Which endorsements matter?

Obama Wins S.C. Primary; Picks Up Sen. Kennedy Endorsement
Senator Barack Obama is riding a wave of momentum after Saturday’s landslide victory in South Carolina's Democratic primary. On Sunday, former president John F. Kennedy's daughter, Caroline, endorsed Obama in a column in the New York Times titled "A President Like My Father." And today, Senator Ted Kennedy is scheduled to announce his support for the Illinois Senator at a campaign rally at American University in Washington. On Saturday Obama won 55 percent of the vote in South Carolina.
Sen. Obama: "Tonight, the cynics who believed that what began in the snows of Iowa was just an illusion were told a different story by the good people of South Carolina. And in nine days, nine short days, nearly half the nation will have the chance to join us in saying that we are tired of business-as-usual in Washington, we are hungry for change, and we are ready to believe again."
Senator Hillary Clinton placed second with 27 percent. John Edwards, who was born in South Carolina, placed third with 18 percent. On Saturday former President Bill Clinton attempted to downplay Obama's victory.
Bill Clinton: "Jesse Jackson won South Carolina twice in ‘84 and ’88. And he ran a good campaign, and Senator Obama's run a good campaign here. He’s run a good campaign everywhere."


So led Democracy Now! headlines on Monday. Apparently their version of Access Hollywood? Who the hell cares what Caroline Kennedy, stern task master, has to say? She's done nothing in public life. But Amy Goodman leads with it. Pay attention to that. Remember it.



On Tuesday DN! went back to the Ted Kennedy well beginning with item five:



Sen. Kennedy Compares Barack Obama to JFK
In campaign news, Senator Ted Kennedy officially announced his endorsement of Barack Obama Monday during a rally attended by thousands in Washington. The Massachusetts Senator compared Obama to his late brother, John F. Kennedy.
Sen. Kennedy: "My friends, I ask you to join in this historical journey to have the courage to choose change. It’s time again for a new generation. It is time for Barack Obama."
Obama thanked Kennedy for backing his campaign.
Sen. Obama: "I know what your support means. I know what a cherished place the Kennedy family holds in the hearts of the American people."
Senator Obama also picked up an endorsement Monday from the Nobel Prize winning author Toni Morrison.


Now Toni Morrison is news as well. Curiously when Maya Angelou endorsed Hillary Clinton, Amy Goodman didn't think it was worth mentioning on Barack Now! Angelou was worth noting August 27th when she was among the mourners at the service for Max Roach. But when Angelou endorses Hillary, Amy Goodman plays dumb. Even Oprah could note Maya's endorsement. It's just the alleged 'news' program hosted by Amy Goodman which couldn't.



That's a pattern. For instance, interestingly, the children of Robert F. Kennedy endorsed Hillary Clinton on Tuesday [see Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Kathleen Kennedy Townsend and Kerry Kennedy's "Kennedys for Clinton: She stands for Democrats and for the nation, these family members say" (Los Angeles Times)]. Yet, that wasn't worth noting by Amy Goodman all week long. Amy Goodman never noted it, never mentioned it. Caroline Kennedy who has done nothing for the public with her life versus three Kennedy children who have made their lives about public service -- she gets noted, they get silence. Tell us again again about fairness, Amy, strike that pose as a real journalist one more time while we laugh at you.



On Tuesday, Goodman finally decided she needed to mention Tony Rezko for the first time. Repeating, for the first time. And note what she says as well as what she 'balances' it:





Former Obama Fundraiser Antoin Rezko Jailed in Illinois
Meanwhile in Chicago, a federal judge has ordered the jailing of one of Obama's former top fundraisers, Antoin Rezko. Rezko was indicted in 2006 on charges of business fraud and influence peddling but had been free on bond. On Monday a judge revoked bond and ordered him to be held in jail. Rezko has raised as much as $200,000 for Obama since 1996 and helped Obama purchase his home. Last week Senator Hillary Clinton raised Obama's link to Rezko during the debate in South Carolina. Last year one of Hillary Clinton’s top fundraisers -- Norman Hsu -- was arrested for swindling investors. Hsu had raised some $800,000 for Clinton's campaign during a time when he was a fugitive from justice.
Sen. Clinton: I was fighting against those ideas when you were practicing law and representing your contributor, Rezco, in his slum landlord business in inner city Chicago.
Wolf Blitzer: I just want to give you a chance, Senator Obama, if you want to respond. Senator Clinton made a serious allegation that you worked for a slumlord. And I wonder if you want to respond.
Sen. Obama: I'm happy to respond. Here's what happened: I was an associate at a law firm that represented a church group that had partnered with this individual to do a project and I did about five hours worth of work on this joint project. That’s what she’s referring to.



Hillary Clinton doesn't have a 17-year-old relationship with Norman Hsu. Bambi's been tight with Rezko for seventeen years. He didn't just have 'help' buying his Chicago mansion, the Rezkos went on to sell Obama part of the land adjoining his home -- land they purchased (at full price) when Obama purchased his home (at a discount). Bambi wouldn't have his home without the Rezko's because no one's going to build anything on that postage stamp lot of land which is why the owner was selling the home and the land together. Had the Rezkos not stepped in to buy the adjoining tiny parcel of land, Obama wouldn't have his mansion. Hillary's not purchased land with Hsu, she's not hired people Hsu recommended, she's not advocated for government contracts going to Hsu. Hsu's just a donor with a dirty background. Obama and Antoin "Tony" Rezko have been tight for 17 years and Obama would not be in the Senate without the help of Rezko.



But Hsu was 'balance' to Goodman's (brief and inaccurate) summary of Rezko. Repeating, that was the only time Goodman or the show have ever mentioned Tony Rezko.



On Wednesday, this was offered:

Gitmo Lawyers Endorse Obama; Rep. Waters Backs Clinton
In other campaign news, Senator Barack Obama has picked up an endorsement from a group of eighty volunteer lawyers for prisoners at Guantanamo Bay. In a statement, the attorneys say they see Obama as the best candidate to undo the Bush administration's policies on imprisonment and torture in the so-called war on terror. Meanwhile, Senator Hillary Clinton has received the endorsement of California Congressmember Maxine Waters. Waters is an influential member of the Congressional Black Caucus.



What did Maxine Waters say in her endorsement? That would be Waters who got Amy Goodman her much tauted interview with Jean-Bertrand Aristride. What did she say? The "Gitmo" lawyers are noted. What did Waters say? Her remarks, that Goody wouldn't provide Democracy Now! listeners, viewers and readers with:



"At a time when the economy continues to worsen and so many of my constituents are losing their homes and their jobs, we need someone with the leadership and experience who can step in on day one to tackle the economic challenges our country is facing," said Congresswoman Waters. "The voices of so many struggling families have gone unheard for long enough. Hillary understands the daily challenges that people are facing and she will fight for them everyday she is in the White House."



It's always interesting what doesn't get noted. Democracy Now! is allegedly pro-labor. But when a union endorses Hillary Clinton, Amy Goodman ignores it. January 22nd CNN announced the impending endorsement from the United Farmworkers with a headline of "Clinton to receive major union endorsement."



Here is the United Farm Workers press release on their endorsement (which apparently was never received by Amy Goodman -- however, it was provided to the program):



January 22, 2008: Today in Salinas, California, at an event with more than 2,000 people the United Farm Workers gave its enthusiastic endorsement to Senator Hillary Clinton for President. The UFW represents more than 27,000 farm workers. "After meeting with and talking to the candidates, the UFW board believes Hillary Clinton to be the strongest, most experienced candidate for President of the United States. She will be able to tackle our nation's toughest problems – health care, improving the economy for working people and repairing our country's standing in the world. Senator Clinton has stood with farm workers and immigrants - fighting for comprehensive immigration reform, sponsoring the UFW sponsored AgJOBS and helping 1,800 farm workers sign a union contract with D'Arrigo after 30 years," said UFW President Arturo Rodriguez
The UFW, founded in 1962 by Cesar E. Chavez and Dolores Huerta, and often described as the conscience of the labor movement for its inspiring fights for low wage working families, is the first successful and most influential farm labor union in the United States. Throughout its 40 year history, the UFW has worked to organize farm workers, raise wages and improve working conditions for its members and all farm workers.
“I am very grateful for the UFW’s support,” said Clinton. “You work in some of the most difficult conditions imaginable, and you do it with courage, optimism and determination. I am humbled to have your support -- and you will have mine.”
Hillary has been endorsed by more than a dozen unions representing about 6 million working families nationwide, including: Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union; International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers; Transportation Communications Union; National Association of Letter Carriers; International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers; American Federation of Teachers; the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees; Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers; Amalgamated Transit Union; Office and Professional Employees International Union; and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts, and the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades.



And in the last few days, Amy Goodman missed another union endorsement. In full, the [PDF format warning] American Nurses Association's press release on that:



The Clinton Campaign today announced the endorsement of the American Nurses Association(ANA). The ANA represents the interests of the nation's 2.9 million registered nurses.
"Too many Americans must do without high quality health care, and this country deserves a president that will make health system reform a priority," said ANA President Rebecca M. Patton, MSN, RN, CNOR. "Senator Clinton has shown a commitment to implementing real change in our healthcare system to ensure high quality, affordable and accessible care. She has also recognized the importance of educating, recruiting and retaining RNs, and the need to improve the nurse's work environment which includes addressing safe and appropriate staffing. America's 2.9 million registered nurses represent the largest group of health care professionals. We have long advocated for the critically needed reforms vital to the improvement of health care and will use our power in the voting booth to make healthcare a priority."
"I am honored to have the support of the American Nurses Association," said Clinton. "We owe nurses a great debt of gratitude for the critical role they play every day in providing quality care. As President, I will continue to support efforts to attract and retain qualified nurses, especially in rural and urban areas, and to improve working conditions. I look forward to working with America's nurses to deliver affordable, quality health care to every American."
Hillary has a history of working for America's nurses. In the Senate, Hillary introduced the Nursing Education and Quality of Care Act, which would expand the number of programs that address nursing faculty shortages and increase the supply of nurses in rural areas. As part of the Nurse Reinvestment Act, she helped create grants that expanded nurse Magnet hospitals. Hillary also supported increased funding for both Title VII and Title VIII, which help to address the higher education needs of nurses and nursing faculty. Finally, she has supported programs to attract nurses to the field, including efforts to improve the quality of the working environment for nurses.
Hillary's American Health Choices Plan will cover all Americans and improve health care by providing consumers new choices, lowering costs and improving quality. Under Hillary's plan, Americans who like the insurance they have can keep it and stay with their doctor. But Americans who don't like the coverage they have will be able to pick from the same set of plans Members of Congress choose for themselves. Under Hillary's plan, insurance companies won't be able to deny people coverage for a pre-existing condition and tax credits will ensure that working families never have to pay more than a limited percentage of their income for quality health care. People who change jobs will be able to keep their health care.
ANA has been making presidential endorsements since 1984. The endorsement process includes sending a questionnaire on nursing and health care issues to all of the Democratic and Republican candidates, an invitation to all of the democratic and republican candidates for a personal interview and an online survey of ANA's membership regarding which candidate is most supportive of nursing's agenda.
The ANA is the only full-service professional organization representing the interests of the nation's 2.9 million registered nurses through its 54 constituent member nurses associations. The ANA advances the nursing profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting the rights of nurses in the workplace, projecting a positive and realistic view of nursing, and by lobbying the Congress and regulatory agencies on healthcare issues affecting nurses and the public.



It's funny what can and cannot get noted on Democracy Now! which made time on Thursday for this:



Carter Praises Obama Campaign, Criticizes Clinton
Meanwhile former President Jimmy Carter has weighed in on the presidential race. Although he's said he won't endorse a candidate, Carter praised Senator Obama, calling his campaign: "extraordinary and titillating for me and my family." Carter went on to compare Obama's speeches to those of Dr. Martin Luther King and said Obama could likely win some southern states as the Democratic nominee. Carter also said he has spoken to former President Bill Clinton and criticized some of Clinton’s racially-charged comments on the campaign trail.



So Carter didn't endorse? But it's worth including in the headlines while repeatedly ignoring unions and Congress members who do endorse Hillary? Maybe Josh Micah Marsh watches Democracy Now!? That would explain why he typed (January 30th), "It's been quite a dry spell for Hillary on the endorsement front since Iowa. But she just picked up Sen. Patty Murraqy (D-WA)." While it may be natural for Josh Micah Marsh to see unions as non-important endorsements, Goodman sells it differently on her show. Except when they endorse Hillary. As JMM noted, Senator Patty Murray endorsed Hillary Clinton last week. Somehow Amy Goodman never found time to include that. In addition (and JMM notes it in an update to that post), Senator Bill Nelson also endorsed Hillary last week. No surprise, Amy Goodman remained silent on that one as well.



Friday something even more interesting happened. Goodman stated Hillary was answering a question but the clip played wasn't Hillary's answer to that question. Even stranger, when the transcript went up, the moment was 'fixed.' The transcript 'documents' something that never happened on air. Here's the transcript. Note the "*"

Clinton, Obama Hold Final Debate
On the campaign trail, the two remaining Democratic presidential candidates squared off in their final debate last night in Los Angeles. The tone was mostly cordial as the candidates tried to temper criticism of what has been called a rancorous campaign.
Sen. Barack Obama: “I don't think the choice is between black and white or it's about gender or religion. I don't think it's about young or old. I think what is at stake right now is whether we are looking backwards or we are looking forwards. I think it is the past versus the future.”
Senator Hillary Clinton later talked about the importance of replacing a Bush presidency with another Clinton.
Sen. Hillary Clinton: "And you know, it did take a Clinton to clean after the first Bush and I think it might take another one to clean up after the second Bush."
The most heated exchange came over the Iraq war, with Senator Barack Obama criticizing Clinton's 2002 vote to authorize the invasion. Clinton said she and Obama have shared similar positions on the war since Obama came to office. But Obama said it was important to elect a candidate who opposed the war from the beginning. Clinton also defended her vote in favor of the U.S. attack, saying it was in part justified because Saddam Hussein was a "megalomaniac, [who] would not want to compete for attention with Osama bin Laden." At the end of the debate the candidates were asked if they would run as the other’s vice-presidential nominee.

***
Sen. Obama: "Well, obviously there's a big difference between those two. But, look, let me say this, and I said this at the time: I respect Senator Clinton, I think her service to this country has been extraordinary and I’m glad that we've been walking on this road together and we’re still on that road. We’ve got a lot more road to travel and so I think it’s premature for either of us to start speculating about vice presidents etc. I think it would be premature and presumptuous.”
Sen. Clinton: "Well, I have to agree with everything Barack just said."



That wasn't on the show. It's in the transcript. What actually aired after Goodman declaring "At the end of the debate the candidates were asked if they would run as the other's vice-presidential nominee."

CLINTON: "Well, one thing I think is fair to say, both Barack and I have very passionate spouses...
(OBAMA: We do, no doubt.)
CLINTON: who promote and defend us at every turn.
You know, but the fact is that I'm running for president, and this is my campaign. (APPLAUSE)
And I have made it very clear that I want the campaign to stay focused on the issues that I'm concerned about, the kind of future that I want for our country, the work that I have done for all of these years. And that is what the campaign is about."



That's an interesting glitch. Amy Goodman says she's playing Hillary's answer to whether or not she would run as Obama's vice-president and Goodman wrongly provides a clip that has Hillary stating "I'm running for president." The question she was answering was: "Greg Craig, who was one of your husband's top lawyers campaign can't control the former president now, what will it be like when you're in the White House?" That was what she was answering.



Considering Goody's (bad) track record with regards to fairness let alone Hillary, it's amazing that listeners heard, with Goodman's preface that Clinton was answering about vice-president, "I'm running for president." Goody swore to Lou Dobbs she corrects herself when she's told she's wrong: Goody, you were wrong.



As for what's in the transcript, how did that happen? How did the transcript include something that was never said on air? A transcript, as we understand it, is documenting what was said. It's interesting, however, that the transcript (of a clip never played on air) reduces Clinton to one line.



Since Goody couldn't get it right, here's the CNN transcript with both candidates answers in full:



BLITZER: This will be the last question. It will go to both of you, to Senator Obama first.
The more I speak to Democrats out there -- not only the Democrats here at the Kodak Theatre, but all over the country -- they take a look at the two of you and they see potentially a dream ticket. A dream ticket for the White House.
(APPLAUSE)
There may have been some nasty words exchanged or angry words or whatever, but the question is this: Would you consider an Obama/Clinton or Clinton/Obama ticket going down the road?
OBAMA: Well, obviously there's a big difference between those two.
(LAUGHTER)
(APPLAUSE)
But, look, let me say this. And I said this at the top. I respect Senator Clinton. I think her service to this country has been extraordinary. And I'm glad that we've been walking on this road together and that we are still on that road.
We've got a lot more road to travel. And so I think it's premature for either of us to start speculating about vice presidents, et cetera. I think it would be premature and presumptuous.
I can say this about -- about who I want not just as vice president but as a cabinet member. Part of what I would like to do is restore a sense of what is possible in government.
(APPLAUSE)
And that means having people of the greatest excellence and competence. It means people with integrity. It means people with independence, who are willing to say no to me so, so that, you know, no more yes-men or women in the White House.
(APPLAUSE)
Because I'm not going to be right on every single issue.
But you know, it is really important, I think, for us also to give the American people this sense, as they are struggling with their mortgages and struggling with their health care and trying to figure out how to get their kids in a school that will teach them and prepare them and equip them for this century, that they get a sense that government's on their side, that government is listening to them, that it's carrying their voices into the White House.
And that's not what's happened over the last seven years. And whether it's my cabinet or it is the lowest federal civil servant out there, I want them to understand they are working for the American people, to help the American people achieve their dreams.
That's the reason I'm running for president of the United States of America.
(APPLAUSE)
BLITZER: So, is the answer yes -- it sounds like a yes, that she would be on your short list.
OBAMA: I -- you know, I'm sure Hillary would be on anybody's short list. So.
BLITZER: All right. What about, Senator Clinton, what do you think about a Clinton/Obama, Obama/Clinton ticket?
CLINTON: Well, I have to agree with everything Barack just said.
(LAUGHTER)
(APPLAUSE)
BLITZER: That means it's a yes, right?
CLINTON: This has been an extraordinary campaign, and I think both of us have been overwhelmed by the response that we have engendered, the kind of enthusiasm and intensity that people feel about each of us. And so, clearly, we are both dedicated to doing the best we can to win the nomination, but there is no doubt we will have a unified Democratic Party.
(APPLAUSE)
We will go into the November election prepared to win. And -- and I want to just add that, you know, on Monday night, I'm going to have a national town hall, an interactive town hall. It will be carried on the Hallmark Channel and on my Web site, HillaryClinton.com, because I know you had tens of thousands of questions.
OBAMA: What about my Web site?
(APPLAUSE)
CLINTON: Yes. I want your folks to participate, too.
OBAMA: I'm just kidding.
CLINTON: And it's going to be across the country.
Monday night at 9:00 Eastern, 6:00 here on the West Coast.
BLITZER: All right. answered, please, log on, turn on, and continue to be part of this really, really exciting election for both of us.

Thanks, Amy Goodman????

Monday, on Democracy Now! war resisters in Canada finally got a tiny, smidge of attention from Amy Goodman in "Headlines:"



Protests Call on Canada to Allow U.S. War Resisters to Stay
A group of Iraq war veterans and peace activists protested outside the Canadian Embassy in Washington Saturday calling on the Canadian government to allow hundreds of U.S. war resisters to remain in Canada. Protests were also held in over a dozen U.S. and Canadian cities as part of a day of action dubbed Let Them Stay Day. The protests were organized to urge the Canadian government to make it possible for U.S. war resisters to obtain permanent Canadian resident status. In November, the Supreme Court of Canada refused to hear appeals from Jeremy Hinzman and Brandon Hughey, who sought refugee status on the grounds of their opposition to the war in Iraq. Max Diorio of the group Courage To Resist said: "We believe that these war resisters should be allowed a safe haven from persecution on the basis of resisting an illegal and immoral war and occupation."



That was the 16th item. And that was it for the coverage. Is it wrong to complain about that? Or is it wrong to note that when all you do on it is above, you really need to get your facts right. The Canadian Embassy in Washington action took place on Friday, not Saturday. US actions took place on Friday and Saturday actions kicked off in Canada.



You can make your voice heard by the Canadian parliament which has the ability to pass legislation to grant war resisters the right to remain in Canada. Three e-mails addresses to focus on are: Prime Minister Stephen Harper (pm@pm.gc.ca -- that's pm at gc.ca) who is with the Conservative party and these two Liberals, Stephane Dion (Dion.S@parl.gc.ca -- that's Dion.S at parl.gc.ca) who is the leader of the Liberal Party and Maurizio Bevilacqua (Bevilacqua.M@parl.gc.ca -- that's Bevilacqua.M at parl.gc.ca) who is the Liberal Party's Critic for Citizenship and Immigration. A few more can be found here at War Resisters Support Campaign. For those in the US, Courage to Resist has an online form that's very easy to use.

A contest, Super Duper Tuesday

Things Green, the Green Party.

First up, a contest.


Roger Snyder, Green Party of Suffolk, Chair

(631) 351-5763
chair@gpsuffolk.org / chair at gpsuffolk dot org
Kimberly Wilder, Green Party of Suffolk, Press Secretary

(631) 422-4702 votewilder@yahoo.com
Green Party of Suffolk sponsors "End Global Warming" poster contest
The Green Party of Suffolk invites everyone to showcase their artistic talent and their commitment to end global warming by entering its second annual poster contest. The contest is open to everyone. The deadline for entry is April 9, 2008. Rules and a release form are available on-line at www.gpsuffolk.org. Or, you may contact the Green Party of Suffolk at (631) 351-5763.
There is a different poster contest theme each year based on the four pillars of the Green Party: non-violence; grassroots democracy; social and economic justice; and ecological wisdom. Last year’s contest theme sought an end to the War in Iraq. The 2007 Bring Home Our Troops Poster Contest winners were: David A. Komorowski of Miller Place, Alberto C. Castro of Tennessee, and Maya Gouw of South Setauket.
The categories have been expanded in 2008 for the End Global Warming Poster Contest. Four prizes of $25 will be awarded with the first category for Fifth Grade and under; the second for Sixth Grade through Eighth Grade; the third for Ninth Grade through Twelfth Grade; and the last for Adult.
The Green Party has been at the forefront of the movement to address climate change and end global warming. The Green Party of New York State platform encourages: converting from fossil fuels; using renewable energy such as wind and solar; focusing on energy conservation; and restructuring the energy industry.
Winners of the End Global Warming Poster Contest will be announced at the Green Party of Suffolk Earth Day Fundraiser. Winners do not need to be present to claim their prize.
Green Party enrollees interested in working on this contest, or other Green Party projects, should attend the Saturday, March 8, 2008 Green party of Suffolk membership meeting at the Bellport UU. More information about the meeting and the fundraiser can be found at www.gpsuffolk.org or by calling (631) 351-5763.
The Green Party is an alternative to the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. In New York, voters can enroll in the Green Party by checking off the "other" box on a voter registration form, and writing in the word "Green." Background: www.gpsuffolk.org# # #
"Nobody's free until everybody's free"
Kimberly Wilder

What are the local greens up to?
www.gpsuffolk.org

Great place for cultural events, letter-writing campaigns, action alerts and more:
www.onthewilderside.net
The People's President Page: Listing almost everyone running as independent, third party, or major party candidate.

www.peoplespresidentpage.com

Second up, many states will be voting on Super Duper Tuesday. Here's what's happening in Illionois:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - FEB. 1, 2008
ILLINOIS GREEN PARTY WELCOMES PROGRESSIVES AND POPULISTS TO
PARTICIPATE IN HISTORIC GREEN PRIMARY
CONTACT:
Patrick Kelly
ILGP Media Coordinator
773-203-9631
media@ilgp.org
Phil Huckelberry
Chair, ILGP Government & Elections Committee
309-268-9974
phil.huckelberry@ilgp.org

With the recent departures of former Sen. John Edwards and Rep. Dennis
Kucinich and other candidates, the Illinois Green Party called on
progressives and populists abandoned by the Democratic and Republican
Parties to consider voting Green in Tuesday's elections, the first
statewide Green Party primary in Illinois history.
"Illinois voters who have been supporting Kucinich and Edwards will
likely find the Green presidential candidates appealing," said Phil
Huckelberry, national Green Party Co-Chair. "All of our presidential
candidates staunchly oppose the occupation of Iraq and would bring our
troops home now. Green candidates also support single-payer universal
healthcare, a living wage, and other efforts to alleviate poverty.
To supporters of the Republican Rep. Ron Paul, the Green Party is the
last best hope of bringing about a swift end to the disastrous Iraq
occupation and restoring the civil liberties that have been eroded in
the past several years through policies like the Patriot Act,
warrantless wiretapping of U.S. citizens and torture of so-called enemy combatants
-- just to name a few.
"Our refusal to accept contributions from corporations and opposition
to their consolidation of political power speaks to our genuine concern
for the people in America and across the world," said said Charlie
Howe, a local McKinney campaign organizer and candidate for state
representative (115th district).
Green Party presidential candidates on the Illinois ballot are:
KENT MESPLAY - Air Quality Inspector at the Air Pollution Control
District, San Diego, and also a Substitute Teacher; registered
Green since 1995 in California, a delegate to the Green National
Committee since 2004, and served as the President of Turtle Island
Institute. http://www.mesplay.org/
HOWIE HAWKINS (RALPH NADER) - Co-Founder of the US Green Party, a
Green activist and past U.S. Senate candidate from Syracuse, New
York, and a Co-Chair of the Draft Nader Committee has consented to
serve as a "placeholder" candidate until Ralph Nader, longtime
consumer rights activist and Green presidential nominee in 2000, who has
recently announced his presidential exploratory committee. If Nader
does declare for the Green nomination, Hawkins will pledge his
delegates to support Nader at the convention. http://www.explorenader08.org/
CYNTHIA MCKINNEY - First African-American Congresswoman from Georgia,
she served in Congress from 1993-2003 and 2005-2007. She has been an
advocate for Hurricane Katrina victims and voters disenfranchised in
the 2000 and 2004 elections. http://www.runcynthiarun.org/
JARED BALL - Assistant Professor of Communications Studies at Morgan
State University, an independent journalist, radio host with Pacifica
Radio Washington, DC, the Editor-at-Large of Words, Beats and Life
Global Journal of Hip-Hop Culture, and a Desert Shield / Desert Storm
Navy veteran. Jared Ball has recently withdrawn his candidacy and
has endorsed Cynthia McKinney. http://www.jaredball.com/
Primary voters may also see the names of Green candidates for Congress,
state representative, county offices, even precinct committeeperson
offices in record numbers -- a direct result of lower ballot access
requirements earned in the the 2006 election, when Rich Whitney received 10% of the
popular vote to "establish" the party.
"The message voters sent in 2006 was very clear: It's time to change
the two-party system," said Howe. "Asking for a Green Party ballot on
Feb. 5 is the best way to begin."

Ralph DiGia (1914-2008)

This press release is from the War Resisters League.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: David McReynolds (212) 674-7268
Ed Hedemann (718) 768-8841

80 YEARS OF ACTIVISM ENDS - WWII CO RALPH DI GIA DIES AT 93

Ralph DiGia, World War II conscientious objector, lifelong pacifist and social justice activist,
and staffer for 52 years at the War Resisters League (WRL), died February 1 in New York City. He was 93.
DiGia was "without pretensions, one who wore his radicalism in his life, not on his sleeve," said his long-time WRL colleague David McReynolds.
In addition to his decades at WRL, DiGia's activism took him through countless arrests and a stretch in federal prison, thousands of meetings and hundreds of demonstrations, hunger strikes, a bicycle ride across Europe, relief work in Bosnia, and not a few New York Mets baseball games. 80 Years of Activism
Born in the Bronx to a family of Italian immigrants in 1914, DiGia grew up on Manhattan's Upper West Side. A 1927 rally for Italian anarchists Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti set him on the path he would follow for 80 years.
At the College of the City of New York, where he was studying bookkeeping, DiGia signed the "Oxford Pledge," refusing to participate in the coming war. In 1942, when the Selective Service System ordered him to report for induction, he said he was a conscientious objector. But his objections to war were based on ethics, not religion, and the draft board had no category for secular COs. The U.S. attorney's office referred him to pacifist lawyer Julian Cornell, at the War
Resisters League; Cornell lost his case, and DiGia spent the next three years in federal prisons.
It was at Danbury Federal Correctional Institution in Connecticut, and later at Lewisburg Federal Penitentiary in Pennsylvania, that he met other draft resisters, like Dave Dellinger, who four decades later would be a defendant in the Chicago Seven case, and Bill Sutherland, who would move to Africa after the war and eventually become a pan-Africanist advocate for nonviolence. And it was in prison that he and other COs would use the only force available to them--a hunger strike--to compel the prison system to integrate its dining halls. (They won.)
After his release at war's end, he embarked in earnest on a life of activism, joining a New
Jersey commune with Dellinger. In 1951, DiGia, Dellinger, Sutherland, and fellow CO Art Emery
bicycled from Paris to Vienna, handing out antiwar leaflets as they went, urging Cold War
soldiers everywhere to lay down their arms and refuse to fight. In the early 1950s, he left the
commune and moved to the Manhattan area that would later be called Soho, where he lived for
the rest of his life. (He stayed in an apartment at 18 Spring Street after the building was
scheduled for demolition, after other tenants left and even when he had no water and had to shower at a nearby bathhouse.)
In 1955 he joined the WRL staff as a bookkeeper. In the early 1960s, he was arrested more than once for not taking shelter during "civil defense" drills. In 1964 he served four weeks in jail in Albany, Georgia (with, among others, the late peace theorist Barbara Deming) in the Quebec-Washington-Guantanamo Peace Walk organized by the Committee for Nonviolent Action.
Vietnam and After
As the Vietnam War escalated, so did the WRL--and DiGia's--resistance. He sent out literature, paid bills, and kept records--and organized demonstrations and counseled draft resisters. In
1971--when he was among 13,500 arrested in the May Day antiwar actions in Washington-- he married Karin, becoming stepfather to her children. Their son Danny was born in 1973.
He kept resisting war and militarism. In 1977, when thousands protested nuclear power at
Seabrook in New Hampshire, he was there. A year later he was arrested on the White House lawn, demanding nuclear disarmament. He was in Central Park in June 1982 when a million people said "No Nukes!" He was at dozens of demonstrations at the United Nations.
In the early 1990s, as the tensions in former Yugoslavia turned deadlier, Karin DiGia
transformed Children in Crisis, a nonprofit she had founded in the 1970s to address the issue of
missing children, into a Bosnian relief agency.
The work involved traveling several times a year to Bosnia and to Germany, where the agency also had headquarters. DiGia often accompanied her, becoming as beloved a figure in Bosnia as he was in New York.
Into his 80s, DiGia kept accumulating a record: He was arrested in Washington at WRL's "A Day Without the Pentagon" in 1998 and--possibly for the last time--at the mass protests against the
acquittal of the NYPD officers who shot Guinean immigrant Amadou Diallo in 1999. He continued his work at the WRL office through his 93rd birthday last December, although he had become a volunteer instead of a paid staffer in 1994. He even lived out his activism in the ball park: An ardent Mets fan, he remained seated--on principle--during the national anthem.
In 1996, the Peace Abbey, the multi-faith retreat center in Sherburne, MA, gave Ralph its Courage of Conscience award (previously given to civil rights activist Rosa Parks, poet Maya Angelou, and the Dalai Lama), "for his example as a conscientious objector and for over forty years of dedicated service at the War Resisters League." In 2005, WRL gave its 40th annual Peace Award to DiGia and his longtime colleague, former photographer Karl Bissinger.
This winter, after a fall and hip fracture, he developed pneumonia and died Friday in St.
Vincent's Hospital. Karin and their children were with him when he died.
DiGia is survived by Karin DiGia, his wife of 37 years; their children, Howard, David, Brenda,
Melissa and Daniel, his granddaughter Kyla, and his brothers, Robert and Mario. Contributions in his memory may be made to the War Resisters League.

War Resisters League
339 Lafayette St.
New York, NY 10012
212-228-0450
http://www.warresisters.org/
wrl@warresisters.org

Highlights

This piece is written by Rebecca of Sex and Politics and Screeds and Attitude, Cedric of Cedric's Big Mix, Kat of Kat's Korner, Betty of Thomas Friedman is a Great Man, Mike of Mikey Likes It!, Elaine of Like Maria Said Paz and Wally of The Daily Jot. Unless otherwise noted, we picked all highlights.





Katrina's pep talk" -- whose driving the Cult of Bambi? Betinna discovers it's Karl Malden! Er, Katrina vanden Heuvel. That nose makes it confusing.



"Linguine in White Clam & Shrimp Sauce in the Kitchen" -- Trina offers up an easy recipe and a very tough (but true) critique of a recent editorial run by Socialist Worker (US).



"Amy Goodman says, 'Vote homophobia Tuesday!'" & "Laura Flanders the self-hating, disrespecting lesbian" & "All about Marica and her blog" -- Community member Marcia, after years of saying maybe up and started her own blog last week. She addressed the nonsense of fondling Bambi instead of holidng accountable and also why she's blogging now.



"Frauds passing themselves off as 'helpful'" -- Elaine's piece was the second most requested here during last week. We're glad Ty told us that because Elaine was saying, "I didn't do anything worthy of a highlight. Just link to other people's stuff." This is a pretty amazing post.



"Ruth's Report" -- a brief but hard hitting report from Ruth who stayed brief due to the fact that she was helping out here this weekend.



"They shall call him "Barry"" & "THIS JUST IN! BAMBI TOYS WITH HIS ROOTS!" -- Having traveled to Kenya to discovered his roots, long, long ago, Bambi finally decided to go looking for his White roots and landed in Kansas, as Wally and Cedric explain.



"Florida and the Little Liars of Indymedia" -- Mike covering the importance of Florida and the eagerness of Little Media to betray the people in order to carry the water for the DNC.



"john nichols disgraces himself" -- Rebecca explaining how awful indy media can be.



"kathleen sebelius is a dumb ass" -- rebecca weighing in the 'democratic' 'response' to the state of the union address.


"Bill Moyers on election coverage" -- Ruth, Ava and C.I. especially enjoyed one section of Moyers but Ruth couldn't find it in the transcript. She ended up transcribing it herself.


"Cowardly Kathleen Sebelius throws in the towel" -- Kat calling out the nonsense that was the "Democratic" response. (Ava and C.I. also tackle this in their TV commentary this week. It's very funny.)


"Caroline" -- Elaine's other popular post from last week. Addressing how the Caroline-standard is uneven and broken.





Isaiah's The World Today Just Nuts "Caroline Speaks" -- Also addressing Caroline -- who's the Greta Garbo of the political world when it comes to reclusion -- was Isaiah in this hilarious comic.



"When Ari met his finger . . ." & "THIS JUST IN! ANOTHER RIGGED ELECTION!" -- Cedric and Wally take on an Air from The Nation and the rigged WalkOn 'vote.



"Iraq snapshot" -- C.I.'s Wednesday snapshot was a community pleaser with it's strong defense of Florida.



"War resisters, John Edwards & more" -- Mike covers a number of things including Third and Jim asked that we highlight this post.



"I Hate The War" -- The ever popular (and still new) entry is a solid hit with the community. Read and understand why.



"Bambi mumbles some words meant to be 'hope'ful"& "THIS JUST IN! OBAMA'S BIG SPEECH!" -- Wally and Cedric explore how the hype rolls on.

Truest statement of the week

He has garnered White support at the expense of Black folks. Now he has done this in so many ways I've had to pare it down. But here are two. He said in Selma that Blacks have already come 90% of the way to equality with the inference of course that if he gets to be president we will have come all the way. Of course that's a signal to White people that this is almost over -- all this talk about race, all these 'complaints' from the likes of and they always fill in the blanks -- Sharpton and Jesse Jackson. 'But I'm with you, it's almost over, the progress has been almost completed.' That is so blatantly an appeal to White folks who want to just not want to hear about race. If it had come out of White man's mouth, Barack Obama would have been excoriated by Black people. And now, most recently, in fact, effectively, he praised the Republicans for their ideas in the 90s and on Ronald Reagan. And he talks about all the excesses of the 60s and 70s. I have never heard a more blatant code phrase than that. Which, of course, again, if it had come out of a White Democrat's mouth, that candidate would be persona non grata in all progressive quarters of the Democratic Party. So Obama is in a very real sense -- and he's been doing this from the beginning -- running a campaign on race but one that's appealing to White people.



-- Black Agenda Report's Glen Ford discussing Barack Obama on this week's CounterSpin which began broadcasting Friday.

Truest statement of the week II

Peter Hart: Now Obama, you've mentioned Obama's comments to this Nevada newspaper about the Regan legacy, and the odd part about it I guess -- or maybe it's not so odd -- is that the corporate press seems to be coming down on Obama's side saying Clinton's been unfair to him because Clinton characterizes it as praise for Reagan and if you look at the words that Obama used you don't see the word "praise" in there anywhere so it must be that Clinton's lying about this.



Glen Ford: No, you see every positive word that one could image which any reasonable person understands as praise and you see his reference to the excesses of the sixties and seventies which he says "caused the American public" -- and he means White people because that's who voted for him -- "to elect Ronald Reagan." And he does all of this in a very positive fashion as if saying by his judgement this was a good thing or at least that was the timely thing given those excesses for the American people to do. There's no mistaking the effects that he wanted to create as he struggles for conservative Democrats and Republicans. And we're talking White people here.



-- Black Agenda Report's Glen Ford speaking with Peter Hart on this week's CounterSpin which began airing Friday.

A Note to Our Readers

Hey --

Another, Sunday and we're moving faster than usual (despite huge Blogger/Blogspot problems). Here's who participated on this edition:

The Third Estate Sunday Review's Dona, Jess, Ty, Ava and Jim,
Rebecca of Sex and Politics and Screeds and Attitude,
Betty of Thomas Friedman Is a Great Man,
C.I. of The Common Ills and The Third Estate Sunday Review,
Kat of Kat's Korner (of The Common Ills),
Cedric of Cedric's Big Mix,
Mike of Mikey Likes It!,
Elaine of Like Maria Said Paz,
Ruth of Ruth's Report,
and Wally of The Daily Jot

And Dallas who hunted down links and was a sounding board to all. Thank you.

Here's what we got:

Truest statement of the week -- Glen Ford. Says it all.

Truest statement of the week II -- Glen Ford again, with Peter Hart this time. This was an important broadcast of CounterSpin. We've actually noted all the segments of it this edition.

Editorial: War resistance and war resisters matter... -- Important topic.

TV: Cullum's Big B.O. -- Ava and C.I. hated the program CEO and you can probably tell that by the commentary but just watching that crap made them sick to their stomach. (That's not a joke and Ava notes C.I. actually threw up after they finished watching the show.) This is the show I mentioned last week, that a copy of it had been delivered with a cover note. There strong streak continues. They're sick of news and public affairs. They long for the writers strike to be over but they'll continue covering "this crap" until the strike is over. Read it and if you've never heard of the show before, be glad of that, be very, very glad. Just reading Cullum's 'questions' should be enough to give you a headache.


Roundtable -- We didn't plan to do one. We thought we'd do Naomi Wolf's book this week as a book discussion. Then a Bambi lover e-mailed late Saturday saying we only did roundtable when Hillary won. Dona points out, right now, we did Iowa. So it wasn't true already. We gathered all the people who participated last week plus Jess (who wasn't able to last week). We were looking for results. We couldn't find them. We were all ready to get started and C.I. said blankety-blank "let me make some calls." As the roundtable proceeds, you'll see why we couldn't find results (meaning actual numbers), they weren't in yet. But that didn't stop The Nation from going to town claiming a win before even a third of the votes had reported. That's not journalism. Other topics addressed are the Green Party, Cynthia McKinney, Ralph Nader, the Communist Party, public radio, Florida and much more. A very long roundtable. In part because we were trying to go on as long as needed until the bulk of the precints in South Carolina had reported.

What doesn't get covered -- Iraq. Iraq was in the news all last week. General Dynamics reported record profits for the fourth quarter off of the Iraq War. In England, they're getting closer to uncovering (or appear to be) how the intel got 'sexed up.' We focused on the destruction of the Constitution and the binding of US forces to Iraq for many years to come. It's a damn shame that topic and the other two weren't seen as worthy by 'independent' media last week. We note CounterSpin's headlines in this feature.

Smut Merchant of the Week: Matthew Rothschild -- C.I. heard about this nonsense from a friend working on the John Edwards campaign. Even those working for Edwards were appalled by Matty's smut. You should be as well. C.I. actually announced this feature in Thursday's snapshot (dictating on one phone and listening on the other) which is one way to make sure we cover something here.

The Primary System -- This was the third segment of CounterSpin. We really did note all the segments this edition. If you missed the broadcast, go listen. You won't want to miss it.

Ty's beef -- Dona says short features next week and if not, less features. Why? Ty nearly lost it. (Ty agrees right now.) No one could figure out what was going on (except C.I. whom Ty had already spoken to about it). The woman is a nut case. But it's also true that we're all stretched to the limit (none more than Ava and C.I. on the road each week speaking out against the illegal war). Ty did not have time for this woman's nonsense. C.I. suggested we work on it as a feature. That did help Ty provide some perspective for himself. (It's written in the singular voice, but this was a group piece.)

Laura Flanders' Blue Grit reissued in new format -- announcements that C.I. carried over from The Common Ills.

Highlights -- Mike, Rebecca, Betty, Wally, Cedric, Kat and Elaine wrote this and selected all highlights unless noted. We thank them for this.

Bambi & the Kingpin -- Repost of Wally and Cedric because we loved it and it was requested.

"Democracy For Who!" -- Repost of Ava and C.I. because we got ripped apart in e-mail after e-mail last week for not re-posting it last Sunday.

That's what we've got. We're done and going to bed.

See you next week.

Oh, illustrations! Dona just pointed that out. C.I. will put them in tonight. Flickr isn't something we wanted to fight with this morning.

-- Jim, Dona, Ty, Jess, Ava and C.I.