Oklahoma Doctor Refuses To Provide Rape Victim With Emergency Contraception

An Oklahoma emergency room doctor refused to provide emergency contraception to a 24-year-old female rape victim because the medication violated the health provider’s personal beliefs, a local CBS News affiliate reports. The hospital also denied the victim a rape kit, noting that it had no appropriate nurse on staff to administer the test.

Rumsfeld: Obama Call To Get Bin Laden No Big Deal, Credits Bush Admin For Raid’s Success

Earlier this month, former Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who served in both the Bush and Obama administrations, said President Obama’s decision to order the raid that killed Osama bin Laden “gutsy,” saying that “people don’t realize” what a tough call it was and not everyone would have made the same decision.

BREAKING: Federal Judge Blocks Florida Voter Suppression Law

A federal judge blocked much of Florida’s year-old voter suppression law today as an unconstitutional infringement on speech and voting rights.

Have You Lost Your Job Or Were You Betrayed By Others Who Looked Just Like You? Were You Betrayed Just Like Denmark Vesey!

The North American Slave Revolts are often centered on the most well-known rebellion of African slaves rising against their captors: the Nat Turner-led revolt of 1831. TheDenmark Vesey conspiracy, however, is notable for the sheer number of slaves involved and how a simple, cowardly confession from fearful members of the revolution foiled Vesey’s epic plot. One-hundred and ninety years ago today, thousands of African slaves were betrayed by their own after the plot was revealed, resulting in dozens of executions.

8-Year-Old Gets 'Catastrophe Award' for Most Homework Excuses (Mother Deflection)

The mother of an 8-year-old Arizona girl who was presented with a "Catastrophe Award" for apparently having the most excuses for not having homework believes her child was humiliated by her teacher.

Fox & Friends Produces 4 Minute Anti-Obama Attack Ad, Then Removes It From Its Website

Critics of the Fox News morning program Fox & Friends have often charged the show’s three hosts with essentially providing free airtime to GOP candidates, lawmakers and surrogates with little to no representation from their Democratic counterparts. But Wednesday morning’s foray marks a new low in the network’s willingness to do the Republican Party’s heavy lifting for it.

The New Aids OF The America's (Chagas)

A disease like AIDS is scary enough by itself but what about a disease that can be just as deadly and is transmitted by insects, that disease is called Chagas and researchers are warning that its being quickly spread throughout the Americas, much in the same pattern as the early HIV/AIDS epidemic.

U.S. Drone Policy: Standing Near Terrorists Makes You A Terrorist

The Obama administration has in turnbeen secretive about its use of targeted drone strikes, boasted about the program's success, and fended off critics who say the strikes are killing and injuring too many civilians. A New York Times storypublished Tuesday has the administration's human rights critics buzzing again. A key revelation comes near the end of the article, written by Jo Becker and Scott Shane, under the heading, "'They Must All Be Militants.'"

Dirty Tricks In Wisconsin: Secret Group Shuts Down Phones Of Scott Walker’s Democratic Challenger With Spam Texts

One week before Wisconsinites vote on whether or not to recall Gov. Scott Walker (R-WI), a conservative group is engaged in dirty tricks that have shut down the Democratic challenger’s campaign phones.

US Has One Of The Highest Child Poverty Rates In The Developed World

According to a new report from the Office of Research at the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the U.S. has one of the highest rates of child poverty in the developed world. Of the 35 wealthy countries studied by UNICEF, only Romania has a child poverty rate higher than the 23 percent rate in the U.S.:

Virtual Blackout From National Media On Voter Suppression In Florida

Florida Governor Rick Scott (R) has directed his administration to purge the state’s voting rolls of thousands of registered voters prior to the November election. But his list, which purports to include only “non-citizens,” targets mostly Democrats and Hispanics and, as ThinkProgress has documented, may disenfranchise hundreds of citizens who are eligible to vote.

The President's Kill List!

WASHINGTON — This was the enemy, served up in the latest chart from the intelligence agencies: 15 Qaeda suspects in Yemen with Western ties. The mug shots and brief biographies resembled a high school yearbook layout. Several were Americans. Two were teenagers, including a girl who looked even younger than her 17 years.

MEMORIAL DAY WAS STARTED BY FORMER SLAVES

According to Professor David Blight of Yale University, the first Memorial Day took place on May 1, 1865 in Charleston, SC, after a group of African-Americans, mostly former slaves, gave 257 Union soldiers a proper burial. The black community in Charleston then consecrated the new cemetary with “an unforgettable parade of 10,000 people,” led by 3,000 black school children. It was initially called “Decoration Day.”

Fact.

Memorial Day Driving By The Numbers

Memorial Day weekend is an opportunity to remember and honor the countless sacrifices made by our men and women in uniform in order to protect this great nation. It also marks the traditional start of the summer driving season—when families pack their bags and pile into their cars or minivans to hit the road for destinations across the country. This weekend nearly 35 million Americans are expected to travel 50 miles or more to visit family and friends.Ninety percent of them will likely drive to their destination, filling up their tanks with expensive gasoline or diesel fuel before hitting the road.

Drone Lobbying Ramps Up Among Industry Manufacturers, Developers

WASHINGTON -- It may be years before unmanned aircraft are common in the sky, but lobbyists for the industry that develops and manufactures the drones are already buzzing around Capitol Hill.

After ‘Huge Progress,’ Veterans Are Still Struggling To Find Employment

While the unemployment rate for veterans has dropped dramatically in the last year, two veterans advocates told CNN’s Candy Crowley this morning that finding jobs for veterans remains a major issue. Paul Rieckhoff, founder and executive director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, said there has been “huge progress” on helping unemployed veterans because President Obama has instituted policies to reduce veteran unemployment and Fortune 500 companies are also helping returning servicemembers.

Florida Telling Hundreds Of Eligible Citizens That They Are Ineligible To Vote

Florida Governor Rick Scott (R) has ordered the state to purge all “non-citizens” from the voting rolls prior to November’s election. But that list compiled by the Scott administration is so riddled with errors that, in Miami-Dade County alone, hundreds of U.S. citizens are being told they are ineligible to vote, ThinkProgress has learned exlusively.

The Sunday May 27th 2012 Talking Heads

FOX NEWS SUNDAY

So, today, McCain is here to talk about bombing places, and some Catholic Cardinal, Donald Wuerl, will discuss the Catholic Church's plan to push back on President Barack Obama's attempts to make it so that women aren't the societal equivalent of chattel. Then there will a C-team Fox panel and then we can move on to the next thing.

Obama's Hypocritical War on Marijuana

A forthcoming biography on President Obama is making headlines, with new details about the president smoking marijuana with his teenage friends in Hawaii.

New Mexico Official Asked To Resign After Advocating Teens Use Condoms

Erin Bouquin, New Mexico’s chief medical officer, said she was asked to resign after she promoted condom use in a TV interview as a way to slow the growth of sexually transmitted diseases among teenagers. An hour after her interview aired, Bouquin said she met with Health Department Secretary Catherine Torres and was asked to leave because she had not met the expectations of the state’s Republican governor.

Man Falsely Accused of Rape, All Liars Should Go To Prison

There’s nothing like using Facebook to say “I’m sorry for sending you to prison after falsely accusing you of kidnap and rape.”

Coal Industry Pays Fake Activists $50 To Wear Pro-Coal Shirts At Public Hearing

Apparently unable to find real activists, the coal industry paid astroturfers $50 to wear pro-coal t-shirts at an Environmental Protection Agency hearing yesterday.

Occupy Protesters Help Los Angeles Woman And Disabled Daughter Save Their Home From Bank Of America

Last month, Bank of America foreclosed on a Los Angeles woman and her disabled daughter. Dima Rodriguez had spent thousands of dollars retrofitting her home to accommodate her daughter — who has cerebral palsy — and fell behind on her loan payments. Bank of America gave her a loan modification, and even though Rodriguez had made her trial modification payments for a year, the bank sold her house at auction, right out from under her.

Occupy This Album

See How The Zero Weeks Of Paid Maternity Leave In The U.S. Compare Globally

Out of 178 nations, the U.S. is one of three that does not offer paid maternity leave benefits, let alone paid leave for fathers, which more than 50 of these nations offer. Here’s how the U.S. stacks up to 14 other countries:

Oh Baby By Motherhood Secret Fit Belly Pin-Striped Bootcut Pants

Teen’s NFL Dreams Squashed By Fake Rape Claim, Woman Confesses 10 Years Later

LONG BEACH, Calif. — The kidnap-rape conviction of a once-promising prep football star was dismissed Thursday following a recantation by his accuser.

BaDA Bain! Bain Capital Explained By Tony Soprano

The national debate over private equity so far has hinged on the question of whether experience in the field qualifies Mitt Romney, the former Bain Capital executive, for the presidency. But a more vexing, and largely unanswered, question lies just beneath the surface: How is it, exactly, that an investment company can make millions even as the company it's ostensibly trying to turn around goes bust?

POLL: WHITES MORE SUPPORTIVE OF ‘STAND YOUR GROUND’ LAW THAN AFRICAN-AMERICANS

A new poll from Quinnipiac University shows that Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law, which has faced intense scrutiny after the shooting death of unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin, is far more popular among white voters than minorities. Sixty one percent of white respondents say they favor the law while 31 percent oppose, a mirror image of the state’s black population which opposes “Stand Your Ground” 56 percent to 30 percent. Hispanic voters support the law as well, but by far narrower margins, 53 percent to 36 percent. Florida’s 2005 “Stand Your Ground” Law gives residents the authority to defend themselves–with lethal force if necessary–under certain circumstances. It has since been adapted by two dozen other states. The Trayvon Martin case cast doubt on the law however, due to concerns that Martin’s killer George Zimmerman could invoke it to escape accountability for his actions.

Prominent Islamophobes Identified As ‘Heading Up The Radical Right’

Increasing anti-Muslim sentiment in the U.S. has shown enormous growth in the past two years, leading the Southern Poverty Law Center to mention three notorious Islamophobes on their list of “30 new activists heading up the radical right.” The SPLC finds that “[a]n anti-Muslim movement, almost entirely ginned up by political opportunists and hard-line Islamophobes, has grown enormously since taking off in 2010, when reported anti-Muslim hate crimes went up by 50%.”

Five Ways The Facebook IPO Teaches Us About How Wall Street Games The System

Facebook’s initial public offering — which so dominated the financial press that Facebook has been on the cover of the Wall Street Journal fornine straight days — has started to raise some red flags for regulators, after it came to light the company and its Wall Street underwriters quietly hid a report about weak revenue. And that’s just one of several ways in which the Facebook IPO highlights how Wall Street and big companies can game the rules to gain an economic advantage. Here are five examples:

0: NUMBER OF TIMES ROMNEY MENTIONED IMMIGRATION AT LATINO EVENT

Mitt Romney didn’t mention immigration during his speech to the Latino Coalition Economic Summit on Wednesday. Romney spoke primarily about education and indirectly referenced undocumented students, saying, “No matter what circumstances they were born into, every child has a dream about where they can go or what they can become.” For many Latinos, these are one in the same: 91 percent of Latinos support the DREAM Act, and many consider immigration issues a top priority.

3 Black Chemistry Students Earn Doctorates, Set University Record

At the University of Mississippi (UM), a year-long initiative to increase graduates in fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) has paid off in epic fashion. Ole Miss News reports that three African-American chemistry students graduated on May 11 with doctorates, setting a school record.

Jay-Z, Kanye Prove That It Pays Be A N*gga

By Dr. Boyce Watkins

Congratulations to Kanye West, who raked in a chunk of BET Award nominations with his homeboy Jay-Z. Among the nominations for Video of the Year is the ever-so-bumping track “N*ggas in Paris,” the song that reminds you that no Black man on earth had ever been to Paris before Jay-Z and Kanye. Why read a book when artists are willing to give us instant history lessons?

Internet Protection Act Would Eliminate Anonymous Online Comments In New York

A new bill in Albany has its sights set on anonymous internet trolls. The Internet Protection Act would require sites to have online commenters identify themselves.

Study Finds Fox News Viewers Least Informed Of All Viewers

Another study has concluded that people who only watch Fox News are less informed than all other news consumers.

Federal Anti-Gay Hate Crimes Law Gets Its First Test

HARLAN COUNTY, Ky. -- In the middle of an April night last year, a young gay man named Kevin Pennington crawled out of the woods in the remote hills of southeastern Kentucky, looking for help. Bruises and cuts covered his face and body and he limped down the road, dragging his ankle along the asphalt, until he reached a pair of empty cabins in a clearing -- a ranger's station -- and smashed out a window in one and climbed inside.

Ten Things Romney’s Republican Primary Opponents Said About Bain

Romney has placed his record at Bain at the center of his campaign. In April for example, Romney said, “You might have heard that I was successful in business. And that rumor is true…And after 25 years, I know how to lead us out of this stagnant Obama economy and into a job-creating recovery!” (Multipleindependent fact checkers have concluded that Romney’s claims on job creation at Bain are simply false.)

Members Of New GOP Women’s Caucus Voted Against Equality For Women

The 24 Republican Congresswomen in the U.S. House announced yesterday that they have joined to form the Women’s Policy Committee, a caucus aimed at “raising the profile of GOP women in their roles as lawmakers, highlighting their diverse achievements and providing a unique, unified voice on a wide range of critically important issues.”

First 'United States Colored Troops’ Created 149 Years Ago Today

Shortly after the U.S. Congress passed theSecond Confiscation Act, which helped free slaves who had Confederate owners who opposed the Union, President Abraham Lincoln’s signing of the act planted the seeds for emancipation.

Rep. K. Ellison: ‘We Were Held In Slavery Longer Than We’ve Been Free’

From the day he was sworn into office in 2006 with his hand placed on the Quran, Representative Keith Ellison (pictured left) (D-MN), the first Muslim American elected to the U.S. Congress, has exemplified political bravery.

Are Republicans Sabotaging the Economy Just to Hurt President Obama?

Last year, the Republicans nearly destroyed the economy with their manufactured crisis over raising the nation’s debt ceiling. And then the spending cuts they demanded in return for avoiding a first-ever default on our obligations have slowed down the recovery and cost us hundreds of thousands of jobs.

Financial Industry Gave Over $565,000 To Newark Mayor Cory Booker For 2002 Campaign

Yesterday, Newark, New Jersey Mayor Cory Booker (D) attacked the Obama campaign for making an issue of Mitt Romney’s tenure at Bain Capital during an appearance on Meet the Press. While the progressive leader laterbacked off the criticisms, Republicans have been quick to highlight his comments as anattack against the idea that scrutiny of Mitt Romney’s record as a businessman is fair game.

Corey Booker And Harold Ford Jr. Turn On President Obama! (Actually Ford Has Always Been A Blue-Dog)

Well it looks like that Billionaire Won't Need Larry Elder After All!  

Google Chrome Overtakes Internet Explorer As Most Used Web Browser In World: Statcounter

Has Google Chrome surpassed Internet Explorer to become the world's most used web browser?

Humane Society Investigation At Wyoming Premium Farms Raises Livestock Welfare Concerns

Earlier this year, the Humane Society of the United States prepared a young animal rights advocate for the sorts of abuse they expected her to encounter when she went to work at a Wyoming pig farm last month. Even so, the activist -- and the Humane Society -- say they were appalled by the level of depravity they ultimately documented in an undercover video that has since touched off an investigation by state officials and raised fresh questions about animal welfare on the nation's factory farms.

Obama Addresses Mitt Romney Bain Capital Experience Head-On

Obama, speaking at the NATO Summit in Chicago on Monday, questioned whether Mitt Romney's business experience at Bain Capital made him fit to be president in some of the most stark terms to date.

More Americans Die In Their Workplaces Each Year Than Died During 10 Years Of War In Iraq

4,690 people were killed at work in 2010, up three percent from 2009, the Center for Public Integrity reports. That means that more Americans died in their workplaces in one year than died during the entire war in Iraq.

43 CATHOLIC INSTITUTIONS FILE 12 SEPARATE LAWSUITS AGAINST OBAMA’S BIRTH CONTROL RULE

The University of Notre Dame, Catholic University of America, the Archdiocese of Michigan, and the Archdiocese of New York have filed a lawsuit against an Obama administration regulation requiring employers and insurers to offer preventing health services — including contraception — without additional cost sharing. The suit,one of 12 filed Monday, argues that the requirement violates the Catholic institutions’ religious freedom– even though regulators have includes an accommodation for religious organizations. Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards has called the challenges “unbelievable” and claimed, “This isn’t a religious or political issue – it’s a medical issue, and that’s where we should keep it.” An overwhelming majority of Americans — and Catholics — support the coverage rule.

BIG BANKS AND HOW THEY BOUGHT THE TEA PARTY: Cash Transforms Populist Insurgents To Reliable Vote For Financial Industry

The 15 freshmen Republican representatives in the House Tea Party Caucus each ran in 2010 on a populist anti-Wall Street message, highlighting their opposition to bank bailouts like the 2008 Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) and criticizing Washington for enabling the banking sector as it became “Too Big to Fail.” After winning, all fifteen receivedsignificant PAC contributions from the banking industry — and have become a reliable vote and mouthpiece for the financial industry, a ThinkProgress analysis of campaign contributions, voting records and public statements reveals.

Boomers Urged To Get Tested For Hepatitis C

ATLANTA — For the first time, the government is proposing that all baby boomers get tested for hepatitis C.

Anyone born from 1945 to 1965 should get a one-time blood test to see if they have the liver-destroying virus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in draft recommendations issued Friday.

CNBC ANALYST: BAIN CAPITAL ‘FIRED A LOT OF PEOPLE’ TO GET ‘PROSPERITY FOR THE RICH’

The private equity firm co-founded by presumptive GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney “fired a lot of people” to get “prosperity for the rich,” CNBC analyst Jim Cramer said during an appearance on Meet The Press this morning. During a panel discussion on the effectiveness of an ad from President Obama’s campaign highlighting Romney’s past at Bain Capital, which bankrupted nearly a quarter of the companiesin which it invested while making billions of dollars, Cramer said the firm’s past earned Romney a reputation as a “job destroyer, not a creator.” Watch it:

CONGRESSMEN SEEK TO ‘LEGALIZE THE USE OF PROPAGANDA ON AMERICAN AUDIENCES.’

BuzzFeed reports that Rep. Mark Thornberry (R-TX) and Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA) have inserted a provision into the latest defense authorization bill that would “‘strike the current ban on domestic dissemination’ of propaganda material produced by the State Department and the Pentagon.” The proposal would “give sweeping powers to the State Department and Pentagon to push television, radio, newspaper, and social media onto the U.S. public.”

Billion Dollar ‘The Avengers’ Received Millions In Subsidies From New Mexico

The box office smash The Avengers has officially made more than $1 billion worldwide, after setting the record for largest opening in film history. This revenue dwarfs the film’s $220 million budget, and makes one wonder why the state of New Mexico felt the need to subsidize the movie to the tune of $22 million:

Top Right-Wing Group: Minority Births Are ‘Not A Good Thing’ Because They ‘Don’t Share American Values’

Yesterday, the New York Times reported on new census data which showed, for the first time, that non-white births made up over 50 percent of all births in the United States last year.

Meet Joe Ricketts: Billionaire Has Millions To Smear Obama, Demands Massive Taxpayer Subsidy For Baseball Stadium

This week, the New York Times reported that Joe Ricketts, a right-wing billionaire and founder of TD Ameritrade, is soliciting multi-million dollar ad proposals to attack President Obama. One such proposal, leaked to the paper, was a $10 million, racially-charged campaign entitled “The Defeat of Barack Hussein Obama: The Ricketts Plan to End his Spending for Good.” The proposal, which center on Rev. Jeremiah Wright, suggests hiring an “extremely literate conservative African-American” to break down Obama’s image as a “metrosexual, black Abe Lincoln.”

Latest on the Trayvon Martin Case

Ten Pieces of New Evidence

Last night, state prosecutors released a large amount of evidence — including 183 pages of documents and numerous multimedia files — related to their murder case against George Zimmerman. Here are ten notable pieces evidence that were just made public:

House GOP Throws Out Entire Summer Of Debt Ceiling Negotiations In Less Than 10 Minutes

Last August, debt ceiling negotiations between House Republicans and Senate Democrats came to an end when President Obama signed into law the Budget Control Act, a not-so-grand bargain that created a legislative super committee tasked with finding spending cuts to offset the debt ceiling increase. If the super committee failed, automatic cuts from the defense budget and discretionary spending levels would offset the cost.

All White Jury Declares White Policeman Innocent Despite Video Of Him Beating Black Teen

Police officers were caught by a security camera apparently beating a black teen as he lay prone with his hands behind his head.Chad Holley, then fifteen, was running from police after committing burglary, but after falling over the hood of a police car remained on the ground and put his hands behind his head. The video shows Officer Andrew Blomberg reach Holley first, and he then appears to kick or stomp Holley on the head or neck. Blomberg then runs to pursue another suspect. Holley remains surrounded by at least five officers who appear to continue beating him.

FACEBOOK AVOIDS PAYING $16 BILLION IN TAXES AFTER GOING PUBLIC

ThinkProgress has noted, Facebook’s initial public offering will help both CEO Mark Zuckerberg and the company itself avoid billions of dollars in taxes. With Facebook’s offering now in the books, as Bloomberg’s Paula Dwyer wrote, the company is set to officially save $16 billion in taxes by deducting the cost of stock options granted to owners and employees. “The tax windfall will be the largest ever claimed by a company for stock option awards,” Dwyer wrote. “Facebook is an American success story. Its ability to use a stock option loophole to zero out its U.S. tax bill, despite ample profits, makes no sense. It also isn’t fair to the rest of American taxpayers who will have to pay more because Facebook pays nothing,” said Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI).

Brain Tapeworms Cause Neurocysticercosis, A Creepily Common Parasitic Disease (PHOTO)

You've heard of disgusting, 20-foot-long tapeworms living inside peoples' intestines, but it turns out their larvae are even more horrific, and they could be eating holes in your brain right now, undetected.

Defense Budget That Breaks Spending Agreement Passed By House

WASHINGTON -- The House passed a defense budget Friday that exceeds the deal cut by Congress and President Barack Obama last summer, and that would have to be paid for with cash taken from poverty programs, health care and the federal workforce.

'Reporter's Privilege' Under Fire From Obama Administration Amid Broader War On Leaks

RICHMOND, Va. -- The Obama administration Friday morning continued its headlong attack on the right of reporters to protect their confidential sources in leak investigations.

REVEALED: The Racist GOP Campaign To Smear The President

A Shameful Effort by Republicans to Divide Our Country

A front-page New York Times story today exposed a shocking $10 MILLION racist campaign to smear the president that was prepared by GOP operatives and was merely awaiting final sign-off from a politically active right-wing billionaire. The campaign was to focus on the president’s previous ties to Rev. Jeremiah Wright, a racially inflammatory topic that Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) declared firmly off-limits during his 2008 presidential campaign.

‘Post-Racial America’ Laid Out In Plain English By Talib Kweli

The other day, rapper Talib Kweli (pictured) used Twitter to convey a sentiment many people have felt since talk of this mythical (read: nonexistent) land called “post-racial America” first surfaced in national media following the historic election of Barack Obama as president. I understand why people wanted to see his election as a manifestation of Mariah Carey’s “Hero,” but such a scenario was never going to happen.

SENATORS INTRODUCE ‘EX-PATRIOT ACT’ IN RESPONSE TO FACEBOOK FOUNDER’S TAX AVOIDANCE

Occupy This Album Various Artists

Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin renounced his American citizenship ahead of Facebook’s initial public offering, a move that will save him about $67 million in taxes. Today, Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Bob Casey (D-PA) introduced the “Expatriation Prevention by Abolishing Tax-Related Incentives for Offshore Tenancy” Act — or Ex-Patriot Act— to prevent this sort of tax avoidance. Under the bill, former citizens “will besubject to 30% capital gains tax on future U.S. investments no matter where they live.” Of course, Saverin could have bigger problems, as he may not be able to reenter the U.S. on account of his decision. And Saverin is certainly not the only person connected to Facebook who is planning on avoiding taxes.

Walmart Mechanic Wrote Satanic Symbols On Car During Oil Change, Customer Claims

A Walmart customer says she found an unpleasant surprise after taking her car to the retail giant for an oil change.

Employers Target Liberal Arts Majors And College Grads Who Had Internships: Survey

A new survey holds some good news for liberal arts majors.

It has certainly been said that a liberal arts degree is impractical for this economic climate. Some have argued that technical degrees are the path towards finding work after college.

Jeremiah Wright Ad Proposal Prompts Responses From Obama, Romney Campaigns

WASHINGTON -- Top aides to President Barack Obama's presidential campaign have long prepared for a general election battle far more divisive and nasty than the one that took place in 2008.

Donna Summer Dead: Queen Of Disco Dies At 63

Donna Summer died Thursday morning after a battle with lung cancer.

Lovingly named the "Queen of Disco," the 63-year-old was in Florida at the time of her death, according to TMZ. Born LaDonna Adrian Gaines, the 5-time Grammy award winner rose to fame in the '70s with hits like "Hot Stuff," "Bad Girls" and "Love to Love You Baby."

Obama, Boehner Talk Debt Ceiling In Meeting

WASHINGTON -- Apparently healed from the trauma caused by last summer's debt-ceiling showdown, House Republicans and the White House have begun an eight-month long standoff over the next debt-ceiling fight.

Class-Action Status For Stop And Frisk, Judge Slams NYPD Over Policy

Opponents of the New York Police Department's controversial stop-and-frisk program scored a major victory in court Wednesday, after a federal judge granted class-action status to a lawsuit alleging that the department subjects millions of city dwellers to racially biased illegal searches.

Texas Executed The Wrong Man Because He Looked Like The Real Murderer

Last year, Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) admitted that he “never struggled . . . at all” with whether someone his state executed might have been innocent. Yet anew book written by Columbia Law Professor James Liebman shows that Carlos DeLuna, executed by Texas in 1989, was innocent. According to Liebman, DeLuna was wrongfully convicted and executed for the murder of Wanda Lopez following a botched investigation. DeLuna and the man believed to have committed the murder, Carlos Hernandez, looked so much alike that they were mistaken for each other in photographs by family members. However, DeLuna, who was clean-shaven and wearing a white shirt, did not fit the description of the eyewitness who said that the murderer was wearing flannel and had a mustache. Police arrested DeLuna anyway and failed to do a formal lineup. Police also failed to formally examine the crime scene, ignoring foot and fingerprints, not taking blood samples, and allowing the scene to be cleaned by gas station employees.

House Passes Watered-Down Version Of Violence Against Women Act

The House has just passed a watered-down version of the Violence Against Women Act, by a vote of 222 to 205. The GOP-backed iteration of the bill strips out the provisions to protect undocumented, Native American, and LGBT victims that were included in the Senate version.

CHART: WAGES FOR YOUNG COLLEGES GRADUATES HAVEN’T GROWN IN A DECADE

According to data from the Economic Policy Institute, “between 2000 and 2011, the wages of young college graduates [aged 21-24] dropped 5.4 percent (1.6 percent for men and 8.5 percent for women),” after they grew 19 percent between 1995 and 2000. As EPI noted, “young graduates who enter the labor market during periods of strength (e.g. 1995–2000) face much stronger wage prospects than young graduates who enter the labor market during periods of weakness (e.g. 2001 to the present).”

Republicans Who Campaigned To End Taxpayer-Funded Campaigning Spend Big On Taxpayer Funded Flyers

The House Tea Party Caucus, chaired by Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN), says it seeks to represent the views of the people who have “had enough of the reckless spending and vast government overreach coming from Washington.” Fifteen House freshmen are part of the 60-member, all-Republican caucus. The group talks passionatelyabout cutting spending and the need to “work towards getting our fiscal house in order, before the burden of debt is passed onto our children and grandchildren.”

This Summer: For $24.95, George W. Bush Will Share His ‘Strategies For Economic Growth’ (LOL)

Former President George W. Bush jumped back into presidential politics this week, endorsing presumptive 2012 GOP nominee Mitt Romney. He also, according to the New York Times, plans to release a book in two months that will lay out his advice on boosting economic growth:

Pharmacists In Kansas Can Now Deny Women Access To Birth Control

Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback (R) signed a bill yesterday that will allow pharmacists in the state to refuse to fill a prescription they think could be used to induce abortion. But since the “conscience” measure says they cannot be required to provide a drug or devise that they think “may result in the termination of a pregnancy” — but does not define which drug in particular — the law’s opponents say it could allow a pharmacist to interfere with a woman’s health care by refusing to distribute birth control or emergency contraception.

iPhone 5 Screen To Be Bigger And Beastlier: Report

TOKYO (Reuters) - Apple Inc plans to use a larger screen on the next-generation iPhone and has begun to place orders for the new displays from suppliers in South Korea and Japan, people familiar with the situation said on Wednesday.

U.S. Politicians Eye Europe Warily As Austerity Fatigue Ousts Governments

When Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke ventured to the Senate last Thursday for a closed-door gathering, he found a nervous Democratic caucus. One senator put their anxiety into words: How worried should we be about Europe?

Do You Want a Repeat of the Financial Crisis?

JP Morgan Loss Shows Why We Need Tougher Rules On Wall Street

You’ve probably heard by now that JP Morgan Chase lost a whopping $2 BILLION on a single bad bet in just a matter of weeks. What you may not have heard is that JP Morgan, and its CEO Jamie Dimon, have been among of the most vocal opponents of tougher regulations on Wall Street. The bank has spent nearly $10 million since the beginning of 2011 on lobbying, focusing largely on the Volcker Rule, a regulation that would largely prohibit risky proprietary trading at federally-insured banks (like JP Morgan). The trade that caused JP Morgan’s losses would likely still have been legal under the Volcker Rule, but only because of a loophole that JP Morgan lobbied for.

Coat Hanger Abortions Are Fine, Says Mississippi Lawmaker, Because ‘Hey, You Have To Have Moral Values’

Mississippi state Rep. Bubba Carpenter (R) said that it’s OK for women to have coat hanger abortions because it’s for a greater good.

REPORT: FBI May Charge George Zimmerman With Hate Crime, Could Face Death Penalty

The State of Florida has charged George Zimmerman with murdering Trayvon Martin. But that might not be the end of his legal problems.

Facebook Unfriends Uncle Sam: Mark Zuckerberg’s Plan To Avoid Taxes

The right-wing has been lauding Facebook co-founder Edward Saverin for his decision to renounce his U.S. citizenship in order to avoid taxes. But he isn’t the only one who’s going to slash his tax bill in the wake of Facebook’s upcoming initial public offering: both CEO Mark Zuckerberg and the company itself will lower their tax bill for years to come.

Is the filibuster unconstitutional?

According to Best Lawyers — “the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession” — Emmet Bondurant “is the go-to lawyer when a business person just can’t afford to lose a lawsuit.” He was its 2010 Lawyer of the Year for Antitrust and Bet-the-Company Litigation. But now, he’s bitten off something even bigger: bet-the-country litigation.

Tonya Thomas Killed Four Kids, Then Herself In Port St. John Shooting, Florida Authorities Say

PORT ST. JOHN, Fla. — A Florida mother who fatally shot her four children before killing herself Tuesday called three of the kids who had sought help from a neighbor back to the house before firing the fatal shots, authorities said.

Campaign Finance Disclosure Decision Means Rove, Others Could Suddenly Have To Disclose Donors

WASHINGTON -- One of the most consequential campaign finance loopholes affecting the 2012 race -- the one allowing big-money donors to secretly funnel millions into campaign ads -- is now closed, after an appellate court ruling on Monday.

IPhone Malware: Kaspersky Expects Apple's IOS To Be Under Attack By Next Year

iPhone users beware! Security company Kaspersky Lab expects the iPhone and iPad to be infected by malware within the next year.

Obama On 'The View:' President Corrects Elisabeth Hasselbeck On Gay Marriage Position (VIDEO)

President Obama corrected Elisabeth Hasselbeck about his position on gay marriage on Tuesday's "The View."

Obama announced that he believes same-sex couples have the right to marry last Wednesday. Shortly afterwards, Hasselbeck, who has been a vocal supporter of gay marriage, raised criticismthat he has "long held both positions" on the issue.

Peter Peterson Spent Nearly Half A Billion In Washington Targeting Social Security, Medicare

WASHINGTON -- Peter Peterson, a Wall Street billionaire who has been calling for cuts to Social Security and other government programs for years, is hosting a "fiscal summit" Tuesday that brings together Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, former President Bill Clinton, Rep. Paul Ryan, House Speaker John Boehner, Tom Brokaw and Politico's John Harris, among a host of other elites who will gather at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium.

Because Of Abstinence Education, 60 Percent Of Young Adults Are Misinformed About Birth Control’s Effectiveness

A new study from the Guttmacher Institute unsurprisingly finds that greater knowledge about contraceptive services is directly correlated to a decrease in young adults’ risky sexual behavior. However, after quizzing a nationally representative sample of 1,800 sexually active Americans between the ages of 18 and 29 on their basic knowledge of contraception methods, Guttmacher reports that “more than half of young men and a quarter of young women received low scores on contraceptive knowledge, and six in 10 underestimated the effectiveness of oral contraceptives.” The study ultimately concluded:

Former National Review Writer Claims White Supremacy Is ‘One Of The Better Arrangements History Has Come Up With’

Last month, the conservative National Review fired its longtime contributor John Derbyshire after Derbyshire published a column in another publication instructing parents on how to train their children to be racists. Although the National Review did the right thing in eventually firing Derbyshire, it published the author for years despite a long history of racist and sexist views. Derbyshire argued in 2009 that women should not vote, and he proclaimed as far back as 2003 that he is a proud “racist.”

28 Accused Of Smuggling Cocaine To Virginia In Shoes And Wooden Frames

ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- Federal authorities have arrested 28 people and charged them with participating in a cocaine-smuggling ring that brought millions of dollars in drugs from Honduras to northern Virginia over the past six years.

Florida farm workers tell how drugs, debt bind them in modern slavery

HASTINGS — LeRoy Smith thought he had hit rock bottom when he found himself trolling Atlanta's gay district, looking to exchange sex acts for a hot hit off a crack pipe. Then he wound up on a Florida farm near the small town of Hastings, being bilked blind, he says, by a man with a fifth-grade education, sweating all day for a few dirty dollars, with no way to escape from the middle-of-nowhere camp.

Eight Great Tech Brands Losing Money

It is a trend in the consumer electronics business — manufacturers rise to become industry leaders only to be outshone by the competition as high-priced gadgets quickly become commodities. Based on recent earning reports of the biggest electronics makers, 24/7 Wall St. set out to identity the once high-flying brands that are now losing money.

Barney Frank Criticizes House Republican On Jobs, Wall Street Reform

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) lit into Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) on Sunday, when both appeared on ABC's "This Week."

What You Need To Know About Ed Klein, Author Of New Book Smearing Obama

The New York Post yesterday published the first excerpts from an upcoming biography on President Obama by Edward Klein, “The Amateur.”

'Opting Out'

The economic and educational disadvantages of low-income black students who struggle to complete college are well-documented. While black students at elite universities don’t necessarily fit into that category, a new book says they face social and institutional obstacles of their own – obstacles that ultimately drive them away from the high-status, high-paying jobs that they’re qualified for in fields such as engineering, science, finance and information technology. And while the reasons are complex, universities are partly at fault, the book argues.

David Gregory Of NBC's Meet The Press, To Headline Conference For Major Republican Advocacy Group

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), which calls itself “the voice of small business,” is one of the Republican party’s strongest allies. The group spent over $1 million on outside ads in the 2010 campaign — all of it backing Republican House and Senate candidates (and, Bloomberg News reported last month, “another $1.5 million that it kept hidden and said was exempt” from disclosure requirements). The group is the lead plaintiff in the lawsuit against the Obamacare law and bankrolled state governments’ challenges to the law. The NFIB has also taken stances against allowing the EPA to regulate greenhouse gases, opposing regulations on businesses, and supporting curtailing union rights.

JPMorgan Trading Loss Suggests Little Has Changed Since The Financial Crisis

If you thought Wall Street had learned its lesson four years after the global financial crisis, JPMorgan Chase's $2 billion trading debacle suggests you should think again, investment bankers and industry experts say.

JP Morgan Loses $2 Billion On Risky Trade After Lobbying To Weaken Trading Restrictions

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon announced on a conference call yesterday that the bank suffered $2 billion in losses from a risky trade that turned sour. The trade dents Dimon’s case that Wall Street can responsibly manage itself and yet again proves the need for a strong Volcker Rule, which could largely ban such risky trades at federally-insured institutions.

It’s OK to be Gay in the Black Church, Just Keep It To Yourself

By Dr. Boyce Watkins May 11, 2012

I have a confession to make: I’ve never understood the vehement opposition that the black church has to gay marriage. Don’t get me wrong, I understand what the bible has to say on the matter, but since when did every Christian live according to the bible? I mean, seriously, would you take a lie detector test and answer the question, “Do most Christians try their best to live according to the bible?” The answer to that question might get you struck down by lightning.

Marissa Alexander Gets 20 Years In Failed ‘Stand Your Ground’ Defense

Marissa Alexander has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for firing a warning shot at her abusive husband, The Florida Times-Union reports.

Seller Offers Gun Range Targets Meant to Resemble Trayvon Martin

A Florida entrepreneur said he had sold out of gun range targets depicting a faceless, hood-clad figure holding an iced tea and a bag of Skittles meant to look like Trayvon Martin.

George Clooney Obama Fundraiser Nets $15 Million

While Republicans mocked President Barack Obama for holding fundraiser at the home of George Clooney, he may be the one getting the last laugh.

Aokigahara Forest Place Of Death

Each year in the Aokigahara Forest, dozens of people reportedly push through a dense "sea of trees" to find a place to take their lives. Those who are indecisive leave trails of colored tape woven between the trees so they can navigate out should they change their minds.

More Than 200,000 Americans Will Lose Their Unemployment Benefits This Weekend

According to a new report from the National Employment Law Project, 230,000 Americans will see their unemployment benefits vanish this weekend, even as the jobless rate remains stubbornly high.Nearly half of those losing their benefits live in California, where the unemployment rate is 11 percent:

ALEC Brings Lawmakers And Big Oil Together To Undermine Clean Energy

Today, behind closed doors in Charlotte, North Carolina, legislators from 15 states will meet with the oil and gas industry to discuss so-called “model legislation” as part of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). The result could be laws that handicap renewable energy targets — while creating loopholes for fossil fuels, written directly by the oil and gas industry itself.

10 Most Disturbing Anti-Latino Practices Described By DOJ’s Lawsuit Against Sheriff Joe Arpaio

Earlier today, the Department of Justice filed a formal legal complaint against Sheriff Joe Arpaio and the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) alleging widespread constitutional violations and lawless mistreatment of Latinos. According to the complaint, Arpaio and his staff engaged in widespread, violent and demeaning mistreatment of Latino residents of Maricopa County, often targeting individuals solely because of their race:

NYPD Made More Stops Of Young Black Men In 2011,Than The Total Number Of Young Black Men In New York

During New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s first year in office, the New York Police Department stopped and interrogated 97,296 people on the streets. By 2007, with the Bloomberg administration pushing the a stop-and-frisk strategy, police made more than a half a million stops. Last year, the figure rose to a record 685,724 people. And according to a New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) report, the vast majorities of stops — about 87 percent — were of blacks and Latinos. Despite robust defenses of the tactics, they appear to be less effective than the Bloomberg administration and NYPD claim.

John Lewis Calls Out Paul Broun On Voting Rights Act Amendment

Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), a leading figure in the civil rights movement, took to the House floor late Wednesday night to call out a colleague over an amendment he called "shameful."

House Passes Bill To Spare Defense, Cut Food Aid, Health Care

WASHINGTON -- The House on Thursday passed its plan to spare the military's growing budget from mandatory cuts, instead slashing Medicaid, benefits for federal workers and programs to help feed hungry Americans.

CBO Report: Boosting Oil Production Won’t Protect Americans From Gasoline Price Shocks

More domestic drilling does not make America less susceptible to global supply disruptions or protect consumers from gasoline price volatility, according to a new analysis from the Congressional Budget Office.

War FOR Women: Pregnant Workers Fairness Act Protects Mothers-To-Be

Yesterday, Congress took up legislation that could significantly impact women’s health — and no, it doesn’t limit contraception or force anything into their vaginas.

Antibiotic Resistance Spreads Through Environment, Threatens Modern Medicine

Waste from people, pets, pigs and even seagulls may be playing a significant role in the rise of antibiotic-resistant infections, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a number of new studies warn.

Powell's New Book: War With Iraq Never Debated

WASHINGTON -- In his new book, former Secretary of State Colin Powell provides what may be the most authoritative confirmation yet that there was never a considered debate in the George W. Bush White House about whether going to war in Iraq was really a good idea.

The President Backs Gay Marriage

WASHINGTON -- In a nod to a dramatic shift in public opinion, Barack Obama on Wednesday became the first sitting president to announce his support for same-sex marriage.

Local Republican Party Newsletter Suggests ‘Armed Revolution’ If President Obama Is Reelected

The Republican Party of Greene County in Virginia published their monthly newsletter in March and in it, the editor suggested an “armed revolution” will be necessary if President Obama is reelected in November:

Republicans Pick Wealthy Tax Dodgers Over Students

Republicans Block Senate Action on Bill to Prevent Student Loan Rate Hike

Orlando Ranked Porn Capital Of America, Miami Ranks Twelfth

Which is the smuttiest city in America? Is it bondage-friendly San Francisco? Las Vegas with its nearby legal Bunny Ranch brothel? Los Angeles for its "San Pornando" Valley?

Student Loan Vote: Republicans Block Bill To Extend Low Interest Rates

WASHINGTON -- Senate Republicans on Tuesday blocked a bill that would have frozen student loan interest rates before they are set to double on July 1.

This 93-Year-Old Grandmother Is Suing Pennsylvania Over Voter ID Laws

The first time Viviette Applewhite went to the polls, she cast her vote for John F. Kennedy. But this year, a strict new voter identification law will likely prevent the now-93-year old woman and many others in Pennsylvania from participating in their country’s democratic process. And Applewhite won’t stand for it.

BP Oil Spill Photos Posted By Greenpeace Following Freedom Of Information Request

Over two years after the disastrous BP oil spill wreaked havoc on the Gulf,Greenpeace has received photos of the destruction inflicted on marine life in the area.

Is Evangelical Christianity Hindering Black Progress

If Africans are inherently inferior to Europeans intellectually, why is that African immigrants to the U.S. are the most educated group in this country? with education levels that surpass that of Asian Americans. Why is that African descended people from outside the U.S can come here and outperform native whites and blacks? Is it mere coincidence that the majority of black students enrolled in the nation's Ivy Leagues are the children of foreign born blacks? Foreign born blacks don't have the same heritage of anti-intellectual evangelical Christianity as native blacks.

To Protect Military Budget, House GOP Plans To Cut 25 Percent From Programs ‘Directly Benefiting The Poor’

The House Budget Committee is set to meet today on a new GOP plan to stave off further cuts in military spending that are mandated by the Budget Control Act’s sequestration trigger. The Pentagon will be required to trim $55 billion from its budget next year and House Republicans think they’ve figured out a way to prevent that: cut programs for the poor, the APreports:

America’s Corporations Made A Record $824 Billion Last Year, As Conservatives Claim Obama Is Anti-Business

A favorite conservative attack on President Obama is that his policies — and even his personality — amount to an assault on American businesses. “President Obama himself is the most anti-business president in my lifetime. With rhetoric not befitting a president he has attacked oil companies, banks, airplane users, Wall Street and anyone who makes money,” wrote Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association.

What Everyone Should Know About The Secretive Group Trying To Swift Boat Barack Obama

A secretive right-wing group, Veterans For A Strong America, is attempting to do to President Obama what the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth did to Sen. John Kerry in 2004. And they aren’t shy about it. The group’s leader and sole employee, Joel Arends, told Mother Jones, “Yes, it’s the swift boating of the president.”

The Sunday May 6th 2012 Talking Heads

FOX NEWS SUNDAY

As Wallace indicates, Rubio is the pick of Republican voters at the grassroots level. By contrast, the Republican "insiders" want Ohio Senator Rob Portman -- who is like Tim Pawlenty in that he is bland and beige and unnoticeable, except Portman does not give off the faint scent of intractable failure. But if you put Portman on teevee and interviewed him, you wouldn't remember the experience. Seriously! It's like being roofied, with dullness. You notice this humming sound and then all of the sudden time has passed. And why are your pants down? Hey. That sounds like a personal problem. Don't bring me into this.

The 'Hood' Style Duggar Model: 21 Children With 11 mothers and 1 Dude (This Dude Has Made It To Wikipedia's List Of People With The Most Children)

Desmond Hatchett, 29, has almost two dozen children by 11 different women, unfortunately his minimum wage job doesn’t allow him to take care of them all, reports Tampa Bay News.

Labor Secretary For Clinton Secretary Schools Romney: 4% Unemployment Came After Education Investments, Tax Hikes On Rich

Speaking in Pittsburgh yesterday, Mitt Romney said that “anything over 4% [unemployment] is not cause for celebration.” The United States last achieved a sub-4% unemployment rate in December 2000, the end of President Clinton’s term.

Why Politicians Swarm Hispanic Festivals And Latino Community Events

With the intersection of Cinco de Mayo and an election year in which Latino voters are likely to play a definitive role, President Barack Obama’s quick pivot this week from a party to immigration policy isn’t unique.

On Derby Day, How Republicans Help Millionaire Horse Owners Pay Less In Taxes

The 138th running of the Kentucky Derby is today, and more than 100,000 fans will pack Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky to see the first leg of the Triple Crown. What they will also see is a select group of horse owners who get to pay less in taxes thanks to a hand-out from Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY).

The One Thing You Need To Know About Today’s Jobs Report

4.2 MILLION Private Sector Jobs

Most of the press coverage of today’s jobs report has been focused on the two topline findings — that the economy created a less-than-expected 115,000 jobs last month and that the unemployment rate edged down slightly to 8.1 percent. While these numbers are certainly important, they miss the forest for the trees.

Secret Service Scandal: Colombia Woman Says She Fled Country

BOGOTA, Colombia — A woman who says she was the prostitute who triggered the U.S. Secret Service scandal in Colombia said Friday that the agents involved were "idiots" for letting it happen, and declared that if she were a spy and sensitive information was available, she could have easily obtained it.

ECONOMY ADDED 115,000 JOBS LAST MONTH; UNEMPLOYMENT TICKS DOWN SLIGHTLY

According to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the economy added 115,000 jobs in April, well below expectations, while the unemployment rate fell slightly to 8.1 percent. The private sector added 130,000 jobs while the public sector shrunk. February’s total was revised up 19,000 jobs; March’s total was revised up 34,000. The broader U-6 measure of unemployment remained steady at 14.5 percent.

Heartland Institute Compares Climate Science Believers And Reporters To Mass ‘Murderers And Madmen’

The Heartland Institute has launched one of the most offensive billboard campaigns in U.S. history. The Chicago-based anti-science think tank is comparing all those who accept climate science — and the journalists who report on it accurately — to Charles Manson, the Unabomber, and Osama Bin Laden.

Economy Has Recovered All Private Sector Jobs Lost Since Obama Took Office

As of April, there are now more private sector jobs in the United States than there were in January 2009, when President Obama took office. You read that right. We have now replaced all of the private sector jobs lost while Obama has been president. And that was no mean feat, given that over the course of 2009, the private sector shed about 4.2 million jobs.

REVEALED: Full List Of ALEC’s Corporate Members

The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) has been under fire lately after the 15 major corporations and organizations pulled their support for the conservative organization, which helps quietly implement corporate-backed legislation in statehouses across the country.

Galaxy S III Features: New Samsung Phone Ships With Camera Trickery, Motion Detection, And More (I Own The S2 But This New One Is Amazing!)

Now that Samsung has outed its Galaxy S III, it's time to ask the question: "So what's new?"

Patrick Lanzo, Georgia Bar Owner, Calls Obama 'N*****' On Road Sign Again 9 (Can This Dude Really Say With A Straight face, "I Ain't Racist?")

Georgia bar owner Patrick Lanzo of Paulding County has made habit of claiming he's not racist, an argument that becomes harder to make each time he decides to display the n-word on a large roadside sign outside his establishment, the Georgia Peach Oyster Bar.

Congress Revolts On Obama Plan That Would Ban 'Buy American'

WASHINGTON -- A group of 68 House Democrats and one Republican sent a letter to President Barack Obama on Thursday urging him to reconsider an element of the controversial free trade agreement currently being negotiated by the administration. If approved in its current form, the pact would effectively ban "Buy American" policies in government contracting.

Why Ronald Reagan Didn’t Have To Hold A Single Reelection Fundraiser

Conservative media outlets have been abuzz this week with a misleading detail from a new book and the Republican National Committee (RNC) has been only too happy to add fuel to the fire.

Neo-Nazi Spree Killer Called SB 1070 Sponsor Russell Pearce His ‘Surrogate Father’

Yesterday, J.T. Ready, a neo-Nazi and member of the anti-immigrant Minutemen Civil Defense Corps, reportedly strapped on body armor, grabbed several firearms, and then killed four people in Gilbert, Arizona. One of the dead is a toddler. Ready also was killed in this incident, although reports vary on whether he took his own life. At the time of his death, Ready was running for Pinal County sheriff.

If This President Actually Did It, Why Can't He Talk About It! (Bin Laden AD)

Apparently, it is in poor taste for a politician to politicize a decision he made as it relates to policy. Yes, in the latest chapter of the condemnation of convenience culture we’re currently soiling ourselves in, President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign is taking many hits in various directions for his latest Osama bin Laden-focused campaign ad. The former President Bill Clinton-narrated clip highlights the “harder and the more honorable path” our current commander-in-chief took in ordering the assassination of the terrorist leader, while asking, “Which path would Mitt Romney have taken?”

ALEC’s Top Five Anti-Environment ‘Model’ Laws

The American Legislative Exchange Council, a“stealth business lobbyist” that helps corporations write state and federal legislation supporting their interests, has taken major heat for its backing of controversial laws.

The Very 1st Negro League Game Played 92 Years Ago Today

Although the origins of Negro Leagues Baseball cover a wide expanse of teams and leagues dating back into the 1800s, many baseball historians and enthusiasts point to the inaugural season of the Negro National League in 1920 on this day as the official start of the Black Baseball’s “Golden Age.”

A Primary Care Doctor Explains Why Attacking Prevention Is Not Fiscally Sound

This weekend, Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) defendeda GOP bill that offsets the costs of extending lower interest rates on federal student loans by eliminating the Prevention and Public Health Fund, a provision of the Affordable Care Act that seeks to bolster public and preventive health. Other opponents of the Prevention fund have maligned it as a “slush fund.”

Cornel West Calls Mitt Romney 'A Catastrophic Response To A Catastrophe' (Dude Could Not Wait To Hit At The President)

On Wednesday The Huffington Post again visited New York's Loews Regency Hotel, the self-proclaimed home of the "Power Breakfast."

Jonathan Vilma Suspended For 2012 NFL Season: Four Players Punished For Roles In Saints Bounty Program

New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma was suspended without pay for the entire 2012 season by the NFL, one of four players punished Wednesday for participating in the team's cash-for-hits bounty system.

North Carolina Anti-Gay Marriage Amendment 1 Reportedly Written To Protect 'Caucasian Race'

The wife of a North Carolina state senator reportedly told poll workers during early voting Monday that an amendment sponsored by her husband was intended partially to protect the Caucasian race.

Romney’s Openly-Gay Spokesperson Resigns After Facing Pressure From Anti-Gay Right Wing

Richard Grenell, the openly-gay conservative foreign policy spokesperson hired by Mitt Romney, has resigned from the campaignfollowing right-wing pressure, the Washington Post’s Jennifer Rubin reports. “[M]y ability to speak clearly and forcefully on the issues has been greatly diminished by the hyper-partisan discussion of personal issues that sometimes comes from a presidential campaign,” Grenell said in a statement, which came less than two weeks after he was hired. Conservative groups like the American Family Foundation painted Grenell as a “homosexual activist” and condemned Romney for bringing him on board. From his statement:

5 Things That ‘Basketball Wives’ And Jerry Springer Have In Common (Shaunie! Shaunie! Shaunie! Shaunie!) Get It!

By Dr. Boyce Watkins

Last week, I wrote an article proclaiming the “outstanding” television drama,“Basketball Wives,” to be the “New Jerry Springer Show.” Some people didn’t quite see where the analogy fit, but since that time, a few sites — including The Grio — have seen the light and run similar pieces, so I must be on to something.
To further prove my case, I thought I’d toss together an admittedly sarcastic list of things that “Basketball Wives” has in common with the “Jerry Springer Show”:

Stephen King: 'Tough Shit... I'm Not Tired Of Talking About' Raising Taxes On The Rich

Looks like the fight to raise taxes on rich people has found its latest ally -- and this one isn’t afraid to use a four letter word or two.

BlackBerry 10 Preview

New CEO. New operating system. New Research In Motion?

Freshly-installed RIM CEO Thorsten Heinstook the stage at the annual BlackBerry World conference to give, for the first time, a look at some of the features of BlackBerry 10, the BlackBerry operating system that Research In Motion hopes will turn around its floundering smartphone sales.

Supreme Court Favorability Hits New Low In New Pew Research

WASHINGTON -- Fifty-two percent of Americans hold a favorable view of the Supreme Court, a quarter-century low according to Pew Research Center, which released the polling data on Tuesday.

The Facts About The Death of Osama bin Laden

Obama: “I Said That We’d Go After bin Laden if We Had a Clear Shot at Him and I Did.”

This week marks the one-year anniversary of the death of Osama bin Laden. The president’s campaign has taken the opportunity to remind the American people of one of his greatest achievements, as well as Mitt Romney’s very different record on the issue. As a result, the Romney campaign and some in the media like Arianna Huffington have accused the president of “politicizing” the occasion.

Republicans Won’t Offset Cost Of Extending The Bush Tax Cuts

Since taking control of the House, Republicans have pushed to offset the costs of everything from emergency disaster reliefto unemployment benefits and tax cuts for the middle class. Their singular goal, they have said, is to cut the deficit and debt, and their willing to gut social safety net programs, including Medicare, to do it.

MAY DAY CHARTS: We Don’t Currently Reward Our Workers

The 99 Percent Movement is bringing May Day, the worldwide annual celebration of labor, to the United States today with protests in over 135 cities. The theme of the protests is “A Day Without the 99 Percent,” and occupiers are encouraging people to spend the day outside of the U.S. economy. According to the May Day organizing site for New York, “It’s a day to recognize the value of our work, and the power we have to collectively change our working conditions and our world.”