Fox Right Wing Propaganda

As if we needed any more evidence that Fox "News" should be renamed "Fox Right-Wing Propaganda", watch this Daily Show clip where Jon Stewart catches Sean Hannity inflating the number of protesters and actually using footage of a completely different, more highly-attended rally while discussing the anti-health-care rally a couple of days ago.

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Sean Hannity Uses Glenn Beck's Protest Footage
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The Stupak Amendment: Keep the Pressure Up

I really think the Democrats underestimated how angry we Democratic women were going to be after they helped pass the Stupak Amendment. As I mentioned in my last post, the Stupak Amendment takes the current law that prohibits federal funding for abortion and takes it a huge step further - prohibiting federal funds from being used for abortion services in any health exchange be it public or private.

At first, the White House press secretary, Robert Gibbs refused to address it. Then Senator Claire McCaskill said it wasn't that big a deal. Fortunately, the backlash must have had an effect. President Obama said in an ABC News interview that it needs to be changed to maintain the status quo. Senator McCaskill has already reversed course, tweeting that she opposed adding such an amendment to the Senate Bill. And women's rights champions like Senator Barbara Boxer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand are speaking out, denouncing the Stupak Amendment and saying that it will not make it through the Senate.

What this all shows me is that we have to make sure our voices continue to be heard. Get the blogosphere buzzing. Set the twitterverse a-twitter. Contact our representatives, call in to radio shows and write letters to the editor. We must keep the pressure on the Democrats so that they know this is important and not an issue to compromise away. For reference, here is a list of Democrats who voted yes on the Stupak Amendment. Even more interesting, here is a list of strongly pro-choice Democrats who voted yes on the amendment.

Here is Rachel Maddow's segment on the Stupak Amendment that lays out very clearly why this is so serious.

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The Democratic Party Platform states:

The Democratic Party strongly and unequivocally support Roe v. Wade and a woman's right to choose a safe and legal abortion, regardless of ability to pay, and we oppose any and all efforts to weaken or undermine that right.

Let's hold our representatives accountable to uphold our principles and uphold this key women's rights issue.

The Stupak Amendment - Democrats' Disappointing Compromise

So the House of Representatives passed their health care reform bill. Why am I not more excited? Because of the Stupak Amendment. The Stupak Amendment takes the current law that prohibits federal funding for abortion and takes it a huge step further - prohibiting federal funds from being used for abortion services in any health exchange be it public or private.
According the National Organization for Women's (NOW) statement:

The Stupak Amendment goes far beyond the abusive Hyde Amendment, which has denied federal funding of abortion since 1976. The Stupak Amendment, if incorporated into the final version of health insurance reform legislation, will:

o Prevent women receiving tax subsidies from using their own money to purchase private insurance that covers abortion;
o Prevent women participating in the public health insurance exchange, administered by private insurance companies, from using 100 percent of their own money to purchase private insurance that covers abortion;
o Prevent low-income women from accessing abortion entirely, in many cases.

I continue to be amazed at what the Democrats are willing to give up in the quest to be bi-partisan. They seem to be forgetting that the reason there is an overwhelming Democratic majority in the House, that there is a 60-vote, filibuster-proof Democratic super-majority in the Senate, that there is a Democrat in the White House is because We the People voted for them to be there based on the Democratic Party platform (see p. 50 re: opposing any effort to weaken or undermine the right to choose a safe and legal abortion regardless of ability to pay) and based on what they told us they stand for. The majority of the American people want Health Care Reform with a public option. The majority of American people (78%) believe abortion should be legal in at least some circumstances. Get a spine and stand up for what We the People that you represent believe in!

Bill Maher On The Year In Ridiculous Republicans (VIDEO)

Bill Maher On The Year In Ridiculous Republicans (VIDEO)

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Great Article on John McCain's BS re: Sarah Palin and his Campaign

This is a great article that takes John McCain on for laying all the blame for his defeat in the presidential election on the economy and none on the disaster that was Sarah Palin. My favorite part? Bringing up and linking to Tina Fey's brilliant impersonation and the fact that she just repeated verbatim Sarah Palin's responses in the reenactment (not spoof!) of the Katie Couric interview. Check it out!

Geoffrey Dunn: McCain's Latest Palin Lie

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Think Those For-Profit Health Insurers Are Looking Out for You? The Height of Pre-Existing Condition Ridiculousness

I love how the conservative right has turned everyday people into staunch defenders of the large, corporate, for-profit health insurance companies and their right to make a profit. Well, the health insurance companies make a profit by jacking up premiums and reducing the risk of paying out claims. One way to reduce the risk is by denying coverage to people with pre-existing conditions. Read the following example of how ridiculous this can get.

Alex Lange Denied Health Care Coverage: "Your Baby Is Too Fat"

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My Personal Note from President Obama --- ;)

Here is the e-mail I received from President Obama regarding his Nobel Peace Prize. What a perfect way to counter these damn conservatives and their constant need to tear President Obama down. First the Olympics and now this. When will the Republicans put aside party politics and put America first? Can't we all be proud that the President of the United States -- our leader -- won this prestigious prize?

Yes we can!!!!

Cristina --

This morning, Michelle and I awoke to some surprising and humbling news. At 6 a.m., we received word that I'd been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009.

To be honest, I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who've been honored by this prize -- men and women who've inspired me and inspired the entire world through their courageous pursuit of peace.

But I also know that throughout history the Nobel Peace Prize has not just been used to honor specific achievement; it's also been used as a means to give momentum to a set of causes.

That is why I've said that I will accept this award as a call to action, a call for all nations and all peoples to confront the common challenges of the 21st century. These challenges won't all be met during my presidency, or even my lifetime. But I know these challenges can be met so long as it's recognized that they will not be met by one person or one nation alone.

This award -- and the call to action that comes with it -- does not belong simply to me or my administration; it belongs to all people around the world who have fought for justice and for peace. And most of all, it belongs to you, the men and women of America, who have dared to hope and have worked so hard to make our world a little better.

So today we humbly recommit to the important work that we've begun together. I'm grateful that you've stood with me thus far, and I'm honored to continue our vital work in the years to come.

Thank you,

President Barack Obama