Friday News Roundup - Domestic
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2012-03-02/friday-news-roundup-domestic
The Senate rejected an effort to let employers deny health-care coverage on religious grounds. Senator Olympia Snowe was the only Republican to vote against the measure. The Maine centrist announced her retirement from the Senate, citing growing partisanship. Fed chair Bernanke took a cautious stance on the future of the economy. President Obama urged Congress to repeal oil industry subsidies. And the GOP presidential fight shifted to super Tuesday battlegrounds. Naftali Bendavid of The Wall Street Journal, Shawna Thomas of NBC News and David Welna of NPR join Diane for analysis of the week's top national news stories.
Guests
Naftali Bendavid
national correspondent, The Wall Street Journal.
Shawna Thomas
White House producer, NBC News.
David Welna
congressional correspondent, NPR.
Friday News Roundup Video
The panelists discuss U.S. District Judge Richard F. Cebull's inflammatory email that some view as racist and highly insulting to President Obama:
Comments
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Andrew Breitbart, great American? Not even close, my condolences to his family, especially his children. His disgusting comments about Ted Kennedy after his death were inexcusable. Edward Kennedy, was a great American whose decades of public service was honored by millions of Americans.
Well Bill, if you are a bigot and a fool its not a big deal.
mike dell wrote:
"Andrew Breitbart, great American? Not even close, my condolences to his family, especially his children. His disgusting comments about Ted Kennedy after his death were inexcusable. Edward Kennedy, was a great American whose decades of public service was honored by millions of Americans."
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# of people killed as the result of Watergate = 0
# of people killed as the result of Teddy Kennedy's hijinks = 1
Teddy was a professional politician. As far as "public service," had Teddy not had the luxury of living off the proceeds from his father's bootlegging enterprises, Teddy could never manage to sustain his extravagant lifestyle.
mike dell wrote:
"Edward Kennedy, was a great American whose decades of public service was honored by millions of Americans."
But Mary Jo Kopechne was unavailable for comment.
" Edward Kennedy, was a great American whose decades of public service was honored by millions of Americans."
He He ha Ha He He ha Ha. Drunken murderer, spoiled rich sexual deviant punk who had no problem spending the country into bankruptcy.
Recapping the Friday domestic news hour, Obama is a victim. Are conservatives boycotting the Diane Rehm show now?
mike dell wrote:
"Well Bill, if you are a bigot and a fool its not a big deal."
And this is "racist" why? The joke is about Mr. Obama's mother - who, the last time I checked was white.
Can someone on the "everything is racist and everyone who doesn't agree with me is racist" left explain to me why the joke is "racist"? Poor taste? You can argue that. Racist? No.
Would we support a religious exemption for an employer who is a member of the Jehovah's Witness faith tradition who refused to fund blood transfusions for her or his employees?
Seen on Facebook. "A woman voting Republican is like a chicken voting for Col. Sanders."
No, the real issue isn’t just women’s rights, or religious freedom, but also Republi-Con hypocrisy. They are screaming for the “constitutional right” of religious conservatives to ignore, defy, and be exempt from any laws contrary to their beliefs (not just “religious” ones, but the far less defined “moral” ones). But what about the “rights” of religious liberals?
If Republi-Cons truly want to be champions of the First Amendment, then they should immediately repeal all laws that are contrary to anyone’s religious or moral beliefs. They can start by eliminating laws prohibiting (or limiting) abortions, and those State constitutional amendments banning gay marriage.
Meanwhile, there is no constitutional right to defy laws that conflict with your religious beliefs. Bob Jones University couldn’t practice racial discrimination, Native Americans can’t use peyote in their religious ceremonies, and you can’t perform a human sacrifice and literally get away with murder!
THX 1138 on March 1, 2012 @ 3:18 pm wrote: “RIP Andrew Breitbart, great American.”
If by “great”, you mean a purveyor of lies and slander (ask Shirley Sharrod), then I agree.
We will enjoy peace now that he’s gone.
Etaoin Shrdlu wrote:
"Meanwhile, there is no constitutional right to defy laws that conflict with your religious beliefs. "
Of course there is. Let me 'splain this one to you:
We have in this country, for lack of a better term, a "hierarchy" of law. A condo regulation is trumped by local law. Local law is trumped by county law. County law is trumped by state law. State law is trumped by Federal Law (see Amendments 9 and 10), and Federal Law as enacted by Congress and signed by the President (or Presidential fiat as in this case) is trumped by the Constitution. The Constitution is the SUPREME law of the land and trumps ACA or any Presidential declaration. The Constitution, represented here in the Bill of Rights, says "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof". That trumps the President's attempt to force by law religious institutions from distributing or paying for bc. It violates the "free exercise" clause. Does that mean that a Catholic University can violate local building codes or not pay its sewer bill? No. But those things do not impinge on the "free exercise" clause. Requiring an institution that by writ, proscribes the use of birth control to its membership, as a fundamental part of its religious practice, to distribute and/or pay for bc, violates the "free exercise" clause.
Now, all that being said, can the Obama administration argue that institutions who refuse to serve up bc, forego their tax exemptions and any federal funding they receive? I guess they could. But good luck arguing religious blackmail in an election year!
But as I've said all along, the Court will decide when the suits begin - assuming of course that SCOTUS does not strike down the individual mandate this summer. If (and I believe when) that happens the point will become moot, because ACA will be history anyway.
bottoms up on March 1, 2012 @ 8:30 pm wrote: “Trampling the first amendment aside, the political left who deliberately made the contraception issue center stage now looks so foolish and immoral for trotting out the likes of some spoiled brat college student who apparently has no control over her sexual desires.”
Since you obviously live in a parallel universe, it’s clear you don’t realize that (for now at least) it is Republi-Cons who look “so foolish and immoral”, and that this issue is blowing up in their faces.
And how dare you assume that any woman who wants birth control pills must be a “slut” (to use the term you so coyly avoid)! Married women use those pills. The medicine is also used to treat serious medical conditions, not just for contraception.
As for your paying for “unbound sexual depravity”, what about insurance coverage for Viagra (etc.)? I know of no valid medical condition such “medication” is for. It’s just to help some men (who apparently have no control over their sexual desires) engage in sex (depraved or otherwise) whenever they wish. Why don’t we hear you protesting that?!
Meanwhile, why did the Republi-Cons refuse to allow any women to testify at their hearing? They couldn’t find a female pastor, or doctor, to discuss the issues? It’s like holding a hearing on discrimination in America, and only allowing members of the American Nazi Party or the Klu Klux Klan to testify - but no Jews or Blacks!
Unbelievable!
When did simply going to work become a religious event?
Etaoin Shrdlu wrote:
THX 1138 on March 1, 2012 @ 3:18 pm wrote: “RIP Andrew Breitbart, great American.”
"If by “great”, you mean a purveyor of lies and slander (ask Shirley Sharrod), then I agree.
We will enjoy peace now that he’s gone."
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Did David Brock die?
PART ONE
johnandere on March 2, 2012 @ 12:49 pm wrote: “The Constitution is the SUPREME law of the land and trumps ACA or any Presidential declaration. The Constitution, represented here in the Bill of Rights, says ‘Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof’ ”.
Nonsense, sir. You can parrot the First Amendment all you like, but that doesn’t prove you know what it means, or how it’s applied. I note you carefully ignored the examples I provided of religious practices that aren’t protected, so let me repeat them: You can’t violate the Civil Rights Act (and discriminate based on race, religion, sex, etc.), just because it’s part of your religion. Native Americans are forbidden to use peyote in their religious ceremonies (imagine if Christians were forbidden from using bread and wine in theirs). And, you can’t perform a human sacrifice and expect to get way with murder.
The First Amendment forbids laws against “the free exercise of religion”, but that has never meant being able to do whatever you want (or refusing to do whatever you want) based on religious beliefs (or “moral values” - which the Constitution doesn’t even mention).
It also forbids laws “respecting an establishment of religion”, and that means any laws, and any part of religion. That means NO law, not some laws, not laws that only impose a little bit of one sect’s religious beliefs on everyone. But no law at all.
TO BE CONTINUED
PART TWO
So, to return to the other point you evaded and avoided, if you truly believe we have the constitutional right to be free from all laws that conflict with our religious beliefs or moral values, what about those laws forbidding abortion or gay marriage? There are plenty of religious and moral people whose faith and values allow those things (and in certain circumstances believe they are a moral right). Don’t they get to “override” Republi-Con laws that trample on their “First Amendment freedoms”?
I don’t expect you, or the Republi-Cons, to agree. After all, your real “religion” is devout hypocrisy!
P.S. - By the way, I am a retired attorney, admitted to practice before the Supreme Court (among other places). I base my opinion on study of the Law, and my years of practice. What do you base yours on?
P.P.S. - Sorry to disappoint you, but the case either for or against the Patient Protection Act is hardly a "slam dunk", either way. There are valid arguments on both sides.
And even if the individual mandate is struck down, that doesn't mean the entire Act "will be history".
But I agree with you on one point: let's wait for the Supreme Court to decide.
MarcusTullius on March 2, 2012 @ 1:10 pm wrote: “Did David Brock die?”
Dear Cicero:
Not that I know of. But I have no love for him either.
equalizer on March 2, 2012 @ 9:08 am wrote: “Church-affiliated schools, universities, hospitals and charities employ so many spoiled brat college students with no control over their sexual desires . . . .”
Well, you certainly live up to your name, and are an equal opportunity slanderer.
THX 1138 on March 2, 2012 @ 10:28 am wrote: “Olympia Snowe was a rino, glad she's gone!”
Ah yes, tell me again how the GOP is the “big tent” party.
It’s no wonder Republi-Cons are siding with the Catholic hierarchy in this matter. Both believe their members should just pay, pray, and obey!
Especially women.
MarcusTullius on March 2, 2012 @ 10:30 am wrote: “You just described the liberals still among us: Keith Olbermann, Michael Moore, Katrina Van Den Heuvel, Chris Matthews, Ed Schultz, and of course, David Brock.”
Dear Cicero:
And let’s not forget the conservatives still among us: Anne Coulter, Michelle Malkin, Bill O’Reilly, Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, James Dobson, Anthony Perkins, Pat Robertson, and of course, Sarah Palin.
Etaoin Shrdlu wrote:
MarcusTullius on March 2, 2012 @ 1:10 pm wrote: “Did David Brock die?”
"Dear Cicero:
Not that I know of. But I have no love for him either."
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But do you despise him the way you did Breitbart?
Bill H. on March 2, 2012 @ 10:47 am wrote: “Here's the joke, not that big a deal.”
Sure, if you think it appropriate for a Federal Judge to imply (even in “jest”) that the President’s mother is both a slut and practiced bestiality.
I wonder how you’d feel if I joked about how male dogs try to hump your mother every spring? (You know, when she went into heat.)
One thing about bigots, they can’t even see their own bigotry. Hitler thought the Holocaust was a service to mankind. (He probably expected the Nobel prize for it.)
Etaoin Shrdlu wrote:
MarcusTullius on March 2, 2012 @ 10:30 am wrote: “You just described the liberals still among us: Keith Olbermann, Michael Moore, Katrina Van Den Heuvel, Chris Matthews, Ed Schultz, and of course, David Brock.”
"Dear Cicero:
And let’s not forget the conservatives still among us: Anne Coulter, Michelle Malkin, Bill O’Reilly, Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, James Dobson, Anthony Perkins, Pat Robertson, and of course, Sarah Palin."
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Anthony Perkins from "Psycho!" He died some time ago. Since David Brock is out to personally destroy anyone who appears on FOX News, several of whom are on your list, why do you not have any love for him?
The point is the lame stream media doesn't see Keith Olbermann, Michael Moore, Katrina Van Den Heuvel, Chris Matthews, Ed Schultz, David Corn, David Brock, etc as "ordinary Americans with a rage problems." Since they agree with their hysterical pronouncements, they are portrayed as rational folks using civil discourse. Diane Rehm even cozies up to Katrina and Corn.
MarcusTullius March 2, 2012 @ 1:37 pm wrote: “But do you despise him the way you did Breitbart?”
Dear Cicero:
I don’t care about either gentleman enough to “despise” them.
However, I do despise the things they do: lying and slandering.
Do you?
P.S. - And yes, in Breitbart’s case I should use the past tense.
MarcusTullius on March 2, 2012 @ 1:49 pm wrote: “Anthony Perkins from ‘Psycho!’ He died some time ago. Since David Brock is out to personally destroy anyone who appears on FOX News, several of whom are on your list, why do not have any love for him?”
1) Anthony Perkins (not the actor) is the head of the Family Research Council.
2) I’ve already explained my position on Mr. Brock. Obviously a mindlessly ideological and partisan person like you can’t grasp that simple concept.
3) The same is true for your knee-jerk response about the media, which could be applied to the right-wing media just as well.
The point is: what’s sauce for the liberal goose, is sauce for the conservative gander.
MarcusTullius on March 2, 2012 @ 11:01 am wrote: “Be that as it may, the success of a radio show is dependent on free market competition where ratings decide whether shows remain on air.”
Be that as it may, ratings (of course) reflect only popularity, not the quality, decency, or intelligence of what’s being purveyed, or the purveyor.
Pornographers are quite successful in the ‘free market”, but I’m sure you wouldn’t want our laws or policies set by the likes of them!
(Not even Larry Flynt!)
Etaoin Shrdlu "not that big a deal.”
"Sure, if you think it appropriate for a Federal Judge to imply (even in “jest”) that the President’s mother is both a slut and practiced bestiality".
As a judge it it comes as second nature to identify the facts in the case. The bestiality part could reasonably be viewed as artistic license.
Smoot on March 2, 2012 @ 11:01 am wrote: “Look at that picture above that accompanies the article - looks like a partial line-up of the most prolific liberal criminals in government. I hope I don't have to see another picture like that until they are being sentenced at their trial.”
You do know that falsely accusing someone of a crime is libel per se, and can land you in Bankruptcy (after the civil lawsuits are done with you). At one time it was also a crime itself.
Fortunately, thanks to another bunch of “liberal criminals”, you’re protected by the Supreme Court’s decision in New York Times v. Sullivan.