Arizona House: Check Obama's Citizenship

By GottaLaff

By a vote of 31-22, the birther extremists proved once again that they waste everyone's time with frivolous efforts like this one:

The Arizona House on Monday voted for a provision that would require President Barack Obama to show his birth certificate if he hopes to be on the state's ballot when he runs for reelection.

That would be laughable if it weren't so pathetic:

Phoenix Democratic Rep. Kyrsten Sinema said the bill is one of several measures that are making Arizona "the laughing stock of the nation."

Between this birther revival meeting and Arizona's latest endorsement of racial profiling, the state may very well require its own laugh track... because nobody else is so much as smiling.

Racism is just not funny.


H/t: Think Progress

Draft Congressional Ethics Rules Would Recognize Gay Marriages

By GottaLaff

Imagine that, treating people like people:

The House ethics committee has drafted rules that for the first time would define gay married couples as “spouses” for the purposes of filling out their annual Congressional financial disclosure forms.

Activists on both sides of the gay marriage issue said the reporting requirements, if adopted, would mark the first time Congress has recognized a gay partner as a spouse. Opponents of gay rights said the draft appears to contradict the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, which mandates that for any federal regulations, “the word ‘spouse’ refers only to a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or wife.”

What a coincidence. The Defense of Marriage Act appears to contradict-- What's that term again? Oh yeah-- equal rights.

Bart Stupak to Retire?

I'm of mixed feelings on this. I'd be glad to see the Forced Birther gone, but we need as many Dem seats, faux or real, that we can get. Via Taegan-

First Read: "With just a few days to go before the end of this recess, House Democrats are cautiously optimistic that they could get through it without a single retirement announcement. That said, there is still a concern that some important incumbents in districts that they are uniquely suited could call it quits. At the top of the concern list this week: Michigan Democrat Bart Stupak. The Democrat best known this year as the Democrat who delivered the winning margin of votes for the president's health-care reform bill is said to be simply exhausted. The criticism he received -- first from the left, and then from the right -- has worn him and his family out. And if he had to make the decision now, he'd probably NOT run. As of this writing, a bunch of senior Democrats (many of the same ones who twisted his arm on the health care vote) are trying to talk him into running. The filing deadline in Michigan is still a month away, but veterans of that state's politics are skeptical anyone other than Stupak can hold that district in this political climate."

Meanwhile, the Detroit Free Press notes Tea Party activists are targeting Stupak for defeat during a series of rallies in Michigan this week.

Democrats Gain in Ohio

Little by little we'll fight our way back. Wonder how much of this was from actually doing something instead of vacillating? Via Taegan-

A new Quinnipiac poll finds that Democrats are having a mini-surge in Ohio and now lead in both the U.S. Senate and Governor's races.

In the Senate race, Lt. Gov. Lee Fisher (D) leads Rob Portman (R) 41% to 37%, reversing a three point Portman lead in February. Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner (D) also edges Portman, 38% to 37%, reversing a five point Portman lead.

In the gubernatorial race, Gov. Ted Strickland (D) leading challenger John Kasich (R), 43% to 38%.

Could Winger Fear of Census Cost Republicans Congressional Seats?

Oh the shadenfreudey goodness streaming thru my bones right now. h/t First Read.

WASHINGTON — Texas is counting on the 2010 Census to deliver four new congressional districts, four new Electoral College votes in presidential elections, and millions of dollars in additional federal aid. But, as some elected officials are starting to worry, Uncle Sam can't deliver anything to the rapidly growing Sun Belt state unless Texas residents deliver their forms back to the government.

As of Friday afternoon, only 27 percent of Texas households had filled in and returned their census forms — well below the national average of 34 percent — according to computer data from the U.S. Census Bureau. In Harris County, the response rate is 23 percent. Houston's returns are running at 21 percent.

Contrary to historical trends, some of the toughest challenges facing the agency responsible for measuring the nation's population are not from counting the traditionally undercounted groups such as African-Americans and Latinos. Instead, a new and growing threat to an accurate national head count is coming from anti-government conservatives who may not fill out their forms to protest against “Big Brother” in Washington.

(snip)

Polling by the Pew Research Center finds Democrats are more likely than other Americans to view the census as “very important” to the country. Seventy-six percent of Democrats call this year's count very important, compared with 61 percent of Republicans and independents.

In Texas, some of the counties with the lowest census return rates are among the state's most Republican, including Briscoe County in the Panhandle, 8 percent; King County, near Lubbock, 5 percent; Culberson County, near El Paso, 11 percent; and Newton County, in deep East Texas, 18 percent. Most other counties near the bottom of the list are heavily Hispanic counties along the Texas-Mexico border.

There is a reason for the enthusiasm gap on the census: A number of prominent conservative and libertarian Republicans have been blasting the census for months.

Congress Finishes Health Care Reform--For Good This Time

Via TPM. Whew.

Tonight, the House took Congress' final health care vote, when it passed a reconciliation bill fixing problems with the reforms that President Obama signed into law on Tuesday. The final tally was 220-207. The changes will take effect as soon as Obama signs this sidecar package into law, which could come as early as tomorrow.

Tonight's vote is a capstone to the Democrats' difficult fight over health care--one which took its toll on Obama's young administration, and at times threatened to tear the entire party apart.

By passing this secondary bill, Democrats have promised to remove some of the more controversial provisions in the comprehensive health care law, while making others more popular. The reconciliation bill nullifies the controversial Nebraska Medicaid deal, which was added to health care legislation by the Senate back in December. It also will close the Medicare prescription drug donut hole, and bolster subsidies to uninsured working and middle-class Americans, who will be required to purchase coverage when reform takes full effect in 2014.

GOP succeeds in forcing another House vote on health care

You know, after all this time invested in these votes, all I can say is get it done.

WASHINGTON (CNN) – In a marathon Senate session that lasted into the wee hours of Thursday, Republicans kept their vow to use every parliamentary tool available to undermine the recently enacted health care reform law. In the end, they found violations in two provisions, forcing the bill back to the House for another vote.

The GOP launched its attempt to amend or kill legislation expanding the new law in a Senate session that finally adjourned at 2:45 a.m. Thursday. The Senate plans to reconvene at 9:45 a.m. to consider other GOP amendments, which also are designed to force Democrats to cast unpopular votes in the runup to this November's midterm elections.

Senate Democrats easily defeated the first of 29 amendments introduced by Republicans, which challenged provisions in the bill such as those involving changes to Medicare funding. Also defeated were attempts to send the measure to committee for reconsideration - which would effectively kill it - and other amendments intended to strip provisions from the bill.

But after hours, the Republicans found two minor provisions related to higher education that violate Senate procedure. These provisions have to be removed from bill, and then it has to be voted on by the House again, said Jim Manley, spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

"I'm confident that the House will be able to deal with this quickly," Manley said.

AUDIO: "Stupak, you baby-killing mother f***er... I hope you bleed out your a**, got cancer and die"

By GottaLaff

As much as we have disagreed with Bart Stupak, he did not deserve this:

In the wake of his vote in favor of health care reform legislation, Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.), a strong opponent of abortion rights, has been on the receiving end of a string of extremely hostile and threatening messages, including death threats.

Stupak's office released some of those messages to CBS News [...]

"Congressman Stupak, you baby-killing mother f***er... I hope you bleed out your a**, got cancer and die, you mother f***er," one man says in a message to Stupak.

How "pro-life" of them.

Here's the audio:

Sounds like these callers took their cues from good ol' boy, remorseless Texas Congressman Randy Neugebauer of "Baby Killer!" infamy.

One more horrific example of a scary, violent trend that could easily end in tragedy.

We must put a stop to this reprehensible, irresponsible behavior. Now.

VIDEO: Neugebauer Tries to Cash In on ‘Baby Killer’ Outburst

By GottaLaff

Yes, "Baby Killer" Guy is making money off his despicable disruption:

Even as he was apologizing Monday for screaming “baby killer” during Sunday night’s health care debate, Rep. Randy Neugebauer (R-Texas) was turning the moment into a campaign fundraiser.

So, class, the lesson we've learned from this is how to:

--Ignore decorum.

--Act like a putz.

--Disrupt a fellow Congress member.

--Shout obscene comments to garner attention.

--Make a non-apology apology.

--Try to wiggle your way out of what you said by changing the wording of what you said.

--Lower the bar for future standards of conduct.

--Join the "You Lie!" Club.

--Get yourself a lot of face time on the Tee Vee Machine.

--Attempt to become a hero to your fellow loons.

--Use the moment of infamy to rake in the donations.

"I'm never going to quit speaking on behalf of the unborn," Neugebauer says in a Web video posted on his campaign Web site.

Referring to his outburst, the Republican also says, "And I will continue to speak with the same passion that I did last night, maybe with a little bit different form, but still with the same intensity."

The video is embedded on the Web page www.randyforcongress.com, just above large red button that says "Donate Today."

The above video is an example of what an ass looks like.

Class dismissed.

Rep. Tammy Baldwin: Votes are There for ENDA, DADT Passage

By GottaLaff

This is welcome news:

But Baldwin does believe the votes are in place in the House to pass ENDA and a DADT repeal bill.

“As someone who has actually counted the votes, I believe that there are,” Baldwin said. “That’s one of the things the LGBT Equality Caucus does is to [focus] attention to making sure we can tell [House] leadership, with accuracy, what the vote would be if they bring the measures up to the floor.”

The Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus is a group of legislators in the House who are strong supporters of equal rights for LGBT people. The caucus is organized similarly to the Congressional Black Caucus and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.

Baldwin and Rep. Barney Frank established the LGBT Equality Caucus in June 2008. It now includes nearly 90 members of Congress.

Don't Ask Don't Tell will be repealed. Now it's just a matter of when. And it can't come soon enough.

H/t: Towelroad

BREAKING: Texas Congressman Randy Neugebauer confirms he yelled "Baby killer"

By GottaLaff

MSNBC: Texas Congressman Randy Neugebauer confirms he yelled out "Baby killer" at Bart Stupak last night.



UPDATE, via an e-mail alert from WaPo:

Rep. Randy Neugebauer (R-Tex.) admits shouting 'baby killer' during House debate over health care.

In a statement, Neugebauer says he was not referring to Rep. Bart Stupak, but instead, "I exclaimed the phrase ‘it’s a baby killer’ in reference to the agreement reached by the Democratic leadership."

For more information, visit washingtonpost.com:

Nice try, but that was one weak attempt at a save. You blew it. We have a loser.

UPDATE #2:

“While I remain heartbroken over the passage of this bill and the tragic consequences it will have for the unborn, I deeply regret that my actions were mistakenly interpreted as a direct reference to Congressman Stupak himself.”

Neugebauer said he apologized to Stupak for the outburst.

“I have apologized to Mr. Stupak and also apologize to my colleagues for the manner in which I expressed my disappointment about the bill. The House Chamber is a place of decorum and respect. The timing and tone of my comment last night was inappropriate,” he said.

Another non-apology. Everyone got it wrong. Poor Neugebauer is misunderstood. We should be apologizing to him for the Big Misunderstanding in which we interpreted his appalling outburst as "You are Bart the Baby Killer!"

You lie!

Oh my. I deeply regret that my outburst might be mistakenly misinterpreted by you.

Mid Day Distraction

Via Jed.

Video- President Obama On the Passage of Health Reform

VIDEO: House Member Appears To Yell 'Baby Killer' At Stupak

By GottaLaff



How mature, respectful, and orderly.

Whoever did that needs to be kicked out... and spat upon repeatedly.

UPDATE:

Rep. John Campbell (R-Calif.) acknowledged late Sunday night that a Republican yelled "baby killer" as Democratic Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) urged his fellow Democrats to vote down a Republican amendment on abortion services in the health-care legislation. [...]

Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) said he heard the remark and said it did come from in the area of where the Texas and California delegations sit. He said he believes he knows who yelled it, but declined to say anymore.

BREAKING: 219-212! "Yes We Can". HOUSE PASSES HEALTH CARE REFORM

By GottaLaff

House passes Health Care Reform. Next up: Vote on reconciliation bill....

Yes we did.

Without one. Republican. Vote.

Shouts of "yes we can" were shouted from the House floor. It was beauteous.

UPDATE: Reconciliation passes 220-211.

UPDATE: To see how they voted....

VIDEO- Rep. Devin Nunes: "Say no to socialism, totalitarianism"

By GottaLaff

Democrats "will finally lay the cornerstone of their Socialist utopia on the backs of the American people." Really?

One can only hope...



The more support President Obama and Democratic policies get, the loonier the Rushpublics get:

"For most of the 20th century people fled the ghosts of communist dictators. And now you are bringing the ghosts back into this chamber."

Now they believe in ghosts. Commie ones!

And it goes without saying that the big bad Muslim ACORN Census Marxist Terrorist is out to get them.

Wow.

BREAKING: Dems say they have 216 votes to pass health bill

Please oh please.

Washington (CNN) - Democrats have the 216 votes needed to pass health care reform legislation in the House on Sunday, the chairman of the House Democratic Caucus told CNN.

"This is a historic day and we are happy warriors," Rep. John Larson, D-Connecticut, told CNN's "State of the Union." He added, "We've got the votes."

On NBC's "Meet the Press," House Minority Leader John Boehner said, "This fight is not lost yet."

Video- President Obama rallies House Democrats on Health Care Reform

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

And then there were only six Stupak clones...

So for this you're going to lose your seat? Via Taegan-

Here's why there is no deal with Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI): Roll Call reports House Democratic leaders appear to be succeeding in their push to peel off abortion-rights opponents lined up with Stupak against a health care overhaul.

"Stupak said those standing with him now number about six -- down from the rough dozen he has claimed for weeks. That is likely enough to put the majority within striking distance of the 216 votes they need for passage."

Meanwhile, The Hill notes that Stupak is still considering whether an executive order from President Obama ensuring that federal funds would not go toward abortions would sway his vote.

Tea Baggers getting nasty at House offices

I hope some of our people are there with cameras, this is just unconscionable. Via TPM.

As our Brian Beutler reports, a few moments ago in Longworth office building, a group swarmed a very calm looking Henry Waxman, as he got on the elevator, with shouts of "Kill the bill!" "You liar! You crook!"

Rep. Barney Frank got an uglier version of the treatment. Just after Frank rounded a corner to leave the building, an older protestor yelled "Barney, you faggot." The surrounding crowd of protestors then erupted in laughter.

A Capitol police officer threatened to throw them out but that only seemed to inflame them more.