Everything is out of whack with the story about the nameless black man toting a semi-automatic weapon around at an Arizona townhall meeting. Just everything.
One of the driving Lefty narratives about the nature of the townhall protests and the general popular opposition to Obama Care’s proposed government health care takeover is exemplified in this comment to the local Fox TV news affiliate:
“All the claims of Nazism and socialism are really racist attacks,” said David Sirota, one of many liberal columnists who define the growing conservative uprising as a “white backlash” — that of a dwindling white non urban America, aflame with grievances and awash in self-pity as the country hurtles into the 21st century and leaves it behind.
No matter that there’s nary an ounce of truth to the claims of Sirota — he makes a living as a liberal Democrat propagandist. I expect it from him. Not necessarily from a mainstream news network that until today carried at least a shred of credibility.
This story is almost too hard to believe, but the evidence is undeniable. As reported by Newsbusters (H/T Rossputin), MSNBC manipulated video footage first to imply that the man toting the AR-15 was white, not black, then to launch into a self-righteous on-air debate about racially motivated threats against the President. Talk about making news up to fit a preordained narrative. I’d like to think even Keith Olbermann would be ashamed to be so deceptive! (more…)
In its latest release, the Ryan Frazier for U.S. Senate campaign effectively goes after a weak link in incumbent appointee Michael Bennet’s political armor:
GOP Senatorial candidate Ryan Frazier today asked why Senator Michael Bennet has not stood up to the Democratic Congressional Leadership in Washington to protect Colorado small businesses and jobs from being destroyed due to an expensive surtax being proposed to help pay for President Obama’s health care reform legislation. The Democratic Congressional leadership has proposed a 5.4 percent surtax on families making more than $350,000 a year, or individuals earning $280,000, to pay for health care reform.
“A proposed surtax to pay for health care reform will place an enormous burden onto small businesses that could seriously hurt Colorado employees and their families. The media has heard Congressman Jared Polis stand up to this, but why hasn’t Senator Michael Bennet? When will Senator Bennet break his silence and stand up for Colorado? We all want to improve our nation’s health care system. Unfortunately, we do not have Senate leadership in our state that will help tackle the challenges facing our nation in a bipartisan manner. The people of Colorado deserve a Senator who will fight for what is right and not blindly follow the leadership of any political party.â€
Someone has to keep the pressure on Bennet, especially after Harry Reid’s announcement laying over the health care bill grants the junior senator another reprieve from having to make a decision on behalf of hard-working Coloradans.
Michael Bennet’s hollowness and malleability would be comical if it didn’t carry such great consequences. What about having to ask the permission of New York’s liberal gun-control Senator Charles Schumer in order to cast a phony vote in favor of concealed-carry rights?
And of course, Bennet’s indecision on the costly, union-backed EFCA bill has become legendary.
Ryan Frazier and the other potential Republican challengers would be wise to continue this line of attack.
Great piece by Vince Carroll in today’s Denver Post on Barack Obama’s Supreme Court appointment:
If racial and gender bigotry truly have no place in American public life today, then Judge Sonia Sotomayor, during her confirmation hearing for a seat on the U.S. Supreme Court, needs to utterly repudiate her 2001 assertion that “I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn’t lived that life.”
Putting that statement “in context” or explaining what she “really meant” will not do. Nor can Judge Sotomayor credibly argue that her assertion was an ill-considered mistake, since it was part of a prepared speech at the Berkeley school of law. No, she needs to reject it as the expression of bigotry that it was.
Vince Carroll is correct. (more…)
So I’ve heard the State Capitol has become a rough place these days (yes, Denver truly is the Wild West!), but I had no idea it had come to this, as disclosed in the Headline of the Week: “Brophy bill to protect homeowners killed in committee”.
My first thought was, How many homeowners have been killed in committee meetings lately? I especially have reason to be concerned, seeing as how I plan to be under the golden dome tomorrow to speak on a new media/blogger luncheon panel to the Senate GOP Caucus.
I will be joined by the famous Vodkapundit (aka Stephen Green), Zombyboy, Rossputin (aka Ross Kaminsky), Charles Martin, and Face The State editor Brad Jones. Frankly, I’m humbled to be with this group of accomplished bloggers / new media gurus, and hope to represent the Rocky Mountain Alliance and People’s Press Collective well. (more…)
Mary Katherine Ham’s excellent video reminds us in just a few short minutes why Barack Obama’s long string of equivocations on issues great and small adds up to a lack of leadership. Let me also pass on American Princess’ warning to her readers: “Prepare to vomit.”
(more…)
The always astute, insightful, and persuasive Thomas Sowell has an especially good column about the national election before us. It’s titled “Do Facts Matter?” If you only read one column this week, please make it this one. And spread the word.
I’m only left to wonder if there are enough rational voters left in the center of American politics. Every two to four years, it seems like there is a little bit less rationality than before. But if the current trend continues, it would be a big step forward in my opinion. Some seem to want to choose Barack Obama as the next “flavor of the month” — the President of the United States is like an ice cream cone or a cup of coffee. If only the rest of us had such trivial consequences to face from this election, I wouldn’t be writing on this blog.
Remember a couple weeks ago, Barack Obama’s infamous response to “rumors” that he plans “to take away your guns.” The junior Illinois Senator said: “I believe in the Second Amendment… you have nothing to fear from an Obama administration… And by the way, here’s another thing you’ve got to understand. Even if I wanted to take it away, I couldn’t get it done. I don’t have the votes in Congress.”
As ABC News blogger Jake Tapper points out:
That “I don’t have the votes in Congress” line has ricocheted around the country…
Let’s take an extreme hypothetical to make a point. Can you imagine a candidate saying something egregious as: “Why, of course, I’m against legalizing the international child kidnapping trade. And by the way, there’s something else you ought to know. Even if I wanted to give in to the ‘shanghai’ lobby and make it easier to sell your child to sex traffickers, I don’t have the votes in Congress to do it.”
That’s an absurd case that would rightly cause people to be scratching their heads. In Obama’s real-life case, he just so happens to have the anti-gun record that could cost him a narrow victory in the key state of Colorado.
In our swing state backyard, Barack Obama has built himself a major challenge:
Colorado is home to more than 100,000 dues-paying members of the National Rifle Association, all of whom should have received THIS MAILER sometime in the last week, which says he would be “the most anti-gun president in American history,” and refers gun rights enthusiasts to the website GunBanObama.com.
The importance of this issue among a significant voting bloc in Colorado should not be underestimated. In a very tight race for our state’s 9 electoral votes, every little edge is needed. John McCain and Sarah Palin must be telling Obama: Thank you very much.
Once in awhile, the U.S. Supreme Court gets it right. Today that’s the case with the 5-4 landmark ruling in DC v Heller that overturns the Washington, D.C., gun ban and sets the Second Amendment on the solid terrain intended by our nation’s Founders. Around the Independence Institute, where research director Dave Kopel is one of the most renowned experts in the field, this makes for a busy day, and one of celebration.
Dave authored a friendly brief to the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of the Institute and numerous law enforcement organizations, providing evidence of how citizens owning firearms is important to public safety. Dave also was one of three attorneys who sat at plaintiff Heller’s table during the oral arguments before the Supreme Court earlier this year – an experience he recounts for an iVoices podcast with Jon Caldara.
Dave already gave an interview with local news giant 850 KOA this morning (and who knows what other interviews). He also said he’s working on articles for Pajamas Media, Human Events, and Reason – so you may want to check all those sites for more of his erudite commentary.
In the meantime, the SCOTUS blog has a full copy of the decision (something I have yet to read) and lots of relevant commentary.
I’m waiting for Constructively Reasonable – a law student friend and 2nd Amendment fan – to weigh in.
But all told, Heller is a hugely important favorable decision that will yield lots of analysis and discussion in the coming days. Major congrats and thanks to Dave Kopel for his years of work on the issue, and a major sigh of relief that hopefully proves more than a respite among a recent spate of bad news from our courts and elected legislatures.
And today’s announcement of the decision is remarkably coincidental timing for the Independence Institute’s (sold out) ATF Party!
Calling all Colorado candidates for state and county office! Want to catch up on your policy homework? The Independence Institute (where I work) is sponsoring an important event on June 11:
Want your state legislative candidates to be intellectually well-armed for battle on the campaign trail? Then make sure he or she attends our candidates’ briefing on Wednesday, June 11 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Independence Institute offices. We gather the state’s leading free market experts on everything from TABOR, to transportation, to education, to property rights, to energy policy and more. Candidates will leave well-prepared to debate issues and field questions from friends and foes alike. This event is free of change and open to all state legislative and county commissioner candidates. Seating is limited.
DATE: Wednesday, June 11, 2008
TIME: 8:30 a.m to 4 p.m.
LOCATION: Independence Institute, 13952 Denver West Parkway (Building 53), Suite 400, Golden Colorado 80401 COST: Free of charge for state legislative and county commissioner candidates; other candidates included as seating allows.
TOPICS: (to include but not limited to) TABOR, health care, education, property rights, energy and environment, transportation, second amendment and grass roots organizing.
The Independence Institute will provide lunch and materials.
For questions contact Amy Oliver at amy@i2i.org. For reservations contact Eileen Mahony at EMMahony@gmail.com.
RSVP for this Event
Please spread the word.
One month after the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case D.C. v. Heller was heard, the Republican Study Committee of Colorado is hosting a discussion tomorrow on the topic of Second Amendment rights:
The Second Amendment Rearmed?
How Washington, D.C. v. Heller Could Reaffirm the Right of Personal Self Protection in Colorado
The Republican Study Committee of Colorado
Ad Hoc Hearing
Friday, April 18, 2008
1:00 – 3:00
Old Supreme Court Chambers
Colorado State Capitol
Confirmed Presenters:
Dave Kopel, Research Director, Independence Institute
Darin Goens, Colorado State Liaison, National Rifle Association
Dudley Brown, Executive Director, National Association for Gun Rights and Rocky Mountain Gun Owners
William Perry Pendley, President and Chief Legal Officer, Mountain States Legal Foundation
For further information, please contact:
Representative Kent Lambert, RSCC Chair (303) 866-2937
Representative Kevin Lundberg, RSCC Vice-Chair (303) 866-2907
Senator Ted Harvey, RSCC Secretary (303) 866-4881
Senator David Schultheis, RSCC Treasurer (303) 866-4835
Senator Greg Brophy, RSCC Whip (303) 866-6360
Jon Caldara also has an announcement at his site.
