Video- Beck says "freedom of speech is under attack ... the person that questions [Obama] comes under vicious attack"

Then how come you're still on the air Glenn? Via Media Matters.

Doctor who tells Obama supporters to go elsewhere scores low with patients

By GottaLaff


Earlier, I posted about a urologist who encourages Obama supporters to take a hike:

Sign at the office door of Dr. Jack Cassell, a Mount Dora urologist.

(Photo by Deirdre Lewis / April 1, 2010)

But wait! There's more! Take a look-see at what his patients think of him (click on image to enlarge):


Dr. No gets 3 thumbs down... not unlike his political party.

Gee, could it have anything to do with his attitude?


H/t: cbn2, Cody

Doctor tells Obama supporters: Go elsewhere for health care

By GottaLaff

Sign at the office door of Dr. Jack Cassell, a Mount Dora urologist.

(Photo by Deirdre Lewis / April 1, 2010)

Good lord! Talk about all wee-wee'd up!

A doctor who considers the national health-care overhaul to be bad medicine for the country posted a sign on his office door telling patients who voted for President Barack Obama to seek care "elsewhere."

"I'm not turning anybody away — that would be unethical," Dr. Jack Cassell, 56, a Mount Dora urologist and a registered Republican opposed to the health plan, told the Orlando Sentinel on Thursday. "But if they read the sign and turn the other way, so be it."

Gee, that's not at all passive aggressive.

"I posted a sign telling Obama supporters to screw off, and if they're gonna go and take it all literally and stuff, well, hey, so be it."

Cassell may be walking a thin line between his right to free speech and his professional obligation, said William Allen, professor of bioethics, law and medical professionalism at the University of Florida's College of Medicine.

Allen said doctors cannot refuse patients on the basis of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation or disability, but political preference is not one of the legally protected categories specified in civil-rights law. By insisting he does not quiz his patients about their politics and has not turned away patients based on their vote, the doctor is "trying to hold onto the nub of his ethical obligation," Allen said.

Party of No, meet Doctor No.

So is this one of those Conscience Clause things? I only treat those who I agree with? Nice.

The Hypocritic Oath is alive and well in Florida.

Two words, Dr. Jack: Piss off.

Is the Tea Party Express, er, PAC, fleecing municipalities in the name of free speech?

By GottaLaff

One of our favorite readers, Joeyess, stumbled on to something that he sent my way. Allow me to share some information on what the Tea Baggers are up to:

The Tea party Express is rolling through Topeka, Kansas tomorrow, and they are assembling at the state house.

If you click on the link at the RSVP button in the bottom right hand corner of this page (that's a screenshot, click to enlarge)...



...it leads you here:



Then, if you Google "ourcountrydeservesbetter.com", you get this:


They're a PAC.

They're fundraising on public grounds. I called Legislative Services to ask if the Tea Tantrumers were getting security and/or clean-up free of charge. I also asked what it takes to get permission to use capitol grounds.

I was told no, they weren't getting those services for free. The woman was a little defensive until I told her I wasn't writing a piece about her, but of the Tea Party. She informed me that the prerequisite was a legislative sponsor, and they got one: A female state senator whose name slipped the woman's mind.

She also told me all they had to do was fill out an application, and if the space was available, it was theirs.

The PAC told her their event was a "free speech rally".

I wouldn't be surprised if they were getting a free ride, considering this is the home of the one and only Westboro Baptist "Church's" own Fred Phelps.

So Joeyess and I are wondering, do they getting freebies anywhere when they shouldn't? Ace reporter Joeyess decided to make a call:

I just talked to Doris at Bettendorf, Iowa parks and recreation. She said that they were charging them a $125 fee for port-o-potties and they expected to have police on site.

I told her that I write a bit about the Tea Party Express, and in my research I found that they are involved with a PAC. She seemed really surprised. She also said that only a permit was required [Laffy Note: This is what I was told in my call to Topeka], and they had applied and received one for the event.

It seems that this Tea Party/PAC is taking advantage of municipalities and their resources, across the midwest at least, without revealing that a PAC is involved. [Laffy Note: The woman I spoke to seemed a little surprised when I told her that, too]

This particular event is taking place at Leach Park. I think they are fleecing municipalities in the name of free speech. $125??? That's chicken feed to FreedomWorks and their ilk.

I think this is endemic to this "movement". They're taking advantage of what are already financially stressed city governments and depleted resources for political purposes. This is not free speech. This is free fundraising.

This begs the question: Does this fall under Citizens United? If so, thank you very much, SCOTUS.

While we're on this topic, let's take a quick look at safety issues.

One of their stops is St. Paul, at the state capitol:

The Minnesota Capitol could be considered on of the most easily accessible public buildings in the state.

This is worrisome:

If you've visited a county office recently, or a courthouse, you've probably had to go through security, even a metal detector. But that kind of security is non-existent at the Minnesota State Capitol and some lawmakers believe the state's most visible landmark is a target.

Given the hostility and threats we've been witness to lately, security is a real issue.

Lawmakers sit just a few feet below unrestricted galleries and the doors to the House, Senate and governor's office are wide open.

"I think sooner or later something is going to happen here," said Rep. Rick Hansen, DFL-South St. Paul.

Unfortunately, the state budget is a problem. Security isn't an option at the moment.

"Whether we have a tough budget or not, we should prepare to provide basic safety for the people of Minnesota when they are engaging with their government," Hansen said.

Of course, nobody is accusing Tea Tantrumers of being gun-toting extremists. They'd never do anything rash like, oh I dunno, storm a capitol building. Who'd be that brazen?

Outside the Capitol building, the antiquated air exchange system makes it vulnerable to outside sabotage. [...] And unlike other public buildings, visitors don't get checked at the Capitol door.

So many Tea Tantrum/PAC rallies, so little time. If/when Joeyess and I find out more, I'll pass it on. Meantime, this is plenty to chew on.

UPDATE: One more thing ... Look at all their "tour partners"! See how many PACs you can find:

"Fear. It is eating the world alive, and we are leading the way once again."

By GottaLaff

If you're already experience nausea from SCROTUS's United Corporations of America decision, grab some Compazine, because I'm about to induce more:

Yes, Fear. It is eating the world alive, and we are leading the way once again.

This week the Supreme Court of the United States, the last hope for the people, shocked us, no stunned us, writing that not only are corporations “people” but also that they have a right to “free speech” as guaranteed under the Constitution. It appears that the majority of Justices – all placed in their high-backed leather chairs by men of greed – forgot that corporations are “fictitious” persons giving them rights in civil law, not some constitutional protection to engage in wholesale deceit and propaganda.

Remember the right to free speech carries with it the potential to lie. [...]

This decision will spread its ugliness throughout the land, perhaps enveloping the earth like a disease, and deny freedom of information to the people of the world. This may be more terrifying than the loss of free speech itself, for the loss of free information here is defined as the loss the truth.

That is a message that dovetails with one I've posted about often: Loss of truth, the spread of misinformation and lies, the dumbing down and "brainwashing" of America, all contribute to the increasing erosion of a real democracy.

The fewer people who understand the issues, the more uneducated voters will prevail at the ballot box.

H/t: 1Kecko

Video- One guy with a sign vs the Teabaggers

So, now it takes 6 or so cops to protect your right of free speech? Brave guy. Via.

Video- Fox Commentator Ralph Peters Strikes Again- Do We Really Want Free Speech?

This guy has to have some kind of stupid virus.

Tim Kaine Signs Bill Creating 'Choose Life' License Plate

By GottaLaff

The chairman of the DNC is calling it a freedom of speech issue. Will we see a license plate with a pro-choice message?

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine came under fire Monday for signing a bill to create a "Choose Life" license plate, a move that abortion rights activists say runs afoul of his obligations as chairman of the Democratic National Committee.

Kaine, a Catholic who personally opposes abortion, said he considers such license plate messages a matter of free speech and added that the move was "in keeping with the commonwealth's longtime practice of approving specialty plates with all manner of political and social messages."

"If Planned Parenthood . . . or another similar organization ever chooses to seek a specialty license plate in Virginia, I believe the constitution would require the state to approve that plate to protect against any viewpoint discrimination," he said.

Well then. Planned Parenthood? NARAL? Where's your plate design?

But the decision -- and the reaction that followed -- illustrated the challenge Kaine faces in trying to balance elected office with his new national political job.

"It is unfortunate that, even after receiving thousands of messages from Virginians and pro-choice activists across the country, Gov. Kaine has opted to sign a bill that advances a divisive political ideology at the expense of women's health," said Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America.

Victoria Cobb, president of the Family Foundation of Virginia, said "the Choose Life plate will provide private-sector funding, not tax dollars, to organizations that support families caught in crisis situations. Everyone should agree that is a good thing for the commonwealth."

After the first 1,000 plates are sold, $15 of the $25 annual fee would go to Heartbeat International, a Christian pregnancy resource organization, which would distribute the money to about 40 centers in the state that meet the group's standards.

VIDEO: "Abort Obama, Not the Unborn" sign "not a threat"

By GottaLaff

Um, illegal or not, maybe he could have worded it differently?

The police officers who stopped Oklahoma City motorist Chip Harrison and confiscated a sign from his car told him he has a right to his beliefs, but the Secret Service "could construe this as a threat against President Obama," according to the incident report released this morning.

The sign, which read "Abort Obama Not the Unborn," was returned to Harrison later that day, the report said.

Police spokesman said this morning that the sign was taken in error, and Oklahoma City residents should not be worried that their First Amendment rights will be violated.

Good call, bad taste.

Bill O’Reilly and Megyn Kelly yell at each other over atheism

Link:

The only time I've ever linked to Hot Air, and damn well worth it. Christine Gregoire as Pontius Pilot? You go Bill.

Surprise fireworks as FNC’s most combative anchor tries to explain the First Amendment to its most combative commentator. Good luck, Megyn!

Telco immunity faces first court challenge

By GottaLaff

I'm likin' this:

Plaintiffs suing AT&T and other telecommunications companies filed a lengthy motion in court this week arguing the government could not retroactively invalidate their lawsuit because its immunity authority is unconstitutional and destroys the notion of coequal branches of government. [...]

A 61-page filing argues that Congress doesn't have the authority to issue a retroactive immunity statute, that immunity violates separation of powers by improperly inflating executive branch authority, that immunity violates individuals rights to due process, that the secrecy provisions of immunity violate the First Amendment by creating a "chilling effect" on free speech, and that the government has not justified dismissing the telecom lawsuits even if its ability to do so was constitutional. [...]

The Electronic Frontier Foundation and American Civil Liberties Union are representing plaintiffs in the various telecom lawsuits the government is attempting to dismiss. [...]

Plaintiffs hope the courts will reach a similar decision to strike down the FISA Amendments Act.

Stay tuned.

Secret Service order police to block McCain protesters

By GottaLaff

This video is from WYTV, broadcast Sept. 16, 2008.

When John McCain and Sarah Palin spoke before an audience of 7,000 in the economically depressed city of Youngstown, Ohio on Tuesday, slightly over a dozen protesters stood across the street with signs saying "The fundamentals of my economy are not strong" and "Country club first."

Leaders of the protest, which had been arranged and publicized by local unions and the Ohio Democratic Party, said that as many as several hundred people had been expected to attend, but police were not letting them through roadblocks surrounding the area. [...]

The full WYTV story is available here.

Bush III, Cheney II.

Many of those protesting were local union members. Several hundred protesters were expected but police would not let many get past the road blocks.

"I had about a dozen folks call me trying to get out here but they have the roads closed and I guess they just don't want the folks out here demonstrating peacefully for Obama," said Dave Green, president of UAW Local 1714.

The Trumbull County Sheriff's Department and Vienna police were directing traffic, but Trumbull County Sheriff Tom Altiere says his deputies were taking orders from the U.S. Secret Service and only those with tickets for the rally were being allowed through the road blocks.

'Nuff said.

Paging, Party Of One Your Table Is Ready

Oh great huffy puffy purveyor of all morals that are catholicy Bill Of The Donahue** is winding up his faux outrage wurlizter again.

Over 120 blogs have been credentialed as members of the media for the Democratic National Convention; those who have received credentials are allowed to cover the Convention at the Pepsi Center. While most of them offer legitimate commentary, some do not.

Catholic League president Bill Donohue is protesting two of the blogs:

“The list of credentialed blogs include radical sites like The Daily Kos. Worse are blogs that feature anti-Catholic and obscene material. The two most offensive are Bitch Ph.D. and Towleroad."

Which my sensitive ears heard as "Burp, months no attention, belch blat, me and the Virgin Mary are annnnnngggrrrry!!! Growl.... need media exposure to pay for holy water fountain at the manse!!"

Funny, the RNC doesn't have it's list of credentialed blogs up on the site. Hmmmm.

**Soon to be appearing on a FAUX show in your area!!!