DOWNLOADS: (58)

PLAYS: (226)

Embed

Longtime NY1 news anchor Pat Kiernan took the time this morning in his "In The Papers" segment to read Gabby Gifford's op-ed (A Senate in the Gun Lobby's Grip) for the NY Times in it's entirety.

A Senate in the Gun Lobby’s Grip

SENATORS say they fear the N.R.A. and the gun lobby. But I think that fear must be nothing compared to the fear the first graders in Sandy Hook Elementary School felt as their lives ended in a hail of bullets. The fear that those children who survived the massacre must feel every time they remember their teachers stacking them into closets and bathrooms, whispering that they loved them, so that love would be the last thing the students heard if the gunman found them.

Continue reading »

DOWNLOADS: (79)

PLAYS: (391)

Embed

Texas Sen. John Cornyn (R) on Sunday said that he opposed a bill to close the so-called gun show loophole and expand background checks to Internet gun sales because only better mental health laws will ensure that the Newtown mass shooting victims "did not die in vain."

"In my meeting with the Sandy Hook families, they told me that -- and of course, who wouldn't have sympathy and empathy for these people who have suffered a terrible loss -- but what they told me is that they wanted to make sure their loved one did not die in vain, that something good would come out of this," Cornyn told Fox News host Chris Wallace. "And so I think -- that's why I'm focused like a laser on the mental health component."

"But forgive me, sir," Wallace interrupted. "They are focused on tougher gun control. Specifically, the background check."

"Well for example, [Newtown shooter] Adam Lanza stole his mother's guns," Cornyn explained. "A background check would not have stopped that problem, that incident. A background check should have stopped James Holmes in Tucson, it should have stopped the Virginia Tech shooter."

"In other words, I think the mental health issue is the common element that we ought to be focused on, and I think we can do some good things," the Texas Republican added. "But I'm not for symbolism over substance. I think we can't just pat ourselves on the back and say we're going to pass some enhanced penalties for trafficking or other issues or background checks when they don't really go to solve the problems that cause these terrible tragedies."

Cornyn pointed out that the bipartisan legislation proposed by Sens. Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Pat Toomey (R-PA) would not have prevented any of the four most recent mass shootings.

"The [Newtown] parents say that doesn't matter," Wallace noted.

"Well, what matters to me is that we not just engage in a symbolic act and pat ourselves on the back and say we've done something good and left the problem unsolved," Cornyn insisted. "I would like to try to solve the problem by focusing on the common element of these recent tragedies, which is the mental health issue."

DOWNLOADS: (176)

PLAYS: (1687)

Embed

NBC host David Gregory on Sunday confronted National Rifle Association CEO Wayne LaPierre for "thwarting the will" of the public by opposing universal background checks while a vast majority of the public supports them.

Following an interview where New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said that he planned to use part of his personal fortune to defeat candidates who oppose gun control, Gregory asked LaPierre if he was "preparing to arm politically people" support gun rights?

"We have people sending us five, 10, 15 dollar checks, saying, 'Stand up to this guy that says we can only have three bullets,'" the NRA chief explained. "Stand up to this guy that says ridiculous things like the NRA wants firearms with nukes on them. I mean, it's insane the stuff he says."

"Ninety percent of people want background checks," Gregory pointed out. "Among people who own guns, 85 percent support [background checks]. Are you thwarting the will of the American people by standing in opposition to universal background checks?"

"No, not at all," LaPierre insisted. "Because here's the thing, the whole thing -- universal checks -- is a dishonest premise. There's not a bill on the Hill that provide a universal checks, criminals aren't going to be checked, they're not going to do this. The shooters in Tucson, in Aurora, in Newtown -- they're not going to be checked, they're unrecognizable."

The pro-gun lobbyist suggested that the NRA would even oppose the current background check system if Congress tried to pass it again today because "it's a speed bump for the law abiding."

"It slows down the law abiding and does nothing to anybody else," he insisted.

DOWNLOADS: (134)

PLAYS: (951)

Embed

Breitbart News editor-at-large Ben Shapiro on Wednesday dismissed the importance of ethnic studies by insisting that only purposes of the courses were "to meet girls" and "get an easy A."

Fox News host Megyn Kelly noted on Wednesday that a U.S. Circuit Court judge recently had upheld an Arizona law that banned ethnic studies in Tucson because Republican lawmakers said that the classes promoted racial resentment.

Shapiro argued that the judge had made the right decision because ethnic studies courses -- like the Mexican American Studies Program that was banned in Tucson -- had a "myopic focus on the idea that America is a racist place against certain ethnicities and minorities."

"The second point here is just the giant waste of taxpayer dollars that this constitutes," he added. "Look, I took Jewish studies courses when I was at UCLA. There are only two reason that you take a Jewish studies course. The first is to meet girls, and the second is to get an easy A."

"And that's why most students are taking ethnic studies courses, unless they're buying into this radical ideology that really is the basis of all ethic studies courses throughout America."

"That explains a lot about the make up of some of those classes back in my school," Kelly quipped.

Continue reading »

DOWNLOADS: (210)

PLAYS: (1314)

Embed

Conservative columnist Ann Coulter is telling President Barack Obama, "Screw you!" because she says that his plan implement universal background checks for all gun purchases "means universal confiscation, universal extermination."

Following Obama's Monday speech in Minnesota calling on Congress to implement "real and lasting change" on gun control, Fox News host Sean Hannity blasted "The Anointed One" for being concerned with "accepting gay scout masters, gay marriage, gun control, watering down welfare requirements, abortion rights, war on women."

"Connecticut, Aurora, Tucson, these are crazy people," Coulter ranted in agreement. "That is the problem. Everything they are telling you about what they can do about guns is lie. The problem with universal background checks is we basically have universal backgrounds check now. Any licensed gun dealer is performing a background check."

"The only way to enforce a universal -- the last 0.1 percent of guns that are transferred by collectors and so on is to have universal gun registration," she added. "Universal background check means universal registration, universal registration means universal confiscation, universal extermination. That is how it goes in history. Do not fall for universal background checks."

In fact, the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence estimates that about 40 percent of gun purchasers do not go through background checks, but opponents of gun control dispute this claim.

"If Obama talks about gay rights, if Obama talks about guns, immigration and climate control, then the media race to every Republican, 'What do you think about what Obama said?,' and we don't focus on the economy," Hannity opined.

Coulter replied: "Not only that, just to follow up on your point right there, it's just that they are talking about it, they must demonize people that are legal gun owners and, 'Obama, look at him. He cares about the children.'"

"Screw you!" she exclaimed. "You think we don't care about the children? You're the one who won't do anything about the mentally ill."

(h/t: Mediaite)

DOWNLOADS: (161)

PLAYS: (1313)

Embed

An Arizona man has been fired as the as the chief financial officer and treasurer of a medical equipment manufacturer in Tucson after he posted video of himself telling a Chick-fil-A drive-thru employee that she worked for a "horrible company."

In a statement released on Thursday, Vante said that it respected "the right of our employees and all Americans to hold and express their personal opinions," but it was firing CFO/Treasurer Adam Smith anyway.

On Wednesday, Smith had protested "Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day" by filming himself ordering a free water.

"You know why I'm getting my free water, right?" he asked the woman at the drive-true. "Because Chick-fil-A is a hateful corporation."

"I disagree," the employee replied. "We don't treat any of our customers differently."

"I know, but the corporation gives money to hate groups. Hate groups. Just because people want to kiss another guy," Smith insisted. "I don't believe corporations should be giving money to hateful groups. I'll take my water."

"It's my pleasure to serve you, always," the employee said.

"Oh, of course I'm glad that I can take a little bit of money from Chick-fil-A, and maybe less money to hate groups," Smith continued. "I don't know how you live with yourself and work here. I don't understand it. This is a horrible corporation with horrible values. You deserve better."

Before pulling away from the drive-thru, Smith added, "I'm a nice guy, by the way. And I'm totally heterosexual, not a gay in me. I just can't stand the hate, you know? It's got to stop, guys."

After conservative websites labeled Smith as a "bully," Vante issued a press release saying that he was no longer employed by the company.

"Vante regrets the unfortunate events that transpired yesterday in Tucson between our former CFO/Treasurer Adam Smith and an employee at Chick-fil-A," the company wrote. "The actions of Mr. Smith do not reflect our corporate values in any manner. Vante is an equal opportunity company with a diverse workforce, which holds diverse opinions. We respect the right of our employees and all Americans to hold and express their personal opinions, however, we also expect our company officers to behave in a manner commensurate with their position and in a respectful fashion that conveys these values of civility with others."

"We hope that the general population does not hold Mr. Smith's actions against Vante and its employees," Vante said.

But Tucson Citizen blogger Tip O'Neil argued that he couldn't find any "bullying" in the video.

"We all know that the chick fil a appreciation day is all about supporting 'the first amendment' and 'free speech,'" O'Neil noted. "As long as the speech is anti-gay, of course. Otherwise it’s free speech for me but not for thee, at least at the Tucson company Vante."

(h/t: Joe My God)

DOWNLOADS: (613)

PLAYS: (6026)

Embed

Earlier this week, The Daily Show decided to take on the Tucson Unified school board and their decision to outlaw Mexican-American studies in their classrooms.

Here's more from the LA Times on the board's decision -- Mexican American studies: 'Daily Show' segment strikes a nerve:

After that stint on Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show,” the Tucson Unified school board is probably wishing it had hired a media consultant before trying to explain its position on the district’s controversial Mexican American Studies program.

Normally, when people are featured on a television show, they call family and friends and let them know the time and channel. That might not be the case for board member Michael Hicks, who appeared in a segment about the ethnic studies controversy.

The Tucson school board voted to end the program after Arizona's education chief had ruled the district in violation of a controversial state law banning classes designed for a particular ethnic group or that "promote the overthrow of the U.S. government."

Defenders of the Mexican American Studies program have said it does no such thing. Some board members said they voted to discontinue the program under duress because the legislation allowed the state to withhold funding from the district unless it complied with the law.

The law and the board's vote -- and protests by Latino students -- have prompted fiery discussions in Tucson and across the state. Into that atmosphere stepped Hicks when he explained his vote on "The Daily Show."

"My concern was a lot of the radical ideas that they were teaching in these classes," Hicks is quoted as saying.

"Telling these kids that this is their land, the whites took it over and the only way to get out from beneath the gringo — which is the white man — is by bloodshed."

The segment quotes him as saying he has never gone to any of the classrooms and based his opinions on "hearsay."

Continue reading »

DOWNLOADS: (806)

PLAYS: (8706)

Embed

After yet another pathetic performance on the Sean Hannity show the other night, where both Hannity and Palin were trying to paint her as the victim of this Tucson madness, The Daily Show decides to lower the boom on the thing that is known as Sarah Palin. After complaining (actually whining is more accurate) about the politicization of the shootings, Palin a few minutes later refers to Loughner as "an apolitical or perhaps even left-leaning criminal".

"There must to be a word for complaining vociferously about a wrong being done to you whilst casually committing said wrong without even realizing it," Stewart said. "For now let's call it an 'Anchorage Steamer.'"

Stewart ends with what the rest of us had concluded long ago:

"You have become a lighting rod less for your clarity of vision, but more for your ability to turn any criticism of you of into persecution of you."

DOWNLOADS: (413)

PLAYS: (2535)

Embed

Posted without much need for comment. A brief video on the sad events in Tucson. Perhaps we will all begin to open our eyes after yet another senseless tragedy.

DOWNLOADS: (655)

PLAYS: (7173)

Embed

YouTube version

Sarah Palin says she's the victim of "blood libel" in the Arizona shootings. As one person put it on twitter,

"Really? "Blood Libel"? Someone tries to assassinate a Jewish member of Congress, and you use the phrase "Blood Libel"? Shame on you".

Howard Kurtz, who only a few days ago was defending her actions, now condemns her.

“Especially within hours of a tragedy unfolding,” Palin said in a video on her Facebook page, “journalists and pundits should not manufacture a blood libel that serves only to incite the very hatred and violence they purport to condemn. That is reprehensible.”

Blood libel, for those who are not familiar, describes a false accusation that minorities—usually Jews—murder children to use their blood in religious rituals, and has been a historical theme in the persecution of the Jewish people.

Had Palin scoured a thesaurus, she could not have come up with a more inflammatory phrase