Free Republic

On Joy Reid’s MSNBC show today, conservative Latino Alfonso Aguilar cited Hillary Clinton’s praise of the eugenicist Margaret Sanger, the founder of Planned Parenthood. Hillary has said that she “admire[s] Margaret Sanger enormously.” Reid responded by saying Sanger was not a legitimate issue because she is a “dead person.” Even worse, when Aguilar tried to make that point that a majority of abortions performed by Planned Parenthood are on minority women, Reid shut Aguilar down, calling his statement “incredibly offensive. I think that smear of Planned Parenthood cannot go forward and we’re not going to continue with that line of...

In an interview, Paul Wolfowitz, 72, an advisor to former President Bush, discusses the dangers of a Donald Trump presidency, why he will likely vote for the Democrat’s candidate this year and mistakes made during the Iraq war. […]Spiegel: Recently, 50 former senior Republican security officials declared Donald Trump to be a security risk. Is he? Wolfowitz: Yes, he is. Spiegel: Why? Wolfowitz: He says he admires Putin, that Saddam Hussein was killing terrorists, that the Chinese were impressive because they were tough on Tiananmen Square. That is pretty disturbing. […] Spiegel: Who are you going to vote for in...

Facing numerous analyses showing his signature jobs programs misallocated resources and put few New Yorkers to work, Gov. Andrew Cuomo argued today that any such assessments are only a matter of political point of view. Speaking after an unrelated event in the Bronx, the governor defended his attacks last week on state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, who released unflattering audits of two Cuomo programs this summer. The governor again insisted that those findings were just DiNapoli’s opinions, opinions which are open to debate given the comptroller’s history as an assemblyman from Long Island. […] … (Cuomo’s) Startup NY initiative, which grants...

Norway’s foreign minister and the head of parliament’s foreign affairs committee have taken the unusual step of speaking out against Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. Foreign Minister Børge Brende told broadcaster NRK on Monday that he has serious concerns about what Trump’s possible election could mean for Norway and the rest of the world. Brende condemned the brash businessman for making statements that “do not belong in the 21st century” and said he is continually flabbergasted by the controversial statements made by the Republican presidential candidate. …

... Some merchants such as SweetGreen, a salad chain, refuse to open their registers for cash, telling customers they can pay only with mobile payments or cards. With some newer vending machines, only a card or mobile wallet will get that cold Coca-Cola to roll down the chute. The stance may appear un-American -- after all, currency is considered legal tender for all debts or dues -- but the Treasury permits private businesses to set their own policies, which means going cashless is fine with Uncle Sam. "What we've seen is a push toward electric payments because of convenience, especially...

With the first day of school looming, Texas will go to court on Friday and begin pressing its argument that the Obama administration strayed outside the law by ordering public schools to accommodate transgender students. In a case expected to come down to the distinction between sex and gender identity, the state’s lawsuit against the federal government is set for its first hearing Friday morning in Fort Worth, where U.S. District Court Judge Reed O’Connor will hear arguments over Texas’ request for a preliminary injunction. Texas, joined by 10 other states, in May sued the Department of Education over the...

During the 90 full months President Barack Obama has completed serving in the White House—February 2009 through July 2016—the U.S. Treasury collected approximately $19,966,110,000,000 in tax revenues (in non-inflation-adjusted dollars), according to the Monthly Treasury Statements. During those same 90 months, the federal debt rose from $10,632,005,246,736.97 to $19,427,694,579,786.64—an increase of $8,795,689,333,049.67. In July, according to the Monthly Treasury Statement released today, the federal government took in $209,998,000,000 in taxes and spent $322,813,000,000—running a one-month deficit of $112,815,000,000. So far in fiscal 2016, according the Treasury statement, the federal government has collected approximately $2,678,824,000,000 in taxes and spent approximately $3,192,487,000,000—running...

A community college in Illinois is trying to defend itself after it decided to offer special classes only available to black people. “College: Changes, Challenges, Choice” is a one-credit introductory course at Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills, and is intended to help new students “assess your purpose for college, assess your study strategies, set college and career goals, examine your values and decision-making skills, and develop an appreciation for diversity.” But while the class may want students to appreciate diversity, the school doesn’t practice what it preaches. Two sections of the class are specifically set aside exclusively for...

A majority of black Americans say that at some point in their lives they’ve experienced discrimination or were treated unfairly because of their race or ethnicity, but blacks who have attended college are more likely than those without any college experience to say so, according to a recent Pew Research Center survey. About eight in ten blacks with at least some college experience (81%) say they’ve faced discrimination or been treated unfairly because of their race or ethnicity, compared with 59% of blacks who have never attended college. These differences also extend to more specific incidents of racial discrimination. For...

Much divides the country when it comes to the issue of gun violence. That’s why it is so important to find common ground so that, together, all Americans can work to reduce the damage that guns cause in our society. A new initiative starting this week in New Mexico has the potential to bring people together toward a common goal — making people safer without fighting over whether assault weapons should be banned or the meaning of the Second Amendment. Called Guns to Gardens, the movement organized by New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence simply helps people dispose of unwanted...

“The Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice has provided oversight and recommendations for improvement of police services in a number of cities with consent decrees. This is one of the most effective ways to reduce discrimination in law enforcement and it needs to be beefed up and increased to cover as many of the 18,000-plus local law enforcement jurisdictions.” That was United Nations Rapporteur Maina Kai on July 27, a representative of the U.N. Human Rights Council, who on the tail-end of touring the U.S., endorsed a little-known and yet highly controversial practice by the Justice Department to...

A few days ago, trying to maneuver through a “scrum” of reporters in Philadelphia, I was asked about my views regarding religious freedom and non-discrimination laws. Given the divisiveness and pain that have accompanied several state religious freedom laws, I approach attempts at legislating religious exceptions to anti-discrimination laws with great sensitivity and care.

AUSTIN -- A new potential law created by Texas Governor Greg Abbott would bring stronger penalties for crimes against law enforcement officers. The Police Protection Act would make any crime committed against a police officer "out of bias against police" be labeled a "hate crime." Under the act, assaulting a law enforcement officer would become a 2nd degree felony. It's currently a 3rd degree felony.

A bloody outrage: The decorated Para facing prosecution 44 years after shooting dead an IRA killer - while the blood-soaked men of terror know they'll never face justice (thanks to Blair's squalid 'peace' deal) Soldier C faces prosecution for shooting the IRA commander Joe McCann The 65-year-old had been cleared of any wrong-doing over killing in 1972 Thought case is politically motivated and designed to appease IRA families Meanwhile, suspected IRA terrorists avoid prosecution due to Blair's deal Soldier C is a man who rarely shows emotion. Having served his country for 23 years in both the Parachute Regiment and...

“America is already great. America is already strong,” President Obama told the Democrat National Convention Wednesday night. But he also admitted there is more work to do: “We’re not done perfecting our union, or living up to our founding creed, that all of us are created equal and free in the eyes of God.” Obama said “a lot’s happened” during his two terms in office, but despite war, recession and “all manner of challenge,” he is “optimistic about the future of America.” […] Obama said the work still to be done must be done by Hillary Clinton, who has promised...

The clock is counting down toward an important decision for Maryland’s economic future, namely whether to allow hydraulic fracturing, commonly known as fracking, to drill for natural gas in the state. Over a year ago, legislation that blocked fracking for another two years became law without Gov. Larry Hogan’s signature. That law barred the state from issuing drilling permits until October 2017 and required the Department of the Environment to adopt new regulations by October 2016. The passage of this law effectively delayed any decision on fracking until next year. To recap: the Marcellus Shale is a geological formation found...

A United Nations human rights expert is recommending changes in the way protests are handled in the United States, saying the process of issuing permits for demonstrations is “arbitrary” and could easily lead to discrimination against certain groups. Maina Kiai of Kenya, U.N. special rapporteur on freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, offered preliminary findings Wednesday from his visits this month to seven U.S. cities — including the sites of this year’s Democratic and Republican political conventions — to investigate how the U.S. upholds its citizens’ rights of assembly and association. Kiai’s full report to the United Nations will...

The Palestinian flag was prominently displayed by activists at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) on Monday, amid an apparent absence of American flags, according to numerous media and social media postings. […] Conservative bloggers, meanwhile, highlighted additional flag issues during the DNC, such as the party’s capitulation to protesters demanding the removal of the Mississippi state flag, which depicts the Confederate standard. In a video capturing its removal, demonstrators are heard chanting and cheering. […] The presence of the Palestinian flag at the DNC comes at a fragile time for pro-Israel Democrats, following major efforts — led by Vermont Senator...

Whenever President Obama feels defensive, he likes to talk about how the world has become more safe under his watch (with the implication that it's due to his own wise leadership). We first heard him speak that way during the summer of 2014, when the world seemed to be unraveling and critics were blaming him for the sad state of affairs. Obama said, "The world is less violent than it has ever been. It is healthier than it has ever been. It is more tolerant than it has ever been. It is better fed then it’s ever been. It is...

Michael Jordan came out of the closet to support our police officers. In a statement shared via The Undefeated on Monday morning, Jordan said the following: “As a proud American, a father who lost his own dad in a senseless act of violence, and a black man, I have been deeply troubled by the deaths of African-Americans at the hands of law enforcement and angered by the cowardly and hateful targeting and killing of police officers. I grieve with the families who have lost loved ones, as I know their pain all too well. “I was raised by parents who...