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    News Round-Up: Thursday, February 2 2012


    By: Aaron Ghitelman
    February 2nd, 2012

    Facebook readies for its IPO, Leon Panetta will speed up the withdrawal of NATO combat troops in Afghanistan, and Punxsutawney Phil has seen his shadow. Also, Susan G Komen distances itself from Planned Parenthood while Virginia will require women to get an ultrasound before an abortion. Elsewhere, Joan River experiments with medical marijuana, and K’Naan criticizes Mitt Romney’s use of his song.

    Aaron + Caitlin

    CRUCIAL:

    Panetta: U.S., NATO will seek to end Afghan combat mission next year http://wapo.st/zWZrSJ
    Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says The United States and NATO are aiming to end their combat role in Afghanistan by mid-to-late 2013. The previous plan called for a shift away from the combat role in 2014, but Panetta is prepared to do this a full year ahead of schedule. This change may be modeled after the shift and withdrawal of American troops from Iraq that has proven successful in terms of not harming national security. Additionally, both Barack Obama and Nicolas Sarkozy of France are running for re-election, and shortening the War in Afghanistan will be a popular move for both of them.

    U.S. no-fly list doubles in one year http://usat.ly/xpNTWo
    In the last year, the secret government no-fly list has ballooned from 10,000 listed suspects to over 21,000 suspects. This growth has taken place since the failed bombing that occurred on an Christmas Day flight in 2009. The ACLU has sued the government on behalf of individuals who believe they are mistakenly being prevented from flying for business or personal reasons. Included among people who have been inconvenienced by this list is the late Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA). In 2004, the list included around 20,000 people, but a major difference between then and now is that the government checks the list instead of airlines and has allegedly made fewer mistakes.

    Uproar as Breast Cancer Group Ends Partnership With Planned Parenthood http://nyti.ms/A1Uyfe
    The Susan G Komen for the Cure foundation, the largest cancer advocacy group in the nation, has decided to cease giving Planned Parenthood $700,000 in grants. Komen’s decision has come after a congressional investigation into Planned Parenthood started. Komen fears that aligning with a group under federal investigation will hurt its fundraising. However, Planned Parenthood views this as a partisan decision, claiming the investigation itself is uncalled for and citing Komen’s new senior vice president for public policy, Karen Handel, who when running for Governor of Georgia wrote, “Since I am pro-life, I do not support the mission of Planned Parenthood.”

    Washington State Senate Passes Gay Marriage Bill http://nyti.ms/ABxrAy
    Washington is on track to become the seventh state to allow for same-sex marriage. Supports of the bill feared the State Senate would be the tougher of the two chambers to get the bill past, but those worries proved to be for naught as the State Senate passed by the margin of 28-21. The bill is very similar to the New York bill which does not require religious groups that object to the marriages to officiate them. The House will vote on the bill within the week, and the governor has indicated she will sign it.

    Indiana may soon be Rust Belt’s first right-to-work state http://usat.ly/wnkR1z
    A right-to-work law, which states companies can no longer negotiate with unions that require non-members to pay representation fees, has passed in the Hoosier state. Governor Mitch Daniels signed the bill while thousands of union members protested outside the statehouse. Daniels initially ran as a candidate against right-to-work laws but has since changed his mind because of businesses that allegedly refuse to open shop in states without these laws. Opponents of the bill fear that this will lead to a drop in the salary of workers throughout the state.

    Twitter’s New Censorship Policy: Up with Free Speech? http://ti.me/yp4yOq
    Twitter announced a new policy that would withhold content from users in specific countries. But this censorship will not be particularly draconian. It will only be used reactively, as a way of protecting Twitter itself from lawsuits. Additionally, a Twitter official explained to Talking Points Memo that it will not govern retweets and there should be multiple ways around the withheld content.

    Samuel Collins talks about the importance of Black History Month on College Campuses in “Celebrate black history month at GW,”  http://bit.ly/ADkNhf

    CULTURAL:

    Super Bowl Ads Aim For Your ‘Second Screen,’ http://bit.ly/z4epnS

    Joan Rivers, 78, gets stoned in a carpark and is unable to drive home… and its all filmed for her reality show, http://bit.ly/y7H5n6

    ‘No!’ – Snooki denies pregnancy rumors, http://bit.ly/ytSNxz

    Chuck D’s Thoughts on Black History Month and “On The Shoulders Of Giants” Documentary, http://bit.ly/yzj9bU

    Rapper K’Naan Lashes Out At Mitt Romney For Using “Waving Flag,” http://bit.ly/Awwgz1

     

      Aaron Ghitelman
      Bio:

      Email the author at: blog(at)rockthevote.com

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      Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

      Bayard Rustin Inspires Right to Vote


      By: Sarah Wooten
      February 2nd, 2012

      Every February I try to attend a number of Black History Month events. This year I kicked off my event streak with “Voices Out Loud: A Celebration of Bayard Rustin.”  The reception and film screening was hosted by the Leadership Conference Education Fund and Split This Rock Poetry Festival and was held at the National Museum for Women in the Arts.

      While I am always amazed to hear about the numerous unsung Civil Rights heroes, I feel really strongly that I should have learned about Bayard Rustin at some point during my 20 years of education. Bayard was instrumental in organizing the 1963 March on Washington and was one of Martin Luther King Jr.’s closest confidants.

      One of the main themes of the Bayard Rustin event was that change does not happen without a struggle.  Bayard fought to bring equal rights to everyone in the world — not just in the United States — and he utilized Gandhi’s peaceful resistance methods.

      My generation often forgets that people had to fight extremely hard to obtain the right to vote. Once they were granted this right, they had to continue the fight in order to cast a ballot. My generation is always asking older generations what we can do to effect change, make a difference, and have our voices heard. Although I already believe in the importance of voting, this event and the film about Bayard Rustin’s work reinvigorated my belief that we have to pay attention to the laws our legislators are trying to pass that will make it harder for young people to vote. We must fight against any law that takes away any one person’s right to vote.

      History tends to repeat itself unless people pay attention and prevent that from happening. So many people have given their lives to grant us the opportunities we have now, and we must preserve their efforts. Like Bayard Rustin, we must fight back and demand the rights to which we are all entitled.

        Sarah Wooten
        Bio:

        Email the author at: blog(at)rockthevote.com

        Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

        News Round-Up: Wednesday, February 1, 2012


        By: Kelly Holleran
        February 1st, 2012

        Julian Assange brings his extradition case to Britain’s Supreme Court; Mitt Romney, Chrysler, and the health care industry see gains. Also, Pfizer recalls one million birth control packets, and Pakistan is allegedly helping the Taliban. Meanwhile, ‘Soul Train’ creator Don Cornelius is dead after an apparent suicide, and ‘Seinfeld’ jumps into the Super Bowl commercial fray.

        Kelly + Caitlin

        CRUCIAL:

        Julian Assange Starts Extradition Trial In UK Supreme Court, http://huff.to/wb9IuZ
        Julian Assange continues his extradition battle in Britain’s Supreme Court, arguing that sending him to Sweden would violate “fundamental principles of natural law.” Assange’s case teeters on whether Sweden’s public prosecutor can properly issue a warrant for Assange’s arrest on charges of sex crime allegations. Lawyers in Assange’s case argue that only judges can issue arrest warrants and that the prosecutor does not qualify for judicial authority. If Assange were to be sent to Sweden and effectively charged and convicted, he would face fines and as much as six years in prison.

        Jobs Increase as Health Care Eclipses Factories, http://bloom.bg/zPAQP8
        America’s readiness to take care of a growing number of aging Americans has spurred job growth in the health care market. The health care market was one of the few sectors to add jobs during the secession, as demand for nursing aides to surgeons rose. Almost 87 million Americans will be 65 or older by 2050. Health care is expected to add four million employees and be the second-biggest job gainer by 2018.

        Pakistan helping Afghan Taliban – NATO, http://bbc.in/ytoYMc
        According to a secret NATO report, derived from thousands of interrogations, the Taliban remains active and has wide support from the Afghan people and Pakistani security services. Pakistani officials are denying the report’s allegations that they know the locations of senior Taliban leaders. The report is based on 27,000 interrogations with more than 4,000 captured Taliban, al-Qaeda foreign fighters and civilians.

        Two Years After Rescue, Chrysler Posts First Profit Since 1997, http://bit.ly/xqbWZi
        After President Obama’s bailout of the auto industry in 2008, Chrysler is showing a comeback, posting its first operating profit and first net profit since 1997. CEO Sergio Marchionne said Chrysler expects to earn a profit of $1.5 billion this year. Since the rescue, Chrysler has added 9,400 jobs and plans to announce it will add 1,600 more in Illinois.

        Contraceptive pill recalled in US, http://bbc.in/x5bOQ9
        Pharmaceutical company Pfizer says a “packaging error” led to the mislabeling of one million packets of birth control. Fourteen lots of Lo/Ovral-28 tablets and 14 lots of Norgestrel and ethinyl estradiol tablets have been recalled. The company advises that the doses in these packages are not correct, and while there are not any health dangers, there is the risk of unintended pregnancy.

        Florida primary: Mitt Romney wins decisive victory, http://wapo.st/yyFTgy
        With superior fundraising and resources, Mitt Romney dealt a major setback to opponent Newt Gingrich by sweeping the Florida primary last night, leading by double digits. While Romney lost in Florida four years ago, effectively ending his previous campaign, his support last night came from a range of Florida supporters. Santorum, who came in third as he tended to his hospitalized daughter, has moved on to Nevada already, presenting himself as the Gingrich alternative. Ron Paul, who came in fourth place for the second time straight has also started campaigning in Nevada.

        Tech World Buzzes With Word That Facebook’s IPO Filing is Imminent, http://n.pr/yNbB91
        Facebook is taking its first step toward going public today. The Facebook IPO will be the biggest tech offering and one of the biggest on the market. Facebook’s revenue doubled from $2 billion in 2010 to $4.2 billion in 2011. AP reports that the company, when ready for public sale, will be valued at $75 billion to $100 billion.

        CULTURAL:

        Don Cornelius Dead: Apparent Suicide, http://bit.ly/zsZTnJ

        ‘Star Trek’ Star Popped for DUI, http://bit.ly/ylpyUu

        Acura Super Bowl ad brings back Seinfeld, Soup Nazi, http://thedc.com/yfI3hC

        Argentina calls Prince William a “conquistador” over Falklands mission, http://tgr.ph/zkLfgr

          Kelly Holleran
          Bio:

          Email the author at: blog(at)rockthevote.com

          Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
          Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

          News Round-Up: Tuesday, January 30, 2012


          By: Aaron Ghitelman
          January 31st, 2012

          Europe continues to try to reign in its debt; House GOP members propose a transportation bill; Obama has been introduced to Google+; and Joe Nocera has continued his pointed assault on the hypocrisy of the NCAA. Elsewhere, “Key and Peele” debut their much anticipated sketch comedy show, and Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger leave ‘The X-Factor.’

          Aaron + Caitlin

          CRUCIAL: 

          European leaders adopt treaty pledging debt reduction, http://wapo.st/zBExjM
          25 of 27 European Union governments have ratified a treaty intended to limit the growth of national debts. With the backdrop of Greece’s recent bankruptcy and the specter of other defaults, European leaders feel the need to increase confidence in their system. Critics, however, think that the bill is all talk since the EU already has un-enforced debt limits. Additionally, some feel the short term goals of the EU should be to stimulate growth and not work on austerity.

          House Republicans to unveil transportation bill, http://wapo.st/AvYvPK
          Republicans have proposed a transportation bill that would spend roughly $50 billion a year maintaining America’s roads, bridges and highways over the next five years. The plan would give states more jurisdiction on spending while still keeping an eye on states’ budgets. The House bill appropriates about $5 billion less a year than the similar bill bouncing around the Senate. Both bills, however, include no more than one fifth of the spending that transportation experts claim are needed to maintain much of the nation’s infrastructure. Included in this bill is a requirement that drunk drivers use ignition interlock devices for a year after their convictions.

          Federal Election Reform Commission Advocated Voter Photo ID, http://bit.ly/AdN6XT
          The Carolina Journal News is reporting that a bipartisan committee from 2005 both recommended and supported the new voter ID laws that have caused a recent uproar. The committee included Democratic Former President Jimmy Carter and Republican Former Secretary of State James Baker. Both argued that mandating photo IDs would enfranchise more than disenfranchise, but that belief is being questioned by minority rights groups.

          Eye of Newt: Songwriter sues Gingrich for using ‘Eye of the Tiger’ music, http://trib.in/ycHAK7
          Survivor lead guitarist Frankie Sullivan has filed an injunction to block Gingrich’s use of “Eye of the Tiger,” the theme song from “Rocky III.” According to Sullivan’s lawyer, the issue is a copyright one and not a political one. Sullivan would have no problem with Gingrich using the song if he were to legally pay for its usage. Infamously, in 1984, New Jersey rocker Bruce Springsteen requested that Ronald Reagan not use his harsh critique of America’s treatment of veterans, “Born In The USA,” as a campaign song, and earlier this cycle Tom Petty requested that Michelle Bachmann stop using “American Girl” at campaign events.

          Obama Google+ chat gets personal, http://politi.co/wVWfua
          Obama used Google+, America’s newest social media network, on Monday to keep in touch with his constituents. The President has previously held chats on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter, and is continuing to stay up-to-date by using Google+. One awkward moment during the conversation came when Obama spoke with the wife of an unemployed man. Obama stated that maybe if he were in the engineering field he would have better job prospects, unbeknownst to the president, the woman’s husband was in fact an unemployed semiconductor engineer.

          Joe Nocera again sharply critiques the policies of the NCAA in “Saving Freshman Ryan,” http://nyti.ms/AoRzeW

          CULTURAL:

          Paula Abdul & Nicole Scherzinger Leave The X Factor, http://bit.ly/AkmCpe

          Rumer Willis Was Present During Demi Moore’s Emergency, http://eonli.ne/xa0Sf7

          Jack White announces solo debut album; M.I.A. confirms Super Bowl appearance, releases new single, http://wapo.st/ymofyg

          ‘Key & Peele’ stars talk racial sketch comedy in the Obama era, http://lat.ms/yozuxI

            Aaron Ghitelman
            Bio:

            Email the author at: blog(at)rockthevote.com

            Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
            Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

            News Round-Up: Monday, January 30, 2012


            By: Kelly Holleran
            January 30th, 2012

            Middle East relations remain contentious as U.S. drones provoke Iraqi government officials, and more violence erupts in Damascus; Occupy Oakland uprising damages city buildings and causes clashing with police; and U.S. officials are set to testify against Cuban offshore drilling. Meanwhile, the original writers and cast of ‘Arrested Development’ will return for the Netflix series, and Madonna will release an exclusive video teaser on ‘American Idol’ this week.

            Kelly + Caitlin

            CRUCIAL:

            U.S. Drones Patrolling Its Skies Provoke Outrage in Iraq, http://nyti.ms/wDu5th
            The State Department is operating a small fleet of surveillance drones to protect the United States Embassy and other U.S. buildings. Iraqi officials are outraged at the program, calling the aircraft an affront to Iraqi independence. The drones are meant to take over functions that the U.S. military used to perform as U.S. troops have been out of Iraq for over a month now. American contractors have been told that drones might soon be needed for other potentially “high-threat” countries such as Indonesia and Pakistan. The drones do not carry weapons and are meant to provide data and images of possible hazards.

            Syria Targets Rebels Based in Suburbs of Damascus, http://nyti.ms/zCetD9
            On Sunday, Syria sent soldiers, tanks, and armored vehicles to seek out pockets of rebel fighters as the country’s war escalated over the weekend. Blasts have continued, with Syrian authorities reporting a blown up gas pipeline near the border of northern Lebanon. In Damascus, black smoke hangs over buildings and electricity and water have been cut off to the area. Arab League nations have been pushing the U.N. Security Council to endorse their plan for political transition in Syria, calling for President Bashar al-Assad to hand over power to his deputy.

            Occupy Oakland arrests reach 400; City Hall vandalized, http://lat.ms/xtGn3W
            The Occupy Oakland movement turned ugly when protesters set to take over the city’s vacant Convention Center. As the takeover met police, protesters spread out to museums and eventually Oakland’s city hall. Demonstrators threw bottles, rocks, burning flares, and other objects at police officers. Over 400 arrests have been made. The downturn at Occupy Oakland comes as Occupy D.C. demonstrators are expected to be evicted today.

            Cuban Offshore Drilling Plans To Be Probed By Congressional Subcommittee Hearing, http://huff.to/y8lPsI
            At the satellite congressional subcommittee hearing today, just north of Miami Beach, members of the U.S. Coast Guard, experts and U.S. officials will testify on the risk of oil drilling off the coast of Cuba. As Cuba seeks to begin deep-water oil drilling, Congressional members and ecology experts will gauge if the U.S. is prepared for potential oil spills in this area.

            Newt: Mitt Can Have Florida But This Is Going All The Way To The Convention, http://bit.ly/zGb3A2
            Newt Gingrich says it isn’t over as Mitt Romney anticipates a win in tomorrow’s Florida primary. In the latest NBC poll, Romney is up by 15 percentage points in the state. However, Newt won’t be far behind if Romney wins Florida. Speaking on behalf of Gingrich’s campaign, former Sen. Fred Thompson says it boils down to the delegate count. Florida holds 50 winner-take-all delegates, comprising about 5 percent of the 1,144 needed at the time of the convention.

            Tech companies team up to combat email scams, http://bit.ly/w3xcy0
            Google and Microsoft, among many other technology companies, are combining efforts to stop email phishing scams. The goal in mind is to design a system which will authenticate emails from legitimate senders and weed out the scammers. The new system will be called DMARC, Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting and Conformance. A combination of email providers and email senders are on the team, including Yahoo, Bank of America, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

            No Thanks, Facebook: Poll Suggests Users Don’t Want Timeline, http://ti.me/zrJ0WV
            In a poll conducted with more than 4,000 Facebook users, most are reporting that they hate the new Timeline format. As Facebook aims to make Timeline mandatory, only 8 percent of polled users said they liked it. A large majority, 83 percent of poll users, had a negative take on the stalking gadget. Most of the negative responses were based on being “put-off” by the amount of personal information that surfaces when using Timeline.

            CULTURAL:

            Guns N’ Roses Announce February Concerts, http://bit.ly/xdV6x0

            ‘The Help’ nabs three kudos at SAG Awards, http://bit.ly/xp3pF5

            Tyler Perry Sets Cast for New ‘Madea’ Movie, http://bit.ly/yiIOR0

            ‘Arrested Development’ revival: entire cast confirmed for Netflix series with original writers, http://thedc.com/wbXFns

            Madonna Goes Cheerleader Chic In New Video: ‘Give Me All Your Luvin’ tease will air on ‘American Idol,’ http://on.mtv.com/yNSjPv

              Kelly Holleran
              Bio:

              Email the author at: blog(at)rockthevote.com

              Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
              Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

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