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Posted tagged ‘Obama’
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RIGHT ANGLE: The End of Two Errors
December 1, 2016RIGHT ANGLE: The End of Two Errors, Bill Whittle Channel via YouTube, November 30, 2016
Obama Offers “Condolences” to Castro’s Family
November 26, 2016Obama Offers “Condolences” to Castro’s Family, White House Dossier,
President Obama Saturday issued a written statement on the death of Fidel Castro that failed to condemn any of the former Cuban leader’s brutality toward his people and that offered condolences to Castro’s family.
Whether because he has some sympathy for Castro or just because he wants to preserve the peace initiative that is helping prop up the Communist regime, Obama skirted Castro’s uncountable crimes against humanity, stating with sordid euphemism that Castro had “altered” people’s lives and leaving it to “history” to judge him.
“We know that this moment fills Cubans – in Cuba and in the United States – with powerful emotions, recalling the countless ways in which Fidel Castro altered the course of individual lives, families, and of the Cuban nation,” Obama said. “History will record and judge the enormous impact of this singular figure on the people and world around him . . . Today, we offer condolences to Fidel Castro’s family, and our thoughts and prayers are with the Cuban people.”
Let’s be clear about who Castro’s family is. It is comprised of an elite in Cuba who have lived the high life at the expense of the Cuban people, and others who fled the island and who hate Fidel. So there is no one to offer condolences to.
Obama’s ideology and obsession with his fading legacy has caused him to ignore the barbarity of one of the world’s worst dictators, who inflicted his tyranny not only on his own people but sought to spread it throughout Latin America and even beyond. Obama’s statement is a moral outrage. Actually, it is immoral. From a man who attempts to preach to the rest of us day after day.
Here’s the statement in full:
At this time of Fidel Castro’s passing, we extend a hand of friendship to the Cuban people. We know that this moment fills Cubans – in Cuba and in the United States – with powerful emotions, recalling the countless ways in which Fidel Castro altered the course of individual lives, families, and of the Cuban nation. History will record and judge the enormous impact of this singular figure on the people and world around him.
For nearly six decades, the relationship between the United States and Cuba was marked by discord and profound political disagreements. During my presidency, we have worked hard to put the past behind us, pursuing a future in which the relationship between our two countries is defined not by our differences but by the many things that we share as neighbors and friends – bonds of family, culture, commerce, and common humanity. This engagement includes the contributions of Cuban Americans, who have done so much for our country and who care deeply about their loved ones in Cuba.Today, we offer condolences to Fidel Castro’s family, and our thoughts and prayers are with the Cuban people. In the days ahead, they will recall the past and also look to the future. As they do, the Cuban people must know that they have a friend and partner in the United States of America.
The golden double standard
November 23, 2016The golden double standard, Israel Hayom, Annika Hernroth-Rothstein, November 23, 2016
Benjamin Netanyahu, red-faced and happy, sits next to Donald Trump in a gold Roman-style litter. The ancient vehicle is being carried by big-nosed Orthodox Jews, a member of the Ku Klux Klan, a voluptuous woman and a few Israeli soldiers — marked with large Israeli flags on their chests. A speech bubble comes out of Netanyahu’s mouth, saying “Finally!”
The image I just described was published in Sweden’s largest-circulation daily paper, Dagens Nyheter, as a political cartoon, commenting on Trump’s victory in the American presidential election. It’s a bizarre mishmash of people and symbols, where IDF soldiers and a robed clansman are celebrating Trump side by side, and wildly stereotypical Orthodox Jews are hanging out with a pinup girl next to Israel’s security barrier. But the logical fail not withstanding, it reeks of anti-Semitic imagery and messaging, and it is the next step in normalizing something that has been underground for quite some time. One would assume the paper would realize this and issue a thorough apology. But that didn’t happen. Instead, the paper doubled down and defended the cartoon, saying that it was merited by the fact that Netanyahu celebrated Trump’s victory, despite Trump being supported by anti-democratic forces and white power movements. No mention of the fact that Netanyahu’s support of Trump extended only to the courtesy shown to a president-elect by any and every national leader or that Jews rarely stand shoulder to shoulder with the Klan, but just that Netanyahu “celebrated” Trump — as if the Israeli prime minister had thrown Trump an opulent party.
Dagens Nyheter calls itself an independent, liberal publication, and in the past year, it has taken a clear stand against Trump, saying he has made the world more extreme and xenophobic. Editor-in-Chief Peter Wolodarski has used his editorials to ride a very high moral horse, and his decision to run that particular cartoon is a fascinating portrait of the division between the right and wrong kinds of racism and bigotry.
What the cartoonist, known as “Bard,” is saying by this crude drawing is not only that the Jews and Israel orchestrated and celebrated the Trump win but also that the evil hook-noses side with anyone to get their way, including organizations known for wanting their annihilation.
Now, for the sake of entertainment and folly, let’s imagine another drawing: a cartoonish Barack Obama sitting in a golden carriage with a sweaty Mahmoud Abbas, being carried by big-nosed ISIS terrorists, voluptuous virgin brides and members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. Imagine that it was published by a country’s most popular publication and that the editor-in-chief defended it by saying that Obama had been supportive of Abbas and therefore, the imagery was fair game.
Do any of you, dear readers, think this would happen? Does anyone think that if it did, it would be go largely unnoticed and accepted? No, me neither, and I know this because we have an example of this very thing. When Charlie Hebdo was attacked and journalists were murdered in cold blood over their criticism of Islam, people still said that the portrayal of the Prophet Muhammad was inexcusable and unacceptable, and remained on the fence after the very heart of freedom had been ripped to bits. Famous writers such as Joyce Carol Oates, Junot Díaz and Michael Ondaatje protested Charlie Hebdo receiving the PEN award, and were supported by a wide array of liberals all across the globe who called the French satirical magazine racist.
So what is really fair game — what racism is allowed and celebrated in today’s society? We know that portraying Israel as the leader of a Zionist conspiracy that elects presidents is fine, as is literally painting anti-Semitic stereotypes of Jews side by side with white supremacists in a dog whistle loud enough to give you tinnitus. That elicits a few angry and summarily ignored letters from Jews, whereas similar imagery and messaging about any other group might close down the publication, if it were to survive the inevitable terrorist attacks.
Some of my friends filed a complaint against Dagens Nyheter, but I didn’t bother, as it is the activist equivalent of drawing a picture of a sandwich to feed the starving. Our voices mean little when others stay silent, and it is because of this silence that the largest paper in the land can go full Der Sturmer and no one even bats an eye.
Obama Admin Covering Up Key Iran Deal Details in Final Days
November 22, 2016Obama Admin Covering Up Key Iran Deal Details in Final Days Rubio spox: Senator looks forward to helping Trump shred Iran deal
BY:
November 22, 2016 5:00 am
Source: Obama Admin Covering Up Key Iran Deal Details in Final Days
Secretary of State John Kerry talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in Vienna / AP
Senior Obama administration officials in their final days in office are seeking to cover up key details of the Iran nuclear deal from Congress, according to documents and sources who spoke to the Washington Free Beacon about continued efforts by the White House to block formal investigations into secret diplomacy with Tehran that resulted in a $1.7 billion cash payment by the United States.
As leading members of Congress petition the Obama administration for answers about what many describe as a $1.7 billion “ransom” payment to Iran, Obama administration officials are doubling down on their refusal to answer questions about the secret negotiations with Iran that led to this payment.
Sen. Marco Rubio (R., Fla.), a vocal opponent of last year’s nuclear deal with Iran, has been seeking answers from senior Obama administration officials since at least late September. However, officials continue to stonewall the senator’s inquiries, according to senior congressional sources and formal communications between Rubio and the State Department obtained by the Free Beacon.
Rubio and several other lawmakers have petitioned the Obama administration for documents and information about the secret negotiations that resulted in Tehran receiving $1.7 billion in cash and a promise from the United States to further roll back sanctions on an Iranian financial institution that helped finance the country’s illicit ballistic missile program.
A spokesman for Rubio told the Free Beacon that the administration’s continued obfuscation has motivated the senator to take steps to help President-elect Donald Trump kill the nuclear agreement once he enters office next year.
“Senator Rubio looks forward to working with President-elect Trump and his team to scrap this fundamentally flawed deal and hold Iran accountable for its cheating and regional aggression,” the spokesman said.
Rubio submitted a list of questions about the deal to Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sept. 29 during a hearing aimed at examining these payments to Iran.
Blinken finally provided answers to these questions last week, but declined to address all specific questions Rubio posed about the secret negotiations over the $1.7 billion payment.
While the Obama administration has maintained for months that the payment was not part of a ransom package, the Free Beacon and other publications have disclosed in recent weeks that the United States did engage in secret diplomacy with Iran on a range of issues, including the release of American hostages and the $1.7 billion payment.
These issues were addressed in three separate agreements that were only finalized once the United States agreed to provide Tehran with the $1.7 billion payment. Secret documents stored on Capitol Hill and treated in a classified manner show that each of the agreements hinged on the cash payment, the Free Beacon first disclosed in October.
Rubio and other lawmakers have also sought answers from Attorney General Loretta Lynch, who would have played a role in signing off on the agreements. Lynch has declined to answer questions, prompting Rubio and Rep. Mike Pompeo (R., Kan.), the incoming CIA director, to accuse her of “pleading the fifth” before Congress.
The White House has not responded to similar questions submitted by Rubio on Sept. 10, and Treasury Secretary Jack Lew has not answered a series of queries posed on Oct. 25, according to sources who accused the administration of intentionally dodging congressional oversight.
Rubio asked Blinken to provide information on any U.S. official who signed off on the secret deals, and to specify if the agreements were part of the formal nuclear agreement or were inked separately. He also asked whether the deals were tied to the release of U.S. hostages.
Rubio hopes to obtain the name of the Iranian official or officials who signed these documents. Sources familiar with the deals and secret documents stored on Capitol Hill told the Free Beacon it is likely the United States inked these deals with a representative of Iran’s intelligence apparatus.
Blinken did not provide firm answers to any of these questions, according to a copy of his formal communication to Rubio viewed by the Free Beacon. He maintained that the cash payment was part of a decades-old legal dispute with Tehran before the international claims tribunal at the Hague.
“The timing of the Hague settlement was a consequence of the United States taking advantage of the opening of diplomatic opportunities with Iran on several fronts simultaneously, including the opportunity to minimize litigation risk with respect to Iran’s contract claims arising under the U.S.-Iran Foreign Military Sales (‘FMS’) Program,” Blinken wrote, repeating a talking point issued by several Obama administration officials.
The payment was not a ransom, Blinken said.
“Regarding the allegations that this settlement constituted ransom to free American citizens who were released from prison in Iran on January 17, the Administration has repeatedly made it clear since January, and President Obama recently reiterated, that this settlement did not constitute ransom and that the United States has not and will not pay ransom,” he wrote. “Upon Iran’s release of several unjustly detained Americans, the United States provided relief to certain Iranian citizens charged with primarily sanctions-related crimes, several of whom are dual U.S.-Iranian nationals, as a one-time reciprocal humanitarian gesture.”
Obama Hands Out Medals of Freedom to Major Democratic Donors, Supporters
November 21, 2016Obama Hands Out Medals of Freedom to Major Democratic Donors, Supporters, Washington Free Beacon, Morgan Chalfant, November 21, 2016
(Well gosh. Supporting Democrats, financially and otherwise, obviously constitutes “especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States.” Any fool knows that. — DM)
US president Barack Obama waves as he departs from Tegel airport in Berlin Friday Nov. 18, 2016. (Rainer Jensen/dpa via AP)
Barack Obama will deliver his final round of Presidential Medals of Freedom this week to a group largely comprised of Democratic donors and individuals who have supported him politically.
The White House on Wednesday unveiled the 2016 list of honorees, who will on Tuesday receive the nation’s highest civilian award for making “especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States.”
Eleven of the honorees have made contributions to Democratic committees or campaigns, including some that directly supported Obama, according to an analysis of Federal Election Commission records by the Washington Free Beacon. Twelve of the individuals have publicly backed Obama or his policies.
A handful of the individuals are Hollywood celebrities who have used their stature to advocate for Obama or Hillary Clinton.
Obama underlined the significance of the award on Wednesday, characterizing the winners as individuals who have “helped push America forward.”
“The Presidential Medal of Freedom is not just our nation’s highest civilian honor–it’s a tribute to the idea that all of us, no matter where we come from, have the opportunity to change this country for the better,” Obama said in a statement. “From scientists, philanthropists, and public servants to activists, athletes, and artists, these 21 individuals have helped push America forward, inspiring millions of people around the world along the way.”
The list includes talk show host and comedian Ellen DeGeneres, who has contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to Democratic committees and campaigns over the years. For example, DeGeneres contributed $35,800 to the Obama Victory Fund in 2012 and $100,000 to the Hillary Victory Fund this year.
DeGeneres, who endorsed Clinton in an interview with the former secretary of state on her show, also contributed the maximum $2,700 to Clinton’s primary campaign against Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.). DeGeneres vocally praised Obama for coming out in favor of same-sex marriage ahead of his reelection in 2012.
Actor Robert De Niro, a supporter of both Obama and Clinton, will also receive a Presidential Medal of Freedom on Tuesday. De Niro has given thousands of dollars to the Democratic National Committee and contributed $10,000 to the Obama Victory Fund in 2012 and $2,500 to Obama’s general election campaign the same year.
Another celebrity who will receive the honor is Tom Hanks, who endorsed Obama during his first campaign for president in 2008. Hanks donated $2,300 and $2,500 to Obama’s 2008 and 2012 election campaigns, respectively, and has given thousands to the DNC and other Democrats, such as newly-elected Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.).
Hanks also backed Clinton in her most recent presidential bid, contributing the maximum $2,700 to her primary campaign.
Famed retired basketball player Michael Jordan will also receive a medal. While Jordan made headlines two years ago for calling Obama a “hack” golfer during an interview, the former pro basketball star has been a supporter of the president. Jordan hosted a $3 million fundraiser for Obama during his reelection bid that collected $20,000 per guest.
Obama will hand a Presidential Medal of Freedom to Lorne Michaels, famous for creating and producing Saturday Night Live. Michaels has contributed more than $81,000 to political committees and campaigns, the wide majority of which support Democratic causes. Michaels sent $4,600 to the Obama Victory Fund in 2008.
The producer also donated to Sen. John McCain’s (R., Ariz.) presidential primary campaign in 2008 and Ralph Nader’s 2000 presidential campaign.
At least one fierce critic of Trump will be honored on Tuesday: singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen, who described Trump as a “moron” and a “toxic narcissist” during the 2016 campaign season. Springsteen endorsed Obama in 2008 and rallied for Hillary Clinton alongside Jon Bon Jovi on the evening before Election Day.
Springsteen has donated thousands to committees supporting Democrats, including outgoing Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.) and Russ Feingold, who unsuccessfully challenged incumbent Sen. Ron Johnson (R., Wis.) this election cycle.
The ceremony will also honor actor, director, producer, and outspoken environmentalist Robert Redford, who endorsed Obama in 2012 and met informally with the president at the White House in May. In August, Redford fundraised for Feingold, of whom the film star has been a longtime supporter.
The entertainers’ careers, as well as those of the non-Hollywood recipients, were outlined by the White House in its announcement of the awards.
The list also includes prominent individuals in the fields of business and the arts. Business magnate and philanthropist Bill Gates along with his wife, Melinda, will receive medals, after having together donated thousands to Obama and tens of thousands to Democratic groups such as the DNC and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. The couple has given to both Democratic and Republican committees over the years, though the contributions favor Democrats.
Bill donated $17,900 to the Obama Victory Fund in 2012, while his wife also gifted $35,800 to the joint fundraising committee. Melinda Gates contributed $5,000 to Obama’s 2012 primary and general election campaigns.
The two also each gave $50,000 to Obama’s inauguration in 2009. Obama and Bill Gates partneredon a multi-billion-dollar clean energy initiative, a project that was announced in timing with the Paris climate talks one year ago.
In the announcement Wednesday, the White House singled out the Gates family for their charity, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which has provided over $36 billion in grants to improve the lives of people in the United States and developing countries. The charity is also a major supporter of the Bill, Hillary, and Chelsea Clinton Foundation, giving more than $25 million to the cause.
Obama will also recognize architect Frank Gehry, the designer behind the controversial Dwight D. Eisenhower memorial who has given well over $250,000 to Democratic committees and campaigns since 1999. Gehry is a financial supporter of campaigns supporting Obama, to whom he donated $4,600 in 2008, and Hillary Clinton. Gehry sent nearly $80,000 to the Obama Victory Fund in 2012 and more than $60,000 to the Hillary Victory Fund this year.
Artist and designer Maya Lin, who has donated tens of thousands to Democratic committees and campaigns, including those of Obama and Clinton, was also named by the White House as a Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient.
Newt Minow, the former chairman of the Federal Communications Commission who hired Obama as a summer associate at his law firm in the 1980s, will also be honored. Minow is a supporter of Obama and urged him to run for president, according to a 2008 Vanity Fair interview.
Minow has contributed nearly $18,000 to both Democratic and Republican political campaigns and committees, though the contributions have leaned Democrat. He donated $7,500 to committees supporting Obama in the early 2000s.
Also among the honorees are NBA all-time leading scorer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, an Obama supporter; physicist Richard Garwin, who was among several scientists who praised the Iran nuclear deal in a letter to Obama last August; Miami Dade College president Eduardo Padron, a proponent of Obama’s free college plan; and actress and Hillary Clinton supporter Cicely Tyson.
Not all those to be honored Tuesday are Obama supporters or major donors to Democratic causes. Mathematician and computer scientist Margaret Hamilton, singer Diana Ross, U.S. Navy Real Admiral Grace Hopper, and Blackfeet tribal leader Elouise Cobell will all be honored, the latter two posthumously, without having made substantial political contributions or stumped for Democrats.
The only clear Republican of the group is baseball broadcaster Vin Scully, who spurred a flurry of media coverage when he criticized socialism during a live broadcast in June. Though his political contributions pale in comparison to some others on the list, Scully donated $2,300 to McCain’s presidential campaign in 2008 and $1,500 to retired House Speaker John Boehner’s congressional campaign over 2010 and 2o11. Scully also wrote a check for $2,500 to the Romney Victory Fund in 2012.
The White House did not respond to a request for information about what the president took into account when selecting the latest round of Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients.
Obama will award the last round of medals two days before Thanksgiving and two months before he will leave the White House as the Trump administration takes over.
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