Goldwater Institute asks for emergency court order so voters can speak freely with “tea party” clothing on Election Day
The Goldwater Institute has asked a federal judge to issue a temporary restraining order against Maricopa County officials who have pledged to stop voters from wearing clothing that mentions the phrase “tea party” on Election Day, even when such clothing does not attempt to influence other voters.
The motion seeks to protect the free speech of voters such as Mark Reed of Scottsdale, who wants to wear a tea party T-shirt when he votes Tuesday, Nov. 2.
“Maricopa County plans to go far beyond protecting the right to vote freely and will completely suspend the First Amendment at more than 1,100 polling places on Election Day,” said Clint Bolick, the Goldwater Institute’s litigation director. “Election officials have a legal and moral duty to defend our fundamental freedoms, including the freedom of speech.”
On Oct. 20, 2010, U.S. District Judge James A. Teilborg issued a temporary injunction against Coconino County in a lawsuit filed by the Goldwater Institute to protect the right of members of the Flagstaff Tea Party to wear their T-shirts while voting on Tuesday.
However, Maricopa County Elections Director Karen Osborne has said poll workers in her county will instruct voters to not wear or to hide any clothing that mentions a tea party group. “The tea party shirts would be seen as campaigning and would be inappropriate to be worn inside the polling place,” Ms. Osborne told the East Valley Tribune. The Goldwater Institute has an affidavit from a poll worker who confirms her training included instructions to not allow voters to wear clothing that refers to any tea party group.
On Wednesday, Oct. 27, the Arizona Republic reported Maricopa County had adopted a new instruction for poll workers related to anyone who insists on wearing this type of clothing while voting. They will be allowed to vote, the Arizona Republic reported, but poll workers will record their identities on a separate form for later investigation.
“State law classifies electioneering at polling places as a misdemeanor crime. Maricopa County is using the threat of a possible investigation after the election to intimidate voters into giving away their constitutional rights,” said Diane Cohen, the Goldwater Institute’s lead attorney in this case.
The Goldwater Institute Scharf-Norton Center for Constitutional Litigation represents Mark Reed, who intends to vote Tuesday while wearing a T-shirt that says “Tea Party: Principles Not Politicians” and includes a “Don’t Tread on Me” logo.
Read more about this and other Goldwater lawsuits to protect individual rights and keep government within its constitutional limits at www.goldwaterinstitute.org/litigation. The Goldwater Institute is an independent government watchdog supported by people who are committed to expanding free enterprise and liberty.
---
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Showing posts with label speech. Show all posts
Showing posts with label speech. Show all posts
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Friday, January 29, 2010
The State of The Obama Presidency
/EIN News/ -- A year ago the nation's economic system was far more desperate than it is today. But the people were more hopeful. Turn that thought around. Today the economic situation is vastly improved, but the people are more despairing.
What happened to hope and trust? Can it be recovered?
Mixed signals tonight from the House and Senate members gathered to hear the President. Inside the House chamber, not evident to the TV audience, clucks and catcalls bubble up from the Republican side of the aisle with some frequency during the speech. Not "you lie," but audible and churlish. These folks don't appear to be buying the bi-partisanship the President is trying to sell.
More evidence. Republicans largely sit on their hands and cans during most of the President's applause lines. Even when he celebrates tax cuts. Even when he urges an increase in taxes on big banks to pay for the bailouts---which you'd think would be popular given the public's pitchfork level anger at the big banks. Even when the President proposes to eliminate capital gains taxes on small business---a long cherished GOP goal.
But..the Republicans are on their feet when the President exhorts Congress not to give up on health reform. Since congressional Republicans so far have been locked in a death grip to derail health reform, how do you explain that? A promising omen?
Other thoughts:
The President's words were direct and powerful, his delivery masterful. But you don't talk a stuck truck out of the muck and mire, and a good speech is not likely to move his agenda. It's frustrating and embarrassing that Democrats haven't been able to enact the big stuff with their big Senate and House majorities. What will change this year? More direct presidential involvement in negotiations? Harry Reid stepping down as Senate leader to focus on his reelection campaign and yielding the post to Dick Durbin, a much tougher cookie?
In 2009 the President and the Democrats managed to get stem cell research back on track, strike a blow for equal pay for women, place a strong new advocate on the Supreme Court, kick start some major initiatives in education and green energy, restore America's leadership role in the world, vastly improve openness and transparency of government operations and government records, all while staving off a second great economic depression.
Not a bad year's work, but hardly any of it has generated thank you notes from the public. Instead, public trust and confidence continued to ooze from what should have been a winning team. And this team wasn't playing the Yankees. The Republican answer to most everything was "no." When it wasn't "no" the Republican alternative was an evil twin to the Bush policies of tax cuts and rampant deregulation that resulted in huge deficits and economic collapse.
As the President correctly pointed out, he inherited a $10 trillion deficit before he walked through the door of the White House, the legacy of two wars, two tax cuts, a big new Medicare drug program and an economic meltdown.
It shouldn't have been all that hard for the Democrats to get things done and to get some serious credit for it. But last year's strategies didn't connect with the public. Beyond making speeches, what does the President do now? Fire a few of his political coaches and bring in new management? Will we see a new strategy from the old team----or a whole new team?
The media's been focusing on those "is the nation on the right track" numbers which are hovering around the mid 30% range. Not great, to be sure. But during Bush's second term those numbers bounced between the teens and the twenties. In October 2008, only 7% thought the country was on the right track.
It's way too early for anyone to be relegating this President and this Congress to the political scrapheap. What we are seeing is deep disappointment. Many saw a modern political savior when they voted for Obama. That's a view he didn't do a lot to discourage. Tonight, having failed to deliver instant salvation, the President essentially abdicated the savior role and admitted that to accomplish great goals it takes a village: a lot of other public officials, a lot of engaged citizens and a media that doesn't spend most of its time diddling with the trivial.
While the halo may be gone, the President tonight reminded those who elected him that he remains Obama the Good Guy. Obama the Articulate. Obama the Embodiment of America's Highest Shared Values And Instincts. He certainly didn't look, sound or feel like a danger to the republic.
Most Americans still like Barack Obama. The question for 2010 is whether, despite the setbacks of 2009, he has it in him to still be the nation's positive change agent.
What happened to hope and trust? Can it be recovered?
Mixed signals tonight from the House and Senate members gathered to hear the President. Inside the House chamber, not evident to the TV audience, clucks and catcalls bubble up from the Republican side of the aisle with some frequency during the speech. Not "you lie," but audible and churlish. These folks don't appear to be buying the bi-partisanship the President is trying to sell.
More evidence. Republicans largely sit on their hands and cans during most of the President's applause lines. Even when he celebrates tax cuts. Even when he urges an increase in taxes on big banks to pay for the bailouts---which you'd think would be popular given the public's pitchfork level anger at the big banks. Even when the President proposes to eliminate capital gains taxes on small business---a long cherished GOP goal.
But..the Republicans are on their feet when the President exhorts Congress not to give up on health reform. Since congressional Republicans so far have been locked in a death grip to derail health reform, how do you explain that? A promising omen?
Other thoughts:
The President's words were direct and powerful, his delivery masterful. But you don't talk a stuck truck out of the muck and mire, and a good speech is not likely to move his agenda. It's frustrating and embarrassing that Democrats haven't been able to enact the big stuff with their big Senate and House majorities. What will change this year? More direct presidential involvement in negotiations? Harry Reid stepping down as Senate leader to focus on his reelection campaign and yielding the post to Dick Durbin, a much tougher cookie?
In 2009 the President and the Democrats managed to get stem cell research back on track, strike a blow for equal pay for women, place a strong new advocate on the Supreme Court, kick start some major initiatives in education and green energy, restore America's leadership role in the world, vastly improve openness and transparency of government operations and government records, all while staving off a second great economic depression.
Not a bad year's work, but hardly any of it has generated thank you notes from the public. Instead, public trust and confidence continued to ooze from what should have been a winning team. And this team wasn't playing the Yankees. The Republican answer to most everything was "no." When it wasn't "no" the Republican alternative was an evil twin to the Bush policies of tax cuts and rampant deregulation that resulted in huge deficits and economic collapse.
As the President correctly pointed out, he inherited a $10 trillion deficit before he walked through the door of the White House, the legacy of two wars, two tax cuts, a big new Medicare drug program and an economic meltdown.
It shouldn't have been all that hard for the Democrats to get things done and to get some serious credit for it. But last year's strategies didn't connect with the public. Beyond making speeches, what does the President do now? Fire a few of his political coaches and bring in new management? Will we see a new strategy from the old team----or a whole new team?
The media's been focusing on those "is the nation on the right track" numbers which are hovering around the mid 30% range. Not great, to be sure. But during Bush's second term those numbers bounced between the teens and the twenties. In October 2008, only 7% thought the country was on the right track.
It's way too early for anyone to be relegating this President and this Congress to the political scrapheap. What we are seeing is deep disappointment. Many saw a modern political savior when they voted for Obama. That's a view he didn't do a lot to discourage. Tonight, having failed to deliver instant salvation, the President essentially abdicated the savior role and admitted that to accomplish great goals it takes a village: a lot of other public officials, a lot of engaged citizens and a media that doesn't spend most of its time diddling with the trivial.
While the halo may be gone, the President tonight reminded those who elected him that he remains Obama the Good Guy. Obama the Articulate. Obama the Embodiment of America's Highest Shared Values And Instincts. He certainly didn't look, sound or feel like a danger to the republic.
Most Americans still like Barack Obama. The question for 2010 is whether, despite the setbacks of 2009, he has it in him to still be the nation's positive change agent.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Americans More Favorable of President's Plans for Health Care, Economy and Foreign Policy after Viewing State of the Union Address
/PRNewswire/ -- Results of a national study among 1,050 self-reported Democrats, Republicans and Independents revealed that favorability for the President's plans for health care, the economy, and foreign policy increased among all political parties after viewing President Obama's State of the Union Address.
HCD Research conducted the study using its mediacurves.com website earlier last evening to obtain Americans' "level of favorability" regarding the president's plans for critical issues including the U.S. economy, health care and foreign policy. To view detailed results go to www.mediacurves.com.
After the speech, President Obama's likeability ratings increased among all parties, with Democrats giving him an average likeability score of 6.2; Republicans giving him an average likeability score of 4.0; and Independents giving him an average likeability score of 5.1. In addition, the percentage of respondents who indicated that they would vote for Barack Obama if he ran for a second term increased among all parties.
HCD Research conducted the study using its mediacurves.com website earlier last evening to obtain Americans' "level of favorability" regarding the president's plans for critical issues including the U.S. economy, health care and foreign policy. To view detailed results go to www.mediacurves.com.
After the speech, President Obama's likeability ratings increased among all parties, with Democrats giving him an average likeability score of 6.2; Republicans giving him an average likeability score of 4.0; and Independents giving him an average likeability score of 5.1. In addition, the percentage of respondents who indicated that they would vote for Barack Obama if he ran for a second term increased among all parties.
Among the findings:
Are you in favor of President Barack Obama's plans for the future on
the following issues?
BEFORE ADDRESS Democrats Republicans Independents
Yes No Yes No Yes No
Health Care 75% 25% 10% 90% 41% 59%
U.S. Economy 80% 20% 13% 87% 45% 55%
Foreign Policy 75% 25% 24% 76% 47% 53%
AFTER ADDRESS Democrats Republicans Independents
Yes No Yes No Yes No
Health Care 83% 17% 18% 82% 47% 53%
U.S. Economy 90% 10% 27% 73% 58% 42%
Foreign Policy 87% 13% 29% 71% 57% 43%
Would you vote for Barack Obama if he ran for a second term as President?
Democrats Republicans Independents
Before After Before After Before After
Yes 77% 86% 9% 14% 43% 52%
No 23% 14% 91% 86% 57% 48%
Please rate President Barack Obama on the following attributes where 1
represents "Not at all strong in this attribute" and 7 represents
"Extremely strong in this attribute."
LIKEABILITY Mean Before Mean After
Democrats 5.9 6.2
Republicans 3.9 4.0
Independents 5.0 5.1
-----
Thursday, June 4, 2009
AJC Applauds Obama Cairo Speech
/PRNewswire / -- American Jewish Committee (AJC) warmly welcomed President Barack Obama's speech in Cairo today, which aimed at forging a new understanding between the United States and the Muslim world.
While addressing a range of issues, President Obama underlined that the rejection of anti-Semitism and the legitimacy of Israel were not negotiable.
"In the heart of a region where denial is routine -- denial of Israel's right to exist, denial of the historic link of Jews to their homeland, denial of the Holocaust -- President Obama spoke the truth with a clear, unwavering voice," said David Harris, AJC Executive Director.
Obama told his audience: "Six million Jews were killed -- more than the entire Jewish population of Israel today. Denying that fact is baseless, ignorant and hateful. Threatening Israel with destruction -- or repeating vile stereotypes about Jews -- is deeply wrong, and only serves to evoke in the minds of Israelis this most painful of memories while preventing the peace that the people of this region deserve."
Harris applauded Obama for reaffirming that America's "strong bonds" with Israel are "unbreakable," and for urging Arab states to "recognize Israel's legitimacy."
AJC praised President Obama for stating his personal commitment to pursue "with all the patience the task requires" a negotiated settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Toward that end, President Obama made clear that "violence is a dead end," as he called again on Hamas to "put an end to violence, recognize past agreements and recognize Israel's right to exist."
Harris praised Obama's focus on Iran's confrontation with the international community over its nuclear weapons drive -- a confrontation the President said has reached "a decisive point."
AJC is disappointed, however, that the President was not more explicit about the danger Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons poses to the entire Middle East and to global security.
"Iran's theocratic regime is a world leader in supporting terrorism, threatening moderate Arab regimes and orchestrating the chorus of extremists who deny Israel's right to exist," said Harris. "The U.S. has an obligation to more vigorously lead the international community in stopping the Iranian nuclear program."
President Obama also noted the democracy, human rights and gender equality deficits in the Muslim world, urging greater protection of religious freedom and respect for democratic values. Harris urged the President to press forward with these causes, saying, "The Middle East will only flourish when people of all faiths live in free societies that respect their dignity and unleash their creative potential. The pursuit of peace will be impeded as long as the region's one true democracy, Israel, is surrounded by dictatorships and theocracies."
-----
www.politicalpotluck.com
Political News You Can Use
While addressing a range of issues, President Obama underlined that the rejection of anti-Semitism and the legitimacy of Israel were not negotiable.
"In the heart of a region where denial is routine -- denial of Israel's right to exist, denial of the historic link of Jews to their homeland, denial of the Holocaust -- President Obama spoke the truth with a clear, unwavering voice," said David Harris, AJC Executive Director.
Obama told his audience: "Six million Jews were killed -- more than the entire Jewish population of Israel today. Denying that fact is baseless, ignorant and hateful. Threatening Israel with destruction -- or repeating vile stereotypes about Jews -- is deeply wrong, and only serves to evoke in the minds of Israelis this most painful of memories while preventing the peace that the people of this region deserve."
Harris applauded Obama for reaffirming that America's "strong bonds" with Israel are "unbreakable," and for urging Arab states to "recognize Israel's legitimacy."
AJC praised President Obama for stating his personal commitment to pursue "with all the patience the task requires" a negotiated settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Toward that end, President Obama made clear that "violence is a dead end," as he called again on Hamas to "put an end to violence, recognize past agreements and recognize Israel's right to exist."
Harris praised Obama's focus on Iran's confrontation with the international community over its nuclear weapons drive -- a confrontation the President said has reached "a decisive point."
AJC is disappointed, however, that the President was not more explicit about the danger Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons poses to the entire Middle East and to global security.
"Iran's theocratic regime is a world leader in supporting terrorism, threatening moderate Arab regimes and orchestrating the chorus of extremists who deny Israel's right to exist," said Harris. "The U.S. has an obligation to more vigorously lead the international community in stopping the Iranian nuclear program."
President Obama also noted the democracy, human rights and gender equality deficits in the Muslim world, urging greater protection of religious freedom and respect for democratic values. Harris urged the President to press forward with these causes, saying, "The Middle East will only flourish when people of all faiths live in free societies that respect their dignity and unleash their creative potential. The pursuit of peace will be impeded as long as the region's one true democracy, Israel, is surrounded by dictatorships and theocracies."
-----
www.politicalpotluck.com
Political News You Can Use
Monday, April 27, 2009
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
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