Month: October 2009

Obama’s Gay Rights Speech At “Human Rights Campaign” Dinner

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President Obama gave a rousing speech last night, calling for equal benefits for same sex couples in federal jobs, and for the eventual end, without a deadline for action, of the military ban on gays serving. His audience, the Human Rights Campaign dinner, seemed satisfied but impatient for quicker action on the military issue.

Obama also was proud to announce that gay crimes would soon be part of hate crime law as part of the defense appropriations bill going through the Senate for a final vote. He also continued to support civil unions, and for repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act, but still held out against his own support for gay marriage.

A similar reaction was stated Sunday by Michigan Democrat Debbie Stabenow and Pennsylvania Democrat Bob Casey.

Gay Marriage is the hardest nut to crack, but the other aspects of the gay agenda seem likely to be accomplished very soon.

Medical Malpractice Limits And Health Care Reform Legislation

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Democratic Senator Bob Casey of Pennsylvania made a very interesting and proper statement regarding medical malpractice reform on CNN today.

He said a Republican proposal to limit medical malpractice awards to $250,000 was “insulting” to the principle of justice in cases where there is intentional or negligent conduct by doctors or other medical personnel.

I totally agree, as if someone is harmed by medical malpractice, and most likely is affected for a lifetime in his or her ability to earn income or live a productive life, then he or she should be entitled to a much higher award. Discretion should be allowed, so as not to victimize an unfortunate patient, while at the same time putting a “reasonable” limit on such awards.

So there should be reform on this issue, but with a substantially higher threshold.

Anti Government And Anti Science Attitudes And The Swine Flu

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It is amazing that in this time of a swine flu epidemic potential, and with news that 76 children have died as a result of the epidemic, with 19 in the past week, we have anti government and anti science attitudes kicking in to the detriment of the American people.

About a third of parents are making clear that they will not allow their children to be inoculated, because of fear that their kids might become sick, and because they do not trust the government to do what is right. At the same time, a substantial number of health care workers are demonstrating the same crazy mentality, and if so, it makes many people who are not knowledgeable about the epidemic pause before protecting their children and the elderly and those with serious health conditions.

If this epidemic proves to be what it is expected to be, it will be a national disaster if many thousands of Americans die because of the refusal of people to believe the seriousness of the situation.

This is being encouraged by radio talk show hosts and conservatives, who would rather promote religion over science, and love to attack government, except when it benefits wealthy people and corporations.

We are in the midst of a national crisis in more ways than one. It is not just over this potentially massive number of people who might become sick and potentially die if they do not receive inoculation. It is also over understanding government’s importance in our lives,  and the significance of science based on factual evidence, compared to religion, based on belief and faith alone.

Bill Clinton For Future Nobel Peace Prize?

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The Nobel Peace Prize has gone to four American Presidents (Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Jimmy Carter, Barack Obama), two Vice Presidents (Charles Dawes, Al Gore), and also to such luminaries as Henry Kissinger and Martin Luther King, Jr.

The awarding of the prize to Obama, based more on hope and expectation and judged on oratory and changed direction, makes one start to wonder about future years, and who might be eligible to gain the award.

One name that arises, despite many critics and enemies, is former President Bill Clinton.

Many people seem to have forgotten that he made real efforts at Camp David to get an agreement between Yitzhak Rabin of Israel and Yassir Arafat, the Palestinian leader.

Also, Clinton intervened to bring peace to Bosnia and Kosovo in the Balkans, and peace has generally prevailed in recent years.

Most amazing of all, the fact that the Northern Ireland bloodshed was ended by President Clinton’s endeavors, culminating in a lasting agreement arranged in 1998, makes one realize that Bill Clinton is an excellent candidate for the Peace Prize in the future.

Just as Jimmy Carter received the award 22 years after leaving the Presidency, it seems to me that sometime soon, hopefully while Bill Clinton is still alive, he will win what he richly deserves: the Nobel Peace Prize!

Barack Obama And Action On Gay Rights

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President Obama will be speaking on Saturday night before a national meeting of gay rights activists who are conducting a March On Washington, and it provides the opportunity for him to take clear public stands on important issues regarding the gay community.

It is time for him to move on ending “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” in the military.

It is time for him to promote an employment discrimination law, which would prevent the dismissal of gay employees because of their sexual orientation.

It is time to push legislation making crimes against gays part of a national hate crime bill, something which has now passed the House of Representatives, but is stalled in the Senate, which therefore requires the intervention of the President.

It is unlikely, however, that the President will back gay marriage anytime soon, because it is still not favored in the public opinion polls, although gay civil unions are supported by a majority in the polls, and also by President Obama.

This speech on Saturday night shall be a turning point for the gay community in their relationship with the Obama Administration. It is hoped that Obama will not disappoint that group which so strongly backed him in 2008.

The Urgent Need For A National Consumer Financial Protection Agency

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President Obama went on the offensive today, demanding that Congress take action on the creation of a National Consumer Financial Protection Agency.

This agency is opposed by banks and big corporations who want to continue to exploit and victimize the nation’s consumers in relation to credit cards and financial services. They have been lobbying successfully so far to prevent the creation of simple applications for financial products, which all consumers could understand, replacing the complex situation now, which requires lawyers and other experts to translate the “small print”.

So many millions of Americans are victims of these banks and other financial organizations, which caused a lot of the corruption which helped to lead to the Great Recession, that we are still attempting to recover from.

It is time that these financial service companies understand that the American people are not going to tolerate any more exploitation, and we should all applaud the President’s strong, determined stand on this issue!

Barack Obama And His Critics: The Challenge Of The Nobel Peace Prize

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Now that President Obama has won the Nobel Peace Prize, the weight on him to perform and fulfill what the Peace Prize represents, creates a greater challenge than any President has had since John F. Kennedy and the Cuban Missile Crisis.

The challenges of Iran, North Korea, Iraq, Afghanistan, the Middle East, Venezuela and numerous other issues complicate the goals of promoting world peace and ultimate nuclear disarmament.

Obama has the world behind him with the exception of the terrorists represented by Al Qaeda and the Taliban, who have denounced the awarding of the Peace Prize to him. Of course there is one more major critic: the right wing talk shows hosts, Fox, and of course, the bulk of the Republican party opposition.

It was very statesmanlike for Senator John McCain to congratulate President Obama, and to see the award as good news for the nation. But of course, Michael Steele, the GOP National Chairman, had to, again, prove how disgraceful and useless he is, by his statements critical of Obama, rather than rejoice in the honor of the moment. And Rush Limbaugh was his usual, predictably obnoxious self, denouncing the world and evoking super American nationalism’s attitude of condemning Europe and the United Nations.

Imagine cynical young and older people coming up with a conspiracy theory that the award was fixed, and even arranged by the President himself–this following his obvious inability to “fix” the Olympic Games location for 2016 in his home city of Chicago.

When we reach the point that many people in our country can condemn an honor bestowed on our President, which he made clear was an honor for the nation, then we have reached a dangerously poisonous atmosphere that is highly disturbing.

The President is pursuing a series of goals to improve the world scene, and he is graciously, appropriately, arranging for the $1.4 million prize to be donated to charity.

Despite the criticism and hypocrisy that is emerging, the nation should be rightfully proud of our President, who is emerging as a statesman!

Hallelujah! President Barack Obama Wins Nobel Peace Prize!

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Surprising but exciting news just occurred less than two hours ago when Norway announced that President Obama has won the Nobel Peace Prize!

He was awarded the prize for promotion of diplomacy in the quest for world peace and his efforts to work toward the eventual elimination of nuclear weapons.

Obama is the fourth President to win the Nobel Peace Prize. Theodore Roosevelt won it in 1906 for negotiating the end of the Russo Japanese War. Woodrow Wilson won it in 1919 for involvement in the negotiating of the Versailles Treaty after World War 1, although ironically, the US Senate refused to ratify the treaty or membership in the League of Nations. Jimmy Carter won it in 2002, more than 20 years after leaving office, for his promotion of free and fair elections in many countries around the world and his general efforts for world peace and diplomacy.

Additionally, two Vice Presidents have won the Nobel Peace Prize. Charles Dawes, Vice President under Calvin Coolidge, won it in 1925 for negotiating the Dawes Plan, which lessened the debt burden on Weimar Germany that had been imposed on them by the Versailles Treaty. Al Gore won it out of office in 2007 for work on Global Warming and other environmental concerns.

This is a moment of rejoicing, but one wonders whether it will have any long range effects on diplomacy or domestic affairs. Also, it is certain that right wing talk show hosts and Fox will not see it as a plus or a victory for our nation, but rather as a negative in some fashion.

One thing is clear: We are in the midst of an historic Presidency, and I congratulate the President for this fantastic honor that has been bestowed upon him! 🙂

The Obama Administration And Fox “News” Channel

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It is very pleasing to see the Obama Administration going on the offensive against Fox “News” Channel, which is declared by spokesmen for the President as the Fox “Opinion” Channel.

This is an absolutely correct description of the nature of that channel, which makes no effort to be fair or balanced, although they claim to be just that.

Fox has worked to promote the failure of the Obama Presidency, almost as if they are in league with Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity, Bill O’Reilly and other so called journalists on their channel, plus the radio tirades of Rush Limbaugh, Michael Savage, and others who are out just to enrich themselves, and do not care about journalistic standards.

It is sad that this kind of disgraceful behavior masquerades as news, but I call upon the President and his supporters to continue to work to undermine any respect that this channel has.

Even if Fox gets a sizable audience at times, it is a bad reflection on those who swear by the channel, as it shows a lack of judgment and fairness. Hate and division are not the answer to our problems, but rather CONSTRUCTIVE criticism which is certainly welcome, but which we will obviously never find on Fox!

Time for Charles Rangel To Resign From Chairmanship Of House Ways And Means Committee

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Congressman Charlie Rangel of Harlem has had nearly 40 years of service in the House of Representatives, but is now facing an ethics investigation due to tax problems that he should have been able to avoid.

Being the Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, which deals with all tax legislation, makes things particularly awkward, and it is hurting the image of the Democrats and seems likely to contribute to the danger of the loss of many seats by the Democrats in the 2010 midterm elections for the House.

The Black Caucus is backing Rangel all the way, but frankly, this is not a good move by that caucus, because it leaves the impression that they are only in support of him because of his skin color. This is bad policy making, and no one, black or white or otherwise, should get a “free ride” simply because of that.

For the good of the party, Rangel should voluntarily step down as Chair of the Ways and Means Committee, and should he be cleared eventually of any charges by the Ethics Committee, he could be allowed to regain the chairmanship at a later date.

So, Charlie, for the good of the Democratic party and its future, you need to resign now from a leadership role on your committee!