SENATE—Thursday, September 16, 2010

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

SENATE—Thursday, September 16, 2010 15878 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—SENATE, Vol. 156, Pt. 11 September 16, 2010 SENATE—Thursday, September 16, 2010 The Senate met at 9:30 a.m. and was RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY safety. I have had a number of people called to order by the Honorable CARTE LEADER from Nevada—about a dozen people— P. GOODWIN, a Senator from the State The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- who have talked about their foodborne of West Virginia. pore. The majority leader is recog- illnesses, children whose growth is nized. stunted their entire life. One young PRAYER woman spent 11 months in the hospital f The PRESIDING OFFICER. Today’s as a result of eating tainted spinach. opening prayer will be offered by Rev. SCHEDULE All over America this is happening. Dr. Bruce Hargrave, vice president of Mr. REID. Mr. President, following We have food safety laws that are in- development for the United Methodist any leader remarks, the Senate will re- adequate and causing people to get sick Theological Seminary, Moscow, Russia. sume consideration of the small busi- because the food is not checked closely The guest Chaplain offered the fol- ness jobs bill. Under an agreement we enough. Senators DURBIN, HARKIN, lowing prayer: reached yesterday, Senator GRASSLEY chairman of the committee, and ENZI Let us pray. and Senator HATCH will offer their re- have worked hard to get something O God, You are the eternal sovereign spective motions to suspend the rules. done. I have talked with Senator of all the world and yet personal. Help Senators BAUCUS, GRASSLEY, and MCCONNELL. He thinks something our Senators to be aware of Your pres- HATCH will control 15 minutes each, for should be done. We thought we finally ence and strength. Touch them with a total of 45 minutes. At 10:45 a.m., we had it worked out. We could take care Your Spirit and grant each of them di- will vote on those motions to suspend of this, but Senator COBURN has said vine wisdom. in the order in which they are offered. no. He wants it paid for a different Our country and world are beset with Following the votes, the time until 12 way. We spent a whole Congress on this problems and crises and war. We ac- noon will be equally divided and con- legislation. Of course, at the last knowledge that we are not smart trolled between the two leaders or minute, he comes in, and likely we are enough, wise enough, or even coura- their designees. At noon, the Senate not going to be able to get this done geous enough to meet these daily chal- will proceed to vote on the motion to before we go home for the elections. lenges. We need Your direction and invoke cloture on H.R. 5297, the small What a sad thing for our country. grace. Bestow these on each of us boun- business jobs bill, as amended. If clo- People are dying as a result of these tifully and abundantly. ture is invoked, all postcloture debate problems with food. It is a shame we We now yield ourselves to Your will time will be yielded back and we will cannot get this done. We have almost in order that we as individuals and as a proceed to vote on passage of the bill. 400 matters that have passed the House body may fulfill Your plan for each of The next item for business will be the of Representatives, and we cannot deal us, our Nation, and our world. Department of Defense authorization with them here because the Repub- We pray all of this in the name of bill. I wish to reach an agreement to licans say no. That is not the way to do Jesus Christ. Amen. proceed to the measure. It appears that business. In years past, these things will be unlikely and, therefore, I may would have gone through very easily. f need to file cloture to attempt to end We should be concerned about some- debate on the motion so we can begin thing as important as this issue, and PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE the amendment process. the focus should be—and deserves to The Honorable CARTE P. GOODWIN led f be—on the person who is holding up the Pledge of Allegiance, as follows: this legislation. It is too bad. There are MEASURES PLACED ON THE all kinds of excuses, but excuses do not I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the CALENDAR—S. 3790 AND S. 3791 United States of America, and to the Repub- do the trick. People have come to see lic for which it stands, one nation under God, Mr. REID. Mr. President, I am told me who have been deathly ill. All that indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. there are two bills at the desk due for could have been avoided. The legisla- a second reading. f tion would do that. It is bipartisan in The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- nature. It should be completed. pore. The clerk will report the bills by APPOINTMENT OF ACTING f PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE title for a second time. The bill clerk read as follows: RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME The PRESIDING OFFICER. The A bill (S. 3790) to amend title 5, United clerk will please read a communication The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- States Code, to provide that persons having pore. Under the previous order, the to the Senate from the President pro seriously delinquent tax debts shall be ineli- leadership time is reserved. tempore (Mr. INOUYE). gible for Federal employment. The bill clerk read the following let- A bill (S. 3791) to require Members of Con- f ter: gress to disclose delinquent tax liability, re- quire an ethics inquiry, and garnish the SMALL BUSINESS LENDING FUND U.S. SENATE, wages of a Member with Federal tax liabil- ACT OF 2010 PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE, ity. Washington, DC, September 16, 2010. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- To the Senate: Mr. REID. Mr. President, I object to pore. Under the previous order, the Under the provisions of rule I, paragraph 3, any further proceedings on these two Senate will resume consideration of of the Standing Rules of the Senate, I hereby matters en bloc. H.R. 5297, which the clerk will report. appoint the Honorable CARTE P. GOODWIN, a The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- The bill clerk read as follows: Senator from the State of West Virginia, to pore. Objection is heard. The bills will perform the duties of the Chair. A bill (H.R. 5297) to create the Small Busi- be placed on the calendar. ness Lending Fund Program to direct the DANIEL K. INOUYE, f President pro tempore. Secretary of the Treasury to make capital FOOD SAFETY investments in eligible institutions in order Mr. GOODWIN thereupon assumed to increase the availability of credit for the chair as Acting President pro tem- Mr. REID. Mr. President, we have small businesses, to amend the Internal Rev- pore. worked for this entire Congress on food enue Code of 1986 to provide tax incentives ● This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. VerDate Mar 15 2010 10:28 Aug 09, 2013 Jkt 089102 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 0686 Sfmt 0634 E:\BR10\S16SE0.000 S16SE0 wreier-aviles on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with BOUND RECORD September 16, 2010 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—SENATE, Vol. 156, Pt. 11 15879 for small business job creation, and for other Street businesses compete with big is certainly time. It is time to get this purposes. companies. All these things would help work done. It is time to help small Pending: small businesses to create as many as businesses. It is time to help create up Reid (for Baucus/Landrieu) amendment No. half a million more jobs. to half a million new jobs. This bill has 4594, in the nature of a substitute. The Joint Committee on Taxation been hard work, but this bill is work Reid (for Nelson (FL)) modified amend- has prepared a technical explanation of worth doing. So let’s bring this debate ment No. 4595 (to amendment No. 4594), to the bill which expresses the Finance to a close. Let’s reject the transparent exempt certain amounts subject to other in- formation reporting from the information Committee’s legislative intent behind efforts to delay some have thrown in reporting provisions of the Patient Protec- the tax provisions. It is available on the way, and let’s target this targeted tion and Affordable Care Act. the Joint Committee’s Web site. tax relief to small businesses today. Reid (for Johanns) modified amendment This small business jobs bill has been Mr. President, I suggest the absence No. 4596 (to amendment No. 4595), to repeal hard work. For something this com- of a quorum. the expansion of information reporting re- mon sense, it has been harder work The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- quirements for payments of $600 or more to than we thought it would be. Some pore. The clerk will call the roll. corporations. The bill clerk proceeded to call the Reid amendment No. 4597 (to the language folks on the other side of the aisle have proposed to be stricken by amendment No. thrown obstacles in the way. Some roll. 4594), to change the enactment date. have thrown in our way pretty much Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I Reid amendment No. 4598 (to amendment everything but the kitchen sink. Today ask unanimous consent the order for No. 4597), of a perfecting nature. they are throwing the kitchen sink in the quorum call be rescinded.
Recommended publications
  • Waving the Constitution at Those Who Ignore It
    WAVING THE CONSTITUTION AT THOSE WHO IGNORE IT I waved my pocket copy of the Constitution at Nancy Pelosi on July 19,2008. Khizr Khan waved his at Donald Trump on July 28,2016. In real time Thursday night, I caught only the final few seconds of Khizer Khan’s powerful speech at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. Through the rest of Thursday and Friday, more and more of the details of the speech flitted through my Twitter stream and then my heart was warmed when I saw photos of Khan pulling out his pocket copy of the Constitution and waving it at Donald Trump. Almost exactly eight years ago, I had done the same thing, waving my pocket copy at Nancy Pelosi, who then was Speaker of the House and appearing at Netroots Nation in Austin. Khan was confronting Trump about his campaign in which he had noted that “Trump consistently smears the character of Muslims. He disrespects other minorities, women, judges, even his own party leadership. He vows to build walls and ban us from this country.” (Quotes come from this copy of Khan’s transcript.) Khan then continued, presumably in reference to banning Muslims from the US: “Donald Trump, you are asking Americans to trust you with our future. Let me ask you: Have you even read the U.S. Constitution? I will gladly lend you my copy.” In my case, as I noted here and then in a follow-up a couple of months later here, I was urging Pelosi to act on the clear evidence that the George W.
    [Show full text]
  • Islam Symposium: an Introduction Robert A
    University of St. Thomas Law Journal Volume 7 Article 1 Issue 3 Spring 2010 2010 Islam Symposium: An Introduction Robert A. Kahn University of St. Thomas School of Law, [email protected] Bluebook Citation Robert A. Kahn, Foreword, Islam Symposium: An Introduction, 7 U. St. Thomas L.J. vii (2010). This Foreword is brought to you for free and open access by UST Research Online and the University of St. Thomas Law Journal. For more information, please contact [email protected]. FOREWORD ISLAM SYMPOSIUM: AN INTRODUCTION ROBERT A. KAHN* I. ISLAM, CONSTITUTIONAL LIBERTIES, AND THE CURRENT POLITICAL CLIMATE In early 2009, the University of St. Thomas Law Journal decided to hold a symposium on “Islamic Law and Constitutional Liberty.” One moti- vation for the symposium was the hostile reception given to the Archbishop of Canterbury’s speech calling for the British legal system to take a more positive attitude toward Islamic Law.1 Another motivation arose in Ontario, where opponents of Sharia law outlawed its application in family law-based arbitration following a lengthy campaign.2 In addition to these develop- ments—which bore directly on Islamic law—came a rising tide of Euro- pean laws aimed at Muslim clothing, especially the headscarf and burqa.3 To address the growing assertion that Islam is somehow incompatible with liberal democratic norms, the symposium directed its attention to the challenges, opportunities, and tensions that might exist between Islamic law * Associate Professor of Law, University of St. Thomas School of Law. 1. See generally Doctor Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, Archbishop’s Lecture - Civil and Religious Law in England: A Religious Perspective (Feb.
    [Show full text]
  • Americablog News| a Great Nation Deserves the Truth: What
    AMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth: What... http://www.americablog.com/2005/08/what-makes-people-gay.html AmoLatino.com Feedback - Ads by Google JOHN'S PHOTOS MONDAY, AUGUST 15, 2005 What Makes People Gay? by Michael in New York on 8/15/2005 11:53:00 AM A lengthy, interesting Boston Globe article about why people are gay. It looks at all the recent studies and concludes that people are "born" that way, though well-funded studies are needed and there's a lot more to learn. Basically a sympathetic, friendly article for gays. But, hey, this is a blog and blogs were born to nitpick, so here goes. (Thanks to threader Gypsy Queen for pointing us to this.) What makes the case of Patrick and Thomas so fascinating is that it calls into question both of the dominant theories in the long-running debate over what makes people gay: nature or nurture, genes or learned behavior. Actually, only the MSM would describe the debate that way. It's been pretty clear to researchers (and obvious to queers) that sexual orientation is typically due to some combination of genetics and "environment," with environment typically referring to in utero exposure to certain amounts of hormones, etc. People are genetically disposed to being gay and that orientation is "locked in" by the time we're three at most, and most of the factors that lead to it are in utero. (A gross generalization, of course.) But no one serious in the field has argued for many years that dad refusing to play catch with his eight year old son is a contributing factor.
    [Show full text]
  • OFFICIAL NETROOTS NATION 2010 STRAW POLL QUESTIONS Straw
    OFFICIAL NETROOTS NATION 2010 STRAW POLL QUESTIONS Straw Poll conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research & Revolution Messaging Thursday, July 22 – Sunday, July 25, 2010 Las Vegas, Nevada Please indicate if you approve or disapprove of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as president? --Strongly approve --Somewhat approve --Somewhat disapprove --Strongly disapprove What race is your top priority this fall? --Jack Conway vs. Rand Paul (KY Senate) --Harry Reid vs. Sharron Angle (NV Senate) --Tarryl Clark vs. Michele Bachmann (MN CD-6) --Joe Sestak vs. Pat Toomey (PA Senate) --Tom Perriello vs. Robert Hunt (VA CD-5) Now please read the list below and indicate which ONE you think should be the TOP priority for President Obama and Congress. (RANDOMIZE) --Immigration reform --Improve jobs situation --Finish Afghanistan --Iraq drawdown --Reduce deficit --Repeal DADT Which of the following people would you most like to see as the Republican nominee for president in 2012? (RANDOMIZE) --Sarah Palin --Mitt Romney --Mike Huckabee --Newt Gingrich --Ron Paul --Tim Pawlenty --Rick Santorum --Mike Pence Which of the following do you think is President Obama’s top accomplishment in his first year and a half in office? (RANDOMIZE) --Health care reform --Economic recovery plan --New Afghanistan strategy --Extend unemployment pay --Moving toward DADT repeal --Wall St. reform Compared to the 2006 midterm elections, are you more enthusiastic about voting this year, or less enthusiastic? --More enthusiastic --Less enthusiastic --About the same 1 = FIRST statement STRONGLY 2 = FIRST statement NOT SO STRONGLY 3 = SECOND statement NOT SO STRONGLY 4 = SECOND statement STRONGLY 5 = Both 6 = Neither _____ I would like to see President Obama work more closely with Republicans to get his agenda through Congress.
    [Show full text]
  • Lehigh Preserve Institutional Repository
    Lehigh Preserve Institutional Repository Embracing Islam in the Age of Terror: Post 9/11 Representations of Islam and Muslims in the United States and Personal Stories of American Converts Brunet, Clemence 2013 Find more at https://preserve.lib.lehigh.edu/ This document is brought to you for free and open access by Lehigh Preserve. It has been accepted for inclusion by an authorized administrator of Lehigh Preserve. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Embracing Islam in the Age of Terror: Post 9/11 Representations of Islam and Muslims in the United States and Personal Stories of American Converts by Clemence Brunet A Thesis Presented to the Graduate and Research Committee of Lehigh University in Candidacy for the Degree of Master of Arts in American Studies Lehigh University May 2013 i © 2013 Copyright Clemence Brunet ii Thesis is accepted and approved in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Arts in American Studies. Embracing Islam in the Age of Terror: Post 9/11 Representations of Islam and Muslims in the United States and Personal Stories of American Converts Clemence Brunet Date Approved Thesis Director Dr. Saladin Ambar Co-Director Dr. Bruce Whitehouse Department Chair Dr. Edward Whitley iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract 1 Introduction 2 Chapter One: Perceptions and Representations of Islam and Muslims after 9/11: language, media, hate groups and public opinion 8 Chapter Two: Muslim terrorists in the Entertainment Media and American Jihadists in the Media 49 Chapter Three: Personal Stories and Experiences of White American converts to Islam 85 Conclusion 133 Works Cited 138 Vita 155 iv ABSTRACT The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 were one of the most traumatic events experienced by the American people on their soil.
    [Show full text]
  • The Islamophobia Industry
    Property of Pluto Press: Do Not Reproduce The Islamophobia Industry “This concise, accessible and illuminating book meets one of the most urgent needs of our time. Lean has provided a compelling counter-narrative that reveals the vested interests and highly organized networks of those who preach the virulent Islamophobia that is not only endangering world peace but is also corroding the tolerance and egalitarian ethos that should characterize Western society. This book should be required reading.” — Karen Armstrong “Islamophobia is not only about ignorance and fear. Some people purposefully nurture it and use it as a political strategy. Nathan Lean’s The Islamophobia Industry shows what is happening behind the scenes. It is an essential book for anyone who wants to understand the rationale and objectives behind those who foster this new racism against Muslims.” — Tariq Ramadan, Professor of Contemporary Islamic Studies at Oxford University and author of The Quest for Meaning “The climate of fear and cultural mistrust is one of the grim aspects of present-day society—but it doesn’t happen by accident. As this readable and well-researched book demonstrates, hatred sells; it can provide both money and power to those who profit from it. This book exposes the dirty secrets of those who try to manipulate public opinion against Muslims. It should be read by policymakers, concerned citizens, and everyone who values truth and intercultural understanding.” — Mark Juergensmeyer, Professor of Global Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and author of Terror in the Mind of God: The Global Rise of Religious Violence. “Nathan Lean has written a book of immense importance for our times.
    [Show full text]
  • Constructing Campus Conflict, Appendices
    Challenging the Right, Advancing Social Justice CONSTRUCTING CAMPUS CONFLICT Antisemitism and Islamophobia on U.S. College Campuses, 2007-2011 2007-2011: Appendices Senior Editor Chip Berlet Managing Editor Debra Cash Associate Editor Maria Planansky Political Research Associates (PRA) is a social justice think tank devoted to supporting movements that are building a more just and inclusive democratic society. We expose movements, institutions, and ideologies that undermine human rights. Copyright ©2014, Political Research Associates Political Research Associates 1310 Broadway, Suite 201 Somerville, MA 02144-1837 www.politicalresearch.org design by rachelle galloway-popotas, owl in a tree CONTENTS SURVEY OF MSA STUDENTS ................................................................................................................. 4 ISLAMO-FACISM AWARENESS WEEK (IFAW) 2007 ......................................................................... 7 TRAUMA AND PREJUDICE ................................................................................................................... 10 ADL AND THE PARK51 CONTROVERSY ......................................................................................... 12 RENE GIRARD AND MIMETIC SCAPEGOATING ............................................................................. 13 BIBLIOGRAPHIES ......................................................................................................................................15 Selected LIST OF INCIDENTS DESCRIBED AS ANTISEMITIC ...........................................
    [Show full text]
  • Threading My Prayer Rug One Woman’S Journey from Pakistani Muslim to American Muslim by Sabeeha Rehman
    307 West 36th Street ARCADE 11th Floor New York, NY 10018 PUBLISHING T (212) 643-6816 F (212) 643-6819 www.arcadepub.com ON SALE NOW CONTACT: Brianna Scharfenberg [email protected] “Funny and frank, acute and compassionate, this story of an immigrant ‘fish out of water’ who falls in love with her adopted American home is for all of us, and for all times—but current events also make it the story for this time. As Americans consiDer who they were, are, and want to be in the future, they coulD have no better guide than Sabeeha Rehman. I can’t imagine our country, or my bookshelf, without her.” —Susan Choi, Pulitzer Prize finalist anD author of A Person of Interest and My Education Threading My Prayer Rug One Woman’s Journey from Pakistani Muslim to American Muslim By Sabeeha Rehman Praise for Threading My Prayer Rug The Wall Street Journal “Houses of Worship” column in July (excerpt: “My Muslim Christmas in July”) and September (op-ed: “Memories of the Hajj, From Mother to Son”) ”Rehman’s personal journey is her own, but speaks broadly to all immigrant journeys in contemporary America. With so much discussion about immigrants from Muslim in the national conversation, it’s good to have a story with this unique perspective. we see how she navigates American society, retains her identity and passes it on to her children and community, accepts becoming an American, moDifies some of her traditions while manufacturing new ones, and enriches her own life anD the lives of those around her—thus weaving her contribution into the fabric of America, and enriching the American tapestry.” —Booklist (starred review) & Top 10 Religion & Spirituality Book of 2016 “A culturally rich and rewarding personal chronicle of ethnic faith and intermingled tradition.”—Kirkus Review “Rehman lends a strong and compelling voice to moderate Muslims, and her discussion of her faith and the areas she believes need modernization illustrate the different opinions within the Muslim community.”—Library Journal “With sparkling acedotes .
    [Show full text]
  • Don't Bungle the Talks
    O C V ΓΡΑΦΕΙ ΤΗΝ ΙΣΤΟΡΙΑ Bringing the news ΤΟΥ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΣΜΟΥ to generations of ΑΠΟ ΤΟ 1915 The National Herald Greek Americans c v A wEEkLy GREEk AmERICAN PUBLICATION www.thenationalherald.com VOL. 13, ISSUE 676 September 25-October 1, 2010 $1.50 Peterson’s Chrysostomos Warns Christofias: Don't Bungle The Talks Simple Archbishops Sees No Solution, Success Says Church Is Not That Rich By Theodore Kalmoukos Chrysostomos said that, “The TNH Staff Writer Turks want everything, they put Formula forth maximalist positions. They BOSTON - “The national issue speak of two Peoples, two of Cyprus is not going well at States, two Nations; you under - Americans: Save, all” His Beatitude Archbishop stand that we are not heading Chrysostomos of Cyprus said in towards a solution.” Christofias Sacrifice, Choose, an exclusive interview to The has been unable to make any National Herald. The Arch - headway with Turkish leaders Hike Revenues bishop sent a clear message to since taking office on Feb. 2008, Cypriot President Demetris despite making unilateral con - NEW YORK – When self-made Christofias, who was in New cessions. Greek Cypriots in a billionaire Pete Peterson told an York attending the United Na - 2004 referendum defeated the audience at a Leadership 100 tions opening ceremonies “not so-called Annan Plan for re-uni - meeting here Sept. 9 that that to accept an international meet - fication, named for former U.N. American Dream was fading, he ing before the internal problems leader Koffi Annan, and also laid out a grim scenario that with the Turkish-Cypriots are re - Christofias’ critics said he is giv - portrayed the United States slip - solved.” The Archbishop said if ing away too much and that part ping into an unrecoverable eco - that happened, “The solution of his ideas mimic the rejected nomic crisis for the simple reason which will be imposed will be plan.
    [Show full text]
  • AS-3405-19/FA (Rev) Creating a Holistic
    ACADEMIC SENATE OF THE CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY AS-3405-19/FA (Rev) November 14-15, 2019 CREATING A HOLISTIC AND HUMANE EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT IN THE CSU RESOLVED: That the Academic Senate of the California State University (ASCSU) requests the California State University System concentrate on the mission of educating students with an emphasis on holistic and humane educational environments, with a focus on faculty and staff as wholly integral to this mission; and be it further RESOLVED3 3T : That the ASCSU recommends the creation of a task force to develop specific actions that 3 3T support3 3T holistic and humane educational environments; and be it 33Tfurther RESOLVED3 3T : 33TThat the 33TASCSU 33T distribute this resolution to the 33TCSU Board of Trustees, CSU Chancellor, CSU campus Presidents, CSU campus Senate Chairs, CSU campus Senate Executive 33TCommittees3 3T , CSU Provosts/Vice Presidents of Academic Affairs, CSU campus articulation officers, California Faculty Association (CFA), California State Student Association (CSSA), CSU Emeritus and Retired Faculty & Staff Association (CSU-ERFSA), Academic Senate for the California Community Colleges (CCC), Academic Senate of the University of California (UC), California Community Colleges’ Board of Governors, and the University of California Board of Regents. RATIONALE: It is imperative that the CSU focuses on our raison d’etre: educating students. This is particularly urgent in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, a crisis sweeping the globe, the U.S., California, and the CSU system simultaneously. But teaching and learning cannot happen in 1 landscapes of fearP0F P – for students, nor for faculty. Racial, gender, religious, and sexual violence creates fear.
    [Show full text]
  • The Value of Protest
    The Value of Protest As a strong supporter of Bernie Sanders, my first reaction to hearing about the Black Lives Matter protest at Netroots Nation was disappointment. This looks bad, I thought. Bad for Bernie, who is the only presidential candidate with any chance of challenging structural injustice. And bad for Black Lives Matter, who could easily be interpreted as shutting down progressive discussions about immigration and economic inequality to make people focus on their priorities. I’ve had my share of mistakes during protests, as have all the activists I respect most, so I certainly had some sympathy. But I thought their protest was just that: a mistake. Then I watched the video of Sanders responding to the protest, or should I say, failing to respond and instead just speaking over and past them. He tried to just continue with his stump speech and seemed annoyed with the disruption. Several times he looked at moderator Jose Antonio Vargas as if he expected Vargas to control these women, once asking, “Are you in charge here?” The closest he came to discussing policing issues directly was mentioning his success with community policing in Burlington, VT, a city that was pretty much all white and pretty much irrelevant to the discussion of racist policing. As black women, those activists are people who have always been systematically locked out of the public discourse, and they were making their voices heard even if it ruffled some feathers. In theory, Bernie’s campaign platform is all about the way ordinary citizens have been locked out of the political discourse and the need to make those voices heard.
    [Show full text]
  • How Labor Unions Finance Their Political Agenda: 2012-2014 Employeerightsact.Com
    How Labor Unions Finance Their Political Agenda: 2012-2014 employeerightsact.com Hundreds of special interests, candidates and pro-labor organizations that are aligned with the Democratic Party and support big America’s Largest labor’s agenda received nearly $420 million in funding from union member dues from 2012 through 2014. Labor Unions $418,660,619 $4,724,445 $31,118,527 $149,358,090 MAJOR LABOR UNIONS to Left-Wing Special Interests LEFT-WING MEDIA SPECIAL INTERESTS ECONOMIC LEFT AFL-CIO American Prospect Center for Media The Nation Institute Alliance for Quality Coordinating Ohio Coalition for A Better Illinois Institute for Local Smith-Barbieri Auto Workers (UAW) Netroots Nation and Democracy The Progressive, Inc Education Committee for Equity & Adequacy Action Now Self Reliance Progressive Fund Carpenters (CJA) Center for American Ed Schultz Uptake Institute Alliance for Retired Multiemployer of School Funding Action United Interfaith Worker Sound Alliance Ten Major Recipients Progress Action Broadcasting Cloud Tiger Media Americans Plans Opportunity to Alliance for a Better Justice Leadership Institute Communications Workers Fund Progress Illinois In These Times Center for Medicare National Institute on Learn Action Fund California International Labor Sixteen Thirty Fund (CWA) of Big Labor Money Advocacy Retirement Security Rebuild America’s Alliance for Global Rights Forum Stand Up Chicago Children First for National Public Schools Justice Iowa Citizens Take Action Electrical Workers (IBEW) Oregon Pension Coalition Rebuild New York America’s Agenda for Community Minnesota Engineers, Operating (IUOE) $30,824,802 Children’s Defense New Faculty Now Health Care for All Improvement Action United Students $210,437,846 Fund Majority U.S.
    [Show full text]