Democrats with disabilities

Protesting HCR 362 at Nancy Pelosi’s House

Laura Schneider — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 01:21:13 EDT

antiwarblog.com
July 20, 2008 in News by Eric Garris

Over 100 San Francisco antiwar activists protested against the Iran blockade bill, HCR 362, at Nancy Pelosi’s house on Saturday. The protest was emotional, and three people were arrested for trespassing.

This coverage was the lead story on KRON Channel 4’s evening news. The main speaker is Marc Joffe, a local libertarian supporter of Antiwar.com.

Update: Here is an additional report from Janet Weil of CODEPINK:

Get FISA Right! participates in molding party platform

Laura Schneider — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 01:16:13 EDT

-----Original Message-----

From: GetFISAright-Discussion@googlegroups.com [mailto:GetFISAright-Discussion@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of jawboneblues

Sent: Tuesday, July 22, 2008 6:22 PM

To: Get FISA Right Discussion

Subject: [GFR-Discussion] The two GFR democratic platform planks

Hi, all,

The two Get FISA Right Group planks have been posted as 'Civil Rights' Planks on the MixedInk site at http://www.mixedink.com/netrootsplatform/index.php#a3

which is hosting the Netroots Political Platform project. If people can not attend a Democratic Platform meeting this week, taking part in shaping the Democratic Party Platform through this web- based site would be a great way to participate. The various planks can be browsed, rated, and reworked.

I think that the Get FISA Right group did a great job with our proposed planks. I would encourage everyone to set up an account (yes - another one!) at the MixedInk site and rate our proposals up!

Lee N / jawboneblues

http://groups.google.com/group/GetFISAright-Discussion?hl=en

[UnitedMethodists] UMNS: Pastor is church’s first openly gay bishop candidate

Laura Schneider — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:42:07 EDT

By Marta W. Aldrich
July 22, 2008 | PORTLAND, Ore. (UMNS)
http://tinyurl.com/6b8nxq <http://tinyurl.com/6b8nxq>

Standing before an assembly that would elect two bishops, the Rev. Frank Wulf shared his problem as a candidate for one of the top clergy positions in The United Methodist Church.

"The problem is that I come as a gay man, and I know where our church stands on the issue of same-sex orientation," Wulf said in his candidacy address before the Western Jurisdictional Conference, which represents United Methodists in the western United States, Guam and other U.S. territories in the Pacific.

Obama Just an American with a Muslim Middle Name

funkfresh01 — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 22:22:00 EDT

http://news.yahoo.com/s/bloomberg/20080720/pl_bloomberg/awwoetconzuu_1

Source: Bloomberg
Author: Caroline Alexander

A year ago, Palestinian medical student Wessam al-Ghoul in the U.K. thought Barack Obama would break new ground in bringing Middle East peace. Today, he says the Democratic presidential candidate is merely “the lesser of two evils.”

Al-Ghoul changed his mind after Obama toughened his rhetoric against Iran and said on June 4 that ``Jerusalem will remain the capital of Israel, and it must remain undivided.'' Palestinians claim east Jerusalem as their future capital.

``He has become virtually indistinguishable from any U.S. politician running for office,'' said al-Ghoul, 24. He added that presumptive Republican nominee John McCain, 71, is worse only because he would continue the foreign policies of President George W. Bush, whose war in Iraq, now in its sixth year, has made him unpopular in the Arab world.

Email Attacks on Obama Spark Debate on Racism

funkfresh01 — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 22:00:33 EDT

http://www.thenational.ae/article/20080719/FOREIGN/936574761/1014/ART&Profile=1014

Source: The National
Author: Sharmila Devi

“The Muslims have said they plan on destroying the US from the inside out. What better way to start than at the highest level â€" through the president of the United States, one of their own.”

So reads an email widely distributed in the US from unknown senders as part of a smear campaign, satirised with mixed results by The New Yorker magazine last week, against Barack Obama, the presumed Democratic nominee.

The liberal weekly might have been making a joke when it pictured Mr Obama as a Muslim terrorist, his wife, Michelle, as an armed radical, and the US flag burning in the fireplace in the Oval Office. But some Americans actually appear to believe it, according to opinion polls.

South Carolina State Senator Posts Osama-Obama Photo

funkfresh01 — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 21:39:29 EDT

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/21/kevin-bryant-south-caroli_n_114098.html?view=print

Source: Huffington Post
Author: Nico Pitney

South Carolina State Senator Kevin Bryant has removed a classy photo from his website showing Osama Bin Laden next to Barack Obama with text claiming the difference between them is "just a little B.S."

Update: Interview with Bryant added below.

The photo was highlighted by Wonkette and The Hill, among other sites, and when I tried to access the blog post in question at 3PM ET, it had been removed from Bryant's website.

Please sign petition!

Laura Schneider — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 15:59:02 EDT

Dear Laura,

Since 2001, I have served as the honorary chair of HillPAC, an organization dedicated to helping working families. It is our goal to fight for a better future for every child, and for every family. To keep fighting for those who get up every day, no matter what the odds, and never give in. For those who never back down, and those who always stand their ground. HillPAC works to elect Democratic candidates to office who share these same ideals and goals and I'm proud to serve as the honorary chair and I hope you will join me in this mission.

Right now, I'm working with HillPAC to lead the fight on one very important issue, and we need your help.

The Bush White House is working to rewrite the definition of abortion in federal regulations to include common forms of birth control. This would undermine women's health and put family planning services in danger. Simply, it puts women at risk -- it could even prevent victims of sexual assault from receiving emergency contraceptives.

I need your help to speak up for the health of millions of American women who are in danger, once again, from the latest assault from the Bush administration.

Will you join me in sending a strong message to Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt to put women's health ahead of right-wing ideology?

Click here to send a message to the Bush administration asking them to protect women's health.

Imagine being told common forms of contraception like birth control pills could now fall under the definition of an abortion. This is another assault by the extreme right on the rights and health of women everywhere. They will do anything in their power to impose their beliefs -- no matter what the risk to women.

We've worked hard to guarantee women have access to a full range of health and family planning services, and we can't let the right wing undermine those efforts. This issue is far too important not to act, so I hope you'll join HillPAC and me today in speaking out to protect women's health.

Tell Bush's HHS Secretary to protect women's health!

Thank you for all your support. I'm so happy that we are still working together on vitally important issues like this one.

Sincerely,

Hillary Rodham Clinton

If you feel you have received this message in error, we apologize. You can unsubscribe at any time.
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Some interesting Executive Orders issued by GWB

Laura Schneider — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:46:05 EDT

For a full list of all EOs issued by GWB:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/orders/

July 8, 2004

Executive Order Delegation of Certain Waiver, Determination, Certification, Recommendation, and Reporting Functions

Sec. 6. In carrying out sections 1 and 2 of this order, officers of the United States shall ensure that all actions taken by them are consistent with the President's constitutional authority to: (a) conduct the foreign affairs of the United States; (b) withhold information the disclosure of which could impair the foreign relations, the national security, the deliberative processes of the Executive, or the performance of the Executive's constitutional duties; (c) recommend for congressional consideration such measures as the President may judge necessary and expedient; and (d) supervise the unitary executive branch.

December 17, 2003

Executive Order Appointments During National Emergency

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code, and in order to further respond to the national emergency I declared in Proclamation 7463 of September 14, 2001, I hereby order as follows:

Section 1. Emergency Appointments Authority. The emergency appointments authority at section 603 of title 10, United States Code, is invoked and made available to the Secretary of Defense in accordance with the terms of that statute and of Executive Order 12396 of December 9, 1982.

September 17, 2003

Order Designation Under Executive Order 12958

Consistent with the provisions of section 1.3 of Executive Order 12958 of April 17, 1995, as amended, entitled "Classified National Security Information," I hereby designate the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy to classify information originally as "Top Secret."

Any delegation of this authority shall be in accordance with section 1.3(c) of Executive Order 12958, as amended

Energy Security

Bob — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 09:13:36 EDT

T. Boone Pickens, the Republican Texas oil mogul who has been pushing a renewable energy agenda, will be among the experts testifying before a Senate panel Tuesday on energy security.

As oil prices continue to hover around the $140 per barrel mark, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are likely Tuesday to use the Senate hearing as a forum to push for increased U.S. energy security, the idea of reducing foreign influence over the energy consumed in the United States.

Last week, Pickens began a public relations push for the energy plan he simply has titled, "The Pickens Plan." Pickens says installing wind farms in the midsection of the United States could produce 20 percent of electricity consumed domestically, alleviating the need to use natural gas to make electricity.

Under the Pickens Plan, natural gas along with biofuels would power all transportation, reducing foreign oil dependence -- according to Pickens' numbers -- by one-third.

The Economist magazine last week reported that Pickens' plan isn't entirely altruistic, however. According to the magazine, Pickens' company Mesa Power has invested $2 billion in a Texas panhandle wind farm. But Pickens, chairman and founder of BP Capital Management, also regularly points out he doesn't need the money.

The hearing, titled "Energy Security: An American Imperative," will be held at 9:30 a.m. Other panelists before the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee will be Gal Luft, executive director of the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security; Geoffrey Anderson, president and CEO of Smart Growth America; and Habib Dagher, director of the University of Maine Advanced Structures and Composites Laboratory.

URGENT JUST IN: Attacker Killed Near Obama's Israel Hotel

Bob — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 08:55:00 EDT

A Palestinian man from east Jerusalem rammed a construction vehicle into three cars and a city bus in downtown Jerusalem on Tuesday, wounding four people before he was shot dead, in a chilling imitation of an attack that took place in the city earlier this month.

The driver went on his rampage in a busy part of downtown Jerusalem, several hundred meters from the luxury hotel where U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama is supposed to stay Tuesday night as he kicks off a visit to Israel.

Police said a civilian driving nearby saw what was happening, jumped out of the car and shot the driver, bringing traffic to a halt. A border policeman who rushed to the scene also shot the driver. Police sealed off possible escape routes into predominantly Arab east Jerusalem and were searching for two suspects who fled the scene, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said.

The driver of the bus said he was chased by the assailant as he wielded the construction vehicle's shovel.

"I was driving on the main road when the (construction vehicle) hit me in the rear, on the right hand side," the driver of the bus, who was not identified, told Channel 10 TV.

"After I passed him he turned round, made a U-turn and rammed the windows twice with the shovel. The third time he aimed for my head, he came up to my window and I swerved to the right, otherwise I would have gone to meet my maker," he said.

Witness Moshe Shimshi said the driver, who was wearing a large, white skullcap commonly worn by religious Muslims, slammed into the side of the bus, then sped away and went for a car.

"He didn't yell anything, he just kept ramming into cars," Shimshi said.

The driver then headed for cars waiting at a red light "and rammed into them with all his might," he added.

Channel 10 TV said a mother and her baby were wounded. Israeli rescue services said they had evacuated one person whose leg was partially severed; Israel media said he was in the car that was overturned.

"This was another attempt to murder innocent people in a senseless act of terrorism," said government spokesman Mark Regev. "All people who believe in peace and reconciliation must unequivocally condemn this attack. Unfortunately, it is clear that we as a society will have to remain vigilant against terrorism."

Minutes after the attack, the driver, wearing shorts and black shoes, was sprawled backward in the construction vehicle's cabin, his legs dangling lifelessly.

Firetrucks had massed at the scene, where the smell of gas was wafting and liquid had spilled on the ground.

Sirens wailed in the background, and a police helicopter hovered overhead.

The assault was eerily reminiscent of an attack earlier this month, when another Palestinian from east Jerusalem plowed his front-end loader into a strong of vehicles and pedestrians on another busy Jerusalem street about 3 miles away. Three people were killed in that attack and dozens of others were wounded before an off-duty soldier shot the assailant dead.

Tuesday's attack was carried out with the same type of front-end loader. A four-door sedan next to the vehicle had been rammed from the rear and had crashed into a utility vehicle.

A compact car stood nearby, its driver's side smashed, and its hood and engine destroyed. Another four-door sedan was overturned on the sidewalk.

Jerusalem Mayor Uri Lupolianski was in the area when he heard a commotion and rushed over to the scene.

The attacker "is from east Jerusalem," he said. "They keep on inventing ways to attack us," he said. "Every work tool has become a weapon."

The three latest attacks in Jerusalem have been carried out by Palestinians from the city's eastern sector.

"Golden parachute" Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac rescue

Bob — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 08:29:20 EDT

Democrats and Republicans queasy about a federal rescue of mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are coalescing around the idea of letting the government slap limits on the multimillion-dollar pay packages of their executives.

Key lawmakers â€" puzzling over how to explain to constituents why they voted to bail out the troubled government-sponsored firms â€" see new curbs on compensation for the top officers as a crucial measure to cut down on the cringe factor.

At a time when Fannie Mae's and Freddie Mac's (FRE: 8.75, -0.43, -4.68%) troubles have investors worried and the government ready to jump in with untold sums of cash, the lavish pay of the two companies' executives is increasingly difficult to defend, they say.
Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., says Fannie and Freddie "have had their hard-won credibility undermined in recent weeks," on the heels of major accounting scandals at the firms in 2003 and 2004.

"While the subprime mortgage crisis is hardly the fault of these companies, past practices of awarding huge bonuses and higher executive salaries calls into question the prudence of extending an unlimited credit line of taxpayer money to the companies whose management practices have been questionable over recent years," Casey said in a letter to Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson.

Casey called for capping the companies' executive pay "at reasonable levels" if they used the line of credit or need Treasury to step in and buy their stock. Casey also said their boards should sue to recover recent bonuses.

Last year, Freddie Mac paid Chairman and Chief Executive Richard Syron nearly $19.8 million in compensation even though the mortgage company's stock lost half its value. During the same period, Fannie Mae President and Chief Executive Daniel Mudd got compensation valued by the company at $12.2 million, including a $2.2 million bonus.

"I would like to know why taxpayers should extend Fannie and Freddie an unlimited line of credit at a time when their stock and investor confidence has fallen precipitously and their CEOs continue to make multimillion-dollar salaries and bonuses," Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., told Paulson in a letter last week.

Critics of Fannie Mae (FNM: 14.13, +0.73, +5.44%) and Freddie Mac, including Republicans who question the very existence of government-sponsored mortgage companies, have long denounced the firms for richly compensating shareholders and executives in good times while relying on taxpayers and the government to prop them up should they falter.

With the request for a federal lifeline, though, even their biggest boosters are embracing the idea of scrutinizing pay packages.

Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., the House Financial Services Committee chairman, said a new regulator for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac should have the power to approve executive compensation. Frank and Sen. Christopher J. Dodd, D-Conn., the

Senate Banking Committee chairman, want to add the controls to a broad housing package that creates a new regulator.
The House could vote on the bill, which also includes a foreclosure rescue for 400,000 strapped homeowners, as early as Wednesday.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac together hold or guarantee $5 trillion in mortgages â€" almost half the nation's total. Their stocks have plummeted on fears about their financial stability in a chaotic housing market where falling home values and rising defaults have contributed to large losses at the companies.

Paulson's request for a government lifeline to them has shone an uncomfortable spotlight on the workings of the companies. Both wield armies of lobbyists and shower lawmakers with campaign cash â€" prompting critics to charge that their financial problems are of their own making.

Frank said the housing legislation already includes "any reasonable control over Fannie and Freddie," but that he now believes Congress should explicitly give the regulator power to approve pay packages.

The agency that oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac already has the authority to bar them from awarding executives "excessive" compensation that's out of whack with what similar firms' top people receive. But the law expressly forbids capping Fannie and Freddie executives' compensation.

Both versions of the housing bill give the new regulator more latitude to decide what constitutes excessive pay, including taking into account wrongdoing by an executive. The Senate-passed bill also gives the government the power to limit or ban "golden parachute" payments for executives if either company becomes financially unstable, goes belly up or needed a federal bailout.

HELP! Text editor not working!

Laura Schneider — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 11:51:36 EDT

Is anyone else having problems with the editor? I couldn't get the extended to work, now I can't get the primary test window to work.

Today's People Who Need Good Vibes List

Laura Schneider — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 11:31:21 EDT

Today is Monday, July 21, 2008.

This is not a complete list, so if you or someone you know needs good vibes or prayer, please add them to the list in your comments and update us on their progress.

NOTE TO ALL: If you have someone on the list, could you please update their condition for me? Also, if they need to be taken off the list, please let me know. I depend on you guys to help me keep this list current.

We still have two wars going on. Coalition forces have suffered 4,439 deaths in action in Iraq. The official wounded count for Iraq is 40,229 in Iraq and 2,190 in Afghanistan, but the estimated is actually 23,000 to 100,000. Six soldiers have been killed this week so far. Wounded in action in Iraq this month as of 07/09/2008: 91 Returned to Duty (RTD) within 72 hours, 49 not RTD.

There have been 14 U.S. casualties since the beginning of July. There have been 687 Iraqi security forces and civilians reported dead in July.

In Iraq, there have been 4,439 coalition deaths -- 4,125 Americans, two Australians, one Azerbaijani, 176 Britons, 13 Bulgarians, one Czech, seven Danes, two Dutch, two Estonians, one Fijian, five Georgians, one Hungarian, 33 Italians, one Kazakh, one Korean, three Latvian, 22 Poles, three Romanians, five Salvadoran, four Slovaks, 11 Spaniards, two Thai and 18 Ukrainians -- in the war in Iraq as of July 18, 2008, according to a CNN count.

In Afghanistan, there have been 884 coalition deaths -- 552 Americans, six Australians, 110 Britons, 87 Canadians, three Czech, 14 Danes, 16 Dutch, three Estonians, one Finn, 12 French, 22 Germans, two Hungarians, 11 Italians, one Lithuanian, three Norwegians, five Poles, two Portuguese, seven Romanians, one South Korean, 23 Spaniards, two Swedes -- in the war on terror as of July 18, 2008, according to a CNN count.

Missing or captured:
Spc. Ahmed K. Altaie --
Ahmed Qusai al-Taei: Status - missing-captured 23-Oct-2006

320,000 Vets Have Brain Injuries

20,000 Vets' Brain Injuries Not Listed

THANKSGIVING:

We are thankful for our country, as imperfect as it is, it is the shining becon of hope for the world. We commit ourselves to working together to make this union more perfect every day.

We are thankful for those who are serving in the military and their families who are serving at home.

We are thankful for those veterans who have served in the military and their families who served at home. We remember those veterans who died so that we might live and enjoy our freedom. We know that freedom is not free.

We are thankful to our government servants, including our politicians, our career professionals, our diplomats and others, for their tireless, and sometimes thankless, service to our country and to ourselves.

We are thankful for our friends and allies throughout the world who work together with us to make the world a better place.

From Matty: Thank you for 0 deaths in Iraq last week.

We are thankful that Senator Ted Kennedy is progressing in his recovery and was well enough to attend the Medicare vote last week.

PETITIONS:

We ask for peace with honor, so that our fighting men and women can come home to the families they love.

We ask for a full and speedy recovery for all those who are injured in body or spirit from their service.

We ask for the continued safety of our loved ones who are sound and fighting or serving abroad.

We ask for the citizens of the war-torn countries of Iraq and Afghanistan to live in peace and safety with hope of a better future.

We ask for comfort and aid to all those in the world who are suffering from oppression, starvation or disease.

We ask for the continued health, safety and well-being of our candidates, our leaders, our members and their families.

We ask for the safe return of the following missing/captured:

Ahmed Qusai al-Taei: Status - missing-captured

SPECIFIC CONCERNS AND REQUESTS:

Little Dine's father, Edward Benjamin the 2nd, is going to Iraq: I asked for him to be listed in the prayer line with all our troops that are in Iraq, so that the Great Spirit Grandfather will bring all home safely and look after all in Iraq that are in harms way.

Little Dine's Grandps, Dine' Warrior, is the one ill due to terminal illness setback, We wish him a speedy recovery.

The family and friends of Paul Thompson (AKA "Kenny's Dad) on his recent death. Our loving thought and prayers are with them now and as they grieve. We celebrate his life and his humor, all expressed in his valuable contributions to our blog site. He will be missed.

Jacob Clark, who has been battling illness. He will be getting test results on Thursday. We wish him a speedy recovery.

Jackie/JackMcIntosh' niece and her fiance were in a car accident. His niece's fiance is still in recovery with several operations yet to go.

Luckeyduckey's daughter (no specific information available).

Betty Lou's daughter and family (no specific information available).

My sister-in-law's brother Jay, who is serving in Iraq.

My friends Jo and Wayne -- Wayne just got out of the hospital from cardiac arrest. He is doing much better, but has a long way to go.

My Dad, Frank Schneider, who has Alzheimers and has been going deaf for a while, but his hearing seems to be getting much worse as of late.

Staten Island Democrat/Lynn:

Prayers for my friends John and Susan who were just in a horrible car accident.

Prayers for my family members Deborah and Julian both serving in Afghanistan.

Prayers for the people, especially the children, of Afganistan who have a minimal amount of the things we take for granted in our great country. (Like food, clothes and shoes).

Shopman:

Mydragonflies...whose husband is deployed yet she does so much for all the military families.

Boner...An 20 yo kid I know who spent 1 gig in Iraq. He went awol instead of going back.

SPIRITED DONA:

To Teddy Kennedy for his continued recovery.

Jacob Clark

All nurses, especially night nurses, that keep our healthcare system alive and functioning.

Barb

And for all of the world's children who need our prayers every day. It's their future that we are creating today--let us always ask for the wisdom and judgement to make the right decisions today so that the children will enjoy a better tomorrow.

AnneK

Paul Thompson (AKA "Kenny's Dad") has died. Our thought and prayers are with his family and friends. Please see 's blog on the details:

http://www.democrats.org/page/community/post/snelson/CN3j

Institutions should die!!!

Bob — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 08:35:16 EDT

I think these institutions have outlived their usefulness and should die. Their disappearance may cause some temporary dislocation and “the system” as we know it may never be the same. The wonderful thing about markets though is that they tend to evolve new systems when it makes sense. The only people who should be scared are the Wall Street and Washington big shots who feed on this corrupt and obsolete system. But we shouldn’t let them scare the rest of us into rescuing them, because the destruction of this system and its replacement with something better will only be a minor blip in our lives and in the end will benefit us all. We should rejoice that this detrius may be swept away in favor of something better, newer and more equitable. We should be excited, not scared, that the future can be bright if we don’t insist on preserving the vestiges of the past.

Voice from the past: Why is Bush spying on Democrats?

Laura Schneider — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 00:29:59 EDT

http://www.truthout.org/article/thom-hartmann-why-is-bush-spying-democrats

Reclaiming the Issues: "Why Is Bush Spying on Democrats?!?"
By Thom Hartmann
Common Dreams

Monday 10 July 2006

Every time Democrats and progressives speak out about George W. Bush's spying on Americans without mentioning that he may also be spying on Democrats, they're playing into Karl Rove's "National Security Frame" and actually strengthening Republican electoral chances in November.

To short-circuit this, Democrats need to invoke the ghost of Richard Nixon.

In answer to Mel's question

Laura Schneider — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 23:42:48 EDT

Mel's question:

Today's military is all voluntary. While I may not agree with the Iraq war, what do you expect our soldiers to be? There is a HUGE difference. What is it?

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Muslims Believe Hijab Snub Not Obama’s Fault

funkfresh01 — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 18:19:29 EDT

http://www.hbindependent.com/articles/2008/07/16/blogs_and_columns/soulfood/hbi-soulfood071008.tx

Source: Huntington Beach Independent
Author: Michèle Marr

For nearly two years detractors have accused Barack Obama of being a Muslim. Ultra-conservative commentators have referred to him as B. Hussein Obama and deliberately likened his surname to bin Laden’s first name Osama.

He has defended himself while also condemning the prejudice toward Muslims these acts reflect. As a presidential candidate he has stumped relentlessly on unity, equality and justice.

So to hear of him snubbing two Muslim women at a Detroit political rally in June rang dissonant. In case you missed the incident, I’ll explain.

John McCain Surrogate Says Muslims 'Going to Kill Us'

funkfresh01 — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 18:13:30 EDT

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 7/18/2008) â€" The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today called on presidential candidate John McCain to repudiate remarks seemingly made on his behalf by a GOP spokesman during a campaign call in Florida.

On a conference call with journalists arranged by the Republican Party of Florida, Bud Day reportedly said: “The Muslims have said either we kneel or they're going to kill us... I don't intend to kneel and I don't advocate to anybody that we kneel, and John doesn't advocate to anybody that we kneel.”

SEE: McCain Surrogate Makes Controversial Muslim Comment (CNN)
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/07/18/mccain-surrogate-makes-controversial-muslim-comment/

SEE: McCain POW Bud: Muslims 'Going to Kill Us' (Miami Herald)
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2008/07/mccain-pow-bud.html

Town Committee website...

HowieJames — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 12:26:00 EDT

I have completed building the website for the Dracut Democratic Town Committee,and would like everyone in the world to click on it so that it will start coming up in google searches.I am new at sitebuilding but it came out O.k. and the committee seems to like it.Please find the time to check it out,the address is www.dracutdems.com.Thank You Much,Bye...

Racism rears its ugly head on this blog

Laura Schneider — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 11:56:35 EDT

Re: Obama Sacrifice Reply
By highserenity Yesterday at 2:21 pm EDT

oh Harpo, I guess you didn't notice---he is not only a Democrat but he is mixed-race and Michelle whom they really really hate is ALL BLACK.

We had a great race forum on this site
You must have missed it
Many posts and links to very active KKK groups today, in addition to republicans very fearful that Barack will get elected and take their cash cows away from them.

Rush limpballs has been stirring this pot for a long time

it is nothing new ....

Re: Obama Sacrifice Reply
By Barbara"Hussein-Rodham"Johnson aka "fistbump=Unity"
Yesterday at 3:02 pm EDT

Why else would you not be for the best thing since mothers apple pie?

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Both comments were taken from the following inflammatory blog written by LincolnParkDemo (Marie) yesterday:

http://www.democrats.org/page/community/post/UnitedWeStandTogether/CBKd

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Let's discuss the racial component that arose in this blog: