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From SeeingBlack.com The 411 Gov’t Report: Quarter of All US Children Went Hungry Last Year
Ben Bernanke: “Jobs are likely to remain scarce for some time, keeping households cautious about their spending. As the recovery becomes established, however, payrolls should begin to grow again at a pace that increases over time. Nevertheless, as net gains of roughly 100,000 jobs per month are needed just to absorb new entrants into the labor force, the unemployment rate likely will decline only slowly, if the economic growth remains moderate, as I expect.” Click here to post a comment. Click here to view all our blogs and discussion groups, where you can comment on any news stories or post your own news. Read and search hundreds of news stories on SeeingBlack.com's 411 Channel. Do you shop at Amazon? Please shop through our link and support SeeingBlack.com! Alleging Unconstitutional Targeting, ACORN Sues US Gov’t Over Defunding Vote The anti-poverty group ACORN has filed a lawsuit against the US government that accuses Congress of punitively targeting the organization. In September, the Senate and the House voted on legislation to strip ACORN of federal funding following the release of a video in which employees of ACORN were secretly recorded giving tax advice to two conservative activists dressed up as a pimp and a prostitute. ACORN has long been a target of right-wing scorn for its work helping poor people fight foreclosures, fix tax problems, and register to vote. BILL QUIGLEY, legal director of the Center for Constitutional Rights, who filed the lawsuit on ACORN’s behalf: Well, ACORN has been just singled out for persecution by the far right, and it has, you know, been harassed for years. But with this sting operation by these right-wing TV folks, Congress really shifted into overdrive, and despite the fact that most—I think most of the Congress representatives knew what they were doing was illegal. They engaged in a practice that has been prohibited since the Constitution was enacted, which is called a “bill of attainder,” which just says that Congress can’t single out one person or one organization and punish them. And that goes back even to the English Parliament days, is the reason it was in our Constitution. And so, Congress, though, put one sentence into the continuing budget resolutions, which says no federal funds shall go at all to ACORN, any of its subsidiaries, allies or friends. Immigrant Rights Advocates Hail Departure of CNN Anchor Lou Dobbs In media news, the CNN anchor Lou Dobbs has stepped down after nearly three decades. In a surprise announcement, Dobbs said last Wednesday’s edition of his program Lou Dobbs Tonight would be his last. Lou Dobbs: “Over the past six months, it’s become increasingly clear that strong winds of change have begun buffeting this country and affecting all of us, and some leaders in media, politics and business have been urging me to go beyond the role here at CNN and to engage in constructive problem solving, as well as to contribute positively to a better understanding of the great issues of our day.” Dobbs has been rumored for a new show at Fox News or even as a potential presidential candidate. A coalition of Latino groups recently led a campaign for his removal over his alleged anti-Latino bias in covering immigration reform. Last month, Roberto Lovato of the group BastaDobbs.com spoke at a rally outside CNN’s New York offices. Roberto Lovato: “What comes out of Lou Dobbs’ mouth is hatred for Latinos and undocumented immigrants in the United States, his support for the extremists that are actually killing immigrants, like the Federation of Immigration Reform and the Minutemen, whose members in Arizona are responsible for the murder of nine-year-old Brisenia Flores and her father. So, Lou Dobbs is not telling his audience to go out and kill and hurt and attack immigrants, but he provides a platform for those that do.” In a statement, Lovato said, “We are thrilled that Dobbs no longer has this legitimate platform from which to incite fear and hate.” CDC: 4,000 Swine Flu Deaths Since April In health news, new figures show around 4,000 Americans have died from the swine flu since its outbreak in April. The Centers for Disease Control figure marks a significant jump from the previous estimate of around 1,200 swine flu-related deaths. Basketball Legend Abdul-Jabbar Backs Universal Healthcare In other healthcare news, the Hall of Fame retired basketball player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has endorsed calls for universal healthcare. On Tuesday, Abdul-Jabbar appeared on CNN to announce he has leukemia. Asked about his healthcare stance, Abdul-Jabbar called universal coverage a “just and noble cause.” Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: “Our healthcare system really fails so many people, especially poor people, you know, people who don’t have the means to go to private doctors. I think we should change that. I think it’s absolutely crucial. And certainly it’s a just and noble cause to make healthcare available to everyone.” Whistleblower: Peak Oil Closer than IEA Forecasts Show An anonymous whistleblower at the International Energy Agency has told The Guardian newspaper that the world is much closer to running out of oil than official estimates admit. The whistleblower, described as a senior official at the agency, accused the United States of playing an influential role in encouraging the watchdog to underplay the rate of decline from existing oil fields while overplaying the chances of finding new reserves. The whistleblower told The Guardian, "Many inside the organization believe that maintaining oil supplies at even 90 million to 95 million barrels a day would be impossible, but there are fears that panic could spread on the financial markets if the figures were brought down further.” Gov’t Audit Criticizes Handing of AIG Bailout A new government audit has found that the Federal Reserve Bank of New York mismanaged the $85 billion bailout of AIG by refusing to use its considerable leverage to wring concessions from AIG’s trading partners. This resulted in the New York Fed paying full market value for assets underlying credit default swaps written by AIG to Goldman Sachs and other banks. This was done even though at least one bank, UBS, offered to cancel the contracts for less. Palestinians Threaten to Form Independent State In international news. Palestinian officials are coming under increasing pressure to back down from its threat to ask the United National Security Council to recognize Palestine as an independent state. The idea of seeking UN intervention has been gaining steam in the Arab world due to the current impasse in peace negotiations with Israel. Saeb Erekat, chief Palestinian negotiator: “The declaration of independence took place in 1988, and now it’s not the time for Palestinians to make more unilateral declarations. It is time to create the Palestinian independent state. The key here is the Security Council, for the Security Council to recognize the Palestinian state on the borders of the 4th of June 1967 and its capital East Jerusalem.” Last night the US State Department issued a statement opposing the Palestinian proposal: "It is our strong belief and conviction that the best means to achieve the common goal of a contiguous and viable Palestine is through negotiations between the parties.” Alleged 9/11 Conspirators to Be Tried in NY The Justice Department is planning on trying self-proclaimed 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four co-defendants in a New York federal court instead of a military commission. The announcement comes three days before the Obama administration’s self-imposed deadline to determine how to try the five suspects’ cases. Administration officials say up to thirty-five other Guantanamo Bay prisoners will face federal trial, leaving the fate of another seventy-five prisoners unresolved. The lead suspect in the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole, Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, will be tried at a military commission. The decision comes as the top administration official for the Guantanamo prison, Gregory Craig, is expected to step down later today. US Seizes Mosques, Buildings for Alleged Iran Ties Federal prosecutors have moved to seize four mosques and a New York skyscraper belonging to a non-profit foundation with alleged financial ties to Iran. On Thursday, prosecutors in Manhattan began legal action seeking the forfeiture of more than $500 million in the assets of the Alavi Foundation, which describes itself as a charitable foundation. The move is believed to be one of the largest property seizures in the name of “counterterrorism” in US history. The confiscation of the four mosques is expected to raise a number of legal issues surrounding the First Amendment right to freedom of religion. The move came as President Obama announced he would extend a number of sanctions against Iran for another year. © Copyright by SeeingBlack.com |
