White House Does Quick 180 With Sherrod

I must admit that I was a little slow to this story surrounding Shirley Sherrod. Only last night did I tune in to Anderson Cooper of all people to watch the infamous video clip....and the entire video that gives us the real story that was parsed for the benefit of right wing hacks like Andrew Breitbart.

It wasn't upsetting that Breitbart manipulated the video of Sherrod's speech about the history of racism in our country and how her personal story led her to realize that people must be helped no matter what color their skin may be; what infuriated me is that Obama's Administration and the NAACP fell hook, line and sinker for this Fox News-driven story (Fox News' participation in this was so abhorrent, even their own Shep Smith went off on his network).

So Obama's U.S.D.A. man Tom Vilsack came out today and apologized, offering Ms. Sherrod her job back (NYT):

“Without a doubt, Ms. Sherrod is owed an apology,” the White House press secretary, Robert Gibbs, said Wednesday in his daily briefing, referring to Shirley Sherrod, who until Monday was the rural development director for the Agriculture Department’s state office in Georgia. “I will do so certainly on behalf of this administration.”

The apology capped what had been a humiliating and fast-paced turn of events for the White House, the national media and the N.A.A.C.P., all of whom, Mr. Gibbs said, overreacted to a video that appeared to show Ms. Sherrod saying that she had discriminated against a white farmer. The remarks were taken out of context from a longer speech in which she said she learned to overcome her own biases.

Later, Mr. Vilsack held his own news briefing to say that he had called Ms. Sherrod to apologize and had offered her a new position with the agency.

"She was extraordinarily gracious," he said.

Sherrod was used here by Breitbart, as only people like Andrew Breitbart would do. Using the topic of race in America the way he did was atrocious. Breitbart will go down as one of the scummier right-wing smear merchants in the early 21st century. Unfortunately, that is what we expect from those who are involved in conservative politics these days. Ignoring the Breitbarts, Bachmanns and Palins is what we must do. Ignoring them will reduce their power in our country. What the NAACP and the Obama Administration did was exactly the opposite, and encourages these spiteful and nasty people to continue their dastardly acts.

Despite Skepticism, The Environment Is Getting Its Due

Opinion polls following the so-called climate-email-gate fracas reflected a growing skepticism in America about the state of the environment. Despite the overwhelming evidence, too many people want to latch on to red herrings that "prove" there's nothing to worry about as we pollute ourselves into oblivion. As long as the doubt, denial and lack of responsibility exists, we will continue to end up with less than adequate international frameworks such as what happened in Copenhagen last year.

With that said, there are glimmers of hope. Since the Obama Administration took over, the E.P.A. has become much more friendly towards environmental groups. The N.R.D.C. for example, is finding willing partners in the Executive bureaucracy instead of the adversaries that held their posts during the Bush era.

The E.P.A. is showing some muscle, by utilizing the Clean Water Act in order to regulate carbon dioxide emissions:

WASHINGTON — The Environmental Protection Agency is exploring whether to use the Clean Water Act to control greenhouse gas emissions, which are turning the oceans acidic at a rate that's alarmed some scientists.

With climate change legislation stalled in Congress, the Clean Water Act would serve as a second front, as the Obama administration has sought to use the Clean Air Act to rein in emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases administratively.

Since the dawn of the industrial age, acid levels in the oceans have increased 30 percent. Currently, the oceans are absorbing 22 million tons of carbon dioxide a day.

Among other things, scientists worry that the increase in acidity could interrupt the delicate marine food chain, which ranges from microscopic plankton to whales.

While nothing is going to happen until at least November (to allow for a public comment period and other research), it is a step in the right direction.

Meanwhile here in New York, environmental advocates scored a huge victory last week along a similar route in regards to the Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant. With so many inherent dangers at Indian Point, it is heartening to see that the judicial system can recognize at least one of the harmful effects of outdated and unsafe nuclear power. Water is the most precious of all resources, and we as a society must realize and respect that fact.

While President Obama may tout nuclear energy alongside renewables, it is imperative to fight for the cleaner alternatives regardless. If the utilization of the Clean Water Act is what does the trick, then that is a strategy the left must lean on more heavily going forward.

Sen. Shelby Tries To Play Revisionist Historian, Fails

Senator Shelby went on Fox News to talk about bank bailouts yesterday, but he mysteriously forgets that last fall when the President approved of bank bailouts, it was Bush, not Obama who started doling out hundreds of billions to the banks.

Regulation Is What We Need

I attended a symposium on the credit crisis yesterday up at City College and couldn't help but laugh. The "experts" were well versed in what they knew but there was really nothing new coming from them. Hedge funder Jonathon Trugman's idea to eliminate taxes on certain financial products typified the conservative idea that we can tax-cut our way out of this mess when it was tax cuts (and laissez-faire capitalism) that helped cause the problem. What we really need is re-regulation, something that Obama and Geithner show signs of understanding.

From RawStory:

"In the coming weeks, we will take additional steps, among them, proposing new and stronger rules to protect American consumers and investors against financial fraud and abuse," Geithner said.

"These will help us deal in the future with threats like the practices in subprime lending that kicked off the current crisis," he told the Council on Foreign Relations in a New York speech.

Geithner said that the plan would not focus solely on financial regulations in the United States, "but -- with the help of other interested nations and strengthened international bodies -- on stronger standards globally, as well."

Geithner will accompany US President Barack Obama to the Group of 20 summit of developed and developing nations in London on April 2 aimed at devising a global system to ensure recovery and making financial reforms.

In our highly connected world, we do need to devise a plan that not only deals with American-bred greed and corruption but international forms of it as well. Using ideas of the past should not be a part of the equation that could possibly be developed at the G20. People like Trugman and those with ideas like his need to buried and regulations that were successfully utilized in the past need to be revamped for our 21st century world.

Obama's Justice Dept. Gives Bloomberg A Pass

Not that I was counting on the Justice Department to stop the legally dubious extension of term limits, but it was still disheartening to see their decision in favor of Mayor Bloomberg. The Mayor and Council deliberately went around the will of the people this past October/November and extended term limits despite two separate ballot decisions that put those limits in place. Plenty of challenges were made to the change in the law, but nearly all have failed, as far as the courts and now the Attorney General are concerned.

From The Daily Politics:

It now appears that there are only two possible bumps remaining between the mayor and completely smooth sailing to the fall elections - and both of them are longshots: The term limits lawsuit (now on appeal) and legislation that is moving, albeit slowly, in both houses of the state Legislature that would require another public referendum on the term limits change.

Here's the text:

This refers to Local Law No. 51 (2008), which amends Sections 1137 and 1138 of the city charter as they relate to term limits for the offices of city councilmembers, mayor and other elected officials in the City of New York in Bronx, Kings, and New York Counties, New York, submitted to the Attorney General pursuant to Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, 42 U.S.C 1973c. We received your submission January 16, 2009; supplemental information was received on February 26, 2009."

The Attorney General does not interpose any objection to the specified changes. However, we note that Section 5 expressly provides that the failure of the Attorney General to object does not bar subsequent litigation to enjoin the forcement of the changes. Procedures for the Administration of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (28 C.F.R. 51.41).

Sincerely,

Christopher Coates
Chief, Voting Section

I had discussed the matter with a friend who is knowledgeable in civil rights law to get a take on how this would play out. Basically, this was to be expected because rarely will the Justice Department overturn a bill passed by a City Council. Unless the action of the local government is so egregious in its' violation of the Voting Rights Act, the likelihood of interference is nil. Despite the (obvious and) implicit effect on the rights of minorities here, there is nothing in the bill's language that directly impacts their ability to vote fairly.

This attitude will likely be held by the whole of the State Legislature as well. For a state law that trumps city law would also step on the toes of the locality. Even though the bills in Albany to overturn Local Law 51 have made some progress, the possibility of them making it to the floor and passing is slim to none.

So what does this all mean? Basically, if we want to punish Bloomberg, Quinn and the other 28 Council Members for extending term limits, we need to vote them out in the upcoming primary and general elections. Bloomberg, being as out of touch as he is, thinks that people will forget the undemocratic political maneuver. However, as long as we get out there and fight for change in this city, we'll kick Bloomberg to the curb, where he belongs.

Good News On The "Dean For Surgeon General" Front

When I saw that Dr. Sanjay Gupta had dropped out of the running to be Surgeon General, the first name that came to mind was my man Howard Dean. Dr. Dean was passed over at HHS and had subsequently stated he was coming back to DFA among other things. However, with Gupta gone it was Dean's time to shine. I wrote yesterday about those feelings and apparently the White House has similar inclinations.

From Reuters:

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Howard Dean, a practicing physician before entering politics, was under consideration by the Obama administration for the post of U.S. surgeon general, CNN reported Friday.

Dean, who recently wrapped up a four-year term as Democratic Party chairman, has been a supporter of health reform, and has privately made clear that he is interested in the job, according to the cable network.

CNN said two White House officials noted that, while it is too early to compile a list of candidates for surgeon general, they did not rule out Dean getting the job.

His name isn't set in stone for the position yet, but simply having been mentioned is a big deal. With no other names in contention, having Howard spotlighted is a good way to securing the prestigious position within the Obama Administration. I would love to have Howard working full time for us who are associated with Democracy for America, but my preference is that he is working for the entire country instead.

Obama Names Gov. Locke Commerce Secretary

After a tremendous speech last night to a joint session of Congress, Barack Obama made more news today by announcing ex- Gov. Gay Locke (D-WA) as the third (and hopefully final) nominee for Commerce Secretary. Let's hope that he doesn't have any intra-state issues like Richardson has, since the partisan turmoil that Gregg (R-NH) brought up is irrelevant here.



Oh and of course, this is one less position that Governor Sebelius can occupy. Now to find someone to fill in at HHS so that her coyness about the position results in her run for Senate next year.

Perino Gets Ahead Of Herself With The Obama Administration

Dana got a little ahead of herself today at the White House Press gaggle. Dear, Obama as much a we all want Obama in there now, he still has a thirty-nine days and change until the transition team becomes the Administration.

Meet Melody Barnes

She's a key part of the Obama transisition team and brings high hopes for the economic policy outlook of the new Administration. It's hard to catch her in person, but thanks to change.gov, we can see her on YouTube:

A Progressive Economic Vision For America Is Coming

The "Team of Rivals" idea has had a few progressives worried that Obama would not appoint anyone from the left. The fear was that by picking certain people, the conservatives would get their center-right Administration after all. Well, those fears are largely unfounded, especially since it is about the policies of the President that truly matter. Though if you are interested in names, you should check out Melody Barnes, who will be the Domestic Policy Council head in the new Administration.

From The Field:

Melody Barnes, Domestic Policy Council served as chief counsel to Senator Ted Kennedy on the Judiciary Committee from 1985 to 1993. Want to get an idea of how progressive she is? Read this: In January of 2007, prior to President Bush's state of the union address, Barnes wrote this essay for the Washington Post, What a Progressive President Might Say:

Here at home there is urgent work to do to fight the historically high -- and growing -- gap between our richest and poorest citizens. While the mean income of households on the low end of the income spectrum -- the bottom 20 percent -- is just $10,655 a year, the income of the top twenty percent of households averages almost $160,000. That's 15 times as much. At the same time, according to the latest census figures, the middle class, beset with stagnant wages and mountainous debts, is shrinking. The sad fact is that one of our most cherished values as a society, namely equality of opportunity, is fading as a reality for far too many people...

No news agency predicted it or broke the story until two hours ago this morning when the Think Progress blog became the first - beating all commercial media at their own game - to do so.

Likewise, the nomination to head the Council of Economic Advisors, Christina Romer, went un-predicted and without leaks until just three hours before today's press conference when Politico broke the story.

It's funny hearing morons like Mark Halperin talk about how the media fawns over Obama, yet they can't even get a handle on the news that the President-Elect breaks nearly every single day. The truth is, no one can really predict what Obama is going to do yet, he won't be President for almost two more months. What we can go on is what he has been saying to us for 21 months on the campaign trail and three weeks after, that we are going to get change and a total departure from George Bush, something that for one, Melody Barnes among others represents.

CAP's Progressive Blueprint For Obama To Follow

If you have an hour, take a look at this video and see what the Center for American Progress thinks should be the priorities of the coming Obama Administration. There's a lot we have to do for our nation and our standing in the world. This is a very good start to begin the healing.

RFK Jr. As Head Of E.P.A. Would Be A Blessing For Us All

As the names peek out of the hat of a potential Obama Administration Cabinet, the difference between the current President and the next truly show the significance of what happened three days ago. Americans wanted change and they are going to get it. Over the last eight years, the EPA has suffered tremendously in its effectiveness to regulate polluters of the environment and many within have actively worked to hurt our planet for the benefit of the fossil fuel industries. Christie Todd Whitman was a joke and Stephen Johnson has actually tried to fight states who want to be more environmentally friendly. So who could Obama replace him with?

From The Times Union:

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., founder of the New York-based water-protection group Waterkeeper Alliance, is interested in the Cabinet-level job, said Chris Navitsky, who heads the nonprofit group Lake George Waterkeeper.

Navitsky, whose organization is part of Waterkeeper Alliance's 177 programs around the world, said the telephone lines and e-mails have been buzzing about Kennedy in recent days as his fellow directors consider the possibility that he could be the nation's chief environmental officer.[...]

He wondered if Kennedy, an environmental lawyer with a long history of suing polluters, would face spirited opposition from some past adversaries during potential confirmation hearings.

"It will be interesting to see how influential some businesses might be in this. Bobby is despised by some sectors, like coal and power plants," said Navitsky.

Despised by them, loved by those of us that want to see the Earth taken care of. This is a new beginning for our nation and unlike what many Republicans tried to claim, it is much more than just words of change, it will be actual, ground-breaking and Earth-shattering (shattering in a good way) change. It is time to put the people first, not the industries that continue to pollute our planet. Cheers to a possible RFK, Jr. EPA!