Once again, The Daily Show illustrates why they're sometimes a more credible "news source" than traditional media.
Here, John Oliver goes to the heart of the conventional wisdom, and the truth on why so many Washington lawmakers still refuse to pass gun legislation that 91 percent of Americans want.
Watch as a former aid to Sen. Harry Reid admits that getting reelected is more important to politicians than enacting legislation that protects the public safety, the evidence of which we saw last week in Washington. Sadly, you'll also see that Australian politicians faced with the same political consequences were still willing and able to do the right thing. If only more of our politicians had the guts to do the same.
Of course, Rubio has made it pretty clear that he feels the same as McConnell does, and his political ambitions trump doing anything to protect Americans, children and adults, from gun violence. To that end, Rubio illustrated his cowardice with the filibuster threat.
Yesterday he doubled down on that when the daughter of the Sandy Hook principal who was killed attempted to contact him. Rubio continued to run scared when he refused to even take a phone call from Erica Lafferty. Lafferty also sent Rubio a message on Twitter, along with the others, saying that she deserved to be heard. When that too was met with silence, Connecticut Governor Dan Malloy sent out his own plea on Twitter to Rubio and the others asking them to at least call her back.
The answer? Crickets. Only one, Republican Ted Cruz, eventually did call Lafferty back.
The pressure on Rubio continues to mount as debate on gun legislation begins today in the Senate, and as outside groups begin running ads focusing on he and others who continue to stand with gun manufacturers and groups like the NRA, rather than enacting common sense measures to prevent the next Sandy Hook.
This week, Mayors Against Illegal Guns announced that they will begin "grading" lawmakers on their gun related votes and issues just as the NRA does. Their latest ad shines the spotlight on Marco Rubio.
Rubio may well continue to ignore victims, anyone pleading that he do something to curb gun violence, and the real life consequences of his inaction, but 91% of the country, and his constituents won't. They see him for what he is, and come the next election, he won't be able to ignore the results.
"My relationship with Congress will never be the same again. They made us wait 90 to 100 days to give the most basic human aid that is required. It's absolutely disgraceful," King said during an appearance on MSNBC's "Morning Joe." "And when I see these Republicans, we slap each other on the back, all the camaraderie, 'hey, we're great friends.' All I know is there were people who were close to dying in my district and no one gave a damn."
The fiery New York lawmaker then accused Republicans of engaging hypocrisy for voting against Sandy aid and then leaning on northeastern donors — and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) — to raise money. King singled out Rubio, who quietly courted Wall Street donors earlier this year. In February, King said Rubio had some "balls" to seek cash from New York donors after voting against Sandy relief, and on Friday the congressman continued to take the Florida Republican to task.
"And by the way, guys like Marco Rubio in Florida. All the money that your people have gotten in Florida over the years from every hurricane that came along," King said. "And this guy has the nerve to vote against money for New York and then come up here and try to raise money. You know, he can forget it."
No, it's not April Fools, it's just the Florida Legislature. Although many consider them to be a joke as a whole. Business as usual for our lawmakers down here defies all logic, ignores reality, and comes up with laws year after year that protect us from non-existent threats. Your tax dollars at work.
Whether banning their testimony was to prevent the creep of Sharia, or if the invitation to "communicate" with elected officials was evidence that the creep had indeed already begun, we'll never know for sure. Regardless, Hays' bill died in the end.
Not to be deterred, Hays is back again this year to waste yet more time and money fending off the imaginary threat only he, and a few others apparently can see. And if he didn't appear nutty enough last time, Hays has an entirely new explanation for selling the bill, and it's gained him national attention this time. While the Legislature works hard to prevent many from gaining access to health care, Hays sees the creeping Sharia as a "disease," and with his latest bill, he will provide "vaccinations" against it. No health insurance required, just magical thinking:
"When you were a child, did your parents have you vaccinated against different diseases? That was a preemptive gesture on their part for which I would hope you're very thankful. And this is very similar to that. Your mom and dad would not want you to get sick from one of those dreadful diseases, and I don't want any American to be in a Florida courtroom and have their constitutional rights violated by any foreign law. That's it. It's not that complicated."
Never mind that no one is trying to implement Sharia law in a courtroom or elsewhere. In the mind of lawmakers like Hays, it could happen. Crazy fantasies have played a part in other bills as well, especially when it comes to abortion law in Florida.
So yes, it's just another day at the office for the likes of Alan Hays. Sadly for the rest of us who have to live with any laws this man might manage to pass, it's too bad there's no vaccination for creeping insanity:
Former GOP Arkansas Congressman Asa Hutchinson, leader of the task force for the NRA's National School Shield Emergency Response Program, appeared on MSNBC's The Last Word Tuesday night, and among other questionable claims, said that he "didn't represent the NRA." Hutchinson was chosen by the NRA to lead the task force, and he selected the 13 task force members.
Hutchinson was vague in many of the answers he gave Lawrence O'Donnell, and avoided answering others by changing the subject.
While claiming the program and report were the result of an "independent" study, Hutchinson refused to disclose the amount he was paid as a consultant for the program. The 225 page report cost the NRA over $1 million. Hutchinson was adamant, saying he was "not speaking on behalf of the NRA.":
Hutchinson guaranteed the report maintained “full independence” from the NRA, saying “there’s no guarantee the NRA will accept these recommendations.” The NRA itself issued a response: “We need time to digest the full report. We commend Asa Hutchinson for his rapid response in the aftermath of the Newtown tragedy, and we are certain the contributions he and his team have made will go a long way to making America’s schools safer.”]
[Throughout his career, Hutchinson has maintained a relationship with the NRA and other gun groups. In his 1986 Senate campaign, he was endorsed by the Gun Owners of America of Washington. Hutchinson also received more than $30,000 in contributions from the NRA while running for state and federal office, according to the Sunlight Foundation.
The School Shield roll-out is featured prominently on the NRA website, of course, while they play along with the "independent" claim by posting this "response" followed with a link to the report:
We need time to digest the full report. We commend Asa Hutchinson for his rapid response in the aftermath of the Newtown tragedy, and we are certain the contributions he and his team have made will go a long way to making America's schools safer.
As always, the overall solutions offered are that more guns are the answer, and that the majority of proposed legislation to tighten gun laws are inadequate.
The report doesn't offer specific advice as to which type of weapon might work best for school guards, but Hutchinson suggested that either a shotgun or an AR-15 would be acceptable, in addition to a more manageable handgun.
During his interview, O'Donnell also pointed out that none of the task force members chosen by Hutchinson had any experience in schools, but rather all had security and law enforcement backgrounds.
When confronted with facts about specific circumstances that occurred in previous shootings in Arizona and Colorado where many of the NRA's claims didn't hold up to real life scenarios, Hutchinson went in another direction entirely to avoid the question and merely recited the same old NRA talking points.
President Obama wants the Centers for Disease Control to study guns again, so America faces its old enemy from the 90s: any actual knowledge about guns.
NRA ratings still matter, but as the first post-Newtown election showed us, those ratings have been turned upside down.
Democrat Robin Kelly, who earned an "F" rating from the NRA, went up against "A" rated front-runner Democrat Debbie Halvorson in the special election in Illinois this week, and Kelly won.
Backed by a flood of Super PAC money and a tremendous grassroots effort, her victory showed that times have changed.
Yes, this time it is different.
Congratulations to Robin Kelly on her victory, and her well earned "F."
President Obama held a press conference this morning after meeting with Congressional leaders to talk about his plans to move the country forward in light of the severe budget cuts that will start to take effect today.
In Florida, you can thank these House Republicans (phone numbers here) for turning their backs on everyday Floridians and the country so they can protect millionaires and billionaires from having to pay their fair share of taxes.
To see how the sequester will hurt Florida, and what their constituents will have to give up so the wealthy (yes, many of whom are members listed below) can continue to pay less in taxes, see this earlier post.
