August 2, 2012

TPMMuckraker Controversy Ahead Of House Hearing On GOP’s ‘English Only’ Bill

RYAN J. REILLY AUGUST 2, 2012, 6:19 AM 6498
A Republican witness at today’s House Judiciary subcommittee hearing on legislation making English the official language of the United States is from an organization with ties to racism.

Dr. Rosalie Porter, chairwoman of the board of ProEnglish, is testifying in support of the “English Language Unity Act of 2011” before the House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on the Constitution on Thursday morning.

ProEnglish is headed by executive director Robert Vandervoort, who came under fire for hosting a panel at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) this year featuring Peter Brimelow of the website VDARE, an organization labeled as a white nationalist hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. The panel also featured a speech from then-National Review editor John Derbyshire, who would later be fired from the magazine for writing a racist article in the wake of the shooting of Trayvon Martin.

Porter also spoke on the CPAC panel, where the immigrant and former bilingual teacher called bilingual education an “insane idea.”

More:

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/08/steve_king_english_only_proenglish.php?ref=fpnewsfeed

August 2, 2012

On The Ed Show, Another Mitt Romney Surrogate Whiffs On Foreign Policy

Rick Grenell, the national security spokesman who was drummed out of the Romney campaign by anti-gay bigots, is back, and making the cable news rounds in service of former boss Mitt Romney. On Wednesday night’s The Ed Show, Grenell joined current Romney advisor Kevin Madden as the latest Romney surrogates to utterly fail at explaining Mitt Romney’s foreign policy with verbs, rather than adjectives.

The untold story of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s Gaffe-tastic Journey to Great Britain, Israel, and Poland is the fact that even absent the gaffes, the trip failed to strengthen his already balsa wood-weak foreign policy credentials. The Republican critique of President Obama’s foreign policy has been a mixture of things Obama shouldn’t have done, things he should have done sooner, or things he should do, but do more of.

The missing ingredient, as the President himself boldly pointed out not long ago, is a willingness on the part of Republicans, including Mitt Romney, to explain what they would do.

For example, the Romney campaign recently sent an email to reporters highlighting what it obviously thought was a gangbusters quote about Romney’s foreign policy vision. Asked by Fox News’ Carl Cameron to “describe the Romney doctrine,” Romney replied, “ “You know, I describe my views on foreign policy as having confidence in our cause, having clarity in our purpose, and having resolve in the application of might if that were ever necessary.  So, confidence, clarity, and resolve.  And so, that means that we should be confident enough to recognize that our principles and values are right, that we express them clearly to the world and to our people at home, and that we have a very high hurdle when it comes to applying military might, but that if we decide that we’ve reached a point where our national security interest is significant and it’s being threatened, that we act with resolve…”

“Confidence, clarity, and resolve?” If I’m hearing Romney correctly, his foreign policy doctrine involves carrying around a stick of Sure deodorant, some Visine, and a spray bottle of carpet cleaner. Saying your foreign policy will be three kinds of good is not a plan.

More:
http://www.mediaite.com/tv/on-the-ed-show-another-mitt-romney-surrogate-whiffs-on-foreign-policy/

July 27, 2012

Three more women accuse Utah GOP activist of sexual assault

Source: SLTrib

Three more women accuse Utah GOP activist of sexual assault

The Salt Lake Tribune


First Published 5 hours ago • Updated 1 minute ago

Three more women have come forward and accused GOP activist Gregory Nathan Peterson of sexually assaulting them, a sheriff said Friday.

Wasatch County Sheriff Todd Bonner said two women have given interviews to his detectives saying Peterson — who was already accused of date raping four women he met in Salt Lake County — kidnapped and sexually assaulted them. A third woman has made an allegation but has not yet decided whether she wants to provide a full report and cooperate with detectives, Bonner said.

"My understanding is [the allegations are] pretty similar to the others," Bonner said.

Peterson, Bonner said, met the women "outside of Wasatch County and he brings them to his cabin in the Heber area."

Bonner said detectives have sent information to the Wasatch County attorney to consider charges. No new charges had been filed as of Friday afternoon.


Read more: http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/54573244-78/peterson-woman-county-hearing.html.csp

---

previous posts:
Judge refuses to reduce bail for Greg Peterson on rape charges (GOP activist/fundraiser)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014176566

Utah GOP operative denies sexual assaults
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014176105

Utah tea party activist Greg Peterson accused of multiple rapes
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002975838

July 27, 2012

London 2012 Olympics: Are you watching Mitt? Michelle Obama gives a fun masterclass in diplomacy

27 July 2012

As a lesson in good natured statesmanship - if not to say simple manners - it was a masterclass.

[She's a winner: Michelle Obama raises her arms in delight as David Beckham applauds during a football game with children as part of the Let's Move-London event at Winfield House Picture: JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/GettyImages]

For Michelle Obama cast aside stuffy protocol to join in the fun and games to celebrate today’s opening of the Olympic games with more than 1,000 children.

The First Lady met the children - most of them from U.S. military families - in the grounds of Winfield House, the official residence of the U.S. ambassador in London.

She was joined by David Beckham and Olympic gold-medal sprinter Carl Lewis who signed autographs.

She said: “I’m so excited,” after jogging to the stage as a marching band played the University of Florida fight song.

“I am thrilled to be here on London for the 2012 Olympic games. I am proud to be leading the U.S. delegation to the opening ceremony.”

more; http://www.standard.co.uk/incoming/london-2012-olympics-are-you-watching-mitt-michelle-obama-gives-a-fun-masterclass-in-diplomacy-7982153.html

July 27, 2012

Carl Lewis on Rmoney :"I swear, sometimes I think some Americans shouldn't leave the country."

Carl Lewis jumps into Romney row

(AFP) – 1 hour ago

LONDON — US athletics legend Carl Lewis suggested Friday that Mitt Romney should have stayed away from the Olympics after the White House hopeful offended organisers by saying London was underprepared.

Romney, the Republican former governor of Massachusets, sparked widespread criticism in Britain after saying on Wednesday that there were "disconcerting" reports about London's ability to stage the Games.

Ahead of the opening ceremony on Friday, nine-time Olympic gold medal winner Lewis suggested Romney should have stayed at home.

"Every Olympics is ready, I don't care whatever he said," Lewis told Britain's Independent newspaper.

"I swear, sometimes I think some Americans shouldn't leave the country. Are you kidding me? Stay home if you don't know what to say."

more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jHmdiA-rg8jD-RsujzqWGjXCxmCw?docId=CNG.5bf9bfe159a74afc446d8e104a68424f.61

July 27, 2012

Mitt Romney declares himself 'a guy from Great Britain' after Olympics gaffe

Source: The Telegraph

Mitt Romney has emphasised his English ancestry after a gaffe-filled day in London, declaring himself to be “a guy from Great Britain” who is “married to a girl from Wales”.


Wearing a brave face after causing a diplomatic spat by questioning London's readiness to host the Olympics, the Republican presidential candidate joked that Britain felt like “home”.


The former Massachusetts governor and his wife, Ann, were interviewed together after a day from which he was meant to emerge looking like an international statesman descended into farce.


He told CNN's Piers Morgan on Thursday evening that the Olympics would be “terrific”, blessed with “great weather” and full of “enthusiasm on the part of the people here in London”.


¬snip¬

Asked whether he felt “partly English” as a result, a chuckling Mr Romney replied: “Well, I’m married to a girl from Wales, and I’m a guy from Great Britain. So I feel like this is home too, I guess.”

Read more: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/us-politics/9431144/Mitt-Romney-declares-himself-a-guy-from-Great-Britain-after-Olympics-gaffe.html

July 26, 2012

Romney to Democrats: Stop attacking success or How many times can he say success or successful?

Amid repeated attacks from President Obama and Democrats, Mitt Romney defended his achievements in business and the wealth he accumulated in the private sector.

"There are people who are trying to attack success and are trying to attack our success. That's not going to be successful," Romney told CNN's Piers Morgan. "When you attack success you have less of it, and that's what we've seen in our economy over the last few years."

"Dividing America based on who has money and who hasn't -- who is successful and who is less successful. That is not the American way," he said.

The full CNN interview airs tonight at 9 p.m. ET.

Romney is worth up to $250 million, according to his financial disclosure report, and is one of the wealthiest presidential candidates to run for the White House in decades. His wealth comes from his work at Bain Capital, the private-equity company he co-founded.


more: http://content.usatoday.com/communities/onpolitics/post/2012/07/mitt-romney-success-piers-morgan-interview-/1

Wonder if he feels he's been a success or successful in his UK visit? I'm betting Obama thinks so.


Romney In London: Not A Smashing Success So Far

The first stop — Britain — in Mitt Romney's foreign tour certainly is starting out rockier than nearly anyone expected.

First there was the kerfuffle over remarks, attributed by a British newspaper to an anonymous campaign adviser, that Romney understood the shared "Anglo-Saxon heritage" between the U.S. and Britain in a way President Obama didn't. Those comments were viewed as racist by some and were disowned by the Romney campaign.

Then the candidate himself caused a dust-up by saying he found "disconcerting" security and other glitches in the run-up to Friday's opening ceremony. It didn't help that at the same time, he appeared to express doubt about the eventual success of the games:

¬snip¬

After a meeting with Romney at 10 Downing Street, the prime minister's residence, Romney "rowed back," as the British say, his earlier remarks. He allowed that he was now confident about the games:


"I am very delighted with the prospects of a highly successful Olympic Games. What I have seen shows imagination and forethought and a lot of organization and expect the games to be highly successful."

more: http://www.nhpr.org/post/romney-london-not-smashing-success-so-far

July 26, 2012

Romney’s Not-So-Secret Meeting With MI6

`snip

“I appreciated the insights and perspectives of the leaders of the government here and opposition here as well as the head of MI6,” Mr. Romney told reporters Thursday. “We discussed Syria and the hope for a more peaceful future for that country.”

But MI6 chief Sir John Sawers’s meetings are often conducted quietly, and afterwards, neither MI6 or the Romney campaign would confirm or deny the meeting.

`snip
The meeting with the MI6 chief wasn’t disclosed in the list of scheduled visits released to the press and only came to light after the Republican presidential hopeful mentioned it in a brief press conference outside of 10 Downing Street.

After Mr. Romney mentioned the meeting, his campaign declined to discuss it further. “The governor expressed who he met with today,” said a senior adviser who is traveling with Mr. Romney.


http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2012/07/26/romneys-not-so-secret-meeting-with-mi6/


Daily Mail Political Editor:
Romney blunders again by revealing he's had (supposedly) top secret briefing by John Sawers, MI6 boss. Do we have a new Dubya on our hands?
— @jameschappers

Another verdict from one Romney meeting: 'Apparently devoid of charm, warmth, humour or sincerity' #romneyshambles #mitthitsthefan
— @jameschappers


http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/07/26/1113940/-Romney-s-very-bad-London-trip

July 26, 2012

Mitt Romney's Foreign Policy: Failure to Launch

Mitt Romney picked a bad day to launch a blistering attack on Barack Obama's foreign policy. As Romney was speaking to the annual gathering of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, charging Obama with weakness, betrayal and mendacity, NBC News and the Wall Street Journal released a new poll. It turns out that on "handling of foreign policy," Americans prefer Obama to Romney by 15 points.

Romney's principal charge against Obama is that he has angered America's allies and emboldened its enemies. Again, it turns out that some recently released data contradict the claim. The Pew Foundation released one of its global surveys in June, soliciting opinions from several countries around the world. When asked if they have "some" or a "great deal of" trust in President Obama, the numbers are overwhelmingly positive. In Britain, for example, which is Romney's first stop on his foreign tour, 80% of people trust Obama, compared with 16% who trusted George W. Bush. All countries surveyed have much higher approval ratings of America in 2012 than they did in 2008, when Bush was President. (It's fair to note that the numbers have come down from their 2009 highs, just after Obama's Inauguration, when expectations were soaring.)

In order to give substance to his claim that Obama has let down our allies, Romney dwells at length on a minor issue: the supposed humiliation of the Poles and Czechs over the building of an antimissile system. That is presumably why Romney chose to visit Poland, a country where he thinks attitudes toward Obama will be distinctly cool. That narrative is often repeated on the right. On July 23 the conservative commentator George Weigel of National Review argued that the Poles are extremely nervous about this election, worried that Obama might remain in the White House and continue his allegedly anti-Polish policies.

¬snip¬

Mitt Romney is a smart man who has had much professional success. But even Republican insiders have admitted to me that he has been strangely amateurish on foreign policy. His campaign, they note, is not staffed by the obvious Republican foreign policy heavyweights--people like Robert Zoellick, Richard Armitage, Richard Haass and Stephen Hadley. As a result, he has blustered about Russia's being our greatest geopolitical adversary (actually it is a second-rate power), seems willing to start a trade war with China, is vague yet belligerent about Syria and Iran and has gone back and forth on the timetable for withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Romney faces a tough problem. President Obama is the first Democrat in nearly 50 years to enter an election with a dramatic advantage in foreign policy. (The last time was Lyndon Johnson vs. Barry Goldwater in 1964.) Unless Romney can craft a smart, strategic alternative, that gap will only get wider.



Read more: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2120500,00.html#ixzz21l0bM5Yf

July 26, 2012

Mitt Romney's Olympics blunder stuns No 10 and hands gift to Obama

US presidential hopeful backtracks on warning of 'disconcerting' signs for Games after light-hearted rebuke by David Cameron


Mitt Romney handed Barack Obama a priceless gift for the US presidential election campaign when the presumptive Republican nominee blundered on his first diplomatic outing by questioning whether London was capable of staging a successful Olympic Games.

In a move that astonished Downing Street, hours before it laid on a special reception for Romney at No 10 he told NBC there were "disconcerting" signs about the preparations for the Games.

One senior Whitehall source said: "What a total shocker. We are speechless."

David Cameron wasted no time in slapping down Romney hours after his remarks were broadcast. On a visit to the Olympic Park, the prime minister said: "We are holding an Olympic Games in one of the busiest, most active, bustling cities anywhere in the world. Of course it's easier if you hold an Olympic Games in the middle of nowhere."

More:http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jul/26/mitt-romney-olympics-blunder?newsfeed=true

ETA:

Romney in England: "Worse than Sarah Palin!"
From Daily Kos, July 26, 2012

Romney's very bad london trip

The Daily Mail is a British tabloid. A conservative one, in fact. James Chapman is the paper's political editor and a self-proclaimed Tory, and has been tweeting Mitt Romney's visit to his country.


http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/07/26/1113940/-Romney-s-very-bad-London-trip

Hilarious!!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021026258