Archive for September 10, 2009
Breaking: Fox News and Scary Black People
This is a screenshot of the home page of Fox News as of 9:20 p.m. ET today. What would Fox do without these scary people?
Censure Joe Wilson Already
Consider signing this petition, which simply says:
Enough is enough. On an issue as critical as health care reform, it’s time to stop the lies, the misinformation, and the uncivil disruptions. Rep. Joe Wilson went way over the line by yelling ‘You lie’ during President Obama’s speech, and Congress should censure him immediately.
Brave New Films Forces Apology From Michael Savage’s Right-Wing Radio Network
I just got this press release from Brave New Films:
Progressive Organization Brave New Films’ Lawsuit Forces Apology from Michael Savage’s Right-Wing National Radio Network
Apology Arrives on Eve of Radio Talk Show Host Michael Savage Getting Dropped from his Flagship Station KNEW-910 AM
Los Angeles-On September 29, 2008, Michael Savage’s national radio network sent YouTube a takedown notice demanding the removal of the Brave New Films (BNF) video “Michael Savage Hates Muslims.” As a result, YouTube took down all of BNF’s online content. BNF sued Michael Savage and his radio company, The Original Talk Radio Network, Inc. (OTRN), for damages caused by the removal of BNF’s content and to vindicate BNF’s free speech rights. BNF was represented pro bono by Bingham McCutchen LLP and Stanford Center for Internet and Society’s “Fair Use Project,” which was founded in 2006 to provide legal support to a range of projects designed to clarify, and extend, the boundaries of “fair use” in order to enhance creative freedom.
“We were not going to allow extreme members of the right to intimidate progressive organizations into inaction. Mr. Savage systematically targeted the Council on American Islamic Relations for simply printing his hateful words onto one of their fundraising materials. These despicable acts, as well as Mr. Savage’s hateful rants against Muslims on his radio show, spurred us into action.” Robert Greenwald, Producer, Brave New Films
Leading up to the 2008 elections, Michael Savage spent much of his time spewing hatred towards Muslims on his radio show. That same year, Michael Savage decided to target the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR). It was at that point that Brave New Films released the video, “Michael Savage Hates Muslims”.
His radio commentary, as well as the “Michael Savage Hates Muslims” video, can be viewed at:
http://nosavage.org/
On August 21, 2009, OTRN and Michael Savage reached a settlement with Brave New Films that included a written apology. The apology reads as follows:
“OTRN acknowledges that it made a mistake by asking YouTube to remove Brave New Films’ video “Michael Savage Hates Muslims” from the YouTube site. Upon further examination, it is clear that video should not have been included in OTRN’s September 29, 2009 takedown notice. OTRN apologizes for this error.” Settlement Agreement Written Apology, August 21, 2009
I worked with Brave New Films as a researcher on Robert Greenwald’s documentary, Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch’s War on Journalism so I’m beaming right now. Good, good work my fellow “bomb throwers” (as Bill O’Reilly once called us).
The Senate Censured MoveOn, but They’re Not Going to Censure Joe Miller?
In September, 2007, the United States Senate voted, “72 -25 in favor of a resolution condemning the liberal antiwar group MoveOn.org for publishing a newspaper ad questioning the credibility of Iraq war commander General David Petraeus…”
This morning, a reporter asked Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) whether she would push to censure Joe Wilson (R-SC) for his “you lie” outburst last night. Her reply? “As far as I’m concerned, the episode was unfortunate. Mr. Wilson has apologized. It’s time for us to talk about health care and not Mr. Wilson.”
Way to shit on your base, huh?
Take That Joe Wilson!
UPDATED
I love this. Joe Wilson’s opponent, Rob Miller, has raised over $350,000, overnight!
I just made a $10.00 contribution (do so here if you want to too), mostly as a statement but after a quick perusal of Miller’s position on the issues, he seems like a good guy so everything’s good.
UPDATED: Oops. Things aren’t so good for Joe Wilson, in more ways than one. Looks like he’s in debt out the wazoo. Karma.
Don’t Feel Like You’re Getting Ahead?
Well, you’re not. Your income might even be lower, adjusted for inflation, than it was ten years ago:
In another sign of both the recession and the long-term stagnation of middle-class wages, median family incomes in 2008 fell to $50,300, compared with $52,200 the year before. This wiped out the incomes gains of the previous three years, the report said.
Adjusted for inflation, in fact, median family incomes were lower in 2008 than they had been a decade previously.
Are People Going to Let Glenn Beck Dictate Who They Associate With?
That’s what it’s coming down to here. Glenn Beck — Glenn Beck! — someone who ten years ago would have been shunned like David Duke, is now culling through what he considers — that’s right, what HE considers — to be undesirables and those people are being dropped like flies. When are we going to stand up to this hateful political terrorist?
Looks Like Republicans Cut Their Own Throat With Their Behavior Last Night
Democracy Corps polled a focus group immediately after President Obama’s health care speech last night and found:
One of the most striking aspects of tonight’s speech was the large increase in people who went from “somewhat supporting” to “strongly supporting” the Obama health care plan. … This was a sharp contrast from what they saw in Republicans, whose reactions during the speech angered these voters. Instead of trying to be constructive and work with the president, the Republicans were seen as simply playing partisan politics and trying to derail the president for political reasons. Participants want change and clearly stated they will vote against people who stand in the way of a president who is doing everything he can to work with both parties and reform a broken health care system.
The wingers are playing to their base (by yelling “you lie” and blowing off Obama by playing with their Blackberries), which is what?, roughly 26% of voters but hey guys, that doesn’t win elections so please, keep it up!
The Hypocrisy of Dana Milbank
The Washington Posts’ Dana Milbank this morning laments the deterioration of civility in Washington after Joe Wilson’s (R-SC) “you lie” outburst last night. This from a guy who called a colleague “a dick” less than three months ago.
