skousen is well-documented. Skousen's book, The 5,000-Year Leap, is at the center of Beck's 9-12 Project, and Beck called the book "divinely inspired" in the foreword he wrote for the 30th anniversary edition. But much of what Skousen wrote has been forgotten or never progressed far beyond the obscure fringes that Skousen himself inhabited. We've already explored Skousen's unique take on "the story of slavery in America," wherein slave owners were "the worst victims" of slavery, white children "envy the freedom" of slave children, and life in the antebellum South was a "nightmare" of fear for "white civilization." But a mind as fertile as Skousen's couldn't be limited simply to sympathizing with the owners of human chattel.

Take, for instance, Skousen's 1970 book, The Naked Capitalist. It's ostensibly a review of Dr. Carroll Quigley's Tragedy and Hope, and in it Skousen declares that Quigley is an "insider" in a grand "power complex" that will "eventually attain total global control." Skousen gets right to the meat of things on Page 6:

The real value of Tragedy and Hope is not so much as a "history of the world in our time" (as its subtitle suggests), but rather as a bold and boastful admission by Dr. Quigley that there actually exists a relatively small but powerful group which has succeeded in acquiring a choke-hold on the affairs of practically the entire human race.

Paging Glenn Beck: Norquist Hung a Portrait of Lenin in His Washington Living Room

By Brian Frederick
Media Matters

In recent days, Glenn Beck has turned his neo-McCarthyite crusade against communism and "czars" against Anita Dunn after Dunn said of Fox News: "As they are undertaking a war against Barack Obama and the White House, we don't need to pretend that this is the way that legitimate news organizations behave." Beck devoted most of his October 15 Fox News show to claiming that Dunn "worships" and "idolizes" "her hero" Mao Zedong. Dunn had once commented that Mao and Mother Teresa were two of her "favorite political philosophers."

Of course, Beck excels at turning molehills into mountains of misinformation. If Beck were to actually turn his specious spotlight on conservatives who have cited or praised influential communist figures, he would have at least a week's worth of shows. That list includes fellow Fox News friend Newt Gingrich; former Christian Coalition director Ralph Reed; Stephen Shadegg, adviser and "alter ego" of Sen. Barry Goldwater (Beck has repeatedly called on Republicans to "get back to the conservative roots of Barry Goldwater"); Peter Germanis, who served as a senior policy analyst in the Reagan administration; and even President Bush, who encouraged Karl Rove to read a Mao biography and whose Social Security reform strategy was reportedly influenced by Lenin.

Beck's crack research staff could fill in the details and no doubt find even more tenuous communist connections among conservatives. But there's one conservative that would provide Beck with endless material if his anti-communist witch hunt was actually anything more than a shtick to smear the Obama administration and play to his conservative base.

Grover Norquist....(Remainder.)

The Retarded Baby Jesus Allows Corsi to Explain His Black Helicopter G:20/NWO Conspiracy Theory

High School Drop-Out, and Intellectual Failure, Hannity, Claims No Global Warming

The Ignorant Oxy-Moron Attacks Seymour Hersh

Screeching Right-Wing Coward, the Pig-Man Continues to Lie About "Phony Soldiers" Smear

Raving Racist & Klan Leader, the Oxy-Moron Says Rev. Sharpton is "Race Hustler"

Westboro Baptist Attacks ‘Filthy Jews’ in New Videos

By Sonia Scherr

Hatewatch at SPLC

Fred Phelps' Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) has ratcheted up its recent campaign against Jews with the release of virulently anti-Semitic music videos.

This latest gimmick is somewhat of a departure for the rabidly anti-gay group from Topeka, Kan. For years, Westboro has been notorious for disrupting the funerals of fallen American servicemen, among others, saying God is punishing them because of the "fag-enabling" ways of their country. In April, however, the group started picketing synagogues and Jewish cultural institutions, saying the Jewish community and its religious leaders condoned homosexuality and abortion. Then, in June, Westboro members went one step further, producing music videos that demonize Jews — all Jews — with blatantly anti-Semitic parodies of popular songs.

The five videos aimed primarily at Jews feature the dubious talents of Westboro Baptist Church members and can be accessed from the group's main website. In "Come Together," the cut out heads of prominent Jewish figures such as Woody Allen and Madeleine Albright are made to lip-synch to the Beatles tune, whose lyrics now include the words "filthy Jews." Grotesque caricatures of Jews that could have been ripped from Nazi propaganda posters flash on the screen, including a grinning man with a bloody knife in his hand. There's also an image of a drowning Jew. Cut-out figures depicting Westboro members hold signs that read, "God Hates Fag Enablers" and "You will Eat Your Babies."

In "Makes Us So Happy," which predicts Israel's destruction to the tune of "Hava Nagila," two church members dressed to look like Hasidic Jews (with obviously fake beards and sideburns) growl as they fight over a penny. Afterward, with dollar signs dangling from their necks, they dance and count money. "The Beast — the one you worship/Obama — has no mercy," they sing. (In case you're wondering how Obama and his purported lack of mercy fit in, Westboro member Shirley Phelps-Roper told Hatewatch that the president will turn on the Jews. "There's going to be an awful trauma, and you know who's going to be leading those nations against Jerusalem? It's the beast, the Antichrist Obama.") Toward the end of the video, Westboro members — dressed like Old World Jews — join hands and dance in a ring. The women wear T-shirts emblazoned with the address of a Westboro website: JewsKilledJesus.com....(Remainder.)

Children 'Will Go To Hell if They Celebrate Halloween'

By Andrew Hough
Telegraph UK

A leaflet titled "Halloween Isn't a Treat - Don't be Tricked" was recently posted to about 500 homes in the Vale of Belvoir, Leics.

The letter, published by nine parish churches, said children were ''siding with the Devil'' and would go to hell if they participated in the celebrations on October 31.

The letter, which appeared in a monthly magazine called the Belvoir Angels, also said they would be turning to ''blackmail and extortion''.

Children, it added, would be taking part in a ''concentration on evil and making fun of potentially dangerous situations''.

"On this evening, normally law-abiding people damage the property of those whom they should be good neighbours," it said.

"In some cases, they bring fear, especially to the elderly.

"The practice of 'trick o' treat' - which is only using extortion and blackmail to prevent vandalism - is condemned as criminal the rest of the year."

It concluded: "Celebrating Halloween means we are siding along with the Devil and all his works."

Parents last night criticised the article for 'scare-mongering.

''I take my kids trick-or-treating every year and it's a great night that's full of fun with real community spirit," said one mother, Mariel Heald, 36....(Remainder.)

Oily Taint Responds to Judge's $20k Fine: Shove It!

By Justin Elliott
Talking Points Memo

Reached on her cell phone by TPMmuckraker and informed of the $20,000 fine imposed on her by a federal judge this morning, Birther attorney Orly Taitz responded, first, with laughter.

"So he didn't recuse himself?" Taitz asked, after letting out an extended, nervous-sounding chuckle.

Still defiant after months of legal wrangling and, by our count, three written denunciations by federal district court Judge Clay Land, Taitz said she had absolutely no plans to pay the $20,000 fine.

"Are you kidding? Of course not," she said, asked whether she planned to send a check. "This is a form of intimidation."

Instead, she plans to file yet another written response (though it's unclear whether the court will even accept one).

"I'll go to the circuit court of appeals. I'll take this as high as I have to go," Taitz said.

Asked about the judge's promise to refer the matter to the U.S. Attorney if she didn't pay within 30 days, Taitz said she'd have to take a look at the order.

Land wrote:

If counsel fails to pay the sanction due, the U.S. Attorney will be authorized to commence collection proceedings. [footnote:] The Court does not take this action lightly, and in fact, cannot recall having previously imposed monetary sanctions upon an attorney sua sponte.

NPR's David Folkenflick Reports on the White House Taking Aim at Fox's Lies

Another Glenn Beck Weepfest, because Americans Need to Wake Up to the Evil Marxist Radicals in the White House. Hooboy.

By David Neiwert

Crooks and Liars

Glenn Beck ended his show with another his patented weepfests yesterday. It was special. And not just because it was about as sincere as the last time we saw Beck cry.

No, this one was special because it was accompanied by a loopy rant about how "life was simple" in the Golden Days of America, and then rambled into a weird metaphor comparing the nation to teenagers who innocently get stuck at a party and have to come home to mom and dad and face the music.

No, really. I'm not exaggerating.

Apparently the straying behavior for which we have to face the consequences now has something to do with having elected Barack Obama as President. Because the entire preceding show was a rant attacking the White House as riddled with "radical Marxists" who want to transform America into a communist state.

What got him especially worked up was this video featuring White House Communication Director, Anita Dunn:

John Gimbel, California Man, Charged With Threatening Obama

By Lisa Leff

Associated Press via The Huffington Post

SAN FRANCISCO — A Northern California man remained in federal custody without bail Friday after being charged with sending racist, profanity-laced e-mail threatening to kill President Barack Obama and his family.

John Gimbel, 59, of Crescent City was arrested Oct. 6 by U.S. Secret Service officers and indicted two days before the president's Thursday appearances at a pair of Democratic fundraisers in the city.

He is accused of sending the message to Obama, Vice President Joseph Biden, a Louisville newspaper and about 70 other people on Sept. 28.

Gimbel is scheduled to be arraigned Monday. Randall Davis, a defense lawyer assigned to serve as Gimbel's co-counsel because Gimbel wants to represent himself, said he expects him to plead not guilty.

"He contends he didn't violate the law" and only was exercising his free speech rights," Davis said.

The e-mail rambled on and included specific references to first lady Michelle Obama and the phrase, "do it to his children and family first in front of him. Failure to comply. That'll teach him," according to the indictment.

A similar e-mail was sent earlier in the month, according to a criminal complaint prepared by the Secret Service.

When officers interviewed Gimbel at his home, he admitted sending the first message but said he wanted to get attention, not hurt Obama, authorities said....(Remainder.)

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/16/john-gimbel-california-ma_n_324511.html

Delusional in Dixie

By Scott Horton

Harper's Magazine

It’s widely accepted wisdom in Washington these days that the Republican brand is tarnished. But what’s striking is the regional variation. In the last fifteen years, although there has been some difference between G.O.P. approval and Democratic approval across the country, the variation has been pretty modest. That’s not the case right now. In the Northeast, Midwest, and West, the Republicans struggle to climb out of the cellar. But in the states of the old Confederacy, the G.O.P. is doing just fine. Here’s a graph by Steve Benen showing the differences based on a September Daily Kos poll.

Does this mean that the party of “no,” now widely associated with tea-baggers, birthers, deathers, and efforts to label Obama simultaneously “fascist” and “socialist,” has scored in the South, while damaging its reputation elsewhere? That’s what at least one statewide poll suggests. The Nashville Post reports on a new poll of Tennesseeans completed by Middle Tennessee State University. It’s a real eye-opener:

34% of respondents and 47% of Republicans are “birthers”—they believe that President Barack Obama was born outside of the United States
30% of respondents and 48% of Republicans believe that Obama is a Muslim
35% of respondents and 55% of Republicans believe that Obama intends to take their guns away
46% of respondents and 71% of Republicans believe that Obama is a socialist

Orrin Hatch: MoveOn is Scurrilous, Funded by Soros and I'm Going To Kick Them In The Teeth

By Heather

Crooks and Liars

Seems WATB Orrin Hatch is not taking to kindly to having his office protested by MoveOn.org for being in the pocket of the health care industry. I've got to wonder, how would the Republicans react if a Democratic member of the Senate went on television and said they'd like to kick those Tea Bag protesters in the teeth?

Hatch: Now by the way MoveOn.org is a scurrilous organization. It's funded by George Soros. He's about as left wing as you can find in this country. And they're up to just one thing, and that is to smear good people. And frankly, they're not gonna smear me without getting kicked in the teeth by me.

Stay classy there Hatch. While MoveOn has received $1.46 million from George Soros as Wikipedia notes:

MoveOn's primary source of funding is its members. MoveOn.org raised nearly 60 million dollars in 2004 from its members alone, with an average donation of $50.

h/t TPM who noted:

So...Hatch says he gets donations from all sorts of people -- "including liberal people" -- but as for that supposed left-winger George Soros and that "scurrilous" liberal group MoveOn.org -- they've got a kick in the teeth coming.

Ed Schultz Tears Into Harry Reid: "It's Your Job to Get the Votes!"

President Obama to Critics: Grab a Mop — Let’s Get to Work!

Markos on The Ed Show: I’m Tired of Excuses From Harry Reid

Cal Thomas Say That Gays Will Redecorate the Military

By Rude One

The Rude Pundit

When Cal Thomas is not miserably jacking off on his Michele Bachmann action figure, which he finds strangely less fulfilling than masturbating on his Sarah Palin rag doll, he's penning columns where the searing repression of his libido bursts forward in an effulgent spray of nonsense, lies, and unspoken desire. In his latest, "Don't ask, don't tell, and don't legitimize," Thomas, whose picture, really, and, c'mon, looks like a gayer Paul Lynde with a bad dye job, flails about in a strange attempt to justify legal discrimination against gays in the military.

Thomas writes, "That many heterosexuals find homosexual behavior immoral and not conducive to unit cohesion is of no concern to the social wrecking crew," which refers to, well, anyone who thinks that discrimination against gays and lesbians is wrong; we're social engineers, mad political scientists, and our goal? To make the military more fabulous. As Thomas says, "What gay activists apparently don't care about is the effect reshaping the military in their image would have on our ability to fight and defend the country." Just how will gays and lesbians "reshape" the military? Does he think Carson Kressley will be on 24-hour call?

After appearing to offer a seemingly rational discussion for a few paragraphs, where Thomas essentially says, "Let's leave it up to the majority which minorities should have rights," he can't hold back the open loathing: "The gays in the military and gay marriage issues are part of a broader attempt by liberals to restructure society. Social activists despise biblical morality (which heterosexuals could use a little more of, too), traditional values that have been proven to work when tried, and numerous other cultural mores. This is not an opinion." Which would be true, except that it is an opinion because, you know, "biblical morality" is more than just who you fuck and how and also "morality" is never made up of facts.

Thomas concludes with an odd position. Obama's election should not "be seen as an invitation to give blanket approval to homosexuality, considered by some to be against the best interests of the people who practice it, as well as the nations that accept it." Now, the Rude Pundit's not the global anthropologist that Thomas apparently is, but in the category of "nations that accept homosexuality" on the basis of military service or marriage/civil unions would be, you know, a good chunk of Europe and South America, as well as Canada, Israel, Japan, Australia, and lots of other hell holes that are being dragged under by the degradation of the scourge of the gay. "Nations that don't accept homosexuality" would be mostly like Uganda, Saudi Arabia, the Dominican Republic, North Korea, Myanmar, Iran, and Azerbaijan, places that Thomas apparently believes it would be in the "best interests" of the United States to imitate....(Remainder.)

Maine AG: Gay Marriage Law Irrelevant to Schools

By Susan M. Cover

Kennebec Journal

AUGUSTA -- The state's same-sex marriage law has no bearing on what can be taught in public schools, Attorney General Janet Mills said Thursday.

Mills examined the issue at the request of Education Commissioner Susan Gendron, who had been fielding questions from school officials and the news media.

The issue has been a central part of the Yes on 1 campaign, which is seeking to repeal the state law that allows gay and lesbian people to marry.

"I have scoured Maine laws relating to the education of its children for any references to marriage in the public school curricula," Mills wrote in her opinion. "I have found none."

Voters on Nov. 3 will be asked whether they want to reject the new state law that redefines marriage as the union of any two people.

It was passed by the Legislature and signed by the governor this spring, but is on the ballot because of the people's veto process.

As part of the campaign, opponents of same-sex marriage have emphasized -- in television advertisements and in public statements -- their belief that if the law is not repealed, gay marriage will be taught in schools.

Marc Mutty, a leader of the Yes on 1 campaign, said the campaign needed to study Mills' opinion and would release a statement today.

In response to Mills' opinion, Gendron sent a letter to superintendents saying the attorney general had confirmed her understanding of the law, which is that state standards "do not require or encourage the inclusion of the subject of marriage in school curriculum."...(Remainder.)

White House Says No to Antigay Referenda

WHITE HOUSE PRESIDENTIAL SEAL X390 (PHOTOS.COM) | ADVOCATE.COM

By Kerry Eleveld

Advocate.com

In response to an inquiry from The Advocate, the White House sent the following statement regarding President Barack Obama’s position on same-sex relationship recognition voter referenda in Maine and Washington.

“The President has long opposed divisive and discriminatory efforts to deny rights and benefits to same-sex couples, and as he said at the Human Rights Campaign dinner, he believes ‘strongly in stopping laws designed to take rights away.’ Also at the dinner, he said he supports, ‘ensuring that committed gay couples have the same rights and responsibilities afforded to any married couple in this country.’"

Maine’s Question 1 asks voters whether to overturn a law that legalized same-sex marriage earlier this year; Washington's Referendum 71 asks voters to affirm or repeal a law passed earlier this year that expands domestic-partnership rights for same-sex couples and some senior couples. Voters in both states will weigh in on the measures November 3.

The White House statement could help LGBT activists fighting to defeat Maine's antigay measure, as Obama's approval ratings continue to flourish there -- a new poll this month found that 58% of Maine voters approve of the president's job performance. A late September poll put his approval ratings in Washington slightly lower, at 53%....(Remainder.)

Opposition to Proposed Congressional Land Grant To Religious School In Michigan

By Americans United for Separation of Church and State

Americans United for Separation of Church and State has urged U.S. Rep. Bart Stupak (D–Mich.) to withdraw legislation that would grant seven acres of Coast Guard land to Cornerstone Christian School in Cheboygan, Mich.

The school has rented the property from the Coast Guard since 1986. Stupak’s measure, H.R. 1291, would allow the government to convey the land to the school for free.

In a letter to Stupak, Americans United explained that the land transfer would run afoul of the U.S. Constitution’s church-state separation provisions and circumvent federal law governing the disposal of public property.

The government, AU asserted, cannot constitutionally give special treatment to the religious school by transferring public land to it as a gift. Public property can’t be sold to a religious organization at below fair-market value, AU said, let alone be given away for free.

“[T]ransferring the Coast Guard property to the religious school for no consideration,” AU wrote, “would reflect an unconstitutional preference for and an endorsement of religion.”

The Rev. Barry W. Lynn, Americans United’s executive director, said the issue is straightforward.

“The government should never fund religion,” said Lynn. “Awarding public property to a religious school clearly violates the Constitution and flouts the interests of taxpayers....(Remainder.)

Heritage Blog Argues Against Additional Funding For Medicare

By Melinda Warner

Media Matters

In keeping with the vein of conservatives changing their tune on Medicare just as soon as Democrats start trying to fix it, the Heritage Foundation is now slamming Democrats for having a discussion that could lead to increased payments made to Medicare doctors.

The Heritage Foundation accuses Democrats on the Hill and in the White House of "plotting to pass a bill, by as early as next week, that grants doctors a $247 billion increase in Medicare fees over a decade."

It's no secret that doctors treating patients enrolled in Medicare have faced trouble receiving reimbursements from the system and the problem is scheduled to get worse. Even the Associated Press article referenced in the Heritage blog post confirms that without a drastic change (such as a $247 billion increase), doctors who accept Medicare patients would face "a 21 percent reduction in Medicare fees paid to doctors that is scheduled to take effect in January as well as additional cuts in future years."

This bill has the chance to change that, and ensure our seniors have access to doctors who are being paid properly. It also, however, directly contradicts some of the conservative talking points that have asserted that Democratic health care reforms will cause a horrible ripple effect within the Medicare system that will cause America's seniors a lot of inconvenience, money, and pain.

Evidently, conservatives are under the impression that they can talk out of both sides of their mouth on health care reform....(Remainder.)

Rep. Kirk: "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Has "Worked Out Well"

By Matt Finkelstein

Media Matters

Since casting his vote for the American Clean Energy and Security Act in June, Rep. Mark Kirk (R-IL) has been under fire from the right wing of his party, which has labeled him a "RINO" and a "traitor." Kirk has responded by coming out against the cap-and-trade bill he helped pass, while taking a strong stand against Democratic proposals for health care reform.

Still, Kirk has the reputation for being moderate, particularly on social issues. He was endorsedlast year by the Log Cabin Republicans, who noted Kirk's opposition to a federal marriage amendment. "He is the lead Republican co-sponsor of the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Hate Crimes Prevention Act and supports the Employment Non-Discrimination Act," the group added.

Considering the fine line he's walking, it's no wonder Kirk hasn't been outspoken regarding his views on the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT) policy. Last month, a spokesman for the congressman commented briefly on the subject, saying that Kirk "agrees with President Clinton's policy." He did not note that the former president has since argued that "this policy should be changed."

This week, Kirk offered slightly more on his position:

He supports continuing the "don't ask, don't tell" policy on gays serving in the military.

"I think it's worked out well," he said. "Keeping that all out of the workplace makes common sense."

But there's not much evidence that DADT has "worked out well." To the contrary, the facts indicate the policy is hurting the military:

Since 1994, the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy has resulted in the discharge of more than 13,000 military personnel across the services including approximately 800 with skills deemed 'mission critical,' such as pilots, combat engineers, and linguists. These are the very specialties for which the military has faced personnel shortfalls in recent years.

Gary Bauer Spouts Falsehoods About Clean Energy Jobs Legislation

By Media Matters

Former presidential candidate and American Values president Gary Bauer wrote an op-ed for Human Events in which he repeated a litany of false statements about clean energy jobs legislation. In reality, legislation increasing our investment in clean energy technologies would create jobs in every state and help America become more energy independent, all for less than a quarter a day.

Bauer Falsely Claims The Earth Is Cooling

Gary Bauer:

... average global temperatures have not risen over the past 11 years. In fact, experts say, temperatures actually dipped in eight of the last 11 years. [Bauer Op-ed, Human Events, 10/16/09]

That is not true.

The Last Decade Has Been The Hottest On Record. According to the MetOffice, the United Kingdom's national weather service, "The ten warmest years on record have occurred since 1997. Global temperatures for 2000-2008 now stand almost 0.2 °C warmer than the average for the decade 1990-1999." The chart appears below:

[UK Met Office, accessed 10/16/09]...(Remainder.)

Once Again, Sen. Gregg Shows Complete Reversal On Reconciliation

By Media Matters

On October 16, 2009, Sen. Judd Gregg once again feigned disdain at the possibility of using the budget reconciliation process to help Americans gain access to quality health care. Yet, as Media Matters Action Network has previously noted, Sen. Gregg was the Senate's leading proponent of the maneuver just a few short years ago

Sen. Gregg Feigned Disdain At Use Of Budget Reconciliation To Help People Afford Health Care

Sen. Judd Gregg On The Use Of Budget Reconciliation:

To use reconciliation in this manner not only deprives the Senate from holding a full debate, but it does a tremendous disservice to the millions of Americans who will be affected by this legislation. A policy change as large as this, one that will have a massive impact on the nation's debt, deserves a full review by the entire membership of the U.S. Senate. Reconciliation should not be used as a political tool, and I hope that the Majority will work in a more bipartisan manner on this issue so important to all Americans. [Gregg Release, 10/16/09]

In 2005, Sen. Gregg Defended & Promoted GOP Usage Of Budget Reconciliation

Sen. Gregg: "Is There Something Wrong With Majority Rules? I Don't Think So." As reported by the New York Times: "The record is also replete with past statements by Republicans such as Senator Judd Gregg of New Hampshire, the party's leader on budget issues, praising the logic of reconciliation. 'We are using the rules of the Senate here,' Mr. Gregg said in 2005 as he fought off Democratic complaints that reconciliation was wrongly being employed to block filibusters against opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling. 'Is there something wrong with majority rules? I don't think so.'" [New York Times, 3/29/09]...(Remainder.)

The Media's Glenn Beck Problem

By Jamison Foser

Media Matters

It's no coincidence that when members of the media talk about the media these days, they tend to talk about two things: the supposed importance of right-wing media like Fox News, and claims that the rest of the media lean to the left. The two concepts are fundamentally intertwined and mutually reinforcing -- and deeply flawed.

It may seem odd that much of the news media would simultaneously pronounce itself guilty of liberal bias and spend the year after a presidential election won convincingly by the more progressive candidate talking about the importance and influence of a conservative cable channel whose viewership consists of about 1 percent of the nation. But both of those somewhat inconsistent media memes can be explained by journalists' frequent inability to see where the center of the country really is. That inability makes journalists think they are further left of center than they actually are (even assuming they are at all to the left of center). And it makes them inflate the importance of right-wing operatives masquerading as media figures -- people who would have far less influence if actual reporters stopped buying their nonsense.

Their hateful views and adversarial relationship with the truth place the likes of Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh on the far-right fringe of a party and movement that have lost the popular vote in four of the past five presidential elections and that holds only 40 percent of the seats in Congress. They are on the far-right edge of a party that is far to the right of the rest of the country.

And, it must be said, they do not tell the truth. They lie about things large and small. They lie to smear their adversaries, and they lie for no real reason at all. Their lies should disqualify them from ever being taken seriously. But instead, the media have decided that if anything they say turns out to contain a sliver of truth, everything they say must be paid immediate attention....(Remainder.)

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