Brutal Fisking: NC NAACP Chapter Pres. Alleges Tea Party is as Racist as Democrats

The term fisking, or to fisk, is blogosphere slang describing a point-by-point criticism that highlights perceived errors, or disputes the analysis in a statement, article, or essay. A point-by-point refutation of a blog entry or (especially) news story. A really stylish fisking is witty, logical, sarcastic and ruthlessly factual; flaming or handwaving is considered poor form.

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By Duane Lester, Guest Fisking Expert: The NAACP has released its unbiased report on racism in the Tea Party and has unexpectedly found it is racist. Hardly surprising.

The president of the North Carolina NAACP chapter, Rev. William Barber, went far enough in his condemnation of the group to be noticed by the Washington Post:

"We have to have particular concern about supremacy attitudes, violence, hate language, particularly when it’s rooted in notions of restoring or taking back or redeeming the country,” Barber said. “Because, in the American social-historical-political psyche, we have historical markers that tell us how dangerous this is to be given legitimacy."

For instance: "We know in 1867 when the Ku Klux Klan, for instance, laid out its political purposes, it was about restoring and re-enfranchising, if you will."
"And then when you go to the Reconstruction Era, you find this same attempt to spew this division, this hate language out& . . . "We need to restore America. We need to take it back.'"

Barber moved on to 1963. "When George Wallace used this language and themes of division, very vitriolic hate language," Barber said, "Medgar Evers was killed in June of that year… We had the bombing of a church, four girls were killed at Sunday school and then we had a president assassinated."

It's hard to believe I have to do this, but I guess I do, at least for the good Rev. Barber.

In 1867, when the Ku Klux Klan was still wet behind the ears, one of the leaders of the group and future Grand Wizard Nathan Bedford Forrest is reported as saying “that the Klan’s primary opposition was to the Loyal Leagues , Republican state governments, people like Tennessee governor Brownlow and other carpetbaggers and scalawags .”

A little bit about Governor Brownlow. He was a Republican.

And during the Reconstruction, it was the Radical Republicans that made the most sweeping changes in the South, after they broke with Democrat Andrew Johnson in 1866. Democrats opposed the changes.

And really? George Wallace? He actually brought up George Wallace, the four term Democrat Governor of Alabama, who is best known for a) saying “I say segregation today, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever,” b) standing in the doorway of Foster Auditorium in order to prevent black students from entering and c) being a Democrat.

The good Reverend then goes on to talk about the assassination of Medgar Evers. He was killed by KKK member Byron De Le Beckwith. We already established that the KKK was founded by those opposed to Republicans, but in the 60s, the KKK was in cahoots with people like. . . wait for it . . .

Democrat Governor George Wallace and Police Commissioner "Bull Conner."

For those who don't know,"Bull" Conner 'was a Democratic Party politician and police official from the city of Birmingham, Alabama, during the American Civil Rights Movement."

These same people, the 1960s KKK, were involved in the Birmingham, Alabama church bombing.

Alabama. That's home of Democrat Governor George Wallace, who was in office when it exploded.

And the assassination he mentioned? The man who killed President John F. Kennedy was an avowed Marxist fan of Castro who tried to give up his U.S. citizenship and become a citizen of the Soviet Union.

Not exactly Tea Party material. He'd fit more in the Democrat ranks today.

Now before we start the whole “But the Dixiecrats joined the Republican Party after Johnson passed the Civil Rights Act” nonsense, let's remember, by percentage, more Republicans voted for the Civil Rights Act than Democrats, and:

Most of the Dixiecrats did not become Republicans. They created the Dixiecrats and then, when the civil rights movement succeeded, they returned to the Democratic fold. It was not till much later, with a new, younger breed of Southerner and the thousands of Northerners moving into the South, that Republicans began to make gains.

I know. I was there.

So, in his bogus attack on the Tea Party, president of the North Carolina NAACP chapter, Rev. William Barber has reminded us that throughout history, the Republican Party has done more for the welfare of black Americans than the Democrat Party.

Thanks, Rev. Nice work.
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Duane Lester is respected national blogger, a fisking wiz and editor of the All American Blogger where he first shared this article before submitting it to the ARRA News Service.

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Tags: fisking, NC NAACP, report, racism, Tea Party, republicans, democrats, KKK, racist, Rev. William Barber, Duane Lester, All American Blogger To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

End of Week Perspective - A Shovel Ready Job

by William Warren:

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Tags: Barack Obama, Obama Agenda, Shovel Ready Jobs, William Warren, Political Cartoons, editorial cartoon To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

DeFund Public Broadcasting

The following is in two parts. The first part by Gary Bauer addresses the firing of Juan Williams from NPR. The second part is the action effort by Americans for Limited Government to DeFund Public Broadcasting. They have even launched a Facebook Fan Page.

Gary Bauer, Contributing Author: NPR’s decision to fire Juan Williams has ignited a firestorm of controversy. Even many liberals are criticizing National “Politically Correct” Radio. A Washington Post editorial defended Williams. And even the liberal hosts of The View, whose dustup with Bill O’Reilly ultimately led to Williams’ firing, are defending Juan.

Barbara Walters said of NPR, “I think they were very wrong.” Whoopi Goldberg chimed in too, saying, “I don’t think he should have been fired, because, in fact ... lots of people have this idea.” Fox News offered Williams a $2 million contract yesterday.

The good news is that this outrageous act of censorship has led to renewed calls to cut off taxpayer-funding for NPR. CWF-endorsed Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-CO) introduced legislation in June to defund NPR. Unfortunately, his bill went nowhere in Nancy Pelosi’s House. But next year a different House of Representatives, hopefully under new management, will feel differently. Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC), another CWF-endorsed candidate, is promising to introduce legislation in the Senate to defund NPR as well.

In the meantime, I am anxiously awaiting a statement from the president of the United States, who has lectured us on religious liberty in defense of a mosque near Ground Zero. I assume President Obama will speak up in defense of free speech and applaud Fox News for coming to Juan’s defense.

Washington Post columnist Dana Milbank suggested that President Obama is “bagging a visit to a Sikh temple … because he wanted to avoid a photo-op while wearing the sort of headdress that’s often confused for the kind Osama bin Laden wears. This kind of cultural insensitivity is likely to get Obama fired as an analyst for NPR.”

While that’s obviously a tongue-in-cheek remark, I think Obama will likely get fired by the American people in two years for his continuing cultural insensitivity in censoring God from our Declaration of Independence, not to mention his general incompetence.
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Gary Bauer is is a conservative family values advocate and serves as president of American Values and chairman of the Campaign for Working Families where his articles are also shared.

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by ALG: Americans for Limited Government (ALG) launched a petition drive to defund public broadcasting in the wake of National Public Radio's firing of Juan Williams earlier this week. ALG President Bill Wilson announced the move stating, "It is outrageous that taxpayers are forced to fund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting's hard left agenda. It is time for Congress to save $400 million a year by cutting off their funding."

Our government desperately needs to cut its spending. However, it doesn't seem to know where to start. Colorado Congressman Doug Lamborn has had an idea on where to trim. Reporter Frank McCaffrey has more on why Public TV and radio could be a good cut.


Visit DeFund Public Broadcasting to sign the straight forward petition:

Petition
To Members of the U.S. Congress

We, the undersigned, hereby demand that members of the United States Congress immediately defund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

"To compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical." -- Thomas Jefferson

Get More Information

• ALG Praises Boehner's Call to Defund Public Broadcasting (October 22nd, 2010)
• “Where to cut, you ask?” Video by Frank McCaffrey on Doug Lamborn’s legislation, October 19th, 2010.
•  “The Bare Minimum,” by Rick Manning, ALG Communications Director, October 20th, 2010.
• “Time to Stop Funding Luxuries, Like Public Broadcasting,” by Rebekah Rast, ALG News, June 14th, 2010.
• “Is Public Broadcasting Hurting the Arts?” by Robert Romano, ALG News Senior Editor, June 15th, 2010.

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Tags: Gary Bauer, Campaign for Working Families, ALG, Americans For Limited government, Juan Williams, NPR, defund, public broadcasting To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

Barack Obama - Creator Was Out - But Now Reinstated

Below are two interesting videos and views by Barack Obama. On three specific occasions, President Barrack Obama omitted the "Creator" when quoting the Declaration of Independence. William Murray addresses that situation below and a video is provided from one of the events as evidence of Obama's failure to recognize the role / leadership of the Creator in our the formation of America.

However, "after repeatedly omitting the statement from the Declaration of Independence, President Obama read [today] an excerpt from the text and began from the words “endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights." It appears the President made a special effort to recognize the Creator. The score is 3 to 1 for Obama verses the Creator. But, I am sure the Creator will win out in the end.

William J. Murray, Chairman Religious Freedom Coalition: In a little more than one month President Barack Obama has misquoted the Declaration of Independence three times, and each time he has deliberately deleted the "Creator." On October 18th Obama said, "As wonderful as this land is here in the United States, as much as we have been blessed by the bounty of this magnificent continent that stretches from the Atlantic to the Pacific, what makes this place special is not something physical. It has to do with this idea that was started by 13 colonies that decided to throw off the yoke of an empire and said, 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that each of us are endowed ... with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.'" Where the three dots appear Obama deleted the words, "by their Creator." This was not accidental. The same thing happened on September 23 at a Democrat fundraiser in New York City, and also at a fundraiser on September 15. All three times Obama was reading from a teleprompter so this was no accidental omission.

Here is the video of President Obama speaking to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus on September 15, 2010. In the closing remarks of his speech, Obama recites part of the Declaration of Independence, and leaves out “by their Creator.” He recited “endowed with certain unalienable rights….” The Declaration of Independence gives credit to God as the Creator who has “endowed” all men with “certain unalienable rights…..” Interesting that Obama paused – then left that out. Whether the pause was because he forgot the words, or whether he left those words out on purpose, is not clear.
Obama Leaves “By their Creator” Out of The Declaration of Independence at Hispanic Caucus Speech – Video 9/15/10


Obama has reinstated "By their Creator . . ." - Video 10/23/2010:

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Tags: William J. Murray, Religious Freedom Coalition, Barack Obama, the Creatorm Creator, To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

Obama’s “Big Lies” Getting Bigger

A Commentary by Howard Rich: While you can’t fool “all of the people, all of the time,” it is surprisingly easy to fool a sufficient number of them to get elected.

“People will believe a big lie sooner than a little one; and if you repeat it frequently enough people will sooner or later believe it.” That’s an excerpt from a World War II-era military intelligence report – a document which explored the psychological profile of one of our nation’s (and the world’s) most dangerous enemies. It also represents perhaps the most succinct encapsulation of the modern-day propaganda method commonly referred to as “The Big Lie.”

Who was the subject of this particular intelligence report? Adolf Hitler.

And while history is unlikely to witness a repeat of anything approaching the horrific genocidal barbarism perpetrated by the murderous Nazi “New Order,” that doesn’t mean American politicians of both parties aren’t still employing the same propaganda techniques utilized by its reviled leader.

In fact, after Bush Republicans used “The Big Lie” to grow government and rack up huge deficits (while telling us they were for “limited government and less spending”) President Barack Obama is now using it to expand government further and rack up even larger deficits under the banner of “hope and change.”

Of course Americans still searching for “hope” amidst our ongoing economic malaise know that the only real “change” has been the cost of these lies – which keeps adding up at the expense of our liberties.

How many “Big Lies” has Obama told? Frankly, it’s becoming difficult to keep track of them.

Most recently, the top actuary at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid – a pair of programs that shouldn’t even exist in the first place – revealed that millions of American seniors will have to pay increased out-of-pocket health care costs next year for “less generous benefit packages” as a direct result of Obamacare. This is due to government’s failure to acknowledge basic economic realities – which is already costing taxpayers hundreds of billions each year (even as these programs’ unfunded liabilities continue to soar).

Last month, a Kaiser Family Foundation report showed that family health care costs are up by 14 percent in 2010 – with even larger increases forecast for future years, again as a result of Obamacare. “Health reform mandates new levels of coverage that will increase employers’ costs at least until 2014,” a Kaiser analyst noted.

Beyond higher costs, “Obamacare” is already reneging on government promises regarding prescription drug plans – another benefit that never should have been subsidized by taxpayers. According to a study released earlier this year by Avalare Heath, as many as 3.7 million seniors could be forced out of their prescription drug coverage under the new law next year – ostensibly so the government can provide them with “more meaningful choices.”

All across the country, Obamacare’s costly new mandates are driving Americans out of their existing coverage and forcing them to pay increased out-of-pocket expenses – perpetuating the worst inefficiencies of government-run health care.

“This much is clear: If the law with its expensive mandates remains on the books, millions of Americans are going to lose the health care plans they have now — plans the president repeatedly promised they could keep,” Jeff Jacoby of The Boston Globe wrote recently.

Obviously, these ill effects don’t even begin to address the damage done by Obamacare’s individual mandates and costly tax hikes – which not only trample on the Constitution but also violate Obama’s promise not to raise taxes on Americans earning less than $200,000.

Of course we’ve been lied to by this administration before. Obama promised to bring transparency and accountability to government, but then he negotiated his health care bill in secret so that he could steer billions of dollars to his biggest labor union supporters. Then Obama removed new disclosure requirements for these union leaders – making it impossible for the public to know how they’re spending all of this taxpayer-funded largesse.

And who can forget “The Big Lie” of Obama’s so-called stimulus plan – which administration officials said would save or create more than 3 million jobs and keep unemployment below 8 percent? Clearly those assumptions – along with Vice President Joe Biden’s promised “Summer of Recovery” – were diversions designed to fool the American people.

As America heads to the polls in November, let’s hope we don’t get fooled again. We’ve had an elegant sufficiency of “Big Lies,” now what we need are real citizen leaders who are willing to tell us the simple truth about all of these unsustainable programs.
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Howard Rich is chairman of Americans for Limited Government. This article was also posted on ALG and NetRight Daily.
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Related Articles:
- The Lies of ObamaCare
- $787 Billion Stimulus Bill Failed To Create Needed Jobs

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Tags: Howard Rich, Ombama, Obama lies, Big Lie, lies, ObamaCare, 2010 election, Americans for Limited Government To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

Lincoln’s $787 Billion Stimulus Bill Failed To Create Needed Jobs In Arkansas

LITTLE ROCK, AR – With only 11 days until Election Day, the Republican Party of Arkansas (RPA) continued its “Countdown to Real Change for Arkansas,” highlighting some of the key reasons why voters are rejecting U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln’s (D-AR) out-of-touch agenda in Washington.

After she cast the 60^th vote to pass the stimulus bill – which she promised included “timely, targeted, and temporary investments” that would “help put Arkansans back to work” – Lincoln continued to defend the bill just a few months ago, claiming that “the Recovery Act has done exactly what it was intended to do… I think it’s worked.” Yet despite Lincoln’s empty rhetoric, Arkansas’ unemployment rate increased from 6.8 percent in February 2009 to 7.5 percent in August 2010.

“Is this the ‘recovery’ that Blanche Lincoln promised when she helped President Barack Obama ram through his costly stimulus bill?” asked RPA Senior Communications Advisor Alice Stewart. “Voters in Arkansas deserve better, which is why they are ready to elect John Boozman to the U.S. Senate this November.”

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The Stimulus Has Failed To Control Unemployment In Arkansas, But Lincoln Has Still Defended It
Lincoln Said The Stimulus Included “Timely, Targeted, And Temporary Investments” That Would “Help Put Arkansans Back To Work.” “The recovery bill also includes timely, targeted, and temporary investments that will help create new jobs, improve our communities, and strengthen our economic security. These time-sensitive investments will help put Arkansans back to work and help put our economy back on the right track.” (Senator Blanche Lincoln Website, Accessed 9/3/10)

In July, Lincoln Said “The Recovery Act Has Done Exactly What It Was Intended To Do. . . . I Think It’s Worked.” “‘The Recovery Act has done exactly what it was intended to do,’ said Arkansas’ Sen. Blanche Lincoln. ‘I think it’s worked. I don’t think anyone entered into this thinking we’d be back to normal in a year. The objective here was to stop the hemorrhaging and let the wound heal.’” (Alex Daniels, “Stimulus Debate: Failure Or Boon? Democrats, GOP Spar Over Effects,” Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 7/18/10)

When The Stimulus Passed In February 2009, The Unemployment Rate In Arkansas Was 6.8%. (Bureau Of Labor Statistics, Accessed 10/19/10)

As Of August 2010, The Unemployment Rate In Arkansas Was 7.5%. Ibid, Accessed 10/22/10)

Since The Stimulus Passed In February 2009, Arkansas Has 38,449 Fewer Jobs. Ibid, Accessed 10/19/10)

A Report By Senators Coburn And McCain Revealed A Massive Amount Of Waste In The Stimulus
CNBC Reported The Coburn And McCain Stimulus Survey “Found That Some Of The Spending Didn’t Create Jobs — It Actually Led To Job Losses.” “Two Republican senators have conducted an exhaustive survey of the Obama administration’s $787 billion economic stimulus spending and found that some of the spending didn’t create jobs — it actually led to job losses. Call it the federal law of unintended consequences. All in all, Senators Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) scrutinized 100 projects, finding that some eliminated jobs, and others were simply questionable expenditures of money.” (Eamon Javers, “GOP Report Points To Stimulus Money Gone Awry,” CNBC, 8/3/10)

“Stimulus Money Is Going Toward Ipods For High School Students In Utah, Cellphones For Smokers Trying To Quit In Washington And Advertising Devoted To The Promotion Of . . . The Stimulus.” (Peter Nicholas and Julia Love, “Stimulus Funds For Ipods And Cellphones?” Los Angeles Times, 8/3/10)

“The National Science Foundation Shelled Out Nearly $60,000 In Stimulus Dollars To Study People’s Perceptions Of Federal Stimulus Spending.” (Eamon Javers, “GOP Report Points To Stimulus Money Gone Awry,” CNBC, 8/3/10)

“The Coburn-McCain Report Found That The Department Of Health And Human Services Has Sent $71,623 To Researchers At Wake Forest University To See How Monkeys React Under The Influence Of Cocaine.” (Eamon Javers, “GOP Report Points To Stimulus Money Gone Awry,” CNBC, 8/3/10)

According To The Report, Small Businesses Across The Country Experienced A Decrease In Business Due To Stimulus-Funded Road Construction Projects And Other Unintended Consequences.

“The Report, Obtained In Advance By CNBC, Spotlights Everything From Federal Stimulus Money That Went To Study The Effects Of Cocaine On Monkeys To Dollars That Went To Construction Projects That Blocked Access To Local Businesses — Which Laid Off Employees As A Result.” span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;"> (Eamon Javers, “GOP Report Points To Stimulus Money Gone Awry,” CNBC, 8/3/10)

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Tags: Blanche Lincoln, Stimulus, jobs, no jobs, Arkansas, Barack Obama, To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

Musical Spoof: Obama! A Modern U.S. President

Ron Butler, aka Ronnie Butler Jr., is an Obama impersonator, writing sketches and music parodies. Have a laugh - enjoy his new musical spoof. [Video]

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Tags: Ron Butler, musical, spoof, Barack Obama, US President, video, humor To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

Chinese Professor Explains Fall of America

[Video]
This new ad is part of an ongoing communications program in CAGW's decades-long fight against wasteful government spending, increased taxes, out-of-control deficit spending, and a crippling national debt that threatens the future and survival of our country.

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Tags: CAGW, Citizens Against Government Waste, ad, Chinese, professor, China, United States, national debt, America To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

Don't Ask Don't Tell Verses Do Tell

U.S. wins bid to delay 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' rulingThe Obama administration won a bid to delay enforcement of a federal judge’s order overturning the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy that bars gays and lesbians from serving openly in the military. The U.S. Court of Appeals in San Francisco today said it temporarily postponed the ruling “to provide this court with an opportunity to consider fully the issues presented.” The government asked the court to take action today to postpone the ruling after the lower-court judge who issued it last month refused the administration’s emergency request yesterday to delay enforcement. U.S. District Judge Virginia Phillips in Riverside, California, ruled Sept. 9 that the policy violates constitutionally protected due process and free speech rights. President Barack Obama supports repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” the government said in court filings. Still, terminating the rule should take place only after advance planning and training, the government said. The Defense Department’s findings on how the ban should be ended are scheduled to be completed Dec. 1. Phillips’s order “risks causing significant immediate harm to the military and its efforts to be prepared to implement an orderly repeal of the statute,” the U.S. said in the filing with the appeals court. . . . [Full Story]

Troops discharged for being gay try to re-enlist At least three service members discharged for being gay have begun the process to re-enlist after the Pentagon directed the military to accept openly gay recruits for the first time in the nation's history. The top-level guidance issued to recruiting commands Tuesday marked a significant change in an institution long resistant and sometimes hostile to gays. . . .  The movement to overturn the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy gained speed when President Barack Obama campaigned on its repeal. The effort stalled in Congress this fall and found new life last month when a federal judge in California declared it unconstitutional. The recruiting announcement came even as the Justice Department battles in the courts to slow the movement to abolish the 1993 Clinton-era policy. . . . [DOD] has said it would comply with Phillips' order and had frozen any discharge cases. Pentagon spokeswoman Cynthia Smith said Tuesday recruiters had been given top-level guidance to accept applicants who say they are gay. . . . Recruiters also have been told to inform potential recruits that the moratorium on enforcement of the policy could be reversed at any time, if the ruling is appealed or the court grants a stay, she said.  Gay rights groups were continuing to tell service members to avoid revealing that they are gay, fearing they could find themselves in trouble should the law be reinstated. . . . [Full Story]

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Tags: military, don't ask, don't tell, gay activisitm To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

Leftists, progressives, and socialists

by Dr. Walter E. Williams: One of the greatest sources of confusion and deception is the difference between leftists, progressives, socialists, communists and fascists. I thought about this as I caught a glimpse of the Oct. 2 "One Nation" march on Washington. The participants proudly marched with banners, signs and placards reading "Socialists," "Ohio U Democratic Socialists," "International Socialists Organization," "Socialist Party USA," "Build A Socialist Alternative" and other signs expressing support for socialism and communism. They had stands where they sold booklets under the titles of "Marxism and the State," "Communist Manifesto," "Four Marxist Classics," "The Road to Socialism" and similar titles.

The gathering had the support of the AFL-CIO, Service Employees International Union, stalwarts of the Democratic Party such as Al Sharpton and organizations such as the NAACP, the National Council of La Raza, Green for All, the Sierra Club, and the Children's Defense Fund.

What goes unappreciated is that socialists and communists have produced the greatest evil in mankind's history. You say, "Williams, what in the world are you talking about? Socialists, communists and their fellow travelers care about the little guy in his struggle for a fair shake! They're trying to promote social justice." Let's look at some of the history of socialism and communism.

Nazism is a form of socialism. In fact, Nazi stands for National Socialist German Workers' Party. Nazis murdered 20 million of their own people and in nations they captured. The unspeakable acts of Adolf Hitler's Socialist Workers' Party pale in comparison to the horrors committed in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). Between 1917 and 1987, Vladimir Lenin, Joseph Stalin and their successors murdered, or were otherwise responsible for the deaths of, 62 million of their own people. Between 1949 and 1987, Mao Tse-tung and his successors were responsible for the deaths of 76 million Chinese. The most authoritative tally of history's most murderous regimes is in a book by University of Hawaii's Professor Rudolph J. Rummel, "Death by Government." A wealth of information is provided at his website.

You say, "Williams, isn't it a bit unfair to lump the "One Nation" communists, socialists and their supporters with mass murderers such as Hitler, Stalin and Mao Tse-tung? After all, they expressed no such murderous goal." When Hitler, Stalin and Mao were campaigning for political power, you can bet they didn't campaign on the promise to murder millions of their own people, and probably the thought of doing so never crossed their minds. Those horrors were simply the end result of long evolution of ideas leading to consolidation of power in central government in the quest for "social justice." It was decent but misguided earlier generations of Germans, Russians and Chinese, like many of today's Americans, who would have cringed at the thought of genocide, who built the Trojan horse for a Hitler, a Stalin or Mao to take over. But as Voltaire said, "Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities."

While America's leftists, socialists and communists condemn Hitler, they give the world's most horrible murderers a pass. First, they make a false distinction between fascism, communism and socialism but more importantly, they sympathize with the socioeconomic goals of communism and socialism. The primary goal of communism and socialism is government ownership or control over the means of production. In the U.S., only a few people call for outright government ownership of the means of production. They might have learned that government ownership would mess things up. Instead, they've increasingly called for quasi-ownership through various forms of government regulation, oversight, taxation and subsidies. After all, if someone has the power to tell you how you may use your property, it's tantamount to his owing it.

I believe most Americans find the ideals and principles of socialism, communism and progressivism repugnant, but by our sanctioning greater government centralization and its control over our lives, we become their dupes or, as Lenin said, "useful idiots."
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Dr. Williams serves on the faculty of George Mason University as John M. Olin Distinguished Professor of Economics and is the author of More Liberty Means Less Government: Our Founders Knew This Well.

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Tags: Walter E. Williams, Leftists, progressives, socialists, To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

The Silent Tea Party

Mike Landry

By Mike Landry, Contributing Author: So I’m on my riding mower taking care of biz on part of my rural 2 ½ acres when a pickup truck pulls in the driveway. An old man gets out. I drive the mower over to him, shut down the engine and we begin to talk.

“Tell your wife I went and voted in the school board election,” he says. "She was right, there was nobody there, no line. I got in real easy.” The man is our neighbor down the road. The Cutest Community Organizer to whom I am married has been out talking to the neighbors, getting them to vote, encouraging them to support good candidates. Cutest Community Organizer has designated herself as our local precinct captain. That’s remarkable, since our county Republican Party does not have precinct captains, but that doesn’t stop her. The man said he had followed her advice: “Tell her I called the courthouse about an absentee ballot.” (his health is not very good). “They said they’d mail me one, so I imagine I’ll get that in a few days.”

Enjoying a beautiful Ozark morning, the man and I talked politics. Despite the health problems that have caused him difficulty in going to vote, he is knowledgeable about political personalities and what’s going on. Finally, having solved all the world’s problems, we wound up our conversation. Said the man: “I’m a Tea Partier. I’ve never been to one of their meetings, but I’m a Tea Partier.”

A Tea Partier. But he’s never been to a meeting or been to a protest. A silent Tea Partier. How many others like him?

A few days later, some of our local Tea Party people met at a local steak house with a coalition of other Tea Partiers from around the state. After the meeting, several of us hung out in the meeting room, enjoying dessert when a young man came in and began bussing the tables. I don’t remember who started it, but we got into a conversation about politics. He demonstrated keen knowledge of what is going on. He talked of issues, voiced knowledgeable criticisms, and said he liked the Tea Party.

A potential Tea Partier? But he’s never been to a meeting or been to a protest. A silent Tea Partier? How many others like him?

Today, Cutest Community Organizer went through the drive-through of a local fast food place. As the teenage boy serving at the window gave her change and a receipt, he slipped her a piece of paper. Taped to the paper was a printed question: What is your opinion of the Obama healthcare bill? Cutest Community Organizer pointed thumbs down and drove off.

Don’t know if this young man is associated with the Tea Party. Or if he’s ever been to a meeting or a protest. Is he a silent Tea Partier? How many others like him?

The Silent Tea Party.

It speaks November 2…
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Dr. Mike Landry is a university business professor, a former minister, journalist, radio talk show host, He is actively involved with Arkansas' Washington County Tea Party and he blogs the Wildcat Creek Review where this article was first posted.

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Tags: TEA party, tea partier, silent, Silent Tea Party, silent voices, Mike Landry, Arkansas, November is Coming, 2010 election To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

Breaking Arkansas Election Laws - From the Top Down

Bill Smith, Editor: In the below article by JB William, the culture of corruption developed by 136 years of plantation politics is highlighted. To a large degree many of the situations in Arkansas are created by what Democrat Governor Mike Beebe calls "customs and practices." The end result is that laws passed by democrats are even ignored. In summary, Democrats who control the state and elections are deciding which laws they will or will not follow.

Governor Beebe, a lawyer, should understand that following and enforcing laws equally is a responsibility of his position. He should protect the rights of all citizens equally under the law. At the rate things are going under his leadership, he should be debarred and hopefully not re-elected. The apple doesn't fall to far from the tree. Recall that the prior Democrat Governor Jim Guy Tucker went to prison and predecessor Impeached President and former Governor Bill Clinton was debarred. After serving in the legislature under these men, democrats seem to see "customs and practices" and "breaking elections laws" as acceptable.

Let's add to this discussion 75 county persecutors and the Arkansas Attorney General who has not shown a willingness to protect all voters. As for Arkansas County prosecutors, they have no review or oversight. They may refuse to prosecute people violating election laws and there is no appeal of their decision.

Consider a prior election in Baxter County, Arkansas, where the election commissions turned over the names of individuals found to have voted twice. The democratic county prosecutor refused to prosecute claiming the people were old and confused. However, one of those voters was not old but was a fellow reportedly a democrat and the spouse of a prominent democrat leading a major building program in the county. Most Arkansas county prosecutors are democrats and have shown no desire to pursue election felony violations. Of course they might view things differently if the violation were committed by independents or members of other political parties. Again, there is no appeal to force county prosecutors to prosecute violation of election laws - what an open cesspool!

The below article details problems in Stone County, Arkansas. But this is not the only county with serious problems. Consider that in Fulton County, Arkansas, the democrat election commissioners have selected all the poll workers. Even though Republicans have been formally trained as poll workers by an Arkansas certified trainer, the democrats have denied these individuals as poll workers. Under Arkansas law, the number of republicans working the polls is to be one person less than the number of democrats working the polls. The law is one thing; the actions by democrats are another.

In addition to election law violations, Democrats who control the Arkansas legislature have developed laws giving democrats other advantages in elections. Most significantly, consider Arkansas early voting where 50% of the votes may be cast in counties during the two weeks period before the scheduled election (e.g., Nov 2nd for the General Election). County Clerks are allowed to opt to hold and run early voting at the county courthouses. A majority (say 80%) of county clerks in Arkansas are Democrats. When the County Clerk runs they early voting, the clerks and poll workers do not come under the control of the County Election Commission which is charged to run fair and proper elections. Most County Clerks hire all poll workers for early voting at the court houses without considering the required political representation required for the regular and all other elections held in the county. And, these poll workers are not required to be trained or managed by the election commissions.

In addition, Arkansas election laws bar candidates from visiting polling places except to cast their vote. In other words, they may not observe the election process. They may approve others to be poll watchers on their behalf. This law is designed to reduce electioneering by the candidate at polling sites. However, this requirement is not applicable for incumbents running for re-election. Since they "have business" in the County Office building where early voting occurs, they may wear name badges and walk through voters to their or other county offices. Often, their names are displayed on the walls or doors of county offices. But even worse, the County Clerk is often a candidate on the ballot and is running early voting. This would be prohibited for the elections under the oversight of the election commissioners. Also, all the early voting election workers owe their employment and allegiance to the County Clerk verse being trained and responsive to the oversight of County Election Commissioners.

Both corruption and the seeds of corruption in the election process in Arkansas run deep and are in place to protect incumbent democrats. In the 2008 general presidential election, Pulaski County Clerk Pat O'Brien (Little Rock, Arkansas) ran early voting, was a candidate for County Clerk, and directed the presidential campaign for Barack Obama. He is now running for Secretary of State and if elected would control the Arkansas election process and the State Election Commission. Also, if elected, he has refused to reject running the 2012 campaigns for Democrats including Barack Obama. Such is the nature of Arkansas Democratic politics. In the past 136 years, democrats have controlled Arkansas elections and we can smell the dead fish which is rotten from the head (the Governor's office) down through state and county government.

Below is an article addressing a serious situation in Stone County, Arkansas where the breaking of election laws by democrats is an attempt to influence who will be the county's leading law enforcement official - the County Sheriff. In addition to this article, another source revealed:
"The sheriff race just shows you all the corruption we have in Stone County. The latest story is that Governor Beebe came to Mountain View to meet with our illegal sheriff candidate Lance Bonds and made a deal and promised our illegal sheriff candidate he will be on the ballot. Tuesday the Arkansas State Attorney was in town. Again we heard he meet with Lance Bonds."

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Arkansas Democrats Busted Breaking Election Laws
By JB Williams: Systemic corruption throughout the Arkansas Democrat Party in charge of the election process is exposed and under fire, thanks to state and local citizen precinct activists who understand the true power of the precinct delegate position.

Arkansas has been controlled by Democrats for so many years that there was barely a Republican Party presence in the state prior to citizen activists learning and employing the precinct strategy. During their tenure, Democrats had even installed unconstitutional state election laws making it all but impossible for the Republican Party to function in the state. There were even laws that require two Democrat poll watchers for every Republican poll watcher in the state.

But when citizen precinct activists started building a Republican Party from the ground up in county after county, Democrats found themselves exposed and under legal attack from “We the People” as the Democrat Party broke one election law after another in a desperate effort to retain power.

. . . Democrat corruption in Stone County, where an all out battle is under way for local power in the mid-term elections and the lengths to which Arkansas Democrats will go to retain power, from the Governor’s office to the state Election Commission, is nothing shy of astonishing. Although the corruption is systemic from top to bottom in the Arkansas DNC, at the epicenter of the current controversy is a fight for the office of Sheriff in Stone County. It all started with a botched DNC primary.

The May 18 DNC primary failed to produce a DNC candidate for Stone County sheriff leading to a runoff between two DNC candidates, incumbent sheriff Todd Hudspeth and DNC challenger Lance Bonds on June 8 which also ended in a tie. When the Stone County Election Commission certified the tie, leaving the DNC without a candidate in the race for sheriff, Democrat Governor Mike Beebe stepped in on June 23 and ordered a special election in an effort to produce a DNC candidate for sheriff. However, state election laws do not allow for a special election in this case.

On July 8, . . . sheriff candidate Russ Aiken became lead plaintiff in a suit against Governor Beebe and the Stone County Election Commission for breaking state election laws in their effort to run roughshod over the election process and the people of Arkansas. Although the judge did not initially stop the DNC special election, on August 16, 2010, Judge Jay L. Moody ruled in favor of the plaintiff. He stated that there was no constitutional authority in the state of Arkansas to declare a special primary election to break a tie for a general primary runoff election, once again leaving the DNC without a candidate for Stone County sheriff.

Two days later on August 18, the state DNC held a special convention for the purpose of selecting a DNC candidate. However, Judge Moody had already ruled on August 16 that the DNC could not use any other ploy to circumvent election laws which would end in the same result. There was just no end to state DNC efforts to make it up as they go.

The DNC was not to conduct any subsequent activities that would mimic the results of the illegal August 3 election, i.e. Lance Bonds couldn't be the nominee. Yet state Democrats had done exactly that, leaving Republican candidate Russ Aiken with no choice but to file a contempt of court brief as the state DNC had once again violated state election laws, this time ignoring Judge Moody’s ruling as well. The contempt brief was filed on September 7 and the court date is set for October 21.

Meanwhile, state Democrat Election Commissioners Betty Allred and Bob Turner are blocking state GOP election commissioner {Vernon] Humphrey from appointing Republican poll workers in accordance with state election laws, denying state Republicans their constitutional right to participate in the election process and assure that the process is legitimate.

In a very blunt warning to Arkansas Democrats Allred and Turner, GOP attorney Stuart Soffer points out that Arkansas Democrats are functioning below the ethical standards of your average third-world nation:
"While the Kyrgyz Republic was able to have transparency on the other side of the globe in a third world country, there are still some here in Arkansas who just don’t get it. For example, in Stone County Election Commission Chairwomen Betty Allred (who had a hand in the sheriff’s race tie fiasco that cost that county $25,000) is doing her best to preclude Republican poll workers from being appointed at each polling site as permitted by Arkansas Voting Law. Perhaps OSCE should dispatch election observers to Stone County to ensure a fair and honest election there."Attorney and GOP consultant Soffer further advises, “We have also drafted a State Board of Election Commissioners ethics complaint against you, and a request for Stone County Prosecuting Attorney assistance because of your denying Commissioner Humphrey his right to designate minority party poll workers as provided for under Arkansas Voting Law. Additionally, because this is a federal election, we will ask the U.S. Attorney for Eastern Arkansas to investigate your actions as well.”

Normally, a small town story concerning a race for the office of county sheriff is not of national interest. However, the systemic corruption demonstrated in Stone County, Arkansas, is a clear-cut example of heavy-handed Democrat political corruption and thuggery taking place all across the country today.

Democrat commissioner Betty Allred has called an emergency meeting of the Stone County Election Commission for Thursday, October 21, 2010, courthouse square, at 6:00 pm and is still refusing to remove Lance Bonds’ name from the ballot even though Bonds is on the ballot illegally, according to Arkansas law.

Upholding the rule of law will mean that the state DNC will not have a candidate for Stone County sheriff on the November ballot. Keeping Lance Bonds on the ballot will mean that DNC politics trumps the rule of law, an unconstitutional concept we have watched play out across the country for almost two years now under unchecked Democrat control of both federal and state governments. . . .

To stop the political corruption, we must confront that corruption. To get our country back, we must take it back one county at a time, one legitimate election at a time! . . . [Full Story]

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Tags: Arkansas, corruption, election process, violations, election laws, election commissions, county clerks, county prosecutors, democrats, republicans, Baxter County, Fulton County, Stone County, Pulaski County, early voting To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

The Empire Strikes Back

by William Warren:

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Tags: GOP, Barack Obama, Political Cartoons, The Empire Strikes Back, William Warren, Star Wars, Congress, To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

Michele Bachmann Refuses To Lay Down For Bill Clinton

Rep. Michele Bachmann

Bill Smith, Editor: Former President Bill Clinton continues his abuse of women in a new arena besides his dreams. Over 10 years ago, from Arkansas to the White House, "fast hands" Bill Clinton was renown for his unwarranted propositions, advances and abuses of women. Now that Clinton is out of the White House and living with a frustrated wife who serves as Secretary of State at the will and pleasure of President Barack Obama.

In a new form of flagellation, Bill Clinton is on the road attacking the women whom he most admires and supporting those whom he most disdains. It must really gall him to be forced to support the Obama agenda in an effort to keep Hillary traveling the Globe to distant places like rural Africa so that he can pursue his activities in Harlem. Anyone notice? Bill is looking worn and tired and I don't think it has anything to do with Hillary.

While Bill Clinton will probably never cease his roving eyes or his "hands on" efforts, it is becoming more evident during the recent campaign cycle that he admires conservative women the most. His behavior is following his past predictable pattern of focusing his total attention not on those who admire him but on those most repulsed by him and would not give in the time of day (or night).

One conservative woman who is not taking any of his guff from Bill Clinton is Rep. Michele Bachmann. Bachmann been targeted by the DNC and the Obama administration as the woman they would most like to see defeated in the 2010 election. While hosting a fundraiser for my Tarryl Clark, Bill Clinton attacked Bachmann calling her and other Tea Party activists "stupid" and accusing her of "putting ideology over evidence." Michelle Bachmann responded, "I am proud of my record and I refuse to be bullied into silence by Bill Clinton and other Democrats who attack our [the people's] shared values."

While "good ol' Bill" is out there using satire to sell the Nation on Obama's failed economic program, he instead highlights for Americans our disappointment with the current president. Bill still has charisma and charm which he used to gain those infamous special services at the White house. And, Bill Clinton doesn't need a teleprompter to do his talking.

However, a new waive of principled conservative women are literally scaring the heck out of the liberals in Washington. In the forefront is Rep. Michelle Bachmann who will not lay down her principles for anyone including Bill Clinton. She has proven her ability to lend her voice to "We the People" whom Clinton calls "stupid." She has also proven to be an excellent representative for her district. I hope her constituents in Minnesota will not be fooled by either Clinton or Obama. We need Bachmann's voice back in Congress. She was part of a handful of people how stood boldly in doing things differently in Congress and in openly opposing the Pelosi and Reid agenda.

We need Michele Bachmann to be part of the new Republican controlled U.S. House who shows Speaker Nancy Pelosi to the door. Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats have targeted Bachmann. They hate her above many other conservatives because she has opposed their extreme liberal agenda. As expressed above, the liberal elites have proven their vitriol by pulling the "First Black President" out of his Harlem retirement and sending him after her. They will do, say and spend whatever it takes to defeat her.

Bachmann is not going to lay down her principles. She opened the doors of Congress to the American people when Speaker Pelosi refused to listen - especially to the "stupid" citizens despised by Queen Pelosi. Let's send a message to Pelosi, Reid, Obama and yes - Bill Clinton by visiting and supporting Michele Bachmann for U.S. Congress.

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Tags: Michele Bachmann, Bill Clinton, 2010 election, candidate, Minnesota, US House To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

ObamaCare News In Review: More Turbulence for Businesses

As ObamaCare Prepares For Take-off, Boeing And Other Businesses Strap In For A Bumpy Ride
BOEING WORKERS ARE THE LATEST HURT BY OBAMACARE
Boeing Will Require 90,000 Nonunion Employees To Contribute "Significantly" More To Their Health Care Plans In Part Due To ObamaCare. "Aerospace giant Boeing is joining the list of companies that say the new health care law could have a potential downside for their workers.  In a letter mailed to employees late last week, the company cited the overhaul as part of the reason it is asking some 90,000 nonunion workers to pay significantly more for their health plan next year. A copy of the letter was obtained Monday by The Associated Press." (Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, "Citing Health Care Law, Boeing Pares Employee Plan," The AP, 10/18/10)

• Boeing Vice President For Human Resources Says ObamaCare Is "Adding Cost Pressure As Requirements Of The New Law Are Phased In." "'The newly enacted health care reform legislation, while intended to expand access to care for millions of uninsured Americans, is also adding cost pressure as requirements of the new law are phased in over the next several years,' wrote Rick Stephens, Boeing's senior vice president for human resources." Ibid
• Boeing Is Worried About A 40 Percent Tax On "Cadillac" Health Care Plans. "Spokeswoman Karen Forte said the Boeing plan is more generous than what its closest competitors offer, and the company was concerned it would get hit with a new tax under the law. The tax on so-called 'Cadillac' health plans doesn't take effect until 2018, but employers are already beginning to assess their exposure because it is hefty: at 40 percent of the value above $10,200 for individual coverage and $27,500 for a family plan." Ibid

OBAMACARE'S OTHER CASUALTIES"3M Co. On Friday Informed Retirees And Workers It Will Stop Offering A Group Health-Insurance Plan To Retirees Not Old Enough For Medicare By 2015, Citing The Federal Health Overhaul As A Factor." (Janet Adamy, "3M To Change Health-Plan Options For Workers," The Wall Street Journal, 10/4/10)

• 3M Will Change The Plans Of Retirees Who Are Too Young To Qualify For Medicare And Those That Qualify For Medicare. "The St. Paul, Minn., manufacturing conglomerate notified employees on Friday that it would change retiree benefits both for those who are too young to qualify for Medicare and for those who qualify for the Medicare program. Both groups will get an unspecified health reimbursement instead of having access to a company-sponsored health plan." Ibid
• "'In Addition, Health Care Reform Has Made It More Difficult For Employers Like 3M To Provide A Plan That Will Remain Competitive,' The Memo Said." Ibid

Caterpillar Inc. Said Obama's Health Care Bill Would Increase Their Costs By $100 Million In First Year, "Place [Them] At A Disadvantage Versus [Their] Global Competitors." "Caterpillar Inc. said the health-care overhaul legislation being considered by the U.S. House would increase the company's health-care costs by more than $100 million in the first year alone. ... 'We can ill-afford cost increases that place us at a disadvantage versus our global competitors,' said the letter signed by Gregory Folley, vice president and chief human resources officer of Caterpillar. 'We are disappointed that efforts at reform have not addressed the cost concerns we've raised throughout the year.'" ("Caterpillar: Health Care Bill Would Cost It $100M," Dow Jones Newswires, 3/19/10)

White Castle Predicts ObamaCare Will Consume More Than Half Its Profits. "The White Castle hamburger chain fears that a health insurance reform law adopted earlier this year will put its profits on a downward slide. The Columbus-based family owned restaurant chain - known for serving small square hamburgers called 'sliders' - says a single provision in the bill will eat up roughly 55 percent of its yearly net income after 2014." (Sabrina Eaton, "Ohio Hamburger Chain Says Insurance Reform Will Bite Into Profits," The Cleveland Plain Dealer, 7/4/2010)

• ObamaCare Will Make It Hard For White Castle To Maintain Current Jobs, "Let Alone Create New Jobs." "The financial hit will make it hard for the company to maintain its 421 restaurants, let alone create new jobs, says company spokesman Jamie Richardson. White Castle employs more than 10,000 people nationwide, and more than 1,200 in Ohio." Ibid

"A New Study By Accounting Firm PricewaterhouseCoopers Found That Nearly Half (47 Percent) Of Executives Surveyed Expect The New Healthcare Law To Have A 'Notable Financial Impact On Their Businesses.'" (Jay Heflin, "Study: Healthcare Reform A Financial Hit To Firms," The Hill's "On The Money" Blog, 10/14/10)

Businesses Are Trying To Adjust To ObamaCare And The Tax Hikes Contained In ObamaCare. "One issue troubling executives is adjusting to reform while trying to accommodate for the coming tax hikes included in the new law. 'It's possible this could create a cash flow issue as CEOs look to continue reinvesting in their business,' said Ken Esch, a partner in the firm's Private Company Services practice, in prepared remarks." Ibid

A Majority Of Employers Are "Likely To Change Employee Contributions For Medical Coverage." "Over half of the respondents (52 percent) are likely to significantly change employee contributions for medical coverage. Of the 11 percent of respondents whose healthcare plans cover retirees, 46 percent are likely to significantly change their current retiree plans because of healthcare reform." "Ibid

"'The Potential Business Impact Of Health Reform Is Just One Among A Host Of Issues, Regulatory, Legislative, Economic, That's Creating Uncertainty For CEO's Right Now,' Esch Said." Ibid

Employers Are Dragging Their Feet When It Comes To Hiring Citing Uncertainty Surrounding Taxes And Regulation. "Increasingly, though, economists and job seekers are identifying another problem: Employers are being pickier, or not trying as hard as they usually do to fill the openings they have. The reasons for the foot-dragging are closely related to the reasons employers aren't creating many openings in the first place. Companies lack confidence about the outlook for consumer demand, they're not sure what the government will do with taxes and regulation, and they want to keep squeezing as much output from their current workers as they can." (Mark Whitehouse, "Unfilled Openings Frustrate The Jobless," The Wall Street Journal, 10/11/10)

• Delay In Hiring Could Last For Another Year. "'What we're seeing is delay' says Jeff Joerres, chief executive of staffing firm Manpower Inc., noting that clients are taking a lot longer to fill positions, even when they've been presented with the right candidate. He says he expects the problem to persist at least through next year." Ibid

AMERICANS REJECT OBAMACAREAlmost Half Of Likely Voters Have An Unfavorable View Of ObamaCare. "Public support for healthcare reform ticked downward in October, suffering from an especially negative opinion among likely voters. Almost half of likely voters in next month's elections said they have an unfavorable view of Democrats' signature legislation -- a more negative take on healthcare reform than the general public. Forty-nine percent of likely voters said they have an unfavorable opinion of the healthcare bill, according to the Kaiser Health Tracking Poll, compared to 39 percent who have a favorable opinion. Twelve percent of likely voters said they have no opinion." (Michael O'Brien, "Almost Half Of Likely Voters View HealthCare Reform Unfavorably," The Hill, 10/18/10)

"An Earlier Poll By The Hill Also Pointed To Problems For Democrats With Healthcare. In The Hill Poll Of 12 Battleground Districts Won By Freshman House Democrats In 2008, A Majority Of Those Surveyed Favored Repeal. Even 23 Percent Of Democrats Polled In The Dozen Districts Favored Repeal." Ibid

Sixty-Two Percent Of Voters Think That The Tax On "Cadillac" Health Care Plans Should Be Repealed. "Another poll, conducted earlier this month by Bloomberg News, found that some of the most central pieces of the legislation fare poorly with the public. Sixty-two percent of voters said in that poll that the tax on high-value insurance plans (the so-called 'Cadillac tax') should be repealed, and 51 percent favored repeal of the requirement that each individual have health insurance." Ibid

Missouri Voters Overwhelmingly Passed A Ballot Initiative That Exempts The State From The Unpopular Measures Of ObamaCare. "Missouri voters approved the initiative with just over 71 percent in favor of the ballot language, which looks to exempt residents from the new rules requiring individuals to have health insurance, and also businesses, which have to provide health insurance options to employees or face stiff penalties."(Michael O' Brian, "Top Republicans Trumpet Missouri Ballot Initiative On Health Reform," The Hill's "Healthwatch" Blog , 8/4/10)

• The Passage Of Proposition C Is "The First Tangible Demonstration Of How Unpopular The President's Signature Achievement" Is In Missouri. "The overwhelming vote in favor of Proposition C, a measure crafted to reject a portion of the law that requires most people to carry health insurance by 2014 or pay a fine, is the first tangible demonstration of how unpopular the president's signature achievement remains in the Midwestern state." (David Catanese, "Proposition C Spells Trouble For Robin Caranhan," Politico, 8/6/10)
• "Equally Worrisome Is The Fact That In Some Traditionally Democratic Counties, Like Jefferson County, Which Is Part Of Democratic Rep. Russ Carnahan's Southside St. Louis District, The Initiative Passed With Over 70 Percent." Ibid

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Tags: ObamaCare, new, business, businesses, problems, To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

I Am Voting For Life

T

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Tags: Americans United for Life, Action, AUL, Voting, VotingForLife.com, pro-life, video To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

AP: Boeing Employees To See Increased Premiums Thanks To Obamacare

Since President Obama and the Democrat-run Congress celebrated passing their massive health care law over the objections of a majority of Americans, news reports have come on an almost weekly basis demonstrating how their legislation has not and will not live up to the promises made about it during the initial sales pitch. President Obama and Democrats said many times that their health care bill would “reduce the costs of health care” and that “[f]amilies will save on their premiums.” Just a month ago, Obama reiterated, “All this is going to lower premiums. It’s going to make healthcare more affordable.”

But last night the AP reported, “Aerospace giant Boeing is joining the list of companies that say the new health care law could have a potential downside for their workers. In a letter mailed to employees late last week, the company cited the overhaul as part of the reason it is asking some 90,000 nonunion workers to pay significantly more for their health plan next year. A copy of the letter was obtained Monday by The Associated Press.

“‘The newly enacted health care reform legislation, while intended to expand access to care for millions of uninsured Americans, is also adding cost pressure as requirements of the new law are phased in over the next several years,’ wrote Rick Stephens, Boeing's senior vice president for human resources.”

According to the AP, “Spokeswoman Karen Forte said the Boeing plan is more generous than what its closest competitors offer, and the company was concerned it would get hit with a new tax under the law. The tax on so-called ‘Cadillac’ health plans doesn’t take effect until 2018, but employers are already beginning to assess their exposure because it is hefty: at 40 percent of the value above $10,200 for individual coverage and $27,500 for a family plan.”

The Wall Street Journal adds today, “In recent weeks, other major corporations have cited the new health-care law as a condition for needing to raise employee health care costs—or threaten to cut it altogether. Last month McDonald's Corp. told the federal government that it could possibly drop health-care coverage for more than 30,000 restaurant workers unless the government granted it a waiver, excepting it from at least one provision of the new law. . . . Earlier this month, 3M Co. said it would start phasing out health-care benefits to retirees, citing the new federal health-care law as a factor.”

But it’s not just employer plans feeling the consequences of Democrats’ health care law. In recent weeks, there has been a string of reports of insurance companies warning of premium increases for individual and other plans thanks to the health care legislation. According to The Wall Street Journal, “Health insurers say they plan to raise premiums for some Americans as a direct result of the health overhaul in coming weeks, complicating Democrats' efforts to trumpet their signature achievement before the midterm elections. Aetna Inc., some BlueCross BlueShield plans and other smaller carriers have asked for premium increases of between 1% and 9% to pay for extra benefits required under the law, according to filings with state regulators.” Similar warnings came recently from insurers in Washington State, New York, and Connecticut.

Throughout the health care debate Republicans and independent analysts warned that the Democrat health care bill would raise premiums instead of lowering them. All the way back in December of 2009, a majority of Americans understood that the Democrats’ plan would “raise their cost of health care.” But Democrats passed their bill anyway and it remains unpopular. Even the poll traditionally most favorable to the health care bill, the Kaiser poll, finds this week, “While the public overall is divided in their opinion of the new reform law, likely voters – those who say they are registered to vote and ‘absolutely certain’ to turn out on Nov. 2 – are somewhat less positive, with negative appraisals outstripping positive ones 49 percent to 39 percent.”

As Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY), Vice Chairman of the Republican Conference, said in the Weekly Republican Address recently, “The President’s policies are irresponsible, and unsustainable. . . . I believe there is too much at stake, and far too much to lose, for us to allow bad policies and reckless spending to remain unchecked or unchallenged.  And so we will fight for a dramatic change in priority and direction. Republicans have a Pledge to America. A Pledge to prevent tax hikes, to reduce federal spending, and to work every day to repeal the massive new health care law and replace it with commonsense reforms that lower costs.” Americans will soon have the opportunity to choose whether they want more of this flawed health care law or repealing and replacing it.

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Tags: Obamacare, health care premiums, Boeing, employees To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!

Barack Obama's Health Care Myths Are Busted!

According to Politico’s Playbook today, “President Obama has taped an appearance for Discovery Channel's ‘MythBusters’.” Certainly, it’s nice for the President to show support for the science-focused education and entertainment that the show is known for, but it often feels like President Obama needs to be examined by a political version of such a show. Obama’s various declarations about the health care bill alone seem to have all been “busted” in the nearly seven months since the bill passed.

During the debate over Democrats’ health care bill, President Obama said that their “reforms” will “finally reduce the costs of health care” and “families will save on their premiums.” But throughout just the past month, multiple news reports have shown massive rate increases coming down the pike for many Americans, thanks in part to the health care bill. Early in September, The Wall Street Journal reported, “Health insurers say they plan to raise premiums for some Americans as a direct result of the health overhaul in coming weeks, complicating Democrats' efforts to trumpet their signature achievement before the midterm elections.” And sure enough, in subsequent weeks there were reports of insurers raising premiums in states like California, Connecticut, New York, and Washington. As The Seattle Times put it, “Whopping rate increases are coming soon for many people with individual health-insurance policies.”

Another declaration by the President was that his health care plan “will slow the growth of health care costs for our families, our businesses, and our government.” But according to a report from the Los Angeles Times on a study by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, “Pushed by a dramatic increase in the number of Americans who will get insurance under the new healthcare law, total U.S. medical spending will continue to gallop upward, consuming nearly 20% of the economy by 2019 . . . .” And earlier this year, Congressional Budget Office director Doug Elmendorf wrote, “[F]ederal spending on major mandatory health care programs will grow from roughly 5 percent of GDP today to about 10 percent in 2035 and will continue to increase thereafter.”

President Obama also promised that he would “protect Medicare” in his health care bill. Yet the bill contained over $520 billion in cuts to Medicare, with more than $200 billion in Medicare Advantage cuts alone. And sure enough, thanks to these cuts and changes, The Boston Globe reported, “Harvard Pilgrim Health Care has notified customers that it will drop its Medicare Advantage health insurance program at the end of the year, forcing 22,000 senior citizens in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine to seek alternative supplemental coverage.” According to The Globe report, “‘We became concerned by the long-term viability of Medicare Advantage programs in general,’’ said Lynn Bowman, vice president of customer service at Harvard Pilgrim’s office in Quincy. ‘We know that cuts in Medicare are being used to fund national health care reform.’” And then there was The Wall Street Journal story in June warning. “Dozens of Medicare Advantage providers plan to cut back vision, dental and prescription benefits.”

Of course, the most prominent pledge to Americans from Obama and other Democrats about their massive health care takeover was that “if you like your current [health care] plan, you will be able to keep it.” But in the months since Democrats rammed through their bill, numerous reports have shown many people won’t be able to continue on their current plans. Just two weeks ago, The Wall Street Journal reported, “3M Co. confirmed it would eventually stop offering its health-insurance plan to retirees, citing the federal health overhaul as a factor.” And The New York Times reported earlier this month, “The Principal Financial Group announced on Thursday that it planned to stop selling health insurance, another sign of upheaval emerging among insurers as the new federal health law starts to take effect. The company, based in Iowa, provides coverage to about 840,000 people who receive their insurance through an employer.” And then there was the AP story in August that “A plan by Medicare to try to make it simpler for consumers to pick drug coverage could force 3 million seniors to switch plans next year whether they like it or not, says an independent analysis.” And in July, there were reports that restaurant employees could lose health care coverage because of new costs imposed by the bill.

The assurances from President Obama and Democrats that their health care law would reduce premiums, lower government spending, protect Medicare, and allow Americans to keep their current plans, have all been clearly “busted.” Sadly, Americans could see most of this coming, and polls showed they consistently disapproved of Democrats’ scheme. Yet the President and Democrats forced the bill through Congress anyway.

Still, though, Americans oppose this law. Almost seven months after Democrats gathered to congratulate each other for passing a bill only they wanted, Politico reports, “According to the Kaiser Family Foundation October Tracking Poll out Monday morning, overall support for the [health care] law has dropped to 42 percent – down seven points in a month. The percentage of those saying they have an unfavorable view of the bill rose four points to 44 percent.” Interestingly, Politico notes, “Opposition to the reform bill was stronger among likely voters: 39 percent have favorable opinions, 49 percent unfavorable opinions and 12 percent have no opinion.” Incidentally, the Kaiser poll has been the one poll consistently showing more favorable views of the health care bill among the public than other polls.

Seven months later, Democrats’ claims about their health care law have been “busted,” and Americans still oppose the bill. It still needs to be repealed and replaced. Mr. Obama, Your Myths are Busted.

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Tags: Barack Obama, health care, busted, myths, repeal the bill To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. Thanks!