Posts with the tag bias

LAWLESSNESS!!!!

K Ashalata — Wed, 20 May 2009 11:44:15 EDT

STOP THE TRESPASSERS!!!!

This is not the first time that I have forwarded my representation for humanity & support since 2000 on the Net and through other means of communications. But all in vain yet that does not let me give up.

Hopefully, that this petition is forwarded to the concerned authorities and hope for some form of remedy, because I have exhausted all types of defending strategies. To ward off the trespassers I had bought :-

a) Electronic security gadgets but then clearly tampered;

b) Several padlocks and so on;

c) Several police complaints but the corrupt and incompetent lawlessness continues to ignore my genuine grievances;

d) Several representations to both the State level and National level Human Rights Commission but these offices have simply shut my case on the basis of unscrupulous police authorities governed by cheap politics;

e) Several representations to several organisations world over instead I was framed assaulted and put inside a mental asylum in March 2008 by motivated persons;

No doubt that I got an hostile family living separately with their spouses. There are relatives too living in the same city. I got a share in my late mother's property alongwith my father and younger brother who all simply fail to sort out the registration of the same on our names. Instead I am used by their spouses as shield to protect themselves and ignore me. In short, gender bias and gender inequality.

These trespassers certainly include the neighbours alonngwith other motivated characters. l understand that much more complex issues have been resolved but then why not this trespassers torturing my pet and me for nearly two decades. These bunch of perverts can easily be cornered and their demonly acts revealed.

Total absurdity to trespass with an excuse about my pet because my dobermans were tortured to death. Please view the link for the postmortem of my perfect pet Bruny.

http://www.doxtop.com/Browse/bf0cb42b/postmortem-report-of-pet-dobermann.aspx

If these trespassers are really bothered about my pet dogs than there are several strays loitering the indian streets in a worst neglected manner. The real reason is to torture my pet and me. Otherwise there are these others who dislike the trespassers and again my pet is threatened. My concern is the cheap politics at play in my work place the State Bank Of Hyderabad. There is excess of irregularities, misuse of position, frauds, and also racial discrimination in excess. I am concerned about my pet a tiny beautiful pomerian.

http://www.doxtop.com/Browse/2852f51b/petition.aspx

Yet again I am threatened to vacate by the Flat owners even before completing one year stay at the apartment. Generally tenants donot vacate in short span of time. There is clear indication of malafide intention to exploit. Please view the following link "Social Evil":

http://www.doxtop.com/Browse/2f43a86b/social-evil.aspx

Please stop these trespassers from unnecessarily interfering our lives. I am aware that I am under scanner by a bunch of perverts. In which case there is total loss of privacy whether in the bathroom or toilet. Also I am a victim of sexual exploitation by well positioned persons. The method adopted was to sedate and trespass in the night. I had no knowledge of whatever the sexual exploitation was about during 1999 to 2003. Whether photographing nude clips or indulging in psychopathic perverted sex with a sedated woman. Atleast a rape victim or an eloped affair or a runaway bride probably fair complexioned Bangalore women or their daughter have a chance of treating themselves from vaginal infection or without injuring their uterus whether aggravating or exaggerating the fibroids or not. But that was not the case with a sedated woman. The joints too can be easily affected with any rough movement or symptoms of nausea.

As also aware from the postmortem report that certain chemical substances cause symptoms of cancer. In other words that is murder of an otherwise normal person. I am a victim of all the above mentioned details and continue to be threatened. Each time I am careful to secure my residence atleast during the nights, then these professional perverts begin to use their political influence with the Flat Owners to pressurise me to vacate. This is how I have been tortured since 1990-91 to be precise. My father & younger brother have already bought their own houses and they are hostile to sort out and let me have a own house. The main reason why I am compelled to put forth my genuine grievance for HELP. I do not want to be used as a shield.

Brief Details:

1986 : Joined The State Bank Of Hyderabad;

1988: My Mother & Aunt expired on the same day;

1989: My another Aunt also expired. Thereafter a two month old arranged marriage to a Central Bureau Investigator and I was used like a disposable item another form of sexual exploitation.

PLEASE STOP THE TRESPASSERS!!!!

What is bias in the middle east conflict? [March, 2009]

Natalia from Acampo, CA — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 23:57:01 EDT

What is bias in the middle east conflict? [March, 2009]

Arabs’ racist killing (specifically) Jews *, is accepted “freedom fighting’'.

Israelis worried of Arab terror *, branded as “racists”.

War crimes, crimes against humanity by Palestinian Arab leadership - regime in Gaza * * * of using Arab civilians, making sure their kids die, for the “greater good (Jihadi-fascism’s goodness) of making Israel look bad…” * * * * * * *, using hospitals *, schools, UN medical vehicles * *, even aid material sent by humanitarian Israel * for murder, targeting at Israeli civilians, - shoved aside, ignored *.

Israel’s humane army’s extreme measures not to hit civilians (including 250,000 warning phone calls to Arab residents to evacuate a particular area designated to be included in an op., knowing full well terrorists can cease the opportunity and flea, as well as risking young soldiers’ lives in going door to door) * * * * aiming only at Hamas terrorists is denounced of “random shooting” and “war crimes”.

[Arab led pressure forcing Israel to conduct] Uprooting Jews from their homes and their ancestors’, AKA Transfer * * AKA Arab Palestinian Apartheid * is “good for peace”.

Transfer of Arabs (who don’t have more than 2 or 3 generations of history in Judea / Israel / Palestine * * * *) is “apartheid, fascist and racist” * (AKA Avigdor Lieberman).

While Hamas or even “Moderate” Fatah refuses to recognize Israel *, international aid is flowing their way.

UN is “busy” condemning Israel * * on whatever is being told (forced) by the global Arab Muslim oil lobby.

Exposing and Eliminating Corruption

Dr Linda Shelton — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 00:45:29 EST

Truth commissions worked in South Africa to encourage confession, resolve mysteries, increase transparency, resolve conflicts, decrease corruption, reduce bias and discrimination, and allowed the country to get beyond conflict, to forgive, to accept the past, and to move on in a more honest, united and open manner.

Would this not work in the United States. We should begin a pilot project run by US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald in C[r]ook County.

journalist's request

Ann Imse — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:17:18 EST

Hi, all,

I would like to ask your help in a journalistic research project, which I hope will result in an article or book. I expect to have to ask this question of thousands of people in order to find the few who fit the profile I’m seeking.

I’m trying to find people who overcame a personal bias against black people in order to vote for Barack Obama for president. I’m looking for individual stories of how people moved away from bias they grew up with, to the point where the US could elect a black president. This change could have occurred gradually, or quickly for this election.

I'm looking for people willing to talk seriously about their own bias, to canvassers who ran into biased people and talked them past it, to people who voted for Obama and didn't dare tell a racist boss or relative, to anyone else who has a direct story about this change in attitude in America.

So please, if you can help, 1. write back to me with your own stories or just your contact information, but even if you don't fit, 2. pass this request to your list of friends. Ask them to pass it on to their friends.

I'm a journalist with decades in newspapers. I'm a former foreign correspondent who covered the collapse of the Soviet Union, and did not misquote Soviet leader Gorbachev. I promise to record your statements accurately.

Please, help me document this monumental change in our country.

If you can help, please contact me at the e-mail below.

Thank you.

Ann Imse E-mail to: research31@gmail.com

Former (London) Times Editor Harold Evans Smears the US Media in an Article in the UK Guardian

mathpol — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 22:22:33 EST

“Mad about The One. The US media have been captivated by Obama, at the expense of their curiosity and scepticism.”

This is the title of an article by Harold Evans in The Guardian on November 1, 2008. He resorts to the bias he decries in his one-sided column. I have reproduced it below in its entirety, along with my annotations {…} . Phrases that I comment upon are in boldface.

It's fitting that the cynicism "vote early and vote often" is commonly attributed to Chicago's Democratic boss, mayor Richard Daley, who famously voted the graveyards in 1960 to help put John Kennedy in the White House. In this 2008 race, it's the American media that have voted very early and often. They long ago elected the star graduate of Chicago's Democratic machine, Barack Obama. {Obama is a hardly a “graduate“ of the machine. What about Harvard Law, Columbia, etc.?}

I am not talking of editorials in newspapers, though Obama has the preponderance of the endorsements over John McCain. Obama certainly deserves the credit for recruiting impressive advisers and running a more efficient campaign machine than any one in the US's political history.

What's troubling to anyone old-fashioned enough to care about standards in journalism is the news coverage in mainstream media. Forget the old notions of objectivity, fairness, thoroughness, and so on. The nastiest rumours on both sides haven't been published, but the coverage has been slavishly on the side of "the one". {“Slavish”? Evans’s description.}

A bad feeling... (Media propping up McCain)

Eric Thompson — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 17:52:32 EDT

Went to bed last night nodding off to an incredibly boring CNN broadcast of full live coverage of McCain speaking to a rally of supporters. Not just a clip... it went on and on and on (at least 15 minutes of McCain live before I fell asleep)... and I was listening, thinking... this guy is going on and on about helping the middle class with a tax cut and the importance of regulation... how is one of the greatest 'deregulators' of all time allowed to get away with this sudden shift to a laundry-list of OBAMA's proposals? Since when did CNN become "The mcCain News Network"?

Woke up this morning to the BBC - playing the theme from "Rocky" and talking about McCain. In about 30 minute of news I heard about McCain the fighter, the kinder-gentler Sarah Palin (though she's still a tough, "pit-bull"), and an interview with a woman who claimed to have been a Democratic primary supporter of Hillary Clinton... (Woman: "I'm just glad to see another girl on the ticket"... BBC Interviewer: "And if Hillary Clinton had won the nomination, who would you be voting for?"... Woman: "I like Sarah more. She's more like me." ... Me: ... grinding, gut-wrenching sensation... isn't that EXACTLY the sentiment that gave us eight years of "W"? The one "you'd want to go out and have a beer with"... Help!)The last 24-48 hours at least have been all McCain all the time.

Guess what - well, gee, golly shucks - the next 24-48 hours are going to be about McCain's sudden, inexplicable (yeah, right!) 'surgre' in the polls; the "fighter" the new "come-back kid"... what a story - greatest comeback in the polls since the last-minute Carter-Reagan debate (not to mention the debacle in the dessert) allowed the actor a last minute surge to victory (and with it "Mourning in America"). At least that was somewhat driven by "real" events (the debate, a botched hostage rescue). If McCain 'surges' why will it be? Purely MEDIA driven ("left-wing liberal media..." give me a break!!).

As soon as American's attention to REAL issues (the Economy, stupid) started to seriously sink McCain, the media seems to have gone into overdrive in a desparate attempt to keep the horse-race going... Their (media's) self-interest in the horse-race (and advertising dollars in brings) may yet propel McCain (and heaven forbid... Palin) into the Presidency!For the first time in a long time, I'm getting a bad feeling. I hope Obama's ability to BUY time on TV in the US can short-cut this danger. I'm not seeing that overseas. On the news it's All McCain, All the Time.

The News

Greg Oliver Sr — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 16:08:19 EDT

Has the news media and media in general become a moving force in American and World social opinion?

Did the McCain campaign back-channel the race card through Ron Fournier?

Mary MacElveen — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 14:26:33 EDT

After the worst week on Wall Street in U.S. history where the ripples are being felt clear across America and will continue to be felt for years to come, the tax payers will be bailing out incompetent and greedy executives on Wall Street. This shockwave felt by all of us has caused John McCain’s poll numbers to take a dive similar to the way the stock market. One because he has always been against regulation and now says he is for it. Also his economic advisor Phil Gramm wrote most of the laws that got us into this mess in the first place.

I do suspect panic is setting in within the McCain campaign where they must be thinking of how they can hit back. I would not put anything past them to fool the American people and to play on their hate and their fear. How dare they!

So, I find it suspicious to read this article today where Ron Fournier wrote the following piece, Poll: Racial views steer some white Dems away from Obama and the first reason why I find it suspicious is that this poll was taken between “Aug. 27 to Sept. 5.” If they took this poll back then: Why not release the results after it was taken? Why wait until now? The article also reports that only “2,227” adults were surveyed. Now how many registered Democrats are there within this nation? According to this article registered Democrats outnumber Republicans, yet they only polled 2,227 people? I am a Democrat, yet no one called me or asked me to take any poll like this. Another reason why I do find this article highly suspicious and where I do suspect this may be coming from the McCain campaign itself is this fact as reported by Politico.com concerning the cozy relationship between Fournier and the McCain campaign. In this article, you will clearly read, “Before Ron Fournier returned to The Associated Press in March 2007, the veteran political reporter had another professional suitor: John McCain’s presidential campaign.”

Now read this damming passage, "In October 2006, the McCain team approached Fournier about joining the fledgling operation, according to a source with knowledge of the talks. In the months that followed, said a source, Fournier spoke about the job possibility with members of McCain’s inner circle, including political aides Mark Salter, John Weaver and Rick Davis." So, how can we as Americans trust a journalist with close ties to the McCain campaign itself and where they sought him out? We cannot and you should not!

I do believe that the McCain campaign is counting on American’s fears, hate and ignorance when they showed absolutely no leadership ability this past week.

This is where Fournier’s column concerning race must be thoroughly dismissed when one reads where he “was considered for “a senior advisory role” in communications.” If elected, would Fournier become McCain’s press secretary? I think that is a fair question to ask. His article concerning race should not be deemed as objective, but highly subjective and thoroughly dismissed by all Americans.

You will also read, “Fournier has taken lumps in the left-leaning blogosphere in recent weeks, following the disclosure of a friendly e-mail exchange with Karl Rove from 2004.” Gee a friendly relationship between Fournier and Rove? What a coincidence. Is race the ultimate in Swift-boating? Do not put anything past Rove since he has a friendly relationship with Fournier.

As a journalist I have shown my own bias, but I do not have any connections nor was I ever approached by the Obama campaign or the Democratic National Committee. I am clearly expressing my own thoughts. Like millions of Americans clear across this country, I too am frightened of our economic future.

So, if Fournier and perhaps the McCain campaign are going to play the race card, I will play the age card. This past week John McCain became confused when it came to a question dealing with Spain’s prime minister as evident when Keith Olbermann discussed this confusion.

In listening to that feed, he clearly seems confused and can we really have confused leader in these dangerous times? Absolutely not!

In a past article written by me, titled McCain hold’s America hostage and Ed Koch endorses Barack Obama, I wrote this of McCain as it pertains to Osama bin Laden again using a presentation by Keith Olbermann, “With that said, in Keith Olbermann’s wonderful on-air commentary, he quoted Senator John McCain concerning Osama bin Laden, “Look,” he said. “I know the area, I’ve been there, I know wars, I know how to win wars, and I know how to improve our capabilities so that we will capture Osama bin Laden — or put it this way, bring him to justice. We will do it. I know how to do it.”

While Olbermann expressed his opinion that McCain was aiding and abetting bin Laden by not going to the proper authorities with this information on how to capture bin Laden. Me, I have another take.

It is called delusions of grandeur which is a psychological condition. McCain is the ONLY one who knows how to capture bin Laden? One definition concerning this condition is, “that you are much greater and more powerful and influential than you really are” and another, “delusion, megalomania, psychotic belief” Does John McCain think he is more powerful than anyone else? Is he truly a megalomaniac by expressing that he alone is the only one who can capture Osama bin Laden? If that is the case, we as Americans truly have a person to fear and his name is John McCain.

Mr. Fournier, America has no time for cheap political ploys such as the article you wrote when Americans are trembling at this moment in time worrying about their financial futures. To Senator McCain and anyone within your campaign if this is a back-channel article to play on America’s emotions, you, Sir, do not belong in the highest elected office in the land. We Americans have far more important issues to deal with. Plus we are sick and tired of being feared.

While Senator Obama came off as presidential yesterday as it was announced we the people would be bailing out these incompetent and greedy executives, it was Senator McCain who was acting like a crotchety old man sniping away at Barack Obama.

You may contact the author at xmjmac@optonline.net

NPR's biased reporting

Harry — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 11:41:30 EDT

This posting is about an NPR story that aired on Wednesday, the 17th of September, 2008. The two segments focused on the presidential candidates solutions to the Wall Street crisis. It was ridiculous to see the kind of coverage that was being provided by NPR, a supposedly liberal station, and how unfair it was to Sen. Obama.

The first segment was on Sen. Obama's approach (by Scott Horsley, excuse the spelling). The second segment following this was about Sen. McCain's approach (by David Green). These two segments were supposed to be about how the candidates are handling the economic crisis plaguing Wall Street.

The biases of CNN against Obama and subtle support for McCain

Thelma from Denver, CO — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 01:19:05 EDT

Unfortunately, because I am so interested in the Presidential election this year, but do not know any other media (I am not saying that they do not exist, I may not be "savy" enough to know how to get them) I am stuck with watching CNN. Campbell Brown (bless her. I love her now-a-days) in Election Center says "no bull" and Anderson Cooper in A360 says "we tell it like it is and leave you viewers to decide" but I believe overall that CNN has been very subtle in showing bais against Obama while supporting McCain.

By way of protesting and saying "enough is enough" and that we the viewers (or at least some of us) see right through the subtly. I know that CNN might accuse the Obama Campaign that this is an attempt to smear their effort. However, I would like to say that I am only using this Blog because I did not have the money to subscribe to my own domain name. For that matter, if I had my own domain name, it would have been www.thesubtlebiasesofcnnagainstobama.com (to be read as "the subtle biases of cnn against obama").

So here is how this would work. If you watch CNN on TV or read any bias report on Obama, I would want you to come to this Post and make a report on it in the following format. State the DATE of the report, the NAME of the anchor or reporter, the SOURCE of the bias (the TV program or online link) and the BIASED information.

To be fair to CNN, you are welcome to report any balanced report that you like too even though this Post is designed to expose the biases of CNN against Obama. As a check, you are welcome to refer to the transcripts posted by CNN or the online link of the biased report as a way to verify the report.

For the remaining 50 days of this election, you are encouraged to use the above domain name and invite me to make contributions to it. I am an Obama supporter for the following two reasons:

(1) McCain exercised poor judgment in supporting Bush to go to Iraq and violate a Nations sovereignty, thus depleting the effectiveness of the Afghanistan War.

(2) The Bush Administration has messed up this country in the last 8 years and the Republicans as McSame should not be rewarded even now as it is clear that Bush is wearing a camouflage with McCain's face as a mask.

I will now start by adding the biases that happened today on CNN TV

==============================================================================================

DATE: September 15, 2008

SOURCE: AC360

CANDY CROWLEY:

Anderson asked Candy if she thinks that both McCain and Obama are even with the level of lies that they have tolde (stretching the truth). I would say that Crowley who is supposed to report the truth as a reporter said that she was "not going to be the one to tell you whether it's equal or not". Fair enough. But her bias was revealed when she rather than at best remain neutral as she had purported to do, gave three examples of where she thinks Obama had strecthed the truth without, in the spirit of fairness, mentioning one single thing that McCain had strecthed. Luckily, thank God that Mr. Halperin was asked the same question and he was willing to tell the truth that we alll know.

Oh, by the way Crowley, as to your claim that Obama stretched the truth in misrepresenting McCain's "joke" that one has to have $5 million to qualify as being rich", was it Obama's fault that McCain quoted $5 million? Do you think that McCain actually had a lower figure in mind? You may claim that McCain was being politically savy by "making a joke out of a serious question that meant a lot to all middle-class Americans". But then, we the voters, who want an answer from McCain have no other choice but interpret McCain's answer in the same way that Obama did. Or Crowley, do you think we do not deserve an answer from McCain?

Arabism's Racism and Wikipedia bias

Loma from Warner Robins, GA — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 10:06:12 EDT

The wiki Pan - Arabism page

A Jordanian Arab 'Contrieng' (that some how has no idea about history, that 1800's & 1900's attack on Jews by Arabism' nationalism' is long before any lame excuses connecting it to the M.E. conflict, or other gross misinformation trying to alter PEW's polling that shows anti Jewish racism among Jordanian Arabs, where 100% viewed ANY Jews unfavorably trying to charactorize it as 'anti-zionist-occupation') & a Kurd 'KhoiKhoi' (who should know better after Saddam's Arabist anti-Kurd genocide campaign or in light of Syrian anti-Kurdish policy) have been "objecting" the "relativity" of Arab racism in wikipedia's 'Pan-Arabism'.

The Arab Contrieng's "objection" is mainly against Atabism's anti-Jewish section, which is of course only reaffirming again Arab racism by staunch Pro-Arabism.

(There's also a bias tendency on some at the wikipedia "administrators" to block certain users under a cover of baseless "charge" of sockpuppet-ing, no, not when it comes to anti Jewish racist editors...).

Well, here we reiterate it again, I am the editor and I distribute it to others [free to use it] who might use wikipedia [figthing unfairness & bias].

Well, here are a few points about the undisputable connection.

Another important point, the POV push by some on wikipedia that Arabism is 'only' secular is totally wrong, historically or present, though not always is it 'religious' either, but there have been Islamism & Arabism connection since the beginning, and still going on today.

_______________

Pan-Arabism's anti-Jewish ideology

The champion of pan-Arabism Egypt's Gamal Abdel Nasser used the infamous anti-Semitic "protocols" libel in his war against Israel. [29], Both pan-Arabism and pan-Islamic ideologies looked to Hitler's Germany as a model Haj Amin al-Husseini expressed his admiration for the way 'the Germans have definitively solved the Jewish problem,' [30] & Gamal Abdel Nasser's affinity for the Mufti was great [31], Joachim Wurst describes the emergence and psychological mechanisms of modern anti-Semitism and particularly of genocidal Islamist anti-Semitism. He traces the development of this trend from the Muslim Brotherhood and the Mufti of Jerusalem in the 1930s and 1940s through the pan-Arabism of the 1950s and 1960s up to the present-day Islamism. [32].

1800's & 1920's.

The origin of anti-Jewish feelings among Arabs do not originate from what they preceive as 'the occupation of Palestine' and the creation of Israel. Even before the creation of the Israeli state in 1948 on what was before Palestine, a largely uninhabited terrain, many Jews were recorded attacked in various settlements by Arabs since the late 1800's [33].

_________

The WIKI Script can be copied from here: http://geocities.com/masteringwiki/Wiki-Arabism.html

Pan-Arabism and Arabization - a movement for unification among the peoples and countries of the Arab World, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Arabian Sea. It is closely connected to Arab nationalism which asserts that the Arabs constitute a single nation. At times Pan-Arabism has tended to be secular and often socialist, but often it embeds within it Islamic tradition and culture or Islamism (like the genocide in Darfur). and has strongly opposed colonialism and Western political involvement in the Arab world. Also historic Arabizing of the middle east [1] and in Africa that process is still going on today [2]. Pan-Arabism is a form of nationalism and cultural nationalism .

There's a strong argument that Arabism was never detached from Islamism, To this day, Islam has retained its imperial ambitions. The dream of regional and world domination has remained very much alive, despite the destruction long ago of the last great Muslim empire, which has left the Islamic caliphate vacant. The 20th century doctrine of pan-Arabism (exemplified by Egypt's Gamal Abdel Nasser), though secular in appearance, has been effectively Islamic in its ethos, worldview, and imperialist vision. Karsh quotes Nuri Said, longtime prime minister of Iraq and a prominent early champion of pan-Arabism: "Although Arabs are naturally attached to their native land, their nationalism is not confined by boundaries. It is an aspiration to restore the great tolerant civilization of the early caliphate." [3].

Contents

1 Racism

[edit]Racism[edit]In General

'Arabism Equals Racism', in an elaborated article, Gerald A. Honigman writes on the "acceptance of anyone else�s political rights in a multi-ethnic region that most Arabs see exclusively as "purely Arab patrimony." That's the Arab-Israel conflict in a nutshell; but it is also the core of the Arab-Berber, Arab-Kurd, Arab-Black African, Arab-Copt, Arab-Assyrian, Arab-non-Arab Lebanese conflicts, as well, among others. The Arabs' Anfal Campaign against the Kurds and their actions in Darfur and the rest of the southern Sudan are just a few of many examples of Arab genocidal actions against all who might disagree." [4].

Walid Phares writes about Arabism's denial of identity of millions of indigenous non-Arab nations as an ethnic cleansing on a politico-cultural level [5].

Christians of Iraq site published an extensive historic account on "The Foolishness of imposing Oppressive Arab Nationalism on Non Arabs, Non-Arab Muslim minorities such as the Amazigh, or Berbers, Kurds, and Turkmen found themselves officially out of favor. They faced the prospect of becoming "Arabized" or of being denied political and even civil rights. Groups that identified themselves as neither Arab nor Muslim had it even worse: Southern Sudanese, Copts, Jews, and Assyrians were plunged into a protracted nightmare that saw their communities ground into anonymity, forcing many to emigrate permanently. Even Maronites, whose retention of political power in Lebanon immunized them from utter marginalization, watched with alarm as Arab nationalist propaganda increasingly portrayed them as a foreign and sinister element in the heart of the Arab nation." [6]

Adel Makhoul wrote in May 1, 2005 about Pan-Arabists: Hiding Arab Racism, that they're agents of racism: Arab Racism, that always supported Arab unity and "Islam" at the expense of non-Arab and non-Moslem peoples and tries to deflect the world's attention from Arab and Moslem attrocities committed against Christians, Kurds, Jews, Israelis, Coptic Christians, non-Arab Sudanese, etc. he also points to the fact that Sadam Hussein's poisoning of the Kurds has never been condemned by one Arab intellectual or leader. This is because a racist prevalent attitude in the Arab mind is that the entire Middle East should be Arab. This also explains the attitude towards Israel, a country that is predominantly non-Moslem and speaks a Middle Eastern language other than Arabic.[7] Michael Totten decries the tired Arab nationalist myth that Arabism protects Christians. [8]

The linkage to terror - Protecting terrorism, Pan-Arabism: the inhuman progenitor of Islamic Terrorism [9].

[edit]Anti-Persian

A historic account of Pan-Arabism's Legacy of Confrontation with Iran & Arab racism against Iranians. [10], Iran Heritage says that It was in Saddam Hussein's Iraq where Arab racism attained its most vulgar ... The "Arabization" of Persian contributions on the world stage was in full. [11]

[edit]Anti-Kurd

The Kurds in Syria between 2 to 2.5 million [12] they're second class citizens, for many not citizens at all, the attempts of Erasing Ethnic Identity. Syrian Kurds were banned from giving their children names reflecting their ethnic identity. Pary Karadaghi, Director of Kurdish Human Rights Watch in Washington, says one of the most basic ways of showing Kurdish identity was taken away. "The campaign of 'Arabization' actually replaced the Kurdish names, People could not have Kurdish names on cities, buildings [and] businesses. Children's names could not be Kurdish." Syria's Kurds struggle for years to survive despite government oppression on many fronts. [13] And a cry against syria's oppression has gone out. [14]

Iraq's Saddam Hussein's Anfal campaign was designed to depopulate ethnic cleansing the Kurdish regions in northern Iraq. [15], Kurdish writers decry the massacre of Halabja and The Racism of so-called Arab Intellectuals towards Kurds and Kurdistan [16] [17].

[edit]Anti-Berber

The UN documented the racism against Indigenous peoples Multi-ethnic States, The Imazighen Berbers are the indigenous peoples of northern Africa and the Sahel [18]. Despite Arabization's oppression in north-Africa, they are a proud people[19], Morocco's Berbers Battle to Keep Their Culture [20], in 2004 they spoke out and attacked Moroccan state racism [21]. Berber Leader Belkacem Lounes: �There Is No Worse Colonialism Than That of the Pan-Arabist Clan that Wants to Dominate Our People� [22].

Kabylia info writes about oppression and tyranny of its people by Arabic-Islamic colonialism [23], the IHT's description: This is Kabylia, one of Algeria's most restive regions - home to a stubborn and proud ethnic minority of Berbers who since the end of the colonial era four decades ago have fought to preserve their cultural identity and independence. [24]

[edit]On Caucasians

SHEIK Taj Din al-Hilali: "The Western people are the biggest liars and oppressors and especially the English race," the Mufti of Australia said in Arabic during the extensive interview in Egypt, his birthplace. [25]

On the racist gang rape spree by Arab Lebanese in Australia targeting specifically white girls, From the Sydney Morning Herald 2002 Racist rapes: Finally the truth comes out, So now we know the facts, straight from the Supreme Court, that a group of Lebanese Muslim gang rapists from south-western Sydney hunted their victims on the basis of their ethnicity and subjected them to hours of degrading, dehumanising torture. The young women, and girls as young as 14, were "sluts" and "Aussie pigs", the rapists said. So now that some of the perpetrators are in jail, will those people who cried racism and media "sensationalism" hang their heads in shame? Hardly. [26]

Saudi Arabia's King Fahd Bin Abdul-Aziz, Jeddeh 1993: "I summon my blue-eyed slaves anytime it pleases me. I command the Americans to send me their bravest soldiers to die for me. Anytime I clap my hands a stupid genie called the American ambassador appears to do my bidding. When the Americans die in my service their bodies are frozen in metal boxes by the US Embassy and American airplanes carry them away, as if they never existed. Truly, America is my favorite slave." [27]

In 2006 Arab "Youths� Kick Man to Death on Crowded Bus in Antwerp Belgium [28].

[edit]Anti-Jewish[edit]In General

Pan-Arabism's anti-Jewish ideology

1800's & 1920's.

'Historical and Investigative Research' examins if Arab anti-Jewish racism in the first half of the 20th c. (that was marked already then with slaughtering of Jews with the racist shouting of Itbach al Yahud - kill the Jews) was fundamentally indifferent from the European variety [34]. On March 1, 1944. the famous Mufti: Amin Al-Husseini makes speech from Berlin addressing Muslim SS Nazi troops: �Kill the Jews wherever you find them. This pleases God, History and Religion. This saves your honor. God is with you.� [35].

On Syria's Baathism's racism [36] Major ideas of Baathism center around racism and anti-Semitism. The Baath party stems from the Pan-Arab movement [37], examples: Syrian Daily Al Baath, October 21, 1998 had an antisemitic cartoon, and on October 21, 1998 on Syrian TV: In these days, all of us, Arabs and Muslims, must stand together against the Jews [38].

Egypt has played gross anti-Jewish TV extravaganza "Horse without Horseman" which also portrays the Arab/Israeli conflict in an antisemitic anti-Jewish format [39]. so does anti-Jewish themes in Hezbollah Media. [40] Memri So does the ADL [41], Saudi Arabia bans Jewish visitors [42]. Pew's finding in 2005 found that in Muslim nations such as Jordan most viewed Jews. [43].

But it knows no borders, of the ADL's records that documents antisemitic attacks wordlwide [44], the larger portion of those listed since 2002 (to 2008) were attributed to Arabs, especially those in Europe, in a sport game in Chile, Non-Jewish Goldberg (mistaken for Jew) made headlines after fans of Palestino, a Chilean team set up by Palestinian Arabs hurled racial slurs, 'They called me J. garbage' [45].

In 2007 the London editor of pan-Arab daily was praying for Iranian nuclear genocide attack on Israel [46] "if the Iranian missiles strike Israel, by Allah, I will go to Trafalgar Square and dance with delight." circulating its propaganda to about 50,000 readers [47].

Europe: A few examples in France: Already in October 2000 among a very long and troubling list of attacks, Jews threatened and shoved by Arabs outside O.Y. Synagogue in Paris (first of two incidents) & 'Death to Jews' painted on two Synagogues in Marseilles [48], between 2000-2001 200 Arabs attacked Jews on the Champs Elysees [49], in March 2003 French Arab Muslims attack Jews in Paris in an "anti-war" march [50], in 2003 Jewish congregations in Sweden have noted a sharp increase in "harassment threats and attacks by Arabs and Muslims against Jews [51], in 2004 Six Arab youths attacked a twenty three year old young mother with her thirteen month old baby [52] after "deciding" she was Jewish, cut her hair with knives, slashed her clothes and scrawled swastikas on her belly in black felt-tip pen [53],in March 2006 Jews attacked in Paris suburbs by Arabs [54] in June 2008 Jewish Boy Attacked by Arab Muslim Mob in Paris [55], A 17-year-old French Jew Rudy Haddad attacked by North-Africans (Arabs) Jewish teen brutally beaten in apparent anti-Semitic attack in Paris, "[Sarkozy] assures the victim and his family of his support and renews his total determination to fight all forms of racism and anti-Semitism," said a statement from Sarkozy's office. A 23-year-old French Jew, Ilan Halimi, was found naked, tortured and covered in burns near Paris on February 13, 2006, after being held captive for three weeks. He died on the way to the hospital. The crime shocked France and raised fears of surging anti-Semitism among French Muslims. In February of this year, another Jewish teenager was tortured in the same town in which Halimi was killed, in yet another anti-Semitic attack. [56].

At the UN, The Arab Lawyers Union of Egypt in Durban in 2001, distributed a booklet of violently Ani Jewish cartoons and has, since then, continued its incitement to Jew-hatred [57].

Jeremy Jones wrote in a report in 2004 on Australia that some of the most overt anti-Jewish rhetoric in recent years has come from the Muslim and Arab groups & communities, and within the Arab and Muslim communities there is a group of activists who seek at every opportunity to denigrate Jews, not only in association with attacks on Israel[1].

On campus: The university of Columbia's investigation into charges of anti-Jewish intimidation by Arab professors [58].

Harassment on Jewish students in Canadian universities by Arabs like in Carleton [59], Concordia University [60] which has been described by some as "centre of militant Arabism in Canada" [61]. [62] there were charges (in 2002) of militant Arabism in Canada's Concordia University.

More on campus, On May 7 2002, an example has been seen at the SFSU while a large, angry crowd of Arab Palestinians and their supporters swarmed a Jewish peace rally (where students wore t-shirts that said "peace" in English, Hebrew and Arabic) members, used physical violence, and shouted "Get out or we will kill you" and "Hitler did not finish the job" [63] [64] [65].

There are complaints against the Muslim Students Association MSA of racism against Jews coming from its Arabs, Muslims, in 2008 Author David Horowitz, a popular conservative writer, was derided in a Nazi-like anti-Semitic cartoon, put out by the Muslim Student Association. The cartoon, which was copied and spread around campus, portrays Horowitz, a Jewish man, as a hooked-nose Nazi hiding in a trash can [66].

[edit]Roots and cause of Middle east conflict

Pundits explain that the conflict in the middle east Arabs Vs Israel (that started with racist massacers on Jews accompanied with the slogan "Itbach al Yahud - Kill the Jews" [67] already in the 1920's [68], through Hitler's buddy [69] the Mufti Mohammad Amin al-Husayni is just another Arab Muslim intolerance, the plight of Israel - being a minority in a majority hostile middle east. [70] [71] [72] And even progressive, left wingers in Israel realize that Arab racism must go, and that "There will be no peace around here before Arabs view Jews as human beings." [73], or as others have phrased it: Racism and Middle East Politics, As long as middle-eastern Arabs teach their children to hate Jews, there will be no lasting peace [74]. 'Facts and Logic About the Middle East' asks: Racism in the Islamic World How can peace prevail in the Middle East in the face of Islamic bigotry and hate? When will moderate Muslims speak out? [75], and the phenomenon of the new anti-Semitism which demonizes Jews and Israel alike, has fused itself with the "old" European anti Jewish bigotry [76]. Saddam Hussein's "Three Whom God Should Not Have Created: Persians, Jews, and Flies" [77] who also led a racist [78] genocide campaign [79] against the Kurds, coincides with that in moments before his death, he shouted: 'Palestine is Arab', meaning only Arab. [80], as part of a culture of hatred, the racism that denies historic roots of the Jews to Israel [81].

The first recorded Arab attack on Jews in Palestine was already back in 1886 in Petach Tikva [82][83] [84] [85].

Regarding the racist expulsion of 850,000 to 900,000 Jews from Arab countries [86] [87] the ethnic cleansing of the Jews [88], the UN Watch Mar 19, 2008 has raised the importance of Historic truth in: Testimony at the UN - "Racism and Historical Truth: Jewish Refugees from Arab Lands" [89].

On anti-Jewish racism's effect on clarity of the middle east, Interfaith Office Acknowledges (May 2008) Anti-Jewish Motifs and Stereotypes in Commentary About Arab-Israeli Conflict [90], concern about Carter's pro-Arabism and veteran historian of Islam and the Middle East [91] & Bernard Lewis is concerned that the �Arab strain of racism, untruths and hatred against Jews and Israel is not only more virulent than its European counterpart, but is not counterbalanced by true scholarship or competing reason.� As a result, he believes, attitudes and beliefs �long discredited in the modernity of western countries take root with gullible, impressionable Middle Eastern audiences from a pre-modern culture.� [92].

There's extensive research on 'Palestinian Anti-Semitism' [93], In its official media, the PA daily described: The Fable of the Holocaust [94], the JCPA elaborates About Anti-Semitism among Palestinian Authority Academics and how The Palestinian Authority's academic anti-Semitism has built an extensive case against Jewish existence [95] This Palestinian racism is particularly dangerous because this hatred of Jews is portrayed as the will of Allah. [96] The Arab-Palestinian racism of killing only Jews In Israel, for the sole reason of being Jewish. they target every Jew, regardless of his or her individual political views, and they apologize when they accidentally kill a non-Jew, regardless of his political view. [97]

Rachel Neuwirth Wrote "Judenrein Palestine?" about Arabs forcing Israel to remove Jews from their historic Judea and asks: Why can�t Jews live in their historic homeland if there really is peace? After all, there are 1.2 million Arabs living as citizens of Israel in the one Jewish country in the world, while there are only a handful of Jews living in any of the 22 Arab countries. In fact, in Jordan and Saudi Arabia, not only is it illegal for Jews to be citizens, they are not even allowed to live there. Therefore, she proves, instead of Israel being the "apartheid state" in the region, it is the Arab world that is not only apartheid, but also racist and religiously exclusive" [98].

[edit]Anti-African

Arab Racism against Black Africans [99] [100], Darfur is but one example of Arab racism toward non-Arabs within the broader Arab world [101]. In the New York Times June 5, 1988 about Libya's leader: Qaddafi is bringing a truly racist crusade against Chad and Africa, Chad's President, Hissen Habre, told [102]. blacks who live in Arab countries subject to racism, most Arabs refer to blacks as "Abed" which means "slave" in Arabic. [103]. Umarlee details it: �Ugly Black Women�, Perfect Arab Wives, and Matters of Race, Arab racism is not akin to American white racism. Let it be said that Arab racism is different from white (American) racism [104]. In an article in The Guardian 2008, titled 'A paler shade of black' a former Sudanese Arab described his growing up (by his family) as "superior" to blacks, that were referred to as "abd" (slave), yet when he moved to Saudi Arabia he found out that his Arabness didn't measure up, he wasn't Arab enough in Saudi Arabia's racist society. [105] Some charge the Arab attitude on Darfur, 'to the True Nature of the Twin Fascisms of Islamism and Pan-Arabism' [106].

Eritreans in Egypt suffer from racism [107], in 2008 alone at least 20 Darfurian refugees (who tried to break free from Egypt's oppression into democratic Israel) have already died at the hands of Egyptian forces [108].

Palestinian-Arab Racism: Secretary of State Rice has been the subject of some vicious racial attacks [109] including an anti-black Racist Rice Cartoon in Palestinian Authority's controlled Press Al Quds 'Black spinster' label pinned on Condi Rice Palestinian media use racist terms including 'colored dark skin lady'[110] Condemned by Black Activists [111].

[edit]Genocide in Sudan

The Christian Science Monitor 2004 affirms that Racism is at root of Sudan's Darfur crisis [112], a writer at RaceandHistory.com calls it 'Arab Racism And Imperialism In Sudan' [113], Darfur crisis linked to Arab racism, Slavery [114]. and this genocide has been described as an example of Arab racism at its worst [115]. Sudanese decry the "Apology of racism", that some Sudanese people of Arabic origin consider themselves superior than the indigenous Sudanese [116]. Der Spiegel writes about the Janjaweed: Sudan's War within a War - regime that uses tribal conflicts and Arab racism [117]. Pundits of Sudan write about "Arab racism, Islamic bigotry and discriminatory practices are the most divisive issues in the Sudan" and its terrible effect, crimes on non-Arab Sudanese [118].

Race, Age, and Gender in the Election

Kevin Simpson — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 14:51:53 EDT

I found the following commentary by Roland Martin, Political Analyst and CNN Radio Talk Show Host and regular CNN Contributor, regarding the race, age, and gender issues in the current Presidential election. Please read this. It will help you close the gap with your friends and colleagues that may be suffering from these unfortunate biases. Don't let them try and fool you with their nonsense rhetoric when trying to explain why they prefer John McCain over Barack. Call them out!

Are Polls Biased in Favor of GOP?

C Dornfeld — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 22:09:41 EDT

According to a very interesting and well researched article by Seth Colter Walls the short answer is YES. Polling does not sample recently registered voters and typically the reach out to equal numbers of democrats and republicans causing data to be skewed because there are about eleven million more registered democrats in the United States.

Oh my god, my sandwhich is liberally biased!

Tp, — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 21:23:08 EDT

I think we can all agree most if not all media has a bias. I hear this Republican chant "All media is liberal." I watch a mix of CNN and FOX. When I watch CNN I typically get bored, and flip through to something else, but when I watch FOX I get fired up. After watching FOX news for a good hour it makes everything seem liberal. I thought for a moment my grilled cheese sandwhich was liberally biased.

Out of sheer bordeom I spent a good 30 minutes googling where Fox coined the term Fair & Balanced. Where they get Fair & Balanced from is beyond my intellectual capability. Like most media I am sure that they ad lib their news reports. What I think they do is they gather some facts, and then search some synonyms for the word experience, insert opinions, and spin it to all hell. BAM, just like Emeril in the kitchen, they have their story.

They have their "All-Star" panel. Which I am confused to how that is fair and balanced. Dick Morris? Mr. double standard himself. It was ok to lay the smackdown on Hillary back in the primaries, and take it like a man, but it's not ok for Palin? Bill Kristol. Well, almost anyone who has watched FOX would know if Senator Obama obtained World Peace, Cured Cancer, Stopped Aids, and ridded the world of poverty, he would pop on his smerk smile and ridicule him for something.

I try not to be so negative, but somethings are just irritating. They never give him props for anything. they try and nail him for voting against the troop surge. I am glad he did not vote for it. We the people were lead into a war, and lied to non-stop for years about it. So, when W steps up to the podium and says in his suttle southern accent "We need more troops." Why the hell would you take his word, and/or judgement seriously? His has misguided us for 8 years. Obama made a great choice based off of what was happening in Iraq, and what needed to happen. What would have happened if he voted yes on the troop surge? Fox News would have called him a flip flop. They would've have burned it into the heads of everyone who flips through and lands on their network.

tom-speed

There is no excuse for ignorance

Colorado "Hussein" Mamma for Obama — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 23:55:59 EDT

Nor for being biased about a candidate because of gender, race, creed, religion, etc.

I don't feel that we as Americans should be voting for the president because of their race or their gender. We should base our decisions on the policies - international and domestic - that will improve our lives. If you base your vote on one of the above issues, you obviously haven't gotten to know each candidate. I'm tired of hearing that "no one knows Barack." Until three days ago, no one knew Sarah Palin either. But once her name was out, many people were quick to "Google" her and do their own research.

That should be even more true for the POTUS.

If you don't know either of the candidates, then read their books and go to their websites where they tell us all what they plan to do if they become president.

Fallopian tubes neither qualify nor disqualify any one for something as serious as President or Vice President. Its what their values, goals, and ideals are-- and which candidate is most in alignment with your core values, goals and ideals.

With the internet, one can no longer use ignorance as a defense.

Carvillle, please be quiet if you honestly support Obama!

Aaron — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 23:53:22 EDT

If you honestly do support Obama over McCain, please Carville, stop talking! Your residual bias against him, left over from a hard loss for your choice, Hillary Clinton, is impeding your ability to help the man you claim to hope will be elected!

Carville, you are so infuriating! And, CNN, you should be ashamed. There are 2 reasons Karl Rove should not be working for Fox News as a "political analyst." One is irrelevant, that he is a criminal who should be prosecuted for crimes committed by him. The other is that if he can be working for Fox News, it should be as a "Republican strategist"! Introduce him with his bias! Similarly, Carville should not be simply labeled a "Democratic Strategist", he should be introduced as a Hillary Clinton supporter for the presidency. Everything he says is biased against his former opponent, Barack Obama. Meanwhile, he sits there obligated to give his honest, biased opinion to the nation for CNN, and he is hurting the Democratic Party which he claims to represent! If he would come out and declare himself to be a McCain supporter, then fine, but still introduce him as a former supporter of Hillary's. But, if he claims to be a supporter of Obama's, how can he actually sit there, and help John McCain by bashing the Convention in Denver before it even really began?

AP or FOX News?

Phillip Schloss — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 17:56:21 EDT

I'm deeply troubled by the tendency of the mass media to editorialize the news. While Republicans have consistently criticized the news media as leftist, I am finding that the opposite is true. Unfortunately, we've grown accustomed to this sort of bias from a Fox News; we expect better from the AP.Witness the title of an AP article on Saturday, August 23: "Biden pick shows lack of confidence." This should be an op-ed piece rather than an AP article. In fact, I could argue that the opposite is true. By choosing a strong vice-president, one who speaks his mind and has disagreed with the candidate on a number of issues, Obama shows confidence in his ability to work with somebody who is not just a "yes-man." Biden, having been Chairman of the Foreign Relation committee, is precisely the sort of resource that will make an Obama Administration powerful and effective. Certainly Senator Biden is qualified to lead the United States in an emergency. And finally, to change the status quo in terms of ethics and external influence in Washington, one must work from within the system.

Russia Never Wanted a War

Chinni — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:04:13 EDT

Russia Never Wanted a War

By MIKHAIL GORBACHEV - August 19, 2008

..Tskhinvali was in smoking ruins and thousands of people were fleeing — before any Russian troops arrived. Yet Russia was already being accused of aggression; news reports were often an embarrassing recitation of the Georgian leader’s deceptive statements.
It is still not quite clear whether the West was aware of Mr. Saakashvili’s plans to invade South Ossetia, and this is a serious matter. What is clear is that Western assistance in training Georgian troops and shipping large supplies of arms had been pushing the region toward war rather than peace..
..Those who rush to judgment on what’s happening in the Caucasus, or those who seek influence there, should first have at least some idea of this region’s complexities. The Ossetians live both in Georgia and in Russia. The region is a patchwork of ethnic groups living in close proximity. Therefore, all talk of “this is our land,” “we are liberating our land,” is meaningless. We must think about the people who live on the land.
The problems of the Caucasus region cannot be solved by force. That has been tried more than once in the past two decades, and it has always boomeranged.What is needed is a legally binding agreement not to use force. Mr. Saakashvili has repeatedly refused to sign such an agreement, for reasons that have now become abundantly clear..

President Barack Obama - What will you do about reducing recidivism and corruption in government in the United States, specifically, Illinois and Sheridan Correctional Center?

Fred from South Holland, IL — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 00:17:24 EDT

My God’s Word says “…Touch not the head of my anointed…” All those who have persecuted me and others, my God will persecute and destroy them. In the words of a Gospel singer, “How great is my God, sing with me; How great is my God, and all will see; How great, How great is our God.”

Update: January 5, 2009

Illinois Governor Blagojevich: Did he sell the contract at Sheridan Correctional Center to the highest bidder?

How much of this money did Governor Blagojevich and his corrupt regime pocket? Did WestCare Foundation, Inc. pay Governor Blagojevich and his corrupt regime for this contract at Sheridan Correctional Center? Is the Federal Government investigating the contracts awarded to Sheridan Correctional Center?

The Human Resource Development Institute, Inc. (HRDI) was one of the bidders for this contract. HRDI is a community-based social service agency providing optimal and comprehensive substance abuse services in Chicago. HRDI has a contract providing substance abuse services at the Cook County Jail in Chicago. HRDI is culturally sensitive and has a diverse employee base proportionate to the population at Sheridan. As compared to the racist attitudes and behaviors of the present employees of WestCare Foundation, Inc. at Sheridan. Why didn't Governor Blagojevich give the contract to an Illinois community-based organization.

The contract to provide substance abuse services at Sheridan is worth $26,137,309.47. The taxpayers of Illinois are footing this bill. WestCare Foundation, Inc. is based and has its corporate offices in Las Vegas, Nevada. Why did Governor Blagojevich and his corrupt regime give this contract to an organization outside of Illinois? Who in the Governor's office profitted from this award?

The following below is the data on this contract.

Notice of Award

http://www.purchase.state.il.us/ipb/publicno.nsf/frmBidDocFrameset?ReadForm&RefNum=22011341&DocID=86256A5B0069A13B8625720600582F2A&view=search

Notice Addendum

http://www.purchase.state.il.us/ipb/publicno.nsf/frmBidDocFrameset?ReadForm&RefNum=22011341&DocID=86256A5B0069A13B8625720600757F6A&view=search

Update: December 9, 2008

Federal authorities arrested Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich Tuesday on charges that he brazenly conspired to sell or trade the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by President-elect Barack Obama to the highest bidder.Blagojevich also was charged with illegally threatening to withhold state assistance to Tribune Co., the owner of the Chicago Tribune, in the sale of Wrigley Field, according to a federal criminal complaint. In return for state assistance, Blagojevich allegedly wanted members of the paper's editorial board who had been critical of him fired.

A 76-page FBI affidavit said the 51-year-old Democratic governor was intercepted on court-authorized wiretaps over the last month conspiring to sell or trade the vacant Senate seat for personal benefits for himself and his wife, Patti.

Otherwise, Blagojevich considered appointing himself. The affidavit said that as late as Nov. 3, he told his deputy governor that if "they're not going to offer me anything of value I might as well take it."

I have been writing to Federal and Illinois Government officials in Illinois for the last 2 years about alleged corruption in Governor Blagojevich’s office. I wrote President-elect Obama when he was an Illinois Senator. When I worked at Sheridan Correctional Center as a clinical supervisory counselor I suggested corruption in the Governor’s office and Sheridan Correctional Center when AFSCME Union Local 31 conducted a strike at Sheridan Correctional Center on June 6, 2006. I suggested corruption in the Governor’s office with the contract given to West Care Foundation, Inc. at Sheridan Correctional Center to provide counseling services to the inmates. West Care Foundation, Inc. is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. My employment at Sheridan Correctional Center was terminated on or about May 15, 2008. I was a supervisor. When Warden Michael Rothwell took my security clearance on or about May 15, 2008 he did not give me a reason. I wrote Illinois Department of Corrections’ Director Roger Walker, who has not answered my letter to give me a reason why they took my security clearance. Read my writings regarding the indifferent and disparate treatment, and racism at Sheridan Correctional Center on my blog at http://clickforjusticeandequality.blogspot.com/ and on President-elect Obama’s website. I am posting this comment on my blogs at http://clickforjusticeandequality.wordpress.com/, www.frednance.newsvine.com/ and http://click.townhall.com/, and on President-elect Obama’s website.

I want to suggest a "criminal" conspiracy between Governor Blagojevich, AFSCME Union Local 31 and the Illinois Department of Corrections against Gateway Foundation, Inc. (Gateway) to force them to give up their contractual agreement to provide counseling services at Sheridan Correctional Center (Sheridan) when they allowed the strike of June 6, 2006 at Sheridan and prevented Gateway employees from crossing the picket lines. This conspiracy may involve Governor Blagojevich, Deanne Benos, Roger Walker, Michael Rothwell and officials of AFSCME Union Local 31. This conspiracy paved the way for West Care Foundation, Inc., which may be in bed with this conspiracy. Follow the money.

Update: October 23, 2008

10/23/2008: New Toolkit on Law Enforcement Role in Prisoner Reentry: Four Agencies Selected as "Learning Sites" with Justice Department Grant Reentry Policy Council How can reentry work with entities like Illinois' Sheridan Project, which operates out of Illinois' Sheridan Correctional Center? Read my articles on the blatant racism, indifferent treatment and discriminatory practices by Sheridan Correctional Center and WestCare Foundation, Inc. WestCare provides the substance abuse counseling services at Sheridan Correctional Center.On October 23, 2008 I was informed from a reliable source that Melinda Gubbels was the supervisor in Building 23 at Sheridan Correctional Center. Melinda Gubbels, who is a white female, filed false charges with WestCare against Fred Nance Jr. for sexual harassment in November of 2007. WestCare determined the charges by Ms. Gubbels were unfounded. When it was time for Ms. Gubbels to face Mr. Nance with her accusations she called off sick from work. Nevertheless, WestCare "rewards" racism, indifferent treatment, prejudice and discrimination by promoting a person like Ms. Gubbels who WestCare "knows" filed false charges against a fellow employee.WestCare terminated Nance on or about May 13, 2008 because Warden Michael Rothwell of Sheridan Correctional Center took Nance's security clearance without giving Nance reason for the action. WestCare and Warden Rothwell terminated Nance because he complained about blatant racism, indifferent treatment and discrimination. Nance's informer also told him that Sheridan Corrrectional Center and WestCare have recently put 2 other black females employees of WestCare Foundation Inc. out of Sheridan Correctional Center. One of the females' name is Rose. I will provide additional information on this when I receive it.

Don't be mistaken. Recidivism will continue as long as you have blatant racism, indifferent treatment and discrimination polarizing our society. Sheridan Correctional Center and WestCare Foundation, Inc. are following in the footsteps of President and Vice Presidential candidates McCain and Palin. From the demonstration portrayed on National television by the McCain/Palin Presidential ticket, anyone can see they practice and proclaim separatism and divisiveness of the races. All you have to do is open your eyes. Many in this country are afraid to open their eyes, and this is why racial prejudice, indifferent treatment and discrimination exist.

Update: September 5, 2008

While working at Sheridan Correctional Center my car was a victim of a hit-and-run accident. I filed all the necessary paperwork with the State of Illinois' Court of Claims, Case #07CC3511. Commissioner David Neal of 116 N. Chicago Street, Suite 602, Joliet Illinois was assigned the case to adjudicate it. On September 5, 2008 I received a call from the Illinois Attorney General Office, specifically, Mr. Robert Sklamberg stated that his client "Sheridan Correctional Center" is denying fault. My car was parked in Sheridan Correctional Center's parking lot when it was hit.

The Second Chance Act of 2007 signed by President Bush on April 9, 2008 will be appropriated in 2009. The Second Chance Act of 2007 is about reducing recidivism in the United States of America. Governor Rod R. Blagojevich of Illinois believes the Sheridan Project, housed in Sheridan Correctional Center, is our National Model for reducing recidivism. The Sheridan Project at Sheridan Correctional Center in Illinois is a National Model for racial discrimination and disparities, indifferent treatment, corruption, harassment and intimidation. It will not reduce recidivism because of these practices. It will not reduce recidivism with the budget cuts by Illinois Governor Blagojevich. It will not reduce recidivism because of the criminal thinking and behaving of the correction officers. Why would it be the National Model for reducing recidivism?

How will you address Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich’s Sheridan Project housed in Sheridan Correctional Center at Sheridan Illinois? Are you interested in reducing recidivism? Do you know that 1 in 100 Americans is incarcerated? When they return to our communities and are rehabilitated, they are the Second Chance Act of 2007. I am the Second Chance Act of 2007. Will future rehabilitated individuals be treated like I was at Sheridan Correctional Center as an employee of WestCare Foundation, Inc.? What will you do about this situation? Examine the letter written to President Bush. After this read, read the letter dated May 12, 2008 to Governor Blagojevich for the details.

May 19, 2008

President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

Re: The Second Chance Act, the Illinois Department of Corrections-Sheridan Correctional Center and WestCare Foundation, Inc.

Mr. President:

On or about April 9, 2008, you signed into law “The Second Chance Act.” Sir, I am “The
Second Chance Act.”

I was locked out of Sheridan Correctional Center (Sheridan) by Warden Michael Rothwell and the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC). My “Illinois Contract” employer, WestCare Foundation, Inc. (WestCare), terminated my employment suggesting the termination is due to IDOC locking me out from my employment.

I have filed a claim of discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) against IDOC and WestCare. I am sending you the following documents to suggest the conspiracy, discrimination and nefarious acts of IDOC and WestCare against me and “The Second Chance Act of 2007.” The documents are as follows:

State of Illinois-Labor Dispute Appeal Recommended Decision, dated November 29, 2006

State of Illinois-Labor Dispute Appeal Decision of the Director of Employment Security, dated December 22, 2006

WestCare Employee Discussion Report suggesting a sexual harassment charge by Melinda Gubbels and creating a hostile environment charge by Kyra Peters, dated November 8, 2007

Letter to WestCare’s Human Resource Senior Vice President Michael Shields, dated November 8, 2007, regarding Discussion Report dated November 8, 2007

Advocacy Letter to the Honorable Congressman Danny Davis, dated November 15, 2007

Letter to Michael Shields regarding the WestCare Employee Discussion Report of November 8, 2007, dated November 16, 2007 regarding Ms. Melinda Gubbels false charges of sexual harassment against me

E-mail to Stanley Brooks and Michael Shields regarding the WestCare Employee Discussion Report Conference of November 16, 2007

WestCare Employee Discussion Report finding me innocent of the false charges brought against me by Melinda Gubbels and Kyra Peters leading to my 2nd lockout from Sheridan, but alleging other “communication” charges against me, dated November 16, 2007

Letter to EEOC to supplement my charge of Discrimination, dated November 19, 2007

Letter to the Honorable Governor of Illinois, Rod R. Blagojevich, regarding my “experiences” at Sheridan, dated May 12, 2008

EEOC amended charge and additional charge against IDOC and WestCare, dated May 12, 2008

Termination of Employment letter from WestCare, dated May 14, 2008

Fred L Nance Jr. Curriculum Vitae and cover letter to a “new” employer, dated May 14, 2008

Sir, there may not be anything you can do about my situation. Nevertheless, I thought it imperative to send this letter to inform you and your committee of how “The Second Chance Act of 2007” is carried out by the Illinois Department of Corrections, specifically, Sheridan Correctional Center and WestCare Foundation, Inc.

The Second Chance Act of 2007 is meant to reduce recidivism. It appears Sheridan and WestCare may not be part of this reduction process if they continue to operate in the manner spoken of in my writings. Recidivism can be reduced. I am a part of this reduction, but my rehabilitation did not come from IDOC or WestCare. My rehabilitation came from understanding what honesty, integrity and truth is all about.

Respectfully submitted,

Fred Nance Jr., ABD, MA, CADC, NCRS

cc:

The Honorable Congressman Danny Davis
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
http://clickforjusticeandequality.blogspot.com/

May 12, 2008

Honorable Rod R. Blagojevich
Governor of Illinois, Office of the Governor
207 State House
Springfield, Illinois 62706

Re: Sheridan Project – EEOC Charge #440-2007-04512

Governor:

I, Fred L Nance Jr., am African American and I have a pending discrimination charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) against WestCare Foundation, Inc., which began on or about April 16, 2007, amended on May 7, 2007. On May 12, 2008 I will add the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) to this charge of discrimination and indifferent treatment.

I am working at Sheridan Correctional Center to reduce recidivism. One of the things that the “white” establishment at Sheridan resents most is that I am at the end of my doctoral program. When I was incarcerated for the 1st and only time in IDOC, I was 42-years-old without a G.E.D. I know what it takes to reduce recidivism. Racism and indifferent treatment does not reduce recidivism. Criminal activity flourishes with it. Individuals like me are not given the opportunities to make a change in a person’s life, maybe because of job security. IDOC may not want to reduce recidivism. IDOC may not want to honor the “Second Chance Act of 2007”, but I am sure they want to get the monies from the Act.

Where is my “Second Chance?” Does the “Second Chance Act of 2007” relate to me? Am I apart of it? I cannot tell from the behaviors of IDOC and WestCare.

On Mother’s Day, May 11, 2008, Mr. Stanley Brooks, Director of WestCare Illinois/Sheridan Correctional Center (Sheridan) called me stating I had a “stop order” on me, which means I am “locked out” of Sheridan. Mr. Brooks reports he does not know why I was “locked out” but that he was sent an email stating he should inform me.

Sir, I am not a security risk. This is the 3rd time I have been “locked out” at Sheridan. Mr. Brooks did not know if my employment with WestCare was terminated also. If I was “white” this would not be happening to me. “White” supervisors and line-staff have had many issues with “black” inmates and have not been treated as I am treated. This is clearly discrimination and indifferent treatment.

As you may remember, I was locked out of IDOC/Sheridan “illegally” by Warden Michael Rothwell (white/male) during the AFSCME union strike on June 6, 2006. On November 29, 2006 the Illinois Department of Employment Security rendered a decision, which states in part “…In the matter of the appeal of: Fred Nance Jr., Claimant-Employee of Gateway Foundation, Inc…The unemployment of the non-participatory claimant-appellants is not due to a work stoppage caused by the labor dispute…It was the unilateral actions of IDOC…The actions of IDOC were separate and the only cause of the claimant’s unemployment.” On December 22, 2006 Ms. Brenda Russell, Director of Employment Security, confirmed this decision. I received my unemployment insurance.

Sir, this present “lock out” is the continuous retaliation from IDOC and WestCare employees that I have suffered under since returning to work at Sheridan on September 6, 2006 after the AFSCME union strike. I have had to fight to retain my employment at Sheridan for nearly 2 years. I have had an onslaught of misinformation against me by WestCare and IDOC personnel, such as in November of 2007 WestCare employees Melinda Gubbels (white/female) filed a false charge of sexual harassment and Kyra Peters (white/female) filed a false charge of a hostile environment with WestCare against me. Ms. Gubbels and Ms. Peters suffered no consequences from filing these false charges with WestCare. WestCare did nothing to them. I was “locked out” from my employment with WestCare for 2 weeks because of these false charges. When it was time for the accusers to face me with their accusations, Ms. Gubbels called off sick and Ms. Peters was never summoned by WestCare management for testimony. To add insult to injury, I was forced to work with Ms. Gubbels. WestCare did not transfer Ms. Gubbels from under my supervision after she filed these false charges against me. More issues arose and finally, WestCare transferred Ms. Gubbels to another building. There were still no consequences for filing the false charges against me.

On July 16, 2007 I was promoted to clinical supervisor. I was assigned to building C6. On or about April 21, 2008 Warden Rothwell made WestCare transfer me to building C25/C Hall because of false complaints from IDOC and WestCare staff, and inmates. By transferring me to C25/C Hall, WestCare decided to transfer supervisor Denise Perry (black/female) to C6. I was told that Denise had created a bad reputation for herself with the inmates and IDOC personnel in C25/C Hall. What I was not told is that the inmates on C25/C Hall were incorrigible because they had no structure nor could structure manifest itself because of the WestCare staff and IDOC personnel. Here is another most recent account of activity at Sheridan with WestCare and IDOC staff.

In February of 2008 I conducted supervision on WestCare employee Justin Brewster (white/male under 40-years-old). Justin was upset because I reprimanded him on his poor work performance and attendance, which I documented and placed in his file. Justin adamantly requested a transfer to another building. Justin was transferred to C25/C Hall.

Building C6 Correctional Officers’ Mr. Forsyth (white/male) and Mr. Mann (white/male) told WestCare staff assigned to building C6 they could use their badges or any other objects to open the door to the bubble where security resides because the correctional officers were not going to get up from their seats every time someone wanted to come in the bubble to use the bathroom. I heard Correctional Officer Mr. Mann tell Jamie to use her ID badge to open the door to the bubble whenever she wanted to come inside. When I first saw WestCare employee Jamie Barringer using her badge to open the C6 bubble door, I warned her about it in front of Correctional Officers Forsyth and Mann. I was standing inside the bubble at the time. I informed Jamie, right in front of Mr. Mann and Mr. Forsyth, that if she used her ID to open that door I would write her up.

I also informed Lt. Truitt of Sheridan’s Internal Affairs Department that the Correctional Officers in C6 were allowing WestCare staff to use their ID badges to open the bubble door. Lt. Truitt told me at that time that I am always to write incident reports on anything I see that should not be going on. I am not sure of what Lt. Truitt did about this incident, but I have quickly learned not to ask that question.

One of the reasons I was transferred to C25/C Hall is because Correctional Officers Forsyth and Mann wrote an incident reports stating I said I run C6. Along with the Correctional Officer’s incident report they encouraged WestCare employees Justin Brewster and Charolette Hooper (black/female) to write statements supporting their incident report saying I said I run C6. Before Justin and Charolette wrote these statements, I warned them both about using their ID badges to open the bubble where the Correctional Officers are positioned. I saw both of them using their badges to open the bubble door. After I was transferred to C25/C Hall, I heard that Charolette is still using her ID badge to open the bubble door in C6.

In addition, after I was informed I would be transferred to C25/C Hall, I found out Justin was going to be transferred back to C6 when I was transferred to C25/C Hall. I informed Director, Stanley Brooks, that if Justin was moved back to C6 I would file a grievance on these issues concerning Justin. Mr. Brooks told me Justin would not be transferred to C6. Mr. Brooks told me Justin would be transferred somewhere because he would not let me get “set up” like that in C25/C Hall. Mr. Brooks may have made this statement because I informed him I could not work with Justin after he falsified that statement to get me transferred out of C6. Nevertheless, Sandy Smith (white/female) assured Justin remained on C25/C Hall when I was transferred there.

Now I had to deal with Justin and Sandy Smith in C25/C Hall. Sandy Smith has been mentioned in many of my writings to EEOC because of her involvement with the harassment, intimidation, punishment and intimidation upon me at Sheridan.

After being transferred to C25/C Hall, I wrote some incident reports and tickets. On April 28, 2008 I wrote a ticket on an inmate for assault, creating a dangerous disturbance, threats and intimidation and insolence because this inmate pushed me out of the way and entered my office, and then started talking out loud in front of other inmates about what he did creating a dangerous disturbance. Lt. Truitt and I discussed this ticket. Lt. Truitt and I modified the ticket so that the client could remain in Sheridan to receive more therapeutic treatment.

On May 1, 2008 at approximately 9:10 am I typed an incident report on 6 inmates who were creating a dangerous disturbance on C25/C Hall. When I typed the incident report on May 1, 2008 and sent it over the computer it went to WestCare’s Regional Vice President Leslie Balonick and to Springfield, Illinois, probably one of IDOC’s main offices. Ms. Balonick contacted Sandy Smith. Sandy Smith came to C25/C Hall to inquire about the incident.

The May 1, 2008 incident report happened at approximately 8:15 am. Only 2 WestCare staff showed up for work on May 1, 2008. The handwritten copy of the incident report did not get to the shift commander until approximately 11:30 am. I had to write it by hand after typing it on the computer because the computer generated incident report blended the inmate names into the text of the document. I explained this to the “powers” that be at Sheridan.

In addition, when the incident report of May 1, 2008 happened at 8:15 am, I alerted Correctional Officer Churchill. Correctional Officer Churchill responded to the incident, talked to the inmates, and locked the inmates up in their cells at approximately 8:40 am but did not report it to his building Sergeant. Evidently, when the shift commander alerted Warden Rothwell at approximately 11:30 am, because of the numerous inmates involved and found out the Sergeant did not know, the Correctional Officers were feeling nervous and embarrassed, while they looked for a scapegoat, which turned out to be me. Since IDOC officers did not want to take the blame for dropping the ball, suffering embarrassment and consequences, they blamed me and told me I could not go back in the building because I was a threat to the inmates. Sandy Smith gave me up to them because she knew the circumstances because I told her and she did not act in my behalf when IDOC staff and Warden Rothwell looked for a scapegoat and someone to blame. Warden Rothwell issued an order denying me access to my work assignment in C25/C Hall.

On May 9, 2008 I wrote an incident report on 7 inmates who were creating a dangerous disturbance. Part of the incident was that an inmate was sharing an emotional story about his family when another inmate teased him about it. The inmate sharing stopped telling his story and warned the other inmate about his actions. The inmates began approaching each other and I intervened to prevent them from fighting. After this was over, I had to write a ticket on an inmate (who was part of the original 7) for threats and intimidation and insolence because this inmate rose up from his seat and began to approach me in a dangerous way to do bodily harm to me, as the other 4 inmates left were continuing to negatively influence these issues.

There are 80 inmates out of their cells, on C Hall in C25 during the AM group, which I was facilitating by myself because the 2 staff present did not get involved in assisting me when the issues arose. With 80 inmates out of their cells at one time without any Correctional Officer present; anything can happen, at anytime with an inmate. This could create a dangerous disturbance.

There was no IDOC/WestCare staff support for me on the Hall. I had to handle the situations the best I knew how by myself. Building C25 was closed for a period of time this year because of safety issues like this. At times, you have IDOC staff sitting in the bubble with sun glasses on, and probably sleep. There were times when it took forever to get an office door open.

On May 9, 2008 Sandy Smith informed me that Director Stanley Brooks told her to tell me I could not go back to C25/C Hall but that I had to stay in C8 for the remainder of the day. I informed Sandy Smith that I was leaving work because I did feel well and that I was going to meet my wife at the doctor for her appointment to get results regarding the possibility of her having Thyroid cancer.

It was not until I talked to Stanley Brooks on Mother’s Day, May 11, 2008, that I learned from talking to Mr. Brooks that he told Sandy Smith to tell me to come to C8 to receive a call from him so I could tell him what was going on in C25/C Hall on May 9, 2008. Sandy Smith lied to me to meet her own means, which was to embarrassment, harass, intimidate and threaten me. Sandy Smith, along with the IDOC staff she engaged on the issues of May 9, 2008, denied me access to my work assignment. Sandy Smith always operates this way when it comes to dealing an issue involving me. This is why I informed Mr. Brooks that I did not trust her.

The message to me is I cannot write an incident report or a ticket, and if I do I will get punished and embarrassed. IDOC and Sandy Smith are also sending a message telling me I cannot do a good job if I am trying to structure C25/C Hall. They do not want me to succeed. No other supervisor or line-staff person is punished and embarrassed for structuring their building, writing incident reports or tickets but me. This is indifferent treatment. This is blatant discrimination. This is a story of discrimination and indifferent treatment. I am treated at Sheridan differently than similarly situated employees of WestCare.

Presently, I am being punished, harassed, intimidated and threatened by IDOC personnel because I wrote incident reports and tickets on inmates. IDOC personnel and WestCare continue to promote that they cannot tell you not to write an incident report and ticket, but since I did I am being punished, harassed, intimidated and threatened. I guess it has worked because now I am “locked out” from my employment. The only threat I pose to IDOC and WestCare is that I will speak the truth and I will not compromise my ethics, integrity or morals, and I will write my story.

Most importantly, what is the message being sent to the inmates seeking treatment in a therapeutic community? The inmates can see that IDOC and WestCare are sicker than they are. There are many more inmates seeking my assistance and appreciate me more than there are against me. The inmates tell me everyday. IDOC staff and WestCare supervisory staff on C25/C Hall are not sending the right message to the clients. The clients know now they can split staff and accomplish their goals of continued criminal thinking and behaving.

How does this promote a reduction in recidivism Mr. Governor? I informed Mr. Brooks that Sandy Smith referred a client home who is in Phase 1 of his treatment, instead of referring him to a halfway house or recovery home. This is one of the client’s who was listed on the May 1, 2008 incident report I wrote. I believe this client has been in the program for more than a year. I believe this client is in Phase 1 of treatment because he went to Segregation. I discovered this mishap while discussing the client’s 120 discharge plans. Also, when I assumed the duties of supervisor on C25/C Hall I discovered that the inmates filling out applications for Phase 4 were not qualified according to Mr. Brooks criteria/eligibility requirements. I had to deny these clients Phase 4. They were highly angry at me. I asked the staff “Why did they refer clients who did not meet the criteria/eligibility requirements?” The staff told me they just gave out applications. How does this happen? Is this going to reduce recidivism?

Sir, I am seeking your intervention in this matter. The Sheridan Project is constructed to reduce recidivism. The IDOC and WestCare staff that I have mentioned in this writing is not promoting the mission of the Sheridan Project.

I should not have suffered indifferent treatment and discrimination in employment with WestCare. No other WestCare staff has been treated like I have over the duration of my employment with Gateway/WestCare at Sheridan. Racism flourishes at Sheridan. If a female staff of WestCare had complained in writing about an inmate threatening and intimidating them, the inmate would have been taken to Segregation. If a female staff had written an incident report like mine, the inmates would have been locked up. If a “white” staff person had written reports like mine, the inmates would have been locked up. I had a client once where a “white” female sent the client to Segregation because his fingernails were too long. Because writings had my name on it, it made me a target for IDOC and WestCare employees who differ with my politics.

Sir, I started a book for publication on the Sheridan Project months ago. I have enough data to make a good read. I have shared a lot of it on the Internet in the past. What has happened in the past 16 months to me will not make for a good ending to my book on the Sheridan Project.

How can we make this work? One should never mess with a person’s livelihood. To lock me out from Sheridan and take my employment is to take food out of my family’s mouth. How do you think I will react? How would you react? Please respond.

Respectfully submitted,

Fred L Nance Jr., ABD, MA, CADC, NCRS

cc:

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Roger E. Walker Jr., Director IDOC
Danny Davis, Congressman 7th District (Co-Sponsor, Second Chance Act 2007)
Arlen Specter, Senator (Co-Sponsor, Second Chance Act 2007)
Joseph Biden, Senator (Co-Sponsor, Second Chance Act 2007)
Sam Brownback, Senator (Co-Sponsor, Second Chance Act 2007)
Patrick Leahy, Senator (Co-Sponsor, Second Chance Act 2007)
John Conyers, House of Representatives (Co-Sponsor, Second Chance Act 2007)
Lamar Smith, House of Representatives (Co-Sponsor, Second Chance Act 2007)
Stanley Brooks, Director WestCare Illinois
http://clickforjusticeandequality.blogspot.com/

Stop the Fox Network Anti Obama Bias

Don from Montvale, NJ — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 18:45:16 EDT

The Fox Network constantly blares about its "Fair and Balanced" coverage of news and events, claiming "we report, you decide". On the O'Reilly Factor and the Hannity/Colmes show, they also accuse the mainstream media, CBS, MSNBC and others to be "in the tank for Obama". Yes, the "media" in general is more favorably disposed to Obama; however, the "media" is NOT engaged in a daily campaign of innuendo, ridicule, fear mongering and character assasination against Senator McCain, the way the Fox Sean Hannity Show is against Senator Obama.

Night after Night for the last four months, Sean Hannity has recited his same hackneyed phrases, ran the same video clips, interviewed the same band of "objective" analysts (harcore Republican operatives like Karl Rove, Newt Gingrich and Bay Buchanan, coupled with still angry Clinton supporters) and all the while constantly posturing in an imperious tone, wearing a sophomoric grin and wrapping himself in the flag. His latest deprecation is to constantly refer to Senator Obama as "the organizer". To "couterbalance" this assault, the show offers a weak counterpoint in Liberal Alan Colmes who is too timourous to effectively challenge Hannity and his cohorts in any forceful and meaningful way. And when Colmes is out, the guest "fillins" are either punching bags for Hannity or, even worse, put on an totally inept performance such as Susan Estrich last week.

The Fox Network should have the decency to warn the viewer that they are getting anti Obama propaganda, not reasoned opinion, and certainly not objective two-sided discussion.

Media Accountability: Letter to Mark Halperin, Time

RhOrdway — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 18:47:45 EDT

Dear Mr. Halperin,

Have you read the latest study by George Mason University's Center for Media and Public Affairs? The link is provided at the end of this for your convenience.

The study results oppose the views that you expressed on MSNBC. In fact, the study shows that ABC, NBC and CBS have been tougher on Obama than on John McCain during the general election campaign. Statements about Obama were 72% negative, compared with 57% for McCain.

Further, the study indicates that much of Senator John McCain's confusion on issues and mistaken facts have gone unreported by the media. Examples of this selective reporting includes Senator McCain calling Social Security a "disgrace", referencing Czechoslovakia as a country in existence and discussing the "Iraq-Pakistan border" another obvious error.

In my opinion, these are examples of "imbalanced" and "unfair" coverage. I believe continuing to screen out factual reporting about Senator McCain's confusion and errors is a true disservice to the general election.

I respectfully ask you to consider reading the study. With facts in hand, it should illuminate to you that inaccurately reporting about a false pro-Obama media slant feeds this right-wing belief and both your readers and the general election deserve better.

Sincerely,

Rhonda Ordway

Portland, Oregon

"In study, evidence of liberal-bias bias," Los Angeles Times, July 27, 2008

http://tinyurl.com/6lbhjw

Presumptuous

Valeroso2008 — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 17:09:44 EDT

A discussion on 30 July 2008 between 10 and 11 in the morning characterized Barack Obama as presumptuous. This description has been appearing with some frequency on television commentaries since Senator Obama concluded his successful overseas tour. In this particular rendition of the seemingly never-ending story, the black commentator rejected the label. I want to assert that I, a 62 year old, white, Vietnam veteran, also reject this description. In fact, I find this to be a covert way of accusing Senator Obama of being uppity.

Washington Post's Dana Millbank article

Mark from San Clemente, CA — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 10:02:00 EDT

I was just reading Dana Millbanks article on "President Obama" Here is what I responded with.

This article is shows the writer's obvious jealousy. Wow talk about a slant. When someone is running a stellar campaign sticking to the issues and meeting the people he must meet he is criticized for being too good. Why is this? Hmmm. This reminds me of Mohammed Ali who they couldn't lay a glove on. You see this is the problem with the Republicans this year. They can't get anything to stick on Obama and he refuses to play the gotcha game with them. He keeps on message talks about what he will do if elected and speaks about the issues that face America along with plans for their solution. What does this writer do? He attacks with envy. Good stabber there Mr Millbank except as Americans we're not particularly fond of spoil sports you know that kind of person who when they can't win try and unfairly assasinate the winning guy so as to take away something from their victory. That dear Dana is politics as usual and is something that Barack Obama isn't about this year. Yes Obama is a politician but he has cast aside the molds of the past and is forging a new respect for politics in general especially when he continues to inspire in spite of yours and others sore loser attitudes. Come on it is okay to like someone when they are doing well. We all love the winner. Barack Obama came from so far behind he wasn't even on anyone's radar and now he is on top. That is an American success story we may all be proud of and root for to continue. We've had enough doom and gloom from you Republican shills for far too long.

When I scrolled down to view the comments overwhelmingly they were in Obama's favor.

Start hammering McSAME

Marchitect — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:56:27 EDT

The LA Times ran an article about the news coverage bias in regard to the McCain and Obama campaigns. The study confirmed what many of us knew all along. McCain is treated with kit gloves, and although senator Obama received more coverage it was 1/2 as positive as McCain's for the same week. So much for the liberal bias in the media.

Baracks trip overseas was a triumph by any measure. Yet, the McCain camp has decided to go really dirty and appeal to the lowest common denominator of voter in our country. It is my belief that no matter how outrageous the lie, if you say it enough people start to believe it. There is a name for it: "Truthiness" ie: "Iraq is the central war on terror" (biggest lie of all). And "Obama cancelled his visit to the wounded troops" insinuating in TV ads that somehow Senator Obama is less patriotic than McSAME. Even though vote after vote of McCain goes against our troops. Vet organizations give McCain a 'D' on his voting record, and Obama a B+. But this never gets out in the media.

Why am I going on about this? Well, here it is folks. Sadly negative campaigning works. I am not suggesting the Obama camp engage in negative campaigning. But how about pushing back the lies in a more heavy handed manner perpetrated by the McCain machine?

I don't see the push back that I would like to see by Barack's surrogates, or himself. My concern is that we are allowing ourselves to be swiftoated. Tell the truth over and over with force, speed, and fight back. Keep McCain on the deffensive, or we will lose this thing .....again. Enter, the honorable John Kerry.

The latest polls seem a bit odd, one shows a bounce for Obama this week, and another more disconcerting shows Obama losing ground in the battle ground states, substantially. McCain's negative attacks are working people, and we need to wake up and PUSH BACK! I am tired of hearing things like "John's comments were unfortunate".... screw that. Unfortunate is haveing to wait at a red light a little longer and missing an apointment. This is about taking back an entire branch of government from the thugs of the last eight years. We need strong words, the plain truth, and calling these poeple out on the carpet.

Let's pledge to encourage the powers that be in the Obama camp to fight back, quickly, loudly, and truthfully. Exposing McCain's record is not going negative, it's imperative.

McCain = BUSH.

Joe Biden?? where are you.

More bloodshed & crimes from "freedom fighting" Hezbollah Islamofascists

Odonald from New York, NY — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 20:54:24 EDT

Second day of fighting in northern Lebanon 26/07 12:01 CET
euronews, France - Jul 26, 2008
Tripoli is predominantly Sunni, but has a sizeable Shi’ite Alawite community with close links to Hezbollah. Lebanon’s political impasse
Hundreds homeless after deadly Lebanon clashes AFP

Can you guess why the U.N. is silent all the time on Jihadi Hezbollah crimes on Lebanese, Israelis, Iraqis, Somalis? But apparently, in the biased (anti-Israel) Arab Muslim controlled United Nations, anyone that declares he "fights occupation" A.K.A. Genocide against Israel under a mask... is just a political group...

- Hezbollah Said to Help Shiite Army in Iraq - the Iranian-backed group Hezbollah had been training members of the Mahdi Army...

- U.N. Says Somalis Helped Hezbollah Fighters - New York Times A UN report says more than 700 Islamic militants from Somalia fought alongside Hezbollah in its war against Israel in July

Andrea Mitchell Unprofessional Bias

Jim — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:47:27 EDT

During the Democratic Primaries I watched Andrea Mitchell cover Hlllary Clinton’s campaign. Her always positive coverage of everything Hillary did was interesting and one could see how someone imbedded with the Clinton Campaign might identify with them.

Now that she is covering Barack Obama, it’s obvious she hasn’t gotten over her bias for Hillary. I watched her, Ms Mitchell ,have a “hissy fit” regarding the fact that she was not allowed to be with the candidate in Afghanistan and Iraq. That since “she” could not be there everything we saw or heard was somehow not valid even the “3 pointer” Obama scored.

Subsequently, for example today, I saw her raise as many negative facts as she could about Obama’s visit to Israel, bringing up every possible past utterance that might overshadow what he said today.

Someone less biased and negative, perhaps someone with an attempt at neutrality about Obama should cover these events.

There is a real problem with these so called experts that are called on to give their opinions regarding the candidates. The Republicans without exception all just harp on “talking points” that are not usually challenged by the commentator. Like the fake Military consultants that were being briefed by the White House, they really don’t give us insight into anything except the official campaign line.

Experts with some independence on either side should be found who will support their opinions with real facts not talking points.

Help to Address Unfair Media Coverage

steve4obama — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:02:17 EDT

Alert to Activist Obama Supporters

If anyone has email addresses for each of the major tv networks, news anchors, newspapers, and media executives, please list them here.

This way we can write each of them about our concerns over their:

Negative coverage of Barack,
McCain's undeserved positive coverage, or
Lack of coverage of McCain's constant mis-statements and gaffes.

Enough is Enough !

Let's all work together to let them know we are upset with their unfair coverage !

Bias and character assassination

Patrick Frank — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 20:29:40 EDT

Someone challenged me to define these terms. These definitions are close to what I mean by these terms...

Character assassination: By its nature, it involves deliberate exaggeration or manipulation of facts to present an untrue picture of the targeted person.

A person is generally said to be biased if a reasonable observer would conclude that the person is markedly influenced by inner biases, rendering it unlikely for them to be able to be objective.

We should stand up and denounce these tactics in this presidential race. Both candidates--by the way--have defended the other against unfair attacks.

Most of the dirt, I feel sure, will be thrown around by the extreme right. But neither candidate should be demonized or condemned for--basically--being a fallible human being.

That's how I see it.

Patrick

patrickgfrank@yahoo.com

(843) 372-8851

Reports of Mosque Surveillance Concerns Muslims

funkfresh01 — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 23:00:53 EDT

http://religion.info/english/articles/article_385.shtml

Source: Religioscope

Author: Richard Cimino

While there have been allegations in the past of government investigation of mosques on issues relating to terrorism, the recent report, first featured in the San Diego Union-Tribune newspaper, is said to be the first confirmation that surveillance is taking place.

An article in the Los Angeles Times (May 29) reports that information about the alleged spying surfaced in a case about classified files concerning terrorism that were stolen from a secure office used by military and civilian law enforcement officials at Camp Pendleton. Some of these classified records referred to the surveillance of Muslim communities in Southern California, specifically, the Islamic Center of San Diego. The records alleged that the mosque had been monitored as part of a federal surveillance program targeting Muslim groups, according to the Union-Tribune article.

The FBI's Plan to ‘Profile’ Muslims

funkfresh01 — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 18:03:03 EDT

http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2008/07/10/muslim_profiling/index.html

Source: Salon

Author: Juan Cole

The U.S. Justice Department is considering a change in the grounds on which the FBI can investigate citizens and legal residents of the United States. Till now, DOJ guidelines have required the FBI to have some evidence of wrongdoing before it opens an investigation. The impending new rules, which would be implemented later this summer, allow bureau agents to establish a terrorist profile or pattern of behavior and attributes and, on the basis of that profile, start investigating an individual or group. Agents would be permitted to ask "open-ended questions" concerning the activities of Muslim Americans and Arab-Americans. A person's travel and occupation, as well as race or ethnicity, could be grounds for opening a national security investigation.

The rumored changes have provoked protests from Muslim American and Arab-American groups. The Council on American Islamic Relations, among the more effective lobbies for Muslim Americans' civil liberties, immediately denounced the plan, as did James Zogby, the president of the Arab-American Institute. Said Zogby, "There are millions of Americans who, under the reported new parameters, could become subject to arbitrary and subjective ethnic and religious profiling." Zogby, who noted that the Bush administration's history with profiling is not reassuring, warned that all Americans would suffer from a weakening of civil liberties.

Dealing with Prejudice in Today's Society

Ms CYPRAH — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 19:04:54 EDT

Prejudice is a natural by-product of making choices in life. We are presented with a diversity of choice daily, from which we are required to select what matters to us most, what we like best, the things which keep us in our comfort zones and anything that enhances us the most, while resisting the rest. From choosing a partner to choosing a fashionable item, we are exercising the prejudice of accepting one thing while rejecting another. So we are all guilty of exercising prejudice in some form and we all have our prejudices relating to lifestyle and culture.

Fight Back Strategy: McCain's Energy Plan

Fighter501 — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 18:02:49 EDT

It is incomprehensible that Democrats are in a fight with Republicans over environmental and energy issues. This just doesn't make any sense. What is even harder to understand is how the GOP is walloping Dems in the media on this. It's unbelievable. These are the people that said that "we need an energy policy that encourages consumption."

Today, they are offering everything from patriotic offshore drilling and summer gas tax holidays, to $300 million cash prizes to scientists. These things sound awesome.
The current Democratic strategy seems to be "that won't work, we have a comprehensive plan."

That is not a winning strategy during an election. If you want to defeat someone, you never attack their strengths, you attack their weaknesses. It's the simple surefire path to victory and Republicans have been using it since 1968.

The GOP energy plan is full of holes and here's how to fight back and fight back hard.

Attack Back Strat: Supreme Court gun law ruling

Fighter501 — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 15:50:35 EDT

When headlines read:

"Ruling Provides Much Guidance"
or
"Not the End of Our Struggle"

Which article would you read? Personally, I like fighting in struggles and want to help the oppressed. Wait, that's McCain commenting on the unconstitutionality of the DC Gun Ban! Who gave me these slanted headlines? They are from the Huffington Post. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/26/politicians-pundits-react_n_109373.html

Democrats consistently lose the media battle, and "defining your enemy AS the enemy" is rule one in the Karl Rove playbook.

It's time to fight back and fight back hard.

New York Muslim’s Struggle for Justice in America

funkfresh01 — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 16:08:55 EDT

http://atlanticfreepress.com/content/view/4016/32/

Source: Atlantic Free Press

Author: Stephen Lendman

Yassin Aref is a 37 year old Albany, New York resident and one of many Muslim victims of police state justice in post-9/11 America. They've been hunted down, rounded up, held in detention, kept in isolation, denied bail, restricted in their right to counsel, tried on secret evidence and trumped-up charges, then incarcerated as political prisoners or deported to where they face possible arrest and torture.

Because of his faith and ethnicity, Aref was victimized by US "justice" in a post-9/11 climate of fear. He's an Iraqi Kurd who emigrated to the US as a UN refugee in 1999 with his wife and three young children. He's now in federal prison but committed no crime. He's also the author of a poignant memoir/autobiography titled "Son of Mountains: My Life as a Kurd and a Terror Suspect." He wrote it in custody at Troy, New York's Rensselaer County Jail after his wrongful conviction in October 2006.

Muslim Activists Seeking Probe of Reported Surveillance

funkfresh01 — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 15:18:08 EDT

http://www.pe.com/localnews/rivcounty/stories/PE_News_Local_C_muslim30.426eaa8.html

Source: Press-Enterprise

Author: Paige Austin

A civil-rights group and a coalition of Muslim activists headed by a Corona man called on Congress this week to investigate a report that military and law enforcement officials stole surveillance records of Southland Muslims from Camp Pendleton.

The request stems from a news report that military officials and law enforcement members of the Los Angeles County Terrorist Early Warning Group illegally took the top-secret documents from the base's Strategic Technical Operations Center.

According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, Marine Gunnery Sgt. Gary Maziarz has been court-martialed and convicted for his role in the thefts.

While the details of the surveillance and the alleged theft remain largely unknown, the incident provides confirmation that the military and law enforcement groups have been gathering information about local Muslim communities, said Michael German, policy counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union's Washington Legislative Office.

Florida Muslim Leaders Testify at United Nation Racism Hearing

funkfresh01 — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 20:59:14 EDT

MIAMI, FL, 6/4/08) - On June 2, 2008, Florida Muslim leaders met with Doudou Diène, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, at a Miami hearing to discuss Islamophobia and anti-Muslim discrimination.

For photos of the event: http://picasaweb.google.com/bedier/UNMiamiHearingOnRacism

Special Rapporteur Diène is visiting several cities across the United States to "gather first-hand information on issues related to racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia."

Reuters: U.N. racism investigator to visit U.S.

http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSL16843098

idealism vs pragmatism

jp — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 16:21:00 EDT

Gary Hart: The Perserverance of Idealism - Politics on The Huffington Post The Huffington Post

June 3, 2008

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gary-hart/the-perserverance-of-idea_b_104560.html

As many people seem to be born either liberal or conservative, so many also seem
naturally inclined toward either idealism or pragmatism. Overly simplified, the
pragmatist says "tell me how the system works and I'll do my best within it,"
and the idealist says, "let's change the system."

Though this dichotomy doesn't seem to work very well in Republican party
politics (where those claiming idealism invade foreign countries), it plays a
striking role in the Democratic party. In modern times Democrats find themselves
choosing between an idealistic candidate, usually younger, and a pragmatic
candidate, usually more seasoned in Washington politics.

This year this pattern is compounded by the idealist being African-American and
the pragmatist being a woman. This startling dual breakthrough has blurred the
idealist-pragmatist choice to a large degree. But it is a powerful choice none
the less.

Pragmatists rarely campaign as pragmatists because who can get excited about
someone who says, "I know what the deal is and I am prepared to work within the
deal"? Rather, a pragmatist candidate campaigns on themes of experience,
toughness, and scars of battle. Idealistic candidates have a different, some
would say dreamy or unrealistic, view. The idealist says, "we've tried the old
ways and they are not working." The idealist campaigns on themes of new voices,
new ideas, and new leadership, that is to say a break with the past, with
tradition, with conventional wisdom, and with an old and often corrupted system.

There is a strong strain of idealism even in a 220 year-old nation. It is based
on hope and longing for something better. But it is also based on practical
(possibly pragmatic) reasons. Power corrupts. Those accustomed to working within
a system soon find it increasingly easy to game the system, to favor friends, to
place personal interest above the national interest. Hence, Jefferson's radical
notion of generational revolution: saddling a person with the practices and
policies of the past, he argued, is like asking a man to wear the coat he wore
as a boy.

Though most people who start out as young idealists become more pragmatic with
the weight of years, some of us do not. Some of us cling to the hope that
America can do better, that public service can be noble, that equality and
justice are achievable. We don't want to settle for past policy frameworks or
for half measures. We would prefer to set a higher standard and to challenge the
political and social systems to struggle upward. These feelings are not
voluntary. They are part of one's very character.

I hope to live to see the first woman president. But I also hope she will be an
idealist, not only a gender pioneer but a bold, brave, and innovative leader who
is not part of a flawed Washington system. I want America to send a powerful
signal to a watching world that we have now taken a giant step into the global
culture by electing an African-American. But my hope and dream also is, and has
been since the days of John and Robert Kennedy, that this president will call us
to a nobler mission and a higher goal, that he will remind us always of our
Constitutional principles and ideals, that he will place us back on our historic
path to the establishment of a more perfect union and a principled republic.

Ever an idealist, I therefore place my hope in Barack Obama. It is time for the
idealists, even the aging ones, to raise the flag again.

U.S. MARINES ACCUSED OF PROSELYTIZING IN FALLUJAH

funkfresh01 — Sat, 31 May 2008 22:07:21 EDT

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2004444827_iraqgospel29.html

Source: McClatchy Newspapers

Author: Jamal Naji and Leila Fadel

At the western entrance to the Iraqi city of Fallujah on Tuesday, Muamar Anad handed his residence badge to the U.S. Marines guarding the city. They checked to be sure he was a city resident, and when they were done, Anad said, a Marine slipped a coin out of his pocket and put it in his hand.

Out of fear, he accepted it, Anad said. When he was inside the city, the college student said, he looked at one side of the coin. "Where will you spend eternity?" it asked.

He flipped it over, and on the other side it read, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16."

Sexism/Gender Bias

Wed, 21 May 2008 01:35:46 EDT

I read some newspaper articles quoting Clinton and Ferraro about the gender bias being the reason Obama is winning. Ferraro likes to cite the same example of one person holding a sign at a Hillary rally stating something like 'women should be at home.' You would think there would be better examples by now. I honestly don't understand the Clinton sexism argument. I thought she lost because she ran a bad camaign, had a bad message, and played dirty. All I see out of this is Clinton stirring up gender bias instead of being a victim of it = Ferraro and Clinton are the sexists.

P.S. I don't believe it would feel good to me if part of my donation went to Clinton since I don't believe she puts the party and therefore the people in the party before her own personal glory.

Pull Plug on Clinton News Network - TV & Web

ZapDuff — Wed, 07 May 2008 08:35:10 EDT

Take a quick glance at this page. (8:20 AM 06/07/08)
www.cnn.com/POLITICS/

Any doubt they really consider themselves the Clinton News Network?
Of, For, and By Hillary all the time!

TV Off/Add CNN to List of Unwatched

ZapDuff — Sun, 04 May 2008 13:23:54 EDT

My wife just came into my office, wrestled away my clicker from my hands, and turned off my TV. She's concerned, especially after my previous fits during Meet The Press, about my screaming at Wolf Blitzer who has turned his channel into the Clinton News Network.

How stupid can American people get?

Mary — Sun, 04 May 2008 09:28:37 EDT

Again I was reading an article that cited the issue of educational level and voter's choices. It said that educated white people were more likely to choose Obama while uneducated white people were more likely to choose HRC. Somehow that's discouraging to me in a number of ways. First because I don't consider myself the most educated person and yet I am capable of making a conscious choice to look at the issues and choose Obama over the other candidate. Secondly, it says to me that uneducated whites are either prejudice or easily fooled by the advertisement and smear campaigns that HRC's camp put out there also, the religion issue played a part. So I wonder are most uneducated people a pack of biased people who don't think but rather follow like cattle to the slaughterhouse? Because that's what they are doing in essense. Choosing Hillary Clinton is like taking a walk up the ramps to the slaughterhouse dumb and unaware of the end result. Blindly following the rest because they are going the same way. Think! Everyone has the same capacity to use their brain and even if you didn't get an education you can still think! I wonder how people can't see that they are being baited with talk and promises and hype from Clinton. In history later it will likely be said that American's were too prejudice, too uneducated to choose a good candidate. I wonder how they can't see that Obama is more the common man than Hillary has or ever will be. Think! Did your class, the blue collars ever get that far ahead when Bill Clinton was in or did he just use band-aids to temporarily fix things and now look at where you are today. Bush was a big part of that but had Bill not messed up in the White House using your time to fulfill his leasure time in the Oval office, government money to pay for a trial in which he purjured himself in your government might have done more. Hillary is just riding on Bills coat-tails and has no intention to do all that she has promised. She's betting on the stupidity of people to win her vote and that's just a sad statement about America. I'm an non-educated white 51 year old white woman living in Florida and go against every statistic that says that people like me vote for HRC. Instead I'm here on Obama's site supporting him because if nothing else I took time to listen and look and also plain common sense tells me Hillary is just more of the same wealthy politician material. If nothing else if you can't take time to look at the issues then think about this, the Clintons fooled us once so shame on them, but if they fool people again then shame on you!

I feel conflicted and double drawn

Mary — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 15:23:37 EDT

I hear what Rev. Wright is saying, and I hear what Obama is saying and I see the media stretching it from both ends. I think about other issues that the media has raked over coals like Don Imus's remark and firing from the business. I see the racial tension and I try to avoid it because, well I'm white and white people often feel afraid to say their observations about other races because we don't want to appear biased or racist, we don't know because we aren't that race and so it's often hard to judge from the other side. But as a general observation I do believe that Rev. Wright is doing several things. He's appealing to his audience which is the black community and appealing to society because the media to sound bites out of context. Don Imus got similar treatment in calling the basketball players nappy ho's. I've heard the words nappy and ho all over the place, and have called people or even my own shaggy dog nappy when she was unkept but not derrogatorily, moreso just using a word I've heard on mainstream media and out in public. Now everybody says things that they wish they wouldn't have said, or hadn't have said, or even what they shouldn't have said. Maybe they meant it and maybe they didn't and it's unclear at times to discern the difference.

I think personally some of this jumping on Rev. Wright may be burried in the undermining of Don Imus. People who were not black often publically were against Imus saying, "He shouldn't have said that." but privately angry that Imus was fired for something that seemed a blurb turned into a molehill. I personally thought that I've heard MANY radio hosts say things that were derrogatory but they weren't fired and was somewhat surprised that such a large majority of the community, black and white demanded he be fired. Now comes Rev. Wright and I think that his saying that the birds come home to nest fits well in this situation. I personally believe that there is a part of community that is doing an "AHa! You said something socially unacceptable! You should be dragged through the mire like Imus!" I might be wrong but I wonder if this isn't in some way a backlash of coverted biggotry.

More long rambling as I am thinking stuff.

McCain pressed on 'Islamic' terror label

funkfresh01 — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:28:53 EDT

http://washingtontimes.com/article/20080421/NATION/438135169/1001

By Rowan Scarborough

A coalition of American Muslim groups is demanding that Sen. John McCain stop using the adjective "Islamic" to describe terrorists and extremist enemies of the United States.

Muneer Fareed, who heads the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), told The Washington Times that his group is beginning a campaign to persuade Mr. McCain to rephrase his descriptions of the enemy.

"We've tried to contact his office, contact his spokesperson to have them rethink word usage that is more acceptable to the Muslim community," Mr. Fareed said. "If it's not our intent to paint everyone with the same brush, then certainly we should think seriously about just characterizing them as criminals, because that is what they are."

An aide to Mr. McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee who is counting on his pro-Iraq war stance to attract conservative voters, said the senator from Arizona will not drop the word.

The Muslim myth still dogging Obama

funkfresh01 — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:24:38 EDT

http://www.thetimes-tribune.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19501048&BRD=2185&PAG=461&dept_id=415898&rfi=6

BY ROJA HEYDARPOUR, STAFF WRITER

Source: Times Tribune

It’s been said many times: this is an election year of firsts. The first viable woman presidential candidate. The first viable black presidential candidate.

But the first Muslim presidential candidate?

One in 10 Americans believes that Illinois Sen. Barack Obama is a Muslim, according to a Pew Research Center News Interest Index survey taken in March.

Mr. Obama is, in fact, a practicing Christian, as underscored by the debate over the controversial sermon delivered by his pastor after Sept. 11, 2001.

The same survey found that 79 percent of the general public had heard rumors that Mr. Obama is Muslim, while 38 percent had heard “a lot” about it.

Indeed, rumors have circulated on blogs and comment boards since the fall, spurred by pictures of Mr. Obama in a turban, by talk of childhood time spent in Indonesia — a Muslim country — and by his middle name, Hussein, among other things.

Pro-Clinton Media Bias

Simon from Westland, MI — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:53:04 EDT

I am sick and tired of the media painting Obama in a bad light. MSNBC, CNN, FOX, ABC, are now all reporting Clinton with a sick and twisted favor. They are doing this for ratings.

This needs to change. Obama could lose North Carolina if the media continues to report these unrealistic pictures about Barack Obama. They have turned everything into doubt-glazed reports, with nothing but negative and fearful retorts taken from the Clinton website.

It is time to do exactly what the Clinton campaign has been doing and call the media out on this. We must begin a campaign immediately to suggest that the media has been unfairly and repeatedly reporting Obama in a negative light. Everything that Clinton says the media is soaking up like a sponge. We need to be angry. We must be angry. We must stop this outrage!

Kansas Muslim Attacked with 'Molotov Cocktail'

funkfresh01 — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:38:06 EDT

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 4/17/08) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today asked local and national law enforcement authorities to bring appropriate hate crime charges against the alleged perpetrator of a March "Molotov cocktail" attack on a Kansas Muslim.

A clerk at a Lenexa, Kan., gas station told police that a man came into the store and asked the clerk if he was Muslim. When the clerk replied in the affirmative, the man reportedly started harassing him.

Soon after the man left the store, a Molotov cocktail incendiary device was thrown through the front window of the store. A similar incident occurred at another store in area. A 26-year-old man was later charged with two counts of criminal use of explosives and one count of criminal damage.

SEE: Molotov Cocktail Hurled At Gas Station (KCTV)

http://www.kctv5.com/news/15721008/detail.html

"We ask that local authorities and the FBI file any appropriate hate crime charges against the alleged perpetrator in this case," said CAIR Civil Rights Manager Khadija Athman. "The additional charges would send a clear message that bias-related attacks will not be tolerated in Kansas or anywhere in America."

Earlier this week, CAIR's Minnesota chapter asked the FBI to investigate reported threats against the Tarek ibn Ziyad Academy charter school in that state as possible hate crimes.

SEE: Muslim Civil Liberties Group Seeks FBI Probe of School Threats (Star Tribune)

http://www.startribune.com/local/17673284.html

The Kansas assault and the threats to the Minnesota school came following other recent incidents such as a fire-bomb attack on a Minnesota Muslim-owned business and an arson attack on a Tennessee mosque by three members of the white-supremacist "Christian Identity" movement.

SEE: MN: Investigators Say Fire Could Be Hate Crime

http://www.cair.com/ArticleDetails.aspx?ArticleID=24208&&name=n&&currPage=1&&Active=1

SEE ALSO: CAIR Applauds Arrests in TN Mosque Arson

http://www.cair.com/ArticleDetails.aspx?ArticleID=24197&&name=n&&currPage=1&&Active=1

CAIR is urging Muslim individuals and institutions nationwide to review security procedures using advice contained in CAIR's "Muslim Community Safety Kit."

SEE: CAIR Muslim Community Safety Kit

http://www.cair.com/ActionCenter/CommunityToolKit.aspx

CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, has 35 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Strategic Communications Director Ahmed Rehab, 202-870-0166, E-Mail: arehab@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787, E-Mail: arubin@cair.com

Are you going to take it ?

ObamaBob NSB — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 11:51:22 EDT

Enough's enough!!

I became so angry as the 1st 45 minutes dragged on that nothing, and I mean nothing but tabloid questions and jabs from those two ABC 'news' people teamed up with Hillary to allow NO substantive discussion of issues from these candidates.

It's the classic distraction politics of separation, polarization and tabloid one-liner's to 'lift' the election from issues of merit and the hope for a better future. It is, and was, the classic politics of the Republican guru, Carl Rove. He was a master of this tactic and now I’m ashamed to say it's our own Hillary Clinton, a democrat, who is using it to divide and conquer the nomination and separate the electorate from the fundamental issues.

As was so well stated in an earlier blog, if you're tired of a slash and burn politics that trades distraction for real debate, you don't have to sit idly and watch anymore. You can speak out, you can organize, make calls, knock doors, donate, and vote. Together, we can change politics in America.

Speak out! Here's our group blog (this was from our local group but all are welcome): http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/group/newsmyrnaforobama/

Organize! Here's our group, please join (or search out the Obama group in your area): http://my.barackobama.com/page/group/newsmyrnaforobama

Make calls! Here's where you can make calls from your home: http://my.barackobama.com/page/contact/splash/callpennsylvania

Knock doors! Here's the trip to NC: http://my.barackobama.com/page/s/cometonc As with our Trip to PA, I'll be glad to help with arrangements and sometimes donated plane tickets.

DONATE! DONATE! DONATE! This is our best way to respond to the tabloid attacks last night! Please help our group fundraiser for Barack here: http://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/maingroup/newsmyrnaforobama

Let's make a difference and stop this divisive attack politics that leave people's needs behind!

YES WE CAN!!

The Collapse of the National Press

Kevin Rogers — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 10:36:36 EDT

The Collapse Of The National Press: Some words for everyone to think about today if you are as irate and dejected about that farce called a "debate" last night. Deplorable. Keep your heads up though, this thing will be over soon. Kevin

After the first forty minutes of last night's Democratic debate, it was clear we were watching something historic. Not historic in a good way, mind you, but historic in the sense of being something so deeply embarrassing to the nation that it will be pointed to, in future books and documentary works, as a prime example of the collapse of the American media into utter and complete substanceless, into self-celebrated vapidity, and into a now-complete inability or unwillingness to cover the most important affairs of the nation to any but the most shallow of depths.

Congratulations are clearly in order. ABC had two hours of access to two of the three remaining candidates vying to lead the most powerful nation in the world, and spent the decided majority of that time mining what the press considers the true issues facing the republic. Bittergate; Rev. Wright; Bosnia; American flag lapel pins. That's what's important to the future of the country. What a contrast. Only a few weeks ago, we were presented with what was considered by many to be a historic speech by a presidential candidate on race in America -- historic for its substance, tone, delivery, and stark candor. Last night, we had an opposing, equally historic example -- and I sincerely mean that, I consider it to be every bit as significant as that word implies -- of the collapse of the political press into self-willed incompetence. You might as well pull any half-intelligent person off the street, and they would unquestionably have more difficult and significant questions for the two candidates.

It was not merely a momentarily bad performance, by ABC, it was a debate explicitly designed to be what it was, which is far more telling. It is certainly true that a case could be made that the moderators explicitly set out to frame even the supposedly "substantive" questions according to GOP designs. The implicit presumption of success in Iraq when, nearly an hour into the debate, the moderators finally deigned to mention the defining current event of this campaign. Gibson, as moderator, lied outright about the supposed effects of capital gains tax cuts, and dogged the candidates over it to a greater extent than any other economic issue: does he really believe that of all the economic challenges facing this nation, the most pressing of them is supplication towards a decade-long Republican bugaboo? Gun control? Affirmative action? These are the issues that are most compellingly on the minds of Democratic primary voters, in 2008? Or were the questions taken from a 1992 time capsule, insightful probes gathering dust for a decade and a half until they could find network moderators desperate enough to dig them up again? But even slanted questions could be forgiven, of the press; what was more inexplicable was the intentional wallowing in substanceless, meaningless "gaffe" politics.

It says something truly impressive about the press that a few statements by a presidential candidate's preacher bear far more weight to the future of our nation than the challenges of terrorism or war. It is truly a celebration of our own national collapse into idiocracy that we can furrow our brows and question the patriotism of a candidate, deeply probe their patriotism based on whether or not they regularly don a made-in-China American flag pin, but a substantive discussion of energy policy, or healthcare, or the deficit, or the housing crisis, or global climate change, or the government approval of torture, or trade issues, or the plight of one-industry small American towns, or the fight over domestic espionage and FISA, or the makeup of the Supreme Court -- those were of no significance, in comparison.

If a media organization set out to intentionally demonstrate themselves to be self absorbed and ignorant, they could not have accomplished it better. It was not just a tabloid debate, but the tittering of political kindergardeners making and lobbing mud pies. It was politics as game show. The moderators demonstrated that to them and their supposed "news" organization, the presidency of the United States of America is about the trivialities of_politics_, which were obsessed over ravenously, not about the challenges of American governance, which were fully ignored. Certainly, as mere citizens we could ask little of the network that unapologetically brought us The Path to 9/11, a fabricated conservative pseudo-documentary laying the blame for terrorism at the feet of everyone loathed by the far right. But it is not simply ABC that bears the blame: surely, one could expect similar drivel from any of the other networks or cable channels who have so successfully and self-importantly dimmed the national discourse, these past ten years.

For his part, the chairman of the written intellectual wisp, the New York Times' David Brooks, marveled at the "excellent" questions: We may not like it, but issues like Jeremiah Wright, flag lapels and the Tuzla airport will be important in the fall. Remember how George H.W. Bush toured flag factories to expose Michael Dukakis. It’s legitimate to see how the candidates will respond to these sorts of symbolic issues. Indeed, how dare his peon readers whine about these things: this is how the political game is expected to be played by the grand masters of our discourse. Symbolic tours of flag factories! Checkmate! That is the elite idea of "issues" in our national debate. Piss on the war, and screw the economy -- somebody find a goddamn flag factory to tour! That is how our most elite media figures like to see political opponents "exposed" as... well, what exactly? What does touring a flag factory prove, other than the media in this country is so astonishingly gullible, tin-headed and shallow that you can actually tour a damn flag factory and get praised for it by our idiot press as being a bold, disarming move against your opponent?

Truly, we have become a nation led by the most lazy and ignorant. It seems impossible to mock or satirize just how shallowly the media considers the actual world ramifications of each election, how glancingly they explore the actual truth behind political assertion or rhetoric, or how gleefully they molest our discourse while praising themselves for those selfsame acts. And that, in turn, is precisely how we elected our current Idiot Boy King, a man who has the eloquent demeanor of a month-old Christmas tree and the nuance of a Saturday morning cartoon. It seems impossible, but we may yet have an election season in which we can be in a slogging, five-year-long war, and mention the fact only in glancing asides. We may yet have a series of Republican-Democratic debates in which the most pressing issues of the economy are entirely ignored, so that we can more adequately explore the "patriotism" of the candidates as expressed by their clothing. We may have yet another campaign season carefully orchestrated to leave all but the most glancing and hollow of themes untouched, while our press achieves multiple orgasms at every botched line, every refused cup of coffee, every peddled character assassination or character assassination-by-proxy peddled by the sleaziest of paid dregs. A campaign, in other words, perfectly suited to the bereft, rudderless, and substanceless self-pronounced guardians of our democracy.

Perhaps, if nothing else, it is time to take back the debate process and insist once again on moderators chosen for competence, expertise and neutrality, rather than network or cable network fame. The elites of our press have managed to botch the task time and time again; perhaps it should be left to someone with an actual interest in doing the job.

Worst. Debate. Ever. - Huffpo

Mary from Vermont — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 10:26:14 EDT

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/04/16/worst-debate-ieveri_n_97125.html

Fox News Unfair And Unbalanced

Candace N. - V.O.B — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 19:17:45 EDT

All of Senator Obama's supporters need to send fox news a clear message about their claim to be fair and balanced. They are not sticking to their claim, therefore misleading viewers and making false statements. Sean Hannity especially devotes a huge portion of his shows bashing Senator Obama. They are suppose to report the news, giving equal and fair coverage to all of the candidates, and that is not being done.

I urge everyone to send either an email or written letter to fox news enforming them that you want them to uphold their claim to have fair and balanced coverage of this election and that you want Sean Hannity to use his show to report the news and not focus on bashing Senator Obama.

Thank you in your support of this effort. YES WE CAN !!!!!!!!

IRAQ AWAITS CRITICAL FATWA

funkfresh01 — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:04:00 EDT

Date Posted: Tuesday, April 08, 2008

Posted By The Media Line Staff

IRAQ (The Media Line) April 8, 2008 — Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki announced on Monday he would ban a powerful Shi'ite parliamentary bloc from running in the next local elections unless it disarmed its 60,000-strong armed force.

The 'Sadri parliamentary bloc, led by Muqtada A-'Sadr, responded by saying it would disarm its armed force, known as the Mahdi Army, only if the Shi'ite religious authorities ordered them to do so.

"The Mahdi Army does not accept its orders from anyone except A-'Sadr and the religious authorities with whom he consults. If the religious authorities would ask him to disarm the Mahdi Army, he will definitely execute their demand," spokesman for the 'Sadri bloc, 'Salah A-'Ubeidi told reporters.

Ten things to know about Senator John McCain

funkfresh01 — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 22:54:51 EDT

For all the coverage this week of Senator John McCain's background, you will not learn some important things about him from the TV networks. His carefully crafted positive image relies on people not knowing this stuff—and some of it might surprise you.

Please check out the list below, and then forward it to your friends, family, and coworkers. We cannot rely on the media to tell folks about the real John McCain—but if we all pass this along, we can reach as many people as CNN Headline News does on a good night.

Click here to tell us how many people you can pass it on to—and to see our progress nationally:

http://pol.moveon.org/mccain10/?id=12407-5077189-XKR_ot&t=231

Ten things you should know about John McCain.

1. John McCain voted against establishing a national holiday in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Now he says his position has "evolved," yet he has continued to oppose key civil rights laws.1

2. According to Bloomberg News, McCain is more hawkish than Bush on Iraq, Russia and China. Conservative columnist Pat Buchanan says McCain "will make Cheney look like Gandhi."2

3. His reputation is built on his opposition to torture, but McCain voted against a bill to ban Waterboarding, and then applauded President Bush for vetoing that ban.3

4. McCain opposes a woman's right to choose. He said, "I do not support Roe versus Wade. It should be overturned."4

5. The Children's Defense Fund rated McCain as the worst senator in Congress for children. He voted against the children's health care bill last year, then defended Bush's veto of the bill.5

6. He is one of the richest people in a Senate filled with millionaires. The Associated Press reports he and his wife own at least eight homes! Yet McCain says the solution to the housing crisis is for people facing foreclosure to get a "second job" and skip their vacations.6

7. Many of McCain's fellow Republican senators say he is too reckless to be commander in chief. One Republican senator said: "The thought of his being president sends a cold chill down my spine. He is erratic. He is hotheaded. He loses his temper and he worries me."7

8. McCain talks a lot about taking on special interests, but his campaign manager and top advisers are actually lobbyists. The government watchdog group Public Citizen says McCain has 59 lobbyists raising money for his campaign, more than McCain has any of the other presidential candidates.8

9. McCain has sought closer ties to the extreme religious right in recent years. The pastor McCain calls his "spiritual guide," Rod Parsley, believes America's founding mission is to destroy Islam, which he calls a "false religion." McCain sought the political support of right-wing preacher John Hagee, who believes Hurricane Katrina was God's punishment for gay rights and called the Catholic Church "the Antichrist" and a "false cult."9

10. He positions himself as pro-environment, but he scored a zero—yes, zero—from the League of Conservation Voters last year.10

John McCain is not who the Washington press corps make him out to be. Please help get the word out—forward this email to your personal network. And if you want us to keep you posted on MoveOn's work to get the truth out about John McCain, sign up here:

http://pol.moveon.org/mccaintruth/?id=12407-5077189-XKR_ot&t=232

Thank you for all you do.

–Eli, Justin, Noah, Laura, and the MoveOn.org Political Action Team

Saturday, April 5th, 2008

Sources:

1. "The Complicated History of John McCain and MLK Day," ABC News, April 3, 2008

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/04/the-complicated.html

"McCain Facts," ColorOfChange.org, April 4, 2008

http://colorofchange.org/mccain_facts/

2. "McCain More Hawkish Than Bush on Russia, China, Iraq," Bloomberg News, March 12, 2008

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aF28rSCtk0ZM&refer=us

"Buchanan: John McCain 'Will Make Cheney Look Like Gandhi,'" ThinkProgress, February 6, 2008

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/02/06/buchanan-gandhi-mccain/

3. "McCain Sides with Bush on Torture Again, Supports Veto of Anti-Waterboarding Bill," ThinkProgress, February 20, 2008

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/02/20/mccain-torture-veto/

4. "McCain says Roe v. Wade should be overturned," MSNBC, February 18, 2007

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17222147/

5. "2007 Children's Defense Fund Action Council® Nonpartisan Congressional Scorecard," February 2008

http://www.childrensdefense.org/site/PageServer?pagename=act_learn_scorecard2007

"McCain: Bush right to veto kids health insurance expansion," CNN, October 3, 2007

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/10/03/mccain.interview/

6. "Beer Executive Could Be Next First Lady," Associated Press, April 3, 2008

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5h-S1sWHm0tchtdMP5LcLywg5ZtMgD8VQ86M80

"McCain Says Bank Bailout Should End `Systemic Risk,'" Bloomberg News, March 25, 2008

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aHMiDVYaXZFM&refer=home

7. "Will McCain's Temper Be a Liability?," Associated Press, February 16, 2008

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=4301022

"Famed McCain temper is tamed," Boston Globe, January 27, 2008

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/01/27/famed_mccain_temper_is_tamed/

8. "Black Claims McCain's Campaign Is Above Lobbyist Influence: 'I Don't Know What the Criticism Is,'" ThinkProgress, April 2, 2008

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/04/02/mccain-black-lobbyist/

"McCain's Lobbyist Friends Rally 'Round Their Man," ABC News, January 29, 2008

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=4210251

9. "McCain's Spiritual Guide: Destroy Islam," Mother Jones Magazine, March 12, 2008

http://www.motherjones.com/washington_dispatch/2008/03/john-mccain-rod-parsley-spiritual-guide.html

"Will McCain Specifically 'Repudiate' Hagee's Anti-Gay Comments?," ThinkProgress, March 12, 2008

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/03/12/mccain-hagee-anti-gay/

"McCain 'Very Honored' By Support Of Pastor Preaching 'End-Time Confrontation With Iran,'" ThinkProgress, February 28, 2008

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/02/28/hagee-mccain-endorsement/

10. "John McCain Gets a Zero Rating for His Environmental Record," Sierra Club, February 28, 2008

http://www.alternet.org/blogs/environment/77913/

Support our member-driven organization: MoveOn.org Political Action is entirely funded by our 3.2 million members. We have no corporate contributors, no foundation grants, and no money from unions. Our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. If you would like to support our work, you can give now at:

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no need to be biased; Obama has my support without a 'spin'

j f n — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 19:11:37 EDT

Being the level-headed Obama supporter, that i am, i'm put off by any slanted view of the facts. i would encourage obama supporters to get a healthy 'psychological inoculation' to possible holes in our generally touted arguments. i recommend to you factcheck.org for all your 'smell-the-coffee' needs. They are non-partisan and completely neutral--this is comforting in a heated campaign where I'm suspicious of blogs and media outlets that have a skewed view. PrObama slanted ones included... We have good reason to support Obama; we don't need to make anything up!

Obama '08

US ELECTION DIARY - THE RELIGIOUS RIGHT

funkfresh01 — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 23:07:56 EDT

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/E4C51233-2D21-4FBB-85FD-7D7F5AF173D9.htm

By Rob Reynolds in Columbus, Ohio

On the road to clinching the Republican Party nomination for president, John McCain worked hard for the endorsement of influential Evangelical Christian ministers.

The ministers are helping shore up McCain's support on the party's right wing, which has always been skeptical about whether the Arizona senator is a true-blue conservative.

But one of those minister's beliefs about Islam and Muslims raise disturbing questions.

Rod Parsley, the pastor of a large and profitable Ohio mega-church, calls Islam a false religion. He says Allah is a demon spirit and that Muslims are bent on world conquest.

Parsley endorsed McCain in February, praising him as a "strong, true, consistent conservative".

Sharing a Cincinnati, Ohio, stage with Parsley, McCain said: "I am very honored today to have one of the truly great leaders in America, a moral compass, a spiritual guide, Pastor Rod Parsley. Thank you for your leadership and your guidance. I am very grateful you are here."

He certainly had reason for gratitude - a week later, Parsley's support helped McCain win the important Ohio primary.

Evangelist

Reverend Parsley, who often holds services in which people are supposedly cured of disease by divine intervention, runs the sprawling World Harvest church near Columbus, Ohio.

World Harvest has a 12,000 member congregation, a bible college, and a television studio, which broadcasts his sermons.

A frequent theme of those homilies is the threat to Christian values posed by gays, liberals, and Muslims.

In his book, Silent no More, Parsley says the United States was ordained by God to defeat Islam.

In one chapter, titled The Deception of Allah he writes: "I cannot tell you how important it is that we understand the true nature of Islam, that we see it for what it really is. In fact, I will tell you this: I do not believe our country can truly fulfil its divine purpose until we understand our historical conflict with Islam. I know that this statement sounds extreme, but I do not shrink from its implications. The fact is that America was founded, in part, with the intention of seeing this false religion destroyed, and I believe September 11, 2001, was a generational call to arms that we can no longer ignore."

We asked Parsley for an interview, but through a church spokesman, he declined. We also sent him written questions, but he did not respond to those either.

Dividing communities

Abukar Arman, a Muslim community leader, says Parsley's remarks are threatening.

"It has a psychological toll on Muslims in central Ohio and beyond, that you are not part of the society that America was founded, in his words, to obliterate Islam," says Arman, president of the Central Ohio chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

McCain and other politicians should "distance themselves from the politics of hate and polarization", Arman said, noting that rhetoric that marginalizes American Muslims only contributes to poor relations between communities.

"In the grand scale of things," he says, "it hurts even the national security of this country because it fuels anti-Americanism."

Media interest

Interestingly enough, Parsley has been largely ignored by the US media, in sharp contrast to the intensive scrutiny given to sermons by Jeremiah Wright, Democrat Barack Obama's pastor.

Wright's homilies were widely criticized as unpatriotic and racially inflammatory, and have been replayed over and over on cable TV news channels.

Obama rejected Wright's remarks, but McCain has not denounced Parsley's comments about Islam, nor has he sought to distance himself from the minister.

In fact, some of McCain's campaign rhetoric virtually echoes Parsley's sermons. McCain, too, talks about a threat - although he focuses on extremism in Islam, not the religion as a whole.

"I'd like to talk to you for a minute about why I'm running, primarily," McCain told a Wisconsin rally on February 19.

"We face the transcendent challenge of the 21st century. That is the threat of radical Islamic extremism. My friends, I know you know that this is an evil of transcendent and unbelievable magnitude. You can see other times when our nation and our way of life were threatened, but this ranks among the greatest."

McCain's campaign told Al Jazeera that "... he [McCain] rejects politics that degrade our civics, and will be running a respectful campaign".

However, in seeking a path to the White House, it seems McCain is counting on the politics of fear and relying on a disturbingly belligerent spiritual guide.

Subtle Annoyances

Greg from Visalia, CA — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 01:54:15 EDT

Every once and I while I run across a subtle reminder that there are individuals in positions of power that are trying to use their influence to artificially sway some minds. Perhaps it is unintentional or unintended, but the effect is the same.

This could be a story written about a candidate in negative terms that leads into positives about the opponent. The opponent's picture might even headline the story and include a link to the opponent's campaign page. Or it could be any given minute on Fox News.

But I was really surprised tonight when I browsed to http://www.democrats.org/.

Take a look at what I was presented with: a great splash page concept that encourages Democrats to support our two candidates, Hillary and .... hmmm... what's that other name...

Please report the issue to the Democrats.org tech support now!

Oklahoma Conference to Examine Islamic Perspective on Terrorism

funkfresh01 — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:42:03 EDT

(OKLAHOMA CITY, OK, 3/25/08) - On Saturday, April 5th, the Institute of Interfaith Dialog will host a day-long conference, "Denouncing Violence in the Name of God: The Case of Islam." Participants at the event will have an opportunity to hear Islamic scholars, academics, law enforcement officials, and journalists discuss the "Islamic perspectives on terror, especially terror that is associated with Islam."

WHAT: Institute of Interfaith Dialog's "Denouncing Violence in the Name of God: The Case of Islam"

WHEN: Saturday April 5, 2008, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

WHERE: Oklahoma City University, The Henry Freede Center (Southwest corner of 27th and Florida)

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Dr. Cherif Bassiouni - Professor of Law at DePaul University College of Law and President Emeritus of the International Human Rights Law Institute

ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS: Robert Pape - University of Chicago; Muhammad Abu Laylah - Al-Azhar University, Egypt; Fred Von Der Mehden - Baker Institute for Public Policy, Rice University; Greg Barton - Monash University, Australia; Dr. Robin Myers - Oklahoma City University; Ekrem Dumanli - Editor of Zaman newspaper, Turkey; John Coyle - Special Agent of FBI, Oklahoma; Andrew Tevington - Daily Oklahoman; and Dr. Imad Enchassi – Imam of Islamic Society of Greater Oklahoma City (ISGOC)

CONTACT: Orhan Kucukosman, Phone: (405) 426 5425, E-Mail: osmanokc@gmail.com

The conference is free of charge and open to the public. Lunch will be provided.

Orhan Kucukosman, from the Institute of Interfaith Dialog, stated the reason for holding the conference in Oklahoma: "In the early days of Oklahoma City Bombing in 1995, there were speculations on individuals associated with a religion who might be responsible for the bombing.

As the truth was revealed, the bombing had no connection with any religion, but was a consequence of mentally challenged personality."

Sponsors include Wimberly School of Religion at Oklahoma City University, OU Religious Studies, Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism Texas, Islamic Society of Greater Oklahoma City and Mainstream Baptists, and the Oklahoma chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-OK).

For more information goto:

http://www.interfaithdialog.org/

A line to the Media - Biased (as if there were any other kind) or not

Plum Elements — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 17:30:30 EDT

"A man may dwell so long upon a thought it may take him prisoner" - Lord Halifax.

You have dwelt more than long and dotingly enough upon Rev Wright and this whole matter.

Part of why the story lives, is you keep breathing life into it.

Some of the breath - purposely agitating (See Fixed Noise <Thank you Keith Olberman>.

Others of it less targeted to destroy, meant only to sell copy or ad time - but by that, no better in quality.

You cut away from Obama's economic speech this morning.

But not last weeks Race speech.

Tell me why?

Race matters more to this country than the economy? I think not.

While Race matters, I think it is not as central as the current and deepening economic tumult we are enduring.

Let it go.

So we all may go forward.

Think on that which does in now matter.

And build toward a better and clearer choice.

The right one being...Obama.

JWZ

15000 Letters to the Editor

Ladycook99 (meet me in DC on 1/20/09) — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 17:10:51 EDT

This article reinforces why it is important that we never underestimate the effect that our voices raised thru letter writing or phone calling have on the media and their sponsors. So keep writing and calling as long as they continue their biased, one-sided "reporting".

http://mediamatters.org/columns/200803040004

HRC Hillary Clinton right wing conservative religious ties

Patrice of South Orange, NJ — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 01:44:05 EDT

PASS IT ON AND GET THE WORD OUT---There is a reason HRC has been silent about Wright's statements.

In addition to the pending fraud case in LA, there is also information which suggests that HRC belongs to a right wing conservative religious society. Jeff Sharlet's shocking expose; The Family: The Secret Fundamentalism at the Heart of American Power will be published in May. According to the site--Clinton fell in with The Family in 1993, when she joined a Bible study group composed of wives of conservative leaders like Jack Kemp and James Baker. When she ascended to the Senate, she was promoted to what Sharlet calls the Family's "most elite cell," the weekly Senate Prayer Breakfast included, until his downfall, Virginia's notoriously racist Senator George Allen. This has not been a casual connection for Clinton. She has written of Doug Coe, The Family's publicity-averse leader, that he is "a unique presence in Washington: a genuinely loving spiritual mentor and guide to anyone, regardless of party or faith, who wants to deepen his or her relationship with God."
I hope that the media will follow-up on that story with the tenacity that was devoted to Obama's pastor.
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20080331/ehrenreich
CNN Weekend finally aired the Rev Wright's statements in context http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvMbeVQj6Lw and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOdlnzkeoyQ
There is a pending Civil fraud case in California which alleges misconduct by both Hillary and Bill Clinton

US deaths in Iraq approach 4,000

funkfresh01 — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 19:40:48 EDT

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080322/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq

By ROBERT H. REID, Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD - A roadside bomb killed three American soldiers north of Baghdad on Saturday, pushing the U.S. death toll in the five-year conflict to nearly 4,000.

Also Saturday, Iraqi authorities reported that a U.S. airstrike north of the capital killed six members of a U.S.-backed Sunni group — straining relations with America's new allies in the fight against al-Qaida.

Two Iraqi civilians also died in the roadside bombing, which occurred as the Americans were patrolling an area northwest of the capital, the U.S. military said in a statement.

Two of the soldiers were killed in the blast and the third died of wounds, the statement said. The soldiers were assigned to Multinational Division-Baghdad, the statement said, but gave no further details.

The latest deaths brought to 3,996 the number of U.S. service members and Pentagon civilians who have died since the war began on March 20, 2003, according to an Associated Press count. Rocket or mortar fire killed one U.S. soldier and wounded four others Friday south of Baghdad, the military said.

Army Vet Speaks Against Mistreatment of Guantanamo Bay Detainees

funkfresh01 — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 18:52:54 EDT

http://media.www.dailytexanonline.com/media/storage/paper410/news/2008/03/21/University/Army-Vet.Speaks.Against.Mistreatment.Of.Detainees-3278241.shtml

Author: Lee Ann Holman

James Yee went from being a decorated U.S. Army soldier serving in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to being accused of espionage, spying and aiding the facility's detainees.

He spoke to students about his experiences Thursday night at the UT Law School Auditorium.

When returning to the U.S. for vacation after serving 10 months as chaplain, Yee was arrested in secret and accused of having classified documents in his backpack. While being transferred to prison Yee was subject to sensory deprivation, a torture tactic. He was held in solitary confinement for 76 days without being charged.

He was exonerated and honorably discharged after deciding to quit the army.

Yee converted to Islam shortly after graduating from West Point. He said it was a way to solidify his monotheistic faith in one God. Yee was hand-picked to serve as a Muslim minister to facility detainees.

While ministering detainees, Yee said he advised commanders on proper religious practices. He made suggestions on treatment of the detainees and spoke out against soldiers violating prisoners' human rights. Yee said that though he never participated in interrogation tactics, he counseled prisoners on their treatment.

Yee said he witnessed the desecration of the Quran. Prisoners also spoke of sexual harassment by female interferometers and being put in a pentagram while being forced to renounce Allah.

This treatment will not win the hearts and minds of the Muslim world, he said.

"People in the military have a gross lack of misunderstanding of the Muslim culture, which is counterproductive," Yee said.

Kristine Huskey, a clinical law professor, has been representing Guantanamo detainees since 2002. She said she believes any new presidential administration will shut down Guantanamo Bay, because it is not helping the U.S. fight terrorism and is breeding more people who hate America.

Muslim Leader Has Opposed War

funkfresh01 — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 18:31:54 EDT

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/localnews/columnists/sblow/stories/032008dnmetblowcolumn.6a03f9a.html

Author: Steve Blow

We first sat and talked in those numb days right after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.We mourned together, and Mohamed Elmougy helped me understand a little more about what had befallen us.

I returned several times over the years to visit with the local Muslim community leader. And this week's fifth anniversary of the war in Iraq seemed a good time to once again glimpse the world through his eyes.

Mohamed, 49, owns the Pyramids Hotel in Allen. He's Egyptian by birth and American by choice.

He opposed the war from the start. "You will remember that I said getting out won't be nearly as easy as going in," he said.

I remembered, particularly since I had bought the argument that Iraqis would welcome us.

"We were fools to think we were going to be seen as liberators," Mohamed said. "We are seen as occupiers, and we always will be."

Mohamed agreed that Saddam Hussein needed to go but says he should have been captured in a surgical strike and put on trial in an international court, like Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic.

Of course, hindsight is of little help at this point. I was most eager to hear his thoughts on what we should do now. And since the Republican and Democratic presidential candidates offer such divergent strategies, I asked the question in that context.

"Six months ago I had every intention of voting for John McCain," he said. "I felt he was very sincere, that he was speaking his mind, and I respected him as someone who really understands war.

"But after seeing how he has changed his tone to cater to the evangelical right, I just can't support him anymore. It would just be more of the same," he said.

He believes Hillary Rodham Clinton would be seen overseas as simply the return of the Bill Clinton administration, with whatever lingering baggage that involves.

After 5 Years, the Tragedy Continues

funkfresh01 — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 18:29:49 EDT

http://www.masnet.org/views.asp?id=4959

From the Desk of Ibrahim-Abdil-Mu'id Ramey, MAS Freedom Civil and Human Rights Directo

WASHINGTON, D.C. (MASNET) March 18, 2008 — The conundrum of American primary politics, American Idol worship, and the fall from grace of the former Governor of New York, may have shifted the market-based media focus from the story, but for those who may otherwise be unaware, March 19, 2008 marks the fifth anniversary of the most recent U.S. invasion of Iraq - yet another tragic date in U.S. history that will live in infamy.

What, exactly, has been the cost of the U.S. adventure in Iraq? We are now careening to the number of 4,000 American combat deaths and 40,000 seriously wounded troops. Many of the wounded have been abandoned by their government to a fate of permanent disability and mental distress from the psychological wounds of combat. But this number is dwarfed by the devastation suffered by the Iraqis themselves: 650,000 to one million dead; 400,000 persons displaced from their homes; and the bitter reality of a raging sectarian civil war that has left the nation terrorized and divided.

The recent U.S. troop "surge" has been a useful diversion for the proponents of the war, who now claim some hollow "victory" because of ephemeral military gains in the combat operations against Al-Qaeda and other assorted armed insurgents. But the fundamental contradictions and divisions in the country remain. And Iraq, for all the horrors of it's own history of dictatorship and war, is a far more dangerous and oppressive place that it was under the rule of Saddam.

In the meanwhile, the Iraq war has not only divided U.S. citizens, it has also consolidated world opinion against this nation in a way that no one could have anticipated five years ago. Blatant torture of Iraqi captives, attacks on the civil liberties of Muslim individuals, institutions, and charities in America, and countless violations of both domestic and international law have become the hallmark of the arrogant and recalcitrant regime in Washington that continues the prosecution of the war.

But the conflict in Iraq has also resulted in countless casualties at home, measured in increased domestic violence, family disintegration, alcoholism, and drug abuse suffered by returning U.S. combatants.

War, in every case, results in the massive transfer of wealth from one social class to another. The war in Iraq is no different.

But what is different is the reality of the naked ambition of the global energy and arms oligarchies that have feasted on the $1.2 trillion dollars spent by American taxpayers on the war to date. This violence continues, despite the deepening economic crisis in the nation and the devastation of the national social infrastructure.

In Washington, DC, activists from 40 states plan to gather to mark this tragic anniversary, and in some cases, to engage in non-violent direct action in opposition of the war in Iraq. We must continue to press for the demand to end the war, even if the Democratic Congress lacks the will to oppose the Bush regime's war machine.

The popular tide of resistance to the war will—and must—continue, until the war is ended, and the massive damage to both the United States and to the people of Iraq is fully repaired.

For more information about upcoming events and gatherings, please visit:

www.5YearsTooMany.org

McCain's ‘Spiritual Guide’ Says Destroy Islam

funkfresh01 — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 11:19:31 EDT

McCain's ‘Spiritual Guide’ Says Destroy Islam

http://www.motherjones.com/washington_dispatch/2008/03/john-mccain-rod-parsley-spiritual-guide.html

Author: David Corn

Senator John McCain hailed as a spiritual adviser an Ohio megachurch pastor who has called upon Christians to wage a "war" against the "false religion" of Islam with the aim of destroying it.

On February 26, McCain appeared at a campaign rally in Cincinnati with the Reverend Rod Parsley of the World Harvest Church of Columbus, a supersize Pentecostal institution that features a 5,200-seat sanctuary, a television studio (where Parsley tapes a weekly show), and a 122,000-square-foot Ministry Activity Center. That day, a week before the Ohio primary, Parsley praised the Republican presidential front-runner as a "strong, true, consistent conservative."

The endorsement was important for McCain, who at the time was trying to put an end to the lingering challenge from former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, a favorite among Christian evangelicals. A politically influential figure in Ohio, Parsley could also play a key role in McCain's effort to win this bellwether state in the general election. McCain, with Parsley by his side at the Cincinnati rally, called the evangelical minister a "spiritual guide."

Students Stage Die-In to Protest War

funkfresh01 — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 11:15:21 EDT

Students Stage Die-In to Protest War

http://media.www.dailyillini.com/media/storage/paper736/news/2008/03/14/News/Students.Stage.DieIn.On.Quad-3269402.shtml

Author: Paolo Cisneros

Thursday morning was an unusual one for Karen Medina, graduate student in library and information sciences. Instead of studying for exams or sitting in class, she was chalking body outlines on the Quad.

Medina and dozens of other anti-war activists took to the streets Thursday morning to stage a march and "die-in" protest as a way of demonstrating their discontent with the upcoming fifth anniversary of the Iraq war.

"We're calling it a 'condemoration' because we're both condemning and commemorating the war," Medina said.

The two-hour event was organized primarily by the Campus Greens and University chapter of the Campus Antiwar Network.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations, Students for Justice in Palestine, Champaign-Urbana Citizens for Peace and Justice and the College Democrats co-sponsored the event.

The cooperation of the groups was a large part of the morning's success, said Jeremy Polacek, senior in LAS. "We (Campus Antiwar Network) don't have a monopoly on the anti-war effort by any means," he said. "The collaboration of these groups was really important."

The demonstration began at roughly 11 a.m. Activists gathered to chant anti-war slogans before marching down Green Street to Fifth Street and then back around the Quad.

Many held signs condemning the war as others provided vocal support for the cause.

"This war has been going on for five years now, and, at this point, most people are against it," said Mark Mallon, junior in LAS. "We need to stop spending billions of dollars on this illegal and immoral war."

War's Costs Will Be Felt for Years

funkfresh01 — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 11:10:50 EDT

War's Costs Will Be Felt for Years

http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_8620269

Author: George Watson

The cost of five years of the war in Iraq can be seen in almost any community in the United States.

Families whose loved ones were killed or wounded struggle to put their lives back together. The economy teeters, thanks partly to what a renowned economist projects will ultimately be a $3trillion war bill. Gas prices soar. A political landscape that cost many Republicans their seats in Congress continues to fuel anti-American sentiment outside the nation's borders.

Despite substantial political and infrastructure improvements directly attributable to U.S. involvement in Iraq, few observers believe that as of today - the fifth anniversary of U.S. bombs first falling on Baghdad - an end to America's presence there is in sight.

The consequences of a continued stay, they say, will be felt in Americans' bank accounts and in politicians' ability to govern. . .

From the perspective of Hussam Ayloush, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations' Los Angeles chapter, the war's cost has been multifaceted.

Ayloush is an American with school-age children, and he worries about the state of their education, given California's budget crisis, cuts to education funding and teacher layoffs.

He, too, worries about the economy, the cost of gasoline, and the future of health care.

The war has other, less tangible costs, he noted.

"The biggest nonfinancial, nonmaterial casualty is the damage to our credibility and moral standing in the world today," Ayloush said. "When we issue reports on human rights, which the State Department does, people laugh at it now. They say, `Be quiet."'

Ayloush, who visited Syria and Jordan recently, said he was struck by how angry people are at the United States. The war in Iraq has displaced 2.4million people and induced another 2million to live abroad, primarily in the two countries he visited. Before the war, 500,000 Iraqis lived outside the nation's borders.

"We have caused misery to thousands of their lives and we haven't accepted responsibility," Ayloush said. "We expect neighboring countries to carry that burden without any financial help."

CAIR-LA Rep Speaks at Anti-War Protest

funkfresh01 — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 11:05:55 EDT

CAIR-LA Rep Speaks at Anti-War Protest

Author: Mike O'Sullivan

Protesters in several US cities held anti-war rallies Saturday to mark the fifth anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, March 20th. More rallies are planned in coming days in other U.S. cities. Mike O'Sullivan reports, several thousand joined an anti-war protest in Los Angeles.

Marchers chanted and some carried flag-draped coffins as speakers demanded that U.S. troops come home.

Sharaf Mowjood of the Council on American-Islamic Relations says the continued presence of American troops is worsening conditions in Iraq, and diverting attention from domestic U.S. problems, including rebuilding New Orleans. The city was devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

“We need to pull out immediately. That's the main thing right now we need to do. It's a conundrum as it is," he said. "So it's in a situation where the best viable option is to pull out because you have a lot of these internal problems you have to deal with, health care, sub-prime mortgage crisis, Katrina, all that. We need to work on those issues first."

Members of religious, labor and community groups joined the Los Angeles demonstration. Madelyn MacKay, a Quaker, says the protests are sending a message to the candidates in the November 4 presidential election.

United States Mosque Used by Iraqi Refugees Vandalized

funkfresh01 — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 10:58:46 EDT

United States Mosque Used by Iraqi Refugees Vandalized

http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080318/NEWS01/803180345

Author: Cheryl Wittenauer

Neighbors in the tidy, middle-class Southampton neighborhood in south St. Louis said Monday they barely noticed the comings and goings of one of their enclave's newest arrivals.

Nothing out of the ordinary anyway, aside from a steady stream of Iraqi cab drivers and other workers, and women and children, arriving for evening prayer services at the Islamic mosque.

The Islamic religious and community center, housed in a nondescript storefront building, was vandalized over the weekend. It was the second such incident since the Imam Hussin Foundation building opened last April.

"If someone is trying to send us a message," with this act, "we receive it," said Salah Ajmi, the mosque's imam and a businessman. "But we do everything right and legal. This is wrong."

Vandals damaged seven large glass windows with a blunt object sometime between midnight and 10:30 a.m. Sunday, police said. Vandals struck the first time last summer, and Ajmi said he suspected teenagers. This time the damage was more extensive.

Police took fingerprints and are investigating. They wouldn't say whether they consider it a hate crime. The FBI declined to comment.

My History and Your History...

Julie Hensley — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 10:36:56 EDT

The birds are moulting. If only man could moult also -- his mind once a year its errors, his heart once a year its useless passions.

- James Allen, from A Kentucky Cardinal

The layers of the racial issue have been brought forth in all their terrifying dimension by Senator Obama's religious advisor Reverend Jeremiah Wright.

Did Senator Obama know of Reverend Wright's indignation and rage? Of course he did. How many people don't have some rage that is directed due to a simple factor of another person? What else is a stereotype? Ultimately isn't that the issue of the 'race' or gender or any other bias in this country? What is being a bigot except creating negative stereotypes and acting on them as fact?

Predatory Lending, Unfairness in the Judicial System

Omar from Stone Mountain, GA — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 10:16:03 EDT

www.youtube.com/couples22

Media Ruination and America's Lost

Fahim — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 11:21:18 EDT

America’s Identity, Lost

Hate-Mongering Media controls America’s perception.

For the last few weeks, we here at Afro American Pie have dedicated ourselves to bringing to light the feelings and pulse of the unspoken, the unsaid. Today, I feel as though we should use that voice to sound off on the one entity that seemingly controls the way we think, the way we communicate, the visions we see and perspectives we hear. I’m talking about sensationalism and the American Media.

The FCC has rules in place to protect Americans from certain words and images deemed inappropriate for its citizens and yet allows the USA Network, among others, to broadcast the word “n______” in every African American movie it plays. These same sensors bleep out the word God in a curse, but leave n____ for our children to hear. What’s the difference in bleeping out God with the “damned” as its precursor but yet openly allow young children to be exposed to such as if it’s nothing. I’ve personally written to USA in regards to this outrage with no response. That tells me all I need to know. The media wants us to continue to be n______s regardless to how any African American parent feels about it.

“If you don’t like it, just turn it off.” How many times have we heard our counterparts tell us this when we voice our frustrations. That is the same apathy that is killing the strength of our American citizens. There used to be a phrase that said “If you don’t like it, fix it.” Why can’t we still stand for action as opposed to absolution? Turning off what we don’t like will not get it off the air!

This brings me to my next point; The New York Governor prostitution story that has been burning up the periodicals. Granted, Ex-Governor Spitzer deserves what he faces for disobeying the laws he was elected to hold us accountable for. My issue is not with him or his handling but rather the young woman who the media has decided to turn into their next Brittany Spears. Where are the controls for privacy? Should her myspace page been accessed, pictures reprinted, family address given to the public? And should we know her name? Remember, as of yet no crime has been committed. There have been no arrests. They have a Governor apologizing for something he hasn’t exactly admitted to yet. BUT they released the woman’s information to a frothing public. They publish her half-naked image on the cover of the New York Post and elevate her to Anna Nicole Smith status all for the sake of ratings.

Barack Obama’s Pastor MUST be the lips, larynx, and brain of the deep-seeded hatred for America brewing within the Black Church, as well as the Black community. As outlandish as that seems, that’s how the news is portraying him. It is as if Mr. Obama has to waste time focusing on the comments (taken out of text) of his Pastor instead of focusing on that is truly important, America.

This type of sensationalism is detrimental, not only to America’s focus on the upcoming election, but also to America’s focus as a whole. It’s as if with all of America’s troubles, the media wants us to forget we’ve got a 5 year, bloody war going on. They want us to forget gas prices will be at $4.00 by summer time. They don’t want to talk about the crime rates in various inner-cities. They don’t want to remind us that Louisiana is still hurting and broken. They don’t want us to look at the tornado in Atlanta like it’s a bad thing. They don’t want us focusing on President Bush’s wire-tap initiatives. They don’t want us to think about the gates they are building around America and the implications of what this truly does to our citizens living on or near those borders. Don’t allow them to remind us that food prices are escalating. Don’t let them tell you of the real damage those West coast wildfires are doing to the climate and environment for our neighbors. The media doesn’t care about the affects global warming is having on the planet we live in. They don’t care that other places in the world are living in violence, abject poverty and fear (in some cases, a direct cause of this Bush War on Oil). They must not want us to focus on raising our children with morals and values because they show us that our Black youth have to be angst-ridden, material-focused, bratty, disrespectful and uneducated.

Media is allowed to be partisan, subjective, and allowed to flood the airwaves with stories that aren’t newsworthy, perspectives that are unique and not the true voice of America, and seemingly without fear of punishment or even a harsh chiding.

We should be embarrassed that most Americans know who the next American Idol is, who Trump fired this week, or how many points their sports hero put up in last night’s game but can’t spout off any positive changes to our society within the last five years. We should be saddened by how much we know about Britney Spear’s parenting skills and how least we are aware of gas prices, per barrel and exactly what that means.

My point is simply, until we decide to be aware, they will continue to show us what they “think” we need to see. If we cannot see that their blinding of our people is wrong, dangerous, and unfairly misrepresentative of all people, then perhaps the media has already won.

CAIR Co-Sponsors Letter to Congress on Wiretapping

funkfresh01 — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 23:02:26 EST

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 3/6/08) - On March 5, 2008, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) joined other individuals and institutions who work to preserve civil liberties in sponsoring a letter to members of Congress commending them for refusing to pass the FISA Amendments Act of 2007 and urging them to allow it to expire.

The letter is as follows:

March 5, 2008

Dear Representative,

We the undersigned organizations commend the House for refusing to yield to administration fearmongering by passing the worst possible surveillance legislation - S. 2248, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) Amendments Act of 2007. This bill would grant the administration unfettered access to all communications coming into or out of the United States without any meaningful court review or finding of wrongdoing and grant complete immunity to companies that cooperated with illegal wiretapping over the last several years.

As you go forward with negotiations, we ask that you leave the Protect America Act exactly as it is -- sunsetted. As House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and the Cato Institute noted, America is in no danger from the expiration of this unconstitutional law. Orders issued since last August remain in effect until their internal cease date, up to a year after issuance, ensuring that current surveillance programs will continue, in some cases, into 2009. These programmatic orders are not limited to individuals or facilities so that new targets can be tapped under existing orders. Of course, the government always has the option of tapping targets immediately and returning to court within 72 hours to obtain a court order under the FISA procedures that have served our intelligence community for nearly 30 years.

An Exercise in Removing Bias

Comrade Kevin — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 12:31:57 EST

If we threw race and gender out the dynamic, what would the narrative of this campaign look like?

In an effort to make a point, I will attempt to do just that by removing gender and race from the narrative of the current Democratic nomination for President.

Once Upon A Time, there was a candidate. This candidate had a last name that was very familiar to everyone. This candidate was presumed to be, by public opinion, pollsters, and media alike the inevitable candidate. This candidate started out taking conventional wisdom and all these assumptions as gospel and made a point of not taking any contrary viewpoint particularly seriously, assuming that by mere name recognition, history, and familiarity this candidate would win hands down. A challenger arose. A newcomer to the political scene, the odds of this candidate winning against the seasoned Washington insider with all the odds seemed remote. A few, the same few who always choose their conscience over the odds, supported this candidate from the outset. For many months, this candidate ran a distant, though healthy second place to the challenger. Graced with a unifying spirit and rhetoric of inspiration, this challenger posed a threat not taken seriously by the presumed sure thing candidate that had practically been given the Democratic nomination by default.

But lo and behold, it all began to change. The promising outsider began winning caucuses and primaries and the momentum swung the challenger's way. It seemed implausible. Such things never happen! Who would have ever dreamed a challenger that until months before few had heard of could seriously attack the machine and presumed party spokesperson! But the challenger knew that a war of attrition and a war over the hearts and minds of the American people would be no easy feat.

The challenger knew this going in and presumed correctly that fighting against Washington and the Old Guard would be a massive endeavor and that the insider would not go gently into that good night. The challenger understood that the Old Guard dies slowly and even when backed into a corner, it does not easily concede defeat. After weeks of back and forth bickering, arguing experience versus judgment, inspirational empty rhetoric versus words that promised known ability and known entities, fear versus hope, new versus old, the day came where the challenger, who had now taken the lead and flipped the dynamic absolutely upside down, stood poised to launch the decisive blow against the former sure-thing.

Attacks by both sides, some personal, some not, were but salvos launched directly at each other and the supporters of either candidate. Religion, patriotism, war, liberal, conservative, all of these same motifs found themselves spun against and for both challengers. The media, known for interjecting its will and its own love of conflict into the debate, was glad to make the race as contentious as possible, as were the supporters of both candidates. By the end, the people had to decide.

Flip to page 17 to learn what happened.

Relevant posts from my other blog

dd — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 11:44:12 EST

Here are some relevant posts from my other blog.

What Do Smears Against Obama Say About Society?

funkfresh01 — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 11:31:18 EST

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-obamamuslim_thinkfeb24,0,6345949.story

Author: Ahmed M. Rehab

OK, we get the point. Barack Obama is not a Muslim. He has made that clear, time and again.

As well he should: The rumors are baseless, maliciously spun by political adversaries with the intention of taking votes away from Obama's promising presidential campaign run.

Obama is entitled to set the record straight. But that's not the end of the story.

The broader issue is: What does this attempt to smear Obama say about our society?

More personally, what does it say about my newborn nephew's standing in society? Is he entitled to the dreams of his Muslim father that the boy could grow up to be president if he works as hard as Obama and is as ambitious?

Obama has not gone far enough to challenge the notion that religious affiliation could disqualify Americans from serving their nation. Nor has Mitt Romney, a Mormon, Mike Huckabee, a Baptist, or any other candidate.

It's time for all of them to be quizzed on the meaning of citizenship as preached and practiced in this great democracy. As a voter, I would much rather know their stance on equal employment policies than which church they attend.

Whenever I address young Muslim audiences that may be struggling with identity issues, I remind them that this is their country, too. I tell them they should observe their civic duties, vote and, if it behooves them, run for public office and help bring about the positive reform they often passively expect of others.

Bias in the NY TImes pt. 123908473

Virginia S. — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 14:12:31 EST

*Yawn* Even more bias in the NY Times today. I love how this article highlights only the SEIU, and its spending on Barack Obama and on John Edwards. Way to make it seem like only one candidate had any help like this, unlike poor Hillary Clinton, who of course never had union support.

Oh wait? What's that? The AFSCME spent over $1 million in the Iowa caucus attacking Barack? I guess that money doesn't count because union money doesn't count when it goes to Hillary. That's just the people talking. Barack's money comes from us latte-drinking, birkenstock-wearing, satan-worshipping people.

Janus '08!

PS Go Teamsters! :)

GET OFF of Chris Matthews

Jer Hussein Gelman — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 03:17:38 EST

People, don't bite the hand that feeds ya.

Chris is a notorious Hillary-hater, and Obama supporter. Kirk Watson looking ridiculous is the fault of, well... Kirk Watson being ridiculous! C'mon, you gotta be prepared before an interview with the host of HARDBALL! It is entirely Watson's fault that he couldn't even list ONE legislative accomplishment of Obama's- something most of us ordinary Obama net-supporters can do easily.

And why didn't Matthews ask the Hillary-supporting woman the same question on legislation? First of all, he ain't obligated to always interview everyone identically on all things. Second of all, did it ever occur to you that perhaps the Hillary woman was incredibly prepared, and would have siezed the oppurtunity to paint a devastating contrast with Watson? Yeah, perhaps Chris saved us from that by swiftly cutting the whole thing short. Don't be thick!

If you don't like Matthew's style, it's a free market, watch someone else. But don't bash him as another MSM Hillary hack. You can find plenty of instances where he's Obama-biased to balance it all out if ya want. In short, LAY OFF OF MATTHEWS!!!

Urge Congress to Halt Humanitarian Disaster in Gaza

funkfresh01 — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 16:37:38 EST

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 01/21/08) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today called on American Muslims and other people of conscience to urge their elected officials to immediately intervene to put an end to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

The crisis was triggered by an Israeli-imposed blockade Sunday evening, which forced the closure of the only electric plant that serves Gaza City's 400,000 residents and one third of the Gaza Strip's 1.5 millions residents. The blockade prevents the entry of fuel that is essential to the operation of the plant.

SEE: Gaza Dark Amid Israeli Blockade (LA times)

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-gaza21jan21,1,576321.story?track=crosspromo&coll=la-headlines-world&ctrack=2&cset=true

Gaza is already suffering from economic hardship, which according to the World Bank, is primarily a result of being cut off from the rest of the world by Israel. Without power, hospitals, water facilities and other crucial lifelines may completely shut off and homes may be left without heat, plunging Gaza into disarray.

Clinton Bias Apparent on NPR

Jim Bailey — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 21:05:29 EST

Lately, NPR has been biased towards Senator Clinton. Juan William, Melissa Block and others have been under-reporting the strength of Senator Obama's recent wins, as well as giving more air time to Clinton supporters as in this story with Rep. Emanuel Cleaver of Missouri. He makes some amazing claims in this story, and I wonder at their accuracy... anybody have time to check it out?

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=19096400

I was able to find no other interview story favorable to Senator Obama that ran anywhere near the 7 minutes of Ms. Block's story. I've read the NPR code of conduct and found the station to be veering from it's claims of both journalistic fairness and accuracy.

I've already written the ombudsman at NPR once about this. But I was again shocked to hear Melissa Block say that "Barack Obama has emerged as apparently the front runner..." The italics represent Ms. Block's apparent unceartainty as noted in her tone. Yet on NPR's own web page Senator Obama is leading in pledged deleagates 1112 to Clinton's 979. They even show his lead with super delagates included to be 62 points. It is disallusioning to find that the journalist you trust, susceptable to either their own or editorial bias.

I am interested to know what they will do to re-establish this listener's trust? Will you all pay attention to NPR and give them a call or letter if you are hearing the same as me?

Thanks,

Jim Bailey, Science Teacher, Ojai, CA

Is the News Biased?

!!*Brian D Alger II*!! — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 02:33:08 EST

As an Ohioan, I don't appreciate being given to Hillary. The voice of the people are speaking in America and the news doesn't want to hear it.

CNN tells us Obama would beat McCain, but Hillary won't. FOX news says they don't know who would have the better chance.

However, they're also making statements like this state won't be as good for him because there aren't as many african americans, when its never about skin but ideas. His ideas are being introduced to people by his most powerful tool the website (http://www.barackobama.com).

So is the news biased? Do we already have Ohio? I'm ready to work in the days to come.

Interesting bias in NY Times, with digression

Virginia S. — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 11:29:10 EST

It's interesting that in general the NY Times seems to be getting slightly less biased towards Obama, in the form of opinion articles, while their reporting seems to be getting more openly hostile towards him.

Here is a good example of an opinion article that talks about how Obama inspires people to act for the common good.

Compare that to this, which is the NY times original article about Maine. How angsty can you get? Plus, although they took it down, the original article contained a picture of what was probably the only African-American supporter of Obama in the whole state of Maine! Seriously, this is what you call reporting? I know it's only a blog, but again, seriously! I my mind the author is sitting alone in a dark room, listening to Wheezer and crying.

Notice anything

Virginia S. — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 19:18:46 EST

Can you spot anything wrong with these quotes from this article:

Why are you voting for Obama? "Color of my skin, I guess"; volunteers at the Obama office are "ignorant of the issues and are far more excited about the concept of a black leader".

What are Clinton voters like: "They’re concerned about the stability of their jobs, whether they will be able to maintain the lifestyle that they currently have."

Hmm, is the NY Times trying to imply that Obama is the BLACK candidate?

Bias in google pt. 3

Virginia S. — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 17:12:52 EST

The latest in bias from news.google.com:

Their second lead article in the Elections Section is "Obama's Relationship With Alleged Fixer". This completely biased article trumpets Clinton's claim about Sen. Obama dealing with Tony Rezko. This is by far the most biased headline against Obama in the entire 191 news articles relating to this topic. It is also the most biased article, calling Obama "plainly embarrassed" and stating that the tie "go back fifteen years".

I can't even believe she could claim something like this with a straight face, considering that HER BACKER bilked people out of $40 million. You can't control who is going to give you money, so you shouldn't attack someone because a sleazebag donated to their campaign. Furthermore, the ties go back fifteen years to when Obama spent 5 hours working on his legal case, that the guy was conducting with a CHURCH.

More on the NY Times

Virginia S. — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 15:11:39 EST

Again, look at the wording in this article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/18/opinion/18brooks.html?em&ex=1200805200&en=d464317e6b316942&ei=5087%0A

The NY Times runs this: "Nor is it an accident that the Democratic race is a clash between a daughter of the feminist movement, a beneficiary of the civil rights movement and a self-styled proletarian." That's right, Clinton is a "daughter" of the feminist movement, but Obama is a "beneficiary" of the civil rights movement.

Have we protected against the Primacy Effect? (not in NH)

Don Slowik — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 19:46:47 EST

I was surprised to find 21 names listed on the NH democratic primary ballot when I voted last Tuesday. It has been acknowledged that a systematic bias, the primacy effect, is introduced by the order in which the candidates names appear on the ballet, in favor of those candidates listed first. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/04/opinion/04krosnick.html

On August 17, 2006, the Supreme Court of New Hampshire ruled that it is unconstitutional to order candidates names alphabetically in a state general election. I am still trying to figure out what the implications, if any, of that ruling are/were for last Tuesday's primary; you can see the path I've followed so far by clicking on the 'Read More' link below.

But, going forward here, we should make sure, if we haven't already, that the candidates names on the ballots are fairly randomized, to the extent allowed by law, in each of the upcoming state's primaries. In these days of genetic engineering, I am surprised that a known bias like this is still not being dealt with effectively.

Suspicious

Virginia S. — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 11:12:24 EST

Suspiciously, right after I made my last post, news.google.com changed the heading of their lead debate article from "Clinton Shines" to "Democratic Candidates End Dispute on Race, Debate Other Issues". Coincidence? Probably. :P Although, I still believe that FDR assassinated Huey Long.

Here's to change in '08!

More bias in news.google.com

Virginia S. — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 10:56:56 EST

I have found several new instances of randomly generated computer bias against Barack:

1) The lead article for all debate related articles is "Clinton Shines in Vegas" from TheStreet.com, even though none of the 700+ other articles have that same message

2) Right below it is "The Hillary-Tyra Show", even though Barack was just on Tyra! There was no article about his visit to Tyra

3) Below that is "Bill Clinton To Speak at UC Davis", which used to be under the heading "Bill Clinton wows UCD". Like the Chelsea article from before, this one only has 26 news articles.

4) If you search for "Barack Obama", the only article that shows just a picture of him is entitled "Sexism, racism emerging from Clinton-Obama rivalry". All other articles show a split picture of Barack and Hillary or JUST HILLARY

Okay, I know it's a computer, but seriously, this is rather blatant.

Bias in news.google.com?

Virginia S. — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 17:12:07 EST

I am beginning to think that there is bias in news.google.com. I first thought this was unlikely because a computer picks out the news stories through a formula based upon several factors. However, upon further reflection, I realized something must be up, because:

A) They have had a story about Chelsea Clinton up for hours, and it only has "six news articles" that deal with it.

B) They've had a entry up for days entitled "Voters Hear Fluff" describing Obama, but the "other news articles" in general say nothing negative about him.

C) They have no entry mentioning Senator Clair McCaskill's endorsement of Obama, despite over 200 news articles detailing her endorsement of Obama.

There are other examples, but these highlight what I see as a general trend of bias.

News Channels providing free air to Hilary

haydenlh — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 13:43:57 EST

I noticed in the New Hampshire primary...days leading up to the election and days after Hilary Clinton is getting a lot of free air time from the news media! Including one attack on Barack in the hour before the polls opened on Good Morning America. This attack came by two from Hilary and one from Bill. Hilary alleged that because a lobbiest was working in Barack's New Hampshire campiagn that Barack was curpt, the second one was on the voting of the Patriot Act, and then Bill Cliton twisted, parsed and paraphased Baracks quotes to make him seem dirty.

From the research that I have gathered states former South Carolina Gov. Jim Hodges is a lobbist for who now runs a lobbying firm, the Hodges Consulting Group, and is registered himself as a federal lobbyist for Hillenbrand Partners, a Chicago-based company that does business with the Federal Home Loan Bank, according to U.S. Senate lobbying disclosure records.

My note here is that he is mostly a state lobbiest and it is not like the Hodges Consulting Group is pouring millions of dollars into the Obama campaign. The main argument is that Jim Hodges will not be put in charge of pharmaceutical legislation. That by itself is a hugh change in politics.

On the issue of the Patriot Act was that Barack didn't vote for the bill he was talking about it to the reporter. This was an altered version of the bill.

Bill is just selling ocean front property in Arizonia trying to get Hilary the nomination. It is pretty sad a former president would sell out his county!

I think the major issue I have seen in the last week is all the news channels are giving Hilary a massive amount of free air time. The worst thing is that any statment is not being vetted. I mean how as a responsible news source could you allow this much political bais and think that you are fair and balanced. I think it is irresponsible to use the media network to influience a primary election in the way ABC's Good Morning America has.

Does U.S. Tolerate Anti-Muslim Speech?

funkfresh01 — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 21:12:21 EST

Author: Omar Sacirbey

http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1204/p02s02-usgn.html?page=1

Lu Gronseth listens regularly to WWTC, a conservative talk-radio station in Minneapolis, and even advertises his mortgage-loan business on the station. But when he learned that a nationally syndicated radio show host had told WWTC listeners that Muslims should be deported and made rude comments about what they could do with their religion, Mr. Gronseth pulled his ads from the station.

So have at least two other Minnesota businesses, at the urging of the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Washington, D.C., as have a handful of national companies, including OfficeMax, JCPenney, Wal-Mart, and AT&T. But the comments by host Michael Savage in October – and previous anti-Muslim speech – have not created the furor that knocked radio icon Don Imus off of MSNBC and CBS Radio after he denigrated a black women's basketball team. That leaves many Muslims-Americans – and non-Muslims like Mr. Gronseth – suspicious that Americans have a double standard when it comes to Islam.

Help to stop an endless occupation in Iraq

funkfresh01 — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 22:21:42 EST

Have you seen the news? President Bush is negotiating a deal with Iraq to keep our troops there indefinitely--it could include permanent bases and a massive military presence for years! Bush is trying to tie the hands of the next president.

Congress can stop him from setting up permanent bases in Iraq and block an indefinite occupation--but they need to hear a groundswell of pressure from us immediately and loudly so they act on this quickly.

I just signed a petition demanding that Congress stop the president from committing to a massive military presence in Iraq for decades. Can you join me?

http://pol.moveon.org/endless/?r_by=11723-5077189-Cf.Eao&rc=comment_paste

Thanks!

NORTH CAROLINA CHURCH SAYS ‘NO” TO MUSLIMS

funkfresh01 — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 19:30:15 EST

Source: Oriental Harbor

http://www.orientalharbor.net/hotoffthepress.html

Oriental's Episcopal Church has 'un-invited' a Muslim group that was to speak at the church to quell a parishoner revolt against '"non-Christians" and keep peace in the parish.

"Concern was expressed that non-Christians should not be given a voice in our church," Senior Warden George Robinson wrote in the church's October newsletter, The Moorings. "Others felt that to gain understanding, particularly about 'the enemy' was important."

The Muslim group was invited after a local Methodist congregation had them speak and thought it added to understanding between faiths, according to the newsletter. The Muslim group was invited to St. Thomas Episcopal Church as part of its "One God" series of seminars.

But some members objected, and at a September meeting at the church where both sides presented their cases, the church's Rev. Jeremiah C. Day apparently stepped in to quell controversy, saying the group would be un-invited, based on the newsletter.

The Muslim group was the idea of the church's Christian Education Committee.

"So what was the result of all the discussion? Father Day suggested that ministers in the community might have a forum for the whole community. Pat Webster, of the Christian Education Committee – the group suggesting a Muslim speaker – suggested we could spend some time together trying to develop a tolerance for diversity," Webster wrote on Page 5 of the October newsletter.

"Consequently, the Muslim speaker is not coming to St. Thomas, as Father Day noted, to keep peace in the parish.

Only Three Candidates Left?

Rodney Wollam — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 12:28:11 EST

I'm for Senator Obama, but I have to say this....The CNN post-debate coverage was disgraceful. 26 minutes in, Anderson Cooper, the four pundits, Jon King, and video highlights only made mention of the three front runners- Clinton, former Senator Edwards, and Senator Obama. The focus was on Hilary defending herself from attacks by the two others. Spin? Yes. Slanted? Yes.
But, where were Congressman Dennis Kucinich, Senator Joe Biden, Governor Bill Richardson, and Senator Christopher Dodd? NO mention. Former Alaska Senator Mike Gravel wasn't even invited to the event. That's bad enough. No mention that Kucinich uttered the best line of the night, "Wouldn't it be great to have a President who is right the first time?". No coverage.
CNN, intentionally or not, is shaping this race by giving only coverage to the top three. They would argue that coverage is based on how the candidates are polling, but when you act like there are only three candidates running for the nomination, are you making perception a reality?
The other candidates have no chance when the supposedly objective media act like they don't exist. Fox News started it all, but CNN is continuing the new sport of biased media.

CNN and Nevada State Democratic Party Conspire In Favor of Sen. Clinton!

Eli Corp — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 00:49:27 EST

I want to comment on a couple of issues relating to the Debate because I feel it is important to speak out about it. I have had some inside information about how this debate was conducted and I think that CNN and those who organized this debate have a responsibility to answer for the way it was conducted. It was clear at the CNN Nevada Debate on November 15th that CNN was not unbiased or impartial in how they conducted the "debate" or in their post debate analysis. I give CNN an F on how they conducted this debate, and I will detail why.

You may have noticed that there was an obvious audience bias in favor of Sen. Hillary Clinton and often times an audience bias against Sen. Edwards and Sen. Obama. It was clear when Clinton gave her answers the audience was screaming and clapping, but on several occasions Barack Obama, John Edwards and Dennis Kucinich were actually booed and interrupted by protesters. There is actually a logical reason for this kind of not-so-subtle bias in the audience and in the moderators, and I have some inside information about what occurred in the last 48 hours before the debate that dramatically changed the dynamics of this debate.

Watch the Audience Reaction and How Nothing Was Done to Stop the Heckler:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70adwv66r7s

Misleading Media!!!

Benjamin in Singapore — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 00:25:14 EDT

October 14th-

1) Gore wins Nobel Peace Prize, this piece of news is at the very top of global headlines.

2) Log on to google news from Singapore. Scan USA political news.

3) On the first search page I see this headline-"

"Al Gore believes Hillary Clinton is unstoppable"

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/10/14/wgore114.xml

4) Immediately click the link, it would be big news if Al Gore won the Nobel piece price and then walked into a press conference and said "Hillary clinton is unstoppable! I am definitely not running for president"

5) The actual article is below. Misleading headline atop an article that doesn't really have any news. Basically an aide remarked that Hillary is looking strong these days without categorically stating that her strength is keeping Gore out of the race. The Telegraph twisted this around to get some traffic to thier site.

6) News posts like these are the SPAM of mainstream media. It is nonsense! I posted some comments on the article and will check later to see the moderator approves.

7) This is ridiculous. The reason Gore is not running is that he is doing important things for a cause he deeply believes in. Why stop now when he finally has the world's ear? Gore has been running around talking about the environment for something like 25 years in the face of a lot of ridicule and deep political set-backs! When I was in school the conventional wisdom was Gore was a flake (my econ professor co-authored "appocalypse not". This has completely turned around.

8) Gore is not running because he doesnt have a secret army of campaign workers numbering the thousands hidden for deployment in front end loaded hyper fast primary race. If he did have something like this, where would you hide it? Narnia? Middle Earth? The north pole>

How about this for a Telegraph story lead:

"Santa's helpers working secretly with Gore-Magical late entry to Dem Primary imminent!"

Followed by this byline

-"Aides say secret Gore-Santa meetings took place in March 2006, Santa's elves secretly deployed on top secret campaign effort"

Jeez-MSM making news again!

My take on Clinton's mystifying poll lead

Michael Hussein James — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 13:40:59 EDT

The people on this site are well aware that Barack Obama is a superior candidate to Hillary Clinton in every conceivable way. He's a more inspiring leader, he has actually accomplished things in his life that benefited the public instead of just experiencing them or watching her husband achieve them and Barack's policy positions are superior as well.

Knowing all of this, many Obama supporters are dismayed by the litany of polls that are saying Hillary has a big lead. There are many good and well-known reasons to not trust the polls, whether national or state-specific, but this post is to shine some attention on one factor that I believe has largely been ignored.

While it is true there are some pollsters out there who have sold out to the Clintonista camp, even if there isn't any overt bias from the pollster, I think bias is introduced from the very beginning of most polls since they screen out a lot of people on the front end before they even ask any questions.

It's not all about not calling cell phones and stuff like that. For example, Zogby and some others dial phone numbers at random so there is a chance anyone can be called regardless of landline vs. cell or VOIP, etc.

To me, the main issue is that, if you are not identified as a "likely voter" and, specifically, a likely Democratic primary voter, in other words, an establishment Democrat, the pollsters are not even going to administer the poll to you.

Thus, because Hillary leads among establishment Democrats, who will definitely be identified as "likely voters" in the Democratic primary, is it any surprise that she would also lead a poll taken exclusively from people that are in this group?

It's not an issue of biased questions per se, although that's out there too, but more an issue of biased samples. For example, if I do a poll among sales people to find out which car they think is the best car, if I limit my polling sample to only those people who work for Chevrolet, Buick and Pontiac, do you think they will be likely to express a preference for a Saturn or a Cadillac? They might, but I bet you get a different result if you polled from a population drawn from all of the different manufacturers. You would also get a vastly different result if you polled from a population not restricted to just the insiders, e.g. asking florists or accountants which car they think is best instead of just the auto sales people.

The bottom line is that, if you've never voted Democratic before or didn't vote in the last election or aren't currently registered to vote, you aint gonna show up in the numbers being cited by the pollsters. Throw in the Vinod Guptas of the world and Barack is probably never going to lead in the polls until the votes are actually counted.

What other factors that have been heretofore ignored do people think is at work in terms of the the poll numbers?

Bias in the Media

Emily Jane — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 20:39:54 EDT

So maybe it's because I'm taking Intro to Mass Media, but lately I've been thinking a lot about bias in the media. The thing is, I'm not sure it's all bad, provided it's presented correctly.

As a consumer, I like some bias. I like opinion pieces, even if they're not how I feel. There is a time and a place for regurgitated facts with no bias, but I feel like a computer could spit out a story like that. I have a lot more respect for people who write op-eds and letters to the editor. Opinion is really important to me.

That said, it's also important that opinion is presented as opinion. Fox News has been under scrutiny lately for being conservatively biased, and to an extent, it's true. But they wouldn't be criticized if they presented themselves as the "right wing news source" or some such catchy thing. They're only being scrutinized because they present themselves as a non-biased non-partisan news organization but in actuality are putting a spin on things. (Clarification: sometimes they're not so much putting a spin on things as choosing which topics to give the most air time to, which is another form of bias.)

On the other hand, you have Stephen Colbert. Although he's a little confusing since his show is a satire (do you ever wonder if there are people who ignore the laugh track and take what he says seriously?) he is clearly presenting a biased opinion. Viewers know that what he's presenting is very selective and spun material. Even if his news is lighthearted to the point of being comedic, it is informative. I trust Stephen more than I trust FOX, because Stephen is open about his presumed bias.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I think journalists slant their stories to give their own lives meaning. Like I mentioned earlier, anybody could spit out and organize the facts into something coherent. Journalists are there, they know what went down, they have an amazing ability to analyze an event. They're much more equipped than you or I, and I think its a shame that, in writing straight news, they are pressured to reserve their personal take on the event.

In saying that, I can't really offer a perscription or solution. Which makes this a lot like a complaint. My sincerest apologies.

<3 Emily

What is CNN's Beef with Obama?

Eli Corp — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 17:28:22 EDT

What is CNN's beef with Obama? In the last two days I have counted the number of times that CNN has given negative and positive press to the 2008 Democratic Candidates. The Numbers speak for themselves. There were five stories that portrayed Obama in a negative light, compared to two times for Clinton, and one time for Edwards. The striking number is not just that Obama is getting negative press, it is the positive press that Clinton has received. I counted over six stories in the last two days portraying Clinton in a positive light, compared to only one for Obama and two for Edwards.