Small Nuances Of Understanding Thanks for the great discussion. Will, I think you crystallized the problem with our public/media response to Columbine: Many of us shoehorned this tragedy into our existing agendas or preconceptions, consciously or not. We made it fit a model…
Asked If His Thesis Advocated A ?Radical Agenda,? Bob McDonnell Replies ?No? Last month, the Washington Post revealed that Virginia’s Republican gubernatorial candidate, Bob McDonnell, had written a master’s thesis at Regent University in 1989 “in which he described working women and feminists as ‘detrimental’ to the family,” said that “government policy should favor married couples over ‘cohabitators, homosexuals or fornicators,’” and criticized “as ‘illogical’ a 1972 […]
Last month, the Washington Post revealed that Virginia’s Republican gubernatorial candidate, Bob McDonnell, had written a master’s thesis at Regent University in 1989 “in which he described working women and feminists as ‘detrimental’ to the family,” said that “government policy should favor married couples over ‘cohabitators, homosexuals or fornicators,’” and criticized “as ‘illogical’ a 1972 Supreme Court decision legalizing the use of contraception by unmarried couples.” After reading the thesis, TPM’s Eric Kleefeld and Zachary Roth said it represented “a manifesto of the anti-gender-equality right-wing.”
The thesis has since become a central issue in McDonnell’s race against Democrat Creigh Deeds. On Fox News Sunday today, host Chris Wallace asked McDonnell if his thesis represented a “radical agenda.” McDonnell replied that it did not:
WALLACE: … it was revealed that in 1989 you wrote a master’s thesis in which you said — and let’s put up some of the things on the screen — this has obviously been a big issue here in Virginia — The new trend of working women and feminism that is ultimately detrimental to the family. You criticize tax credits for child care. And you even opposed a Supreme Court ruling legalizing birth control for married couples. Mr. McDonnell, isn’t that a pretty radical agenda?
MCDONNELL: No. I think those are a couple of quotes out of a 100-page document, Chris, and what the whole purpose of the — of the thesis was to say, Look, families are the bedrock of society. And I think there’s broad agreement on that, and that government programs should not undermine the family, because that will lead to more government spending for problems that occur when the family’s not intact.
Watch it:
When McDonnell said the thesis was “20 years ago and some of my views over time have changed,” Wallace played a clip from an ad being run by Deeds, which said that McDonnell has supported his thesis agenda as a legislator. “In fact, we checked the record. As a legislator, you voted against a resolution that would have called for ending wage discrimination based on gender,” said Wallace. “You voted against extending child care services. And you voted against extending or requiring health insurance plans to cover birth control. So it’s not just the thesis.”
Romney Touts Fox Nation Website As Ticket To GOP Political Success ?In 2010 And The Years Beyond? Earlier this year, the so-called “fair and balanced” network launched its Fox Nation website, an opinionated online forum. Fox VP Bill Shine said, “We’re calling it a mix between the Huffington Post and Drudge,” and asserted that the network’s reporting is “aggressive but not ideological.” Promotional materials for the site claim: “It’s time to say […]
Earlier this year, the so-called “fair and balanced” network launched its Fox Nation website, an opinionated online forum. Fox VP Bill Shine said, “We’re calling it a mix between the Huffington Post and Drudge,” and asserted that the network’s reporting is “aggressive but not ideological.” Promotional materials for the site claim: “It’s time to say NO to biased media.” Apparently, leading Republican officials didn’t get the talking points.
In a video posted on YouTube, top GOP figures — like Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN), Gov. Rick Perry (R-TX), Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) — urge viewers to click on Fox Nation. But the most interesting endorsement came from former Gov. Mitt Romney, who touted the site’s political impact:
Hey, FoxNation.com and my fans there, they’re the best. Congratulations to you guys for getting that up there. Keep it going. I hope that we get a lot of strength, and that helps us in 2010 and the years beyond.
Watch it:
In the video, Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA) said the site provides a “great forum, I think, for some robust debate.” For example, the site has asked whether parents would “keep your kids home the day Obama speaks to schools,” wondered “is Obama targeting Catholics,” and questioned if the health care debate is “a showdown between Socialism & Freedom.” Robust indeed.
On Medicare Spending, a Role Reversal After years of trying to cut Medicare spending, Republican lawmakers have emerged as champions of the program, accusing Democrats of trying to steal from the elderly to cover the cost of health reform.
NATO Officials Say They Will Back Afghan Effort to Turn Insurgents Against Taliban The United States and NATO countries fighting in Afghanistan have told President Hamid Karzai’s government that they expect him to remain in office for another five-year term and will work with him on an expanded campaign to turn insurgent fighters against the Taliban and other militant groups.
William Safire, 79; Celebrated Columnist for N.Y. Times William Safire, 79, a Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist and language maven for the New York Times, whose penchant for the barbed and memorable phrase first manifested itself in speeches he wrote for the Nixon White House, died Sept. 27 at Casey House, part of Montgomery Hospice in Rockville. A…
Colombian Mass Graves Discovered Two mass graves, one filled with the bodies of 16 FARC guerrillas and another containing the remains of 17 peasants, were found in Colombia on the property of a deceased right-wing militia leader. The victims are believed to have been killed more than a decade ago. JCL The BBC: Two mass graves connected to Colombia’s decades-long internal conflict have been found, officials say. They say one grave, containing the bodies of 17 peasants, was discovered in a ranch in the north-west belonging to a late far-right militia leader. The armed forces chief announced the discovery of a second mass grave, which he said held the remains of 16 left-wing Farc guerrillas, in the south. The Farc have been fighting the Colombian government since the 1960s. The peasants’ bodies were found on a ranch that belonged to paramilitary leader Carlos Castano, who was killed in 2004. Read more READ THE WHOLE ITEM
Two mass graves, one filled with the bodies of 16 FARC guerrillas and another containing the remains of 17 peasants, were found in Colombia on the property of a deceased right-wing militia leader. The victims are believed to have been killed more than a decade ago.? JCL
The BBC:
Two mass graves connected to Colombia’s decades-long internal conflict have been found, officials say.
They say one grave, containing the bodies of 17 peasants, was discovered in a ranch in the north-west belonging to a late far-right militia leader.
The armed forces chief announced the discovery of a second mass grave, which he said held the remains of 16 left-wing Farc guerrillas, in the south.
The Farc have been fighting the Colombian government since the 1960s.
The peasants’ bodies were found on a ranch that belonged to paramilitary leader Carlos Castano, who was killed in 2004.
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