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Category Archives: Blog
Komen Continues PP Funding, but GOP Assault on Rights Carries On
After massive protest and internal strife at the Susan G. Komen Foundation, the group has decided to continue funding Planned Parenthood, a group making sure women have access to vital medical care of all different shapes and sizes. This, of course, reflects poorly on the Komen organization as a whole. While its reversal will give it more support, this is a case study in what needs to happen to get right wing lunatic politics out of women’s rights issues. I believe it’s time to follow the example of Barack Obama, a deeply religious man who leans on prayer for strength, something millions of Americans do every day, but a man who keeps those convinctions out of day-to-day governing.
Women have faced a relentless assault against their rights since the Republicans have taken power in Michigan and in the US House of Representatives, including an ultrasound bill which would force women to watch and listen to a possibly traumatic ultrasound, a crushing blow to the right to choose. It’s interesting how Republicans claim to be the party of “small government” in elections, yet the second they take power then “big government” is just fine when it comes to social issues like women’s and LGBTQ rights Just this past December, domestic-partner benefits were banned when Gov. Rick Snyder signed House Bill 4770 which does exactly as described above.
These reasons above are why this organization will need to work tirelessly this November to make sure progressives are elected from the White House on down. This kind of brutal assault on basic human rights is not reflective of our great country, and there is nothing more important than getting Michigan back on the right track again after this incredible derailment.
Posted in Blog, Call to Arms, Democratic Party
Tagged Planned Parenthood, Susan G. Komen
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Susan G. Komen Foundation: It’s worse than you thought
There have been plenty of articles over the past few days over the Susan G. Komen Foundation’s decision to stop giving grants to Planned Parenthood for cancer screenings, mammograms, and other life saving treatment that low income women across this country depend upon. While I find this decision appalling, I’m going to defer to the authors of those articles rather than write another piece myself.
Instead, I want to focus on an aspect of this scandal that has been largely overlooked: the blatant hypocrisy of the decision. No, I’m not talking about the hypocrisy of right wingers demanding that the Komen Foundation cut off funding for life saving treatment in the name of being “pro-life.” I’m also not talking about the hypocrisy of creating a rule for the explicit and sole purpose of cutting off funding to Planned Parenthood, and then blaming said rule for not being able to fund Planned Parenthood.
No, I want to focus on their inconsistent and hypocritical application of this rule. For those in the back, the Komen Foundation created a rule in December barring funds to organizations under local, state, or federal investigation. Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL) has recently launched a base-less and politically motivated investigation into Planned Parenthood’s funding, specifically to determine if they illegally use federal funds for abortions (which, as it has been well documented, they do not).
Meanwhile, the Komen Foundation continues to maintain a relationship with a corporate partner that IS under investigation from multiple governments. I speak, of course, of their partnership with Bank of America. Over the past three years, Bank of America has donated over $2.7 million to the Komen Foundation through their pink-ribbon credit cards. Does this seem a little strange to anyone else? Take it away, Georgia Logothetis:
Yes, that’s the same Bank of America that is “currently under a local, state or federal formal investigation for financial or administrative impropriety or fraud.” Here’s a sampling of what Bank of America is facing:
- In New York, Bank of America is being investigated for “fraudulently steered homeowners into overpriced insurance policies.”
- In California and Nevada, Bank of America is under investigation for “foreclosure fraud and other wrongdoing in the mortgage markets, including the packaging and selling of mortgage-backed securities by Wall Street players and scams by smaller players offering to help troubled borrower.”
- In Arizona, Bank of America is under investigation for its loan modification practices.
- And, of course, the federal government’s new mortgage crisis unit will be investigating Bank of America’s conduct leading up to the real estate crisis.
If that were the end of the hypocrisy, that would be one thing. But it’s so much worse than that. Bank of America, inarguably, played a role in creating the Great Recession. With high levels of unemployment also comes a large number of people without health insurance (at least until Health Care Reform fully kicks in). And without health insurance, it is incredibly difficult for women to afford preventative care like breast cancer screenings and mammograms. See where I’m going with this? So instead of cutting ties with a corporation that had a large role in a recession that actively (and possibly irrevocably) harmed women, they defunded an organization that provides cancer screenings to low income women, a service in increasing demand because of the aforementioned recession.
The cognitive dissonance makes my head hurt.
Ed. note: I’m not upset that the Komen Foundation has a partnership with Bank of America. If Bank of America is going to exist and make a ridiculous amount of money, I’m glad that they’re donating some of that to help fight breast cancer. I’m merely pointing this out to highlight the hypocrisy of the Komen Foundation as yet another reason why they should reverse their decision to defund Planned Parenthood.
Posted in Blog, Choice, Women's Rights
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Jacob Light Presents l Daily Daily!!
Disclaimer: These words are my own. Threw some chords together, the combination’s D-E-F.
Welcome to Groundhog’s Day 2012, arguably the most important holiday of the Gregorian calendar because it places my snowless future in the paws of a relative of Michigan squirrels. I didn’t see my shadow today, so I figured it would be appropriate to wear shorts to class today. Because of this anecdote, I have your Daily Daily!
+ Brady Hoke recruited 25 baby wolverines to play sportz for the U. Yay!
+ UM scientists have found evidence that Ann Arbor’s unseasonably warm winter may be linked to La Niña. I haven’t noticed, because I have been pretending that every day has been sunny, with highs in the 70s (which makes it hard to understand why people are walking around campus with scarves, hats, and gloves).
+ Viewpoint urging people to be more creative/ entrepreneurial starts with an allusion to Inception. I refused to read the rest of the article, because I didn’t want the Daily to spoil the movie for me.
+ Matthew Zabka calls numbers out for lying, but I would imagine that he arrived at that conclusion by dividing by zerowithout realizing it.
+ There is a lot of sportz news today. My analysis of the sportz is biased by my affinity for certain “teams” (I believe that is the proper terminology), so I encourage you to read about them on your own =)
+ Despite Romney’s win in Florida, Santorum is not going to drop out. (Come on, guys, don’t think about it like that. That’s disgusting)
+ In an uncharacteristically progressive move, Ann Arbor is taking steps to be environmentally friendly. Props.
JDL
Posted in Blog, Daily Daily
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“Help us run over poor women on our way to the bank”
Last night, the Susan G. Komen Foundation website was hacked for a brief period of time. When entered into any search engine, viewers would be directed to the hackers’ website ww5.komen.org.
Hackers chose to focus the job on the Foundation’s advertisement for its annual marathon for breast cancer, and did a damn good job if you ask me (though the measures were a bit extreme).
Instead of the intended advertisement appearing on the website, which looks like this:
Hackers made a few “edits,” and left the website’s advertisement looking like this:
Wake up, Susan G. Your actions have clearly made a huge impact on a large number of women around the world, and not in a good way.
Posted in Blog, College Democrats, Issues, Scandals, The Media, Women's Rights
Tagged Susan G. Komen
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Shocker of the Day | Mitt Romney ‘Not Concerned’ About the Very Poor
Romney's Comments on being ‘Not Concerned’ about the Poor
In a move that shocked absolutely no one, Mitt Romney told CNN’s Soledad O’Brien yesterday following his FL victory speech that he is not concerned about the very poor, because they have a social safety net. Yet another insensitive comment from a guy who has previously spuriously tried to wager $10,000 with Rick Perry at a debate, stopped illegal immigrants from working for him because he was running for office, and in general being a stereotypical super rich elitist.
Floridian Musings
So the Primaries in Florida have passed with predictable results. Romney is pretty much certain to have the nomination at this point barring any strange events.
Also occurring in Florida is a hunt for Burmese Pythons that have multiplied quite rapidly like some of their close relatives. Who are these close relatives, that my dad at dinner recommended be deployed to catch them?
Dad said lawyers (sorry Joe).
Me: Republican/Conservative Political Agents
***
In other short blurbs: I would like to thank the President for visiting last Friday. In the case you were keeping track, I was the one in a brown winter cap by the bus stop as you were driving by, cell phone cam in hand to watch your motorcade pass by. I want some of those cars that first passed by btw. Especially that Challenger.
***
For some context into the plans of Newt Gingrich and his Lunar Colony, watch the film Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counter Attack (you can rent it from me for free, if you know me). You will note it is part of a larger plan to slam an asteroid into Earth because conservatives hate this planet and all the liberal things it stands for so much they want to bring a nuclear winter to give it a ‘good long rest’. (This, I hope, is clearly sarcasm of the highest degree)
***
That’s all. As far as the cookie cake is concerned, don’t worry about me. Since I was introduced to cookie cake by the College Dems, it has become my cake of choice for my birthday (which is today). It’s delicious, dig in!
Later, and don’t stop voting Dem!
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Gold Star Chart | 01.02.12
FANTASTIC job everyone! There have been a lot of thought-provoking and hilarious posts in the last week, and you all are awesome. ~John
Posted in Blog, Gold Star Chart
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Obama Goes Above and Beyond Campaign Promise – End of Afghanistan Combat is Near
The Secretary of Defense, Leon Panetta, revealed today that US major combat operations in Afghanistan will end by next year, and advising will continue until 2014. This, as the title suggest, goes above and beyond Obama’s 2008 campaign promises of an end to the war to Iraq and possible drawdown of fighting in Afghanistan, which is pretty amazing. This comes at a period after US popular support for the War in Afghanistan reached all time lows in October of 35% support to 63% opposition.
It is wonderful that President Obama is using this opportunity to promote the message that resonates with an American populace still struggling with the remnants of the George W. Bush economic collapse in 2008. Framing the messaging as the new Obama doctrine of strengthening American competitiveness rather than the Bush doctrine of fighting wars overseas is incredibly powerful going into the 2012 election, but more importantly governing a populace yearning for a brighter future. Through the State of the Union and speeches like Friday’s here at University of Michigan, he is indeed framing the dialogue this way.
Coach Hoke Has Granted Certiorari
Twitter PR Team: “At twitter, we believe that the open exchange of information can have a positive global impact. Every day we are inspired by stories of people using Twitter to help make the world a better place in unexpected ways.”
Coach Hoke: “I don’t like twitter. Why would anyone want to know I’m at McDonalds eating a cheeseburger…If I want to talk to you, I’ll call you up and talk.” – At today’s Signing Day press conference.
#Done.
Posted in Blog, Humor, Quote of the Day, Sports, Stuff Democrats Like, Torture
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Daily Daily | February 1, 2012
+ Mitt Romney won the Florida primary. Newt asked for a recount of votes from the moon, because chads do not detach properly in low gravity environments.
+ Although Mary Sue continues to promote Planet Blue, the University’s portfolio includes significant investments in fossil fuels. Despite its position above the fold, the article never coalesced into the scandal that I was anticipating.
+ The Statement includes two articles highlighting criticisms of Teach For America in Detroit. Apparently, TFA might disrupt the status quo in the Detroit Public Schools, as reform initiatives in other cities have done.
+ President Obama visited the Washington Auto Show and mentioned that some were “willing to let this industry die.” His anti-Romney message was hardly lost in transmission.
+ Michigan AG Bill Schuette is trying to delay a hearing on GSRA unionization. It remains unclear why Michigan voters found him so appealing.
+ In a rare move, Queen Elizabeth II stripped former Royal Bank of Scotland CEO Fred Goodwin of his knighthood. He put “the honors system into disrepute,” according to the British government.
+ The Daily argues that DTE Energy should not cut off utilities at a time when it is increasing salaries for its executives. It is remarkably warmhearted considering the column by an editorial board member that appears below it.
+ By the logic of the aforementioned author, a 15-year old convicted of breaking into a payphone to steal the coins should be branded as a felon for life – no exceptions. Yes, breaking into a payphone is a felony in our state (MCL 750.356b), and yes, the author uses a semicolon incorrectly in the second sentence (which should be a felony).
+ A professor actually expects that students come to class and pay attention. DPS has no suspects.
+ Crossword: 18-down is MSNBC. The LA Times gets it.
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