BERKOWITZ -- Giuliani Strikes Out with Religious Right's Dr. James Dobson Date: Mon, 28 May 2007 13:11:23 -0500 (CDT) _http://rightweb.irc-online.org/rw/4257_ (http://rightweb.irc-online.org/rw/4257) Religious Right Rejects Giuliani Bill Berkowitz | May 24, 2007 During the second GOP presidential debate, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani experienced what mainstream media pundits have termed the finest moment of his campaign, when he ripped into Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) for suggesting that the United States was to blame for 9/11. Despite the fact that Paul said nothing of the sortbhe talked about a less bellicose foreign policy and an end to preemptive strikes against other countriesbGiuliani seized the platform and won the day by lambasting and demanding an apology from Paul. His tack appears to be a tough-on-defense stance, as shown in his recent remarks to a New Hampshire audience. If a Democrat is elected, Giuliani warned, "We will wave the white flag on Iraq. We will cut back on the Patriot Act, electronic surveillance, interrogation, and we will be back to our pre-September 11 attitude of defense." The implication, of course, was that a tough Republican like him would be a better, safer choice. But Giuliani's Republican primary gamblebthat his position on national security issues could override his liberal positions on abortion rights and other social issuesbwas dealt a severe blow last Thursday, when James Dobson, the Republican Party political kingmaker and founder of Focus on the Family, declared that "the jig is up" for Giuliani, announcing that he wouldn't vote for him should Giuliani become the Republican Party's 2008 presidential nomineeb under any circumstances. Thomas B. Edsall, writing in the May 21 New Republic, pointed out: "Among Republican voters, the litmus test issues of abortion and gay marriage have been losing traction, subordinated to the Iraq War and terrorism." Edsall cited the Pew Research Center, which found that 31% of GOP voters named Iraq as their top-priority issue; 17% chose terrorism and security. Just 7% named abortion, and 1% cited gay marriage. So while Team Giuliani may not have been counting on his full-bore support, the news from Dobson's Colorado Springs, Colorado headquarters was not good. In an unequivocal column posted at the conservative website WorldNetDaily (May 17, 2007), Dobson added Giuliani to his growing list of unsupportable candidates, maintaining that he saw "nothing courageous" in Giuliani's behavior as he tried "to have it both ways in the name of political ambition." [MORE @ _http://rightweb.irc-online.org/rw/4257_ (http://rightweb.irc-online.org/rw/4257) ] ************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com. [progchat_action] TV row widens Venezuela's rift Date: Tue, 29 May 2007 01:12:37 -0500 (CDT) TV row widens Venezuela's rift By James Ingham BBC News, Caracas May 28, 2007 The political divide in Venezuela is enormous and the decision not to renew a licence for an opposition-aligned television station is exactly the sort of issue that widens that rift. Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets in Caracas on Sunday, some to celebrate, others to protest that the country's oldest TV network was being stopped from broadcasting on its public channel. President Hugo Chavez told his supporters to party and that is exactly what they did. But with opponents holding a rival rally not far away, the day ended with scenes of violence and disorder. It started well enough. Salsa vibes filled the air in the centre of the city as revolutionary bands whipped the pro-government crowds into a frenzy. "The beautiful revolution," they sang while people dressed in red T-shirts carrying socialist messages, danced away below them. "This station should be closed," Doris Ramirez told me. "RCTV does no good for the country. It doesn't represent the people and it disrespects the government." Another woman told me she supported Mr Chavez because he helped the poor. "I'm from the middle classes but I still vote for him because he's making such a difference. This TV station doesn't tell the truth." Skirmishes Across town, the mood was very different. Anti-government protesters were dressed in white T-shirts with S.O.S emblazoned across the front. An emotional song written and performed by staff at RCTV blared out from speakers. Opponents denounced what they called an attack on freedom of speech "No to the closure," they shouted. "Freedom," they chanted. "Everyone has the right to watch what they want. He can't take away this channel," Emilio Berraterom said. "Chavez thinks he owns the country. Well, he doesn't." Reina Martinez waved her Venezuelan flag in my face. "We were born with RCTV," she said. "We don't agree with this president. He's not our president." As the afternoon drew on, the protests got louder. Government opponents played air raid sounds, blew whistles and banged pots and pans. Some converged on the headquarters of the broadcasting regulator to show their disapproval of the decision not to renew RCTV's licence. With tight security in place, it was maybe no surprise that there were skirmishes. Police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowd and driving through the streets on motorbikes, officers fired plastic bullets in the air. With that rally moved on, attention turned to RCTV's headquarters. A few hundred people gathered near the station, where barricades had been erected and police were guarding the roads around the building. The last moments of RCTV's output were emotional, with staff gathered in a studio for a final live broadcast. The people who had gathered outside joined in singing the national anthem. Eerie sirens But just after the switch- off at midnight, the emotional scenes became confrontational. I was caught up in this, broadcasting from just outside the studios. It seems when a group of Chavez supporters got within a few blocks of the station, the police took action. The atmosphere in the capital was tense throughout Sunday Over the eerie air raid sirens, shots were fired in the air and people ran for cover. It was not clear who was firing at who, but a few minutes later, more shots rang out. The atmosphere had become nasty. People ran as fast as they could down the narrow streets to get away from the clashes. We ran with them. RCTV was no more, the protesters knew it and so they trailed home. Across town the party wound up as RCTV's replacement, state-sponsored TVES, Venezuelan Social TV, continued to broadcast recorded programmes into the night. RCTV's supporters say President Chavez has stamped on freedom of expression by silencing a channel that is often critical. They say they are determined to fight on to protect their rights. The government says that the station violated broadcast laws and transmitted violent and morally degrading programmes. The decision to renew the licences of other broadcasters, ministers say, shows that Venezuela is democratic and pluralistic. The arguments highlight, once again, how deeply divided Venezuela is. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6697575.stm This email was cleaned by emailStripper, available for free from http://www.papercut.biz/emailStripper.htm