Racism Coming Out of the Woodwork

Yes, America, racism is alive and well. Better not get caught asleep at the wheel.


Oklahoma Republicans in the House of Representatives have passed a proposed constitutional amendment that eliminates affirmative action in state government. Rep. T.W. Shannon, the sponsor of the bill, explained the reasoning behind the bill: "While discrimination exists, I don't think affirmative action has been as successful as we like to believe."

As the issue was discussed, Rep. Sally Kern, R-Oklahoma City, said minorities earn less than white people because they don’t work as hard and have less initiative.

“We have a high percentage of blacks in prison, and that’s tragic, but are they in prison just because they are black or because they don’t want to study as hard in school? I’ve taught school, and I saw a lot of people of color who didn’t study hard because they said the government would take care of them.”

Kern said women earn less than men because “they tend to spend more time at home with their families.”

Kern is known for her extremist opinions -- from saying "homosexuality is more dangerous than terrorism" to introducing legislation to force teachers to question evolution.

Sally Kern called the United States "the greatest nation in the world where you have the most opportunities and freedoms." How do you rate a nation's freedom?  Be sure to read the Salte. com article below on how to measure liberty.
Related articles:

• State GOP rep: Blacks earn less because they don't work as hard (thegrio.com)
• World's freest nations: how to measure liberty. (slate.com)
• Oklahoma Senate Sanctions Sharia: Anti-Sharia law dead (atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com)
• Sally Kern Submits Creationist Bill [Dispatches from the Culture Wars] (scienceblogs.com)

Related articles

• Oklahoma Senate Sanctions Sharia: Anti-Sharia law dead (atlasshrugs2000.typepad.com)
• Sally Kern Submits Creationist Bill [Dispatches from the Culture Wars] (scienceblogs.com)

Obama Releases Birth Certificate

The White House released President Obama’s long-form birth certificate Wednesday, citing a desire to rid the national debate of suggestions that Obama wasn’t born in the United States. Personally, I don't feel like this is the end to the Birthier issue.  Some will choose to still believe that the President wasn't born in the USA and all the other bull-pucky that goes with that position.

Of course, showman extraordinairie Donald Trump took credit for the document being released.  Now we'll see if he can talk about the real issues and his plans and solutions to address them vs the bogus birthier issue.

Related articles

• After CNN Discredits Birthers CNN's Ed Henry Asks W.H. Why Obama Won't Release Birth Certificate (mediaite.com)
• Donald Trump: Obama Birth Certificate 'Missing' (huffingtonpost.com)
• Born in the USA (newstatesman.com)

Haley Barbour Won't Run

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Haley Barbour, Mississippi Governor,  announced that he will not be a candidate for President in 2012.  After several gaffs that centered on racial issues, I can't say I'm unhappy about his decision. However, based on his stated views and positions, as well as others like him, I continue to understand that race is still an issue in American politics.

I see Ron Paul lurking in the background, thinking about a 2012 presidential bid once again. I'm sure we'll hear more. OMG!

Related articles

• Miss. Gov. Barbour Rules Out '12 WH Run (time.com)
• Haley Barbour Drops Out: More Belly Than Fire (thedailybeast.com)

AZ Governor Vetos Birther Bill

Image via Wikipedia

Believe it or not, AZ Republican Governor Jan Brewer had the good sense to veto the state's recent Birther legislation. The controversial bill was passed by the AZ legislature and would require certain documentation before a candidate's name could be placed on a ballot in the state.

“I never imagined being presented with a bill that could require candidates for president of the greatest and most powerful nation on earth to submit their ‘early baptismal or circumcision certificates’ among other records to the Arizona secretary of state,” she said in the letter. “This is a bridge too far.”

Governor Brewer also vetoed a bill that would allow guns in colleges campuses.

Related articles

• Arizona Governor Vetoes 'Birther' Bill (outsidethebeltway.com)
• Arizona governor vetoes 'birther' bill (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• Jan Brewer Vetoes Birther Bill, Campus Gun Bill (blogs.forbes.com)

NV Senator John Ensign Resigns

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John Ensign will resign his Senate seat on May 3, although he admits no wrong doing.

“While I stand behind my firm belief that I have not violated any law, rule, or standard of conduct of the Senate, and I have fought to prove this publicly, I will not continue to subject my family, my constituents, or the Senate to any further rounds of investigation, depositions, drawn out proceedings, or especially public hearings,” Ensign said in a statement posted on his Web site. “For my family and me, this continued personal cost is simply too great.”

If the Ethics Committe chooses to continue it's investigation after May 3, Ensign may well still be on the hook for his actions after a a sex scandal involving a staffer.

The larger question for me is who will Republican Governor Brian Sandoval appoint to replace Ensign and if this chain of events benefits Sharron Angle, former Republican candidate for Senate.

Washington Post blogger Chris Cillizza reports the following in The Fix blog:

Ensign’s resignation would allow Gov. Brian Sandoval (R) to appoint a replacement to serve until the seat is filled in the 2012 election. Rep. Dean Heller, a Republican who is campaigning to succeed Ensign, is the front-runner for the appointment .


If Heller is named to the Senate, there will be a special election to replace him in the sprawling 2nd District. Nevada election law is vague, and officials in the secretary of state’s office are currently researching the rules. In a free-for-all race, Sharron Angle, the 2010 Senate challenger to Harry M. Reid (D), would be considered the early favorite. If state party committees pick the candidates, Angle has less chance of being the Republican nominee.

Related articles

• Philandering John Ensign resigns from Senate (capitolhillblue.com)
• Sen. John Ensign Announces Resignation (abcnews.go.com)
• Sen. John Ensign Announces Resignation - ABC News (news.google.com)

Wiping Out A Lie

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I always thought that the Congressional Record contained actual quotes and remarks that Congressmen delivered on the floor of the House and Senate.  I learned something from John Kyl's big lie about Planned Parenthood and how he changed the contents in the Congressional Record to wipe out his lie..

Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ) has amended the congressional record to qualify his recent remark about Planned Parenthood which led to the mother of all spin from his flack: "His remark was not intended to be a factual statement."

The original statement from Kyl: "If you want an abortion you go to Planned Parenthood and that's well over 90 percent of what Planned Parenthood does."

After Kyl amended his remarks, the congressional record now reads: "If you want an abortion you go to Planned Parenthood and that is what Planned Parenthood does."

Related articles

• Jon Kyl Deletes His Planned Parenthood Lies From Congressional Record (outsidethebeltway.com)
• Jon Kyl Sponges Remark That Was 'Not Intended To Be A Factual Statement' From Congressional Record (huffingtonpost.com)
• Kyl revises Congressional Record to omit 'well over 90% of what Planned Parenthood does' is abortion (dailykos.com)

Limbaugh Calls Obama's Base "Savages"

Cover of Rush Limbaugh

On a recent radio show, Rush Limbaugh called President Obama’s base “savages” . In discussing the President’s deficit reduction speech Limbaugh said

“His base is made up of people even more vile than he is,” he said. “You’ve got…a lot of it is just walking human debris on the Democrat base side.” He went on to say “That bunch of people, those savages that make up the Obama base, are fit to be tied,” he said. He had to get them back, and the one way to do it was to go out and savage us. That’s what they love. That’s what they get off on. That’s their orgasm. ‘Cause these people can’t find willing mates.”

This is Limbaugh's game and he gets paid well for these performances.  It's no wonder he's called the face of the Republican Party. It seems that he can get away with his hatespeak, but will that last forever?