There have been new developments since the phony tax-exemption complaint against Media Matters For America. For those who haven't heard, the Fox News Channel has ran several pieces and stories claiming Media Matters is in violation of it's 501(c) 3 tax-exemption status. Taxpayers' Subsidizing Media Matters' War on Fox News and even one on Special Report With Brett Baier. Fox Nation has launched a campaign for it's readers and viewers to file a complaint with the IRS. It will be interesting what the IRS will say after their inbox gets filled with the same complaint.
6/28/11
States That Cut The Most Spending Have Lost The Most Jobs
By Adam Hersh
Think Progress
Jun 27, 2011
There’s a new cult of economic thought sweeping the nation — or at least many Republican (and even some Democratic) political circles. Its adherents cling to the erroneous belief that sharp government spending cuts will revitalize economic growth and create much needed new jobs
Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) is an ardent follower of this Cut-Grow cult, as are a number of high profile governors. For instance, Gov. John Kasich (R-OH) declared, “We’re going to have to reduce spending…to create a platform for economic growth.” When Gov. Chris Christie (R-NJ) delivered his budget to the state Legislature he argued, “We must continue to cut government spending” to create jobs and prosperity for New Jersey families. Gov. Scott Walker (R-WI) vowed his budget “lays [the] foundation to create jobs.”
Now these Republicans want the American public to drink a giant glass of their Cut-Grow Kool-Aid. But the data actually show the opposite of their claims to be true: steep spending cuts are hampering economic recovery in some states, while other states that resisted cuts or increased spending are now seeing declining unemployment rates, faster private-sector job creation, and stronger economic growth.
Read Entire Article
Think Progress
Jun 27, 2011
There’s a new cult of economic thought sweeping the nation — or at least many Republican (and even some Democratic) political circles. Its adherents cling to the erroneous belief that sharp government spending cuts will revitalize economic growth and create much needed new jobs
Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) is an ardent follower of this Cut-Grow cult, as are a number of high profile governors. For instance, Gov. John Kasich (R-OH) declared, “We’re going to have to reduce spending…to create a platform for economic growth.” When Gov. Chris Christie (R-NJ) delivered his budget to the state Legislature he argued, “We must continue to cut government spending” to create jobs and prosperity for New Jersey families. Gov. Scott Walker (R-WI) vowed his budget “lays [the] foundation to create jobs.”
Now these Republicans want the American public to drink a giant glass of their Cut-Grow Kool-Aid. But the data actually show the opposite of their claims to be true: steep spending cuts are hampering economic recovery in some states, while other states that resisted cuts or increased spending are now seeing declining unemployment rates, faster private-sector job creation, and stronger economic growth.
Read Entire Article
6/27/11
Fair and Balanced Fracking Debate
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| Fracking |
There has been alot of noise going on about fracking. Fracking or Fracturing -- vital to extracting gas from shale formations -- involves injecting tanker-loads of water and sand into a gas well to blow apart the rock and release the gas. The whole discussion about it is whether or not the technique of fracking puts dangerous chemicals in the drinking water and/or sets your faucet on fire. I am especially worried about this debate partly because it's hard to hear the most objective experts on this technique. The loud noise is coming everywhere from corporately funded studies, hysteria driven rumors, and unbiased scientific studies that are not corporately or emotion driven. Its a question of whether this is another anti-vaccine scare hoax or another tobacco cancer bombshell. I dug painfully through the noise to try and separate health hazard from hysteria land listened to stories and incidents cited as evidence for or against the technique. Where to start? Well the truth is I don't know where to start. There are just so many arguments being made by all sides that I have trouble separating fact from fiction. So I'm going to present the arguments with the disclaimer of who is saying it so you can read with critical observation. I'm leaning towards that fracking is more dangerous than proponents say it isn't.
6/26/11
Phony Tax Exempt Complaint Against Media Matters
Last Tuesday (6/21/11), an article in the Washington Times alleged that Media Matters is improperly receiving tax-exempt status. I not going to pretend to be an expert in tax-exempt statuses as said Ellen at Newhounds when discussing this story. I'm just going to offer my observations about this complaint against Media Matters.
Is Media Matters legally tax exempt under 501(c)(3)?
From the IRS
To be tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, an organization must be organized and operated exclusively for exempt purposes. None of its earnings may inure to any private shareholder or individual. It may not be an action organization- not attempt to influence legislation or participate in any campaign for or against political candidates. Organizations under 501(c)(3) are also known as charitable organizations. Organizations described in 501(c)(3), other than testing for public safety organizations, are eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions in accordance with Code section 170. The organization must not be organized or operated for the benefit of private interests, and no part of a section 501(c)(3) organization's net earnings may inure to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual. If the organization engages in an excess benefit transaction with a person having substantial influence over the organization, an excise tax may be imposed on the person and any organization managers agreeing to the transaction. 501(c)(3) organizations are restricted in how much political and legislative (lobbying) activities they may conduct. See Political and Lobbying Activities, Lobbying Issues
So it seems to me that yes Media Matters is legally tax-exempt under 501(c)(3) as they say on their site.
So what's the complaint?
6/25/11
Netanyahu’s Son Hates Muslims
The apple never falls far from the tree
MATTI FRIEDMAN
The Associated Press
June 24, 2011
JERUSALEM -- The Israeli prime minister's 19-year-old son posted disparaging comments about Arabs and Muslims on his Facebook page, an Israeli paper reported Friday.
Earlier this year, Yair Netanyahu posted that Muslims "celebrate hate and death," the Haaretz daily reported. After Palestinian assailants entered a West Bank settlement and stabbed five members of an Israeli family to death, he wrote that "terror has a religion and it is Islam."
Yair Netanyahu, the eldest of the prime minister's two sons, is currently a soldier in the Israeli military's media liaison unit.
A lawyer for the Netanyahu family, David Shimron, said the comments were those of a "teenager" and were "taken out of context in an attempt to defame the prime minister and his family," Shimron said in a statement provided to The Associated Press.
READ FULL ARTICLE
Also visit
6/24/11
Obama Invokes States’ Rights For Defining Marriage
Tommy Christopher
Mediaite
June 24th, 2011
President Obama continued his odd tango with the issue of marriage equality Thursday night, as his speech at the annual LGBT Leadership Council Gala contained some pleasant surprises, and at least one thuddingly unpleasant one. Despite Press Secretary Jay Carney’s warning that he “wouldn’t anticipate” any new “evolution” on the issue, the President issued his most mostly-throated endorsement of marriage equality yet, before disappointingly invoking the right of states to decide this issue.
Mediaite
June 24th, 2011
President Obama continued his odd tango with the issue of marriage equality Thursday night, as his speech at the annual LGBT Leadership Council Gala contained some pleasant surprises, and at least one thuddingly unpleasant one. Despite Press Secretary Jay Carney’s warning that he “wouldn’t anticipate” any new “evolution” on the issue, the President issued his most mostly-throated endorsement of marriage equality yet, before disappointingly invoking the right of states to decide this issue.
6/23/11
Did Glenn Beck Endorse Rick Santorum For President?
While watching the Rachel Maddow show I've heard her say Google "Santorum". Whenever shes discussing the candidates and gets to Santorum, she just says Google Santorum. I've heard alot of other pundits say that. I thought it meant him having a an embarrassing track record or something. But its more obscene. Just actually Google Santorum you'll see what I mean. I wonder if Beck has
In 2003, American columnist Dan Savage initiated a campaign to associate the surname Rick Santorum with a sexual act. Savage described the campaign as a response to certain comments by Santorum, widely regarded as homophobic, and culminated in the creation of a vulgar word association.
In 2003, American columnist Dan Savage initiated a campaign to associate the surname Rick Santorum with a sexual act. Savage described the campaign as a response to certain comments by Santorum, widely regarded as homophobic, and culminated in the creation of a vulgar word association.
Obama's Possibly Illegal War Power Grab
The power to declare war is reserved to Congress. President Obama has stretched his office's narrow ability to engage in hostilities beyond every past president. The Cato Institute's Gene Healy, John Samples and Christopher A. Preble evaluate the President's unprecedented war power claims.
Cato.org
Cato.org
6/22/11
6/21/11
Birthers Linked to Military Industrial Complex Propagandists
One of the generals behind the disturbing "Pentagon Pundits Scandal" retired Maj. Gen. Paul Vallely is one pushing the Birther Movement against Obama. I read the headline a week ago on the Birther central website WorldNetDaily. Today remembered that he was one of the generals along with Lt. General Thomas McInerney a paid Fox News Contributor who all participated in the Pentagon Pundits Program. The program had pentagon pundits on the major network, cable, radio and print news outlets knowingly and conspiring to echo administration talking points, sometimes even when they suspected the information was false or inflated. Also they were not disclosing they were consultants and lobbyists for military contractors. Corporate tycoons that are making money off the wars. This is known as "covert propaganda" and under Federal Law it is illegal.
 |
| Maj. Gen. Paul Vallely |
From WND.com
Retired Maj. Gen. Paul Vallely, the chief of Stand Up America, a national security expert and Fox News contributor, says the "Certificate of Live Birth" released in April by the White House as "proof positive" of President Obama's Hawaiian birth is a forgery, but the FBI is covering the fraud and no one in Congress is willing to tackle the situation because of fears of a "black backlash" if the failings of the nation's first black president are revealed.
6/18/11
Van Jones Challenges Glenn Beck to Debate Him
If Glenn Beck invited and debated the Chairman of the CPUSA on his show, he can debate someone who's NOT A COMMUNIST.
6/17/11
Republicans Aimed at Suppressing Black Voters
Washington Post
June 17, 2011
In a room last summer, the brain trust behind the only Republican governor to lead Maryland since Spiro Agnew sat thumbing through a campaign strategy to suppress turnout among the state’s black voters.
It was a document that could have seemed like a relic, more likely to be found in a campaign office during the time of Agnew and the 1960s civil rights movement than during a campaign in 2010 to reelect former governor Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.
Now, the document in the hands of the Office of the Maryland State Prosecutor. It constitutes the centerpiece of indictments issued this week that that accuse one of Ehrlich’s most trusted aides, as well as a campaign consultant, of conspiring to suppress the black vote last year.
Read More
In a room last summer, the brain trust behind the only Republican governor to lead Maryland since Spiro Agnew sat thumbing through a campaign strategy to suppress turnout among the state’s black voters.
It was a document that could have seemed like a relic, more likely to be found in a campaign office during the time of Agnew and the 1960s civil rights movement than during a campaign in 2010 to reelect former governor Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.
Now, the document in the hands of the Office of the Maryland State Prosecutor. It constitutes the centerpiece of indictments issued this week that that accuse one of Ehrlich’s most trusted aides, as well as a campaign consultant, of conspiring to suppress the black vote last year.
Read More
Debunking Federal Reserve Conspiracy Theories from "The Creature From Jekyll Island"
If you're ever going to discuss the real concerns about the Federal Reserve, these are myths to avoid spewing otherwise you'll be seen as discredited or crazy. These particular myths come from book "The Creature From Jekyll Island" by G. Edward Griffin an notable John Birch Society member.. Some myths are misleading distortions of history, others are down right fictional revisionist history.
BY: Edward Flaherty, Ph.D. Department of Economics College of Charleston, S.C.
Posted on Public Eye
- Myth #1: The Federal Reserve Act of 1913 was crafted by Wall Street bankers and a few senators in a secret meeting.
- Myth #2: The Federal Reserve Act never actually passed Congress. The Senate voted on the bill without a quorum, so the Act is null and void.
- Myth# 3: The Federal Reserve Act and paper money are unconstitutional.
- Myth# 4: The Federal Reserve is a privately owned bank.
- Myth #5: The Federal Reserve is owned and controlled by foreigners.
- Myth #6: The Federal Reserve has never been audited.
- Myth #7: The Federal Reserve charges interest on the currency we use.
- Myth #8: If it were not for the Federal Reserve charging the government interest, the budget would be balanced and we would have no national debt.
- Myth #9: President Kennedy was assassinated because he tried to usurp the Federal Reserve's power. Executive Order 11,110 proves it.
If you do want to know the real concerns, I'd suggest reading Secrets of the Temple by William Greider.
Fox News' Racist Business Host, and Beck Calling to Kill Obama
This week on The Big PIcture: Eric Bolling has a problem with race, Rush Limbaugh has a problem with women, and Glenn Beck has a problem with violent rhetoric. Just a regular old week in the conservative media.
6/15/11
ATF's Horrific Operation 'Fast And Furious' Congressional Report
From NPR
Two leading congressional critics of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives' so-called Operation Fast and Furious have issued a scathing report on the program that allegedly let hundreds of guns go from the U.S. to Mexico — with deadly results.
The "joint staff report" prepared for Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) and Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IO) and released today concludes that "the death of Border Agent Brian Terry was likely a preventable tragedy." You can read the report here.
Full Story
6/14/11
Fact Checking 2nd Republican 2012 Presidential Debate
I've put together the most reliable fact checking organizations that have pointed out and checked the claims made during the GOP debate in New Hampshire.
Some false claims made in the debate I noticed right away and so did the fact checkers.
Examples:
Read the fact checkers' full reports on the debate.
Some highlights in the debate I think are disqualifiers straight up are from the anti-muslim bigots Newt Gingrich and Herman Cain.
Read More on Cain
Read More on Gingrich
Some false claims made in the debate I noticed right away and so did the fact checkers.
Examples:
Read the fact checkers' full reports on the debate.
Some highlights in the debate I think are disqualifiers straight up are from the anti-muslim bigots Newt Gingrich and Herman Cain.
Read More on Cain
Read More on Gingrich
6/13/11
Glenn Beck: Ayn Rand "Becomes Self-Centered" "Because She's An Atheist"
Beck's other demonizing statments about Atheists:
- Beck says there is an "epidemic of nonbelief"
- Beck guest Rabbi Lapin: "Atheists are parasites"
- Beck Attacks Obama's Religious Faith, Calls Jim Wallis A Marxist, And Labels Huckabee A Progressive
- Beck calls up his army of God to combat Earth God, Mayan goddess, social justice, Jim Wallis, AFL-CIO, and Obama
6/10/11
Myth: Welfare Recipients are Drug Using Mooching Monsters
Rick Scott: "Well, what you have to think about is you have to think about the children in those families and those households. When-when there's drug abuse-drug abuse in those households, you know, if you go in and you find that, those kids, you know, are, are having problems. And so, basically, on top of the fact that we'll save money because, uh, you know, we'll make sure these, you know, recipients don't use drugs-because my experience is, if you do test people they generally do the right thing. But on top of that, if you do find a problem, those children will be taken care of and we'll find those problems early rather than late, so I think it's the right thing to do."
Before he imposed such radical actions based on his personal belief about welfare recipients, Scott should have considered the cases the ACLU has won against this draconian policy.
The reasons they've won the cases are fairly relevant.
http://www.aclu.org/drug-law-reform/drug-testing-public-assistance-recipients-condition-eligibility
http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/NewsEvents/NewsReleases/Pages/welfare.aspx
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| Florida Governor Rick Scott |
Here in my home State of Florida, my insane Governor Rick Scott has signed a bill for mandatory drug testing of welfare recipients. In his world welfare recipients are drug using mooching monsters and we need to treat them like they are.
Rick Scott: "Well, what you have to think about is you have to think about the children in those families and those households. When-when there's drug abuse-drug abuse in those households, you know, if you go in and you find that, those kids, you know, are, are having problems. And so, basically, on top of the fact that we'll save money because, uh, you know, we'll make sure these, you know, recipients don't use drugs-because my experience is, if you do test people they generally do the right thing. But on top of that, if you do find a problem, those children will be taken care of and we'll find those problems early rather than late, so I think it's the right thing to do."
Before he imposed such radical actions based on his personal belief about welfare recipients, Scott should have considered the cases the ACLU has won against this draconian policy.
The reasons they've won the cases are fairly relevant.
- Welfare recipients are no more likely to use drugs than the rest of the population.
- 49 States Rejected the program for fiscal and practical reasons. (I don't know if this is Florida's first time trying to implement the policy)
- The average cost of a drug test is about $42 per person tested, not including the costs of hiring personnel to administer the tests, to ensure confidentiality of results and to run confirmatory tests to guard against false positives resulting from passive drug exposure, cross-identification with legal, prescription drugs such as codeine and legal substances such as poppy seeds."
- Most types of drug tests fail to detect alcohol abuse – the most commonly abused substance among Americans.
- The policy is opposed by the American Public Health Association, National Association of Social Workers, Inc., National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs, National Health Law Project, National Association on Alcohol, Drugs and Disability, Inc., National Advocates for Pregnant Women, National Black Women’s Health Project, Legal Action Center, National Welfare Rights Union, Youth Law Center, Juvenile Law Center, and National Coalition for Child Protection Reform
http://www.aclu.org/drug-law-reform/drug-testing-public-assistance-recipients-condition-eligibility
http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/NewsEvents/NewsReleases/Pages/welfare.aspx
6/8/11
Iran Will Triple Nuclear Output, Use Better Centrifuges
From: Huffington Post
TEHRAN, Iran — Iran will soon install more advanced centrifuges at its new uranium enrichment site, the country's nuclear chief said Wednesday, underscoring Tehran's continued defiance in the face of international sanctions imposed over its controversial nuclear program.
Vice President Fereidoun Abbasi also announced that Iran plans to triple its output of the higher enriched uranium in 2011 and move the entire program to the new, secretly-built facility.
The uranium enrichment lies at the heart of Iran's dispute with the West, which is concerned that the activity masks efforts to make nuclear weapons – a charge Tehran denies, insisting the work is peaceful and only meant to generate electricity.
FULL STORY
TEHRAN, Iran — Iran will soon install more advanced centrifuges at its new uranium enrichment site, the country's nuclear chief said Wednesday, underscoring Tehran's continued defiance in the face of international sanctions imposed over its controversial nuclear program.
Vice President Fereidoun Abbasi also announced that Iran plans to triple its output of the higher enriched uranium in 2011 and move the entire program to the new, secretly-built facility.
The uranium enrichment lies at the heart of Iran's dispute with the West, which is concerned that the activity masks efforts to make nuclear weapons – a charge Tehran denies, insisting the work is peaceful and only meant to generate electricity.
FULL STORY
6/7/11
Are GOP Presidential Candidates Qualified to be President?
A devastating poll has just be released by Rasmussen showing little confidence for the current GOP 2012 field. Even my hopeful candidate Ron Paul gets poor marks. Obama beats all the candidates in terms of qualifications.
From Rasmussen
Mitt Romney is the only Republican 2012 hopeful that a sizable num considers qualified to be president. Sarah Palin is the one they view qualified, but, at this early stage, many voters are still in the dark ab possible candidates. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 49% Voters think that Romney, a former Massachusetts governor and un presidential candidate in 2008, is qualified to be president. Twenty-f (25%) say he is not qualified, and another 25% are not sure.
See if other GOP canidates are seen as qualified
From Rasmussen
Mitt Romney is the only Republican 2012 hopeful that a sizable num considers qualified to be president. Sarah Palin is the one they view qualified, but, at this early stage, many voters are still in the dark ab possible candidates. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 49% Voters think that Romney, a former Massachusetts governor and un presidential candidate in 2008, is qualified to be president. Twenty-f (25%) say he is not qualified, and another 25% are not sure.
See if other GOP canidates are seen as qualified
6/4/11
Rand Paul Clarifies Imprison For Speech Comments.... Sort Of
Reason.com has been able to look into the controversy concerning Paul saying he wants to imprison people for speech. As they pointed out, Paul gave a "clarification that is alarming as well as reassuring". But like I said, I don't think it's likely he'll push for such legislation.
From: Reason.com
Paul has managed to construct a clarification that is alarming as well as reassuring. Instead of saying that he misspoke, he seems to defend the idea that people should be imprisoned for advocating violence. But in the 1969 case Brandenburg v. Ohio, the Supreme Court ruled that the First Amendment prohibits the government from criminalizing "advocacy of the use of force or of law violation except where such advocacy is directed to inciting or producing imminent lawless action and is likely to incite or produce such action." That test is very hard to meet in practice, and an anti-American speech by a radical imam is unlikely to qualify unless his listeners immediately go out to plant bombs. In any case, people who merely listen to the speech have not committed any conceivable offense by doing so.
FULL ARTICLE
From: Reason.com
Paul has managed to construct a clarification that is alarming as well as reassuring. Instead of saying that he misspoke, he seems to defend the idea that people should be imprisoned for advocating violence. But in the 1969 case Brandenburg v. Ohio, the Supreme Court ruled that the First Amendment prohibits the government from criminalizing "advocacy of the use of force or of law violation except where such advocacy is directed to inciting or producing imminent lawless action and is likely to incite or produce such action." That test is very hard to meet in practice, and an anti-American speech by a radical imam is unlikely to qualify unless his listeners immediately go out to plant bombs. In any case, people who merely listen to the speech have not committed any conceivable offense by doing so.
FULL ARTICLE
6/1/11
Rand Paul / Obama: Deport Tea Partiers
I was rather disturbed when I heard Kentucky Senator Rand Paul said this on the Sean Hannity Show: "But if someone is attending speeches from someone who is promoting the violent overthrow of our government, that's really an offense that we should be going after -- they should be deported or put in prison." When I first heard the clip I thought WHAT?!?! From the guy who's been fighting single handily to amend the Patriot Act? I was skeptical when I heard the soundbite thinking it was edited Breitbart style because it was so short. I haven't seen any news site say whether he was taken out of context. While I'll confess I admire Paul so I may sound like a bit of an apologist, I think it's highly unlikely the Libertarian leaning Senator gonna push for such legislation. We'll have to wait if he gives a clarifying statement.
What I is most important about this story is what Glenn Greenwald pointed out about the idea of criminalizing speech.
From Glenn Greenwald at Salon.com
The government is absolutely barred by the Free Speech clause from punishing people even for advocating violence. That has been true since the Supreme Court's unanimous 1969 decision in Brandenburg v. Ohio, which overturned the criminal conviction of a Ku Klux Klan leader who had threatened violence against political officials in a speech. The KKK leader in Brandenburg was convicted under an Ohio statute that made it a crime to "advocate . . . the duty, necessity, or propriety of crime, sabotage, violence, or unlawful methods of terrorism as a means of accomplishing industrial or political reform" and/or to "voluntarily assemble with any society, group, or assemblage of persons formed to teach or advocate the doctrines of criminal syndicalism." The Court struck down the statute on the ground that it "purports to punish mere advocacy" and thus "sweeps within its condemnation speech which our Constitution has immunized from governmental control." The Court ruled that "except where such advocacy is directed to inciting or producing imminent lawless action" -- meaning conduct such as standing outside someone's house with an angry mob and urging them to burn the house down that moment -- "the constitutional guarantees of free speech and free press do not permit a State to forbid or proscribe advocacy of the use of force" (emphasis added). As Think Progress explains, Paul's argument runs directly afoul of these established constitutional principles and "is especially appalling coming from someone who fashions himself as a staunch defender of civil liberties." There's no doubt about that (and, ironically, some of the rallies from the Tea Party movement, the faction most responsible for Paul's election, as well as many pro-life rallies, may well qualify as "speeches from someone who is promoting the violent overthrow of our government" if viewed by a hostile government official). But what Think Progress doesn't mention is that the Obama administration is not only advocating views that violently breach the same principle, but has been attempting to act on those violations for more than a year now as they try to kill the American-born Terrorist suspect Anwar al-Awlaki (along with at least three other unknown U.S. citizens targeted for assassination). Indeed, this is one of the prime principles that has made me view the President's assassination program as so odious from the start.
FULL ARTICLE
What I is most important about this story is what Glenn Greenwald pointed out about the idea of criminalizing speech.
From Glenn Greenwald at Salon.com
The government is absolutely barred by the Free Speech clause from punishing people even for advocating violence. That has been true since the Supreme Court's unanimous 1969 decision in Brandenburg v. Ohio, which overturned the criminal conviction of a Ku Klux Klan leader who had threatened violence against political officials in a speech. The KKK leader in Brandenburg was convicted under an Ohio statute that made it a crime to "advocate . . . the duty, necessity, or propriety of crime, sabotage, violence, or unlawful methods of terrorism as a means of accomplishing industrial or political reform" and/or to "voluntarily assemble with any society, group, or assemblage of persons formed to teach or advocate the doctrines of criminal syndicalism." The Court struck down the statute on the ground that it "purports to punish mere advocacy" and thus "sweeps within its condemnation speech which our Constitution has immunized from governmental control." The Court ruled that "except where such advocacy is directed to inciting or producing imminent lawless action" -- meaning conduct such as standing outside someone's house with an angry mob and urging them to burn the house down that moment -- "the constitutional guarantees of free speech and free press do not permit a State to forbid or proscribe advocacy of the use of force" (emphasis added). As Think Progress explains, Paul's argument runs directly afoul of these established constitutional principles and "is especially appalling coming from someone who fashions himself as a staunch defender of civil liberties." There's no doubt about that (and, ironically, some of the rallies from the Tea Party movement, the faction most responsible for Paul's election, as well as many pro-life rallies, may well qualify as "speeches from someone who is promoting the violent overthrow of our government" if viewed by a hostile government official). But what Think Progress doesn't mention is that the Obama administration is not only advocating views that violently breach the same principle, but has been attempting to act on those violations for more than a year now as they try to kill the American-born Terrorist suspect Anwar al-Awlaki (along with at least three other unknown U.S. citizens targeted for assassination). Indeed, this is one of the prime principles that has made me view the President's assassination program as so odious from the start.
FULL ARTICLE
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