Sotomayor backers urge reporters to probe New Haven firefighter

McClatchy ^ | 7/10/09 | Michael Doyle and David Lightman

[anniegetyourgun]

WASHINGTON — Supporters of Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor are quietly targeting the Connecticut firefighter who's at the center of Sotomayor's most controversial ruling.

On the eve of Sotomayor's Senate confirmation hearing, her advocates have been urging journalists to scrutinize what one called the "troubled and litigious work history" of firefighter Frank Ricci.

This is opposition research: a constant shadow on Capitol Hill.

"The whole business of getting Supreme Court nominees through the process has become bloodsport," said Gary Rose, a government and politics professor at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Conn.

[headstamp 2]

“On Friday, citing in an e-mail “Frank Ricci’s troubled and litigious work history,” the liberal advocacy group People for the American Way drew reporters’ attention to Ricci’s past. Other advocates for Sotomayor have discreetly urged journalists to pursue similar story lines.”

This perfectly illustrates the function that the news media fulfills today. Attack dogs for the liberals/Democrats.

Criminalize and destroy your opposition.

Journalism is dead.

Watch the gutless Republicans in the Senate abandon this guy in droves.

[jazminerose]

My first thought was the Joe the Plumber treatment as well. But this one could backfire. I can only speak for Californians, brush fire country, but we LOVE our firefighters. When a piece of filth arsonist killed 5 of them locally, the jury had no problem coming back with the death penalty, I don’t recall a single bleat out of the local libs about it.

Start tearing up a firefighter & expect a hell of a pushback. Most people appreciate firefighters in a very deep way.

[chainsaw]

What’s to probe. Discrimination against whites is just as bad as discrimination against Blacks and Latinos. If ya aren’t smart enough to get a higher grade on a test, so be it. Go home and study for the next test.

[4Liberty]

Paula Jones, Linda Tripp received the same gracious treatment.

This is a favored Dem tactic. If you can’t argue the law is on your side, make fun of their hair style.

Dems are overeducated 2-year olds.

When will the public catch on to these pathetic attempts to distract us from principles of justice and fairness under the law?

[anniegetyourgun]

The MSM will aid and abet the process of painting these guys (and R’s) as racists, leading into Monday’s hearings. However, I’m not sure this will be a huge effort because they know that we’re going to have Sotomayor on the SCOTUS. It’s a given.

[anniegetyourgun]

The “public” is deluded....and we’re going to have Sotomayor on the high court anyway....because “the public” is also owned now.

[Clintonfatigued]

“George and his running dog lackeys do not think it fitting for the poor and working class people in America to use the federal courts!”

That’s not necessarily true. They’re all for using the Federal Courts if the plaintiffs want to get a government-paid abortion.

[ExTexasRedhead]

All RATs fear exposure more than anything else for they have the most hidden, IMO. Liberals are corruption personified!

[Zeppo]

So, does the GOP have dozens of its elected officials calling publicly on Sotomayor to denounce the actions of the un-American 'People for the American Way'?

If not, why not?

[jazminerose]

It likely wont stop Sotomoto but the libs may end up catching more grief than they anticipated. People love firefighters more than they love politicians.

[justiceseeker93]

So "People for the American Way" is leading the charge in searching for smears against Mr. Ricci. Why don't they change their name to "People for the UNAmerican Way" to be more transparent with us?

[justiceseeker93]

The Left has found their latest Joe-the-Plumber.

Hopefully, Ricci can do even more damage to them than Joe the Plumber did.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[kcvl]

(People for the America Way) PFAW was founded by television producer Norman Lear (All in the Family, Maude, The Jeffersons, etc.) in 1981 specifically in response to what it felt was the divisive rhetoric of such increasingly influential televangelists as Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell

Figures such as actress Kathleen Turner and the Rabbi David Saperstein sit on the board of People For the American Way's affiliate foundation, People For the American Way Foundation.

The former presidents of People For are Anthony Podesta (1981-1987), Arthur Kropp (1987-1995), Carole Shields (1996-2000) and Ralph Neas (2000-2007). Kathryn Kolbert is the organization's current president.

Alec Baldwin, Board Member

Located in Washington, D.C., People For the American Way monitors what it characterizes as "right-wing" activities, conducting rapid response, political lobbying, and volunteer mobilization.

Noteable staff: Elliot Mincberg, (former staff) Counsel to House Judiciary Committee

More Here

******

Michael B. Keegan, President of PFAW, has a rich background progressive activism, particularly in the area of LGBT equality. He is a founding national board member of The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD).

Mr. Keegan is a real estate investor and has worked in various capacities in the media and entertainment industries, at companies such as Columbia Pictures and at Act III Communications where he served as President of the 500-screen Act III Theatres Circuit.

Mr. Keegan joined Bold New World from Act III Communications, where he was President of the 500-screen movie theater company. Mr. Keegan was also in charge of Act III Productions and the Executive-in-Charge of Production for the film "Fried Green Tomatoes." At Bold New World, Mr. Keegan will be responsible for developing strategic alliances and investor relations. Prior to Bold New World and Act III, Mr. Keegan was the Director of Corporate Development for both Columbia Pictures and the Coca Cola Entertainment business sector, where he analyzed and negotiated acquisitions, coordinated new business development and created strategic marketing plans.

Bold New World clients including American Airlines, IBM, Pepsi, Philip Morris, Seagram Americas, and America Online; and story placement for clients in national and international print and broadcast media, including ABC World News Tonight, CNN, 20/20, and The New York Times.

Bold New World clients also include MGM Worldwide Television, PLAN4ever.com, DVD Express, The Chicago Tribune, Arianna Online, Sticker Planet, Downey Savings, Nature Rangers, Internet Mercado, Cyrk, MADtv, Wellness Television, ChiroWeb, The Advocate, Race to Erase MS and BuyIt.com.

******

PFAW Calls for DHS to Publish "Rightwing Extremism" Report - June 12, 2009

In the wake of the murder of Dr. George Tiller in Kansas and Stephen T. Johns at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum, People For the American Way President Michael B. Keegan called for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to finalize and publish its "Rightwing Extremism" report. The report was released by DHS earlier this year but retracted after its content became the subject of manufactured controversy from Religious Right groups.

http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/view/105861

******

An Open Letter to Obama: Gay Equality Needs Your Voice ...Jun 23, 2009

... Michael B. Keegan

******

“President Obama used this opportunity to do exactly what he promised in last year’s election - to select a person who has demonstrated an abiding commitment to core constitutional values of justice, opportunity, and equality under the law. He has named someone who understands the impact that the law has on the everyday lives of ordinary Americans,” said Michael B. Keegan, co-chair of the Coalition for Constitutional Values and president of People for the American Way.

******

Coalition for Constitutional Values, a Liberal Group Buys TV Ad Backing Sotomayor

How Nonprofits can work with the Obama Administration

"Alliance for Justice hosted a Speaker Series event featuring attorneys Michael Trister and Holly Schadler (Lichtman, Trister & Ross, PLLC) discussing how nonprofits may work with the new administration while staying within the legal boundaries of federal tax and election law"

May 501(c)(3) public charities influence the confirmation of Supreme Court nominees?

Answer: Yes!

******

post from Nan Aron on Huffington Post You may have heard that Republicans in the U.S. Senate are blocking the nomination of Dawn Johnsen to head the Office of Legal Counsel in the Justice Department

A leading voice in public interest law for over 30 years, Nan Aron is President of Alliance for Justice

TONY PODESTA - Counsel to Edward Kennedy, People

for the American Way - Founding President, Assistant US Attorney, Machinists/Aerospace Workers Union - Dep General Counsel, PodestaMattoon - Co-Chairman, Clinton/Gore '96 General Cmte - PA Campaign Dir, Podesta Group - Chairman

JOHN PODESTA - President Clinon, chief of staff, brother to Tony Podesta, co-chairman of the Obama-Biden Transition Project

[sheik yerbouty]

“People For the Soviet Way”

[justiceseeker93]

"People For the Soviet Way"

Yes, that's more like it!

[SES1066]

As proven in multiple previous confirmations, politics is a ‘blood sport’. I still remember when Norman Lear (”All in the Family” etc.) setup the “People for the American Way” (PAW). He claimed that they were ‘middle of the road’ advocacy group. Just goes to show what the middle of the road is when you think that Jimmy Carter was a conservative!

[sheik yerbouty]

“Peace, land and bread”...

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks justiceseeker93.

[Grampa Dave]

There is a Yahoo Poll still running re the La Raza Racist Female wanting to be a Supreme:

http://js.polls.yahoo.com/quiz/quiziframe.php?poll_id=46856

Do you want Sotomayor to be confirmed? Results
Q. In a CNN/Opinion Research Corp. survey released just before the start of the Supreme Court nominee’s confirmation hearings, 47 percent of people questioned would like to see the Senate vote in favor, with 40 percent opposed and 13 percent unsure.

Where do you stand? Do you want Sotomayor to be confirmed?

Yes. Sotomayor would be a strong addition to the court. 28%

No. Sotomayor would be a detrimental addition to the court. 70%

Not sure/No opinion. 2%

85708 votes

Please to the Yahoo Link below to vote:

http://js.polls.yahoo.com/quiz/quiziframe.php?poll_id=46856