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Appeals Court Finds California Ban on Same-Sex Marriages Unconstitutional

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 23:12:56 +0000

Appeals Court Finds California Ban on Same-Sex Marriages Unconstitutional

PR Newswire

Prominent GLBT lawyer and founder of institute that defends traditional marriage react to overturning of Prop 8 in debate held at UH Law Center.

HOUSTON, Feb. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Mitchell Katine, local counsel in Lawrence v. Texas, the U.S. Supreme Court case that overturned sodomy laws in the United States, said he was "thrilled" with today's finding by a federal appeals court that California's ban on same-sex marriages was unconstitutional. He cautioned students at the University of Houston Law Center, however, that the case will ultimately be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court, and that might take a year or two.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120118/DM38067LOGO )

Katine and Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse, founder of the Ruth Institute, a project of the National Organization for Marriage Education Fund, were debating the issue of "Defining Marriage" as a three-judge panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals announced its decision. "I'm sorry, but not surprised," Morse said of the court's ruling. "I think we have a good chance at the Supreme Court," she added, noting that Katine had mentioned earlier in the debate that he had lost the sodomy case "at every level" before finally prevailing at the Supreme Court.

The appeals court panel ruled 2-1 that California's ban on same-sex marriages violated the civil rights of gays and lesbians. "Proposition 8 serves no purpose, and has no effect, other than to lessen the status and human dignity of gays and lesbians in California, and to officially reclassify their relationships and families as inferior to those of opposite-sex couples," states the opinion written by Judge Stephen Reinhardt, one of the court's most liberal judges. The ruling applies only to California and will not go into effect pending a likely appeal to the full 9th Circuit.

The Law Center debate was sponsored by The Federalist Society and Outlaw, an organization devoted to the issues of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender students.

The two veterans of the same-sex marriage debate argued the perceived benefits and drawbacks of legalizing gay marriage on society, participants and, specifically, children of such unions.

Morse pointed out "as a cautionary tale," how no-fault divorce was presented in 1968 as a simple way to lower the cost of divorce for a relatively small number of people. But, she said, it turned out to have a far-reaching effect on society as a whole and undermined the perceived permanence of marriage. Similarly, she argued, legalization of same-sex marriage would undermine basic principles, especially concerning child-rearing. The significance of marriage as an institution between a man and woman, she said, is how it connects children to their parents and vice versa. Children are "entitled" to a stable relationship with their parents, she said, and mothers and fathers are not interchangeable. Biology is the natural "default mode" of determining parentage, she argued, and legalizing same-sex marriage would be replacing a naturally occurring fact with something created by the state. "The state has no right to interfere."

Katine countered by saying he and his longtime partner are successfully raising two happy, well adjusted, adopted children. When he asked them what marriage means to them, he said his son answered "family," and his daughter added that it makes that relationship "permanent." Katine said, "Gay and lesbian people are not trying to change marriage. We are trying to join marriage."

He said the procreation argument is specious because many married heterosexual couples choose not to have children, yet enjoy thousands of civil rights and benefits that same-sex couples do not. Citing the First and Fourteenth Amendments, he said the United States was founded on freedom from government intrusion. And, though religion often plays a large part in debates over same-sex marriage, Katine said, "Advocates are not trying to force civil rights on religions." Morse later argued that scripture aside, same-sex marriage would affect religious institutions in areas such as employment, benefits, and pre-marital counseling.

Katine said any discussion of gay and lesbian rights, including comments from the Supreme Court bench in his landmark sodomy case, always comes down to the bottom line questions, "Who cares?" and "What's the harm?" As Lawrence v. Texas, was winding its way through the courts, he said then-President George W. Bush and then-senator Rick Santorum, R-Pennsylvania, predicted "the sky would fall" if the nation's sodomy laws were struck down. "None of it happened," Katine said. He predicted same-sex marriage will prevail before the Supreme Court and "ultimately it will show that gay and lesbian parents are good people, and the sky will not fall. I believe I will see in my lifetime same-sex marriage legal and my son will be proud of his family and my daughter will feel it is permanent."

Media Contacts: Carrie Criado, Executive Director of Communications and Marketing, cacriado@central.uh.edu, 713.743.2184 or John T. Kling, Communications Manager, jtkling@central.uh.edu, 713.743.8298

SOURCE University of Houston Law Center

Hoffa: Indiana Law On Right to Work for Less is Attack On Working Families

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:56:13 +0000

Hoffa: Indiana Law On Right to Work for Less is Attack On Working Families

PR Newswire

Destructive Legislation Will Gut Wages and Benefits in Indiana

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa today denounced Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels' signing of so-called "right-to-work" legislation into law as an attack on the millions of working men and women in the state.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100127/IBTLOGO )

"Indiana does not need or want this anti-worker legislation," Hoffa said. "I know that working Hoosiers will not stand by and watch as their wages and benefits are driven down as a result of this new law. As we have seen over the past year, American workers will fight to protect the future of their families."

Indiana had passed a right-to-work-for-less bill in 1957, only to see the law repealed in 1965 after public outrage shifted control of the state Legislature to the Democrats. In Ohio last year, millions of Ohioans voted to repeal Senate Bill 5, which would have stripped collective bargaining rights from nearly 400,000 public employees.

By signing the bill into law, Daniels broke a promise to his constituents. In 2006, he told the Teamsters that he opposed right-to-work-for-less legislation when he spoke to Local 135 in Indianapolis.

At that meeting, (which can be viewed at http://bit.ly/A1AtON), Daniels said, "I'm a supporter of the labor laws we have in the state of Indiana. I'm not interested in changing any of them, not the prevalent wage laws, certainly not a right-to-work law."

Daniels served as budget director under George W. Bush, during a time when the country went from a large surplus to a budget deficit.

"Gov. Daniels will soon learn the hard lessons that other anti-worker Republican governors are facing after overreaching and launching attacks on the middle class," Hoffa said. "Catering to your corporate benefactors rather than representing your constituents is not the best course of action if you want to keep your job."

Despite the political rhetoric that anti-worker politicians tout to sell the public on so-called "right-to-work" legislation, evidence shows it lowers income and benefits and has no impact whatsoever on job growth.

In the more than 10 years since right-to-work-for-less legislation was passed in Oklahoma, the number of new companies coming to the state decreased by one-third while the number of manufacturing jobs has decreased by the same measure. Oklahoma has also seen a rise in migration of jobs out of state since the passage of so-called "right-to-work."

Founded in 1903, the Teamsters Union represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Visit www.teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @TeamsterPower.

SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters

Former White House Spokesman Robert Weiner Documents Romney Wrong That "Any President Would Have Done" Obama's U.S.-Solo bin Laden Takedown: Bush Blew Tora Bora by Farming Out to Afghanis

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Former White House Spokesman Robert Weiner Documents Romney Wrong That "Any President Would Have Done" Obama's U.S.-Solo bin Laden Takedown: Bush Blew Tora Bora by Farming Out to Afghanis

PR Newswire

WASHINGTON, and NAPLES, Fla., Jan. 23, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Robert Weiner, a former Clinton White House spokesman and former senior congressional aide, and Senior Analyst at Robert Weiner Associates Richard Mann, prove Mitt Romney's statement is wrong that "any president" would have given the order that launched the raid that killed Osama bin Laden last year. They contrast Bush's 2001 farming out a raid on bin Laden's 2001 Tora Bora location to the Afghanis who failed on purpose or through ineptness to Obama's U.S. solo action in Abbottabad, Pakistan that succeeded when Obama did not reveal the strategy.

Weiner and senior policy analyst Richard Mann, wrote an article featured as the lead front page piece in yesterday's Naples (FL) Daily News opinion section, "'ANY PRESIDENT' WOULD HAVE DONE THE SAME' AS OBAMA? Romney's Remark About Ordering Raid on bin Laden is Wrong: Ask Bush about Tora Bora." Weiner and Mann document their claim with information including a 2009 Senate Foreign Relations Committee Report, "TORA BORA REVISITED: HOW WE FAILED TO GET BIN LADEN."

In the article, Weiner and Mann say, "When placed in a similar situation with parallel choices, George W. Bush, Obama's predecessor, failed to succeed because he made the opposite decision. In December 2001, Bush had the chance to capture bin Laden in Tora Bora, Afghanistan, was faced with the choice of doing it ourselves or involving a foreign government, and blew it by asking the Afghanis to do it. Whether by ineptness or intent, the Afghani troops allowed bin Laden to escape."

Weiner and Mann show how Obama's approach was totally different. "When Obama was questioned as why he did not inform the Pakistanis in advance about Abbottabad, he said, 'I didn't tell most people here in the White House. I didn't tell my own family. It was that important for us to maintain operational security.' When asked during the 2006 presidential campaign debates what he would do with 'actionable intelligence', he said he would indeed have the United States 'act unilaterally' rather than in consort with foreign intelligence if necessary to capture bin Laden. That's precisely what he did."

The authors quote the 2009 Senate Foreign Relations Committee report: "The Committee says its review 'removes any lingering doubts and makes it clear that Osama bin Laden was within our grasp at Tora Bora.' The Committee Chair expressed the 'hope that we can learn from the mistakes of the past.' Obama did," say Weiner and Mann.

They conclude, "The debate moderators and news media as a whole have only allowed the Republicans to differentiate from each other and not from the President's successes when it comes to foreign policy. With the primary field coming to Florida for the Jan. 31 vote, it is time for the moderators to ask the Republicans if they have any real alternative that would have succeeded as Obama did in taking down Osama bin Laden, Anwar al-Awlaki, or Libya's Muammar Gaddafi or for that matter, on domestic policy, where Obama reversed the Bush bleeding of 750,000 jobs per month, rescued the auto industry and the nation's financial institutions, and put the country back to 22 straight months of increased jobs and improved GDP."

Robert Weiner is a former spokesman for the White House and was a Chief of Staff for former Florida Congressman Claude Pepper and a senior aide to Congressmen John Conyers (MI), Charles Rangel (NY), Ed Koch (NY), and Sen. Ted Kennedy (MA). Richard Mann is Senior Policy Analyst at Robert Weiner Associates.

Link to article: http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2012/jan/22/guest-column-any-president-would-have-done-the/ .

More information: www.weinerpublic.com

Contact: Bob Weiner/Richard Mann 301-283-0821 or 202-306-1200

SOURCE Robert Weiner Associates

Hon. David M. Walker Releases "Fiscal State of the Union" Video Address

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 22:29:48 +0000

Hon. David M. Walker Releases "Fiscal State of the Union" Video Address

CEO of Comeback America Initiative, and former U.S. Comptroller General, challenges nation's leaders to be candid with the American people

PR Newswire

BRIDGEPORT, Conn., Jan. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- President Obama and his team are finalizing his State of the Union address. Each line, each word, each inflection will be tailored, polished, vetted. But that doesn't ensure that he will say all that needs to be said to the American people. For instance, every President loves to begin his State of the Union with a ringing declaration that "the state of our union is strong."

This year, that statement would be false. And it is more false now than ever before, because of our calamitous financial situation.

Today, former U.S. Comptroller General David M. Walker, who is now CEO of the Comeback America Initiative, called upon President Obama to be candid about the true state of our nation. Walker released his "Fiscal State of the Union," spotlighting 5 critical things he hopes we will hear the president say.

The video addresses five main points.

First, the President should acknowledge that the State of the Union is NOT good and it hasn't been for several years now, including in the final years of President George W. Bush's presidency.

Second, he needs to make it clear that we can't put our fiscal house in order without significant reforms to both our social insurance programs and our present tax system. It's simple math. Everything must be on the table.

Third, the President must tell us that the cost of our current healthcare programs is the one thing that could bankrupt this country, and that reforms to-date have not adequately addressed out of control health care costs.

Fourth, he needs to put to rest claims that any cuts in defense will jeopardize our national security.

Finally, the President needs to call the political system what it is: totally dysfunctional.

The Fiscal State of the Union can be viewed at www.fiscalIQ.net/mythofthemonth.

Mr. Walker is available for comment on his video release, as well as analysis before and after President Obama's State of the Union address.

CONTACT:
Sarah Small Comeback America Initiative, ssmall@tcaii.org or 203-382-1000
or
Bill Beaman OnPoint Strategies, LLC, bbeaman@onpoint-strategies.com or 301-767-7807

SOURCE Comeback America Initiative

Conservative Leaders Endorse Rick Santorum for President

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 21:23:36 +0000

Conservative Leaders Endorse Rick Santorum for President

PR Newswire

MANASSAS, Va., Jan. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- ConservativeHQ.com Chairman Richard Viguerie announced the first group of conservative leaders to join him in endorsing former Senator Rick Santorum for President:

"Last week some 150 conservative leaders gathered at Nancy and Paul Pressler's ranch in Texas to discuss the Republican presidential campaign. There was an overwhelming 75 percent consensus to support Rick Santorum for President.

"The group of conservative leaders named today includes Dr. James Dobson, Gary Bauer, Joseph Farah, Foster Friess, Elaine Donnelly, and many others representing all four segments of the new conservative coalition who are coalescing behind Rick Santorum's candidacy.

"I'm pleased that, so quickly after Rick Perry suspended his campaign, I was able to announce the first bloc of conservative leaders who have come forward to endorse Rick Santorum.

"This list of endorsers demonstrates that Rick Santorum is the best candidate to bring together social conservatives, national defense conservatives, economic conservatives, and the newly energized constitutional conservatives of the Tea Party.

"Rick Santorum is the only reliable conservative left in the race. He has a long involvement in the conservative movement, and he has demonstrated his commitment to hiring conservatives on his Senate staff and in his campaign. On the issues of vital importance to conservatives, such as the right to life, the pro-family agenda, national security, and fighting the growth of government, he has walked with us even when the path was hard.

"If conservatives want a conservative, not just another establishment Republican, nominated in Tampa and elected in November, it is time for us to start concentrating on consolidating that winning four-part coalition behind one candidate. The candidate who best appeals to all four segments of the winning 2010 coalition, with the fewest negatives, is Rick Santorum.

"This is an encouraging sign that movement conservatives are finding their natural home in the Santorum campaign and are in fact coalescing behind Rick's candidacy."

The text of the endorsement and the list of endorsers released today follows:

"Conservatives are the largest ideological bloc in the American electorate. In this election cycle, a number of candidates with legitimate claims to conservative support have considered or sought the Republican nomination for President, but this has left the conservative vote divided, empowering those who do not share our views and values. To defeat Barack Obama, now is the time for conservatives to rally behind the most electable conservative candidate, and we believe that candidate is former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum.

"In recognition of Rick Santorum's character, judgment, and especially his commitment to institute an administration that will govern according to conservative principles, we the undersigned endorse former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum for President of the United States and pledge to advance his candidacy."

Signatories:
(Listing of organizations is for identification purposes only.)

Cathie Adams
President, Texas Eagle Forum

Gary Bauer
President, American Values

Brian Burch
President, CatholicVote.org Candidate Fund

Tim Busch
Businessman, philanthropist, and attorney

Ken Campbell
California Conservative Leader

Peggy Dau
Special Liaison Representative, Voice of the Martyrs

Penna Dexter
Radio Host and Commentator

James Dobson
Family Talk

Elaine Donnelly
Center for Military Readiness

Tim Echols
Georgia Public Service Commission

Kirk Elliott
Philanthropia, founder and chairman

William J. Estrada
Director, Generation Joshua

Joseph Farah
Editor and Chief Executive Officer, WND.com and WND Books

Robert Fischer
President, Fischer Furniture, Inc

Richard Ford
President, Heritage Alliance

Foster Friess
Friess Associates

Maggie Gallagher
Institute for Marriage and Public Policy

Michael Geer
Family Policy Leader, Harrisburg, PA

Ellen Grigsby
Director of Institutional Partnerships, Open Doors USA

Rebecca Hagelin
President, Rebecca Hagelin Communications and Marketing, LLC

Patrick and Toya Hall
Vice President, Guadalupe Radio Network

Jason Jones
Producer of the film "Bella"

Tim LeFever
Chairman of the Board, Capitol Resource Institute

Brad Mattes
Executive Director, Life Issues Institute

William J. Murray
Chairman, Religious Freedom Coalition

Richard Neill
Texas Conservative Leader

Preston Noell III
President, Tradition, Family, Property, Inc.

Pam Olsen
President, Florida Prayer Network

Paul and Nancy Pressler
Justice, Texas Court of Appeals (ret)

Penny Pullen
Illinois State Representative 1977-1993
State President, Eagle Forum of Illinois

Jill Stanek
Pro-life activist and blogger

John Stemberger
Florida Family Action

Stacy Taylor
Texas Conservative Leader

Richard A. Viguerie
Chairman, ConservativeHQ.com

NOTE TO EDITORS: Richard A. Viguerie pioneered political direct mail and has been called "one of the creators of the modern conservative movement" (The Nation) and one of the "conservatives of the century"(Washington Times). He is the author of Conservatives Betrayed: How George W. Bush and Other Big Government Republicans Hijacked the Conservative Cause.

Contact: Bob Sturm, (703) 396-6974 or Ryan Rogge, (703) 396-6971
After 6 PM Eastern & on weekends,
(703) 307-8176 or (703) 674-6948

SOURCE ConservativeHQ.com

Former Bush and Clinton Speechwriters Join Together For State of the Union Preview at the Bipartisan Policy Center Next Tuesday

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:00:00 +0000

Former Bush and Clinton Speechwriters Join Together For State of the Union Preview at the Bipartisan Policy Center Next Tuesday

PR Newswire

WASHINGTON, Jan. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As President Obama prepares to give the last State of the Union address of his first term, the Bipartisan Policy Center will host White House speechwriters from the last three administrations for a conversation about what to expect in the speech and the Republican response. The event, entitled, State of the Union: The Speechwriters' Perspective, will begin at 8:30AM next Tuesday, January 24.

Participants include: Vinca LaFleur, Speechwriter to President Bill Clinton; Bob Lehrman, Chief Speechwriter to Vice President Al Gore; John McConnell, Speechwriter to President George W. Bush; and Chriss Winston, Chief Speechwriter to President George H.W. Bush. The discussion will be moderated by MSNBC's Richard Wolffe, author of Revival: The Struggle for Survival Inside the Obama White House. BPC President Jason Grumet will give opening remarks.

The conversation next Tuesday will explore the mechanics of writing a speech of such magnitude, the additional political pressures speechwriters face in an election year, and the expected reaction from the media and Republican presidential candidates. Follow BPC's live tweets from the event @BPC_Bipartisan #SOTU.

This event is open to the press, but space is limited. To register, please email press@bipartisanpolicy.org.

WHO:
Vinca LaFleur, Partner, West Wing Writers
Former Speechwriter to President Bill Clinton

Bob Lehrman, Adjunct Professor, American University School of Communication
Former Chief Speechwriter to Vice President Al Gore

John McConnell
Former Speechwriter to President George W. Bush

Chriss Winston
Former Chief Speechwriter to President George H.W. Bush

Richard Wolffe, Political Analyst, MSNBC
Author, Revival: The Struggle for Survival Inside the Obama White House

Jason Grumet, President, BPC

WHAT: State of the Union: The Speechwriters' Perspective

WHERE:
Bipartisan Policy Center
1225 Eye Street NW, Suite 1000
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 204-2400

WHEN:
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Breakfast available at 8:00AM
Panel from 8:30-9:30AM
Audience Q&A to follow the panel discussion.

About the Bipartisan Policy Center:
Founded in 2007 by former Senate Majority Leaders Howard Baker, Tom Daschle, Bob Dole and George Mitchell, the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) is a non-profit organization that drives principled solutions through rigorous analysis, reasoned negotiation, and respectful dialogue. With projects in multiple issue areas, BPC combines politically-balanced policymaking with strong, proactive advocacy and outreach. For more information, please visit our website: www.bipartisanpolicy.org.

SOURCE Bipartisan Policy Center

What Not to Do During a Divorce

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 08:12:40 +0000

Divorce is a foreign land to most people; behavior or activities that seem perfectly acceptable outside the court room can cause problems once you step across the threshold of the court.

January 20, 2012 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Divorce, for many people, is a completely new experience. Because of unfamiliarity with the process, some will engage in activity that could damage their case. From posting vacation pictures with their new partner, to going to court in jeans or a mini skirt, there are a myriad of behaviors that could negatively affect your divorce in ways you might not expect.

Stay Away From Social Media

While Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, blogs and other types of social media have become immensely popular as a means of sharing information with friends and family across vast distances, during a divorce, those outlets take on a very different significance. They can become mines of information for your ex-spouse's divorce attorney.

If you want to continue posting information to a Facebook or Twitter account, consider how any statements or pictures would look on a projection screen in a courtroom with a stern faced judge watching. Remember, your ex-spouse's attorney will only choose the most embarrassing and damaging posts, possibly taken out of context.

No matter how innocent a photograph or post may actually be, in the cold, hard light of a courtroom, months later, it may be much more difficult to explain away the damage. Sitting at a bar with your new friend with drinks in the foreground and slightly bloodshot eyes in the background, especially if you were out of town, it may prove problematic to explain under a hostile cross-examination, that it was the exception, rather than the rule.

If It's Online, It's Not Private

No matter what your privacy setting on social media, if anyone besides yourself can view the material, it's not private. Moreover, even if your pages are highly protected, friends may repost info or forward emails and texts.

To protect your case and your interests, whether involving custody, visitation, divorce, spousal support, property settlement or child support, it is best to stop using all of these methods of communication. The risk of inadvertent mistakes or out-of-context posts coming back to haunt you is just too great.

Other Bad Behavior

In court, think of what behavior would be appropriate. A courtroom is at least as formal as being in church, and in many cases, more so.

Remember the judge spends significant amounts of time in their courtroom watching how participants act during trials. One of the most important tasks for any judge during a trial is to observe the behavior of parties and assess their credibility.

You can destroy all the meticulous preparation that went into your case with one ill-timed outburst or other inappropriate behavior. The judge is going to decide your future and that of your children, so you need to present yourself in the best light possible, both in and out of the courtroom.

Article provided by Jennings and Jennings, Attorneys at Law

Visit us at www.jenningsandjennings.com

---

Press release service and press release distribution provided by http://www.24-7pressrelease.com

Richard Viguerie Says Rick Santorum is the Natural Home for Rick Perry Voters

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:57:54 +0000

Richard Viguerie Says Rick Santorum is the Natural Home for Rick Perry Voters

PR Newswire

MANASSAS, Va., Jan. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is a statement from Richard A. Viguerie, Chairman of ConservativeHQ.com, regarding the withdrawal of Governor Rick Perry from the race for the Republican presidential nomination:

"Senator Rick Santorum is the more natural fit for the values voters that are Rick Perry's core supporters now that Governor Perry has suspended his campaign. I urge Rick Perry's supporters to join me and the many other small-government conservatives who are supporting Rick Santorum.

"Rick Perry's decision to suspend his campaign for President is the right thing to do and his decision shows something rare in politicians today--a patriotic and honorable commitment to rebuilding America that transcends ego and personal ambition.

"Rick Santorum is only reliable conservative left in the race. Whatever others may say, no other candidate can be counted on to populate his administration with conservatives the way Santorum can be. No other candidate can be depended upon to govern as a conservative the way Santorum can be.

"Rick Santorum has been steadily rising in the polls. Rick Perry's departure from the campaign will help Santorum lock-up the social conservative vote and add fuel to his South Carolina and Florida campaigns."

Contact: Bob Sturm, (703) 396-6974 or
Ryan Rogge, (703) 396-6971
After 6 PM Eastern & on weekends,
(703) 307-8176 or (703) 674-6948
rav@conservativehq.com

SOURCE ConservativeHQ.com

Dr. James Dobson Endorses Rick Santorum for President

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:34:30 +0000

Dr. James Dobson Endorses Rick Santorum for President

Pro-Family Leader Believes Sen. Santorum Uniquely Qualified To Lead the Nation

PR Newswire

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Jan. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. James C. Dobson today announced his personal endorsement of Sen. Rick Santorum in his candidacy for president of the United States.

Dr. Dobson, well-known radio broadcaster, psychologist and author of 35 best selling books, and consultant to three U.S. Presidents, said today, "The institution of the family is the key issue facing this great nation. It is the foundation, the bedrock, upon which every dimension of Western Civilization rests. If it is undermined or weakened by cultural and governmental forces, the entire superstructure will collapse in short order. And indeed, today it is in serious jeopardy. The very definition of marriage is threatened, which has implications for the next generation and the stability of society itself.

"Of all the Republican candidates who are vying for the presidency, former Sen. Santorum is the one who has spoken passionately in every debate about this concern. He has pleaded with the nation and its leaders to come to the aid of marriages, parents, and their children. What a refreshing message. The Congress voted in 1969 to impose a marriage penalty tax on husbands and wives who were struggling to raise their children. That unfair tax continued for 32 years, until George W. Bush rolled it back. Now, if Democrats and some Republicans have their way, the marriage penalty tax will be re-imposed in 2013. We desperately need a president who will intercede on behalf of those who are caring for the next generation and working to build this nation.

"While there are other GOP candidates who are worthy of our support, Sen. Santorum is the man of the hour. His knowledge of international politics, especially Israel and the turmoil in the Middle East, is highly relevant to the dangerous world in which we live. This is why I am endorsing former Senator Rick Santorum for president of the United States, and urge my countrymen to join us in this campaign."

James Dobson, Ph.D.
Private Individual

SOURCE Dr. James C. Dobson

Branding Obamessiah: Newly Published Book Analyzes Presidential Campaign Rhetoric

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Branding Obamessiah: Newly Published Book Analyzes Presidential Campaign Rhetoric

PR Newswire

DALLAS, Jan. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Ari Fleischer, former press secretary to President George W. Bush, recently Tweeted: "Obama is not a reformer ... he came to preserve his own brand."

Just what is that brand? It is rooted in a story we all know. Mark Edward Taylor, author of the newly published book Branding Obamessiah: The Rise of an American Idol, observes that the 44th President of the United States, Barack Hussein Obama II, came from humble beginnings and rose to recognition inexplicably and quietly. He gained prominence and fought against the established norm. He gathered his followers in masses, promising change and redemption.

To a nation looking for change, the unknown Barack Obama presented himself -- through not so-subtle imagery, mythic storytelling, social marketing, and strategic maneuvers -- as the coming of a savior. Chronicled in Taylor's new book, this cohesive branding strategy was not just carefully cultivated, well-timed, and perfectly pitched, it proved wildly successful.

Taylor, who holds a PhD in Communication from Northwestern University and a ThM from Dallas Theological Seminary, does not assert that Barack Obama was the first candidate to use media to create an image or to brand himself as "The One." But through skilled marketing, powerful friends, and thinly veiled religious undertones, Obama's campaign for the United States presidency was the epitome of a Messianic charge on a public that seemed strangely willing to follow a leader with an enigmatic past and no prior leadership experience.

Taylor writes, "Obama's political persona strategically intersected three worlds that had never before been so artfully combined on the American political scene -- politics, advertising, and religion."

As the 2012 election takes shape and the Republican candidates scramble to define and differentiate themselves from the pack, the burning question is not who will run against the incumbent President; the world is tuning in and logging on to see who and how anyone -- if anyone -- including the President himself -- can possibly recapture and deliver the audacious promise of Obamessiah?

Author Mark Edward Taylor is available to provide media commentary and campaign analysis of the 2012 election.

For more information, please visit www.brandingobamessiah.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Judy Safern
Judy@leadingthinkers.com
(718) 766-5431

This press release was issued through eReleases(R). For more information, visit eReleases Press Release Distribution at http://www.ereleases.com.

SOURCE Mark Edward Taylor

ConservativeHQ Chairman Richard Viguerie Endorses Rick Santorum for President

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 20:25:43 +0000

ConservativeHQ Chairman Richard Viguerie Endorses Rick Santorum for President

PR Newswire

MANASSAS, Va., Jan. 16, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Upon returning from a meeting in Texas of leaders of the conservative movement hosted by Nancy and Paul Pressler at their ranch outside of Houston, ConservativeHQ Chairman Richard A. Viguerie issued the following statement endorsing former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA) for President:

"This past weekend I attended a meeting of some 150 conservative leaders, convened primarily by leaders of the social conservative movement, to assess whether social conservatives and other conservative movement leaders and activists might coalesce behind one Republican candidate for President.

"Contrary to some media reports of bitterness, suspicion, and acrimony at the meeting, in my 50-plus years in conservative politics at the national level, I have rarely seen a gathering conducted in such a spirit of good will. While many of the participants came to the meeting strongly, even passionately, committed to one or another candidate, all of us participated in the meeting with the greatest mutual respect and in the prayerful hope for a positive outcome.

"My definition of a positive outcome from the meeting was that the conservative movement would coalesce behind a good candidate. I went to the meeting supporting former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum, but was prepared to support and work for the consensus candidate, whoever that turned out to be. The strong support shown for Santorum, whom I have concluded is the most electable conservative seeking the Republican nomination for President, is a positive outcome.

"After two ballots the group had narrowed the field to Santorum and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, with Santorum leading. On the third and final ballot, a number of Gingrich supporters, in a principled effort to achieve unity, switched their support to Santorum. This resulted in a strong 75 percent consensus of the group in support of Senator Santorum's candidacy.

"This was not an anti-anyone meeting. Everyone there was united in their commitment to find the best candidate to defeat Barack Obama. We are long past trying to find the perfect candidate who achieves 100 percent on every conservative scorecard. Each of the major Republican candidates had their articulate advocates, but after the third ballot, it was clear that there was a strong consensus behind Santorum.

"The group consensus was based on Senator Santorum's character, his principled stands on the issues of life, family, and the conservative agenda in general -- and most importantly on his judgment. I urge you to join me in supporting Rick Santorum as the most electable conservative in the race for the Republican nomination for President."

Contact: Bob Sturm, (703) 396-6974 or Ryan Rogge, (703) 396-6971
After 6 PM Eastern & on weekends,
(703) 307-8176 or (703) 674-6948

SOURCE ConservativeHQ.com

Dick Lugar Takes Money From Liberal Financier George Soros

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 19:55:26 +0000

Dick Lugar Takes Money From Liberal Financier George Soros

PR Newswire

Mourdock: Senator should donate contribution to charity with interest

INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Indiana State Treasurer Richard Mourdock, U.S. Senate Candidate in 2012 Republican Primary, called on Senator Dick Lugar to divest himself of a $1,000 campaign contribution from billionaire investor and leading financier of liberal causes George Soros.

"While true conservatives were fighting to regain control of Congress from the Democrats during the 'Republican Revolution' of 1994, Dick Lugar was taking campaign money from George Soros. Now that this has been brought to light, he should divest himself of this money with interest," said Treasurer Mourdock.

George Soros, well known for his financing of liberal organizations, reportedly gave $20 million to America Coming Together, $3 million to Center for American Progress and $2.5 million to MoveOn.org, in a failed effort to defeat then President George W. Bush in the 2004 election. He has donated millions to Democratic candidates over the years. Senator Lugar is one of the few Republicans ever supported by Soros.

In addition to providing funding against Bush's reelection efforts, Soros said in a Washington Post interview that, "America, under Bush, is a danger to the world." He also explained that defeating Bush would be the central focus of his life and the 2004 president election was a matter of life and death.

"I truly don't understand why Senator Lugar, who has been claiming to be a lifelong conservative, would have ever accepted money from such a radical liberal like Soros.

"The fact that Lugar had no primary opponent in 1994, when the contribution was made, and easily defeated, as anticipated, his opponent in the general election makes the acceptance of the donation even stranger," stated Treasurer Mourdock.

Since 2005, Soros has put most of his efforts and financing into Democracy Alliance, which has funneled millions of dollars to numerous progressive/liberal organizations across the country. Such organizations played a major role in electing President Obama to the White House in 2008.

"If Lugar has not yet returned Soros' money, then I call on the Senator to donate this contribution plus interest to charity or a conservative non-profit organization," stated Treasurer Mourdock.

The Soros donation is the latest in a pattern of Senator Lugar's collaboration with liberals that has recently come to light. In October, Senator Lugar was force to resign from the National Advisory Board of Campus Network, a division of the liberal Roosevelt Institute, after the Mourdock campaign pointed out the Institute's support for the "Occupy Wall Street" movement and other liberal causes. Lugar is already widely known for his close ties to President Obama, having previously been declared "Obama's Favorite Republican" by MSNBC.

Paid for by Hoosiers for Richard Mourdock, Inc.
www.richardmourdock.com/

SOURCE Hoosiers for Richard Mourdock, Inc.

Denver PGA TOUR Superstore Awards $10,000 to Area First Tee Chapters

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:00:00 +0000

Denver PGA TOUR Superstore Awards $10,000 to Area First Tee Chapters

PR Newswire

GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo., Jan. 9, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- PGA TOUR Superstore today announced $10,000 in grants to chapters of The First Tee serving youth in Denver and Green Valley Ranch. The First Tee impacts the lives of young people by promoting character development and life-enhancing values through the game of golf.

In partnership with The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, PGA TOUR Superstore supports The First Tee chapters reaching more than 75,000 young people in Denver, Atlanta, Dallas, Myrtle Beach, Naples, Delray Beach and Phoenix. The Foundation's chairman, Arthur M. Blank, is also chairman of Golf &Tennis Pro Shop, owner and operator of PGA TOUR Superstore.

"The First Tee chapters in Denver and Green Valley Ranch provide young people with life-changing experiences," said Golf & Tennis Pro Shop President and CEO Dick Sullivan. "Our associates are proud to help more youth gain access to The First Tee character education and golf instruction."

"We are fortunate to have a PGA TOUR Superstore in the Denver metro area because they, like us, believe in using the great game of golf to positively impact the lives of young people. Donors like the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation are the reason we can reach thousands of children each and every year," said Brent Powers, Board Chair of The First Tee of Green Valley Ranch.

The First Tee of Denver is a youth development junior golf program that not only provides affordable access and golf instruction but also teaches valuable life skills. "This generous donation will provide program support so that The First Tee of Denver can continue to grow and serve young people who might not have opportunities in golf, summer employment or tutoring and mentoring activities in their communities otherwise," said Paula Purifoy, Executive Director of The First Tee of Denver. Their mission is to educate and inspire youth academically, socially and physically through the game of golf.

About The First Tee
The First Tee (www.TheFirstTee.org), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit youth development organization whose mission is to impact the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character, instill life-enhancing values and promote healthy choices through the game of golf. With its home office at World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Fla., The First Tee reaches young people on golf courses, in schools and on military installations.

Since its inception in 1997, The First Tee has introduced the game of golf and its values to more than 4.7 million participants in all 50 United States and four international locations. The First Tee is an initiative of the World Golf Foundation and its Founding Partners are LPGA, the Masters Tournament, PGA of America, PGA TOUR and the USGA. President George W. Bush serves as honorary chair.

About The First Tee of Green Valley Ranch
The Colorado Open Golf Foundation operates The First Tee chapter at Green Valley Ranch and administers the HealthONE Colorado Open Championships at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club. The foundation, along with the allied golf associations of Colorado, also supports the Colorado PGA Golf in Schools program.

About PGA TOUR Superstore
PGA TOUR Superstore is operated by Golf & Tennis Pro Shop, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of AMB Group, LLC, headquartered in Roswell, Georgia.

As the PGA TOUR's exclusive off-course/off-airport retail partner, PGA TOUR Superstore provides customers with access to the same technology and expertise that card-carrying TOUR pros use each week in the TOUR Vans that accompany them. All stores are staffed with teaching Professionals and have multiple state-of-the-art swing simulators, practice hitting bays, a putting green, and chipping area. There is also an in-house club making and repair facility. Many stores are equipped with a full-size tennis court and a Tennis Professional on staff for lessons and clinics.

Along with equipment and accessories, PGA TOUR Superstore has an unmatched selection of men's, women's, and juniors' apparel and footwear for golf and tennis. For more information, visit www2.pgatoursuperstore.com.

SOURCE The First Tee

What Do You Mean I Cannot Sue the Pharmacist for My Drug Interaction?

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 08:10:09 +0000

Hidden from the general public, drug store chains take the legal position that they are only responsible to fill the prescription as written by the physician and nothing more.

CHICAGO, IL, January 07, 2012 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Before the takeover of the retail pharmacy industry by mega drug store chains such as Walgreens and CVS, small local pharmacies were the place we all visited for our pharmaceutical needs. They were often located in the same neighborhood as our family physician. The pharmacist knew the medical history of family members and the physician that wrote the prescription. That personal knowledge provided a safety net to patients that they were receiving the correct prescription drug, in both the proper dosage and duration. In fact the pharmacist was the last line of defense if a prescribing mistake took place.

For the most part the family owned pharmacy is a thing of the past. Mega sized chain drugstores are where we take our prescriptions to be filled. The staff pharmacist is likely not a member of the local community and may move from store to store as he or she is needed. The pharmacy counters are manned by so called "pharmacy assistants" who lack the years of formal education required to become a licensed pharmacist. The customer rarely gets to talk to or even see the pharmacist for consultation. Gone is the personal family relationship between the pharmacist and the customer.

So what role does the pharmacist now play in your health care? The answer depends upon who you are talking to. From a retail advertising prospective, the mega chain pharmacy does it all to the point that their advice often replaces the need to rum to the doctor. We have all seen and heard television commercials where the drug chain boasts about its sophisticated computer systems where dangerous drug interactions are prevented and detailed important prescribing information accompanies all prescriptions. On their face those advertisements sure make you feel safe and secure knowing that you are in good hands of a professional pharmacist but beware of what you see and hear.

Hidden from the general public, drug store chains take the legal position that they are only responsible to fill the prescription as written by the physician and nothing more. In other words if a physician writes a prescription for a drug that the pharmacist knows or should know may be lethal in dosage or duration he or she has absolutely no responsibility to call the physician and discuss the issue with the doctor. They further claim that the pharmacist need not know the condition from which the patient suffers that caused the prescription to be written in the first instance. The drug stores base this position by claiming is that it may not interfere with the doctor patient relationship. Not everyone receives the same dosage and duration of a particular medication for a particular condition. In other words the years of sophisticated education and training that a pharmacist must complete to become licensed should not be used. If the drug stores claim is true then any clerk that can read a label could perform the function of a pharmacist. A catalog clerk or hardware counter person should be able to fill prescriptions. Is this the function that you want your pharmacist to assume?

So which point of view is the current state of the law in Illinois and many other states? Unfortunately for the consumer the "hidden" position taken by the drug store chains is in fact the majority view. You might ask yourself how can the courts allow these stores to get away with it? The answer is a hybrid application of the "learned intermediary doctrine" which is favorite defense of drug manufacturers. In summary the "doctrine" holds that it is up to the physician to determine whether to prescribe a particular drug, dosage and duration for a particular patient. Under those circumstances, the pharmaceutical company has an obligation to the physician and not the patient to supply all necessary warnings regarding the drug. If a patient is harmed by that drug he or she may not sue the drug manufacturer unless the prescribing physician first blames the drug manufacturer for not supplying sufficient information or warnings to him or her regarding the drug. The courts have extended the doctrine to pharmacists using the same reasoning.

In a recent case I argued that a dosage of a particular drug, taken for a specified duration would cause harm to any human regardless of their age, weight or gender. The court denied the drug store chains' motion to dismiss since the pharmacist should have known this fact without input from the prescribing physician. As the case progresses I will be writing follow up articles on this evolving area of malpractice/products liability law.

Steinberg, Burtker & Grossman is one of the top personal injury law firms in Chicago.

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Steinberg, Burtker & Grossman, Ltd.

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USW Hails Obama's Recess Appointments as Bold Action Vital to Helping Working Americans

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 22:02:27 +0000

USW Hails Obama's Recess Appointments as Bold Action Vital to Helping Working Americans

PR Newswire

President Uses Constitutional Powers to Restore Labor Board; Advance Consumer Protection

PITTSBURGH, Jan. 4, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The United Steelworkers (USW) commends President Barack Obama for using his Constitutional power to override obstructionist Republicans and appoint four officials to key positions within the administration to protect consumers against financial fraud and to protect workers against illegal corporate practices.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20080131/DC12982LOGO )

"Republicans left the President with no choice but to recess appoint these four people, three to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and one to direct the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau," said USW International President Leo W. Gerard. "President Obama showed today that he will use every means at his disposal to circumvent Republican opposition to safeguarding workers and consumers."

The president appointed two Democrats, Sharon Block and Richard Griffin, and a Republican, Terence F. Flynn, to serve on the NLRB. Resignations from the board and refusal of Republicans in the Senate to approve nominees would have rendered the NLRB inoperable. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that it must have a quorum – three members – to render legal decisions.

"With these recess appointments, the President has enabled this crucial board to continue functioning," Gerard said. "Republicans are screaming about Obama doing exactly what the past three GOP Presidents – both Bushes and Ronald Reagan – did. In fact, George W. Bush made seven recess appointments to the NLRB.

"There is no question that each of the appointees is highly qualified – and should have garnered Senate approval – something that could have occurred if the Republican minority did not use the filibuster to block every appointment."

Block is the deputy assistant secretary for Congressional Affairs at the Department of Labor. Griffin is general counsel for the International Union of Operating Engineers. And Flynn serves as chief counsel to NLRB board member Brian Hayes, who is one of two members left on the five-member board after resignations. Mark G. Pearce is the chairman.

President Obama appointed Richard Cordray to direct the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Cordray now is chief of enforcement at the Bureau and served before that as Ohio Attorney General. This is a crucial job because some functions of the bureau cannot be performed without a director.

"President Obama has shown he is willing to use normal legal procedures to ensure the proper functioning of the U.S. government in the service of the American people," Gerard said. "The Steelworkers are proud that the president has confronted the Party of No."

"We are grateful for President Obama's bold actions. And it is not without longstanding precedent. He is following in the footsteps of President Theodore Roosevelt, who made over 160 appointments during a brief recess after the first session of the 58th Congress, and President Harry S. Truman, who twice made appointments during short recesses."

CONTACT: Wayne Ranick (412) 562-2444
wranick@usw.org
Gary Hubbard (202) 256-8125
ghubbard@usw.org

SOURCE United Steelworkers (USW)