The Hollywood Liberal

Vitter Claims Offensive Images In His Ad Portray ?Fact Not A Stereotype?
A couple weeks ago, the Wonk Room reported that the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce was urging Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) to apologize for and to stop running a race-baiting anti-immigrant attack ad on his opponent, Rep. Charlie Melancon (D-LA) that contained offensive ethnic stereotypes. “We found the ad to be totally abhorrent and shocking, and […]

A couple weeks ago, the Wonk Room reported that the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce was urging Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) to apologize for and to stop running a race-baiting anti-immigrant attack ad on his opponent, Rep. Charlie Melancon (D-LA) that contained offensive ethnic stereotypes. “We found the ad to be totally abhorrent and shocking, and I’m going to use the ‘R’ word and say racist,” Darlene Kattan of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana told a local news station.

In a debate last night, Vitter was asked to respond to the allegations. Rather than apologizing, Vitter affirmed, “I stand by the ad.” According to him, the images in it aren’t a “stereotype,” but rather, “a fact”:

MODERATOR: Do you offer them an apology or do you stand by the ad?

VITTER: We have an illegal immigration problem and a huge part of that is the Mexican border. That is a fact, that is not a stereotype. Ninety seven percent of our apprehensions of illegals is at the Mexican border. That is a fact, that is not a stereotype. Over 80 percent of the 12-15 million illegals in this country have come through that border from Mexico and South American countries. That is a fact, that is not a stereotype. Now there’s one thing in that ad that is offensive and that is Mister Melancon’s votes that the ad highlights. […]

MODERATOR: How do you respond to the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Catholic Charities, the Archdiocese of New Orleans who say that this ad played into offensive racial stereotypes?

VITTER: Let me just ask you, what is the stereotype?

MODERATOR:They’re talking about the images seen in your ad.

VITTER: Is it a stereotype that folks coming across the border — that is a problem and they look like that? Dennis that is a fact, that is not a stereotype! Let’s get our heads out of the sand!

Watch it:

It’s interesting that Vitter avoided taking the Sharron Angle route of denying that the negative images in the ad are necessarily Latinos. Instead, he readily admits that there’s a connection between the two. Yet, Vitter’s ad isn’t a “fact” — it’s a racist parody of Latin culture. His implication that the running image of goofy Latino men who sneak through a hole in a fence with a giant neon welcome sign and then run off with a check from the government is somehow representative of people from Mexico and South America says a lot about how Vitter perceives reality. Wonk Room has more on how disconnected Vitter’s statement are from the immigration issue itself. About two dozen New Orleans-area community leaders called on Vitter to apologize and remove the ad, including representatives of African-American, Latino, and Vietnamese groups, and Archbishop Gregory Aymond of New Orleans.

Arkansas School Board Member Who Wanted ‘Fags’ To ‘Commit Suicide’ Vows To Resign
Earlier this week, ThinkProgress noted that with the backdrop of a disturbing wave of gay teen suicides, Arkansas school board member Clint McCance took to his Facebook page to urge “fags” and “queers” to kill themselves. McCance’s homophobic tirade came in response to a campaign by Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) for educators […]

Earlier this week, ThinkProgress noted that with the backdrop of a disturbing wave of gay teen suicides, Arkansas school board member Clint McCance took to his Facebook page to urge “fags” and “queers” to kill themselves. McCance’s homophobic tirade came in response to a campaign by Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) for educators and others to wear purple to show support for gay teens who suffered from bullying — unfortunately, McCance just took this as an opportunity to engage in some bullying of his own. However, last night on CNN host Anderson Cooper’s program, McCance apologized for his hateful comments and said he would be resigning from the school board:

MCCANCE: It was out of control. You know and it does look like I’m a hate monger or a horrible person, and that’s not me at all. […]

COOPER: They said they can’t fire you, but that you can resign. Are you going to resign from the school board?

MCCANCE: I am going to resign from the school board.

It is to — to help my community, to help my school. I don’t want them to receive bad press or have a distraction because of some ignorant comments that have — that I made.

If they decide later, you know, a year, five years, 10 years from now to vote me back in, if my constituents want that, then — then I will run again.

Watch it:

While McCance said he still believes homosexuality is wrong in the eyes of God, he said he does not “have an problem with anyone’s sexuality.” Fortunately, most schools are cracking down on bullying. Last week, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan sent new official guidelines on school-bullying to 15,000 school districts and 5,000 colleges and universities with the message “bullying is not acceptable” and can violate federal civil rights laws.

Civil rights panel postpones vote on New Black Panthers report after member walks out
A federal commission had to postpone a vote on a report that criticizes the Justice Department’s handling of a voter-intimidation lawsuit Friday after a Democratic panelist walked out of the meeting in protest.

Virginians share lesson learned: GOP in power not so bad
`

Civil rights panel postpones vote on New Black Panthers report after member walks out
A federal commission had to postpone a vote on a report that criticizes the Justice Department’s handling of a voter-intimidation lawsuit Friday after a Democratic panelist walked out of the meeting in protest.

White House considering ‘decoupling’ top-tier tax cut
With Republicans poised to gain ground in Tuesday’s elections, the White House is losing hope that Congress will approve its plan to raise taxes on the nation’s wealthiest families and is increasingly focusing on a new strategy that would preserve tax breaks for both the wealthy and the middle cl…

New PACs sprout in final days of 2010 campaign
With just seven days to go in the 2010 campaign, the Federal Election Commission received notice Tuesday of yet another new political committee.

The Absurdity of Campaign Finance Reform
Nina Easton, Fortune
One narrative of election year 2010 was shaped long before any votes were tabulated. President Barack Obama penned the first chapter with his January condemnation of a Supreme Court ruling that lifted government prohibitions on spending by corporations in elections. The 5-to-4 decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission “strikes at our democracy itself,” he said. Democrats and the media followed with tales of horror and fright, warning of corporate super-PACs and foreign donors. You could practically hear the theme from Jaws rumbling in the background.For our…

Government Power Must Be Curbed
Thomas Sowell, NH Union Leader
Most elections are about particular policies, particular scandals or particular personalities. But these issues don't mean as much this year– not because they are not important, but because this election is a crossroads election, one that can decide what path this country will take for many years to come. Runaway “stimulus” spending, high unemployment and ObamaCare are all legitimate and important issues. It is just that freedom and survival are more important. Receive news alertsFor all its sweeping and scary provisions, ObamaCare is not nearly as important as the way it was…

In 2010 Campaign, War is Rarely Mentioned

Late Late Night FDL: Jump, Jive, An’ Wail
The Brian Setzer Orchestra — Jump, Jive, An’ Wail.

The Brian Setzer Orchestra — Jump, Jive, An’ Wail.

What’s on your mind?

?

And it will be quickly forgotten
Hard to believe Halliburton manages to not screw up something once in a while.

Deep Water Horizon Fire by SkyTruth at flickr.com

How many disasters can Halliburton be involved in before they actually start to lose business? I know, I’m a hopeless romantic that way:

Halliburton officials knew weeks before the fatal explosion of the BP well in the Gulf of Mexico that the cement mixture they planned to use to seal the bottom of the well was unstable but still went ahead with the job…

…Halliburton had conducted three laboratory tests that indicated that the cement mixture did not meet industry standards.

The result of at least one of those tests was given on March 8 to BP, which failed to act upon it

Republicans seem to keep getting gigs too. It’s almost as if they had something in common.

?

Bill Clinton Urged the Democrat to Drop Out of Florida’s Senate Race
Fearing a win by tea party wunderkind Marco Rubio, Bill Clinton asked his friend Kendrick Meek, the Democrat in the race, to drop out and endorse Republican Gov. Charlie Crist’s independent bid. Meek almost agreed, but ultimately decided to stick it out, according to reports. The Meek campaign denies that the Democrat was ever going to drop out of the race.  Meek currently trails both of his rivals by a substantial margin and Rubio leads Crist by double digits.  —PZS New York Times: Mr. Clinton, who is a close friend of Mr. Meek, had come close to convincing him to drop out last week while they were campaigning together across the state, [Clinton’s spokesman] Mr. McKenna said. The pair even came close to setting a date – Oct. 26 — at which Mr. Meek would endorse Mr. Crist and hold a rally. But the idea fell apart after Mr. Meek changed his mind, Mr. McKenna confirmed. Read more

Fearing a win by tea party wunderkind Marco Rubio, Bill Clinton asked his friend Kendrick Meek, the Democrat in the race, to drop out and endorse Republican Gov. Charlie Crist’s independent bid. Meek almost agreed, but ultimately decided to stick it out, according to reports.

The Meek campaign denies that the Democrat was ever going to drop out of the race.?

Meek currently trails both of his rivals by a substantial margin and Rubio leads Crist by double digits.? —PZS

New York Times:

Mr. Clinton, who is a close friend of Mr. Meek, had come close to convincing him to drop out last week while they were campaigning together across the state, [Clinton’s spokesman] Mr. McKenna said. The pair even came close to setting a date – Oct. 26 — at which Mr. Meek would endorse Mr. Crist and hold a rally.

But the idea fell apart after Mr. Meek changed his mind, Mr. McKenna confirmed.

Read more

Related Entries

• October 28, 2010 It’s the Stupidity, Stupid
• October 28, 2010 Obama’s ‘Daily Show’ Stint a Success, Says Team Obama

‘Death of the Liberal Class’
In a traditional democracy, the liberal class functions as a safety valve. It makes piecemeal and incremental reform possible. It offers hope for change and proposes gradual steps toward greater equality. But the assault by the corporate state on the democratic state has claimed the liberal class as one of its victims.

In a traditional democracy, the liberal class functions as a safety valve. It makes piecemeal and incremental reform possible. It offers hope for change and proposes gradual steps toward greater equality. But the assault by the corporate state on the democratic state has claimed the liberal class as one of its victims.

Related Entries

• October 28, 2010 It’s the Stupidity, Stupid
• October 28, 2010 Obama’s ‘Daily Show’ Stint a Success, Says Team Obama

Terry Kelhawk: Islamic Garb in America : Fear and Joy for You, and Juan Williams Too
Has anyone ever said to a Muslim, “Welcome to America ?” Try replacing fear with friendship. Ask questions and show true respect. Then you can explain American values, how we got them, and why we want to keep America free.

Daphne Eviatar: Judge Hides Evidence of Torture from Gitmo Jury
In ruling today, Judge Patrick Parrish seemed confused and unmoved by the argument that the jury is entitled to hear the conditions of Omar Khadr’s confinement and his treatment during interrogations.

Steven Weber: Falsies
False equivalents, false comparisons, false data, false reality. Welcome to America—Republican style. It appears to make little to no difference what prevailing interpretations of scientifically…

Fox trumpets misleading GOP report on health care reform effects

Promoting a report published by Republican senators Tom Coburn (OK) and John Barrasso (WY), Fox News forwarded the false claims that the health care reform law “will kill 800,000 jobs – perhaps more” and “8 in 10 small businesses could lose their health care plans.” Health care experts have said Fox’s claims are misleading or “just plain wrong.”

Fox News pushes GOP claim that health care reform “will kill 800,000 jobs”

Kelly: Republican senators “say the law will kill 800,000 jobs – perhaps more.” During the October 26 edition of Fox News’ America Live, host Megyn Kelly reported on a “dire diagnosis by two Republican senators who are also doctors on the impact of the new health care law.” Kelly noted that “they say the law will kill 800,000 jobs – perhaps more.”

Bolling: “They estimate 800,000 jobs we are going to lose.” Fox Business host Eric Bolling appeared on America Live to discuss the Republican senators’ report. He said, “I agree with them and these are doctors. They are Republican senators but they are doctors.” Bolling also noted, “They estimate 800,000 jobs we are going to lose because of what they found in the 3,200 pages.”

In fact, workers will choose to reduce their hours

GOP report cites CBO, which said health care reform will “reduc[e] the amount of labor that workers choose to supply” by “a small amount.” In their report, Coburn and Barasso claimed that health care reform will lead to “hundreds of thousands of jobs being lost.” They cited the following statement from a recent Congressional Budget Office report:

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that the legislation, on net, will reduce the amount of labor used in the economy by a small amount–roughly half a percent–primarily by reducing the amount of labor that workers choose to supply.

According to Barasso and Coburn, “roughly half a percent” of the labor used in the economy “is more than 788,470 employees.”

CBO: People will work less because health care reform provisions increase their “financial resources.” In the report Coburn and Barasso cited, CBO further stated that the “reduction in the supply of labor is largely attributable to the substantial expansion of Medicaid and the provision of subsidies that will reduce the cost of insurance obtained through the newly created exchanges.” CBO explained that these measures “will effectively increase beneficiaries’ financial resources. Those additional resources will encourage some people to work fewer hours or to withdraw from the labor market.”

Health expert Paul Van de Water: “If people voluntarily choose to reduce their hours of work … that’s not killing jobs.” Paul N. Van de Water, health care expert at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, told Media Matters via email:

The CBO report cited by Coburn and Barasso finds that health reform’s major effect on employment will be a small reduction in the amount of labor that workers choose to supply.  For example, some people with pre-existing health conditions may choose to retire earlier if they can obtain health insurance coverage through the new health insurance exchanges and no longer have to wait until age 65 for Medicare.  If people voluntarily choose to reduce their hours of work, however, that’s not killing jobs.

Harvard economist David Cutler: “People who are working solely to get health care” will “no longer need to do that.” Health economist and Harvard professor David Cutler, who also advised Obama’s presidential campaign, told Media Matters via email:

There are several things wrong with this.  First, the CBO noted that there were many effects in different directions.  In fact, they are particularly conservative in their estimate of the cost savings to firms, which are a huge driver in employment.  Second, most of the possible employment losses come from people who are working solely to get health care, who no longer need to do that.  Why we need disabled people and people who would prefer to be home raising a family to instead be crammed into the work force is beyond me.

Fox forwards false claim that 80% of small businesses “could lose their health care plans”

Kelly reports claim that “80% of small businesses could lose their current health care plans.”  During the segment, Kelly stated: “Senators Tom Coburn and John Barrasso saying 80% of small businesses could lose their current health care plans.” Also from the segment:

KELLY: Where are they getting this – the statistic that this bill will kill 800,000 jobs – perhaps even more and that 8 in 10 small businesses could lose their health care plans?

BOLLING: Here is how. Small businesses and we talked to a lot of small businesses, on the Business Network. Small businesses don’t know how much this is going to cost them. They know that they are supposed to provide health care insurance for any new hires – they don’t know how much that is going to cost. Right now they are seeing that their cost go up but there business may not be going up with the additional costs. So they say that we are not going to hire right now. We are going to see what this ends up costing down the road and what they are finding is that their costs are skyrocketing.

In fact, the figure refers to businesses that will change, not necessarily lose, their plans

GOP report cites federal regulation on how many plans will “relinquish their grandfathered status.” The introduction to the report from Coburn and Barrasso states that “in their estimate, the Administration predicts that eight in 10 small businesses could lose their current health plans.” Their claim is based on a June 17 rule published in the Federal Register that says 80 percent is the “high-end estimate” of how many small employer plans will “relinquish their grandfathered status.” A grandfathered plan is one that existed prior to the enactment of the health care reform law does not have to meet certain requirements that other plans must meet under the legislation.

Health Affairs: Relinquishing grandfathered status may be “a more attractive alternative” for some employers. Health Affairs’ Timothy Jost explained on June 15 that “the primary way in which a plan will lose grandfathered status … is if certain major changes are made in the plan to the disadvantage of enrollees.” If that happens, the government will require the plan to meet all of the requirements in the health care reform law in the interest of “protect[ing] Americans from being stuck in low value health plans as the coverage offered by those plans deteriorates.” Jost further wrote:

Smaller employers, which currently insure 43 million enrollees, may have to significantly increase coverage to comply with the essential benefit requirements in 2014, and may find grandfathered coverage more valuable.  On the other hand, the absolute limits that the regulations impose on increasing cost sharing above medical inflation may be exhausted by 2014, making full compliance with PPACA, including the essential benefits, a more attractive alternative than continuing to live within the regulatory constraints.  The agencies estimate that between 49% and 80% of small employer plans and between 34% and 64% of large employer plans will relinquish grandfathered status by 2013.

Van de Water: Workers “do not lose their health plan. In fact, they will receive additional protections guaranteed by health reform.” When asked if relinquishing grandfathered status is equivalent to “losing their health care plan,” Van de Water responded:

Health insurance plans that were already in existence when health reform was passed don’t have to meet all the requirements of the new law (for example, the requirement to cover preventive services).  These plans are called “grandfathered” plans.  If an employer chooses to make significant changes to an existing health plan, however, the health plan loses its grandfathered status and must then comply with the new requirements.  Since employers frequently make significant changes in health insurance benefits, cost sharing, or employer contributions, many existing health insurance plans are likely to give up their grandfathered status.  Workers who are covered by plans that give up their grandfathered status, however, do not lose their health plan.  In fact, they will receive additional protections guaranteed by health reform.

Cutler: Fox News’ interpretation is “just plain wrong.” Cutler told Media Matters that Fox’s characterization is “Just plain wrong.” He added, “Losing grandfather status is not the same thing as losing their health plan.  Often, it means getting a better health plan – e.g., one that covers kids up to age 26.”

Fox News previously campaigned against health care reform

During the debate over health care reform, Fox News openly advocated against the Democrats’ efforts. In addition to routinely misinforming viewers, Fox News hosts, reporters, and contributors announced their opposition to reform; urged viewers to tell congress members to “vote no”; pushed anti-reform protests; and solicited donations for ads opposing reform and for Republicans opposing pro-reform Democrats.

Sheriff Joe Joins Anti-Voter Fraud Crusade
Sheriff Joe Arpaio wrote an e-mail to supporters asked them to “join me today and help me STOP ILLEGALS FROM STEALING THIS ELECTION!”

Investigator: Halliburton Knew Macondo Cement Was Unstable Before The Spill
The lead investigator for the presidential commission on the BP oil spill said today that Halliburton, and possibly BP, appears to have known the cement it was using in the Macondo well was unstable.

“What’s a Kos?”: Write about Palestine & get libeled & banned
(Photo is of some of the highly-recommended protective measures you might consider if you are planning to write on the Kos about injustice in Palestine.) Last night I had been complaining bitterly to a friend because I had written a diary entry on the Daily Kos regarding injustice in Palestine and had gotten brutally libeled and […]

Perry Looks Safe for Reelection
A new Public Policy Polling survey in Texas finds Gov. Rick Perry (R) leading challenger Bill White (D) by nine points in the race for re-election, 53% to 44%.

Key finding: “For White it may be a classic case of the right candidate running in the wrong cycle. He has strong favorability numbers at a 46/39 spread while Perry can only break even on his approval rating at 45% giving him good marks and 45% bad ones. White leads with independent voters 50-44… Ultimately though to win as a Democrat in Texas you’re going to have to win a fair amount of crossover support from Republican voters and in the end White just wasn’t able to do it. Just 11% of GOP voters are planning to support him, a number equivalent to the 11% of Democrats who plan to vote for Perry.”

Dead Heat in Washington
A new SurveyUSA poll in Washington finds a dead heat in the race for U.S. Senate, with challenger Dino Rossi (R) and Sen. Patty Murray (D) each getting the support of 47% of survey respondents.

“With the margin so close, it may very well come down to who bothers to vote. And at this rate, we may or may not know the outcome on election night.”