/PRNewswire / -- With over 77 percent of 889 events reporting, Pajamas TV has counted over 935,000 attendees for the nationwide tax day tea party protests. PJTV is estimating the total turnout could range from 1,014,000 to 1,071,000.
"The size of the tea party protests indicates that a significant number of Americans are not happy with the economic direction of the country and took the time to make their voices heard," said Roger L. Simon, CEO of Pajamas Media and Pajamas TV.
Based on the Pajamas TV reports, Texas was the state with the largest tea party turnout followed in order by California, Florida, Ohio, Tennessee, and New York.
A summary of the PJTV tea party data is available at http://www.pjtv.com/?cmd=tea-party, including a map showing the overall distribution of events by state. A PDF of recorded turnout numbers is available at http://tinyurl.com/tpattendance.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Boehner Statement on Democrats’ “Hate Crimes” Bill
House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) issued the following statement on House Democrats’ Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009 (H.R. 1913):
“All violent crimes should be prosecuted vigorously, including crimes in which victims are targeted because of their race, color, religion, or national origin. The Democrats’ legislation, however, places a higher value on some lives compared to others. That is unconstitutional, and that is wrong. Republicans believe that all life was created equally, and all life should be defended equally.
“I am particularly concerned about the implications this legislation would have on religious groups expressing their beliefs. Simply put, this bill is not only a threat to the constitutional principle of equal justice under the law, but to religious freedom of speech as well. Members of Congress took an oath to uphold these bedrock principles, and we have the obligation to oppose this unconstitutional legislation.”
“All violent crimes should be prosecuted vigorously, including crimes in which victims are targeted because of their race, color, religion, or national origin. The Democrats’ legislation, however, places a higher value on some lives compared to others. That is unconstitutional, and that is wrong. Republicans believe that all life was created equally, and all life should be defended equally.
“I am particularly concerned about the implications this legislation would have on religious groups expressing their beliefs. Simply put, this bill is not only a threat to the constitutional principle of equal justice under the law, but to religious freedom of speech as well. Members of Congress took an oath to uphold these bedrock principles, and we have the obligation to oppose this unconstitutional legislation.”
New Federal Legislation Targets Toxic Chemicals in Baby Bath Products
/PRNewswire / -- Today, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) took action to protect children's health by introducing the Safe Baby Products Act, which directs the Federal Drug Administration to investigate and regulate hazardous contaminants in personal care products marketed to or used by children.
Gillibrand introduced the bill in response to a study by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, which revealed that many widely used baby shampoos and bubble baths are contaminated with the cancer-causing chemicals formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane. The chemicals are not listed on labels because contaminants are exempt from labeling laws.
The Safe Baby Products Act directs FDA to test a wide range of children's personal care products, publicly report the findings, and establish good manufacturing practices to reduce or eliminate hazardous contaminants from products.
"We applaud Senator Gillibrand for being a champion for children's health," said Lisa Archer, national coordinator of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. "This bill is a good step forward, because it would give parents the right to know what's in the bath products they use on their kids, and would give FDA authority to keep dangerous chemicals out of children's bath products. Next, we need to overhaul cosmetics laws so the FDA can fully assess and assure the safety of all personal care products."
Gillibrand announced the Safe Baby Products Act at a press conference in New York on Monday, along with parents, medical professionals and advocacy groups. The Senator decided to take action after reading the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics' report "No More Toxic Tub" (www.SafeCosmetics.org/toxictub).
"Like many other mothers, when I read the list of these products, I immediately began to worry that I had been using some of these same products for my own children," said Sen. Gillibrand. "This common sense legislation will ensure that we have all the facts about the baby soap and lotions that we use on our children."
There are no safety standards for formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane in personal care products sold in the United States.
The European Union has banned 1,4-dioxane from personal care products and has recalled products containing it. Formaldehyde is banned from personal care products in Japan and Sweden, and restricted in the EU and Canada.
Gillibrand introduced the bill in response to a study by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, which revealed that many widely used baby shampoos and bubble baths are contaminated with the cancer-causing chemicals formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane. The chemicals are not listed on labels because contaminants are exempt from labeling laws.
The Safe Baby Products Act directs FDA to test a wide range of children's personal care products, publicly report the findings, and establish good manufacturing practices to reduce or eliminate hazardous contaminants from products.
"We applaud Senator Gillibrand for being a champion for children's health," said Lisa Archer, national coordinator of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. "This bill is a good step forward, because it would give parents the right to know what's in the bath products they use on their kids, and would give FDA authority to keep dangerous chemicals out of children's bath products. Next, we need to overhaul cosmetics laws so the FDA can fully assess and assure the safety of all personal care products."
Gillibrand announced the Safe Baby Products Act at a press conference in New York on Monday, along with parents, medical professionals and advocacy groups. The Senator decided to take action after reading the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics' report "No More Toxic Tub" (www.SafeCosmetics.org/toxictub).
"Like many other mothers, when I read the list of these products, I immediately began to worry that I had been using some of these same products for my own children," said Sen. Gillibrand. "This common sense legislation will ensure that we have all the facts about the baby soap and lotions that we use on our children."
There are no safety standards for formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane in personal care products sold in the United States.
The European Union has banned 1,4-dioxane from personal care products and has recalled products containing it. Formaldehyde is banned from personal care products in Japan and Sweden, and restricted in the EU and Canada.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Obama's Broken Promise: No Tax Hikes on Those Making Less Than $250,000
/PRNewswire/ -- During his campaign, President Obama promised repeatedly that he would never raise taxes on Americans making less than $250,000 per year. A review by Americans for Tax Reform of Obama's first 100 days in office shows he has broken this promise on at least two occasions.
PROMISE:
"I can make a firm pledge. Under my plan, no family making less than $250,000 a year will see any form of tax increase. Not your income tax, not your payroll tax, not your capital gains taxes, not any of your taxes" (September 12, 2008, Dover, NH)
"No one making less than $250,000 under Barack Obama's plan will see one single penny of their tax raised," Joe Biden said, "whether it's their capital gains tax, their income tax, investment tax, any tax." (Joe Biden, Oct. 3, 2008, Vice Presidential Debate, St. Louis, MO)
DATES PROMISE BROKEN:
Feb. 4 -- just 16 days into his presidency, Obama signs into law a 156 percent increase in the federal excise tax on tobacco, a hike of 61 cents per pack, which took effect on April 1.
The tax increase falls squarely on the shoulders of the middle and low-income Americans Obama said he would not raise taxes on: 55 percent of smokers are "working poor", one in four smokers live below the poverty line, and on average, smokers, whose median income is a little more than $36,000 make about 30 percent less than non-smokers.
Feb. 26 -- Obama released his FY 2010 budget which imposes a range of tax hikes including a "cap and trade" tax of $646 billion. Every American family will pay this tax in the form of higher gasoline, heating and electric bills. By adding together the "cap and trade" tax increase along with other energy tax hikes in the Obama budget and dividing by the number of families, it's clear what this annual tax hike would be: The average American family would pay, directly or indirectly, approximately $10,000 per year in new energy taxes.
PROMISE:
"I can make a firm pledge. Under my plan, no family making less than $250,000 a year will see any form of tax increase. Not your income tax, not your payroll tax, not your capital gains taxes, not any of your taxes" (September 12, 2008, Dover, NH)
"No one making less than $250,000 under Barack Obama's plan will see one single penny of their tax raised," Joe Biden said, "whether it's their capital gains tax, their income tax, investment tax, any tax." (Joe Biden, Oct. 3, 2008, Vice Presidential Debate, St. Louis, MO)
DATES PROMISE BROKEN:
Feb. 4 -- just 16 days into his presidency, Obama signs into law a 156 percent increase in the federal excise tax on tobacco, a hike of 61 cents per pack, which took effect on April 1.
The tax increase falls squarely on the shoulders of the middle and low-income Americans Obama said he would not raise taxes on: 55 percent of smokers are "working poor", one in four smokers live below the poverty line, and on average, smokers, whose median income is a little more than $36,000 make about 30 percent less than non-smokers.
Feb. 26 -- Obama released his FY 2010 budget which imposes a range of tax hikes including a "cap and trade" tax of $646 billion. Every American family will pay this tax in the form of higher gasoline, heating and electric bills. By adding together the "cap and trade" tax increase along with other energy tax hikes in the Obama budget and dividing by the number of families, it's clear what this annual tax hike would be: The average American family would pay, directly or indirectly, approximately $10,000 per year in new energy taxes.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Saul Anuzis on Blog Talk Radio re: Card Check
Event: Card Check and the Employee "Free" Choice Act with guest Saul Anuzis
"Let's Get This Right/Conservative Solutions Radio with Sheridan Folger"
What: Informational Meeting
Host: Conservative Solutions /Let's Get This Right
Start Time: Thursday, April 30 at 9:00pm
End Time: Friday, May 1 at 10:00am
Where: http://blogtalkradio.com/letsgetthisright
"Let's Get This Right/Conservative Solutions Radio with Sheridan Folger"
What: Informational Meeting
Host: Conservative Solutions /Let's Get This Right
Start Time: Thursday, April 30 at 9:00pm
End Time: Friday, May 1 at 10:00am
Where: http://blogtalkradio.com/letsgetthisright
50,000 Letters Sent to Notre Dame Alumni Re: Obama
50,000 Letters Sent to Notre Dame Alumni Re: Obama; In Letter, Bishop Gracida Urged Former U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican Mary Ann Glendon to Refuse Award
/PRNewswire/ -- 50,000 hand addressed letters were sent to Notre Dame Alumni, and 100,000 post cards for Vatican and Notre Dame officials, urging ND Grads to fight against Obama's scheduled speech.
Randall Terry and local Notre Dame Alumni sent 50,000 letters to Alumni from '88 and back. (Older Alumni were selected because they tend to be more conservative.)
The post cards are designed to be sent to Vatican and Notre Dame officials.
Link to the Letter, and PDF printer ready version of postcards below.
Here are some experts, beginning with an endorsement from Bishop Rene Henry Gracida, with his exhortation to Former U.S. ambassador to the Vatican Mary Ann Glendon:
"Randall,
I have visited your website and have signed the petition. I congratulate you on starting this initiative and I pray that it is successful. I urge you to expand this initiative to also persuade Ambassador Mary Ann Glendon to refuse to accept Notre Dame's Laetare Award. Blessings!"
+Rene Henry Gracida, Bishop Emeritus of Corpus Christi
Following are excerpts from Randall Terry:
I know that some cautious souls fear "strident" rhetoric, or "controversial" images. I ask those friends to remember the Gospels: remember Jesus turning over tables; chasing people with a whip; calling Pharisees the children of hell, a brood of vipers, white washed tombs, and sons of the devil.
In considering an appropriate response to killing babies and hurting mothers, remember Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Isaiah, Nathan, and other prophets -- who rebuked kings and priests -- who fearlessly condemned child-sacrifice in their day. They used rhetoric and images equal to the crimes they condemned. Shouldn't we follow their example? Are we above them? Or do we and our leaders have an unholy attachment to our "reputation" and "dignity" that shackles and muzzles us?
In the fight to end slavery, Frederick Douglass said, "It is not light that is needed, but fire; it is not the gentle shower, but thunder. We need the storm, the whirlwind, and the earthquake. The feeling of the nation must be quickened; the conscience of the nation must be roused; the propriety of the nation must be startled; the hypocrisy of the nation must be exposed; and its crimes against God and man must be proclaimed and denounced...
...But I am not naive... there are many faculty and alumni who have bought into the confusion of the death movement. They place unity and peace above justice -- and therefore do not like our actions as we cry out for the babies and moms. Still others support the President speaking at Notre Dame!
Randall Terry states: "We honor former U.S. ambassador to the Vatican Mary Ann Glendon, for her courage and integrity, as she refuses to share a platform at Notre Dame with President Obama. We pray that great is her reward in heaven.
"Our phones are ringing off the hook with praise and complaint, with joy from some and rage from others. I guess we really hit a nerve!"
The full letter and the post cards for Vatican and Notre Dame officials can be seen at www.StopObamaNotreDame.com
/PRNewswire/ -- 50,000 hand addressed letters were sent to Notre Dame Alumni, and 100,000 post cards for Vatican and Notre Dame officials, urging ND Grads to fight against Obama's scheduled speech.
Randall Terry and local Notre Dame Alumni sent 50,000 letters to Alumni from '88 and back. (Older Alumni were selected because they tend to be more conservative.)
The post cards are designed to be sent to Vatican and Notre Dame officials.
Link to the Letter, and PDF printer ready version of postcards below.
Here are some experts, beginning with an endorsement from Bishop Rene Henry Gracida, with his exhortation to Former U.S. ambassador to the Vatican Mary Ann Glendon:
"Randall,
I have visited your website and have signed the petition. I congratulate you on starting this initiative and I pray that it is successful. I urge you to expand this initiative to also persuade Ambassador Mary Ann Glendon to refuse to accept Notre Dame's Laetare Award. Blessings!"
+Rene Henry Gracida, Bishop Emeritus of Corpus Christi
Following are excerpts from Randall Terry:
I know that some cautious souls fear "strident" rhetoric, or "controversial" images. I ask those friends to remember the Gospels: remember Jesus turning over tables; chasing people with a whip; calling Pharisees the children of hell, a brood of vipers, white washed tombs, and sons of the devil.
In considering an appropriate response to killing babies and hurting mothers, remember Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Isaiah, Nathan, and other prophets -- who rebuked kings and priests -- who fearlessly condemned child-sacrifice in their day. They used rhetoric and images equal to the crimes they condemned. Shouldn't we follow their example? Are we above them? Or do we and our leaders have an unholy attachment to our "reputation" and "dignity" that shackles and muzzles us?
In the fight to end slavery, Frederick Douglass said, "It is not light that is needed, but fire; it is not the gentle shower, but thunder. We need the storm, the whirlwind, and the earthquake. The feeling of the nation must be quickened; the conscience of the nation must be roused; the propriety of the nation must be startled; the hypocrisy of the nation must be exposed; and its crimes against God and man must be proclaimed and denounced...
...But I am not naive... there are many faculty and alumni who have bought into the confusion of the death movement. They place unity and peace above justice -- and therefore do not like our actions as we cry out for the babies and moms. Still others support the President speaking at Notre Dame!
Randall Terry states: "We honor former U.S. ambassador to the Vatican Mary Ann Glendon, for her courage and integrity, as she refuses to share a platform at Notre Dame with President Obama. We pray that great is her reward in heaven.
"Our phones are ringing off the hook with praise and complaint, with joy from some and rage from others. I guess we really hit a nerve!"
The full letter and the post cards for Vatican and Notre Dame officials can be seen at www.StopObamaNotreDame.com
World Jewish Congress: Durban Review Conference a Failed Endeavor; Brings No Redress to Victims of Human Rights Abuses
/PRNewswire / -- The World Jewish Congress expressed deep disappointment that the adoption of the outcome document of the Durban Review Conference in Geneva last week again singles out Israel for blame. With the approval of this document comes the reaffirmation of the Durban Declaration and Program of Action (DDPA) of the Durban Conference of 2001, replete with the classification of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as racism-based, calling the Palestinians victims of racism and discrimination. Israel was the only country singled out in the DDPA which has now once again been codified in the latest UN conference on racism.
"We can only wonder why the officials and members of the UN Human Rights Council and the delegates to this conference continue to uselessly expend so much energy focusing on only one country and one conflict when so many genuine human rights abuses, in all regions of the world, clamor for attention while their victims go unheeded," said Ronald S. Lauder, President of the World Jewish Congress. "The world cannot say today that it does not know about the oppression of women, the executions of children, the persecution of journalists, and religious discrimination - these abuses are exposed for all to see. That the international repository for human rights is paralyzed and rendered powerless to do anything about them is as incredible as it is shameful," Lauder said.
"We had hopes that the Durban Review Conference would reverse the indignity of Durban I, and that this conference would be carried out in accordance with the lofty principles that were established when the World Conference Against Racism was originally conceived," said Michael Schneider, Secretary General of the WJC. "The speech by President Ahmedinejad of Iran destroyed any possibility for the DRC to pursue its goals and establish guiding principles for all nations to fight racism. We thank those countries that had the wisdom to foresee what would happen at this conference and who made a principled decision to not attend a failed endeavor that brought no comfort to the victims of human rights abuses around the globe," he added.
"We can only wonder why the officials and members of the UN Human Rights Council and the delegates to this conference continue to uselessly expend so much energy focusing on only one country and one conflict when so many genuine human rights abuses, in all regions of the world, clamor for attention while their victims go unheeded," said Ronald S. Lauder, President of the World Jewish Congress. "The world cannot say today that it does not know about the oppression of women, the executions of children, the persecution of journalists, and religious discrimination - these abuses are exposed for all to see. That the international repository for human rights is paralyzed and rendered powerless to do anything about them is as incredible as it is shameful," Lauder said.
"We had hopes that the Durban Review Conference would reverse the indignity of Durban I, and that this conference would be carried out in accordance with the lofty principles that were established when the World Conference Against Racism was originally conceived," said Michael Schneider, Secretary General of the WJC. "The speech by President Ahmedinejad of Iran destroyed any possibility for the DRC to pursue its goals and establish guiding principles for all nations to fight racism. We thank those countries that had the wisdom to foresee what would happen at this conference and who made a principled decision to not attend a failed endeavor that brought no comfort to the victims of human rights abuses around the globe," he added.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Boehner Statement on Former Vice President Gore’s Global Warming Testimony
House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) today released the following statement on the global warming testimony by Former Vice President Al Gore at the Energy & Commerce Committee:
“Former Vice President Gore deserves another Oscar for his testimony today on the Democrats’ plans for a massive national energy tax on every American. As Mr. Gore spoke to the television cameras in the Committee chamber, news reports indicate that behind the scenes, Democrats are wheeling and dealing, trying to buy votes for this disastrous bill with your taxpayer dollars.
“The fact is, the Waxman-Markey bill will raise taxes on every American who drives a car, buys a product manufactured in the United States, or has the audacity to flip on a light switch. Even President Obama has said that under his plan electricity rates will ‘skyrocket.’ Those skyrocketing costs will make manufacturing any product in this country more expensive, and – since countries like China, India, and Mexico will not impose a similar tax – millions of American jobs will move overseas. For proof of cap-and-trade’s folly, look no further than Europe, where the scheme hurt the economy, drove up energy costs, and failed to cut carbon emissions at all.
“Republicans are committed to working with the Administration and congressional Democrats to advance policies for cleaner air and water and a healthy environment. Led by Rep. Mike Pence, our American Energy Solutions Group supports an ‘all of the above’ strategy that promotes alternative technologies, encourages conservation and more nuclear power, and increases environmentally-safe production of American energy. This strategy not only will pave the way for a cleaner, healthier environment for our children and grandchildren, but it will also lower energy costs and create good-paying jobs.”
“Former Vice President Gore deserves another Oscar for his testimony today on the Democrats’ plans for a massive national energy tax on every American. As Mr. Gore spoke to the television cameras in the Committee chamber, news reports indicate that behind the scenes, Democrats are wheeling and dealing, trying to buy votes for this disastrous bill with your taxpayer dollars.
“The fact is, the Waxman-Markey bill will raise taxes on every American who drives a car, buys a product manufactured in the United States, or has the audacity to flip on a light switch. Even President Obama has said that under his plan electricity rates will ‘skyrocket.’ Those skyrocketing costs will make manufacturing any product in this country more expensive, and – since countries like China, India, and Mexico will not impose a similar tax – millions of American jobs will move overseas. For proof of cap-and-trade’s folly, look no further than Europe, where the scheme hurt the economy, drove up energy costs, and failed to cut carbon emissions at all.
“Republicans are committed to working with the Administration and congressional Democrats to advance policies for cleaner air and water and a healthy environment. Led by Rep. Mike Pence, our American Energy Solutions Group supports an ‘all of the above’ strategy that promotes alternative technologies, encourages conservation and more nuclear power, and increases environmentally-safe production of American energy. This strategy not only will pave the way for a cleaner, healthier environment for our children and grandchildren, but it will also lower energy costs and create good-paying jobs.”
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