Politics
11/18/2008 | Politics
Soros-Funded Democratic Idea Factory Becomes Obama Policy Font
Bloomberg.com
Nov. 18 (Bloomberg) -- Three blocks from the White House, on the 10th floor of a sleek glass building, young workers pound at computers, with giant flat-screen TVs overhead. It has the look and feel of a high-tech startup. In many ways it is. The product is ideas. Thanks in part to funding from benefactors such as billionaire George Soros, the Center for American Progress has become in just five years an intellectual wellspring for Democratic policy proposals, including many that are shaping the agenda of the new Obama administration. Much as the Heritage Foundation provided intellectual heft for the Republican Party in the 1980s, CAP has been an incubator for liberal thought and helped build the platform that triumphed in the 2008 campaign.
11/13/2008 | Politics
MSNBC retracts false Palin story; others duped
Yahoo News
NEW YORK – MSNBC was the victim of a hoax when it reported that an adviser to John McCain had identified himself as the source of an embarrassing story about former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, the network said Wednesday. David Shuster, an anchor for the cable news network, said on air Monday that Martin Eisenstadt, a McCain policy adviser, had come forth and identified himself as the source of a Fox News Channel story saying Palin had mistakenly believed Africa was a country instead of a continent. Eisenstadt identifies himself on a blog as a senior fellow at the Harding Institute for Freedom and Democracy. Yet neither he nor the institute exist; each is part of a hoax dreamed up by a filmmaker named Eitan Gorlin and his partner, Dan Mirvish, the New York Times reported Wednesday. The Eisenstadt claim had mistakenly been delivered to Shuster by a producer and was used in a political discussion Monday afternoon, MSNBC said. "The story was not properly vetted and should not have made air," said Jeremy Gaines, network spokesman. "We recognized the error almost immediately and ran a correction on air within minutes." Gaines told the Times that someone in the network's newsroom had presumed the information solid because it was passed along in an e-mail from a colleague.
11/13/2008 | Politics
Palin tamps down talk of '12 presidential run
USA Today
MIAMI — Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin on Thursday dismissed speculation about her ambitions for higher office but told a group of Republican governors that they are the future of the GOP. "It is the Republican governors that have the experience and the leadership qualities that can help usher back in to our states and our nation the bedrock principles that do make up the Republican Party," Palin said at her first news conference since she became the Republican vice presidential nominee. Palin is one of 17 governors attending the Republican Governors Association conference this week. The state leaders have used the meeting to assess why the GOP lost the presidential race and 26 seats in Congress and what they must to do to move forward.
11/6/2008 | Pro-Family, Presidential Issues, Politics, Homosexuality
Post-Election National Conference Call
Conservative Commentators Reflect
Newsguests would like to welcome and thank our panel of national leaders and the members of the press for joining our teleconference call today. I'm Debbie Hamilton, president of Newsguest, and Felicia Horton, who's on the line, is our national media director. Newsguest.com is a public relations firm providing prepared guests on a wide variety of provocative topics to local, regional, and national media. The reason for our series of teleconference calls is to give the media the opportunity to hear the perspectives from top conservative leaders in the country. And today it is, of course, regarding the results of the 2008 presidential election. We ask that members of the press go ahead and ask questions but, importantly, because this conference call is being recorded, when asking a question, please announce your name and media organization and direct the question at one of our commentators by name. We do have the silent entry and exit on the line so as not to distract the call for the recording. Our commentators today are Connie Mackey, senior vice-president from Family Research Council Action, FRC Action; Alan Chambers, president of Exodus International; Dr. Gerald Kieschnick, president of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod; Marjorie [Deniselser], president of the Susan B. Anthony List; Ken Blackwell, chairman for the Coalition for a Conservative Majority and vice-chair of the 2008 Republican Platform Committee; and Colin Hanna, president of Let Freedom Ring.
Recommended Guests:
Karin Agness, Founder and President, Network of enlightened Women (NeW)Phil Burress, President, Citizens for Community ValuesAlan Chambers, President, Exodus InternationalRev. Clenard Childress, Jr., Assistant Director, Life Education and Resource NetworkWard Connerly, Author/Founder and Chairman, American Civil Rights InstituteScott Davis, Director of Student Ministries, Exodus InternationalTom DeLay, Former House Majority Leader, United States House of RepresentativesLen Deo, President, New Jersey Family Policy CouncilWilliam Devlin, National President, Redeem The VoteJessica Echard, Executive Director, Eagle ForumTim G. Echols, President/Founder, TeenPactJoseph Farah, CEO, Founder, WorldNetDailyTodd Friel, Radio Host, Way of the MasterRick Green, President, Torch of Freedom FoundationColin Hanna, Colin Hanna, President, Let Freedom RingLowman Henry, Chairman & CEO, Lincoln Institute of Public Opinion Research, Inc.Dr. Janice Hollis, Bishop, Progressive Believers MinistriesBishop Harry R. Jackson, Senior Pastor, Hope Christian ChurchPeter Lillback, President, Westminster Theological SeminaryGary Marx, Executive Director, Judicial Confirmation NetworkJoe Murray, Columnist, The BulletinGrover Norquist, President, Americans for Tax Reform (ATR)Elizabeth Racine, Founder, Moralert.comPhyllis Schlafly, President and Founder, Eagle ForumChristopher Slattery, Founder and President, EMC Frontline Pregnancy CentersDavid Smith, Executive Director, Illinois Family InstituteRandy Thomas, Executive Vice President, Exodus International10/28/2008 | Politics
Both sides of aisle rip MSNBC
THR.Com
In a room full of television industry executives, no one seemed inclined to defend MSNBC on Monday for what some were calling its lopsidedly liberal coverage of the presidential election. The cable news channel is "completely out of control," said writer-producer Linda Bloodworth-Thomason, a self-proclaimed liberal Democrat. She added that she would prefer a lunch date with right-leaning Fox News star Sean Hannity over left-leaning MSNBC star Keith Olbermann. Olbermann was criticized by many who attended Monday's luncheon sponsored by the Caucus for Producers, Writers & Directors at the Beverly Hills Hotel. The event was dubbed "Hollywood, America and Election '08." Bloodworth-Thomason and others seemed especially critical of the way MSNBC -- and other media -- has attacked Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin while demeaning her supporters.
10/27/2008 | Homosexuality, Politics
Turnout could affect same-sex marriage bans
USA Today
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The presidential race won't be the only close vote here next week. A constitutional amendment to define marriage as the union of a man and a woman and deny recognition to any "substantial equivalent" has stirred pocketbook concerns among Florida's seniors and those with domestic partner benefits. Voters in California and Arizona also will decide Nov. 4 whether to change their constitutions to prevent courts from overturning laws barring same-sex marriage. The California Supreme Court threw out a ban on same-sex nuptials in May. Since then, more than 11,000 gay couples have wed, says UCLA's Williams Institute for Sexual Orientation Law and Public Policy. Polls show voters evenly divided.
9/15/2008 | Politics
Legendary Conservative Paul Weyrich Honored
For His Life, Work and Mission
One of the most influential and respected political icons was honored on September 10 as over 400 of his closest friends, peers, colleagues and co-workers tried to fight back their tears of appreciation. A Salute to Mr. Paul Weyrich was held in the elegant ballroom of the Four Seasons Hotel in Washington D.C. to celebrate his life, his mission and his work. Over $330,000 was raised that evening which will be donated to the Free Congress Foundation.
8/17/2008 | Politics, Presidential Issues
Transcript for Evangelical Leaders' Teleconference Re: Saddleback Civil Forum on the Presidency
Click on Headline for Entire Written Transcript
News Guests would like to thank everyone for joining our teleconference tonight. I’m Debbie Hamilton, President of News Guests, and Felicia Horton is our National Media Director, who was at the event tonight at Saddleback. The reason for our teleconference is to give some our top evangelical leaders and commentators on this call tonight the chance to react to tonight’s Civil Forum on the Presidency that Pastor Rick Warren just finished hosting, as you know, at Saddleback Community Church. Martha Zoller is our moderator tonight, and we ask you that you go ahead and not only ask questions, but importantly, because this call is being recorded, when asking a question you must announce your name and media organization and direct the question at one of our commentators by name. And our commentators tonight are Tom Minnery, Vice-President of Focus on the Family, Phil Burress, President of Citizens for Community Values in Ohio, Janet Folger, President and national radio host of Faith 2 Action, and Bishop Harry Jackson, Sr., Pastor of Hope Christian Church in Washington, D.C. and author of The Black Contract With America On Moral Values.
Recommended Guests:
Karin Agness, Founder and President, Network of enlightened Women (NeW)Tom DeLay, Former House Majority Leader, United States House of RepresentativesWilliam Devlin, National President, Redeem The VoteRick Green, President, Torch of Freedom FoundationColin Hanna, Colin Hanna, President, Let Freedom RingDr. Janice Hollis, Bishop, Progressive Believers MinistriesBishop Harry R. Jackson, Senior Pastor, Hope Christian ChurchGary Marx, Executive Director, Judicial Confirmation NetworkJoe Murray, Columnist, The BulletinGrover Norquist, President, Americans for Tax Reform (ATR)8/13/2008 | Freedom of Speech, Politics
FCC Commissioner: Return of Fairness Doctrine Could Control Web Content
Business and Media Institute
There’s a huge concern among conservative talk radio hosts that reinstatement of the Fairness Doctrine would all-but destroy the industry due to equal time constraints. But speech limits might not stop at radio. They could even be extended to include the Internet and “government dictating content policy.” FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell raised that as a possibility after talking with bloggers at the Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C. McDowell spoke about a recent FCC vote to bar Comcast from engaging in certain Internet practices – expanding the federal agency’s oversight of Internet networks.
Recommended Guests:
David Bossie, President, Citizens UnitedRev. Clenard Childress, Jr., Assistant Director, Life Education and Resource NetworkWard Connerly, Author/Founder and Chairman, American Civil Rights InstituteTom DeLay, Former House Majority Leader, United States House of RepresentativesLen Deo, President, New Jersey Family Policy CouncilJessica Echard, Executive Director, Eagle ForumTim G. Echols, President/Founder, TeenPactSteve Elliott, President, Grassfire.orgJoseph Farah, CEO, Founder, WorldNetDailyTodd Friel, Radio Host, Way of the MasterJames Gelfand, Senior Manager of Health Policy, U.S. Chamber of CommerceRick Green, President, Torch of Freedom FoundationColin Hanna, Colin Hanna, President, Let Freedom RingBishop Harry R. Jackson, Senior Pastor, Hope Christian ChurchPeter Lillback, President, Westminster Theological SeminaryGary Marx, Executive Director, Judicial Confirmation NetworkJoe Murray, Columnist, The BulletinJesse Lee Peterson, Founder and President, Brotherhood Organization of a New DestinyPhyllis Schlafly, President and Founder, Eagle ForumTony Strickland, Taxpayer AdvocateLorianne Updike, President & Executive Director, The Constitutional Sources ProjectTimothy Watkins, Producer/Director, Renegade Productions7/24/2008 | Politics
MTV Airs First National Political Ad Featuring 'Both Ways Barack’ by Let Freedom Ring
Let Freedom Ring
For the first time in MTV’s 27-year history, the station aired their first national political ad last night during one of their most heavily viewed dayparts, within the 7pm – midnight timeframe. With the shift in how young people view their elders due to the “MTV generation” being raised many times by grandparents and the close bond that has developed between the generations, our nation’s 18-35-year olds are listening to what some folks have to say about Barack Obama. The new television and radio campaign by Let Freedom Ring, “Both Ways Barack” has created a stir as it has caused many to second guess where Barack Obama stands as the ad points out that Obama has been “worse than a flip-flopper” on several issues.
7/23/2008 | Politics, Presidential Issues
Obama is Worse Than a Flip-Flopper!
Let Freedom Ring
Let Freedom Ring launched its first ad campaign of this election cycle today titled, “Both Ways Barack”, pointing out that presidential candidate Barack Obama has conflicting positions on many issues and “holds two positions at the same time” making him “worse than a flip-flopper.” The ad may be viewed in its entirety at www.BothWaysBarack.com The television campaign will be featured on CNN, MSNBC and FOX, awaiting clearance from other national broadcast and cable networks. Several hundred thousand dollars will be spent on the campaign. Colin Hanna, president of the group, said "We have a multi-pronged strategy. This will not be the only thing you hear from Let Freedom Ring." Hanna said the group will continue its efforts whether or not they are welcomed by the McCain campaign. "Senator McCain's personal desires should not be a part of our consideration. In fact, to do so, would approach the legally impermissible question of coordination." The transcript reads, “People are saying that Senator Obama’s recent changes of position have made him a flip-flopper. He’s not! Flip-floppers only hold one position at a time. Senator Obama is different: he holds two positions at the same time. Both ways on banning handguns. Both ways on public campaign financing. And now, both ways on withdrawing from Iraq. He’s “Both Ways Barack.” Worse than a flip-flopper! Let Freedom Ring is responsible for the content of this advertising.” For more information on Let Freedom Ring go to www.LetFreedomRingUSA.com. To view the “Both Ways Barack” commercial go to www.BothWaysBarack.com.
Recommended Guests:
Karin Agness, Founder and President, Network of enlightened Women (NeW)Tom DeLay, Former House Majority Leader, United States House of RepresentativesWilliam Devlin, National President, Redeem The VoteRick Green, President, Torch of Freedom FoundationColin Hanna, Colin Hanna, President, Let Freedom RingDr. Janice Hollis, Bishop, Progressive Believers MinistriesBishop Harry R. Jackson, Senior Pastor, Hope Christian ChurchGary Marx, Executive Director, Judicial Confirmation NetworkJoe Murray, Columnist, The BulletinGrover Norquist, President, Americans for Tax Reform (ATR)7/21/2008 | Presidential Issues, Politics
Independent Ad Knocks Obama
Wall Street Journal
While the role of outside groups has been somewhat muted during the 2008 campaigns, that may not last much longer. An independent group called Let Freedom Ring has begun to reserve advertising time on national broadcast and cable networks for a commercial that attacks Democratic Sen. Barack Obama as not just a "flip flopper" but someone who "holds two positions at the same time." Colin Hanna, president of the group, said this morning that "The actual buy is being worked on as we speak. We have submitted the copy and the tape to all of the major broadcast and cable networks and are going through the clearance process."
Recommended Guests:
Karin Agness, Founder and President, Network of enlightened Women (NeW)Tom DeLay, Former House Majority Leader, United States House of RepresentativesWilliam Devlin, National President, Redeem The VoteRick Green, President, Torch of Freedom FoundationColin Hanna, Colin Hanna, President, Let Freedom RingDr. Janice Hollis, Bishop, Progressive Believers MinistriesBishop Harry R. Jackson, Senior Pastor, Hope Christian ChurchGary Marx, Executive Director, Judicial Confirmation NetworkJoe Murray, Columnist, The BulletinGrover Norquist, President, Americans for Tax Reform (ATR)6/25/2008 | Character and Ethics, Politics
Dixon gifts probed
The Baltimore Sun
Prosecutors are investigating whether Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon received thousands of dollars in gifts - including fur coats - from a prominent developer whose projects benefited from tax breaks and zoning changes she supported as City Council president, a document obtained by The Sun shows. Court records, drafted by the state prosecutor's office in November, indicate that Dixon also went on lavish trips to Boston, the Bahamas, Chicago and Colorado with the developer, Ronald H. Lipscomb. In one instance, the two left Baltimore for New York by train hours after she had voted to approve a tax break for one of his company's largest projects.
Recommended Guests:
Karin Agness, Founder and President, Network of enlightened Women (NeW)Colin Hanna, Colin Hanna, President, Let Freedom RingDr. Janice Hollis, Bishop, Progressive Believers MinistriesPeter Lillback, President, Westminster Theological SeminaryJoe Murray, Columnist, The Bulletin6/16/2008 | Politics, Presidential Issues
With Tim Russert’s Death, NBC News Must Replace a Man of Many Roles
Yahoo News
The sudden death of Tim Russert has left the management of NBC News, for the moment at least, at a loss to contemplate how to replace him. Mr. Russert was not only the moderator of “Meet the Press,” television’s most successful political talk show, he was also the chief of NBC’s Washington bureau, responsible for the hiring of staff members and directing its operations. More significantly, he was NBC’s public face on politics, appearing regularly on the network’s full range of programs, including the NBC’s “Nightly News,” and on its cable news channel MSNBC.
Recommended Guests:
Karin Agness, Founder and President, Network of enlightened Women (NeW)Tom DeLay, Former House Majority Leader, United States House of RepresentativesWilliam Devlin, National President, Redeem The VoteRick Green, President, Torch of Freedom FoundationColin Hanna, Colin Hanna, President, Let Freedom RingDr. Janice Hollis, Bishop, Progressive Believers MinistriesBishop Harry R. Jackson, Senior Pastor, Hope Christian ChurchGary Marx, Executive Director, Judicial Confirmation NetworkJoe Murray, Columnist, The BulletinGrover Norquist, President, Americans for Tax Reform (ATR)5/20/2008 | Politics, Presidential Issues
GOP fails to recruit minorities
Politico
Just a few years after the Republican Party launched a highly publicized diversity effort, the GOP is heading into the 2008 election without a single minority candidate with a plausible chance of winning a campaign for the House, the Senate or governor. At a time when Democrats are poised to knock down a historic racial barrier with their presidential nominee, the GOP is fielding only a handful of minority candidates for Congress or statehouses — none of whom seem to have a prayer of victory. At the start of the Bush years, the Republican National Committee — in tandem with the White House — vowed to usher in a new era of GOP minority outreach. As George W. Bush winds down his presidency, Republicans are now on the verge of going six — and probably more — years without an African-American governor, senator or House member.
Recommended Guests:
Karin Agness, Founder and President, Network of enlightened Women (NeW)Tom DeLay, Former House Majority Leader, United States House of RepresentativesWilliam Devlin, National President, Redeem The VoteRick Green, President, Torch of Freedom FoundationColin Hanna, Colin Hanna, President, Let Freedom RingDr. Janice Hollis, Bishop, Progressive Believers MinistriesBishop Harry R. Jackson, Senior Pastor, Hope Christian ChurchGary Marx, Executive Director, Judicial Confirmation NetworkJoe Murray, Columnist, The BulletinGrover Norquist, President, Americans for Tax Reform (ATR)5/14/2008 | Politics, Presidential Issues
GOP Stunned By Loss in Mississippi
Real Clear Politics
In a major blow to national Republicans, a Mississippi congressional seat that once voted for President Bush by a twenty-five point margin elected a Democrat on Tuesday. Prentiss County Chancery Clerk Travis Childers beat out Republican candidate Greg Davis, the mayor of Southaven, by a 54%-46% margin, a spread that several Republican strategists on Capitol Hill characterized as a startling wake-up call for a party in dire straits.
Recommended Guests:
Karin Agness, Founder and President, Network of enlightened Women (NeW)Tom DeLay, Former House Majority Leader, United States House of RepresentativesWilliam Devlin, National President, Redeem The VoteRick Green, President, Torch of Freedom FoundationColin Hanna, Colin Hanna, President, Let Freedom RingDr. Janice Hollis, Bishop, Progressive Believers MinistriesBishop Harry R. Jackson, Senior Pastor, Hope Christian ChurchGary Marx, Executive Director, Judicial Confirmation NetworkJoe Murray, Columnist, The BulletinGrover Norquist, President, Americans for Tax Reform (ATR)4/24/2008 | Economy, Foreign Policy, Oil and Gas, Politics
Brazil Oil Finds May End Reliance on Middle East, Zeihan Says
Bloonberg
April 24 (Bloomberg) -- Brazil's discoveries of what may be two of the world's three biggest oil finds in the past 30 years could help end the Western Hemisphere's reliance on Middle East crude, Strategic Forecasting Inc. said. Saudi Arabia's influence as the biggest oil exporter would wane if the fields are as big as advertised, and China and India would become dominant buyers of Persian Gulf oil, said Peter Zeihan, vice president of analysis at Strategic Forecasting in Austin, Texas. Zeihan's firm, which consults for companies and governments around the world, was described in a 2001 Barron's article as ``the shadow CIA.''
Recommended Guests:
Karin Agness, Founder and President, Network of enlightened Women (NeW)David Bossie, President, Citizens UnitedWard Connerly, Author/Founder and Chairman, American Civil Rights InstituteTom DeLay, Former House Majority Leader, United States House of RepresentativesWilliam Devlin, National President, Redeem The VoteJames Edwards, Cofounder, Olive, Edwards, & Cooper, LLCJoseph Farah, CEO, Founder, WorldNetDailyPaul "Dave" Gaubatz, Owner-Director, Wahhabi CT PublicationsJames Gelfand, Senior Manager of Health Policy, U.S. Chamber of CommerceColin Hanna, Colin Hanna, President, Let Freedom RingLowman Henry, Chairman & CEO, Lincoln Institute of Public Opinion Research, Inc.Larry Hunter, President, The Social Security InstituteCliff Kincaid, President, America's Survival, Inc.Joe Murray, Columnist, The BulletinGrover Norquist, President, Americans for Tax Reform (ATR)Tony Strickland, Taxpayer Advocate2/19/2008 | Foreign Policy, Politics
Fidel Castro Resigns Cuban Presidency After Half-Century in Power
Fox News
HAVANA — An ailing, 81-year-old Fidel Castro resigned as Cuba's president Tuesday after nearly a half-century in power, saying he will not accept a new term when parliament meets Sunday. The end of Castro's rule — the longest in the world for a head of government — frees his 76-year-old brother Raul to implement reforms he has hinted at since taking over as acting president when Fidel Castro fell ill in July 2006. U.S. President George W. Bush said he hopes the resignation signals the beginning of a democratic transition. "My wishes have always been to discharge my duties to my last breath," Castro wrote in a letter published Tuesday in the online edition of the Communist Party daily Granma. But, he wrote, "it would be a betrayal to my conscience to accept a responsibility requiring more mobility and dedication than I am physically able to offer."
Recommended Guests:
Tom DeLay, Former House Majority Leader, United States House of RepresentativesWilliam Devlin, National President, Redeem The VotePaul "Dave" Gaubatz, Owner-Director, Wahhabi CT PublicationsColin Hanna, Colin Hanna, President, Let Freedom RingCliff Kincaid, President, America's Survival, Inc.Joe Murray, Columnist, The Bulletin1/29/2008 | Politics
Bush Urges Econ Action, Iraq Patience
MyWay.Com
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush, standing before Congress one last time, urged the nation Monday night to persevere against gnawing fears of recession and stay patient with the long, grinding war in Iraq. He pressed Congress to quickly pass a plan to rescue the economy. "We can all see that growth is slowing," Bush said in a blunt acknowledgment of rising food and gas prices, increasing unemployment and turmoil in the housing and financial markets. He cautioned against accelerating U.S. troop withdrawals from Iraq, saying that would jeopardize progress achieved over the last year. "We have unfinished business before us, and the American people expect us to get it done," Bush declared. It was his final State of the Union address and he faced a hostile, Democratic-led Congress eager for the end of his term next January.