Message #162875

[Harconen]

It is reported that Obama has fired another Inspector General (IG). Judith Gwynn, IG for the United States International Trade Commission (USITC), was told her contract would not be renewed. In an April 2009 report to Congress, Gwynn complained that USITC audit files had been taken from the IG office by an employee of the trade commission. Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA) attempts to uncover more information about the incident, as well as learn why the IG had been given a six-month employment contract. Grassley notes, “I am unaware of any other agency Inspector General that serves under such a constraint and am curious to learn what statutory authority gives the USITC the ability to make a limited term appointment.” [3437]

 

The Obama administration orders the Census Bureau to change its forms and computer software for the 2010 census to allow four counting of same-sex marriage couples and gay partnerships. [3438]

 

The Washington Times reports on June 19 that employees of ABC gave the Obama campaign 80 times as much in donations as they gave to the McCain campaign. The disclosure adds to the controversy over ABC’s decision to give Obama one hour of free network time on June 24 to push his health care agenda. ABC is refusing to give (or even sell) opponents of Obama’s plans any time to present their arguments. The Business & Media Institute’s Dan Gainor charges “ABC is in bed with their source, so to speak. ABC is supposed to be a news organization, not a producer of infomercials for national health care. And I wonder what they would have done if the Bush administration had asked for positive programming to support the war on terror or Social Security initiatives.” [3439, 3440]

 

NPR’s Juan Williams states on Fox News, “We are going towards a weekend of high tide for kowtowing to the Obama administration. He’s all over CBS this weekend and then he's going to be all over ABC. I don’t know what's going on with big media in this country.” [3473]

 

David Zurawik of the Baltimore Sun writes that it is “time for TV press to quit being used by Obama.” Zurawik states that the Obama administration”…is better at manipulating the medium of TV than any White House since that of John Kennedy, and that was a media universe so different in the early 1960s as to make comparisons almost meaningless.” Zurawik charges that NBC’s Brian Williams interview with Obama “…really did look and feel like a campaign commercial for Obama, especially when he took Williams out for mid-day hamburgers, but any embarrassment the network felt was probably forgotten once the ratings came in showing that more than 9 million people watched each of the two nights.” He warns that “ABC will be using its White House exclusivity next Wednesday to try and boost all its broadcasts—from Good Morning America to Nightline. From the network's point of view, why not? NBC News cashed in, why not ABC?” [3441]

 

Democrats, desperate for a way to pay for Obama’s health care plan, consider new ways to collect an additional $1 trillion in revenue. Under consideration are a tax on soft drinks (10 cents per can); increased taxes on alcohol; an increase the payroll deduction for Medicare; a value-added-tax (a national sales tax) of 1.5 per cent or more; a two per cent surcharge on single taxpayers earning more than $200,000 and couples earning ore than $250,000; and a tax on employer-provided health insurance. [3444]

 

Impeached former judge and now Congressman Alcee Hastings (D-FL) introduces an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Bill. Hastings’ amendment prohibits “A person associated or affiliated with a group associated with hate-related violence against groups or person of the United States Government” from serving in the Armed Forces. The bill includes as hate groups “Other groups or organizations that are determined by the Attorney General to be of a violent, extremist nature,” and cites as “evidence” of membership “possessing tattoos” and having “attended meetings, rallies, conferences, or other activities sponsored by a hate group.” Congressman Trent Franks (R-AZ) comments, “While the amendment seeks to keep gang members and members of violent groups out of the military, the amendment by its language is much more broad. Specifically, it confers upon the Attorney General the ability to categorize groups as hate groups, and this sounds an alarm for many of us because of the recent shocking and offensive report released by the Department of Homeland Security which labeled, arguably, a majority of Americans as ‘extremists.’” [3743, 3744]