Unborn humanity

Franks aide clarifies 'enemy of humanity' comment

WASHINGTON (CNN) — A spokeswoman for a Republican congressman who called President Obama "an enemy of humanity" said Tuesday that he should have clarified that he was talking about the president's policies on abortion.

Bethany Haley, a spokeswoman for Arizona Rep. Trent Franks, told CNN on Tuesday the congressman was actually referring to "unborn humanity" — a specific reference to the president's policies on abortion.

Franks used the term in a speech to conservative activists Saturday in St. Louis, pointing to Obama's decision to aid international family planning clinics that perform abortions.

"A president that has lost his way that badly, that has no ability to see the image of God in these little fellow human beings, if he can't do that right, then he has no place in any station of government and we need to realize that he is an enemy of humanity," Franks said.

In an interview with the Washington Independent after the speech, Franks also renewed a call for Obama to produce a copy of his birth certificate to end the questions by "birthers" who doubt the president's birthplace. Franks said he had once considered filing a lawsuit to get it, but did his own investigation and became convinced that the president was born in the United States.

"Probably, Barack Obama could solve this problem and make the birthers, you know, back off, by simply showing us his long-form birth certificate," Franks said. "That'd solve the problem. There's some other issue, I don't know what it is, that he doesn't want people to see the birth certificate on."

News to me

Liberals seek to defeat Democratic congressman
From CNN Politcal Editor Mark Preston

WASHINGTON (CNN) – A political organization headed by two prominent liberal bloggers is actively recruiting a candidate to challenge centrist Democratic Rep. Jim Cooper of Tennessee in the 2010 primary.

Accountability Now, a political action committee, accuses Cooper of being out of step with voters of his Nashville-based district. The PAC specifically criticized Cooper for his reluctance to embrace President Obama's health care reform plan, and said that it is time to replace him with "a Democrat in Congress accountable to our district!"

A PAC representative has been in Cooper's district interviewing potential candidates for the past week, co-founder Jane Hamsher told CNN in an interview. Hamsher is a prominent liberal activist who founded the progressive blog Firedoglake. Unlike her blog, Hamsher said that Accountability Now does not emphasize liberal politics, but rather its mission is to defeat incumbent congressmen who the PAC believes has sold out to big business.

"Our goal is to get the corporatists out of there," Hamsher said.

CNN called Cooper's office for comment and is waiting for a response.

Hamsher said there is plenty of interest from possible challengers, but would not disclose the names of any potential candidates. If a person is found, then the PAC will promote the candidacy, raise money, and help push back against the national Democratic Party, which is backing Cooper's reelection. Still, Hamsher said the challenger needs to show viability.

It is unclear who the PAC will target next. But Hamsher said that they plan to continue polling in search of vulnerable incumbents who they think have sold out to corporate America.

Too much, too early

Here, Congressman Marsha adequately presents the concerns of the right-wing on FIXED News. What I find funny is the very end, when one host jokes about communists in the government, then the other host bids adieu to Martha Blackburn.

Who's in your network?

I invite you to listen to this interview with Congressman Blackburn and pick your favorite part!

Regarding her mentioning "those liberal blogs", if anyone on the right or even the center has the balls, send me your comments on healthcare, fiscal conservatism, or whatever else you feel like! I won't hold my breath.

What's the haps?

Billionaires for Wealthcare...only for the #1 stunas.

Marsha Blackburn joins the crazies

Since we all know that there is no group, event, or cause too far to the right for Congressman Blackburn, it's no wonder she spoke at a Glenn Beck/Rush Limbaugh-sponsored hate fest. Not only did these right-wing extremists bring out their swastikas, once again using a symbol that has no logical or historical connection to America today, but they also brought signs with messages like : "Bury Obama alongside Kennedy".

This is Marsha Blackburn's crowd, people! Marsha Blackburn despises peace and reason in favor of violence and ignorance. She rather surround herself in the clan than rationally discuss the issues.

A rare forward-thinker

FUNDING TO ACCELERATE HIGH-SPEED RAIL PROJECT

September 11 – Congressman Zach Wamp announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) will award $14.2 million to accelerate an environmental impact statement for a high-speed magnetic levitation, or maglev, train between Atlanta, Chattanooga and Nashville. The majority of the grant will be used for the studies required in the National Environmental Policy Act identifying the corridor routes and the station locations for this proposed project.

“This funding is a game changer for the prospect of high-speed rail in the southeast and dramatically increases our chances of success in the years ahead. A high-speed rail connection between Atlanta, Chattanooga and Nashville would build the infrastructure to increase economic development and bring more people to the growing Chattanooga airport,” said Congressman Zach Wamp. “Maglev high-speed rail could change the way Americans travel, reducing congestion on crowded roads and at busy airports. These are the types of investments that will help create quality jobs, grow the U.S. economy and help our nation be more competitive.”

A maglev train would relieve tremendous congestion in the Atlanta metro area and serve as part of a long needed intermodal mass transit system for the United States. Maglev trains can travel at more than 300 miles per hour, which would mean true high-speed ground transportation in the 116-mile corridor from Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport generally along the Interstate 75 corridor to Lovell Field and Chattanooga. A recent feasibility study determined that the Atlanta-Chattanooga corridor could also extend northwest to Nashville along the Interstate 24 alignment.

Ridiculous

The scene: Obama heckled during speech

WASHINGTON - The nastiness of August's health care debate reached into the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday as President Barack Obama tried to move his reform plan forward.

South Carolina Republican Rep. Joe Wilson shouted, "You lie!" after Obama had talked about illegal immigrants.

It wasn't the only interruption during Obama's speech to a joint session of Congress in the House of Representatives. Earlier, Republicans laughed when Obama acknowledged that there are still significant details to be worked out before a health care overhaul can be passed.

Wilson's outburst caused Obama to pause briefly before he went on with his speech. Overhead in the visitors' gallery, first Lady Michelle Obama shook her head from side to side.

Feel like letting Rep. Wilson know how your feel?

Surprise, surprise

Palin's PAC steps up contributions to GOP candidates
From CNN Ticker Producer Alexander Mooney

(CNN) — Sarah Palin's political action committee is handing out cash to some of the most conservative members of Congress, a new report filed with the Federal Elections Commission reveals.

According to the latest disclosure with the FEC, SarahPac has donated to money to Minnesota Rep. Michelle Bachmann, Tennessee Rep. Marsha Blackburn, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch and Senate hopeful Rob Portman of Ohio.

Palin spokeswoman Meghan Stapleton confirms the former Alaska governor's committee did donate $1,000 to each of those Republicans, as well as $2,500 to Virginia gubernatorial hopeful Bob McDonnell, now dealing with fallout from the revelation of a controversial 20-year-old thesis.

The donations come more than a week after SarahPAC was notified by the FEC that it violated federal election law with the donations it gave to Sens. John McCain and Lisa Murkowski earlier this year.

But with the recent additional donations, the PAC now qualifies as a "multi-candidate PAC" and is allowed to give $10,000 to a candidate per cycle.

Your thoughts?

Congressman John Tanner (D-08) is looking for input on health care. Please fill out his survey via the Madison County Democratic Party.