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Subscribe to RSSWe’ve entered the silly season… In fact, there have been three manufactured controversies in the past month (Etch A Sketch, hot mic, and Hilary Rosen)… What yesterday did teach us: It didn’t take much for conservatives to rally to Romney’s side… Team Obama’s not-so-good week… Romney calls Obama “incompetent” after North Korea’s “incompetent” missile launch… Romney addresses NRA at 2:20 pm ET, while Obama gives a speech in Tampa, FL at 1:20 pm ET and sits down for interview with Telemundo before departing to Colombia… Lugar gets Super PAC help… And “Meet” interviews Treasury Secretary Geithner.
*** The silly season: If this first week of the general election has taught us anything, this is going to be a long next six months. It started with the Obama White House and campaign hammering away at the "Buffett Rule," which was more of an effort to embarrass Mitt Romney (and his low effective tax rate) than a realistic policy proposal. And then on Wednesday and Thursday, the Romney campaign seized on comments by Hilary Rosen, a Democratic strategist with thin ties to the White House, who said that Ann Romney has never worked a day in her life. It was a manufactured controversy -- fueled by Twitter and social media -- because no serious political actor in this presidential contest is criticizing stay-at-home moms or the value of the work they do. In fact, Rosen was referring to the Romneys’ wealth, not Ann Romney’s decision to raise her five sons at home. While the two major parties are fundamentally divided (over taxes, entitlements, the role of government, and national security) and while so much is at stake (control of Washington, potentially two Supreme Court justices), we find ourselves smack-dab in the silly season.
*** Three manufactured controversies in the past month: Of course, manufactured controversies are nothing new in American politics. There was Nixon’s famous “Checkers” speech. Even four years ago, political observers were obsessing over Michelle Obama’s patriotism and John McCain’s seven homes. What is new, however, is how much faster and professionalized -- due to Twitter and the drive to make something go viral -- these manufactured controversies have become. Indeed, we’ve now seen three of them in the past 30 days: Etch A Sketch, hot mic, and Hilary Rosen. Now all three were related to a bigger issue or narrative (doubts about Romney’s true beliefs and ideology, conservative suspicions about Obama’s intentions, and a real gender gap in American politics). But, unfortunately, we talk about the manufactured controversy and not the real story here (that a general-election candidate always moves back to the center, that a president’s second term with no more elections on the horizon does give him more flexibility to do certain things, and that women do have real anxieties about the balance between working and raising a family). The fact is, these next few months before the conventions are probably going to be filled with these manufactured “shiny metal object” controversies because of what we noted -- just how professionalized both political parties are at creating them. And some in the media are easily susceptible to helping these manufactured controversies go viral because they are seen as simply “more interesting” than the serious “eat your vegetables”-like issues that divide the two parties.
Steven Senne / AP
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney speaks with his wife Ann.
*** Rallying around Romney: Yesterday also taught us something else: Conservative elites are going to rally around Romney. They needed just the tiniest spark (Hilary Rosen) and they went into overdrive for Romney. It remains to be seen whether conservatives will stick around the former Massachusetts governor when the going gets tough -- that’s the true definition of a strong base (see African Americans for Obama, evangelical Christians for George W. Bush) -- but the folks in Boston have to be pleased with the past 24 hours. But today will be an interesting when Romney addresses the National Rifle Association’s conference in St. Louis at 2:20 pm ET. After all, it’s been well chronicled that Romney, who only became a “lifetime member” of the NRA in 2006, lacks a natural appeal with gun-rights groups, having supported some gun-control measures in the past. But so far this cycle, he’s avoided awkward missteps like in the ‘08 cycle, when he said (falsely) on Meet the Press that he’d been endorsed by the NRA, claimed to have been “a hunter pretty much all my life,” and the “Varmint” hunter press conference. By the way, expect a lot of anti-Obama chatter out of the NRA convention. While not surprising, do consider this so-called anti-gun president signed one of the largest expansions of rights for gun owners in recent history, allowing loaded guns to be carried in National Parks.
*** Team Obama’s not-so-good week: This was supposed to be a week when the White House and the Obama campaign focused on tax fairness and Mitt Romney’s wealth, punctuated by today’s release of Obama’s and Biden’s tax returns (more on that below). But the last seven days have been rough for Obama. There was last Friday’s disappointing jobs report (which led to a nervousness and recalibration on Wall Street and in the economic community in general), the rallying around Romney (due to Rick Santorum’s exit and the Hilary Rosen flap), and the Romney campaign’s success in manufacturing a distraction (when Romney was having a rough time erasing his gender gap). Even yesterday, one of Obama’s local TV interviews didn’t go so hot, with the RNC clipping this exchange. That said, it shouldn’t be lost that Obama has had a GREAT last three months -- with strong jobs numbers, the divisive GOP primary season, and the GOP’s focus on abortion and contraception. But the last seven days haven’t been as good for Team Obama, and these last 7 days constitute the first REAL week of the general election.
*** Obama campaign to urge Romney to release his tax returns: Speaking of tax returns, the Obamas and Bidens will release theirs today -- with a statement calling on Romney to do the same, the New York Times reports. “While Mr. Obama has long acknowledged being in the nation’s high-income echelon, thanks largely to sales of his best-selling books, he and his wife, Michelle, have paid an effective federal tax rate nearly twice that of Mr. Romney and his wife, Ann, according to tax returns released by both couples. The Obama campaign will post the 2011 tax return for the Obamas, as well as those dating back to 2000, on the campaign’s Web site, an official said. It will also post tax returns for Mr. Biden and his wife, Jill. In January, under intense pressure from his Republican rivals, Mr. Romney released his tax return for 2010, plus an estimate of his tax payment in 2011. But he has not released returns from earlier years, when he was governor of Massachusetts or a financial executive at Bain Capital.” Obama gives a speech in Tampa, FL at 1:20 pm ET and sits down for interview with Telemundo before departing to Colombia.
*** Romney calls Obama “incompetent” after North Korea’s “incompetent” missile launch: Last night, Romney released a statement criticizing Obama for North Korea’s failed missile launch. “President Obama sought to appease the regime with a food-aid deal that proved to be as naïve as it was short-lived. At the same time, he has cut critical U.S. missile defense programs and continues to underfund them. This incompetence from the Obama Administration has emboldened the North Korean regime and undermined the security of the United States and our allies.” Two things jump immediately to mind with this release: 1) Wasn’t the real incompetence was on North Korea’s side due to the failed launch and the nation squandering its chance at food aid? 2) The tone of this statement appears to reinforce a growing perception in serious foreign policy circles that Romney is willing to say anything, no matter how knee-jerk, to try to get an upper hand on these issues. What would Romney do when it comes to North Korea? Isn’t his criticism of Obama on North Korea also a criticism of Bush’s handling of the country as well?
*** On the GOP trail, per NBC’s Adam Perez: As mentioned above, Romney speaks at the NRA conference in St. Louis at 2:20 pm ET, while Gingrich addresses it at 3:00 pm ET.
*** Veepstakes watch: NBC’s Jamie Novogrod reports on Rob Portman stumping last night for Romney in Pennsylvania: Portman began his academic-feeling speech with a lengthy tip of his hat to Santorum in an effort to nurture a spirit of party unity. But later, Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), the evening’s keynote speaker, seemed to resist Portman's entreaty, stopping short of rallying would-be Santorum voters behind Romney. “We’re going to have a presumptive nominee for 2012 really soon,” Blackburn said tepidly, per Novogrod. Blackburn, in fact, did not mention Romney by name during her speech -- and only later, during an on-camera interview with NBC, did she say: “I will support our nominee. We are moving to having that presumptive nominee, and it’s going to be Gov. Romney from what it appears, and I look forward to supporting the nominee.”
*** Lugar gets Super PAC help: Politico: “After massive ad buys against Indiana Sen. Richard Lugar by national conservative groups like the Club for Growth, the establishment cavalry is coming to his rescue, with the American Action Network launching a nearly $600,000 broadcast buy just in Indianapolis… The ad, called ‘Problems,’ is an ad slamming Lugar's primary opponent, state treasurer Richard Mourdock, accusing him of ‘receiving illegal tax breaks,’ and hitting his ‘failed stewardship’ of his government office, according to a release. The ad, which launches tomorrow on broadcast, will run through May 4. The cost of the flight is $590,000. There will also be a digital ad component, and a limited statewide mail buy, in the AAN campaign.”
*** On “Meet” this Sunday: On Sunday’s “Meet the Press,” NBC’s David Gregory will interview Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and have a roundtable featuring Hilary Rosen, Michele Bachmann, NBC’s Savannah Guthrie, Harold Ford Jr., and Mike Murphy.
Countdown to the CT, DE, NY, PA, and RI primaries: 12 days
Countdown to Election Day: 208 days
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before this Ann Romney issue ever came up, it appeared to me that mitt was throwing his wife under the bus because his wife has been a stay at home mom, in which, she is a few of many women, that never had to worry about how the bills would get payed, unfortunately, this is not very realistic to many families in this economy. she never had to deal with paying a bill late or any of the things the average American family are dealing with. my question to Ann is do you know how much you pay for every bill you have, or at the very least how much you pay in health insurance premiums? ever have to worry about how you would pay a bill i doubt it. after the election is over if i never hear the word hate again, will be great. when you can not speak in public without the word hate in it, is, i guess, a elected official thing. is this really what the American people want to hear? i know i don't.
I'm gonna remember this pissing and moaning you people are doing re "rich people shouldn't be allowed to be president because they haven't um..suffered or struggled" or whatever the hell. Remember, it was only a few years ago you people nominated John Kerry and Democrat politicians, ALL being lawyers by trade, are some of the richest people in Congress.
FDR and JFK were both from filthy rich families and NEVER WORKED A DAY IN THEIR LIVES....literally. You all sure you wanna go down this road?
The difference is, JFK didn't claim Jackie was his chief advisor on issues facing American women. Mitt tried fix his problem appealing to female voters by, essentially saying "I understand women's concerns, after all, I have a wife!"
A better approach would have been if Romney had listed how his policies would address the concerns women have, but he didn't, because they don't.
[FDR and JFK were both from filthy rich families and NEVER WORKED A DAY IN THEIR LIVES]
So serving in the military no longer qualifies as work.
So, Amy, You accuse Romney of keeping his wife barefoot and pregnant, and then when he shows that he values his wife as an adviser you call him out on it? Hypocrite.
Damage--The issue is whether, as you put it, "rich people shouldn't be allowed to be president because they haven't suffered" and then you point out that FDR "never worked a day in his life." You should be aware that he was a New York assemblyman, assistant secretary of the navy, and governor of New York before becoming president. As for suffering, try being paralyzed by polio when you're forty. As he once said, after trying for two years to move one big toe, everything else seemed easy.
Damage, the issue isn't whether people are rich, it's whether they can relate to those who are not rich. Unlike JFK, who volunteered for combat duty, by dodging military service during Vietnam, Romney missed an opportunity to work with people who did not grow up rich, who had struggled in their lives.
Damage
"I'm going to remember"
BFD - I'm really shaking!
you people? what are you?
All things considered:
It will be a clear choice for sure: If you're wealthy, you'd be a fool to vote D. If you're not, you'd be a fool to vote R. But that doesn't make the process that much fun to watch.
If you look beneath the half truths and bigotry of the liberal posters you will see outright fear and desperation... Their King, the great and wonderful Obama, may not win this election. They know it, and He knows it. The real question you should ask is who can fix the economy? Our current President? A young man that knows how to print money, or Romney, with obvious abilities to create opportunities to make money, not print it. Obama tricked us once. Only a fool will let him trick you again. However, I never underestimate a fool and his/her blind allegiance to a mistake. Sort of like getting drunk only to wake up with a hang over day after day after day....
President Obama is currently beating Romney in all the swing state polls. The challenge for Democrats, like me, is not to contain our fear, but to resist getting cocky.
Why would you want Obama to be president for another four years, just to be against Romney? Obama is not the answer.
And Romney isn't either. Obama is certainly the lesser of two evils.
President Obama is 51, but I know he would love to be called a young man. I'm 44 and I never hear that!
P.S. Reagan printed extra money during his inherited recession, just like every other President did.
I don't know about anybody else, but all this name-calling Romney is doing, coupled with the fact that he has no message, makes me wanna puke.
Romney, beating the war drums. We already have enough weapons to destroy the planet 100 times, but that's not enough for warmongers.
I think Romney is stupid for underestimating a foreign country with nuclear capabilities. Romney doesn't sound "tough", he sounds ignorant.
Obama / Biden 2012
I agree, and to borrow the words of Obama's million dollar supporter Bill Maher, you are a slut and @!$%#. This is said in the best way possible, after all Obama and Maher are definitely on the side of women. That statement alone proves that.
Typical. Republicans arent' talking about anything substantial.
Nothing of substance.
It's just aaaaaaaallllll hate speech.
Obama / Biden
Most adults are keenly aware that the tough choices in life are usually the correct ones. From our ethics to our diets to our personal finances, we all make sacrifices and try to choose what is right and what we perceive to be the best long term solutions. However, when it comes to government, there are apparently large swaths of otherwise sane individuals who are willing to suspend the rational thought applicable to daily life and believe politicians who tell them deficits don't matter and that there are plenty of rich folks to pay the exhorbitant tab that we are running up in this country and that half of the population doesn't need to pay income taxes.
To Mark""""
Most Companies Pay No Federal Income Tax
February 11, 2009
Two-thirds of U.S. corporations paid no federal income taxes between 1998 and 2005, according to a new report from Congress.
The study by the Government Accountability Office, expected to be released Tuesday, said about 68 percent of foreign companies doing business in the U.S. avoided corporate taxes over the same period.
Collectively, the companies reported trillions of dollars in sales, according to GAO's estimate.
"It's shameful that so many corporations make big profits and pay nothing to support our country," said Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., who asked for the GAO study with Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich.
An outside tax expert, Chris Edwards of the libertarian Cato Institute in Washington, said increasing numbers of limited liability corporations and so-called "S" corporations pay taxes under individual tax codes.
"Half of all business income in the United States now ends up going through the individual tax code," Edwards said.
The GAO study did not investigate why corporations weren't paying federal income taxes or corporate taxes and it did not identify any corporations by name. It said companies may escape paying such taxes due to operating losses or because of tax credits.
More than 38,000 foreign corporations had no tax liability in 2005 and 1.2 million U.S. companies paid no income tax, the GAO said. Combined, the companies had $2.5 trillion in sales. About 25 percent of the U.S. corporations not paying corporate taxes were considered large corporations, meaning they had at least $250 million in assets or $50 million in receipts.
http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-201_162-4342535.html
Ann Romney's nanny, maid, chauffeur, cook, and social planner are very upset over all this ....
Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton were the only Presidents in recent years that did not increase Federal Spending. W also spent all of Clinton's surplus. Keep all that in mind. I find it wild that Mrs. Romney and her comments are all that the is coming out of the Romeny side. What does this man stand for anyway? I still have no clue.
The budget surplus during the latter part of the Clinton administration was due to the fact that Congress was Republican and Clinton made greater efforts to triangulate than this administration is doing.
To..Just..""""
And we see what happened when repubs controlled the congress ..the senate and the White house from Jan 2003 to Jan 2007...what a mess
The authors of this article obviously left out another "manufactured controversy", that being the Rush Limbaugh comments about Sandra Fluke. If any group knows about manufacturing controversies and promoting the "silly season" it is the left and the liberal media. And the thin relation Hilary Rosen has to this administration? How about the White House visitor log that lists 35 visits by Ms. Rosen?
The "silly season" is the new norm in politics because too many Americans are so dumbed-down that manufactured non-issues are about the only thing that gets their attention. Civil, intelligent discourse, reason, and researching facts has gone the way of teaching students cursive writing. When more people can name the five cartoon Simpsons and not five Supreme Court justices we are doomed.
I am currently reading Ray Bradbury's "Fahrenheit 451", written in 1953 when network TV was in it's infancy; cable and the 24-hour news cycle, the Internet, iPads, smart phones, and instant communication and comments using social media and newsvines were unimaginable. His "fiction" has become prophetic. It is a book that everyone should read, but won't because it takes too much mental effort and takes time away from their beloved mindless electronic entertainment.
The "parlour walls" have made us media-inspired zombies.
Hmmmmmmmm,,,,,,What are the odds that the Romney boys had 3
live-in nannies and body guards to take them to school every day?
this is only " silly season" bc the dems finally stepped on it, and they got chewed out on it, but its not " silly" when republicans do it, its taken serious and not one word from msnbc saying its silly. Both parties have stupid, far right, far left, uncompromising, selfish douche bags! msnbc is far left crazy propaganda as much as foxnews is far right crazy propaganda.
Obama's policy: If anything bad happens it is Bush's fault. If anything good happens well take the credit. Also Hilary Rosen said Romeys wife "never worked a day in her life' so she should not weigh on economic issues. Of cousre the woman has M.S. and had five kids, but her opinion is worthless since she never worked.
Can you imagine a welfare queen with 5 kids, who never worked, being told that her opinion didnt count by Hilary Rosen? Nope that would cost votes!
Our entire society is "overhyped." American have become breathless worrying about why they are worried about whatever it is they are worried about. Most of these worries are unimportant and superficial, fed by a hot button media and entertainment industry.
Good observation, Wil of Iv. Rather than feeling blessed for the good things we Americans have, we have been indoctrinated by the corporate fascists to want more more, more stuff, to demand instant gratification, and to expect an Utopian, carefree lifestyle.
Worry and fear sell: from the President "taking away our freedom" to bad breath to constipation to illegal aliens taking our jobs. Vote for "Brand X" and he/she will solve all our ills; buy "Brand X" and you will get the girl; practice "Brand X" religion and you will be happy and content. All the same: hype, lies, and superficiality.
Thank you for this topic. Now the media is trying to blow this off as a manufactured controversy. The statement about moms who have the luxury of choice to stay home and raise thier children with nannies to run to the store for them, contract out the laundry, clean the house run the kids to appointments is a no brainer. Of course they will stay at home. This clarifies the current political invironment brought to light by the 99% movement. Another mother of eight children worked both in the home raising the children, and working at the in-home business, carrying a mortgage and all the responsibilities of a good "Conservative Republicrat". Her husband dies in 1963, leaving her to raise the eight children alone. She has to close the business and go to work in a shirt factory to bring in the cash to feed and house the family. The oldest have to quit school to raise the youngest, taking turnes working jobs to help subsidize the families income. The youngest, two years later, at six years old began his first job that he maintained until he was 15. Choice is great if you are born with a silver foot in your mouth. This is a true life circumstance that paints the picture of those with money being able to make the choices and those without left to the whim of the politics and policies of those who would strip the safety net that allows families like the one discribed above to stay together in the face of unfortunate circumstance.
Great post's and discussions today, with a few exceptions of the broken records.
Jody great wrap up, I look forward to Fridays to read your witty and informative post's.
Joanne great post also!
Of course Chuck Todd and MSNBC would suggest that "Hillary Rosen only has thin ties" to the White House. We wouldn't expect less as NBC and all it's underlings works skillfully to try and do everything it can to support the presidents re-election while trying to not be too blatant about it. White House records show Hillary Rosen entered the White House thirty times over the past year. James Carney has suggested that there are perhaps 3 Hillary Rosens. Even if that were the case Chuck Todd and NBC have no facts on which to base the statement that their are only "thin ties". It may seem a small point...but it is with these small points that they try to create the bigger impression. Sad that we do not have true unbiased journalists at places like NBC, ABC and the New York Times. Thank God for outlets like Fox that do a far better job at presenting the facts.
NBC as usual, great reporting when talking about "manufactured controversies" and failing to mention your own little manufactured controversy in inflaming the racial divide.
still waiting for Spike Lee to tweet name and address of producer who was fired from NBC for manufacturing a controversy.
Wouldn't it be nice if ALL of the women in the United States could afford to drive "a couple of cadillacs" and have the option of staying at home to be moms.
Nobody is criticizing Mrs. Romney's choice to remain outside of the work-force and avoid all of the issues that face most of the women of this country in juggling a job in the work-place and parenting at home.
However.....
Everyone must realize that because of her decision to remain at home Mrs. Romney is hardly qualified to speak on issues outside of her home, and particularly those issues that are encountered by women who have no choice but to earn a paycheck by working outside of their homes.
I know my wife, who has worked outside of our home AND has been an outstanding mother and grandmother, would like to have had the option of staying "home" - that is which home (the Romneys have many) and having unlimited resources in both raising and providing for her children/grandchildren.
I mean....
Sure - wouldn't it be nice if we were all multi-millionaires and our mothers, wives, and daughters had all the optionns that Willard's millions provided for Ann Romney!
The problem is we aren't all multi-millionaires and the women we love don't have all theRomneys' goodies and advantages.
That's the point here! The Romneys just don't have anything in common with 99% of the population of this country!
Oh, and by the way.....
Who appointed Hilary Rosen to a position in the White House - Karl Rove?
Just because this women is a Democrat, does that mean Barack Obama is responsible for every comment or question that comes out of her mouth?
That's like Saying Willard Romney is defined by Herman Cain and Michelle Bachmann. do Rove and his rich-b!tch friends want to play by those rules?
I doubt it.
i like how you quadruple down on rosens remarks before throwing her under the bus like the rest of your ilk has. dont you have a police car to poop on somewhere?
Who told you she worked for the White House?
You've been "punked", Rosen has never worked for the White House anymore than Rush Limbaugh did for the last White House
Don't you nice folks get tired of the GOP disrespecting you with this electioneering crap of theirs? No honorable American does that kind of open disrespect to their own people but republicans
Man up dude, it's just not honorable & it makes you look like a total tool & fool
who said shes worked at the white house?? she has visited over 30 times but doesnt work there. maybe carney will remember today which of the 3 rosens it was who have visited LMAO
"Visiting" is a far cry from "Working" ----- Haven't you nuts ever "Worked" in a job before?
moron, i realize she doesnt work for the wh. where did i say or insinuate it? she is a dnc advisor. also, i am here at nbc for entertainment, not news, i love watching liberals eat their own.
To..SD""""
You mean like the Gannon/Guckert thing
amunaka, not sure how that relates. dont assume that i dont support gay rights, not that it matters but i support civil unions with all the rights and benefits that traditional marriages have, while leaving the "tradition" of marriage intact. a point many conservatives and liberals could compromise on if it werent for the "progressive" influence on the dnc. which is especially ironic when you consider rosens remarks criticizing romneys wife for her individual choices. your point is off topic.
To SD"""
No..got nothing to do with gay rights ...talking about white house visits so is that what you meant like Rozen working for the white house
negative ghostrider, i meant rosen works to achieve the goals of the increasingly progressive dnc, no news there and thats a fact, not an opinion. my opinion is that she is a hypocrite for disparaging another Americans choice of how to live her life.
what were her visits to the wh in regards to?
amunaka, been reading up on the gannon thing, still not sure how it relates. my initial reply to the op here, mr strange, was simply a comment recognizing him as a 99%er and laughing at the fact. i never said rosen worked at the wh. read it all.
Helen Rosen’s Comment
Only those that need political publicity or were
less endowed with brains failed to understand what Helen Rosen meant by her
statement. Or was this just Media hype? It’s another example of the freedom of speech
being miss-understood or used to politically attack a United States citizen.
It’s time to get a life and let the people who have opinions have their freedom
of speech without the Medias’ fanatical rages
Helen Rose has always been a crass and demeaning political hack.
Too bad First Read is sooooo bias that they didn't mention the beginning of the silly season with the Fake OWS movement and the Fake War on Women. I guess they only wanted to chime in after the Obama 2012 campaign got bitten by their own Divide, Divert, Demean, and Blame campaign tactics.
To Dan.."""
Good luck this ain't going to bode well for the repubs ...
And fake huh...
Republicans Introduced 916 Bills Against Women’s Right To Choose
After Republican gains in the fall election, a reliably antiabortion bloc has been reenergized. The bills seek to end federal funding for abortion providers and to shorten the window during which a woman may have the procedure.
May 08, 2011|
By Robin Abcarian
, Los Angeles Times
Energized by Republican gains in the last election and still stinging from the passage of President Obama's healthcare overhaul, conservative lawmakers in statehouses around the country have put forward a torrent of measures aimed at restricting abortion.
In the first three months of 2011, legislators in 49 states introduced 916 measures related to reproductive issues, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a New York nonprofit research organization that supports abortion rights but is viewed by both sides of the debate as providing reliable statistics on the issue.
More than half of the measures — 56% — seek to restrict abortion access. In 2010, Guttmacher said, only 38% of bills concerned with reproductive health sought to restrict abortion. (The others concern issues such as sex education, infant abandonment, stillbirth certificates and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases.
Few initiatives are aimed at expanding access to reproductive health services, the institute said.) Fifteen of the bills introduced this year have been enacted into law, and more than 120 others have been approved by at least one legislative chamber.
http://articles.latimes.com/2011/may/08/nation/la-na-abortion-legislation-20110508
Dan,,,, You can always go back to Fox News & listen to Judith Miller
Remember her? She's the tool Cheney & Scooter used to feed knowingly false inteligence to the media with to take our nation to war
Judith Millier's false & slanted reporting hurt several hundred thousands of American Families
LA Times, LOL. The City isn't even controlled by American citizens. Sorry, not everyone is a Marxist or a illegal living in LA.
The women's issue is far from being fake. The polling numbers should confirm that for you. I'll admit, this is a silly season ~ sophomoric, at best. But one comment uttered by a Republican will survive the entire campaign ~ ~ Santorum's dubbing Romney as Mr. Etch-A-Sketch. Its already taken root and will dog Romney the entire campaign ~ primarily because it promotes considerable truth.
She's a Fox News frequently paid reporter & commentator,,,, Don't play hide the salami with the truth like republicans did with intelligence
Dan,,, Are you a sidekick of that idiot West? Americans are sick & tired of that stupid Red Baiting. It went out in the 1960's... Time to catch up to the 21st century
To Dan """
What ..you saying it isn't true ...
@JIM, good point, red baiting is so out, anyone who listens to obama knows that race and gender baiting is the new mantra. lol
What if someone said this about michelle obama! They would be a racist right wing person out of touch with our new social order! Yes with our new social order we should all get in line and do what the man tells us! Sounds to me like the book 1984!!!(left wing social order is scary alittle like germany in the 1930's!!!
Progressives would happily wear those Brown Shirts as they tell everyone what to think and say and threaten those who don't comply.
"Brown Shirts" ?
What's with the Nazi comment? Are you that desperate Dan? You nuts really have no honor Dan,,,, Neo Nazi's & Skin Heads back the Tea Party don't ya know?
If the train to crazy town is up and running, then the media are well on board. Of course silly stuff is making the headlines just like it has for several decades now because it's much easier for reporters to be stenographers than it is to cover and follow issues of real importance. which requires a larger newsroom budget and reporters who can actually understand those issues. Honestly, the writer of this piece can dust this column off and rewrite it in 2016, 2020. etc., because no one will notice. As for history repeating itself, well, if you've got to ask, then you really are lazy.
I do not disagree with Hillary Rosen other than what she should have said was that Romney's wife never worked a day in her life outside the home - whether you like it or not a housewife works at home and does not have the stress other women do who have to be on a work schedule on top of taking care of their home. Romney's wife has had her husband take care of everything else for her and all she needed to do was worry about was her kids and her home. If his wife is so bent out of shape over the comment then try doing what the average woman has to deal with every day who does not have a rich husband to allow her to say home and be a housewife. While a very impotant job being a housewife is not as difficult as having to juggle a job outside the home as well. When Hillary Clinton was criticized for having a career, did anyone apologize to her. Romney's wife needs to understand if your husband is in politics then you have to deal with what comes your way as well. This is reality.
MSNBC, the "unofficial" propaganda arm of the Democrat Party and that Of President Obama has declared it silly season! Funny if a Republican commentator had said This or anything else negative about the Obamas they would be the loudest offended voice. Since it was made by an extremely liberal commentator they Declare its "Silly Season". Talk about the pot calling the Kettle black
Progressives see BSNBC as normal and news sites like Fox that have more than one opinion as Faux because they don't comply to their one-view world.
To Dan"""
Who told you that ...let me guess
Mostly its the pot calling the kettle "Fox." There is a bit of counterbalance between MSNBC and FOX, much to the chagrin of fox hunters. They'd prefer that the rancid rightwing propaganda they spew faced no challenge or correction ~ but it does and it should. I've noticed that the rightwing objections tend to condemn those at MSNBC who have the temerity to confront the Fox message but I seldom if ever see any factual evidence that MSNBC's message is untruthful ~ just inconvenient. I am not saying that the MSNBC crew is incapable of error ~ just that they are either not making any or the righties are not smart enough to find and expose them.
I respect stay at home moms. My mother was a stay at home mom. Just because a mother chooses, or has to, work does not make them a part-time mom. Any who has experienced this, or knows mothers that work, understand this fact. A mother is always a full-time mom. Working mothers will always be more amazing to me than stay at home mothers because of the shear amount to work they manage to accomplish, and the amount of guilt they deal with for not being with their children. Working moms are an inspiration for Americans.