Rachel Maddow's Blog, page 3392
June 13, 2013
The line Rubio will not cross
Getty Images
Sen. Marco Rubio's (R-Fla.) off-again, on-again support for comprehensive immigration reform is, at least for now, on track. Despite last week's threats, the conservative Floridian has not betrayed his allies and has not walked away from the legislation he helped write.
There is, however, one issue that would force the Republican senator to walk away.
Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, a co-author and key proponent of the Senate immigration bill, said he will revoke his support if an amendment is added that allows gay unauthorized immigrants to claim foreign same-sex partners as family.
"If this bill has in it something that gives gay couples immigration rights and so forth, it kills the bill. I'm done," Rubio said Thursday during an interview on the Andrea Tantaros Show. "I'm off it, and I've said that repeatedly."
His line in the sand has nothing to do with border security or tax penalties or provisions related to learning English. Rather, Rubio just can't tolerate gay rights.
At issue, of course, is a provision from Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Pat Leahy (D-Vt.), who wants to allow U.S. citizens in long-term same-sex relationships to sponsor foreign partners for green cards. The measure was defeated in committee, but Leahy intends to introduce it again on the floor.
The odds of success are poor -- even Democrats who agree with Leahy fear derailing the bill -- but Rubio wants to make it clear to his allies on the right that equal treatment for same-sex families would simply be a bridge too far.
It's always good to know where a policymaker's true priorities lie.
Unanimous court: companies can't patent human genes
Getty Images
One of the year's most important Supreme Court cases turned out to be an easier than expected.
Isolated human genes may not be patented, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously on Thursday. The case concerned patents held by Myriad Genetics, a Utah company, on genes that correlate with increased risk of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer.
The patents were challenged by scientists and doctors who said their research and ability to help patients had been frustrated.... The decision hewed closely to the position of the Obama administration, which had argued that isolated DNA could not be patented, but that complementary DNA, or cDNA, which is an artificial construct, could. The patentability of cDNA could limit some of the impact on industry from the decision.
The entirety of the ruling in Association for Molecular Pathology v. Myriad Genetics is online here (pdf).
DNA, the ruling said, is "a product of nature and not patent eligible merely because it has been isolated." On the other hand, artificial genetic material created in laboratories can be patented.
NBC News' Pete Williams and Erin McClam added that patient advocates expect the decision to increase competition and lower the cost of screenings for cancer risk and other genetic tests. Civil libertarians agree, with the ACLU noting that the court ruling has "lifted a major barrier to progress" in treating and preventing diseases.
Three months later, GOP rebranding falls off the rails
Associated Press
It was almost exactly three months ago that the Republican National Committee unveiled its "autopsy" for what went wrong in 2012, along with a blueprint for what the party needs to do to get back on track. When it came to the unpopular party's future, the word "rebranding" was ubiquitous.
Three months later, how's that working out?
The fight for the direction of the Republican Party will be on display Thursday at a Washington conference hosted by the Faith and Freedom Coalition, a group created by former Christian Coalition leader Ralph Reed. Designed to strengthen the evangelical influence in national politics, the conference gives many religious conservative activists their first look at potential 2016 presidential candidates.
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul are among those set to address the coalition on Thursday. Republican stars on the schedule Friday and Saturday include former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and Republican National Chairman Reince Priebus.
Reed, who inexplicably has overcome career-crushing scandals, told the AP, "Contrary to the conventional wisdom, the pro-life, pro-family and pro-marriage positions that candidates have taken and will take in the future are not a liability at the ballot box, they're an asset."
There's ample evidence that the RNC disagrees, but doesn't quite know what to do about it -- if the party reaches out to voters currently hostile towards Republicans, it will alienate the base; if it panders to the party's older, whiter core, Republicans will continue to struggle to connect with new constituencies it needs to compete.
So what we're left with is a political landscape that's effectively the opposite of the one Reince Priebus hoped for in March. The "rebranding" campaign appeared to have crashed and burned with remarkable speed.
Greg Sargent had a great take on this earlier today.
Consider what the House GOP is up to right now. House Republicans recently passed an immigration amendment, pushed by anti-reform diehard Steve King, that would effectively mandate the deportation of the "DREAMers" who were taken to the U.S. as children. House Republicans are planning a vote next week on a measure that would ban abortions after 20 weeks, after defeating amendments that would exempt cases of rape or incest. And yesterday, House Republicans approved a version of the 2012 National Defense Reauthorization Act that contains what The Advocate calls "three controversial, antigay amendments, one of which is aimed at delaying repeal implementation of don't ask, don't tell."
What do these three things have in common? They would seem to run directly counter to the belief among some Republican strategists that the party needs to move beyond cultural battles and preoccupations that imperil the GOP's ability to remake itself as a more tolerant, inclusive party and to better reach out to constituencies it has alienated.
We can, of course, keep going down this road. How do you suppose Trent Franks' comments help with the party's reputation? Or maybe the other recent flashbacks to the "war on women"? Or perhaps the fight over student-loan interest rates, recently dismissed by a GOP lawmaker as a trivial "distraction"?
In the wake of the party's 2012 setbacks, the RNC envisioned a dynamic in which the party spent 2013 narrowing the gender gap, reaching out to racial and ethnic minorities, boosting its appeal among young people, and demonstrating to the American mainstream that the party has a policy agenda intended to solve problems people care about.
And yet, here we are. The party will spend the next couple of days pandering to Ralph Reed and his religious-right allies -- so much for the "Old Testament heretics" line -- while fighting immigration reform, pushing yet another anti-abortion bill that has no chance of becoming law, and letting student-loan interest rates double.
So long, rebranding initiative; it was nice while it lasted.
Thursday's campaign round-up
Associated Press
Today's installment of campaign-related news items that won't necessarily generate a post of their own, but may be of interest to political observers:
* With less than two weeks remaining in Massachusetts' U.S. Senate special election, President Obama traveled to Roxbury yesterday, when he told a packed crowd, "I need Ed Markey in the United States Senate." Obama urged supported to "work with the same focus and passion" that helped him cruise to a 23-point win in the state and elected Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D) in 2012.
* Rep. Markey will also benefit from a visit from former President Bill Clinton over the weekend.
* On a related note, Republican Gabriel Gomez is getting new support from a GOP super PAC, led in part by a former aide to Michele Bachmann's presidential campaign.
* In New Jersey's U.S. Senate special election, a new Monmouth poll suggests Cory Booker's Democratic primary rivals have a lot of ground to make up -- the Newark mayor leads his next closest rival by 53 points. No, that's not a typo.
* It may seem hard to believe, but in Colorado, a new Quinnipiac poll shows Gov. John Hickenlooper (D) leading former Rep. Tom Tancredo (R) by just one point, 42% to 41%, in a hypothetical 2014 match-up.
* With the NRA targeting Sen. Joe Manchin (D) in West Virginia, the Democratic senator -- a long-time ally of the group who has boasted about his A rating -- believes the NRA has "lost its way."
* Speaking of West Virginia, the National Republican Congressional Committee yesterday lost its top recruit to take on Rep. Nick Rahall (D) next year, with state Sen. Bill Cole (R) announcing he will skip the race.
* And in Georgia, Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) is retiring next year, and his in-state colleague, Sen. Johnny Isakson (R), believes the eat "should" stay in Republican hands, but warned yesterday, "[T]here's a perfect storm that could happen that could make that challenging." That includes the possibility of GOP voters making "a mistake in its nominating process, as happened in a couple of states in the last cycle." (Update: This last item has been corrected. I'd originally confused Isakson and Chambliss.)
Duncan fears IRS firearms
Associated Press
With Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) retiring at the end of this Congress, I don't think there's any doubt who'll replace her as Congress' silliest conspiracy theorist.
Rep. Jeff Duncan wants to know why IRS law enforcement agents are training with AR-15 rifles.
As chairman of the House Homeland Security oversight subcommittee, Duncan (R-S.C.) toured a federal law enforcement facility in late May and noticed agents training with the semi-automatic weapons at a firing range. They identified themselves as IRS, he said.
"When I left there, it's been bugging me for weeks now, why IRS agents are training with a semi-automatic rifle AR-15, which has stand-off capability," Duncan told POLITICO. "Are Americans that much of a target that you need that kind of capability?"
If Duncan's name sounds familiar, it's because he's developed quite a reputation lately. The South Carolina Republican, for example, is afraid of the Census Bureau. He's also the same congressman who spewed bizarre conspiracy theories -- which he apparently learned from Glenn Beck -- about the Boston Marathon bombing, going so far that Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano felt the need to say Duncan's ignorant inquiries were "full of misstatements and misapprehensions," and "not worthy of an answer."
But what the rifle training for IRS officials? Maybe Duncan has a legitimate concern? Actually, no.
In a statement, the tax agency explained, "As law enforcement officials, IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agents are equipped similarly to other federal, state and local law enforcement organizations. Special Agents receive training on the appropriate and safe use of assigned weapons. IRS Criminal Investigation has internal controls and oversight in place to ensure all law enforcement tools, including weapons are used appropriately."
All of this has the benefit of being true. Indeed, the IRS often investigates drug-trafficking operations, so it stands to reason officials would be well armed.
What's more, as Steve M. noted, IRS guidelines were revised in this area in 2003. Note to Duncan: that was before President Obama took office.
I'll just throw one more thought out there, in the hopes that the House GOP leadership will think it over: maybe this guy shouldn't be the chairman of the House Homeland Security oversight subcommittee?
June 12, 2013
Links for the 6/12 TRMS
Citations for Wednesday night's show are listed after the jump.
The Country Just Over the Fence
IN THE SHADOW OF THE WALL: Family Separation, Immigration Enforcement and Security (pdf)
Immigrants Reach Beyond a Legal Barrier for a Reunion
[VIDEO] DREAMers Reunite With Deported Parents at US/Mexico Border!
White House Staff: Our American Stories
First immigration reform votes stalled
President Obama Speaks on Immigration Reform
Paul Ryan Reads From 1850 Irish Government Poster To Make Case For Immigration Reform
GOP honchos want immigration reform, but sit out fight
DREAMers describe emotional reunions with parents through border fence
Democrat Ralph Northam, a son of the Va. Shore, wins Tuesday Lt. Gov. primary
Northam TV ad details fight against ultrasound bill
Wisconsin Senate passes ultrasound bill. (P.S. Senate boss will not put up with you)
Sen. Herring up with first TV ad in Deocratic attorney general primary
U.S. Army symbols and insignia
Bush Lets U.S. Spy on Callers Without Courts
Connecting the Dots on PRISM, Phone Surveillance, and the NSA's Massive Spy Center
Challenge: Political metaphor waits to happen
Made of win: 'The Cat in a Hamster Ball Equivalency'
Blue Lagoon dyed black to deter swimmers
Toxic Derbyshire 'Blue Lagoon' dyed black
Residents fight to stop swimming in toxic quarry
Is there deeper meaning to be found in painting a blue lagoon black?
Is there deeper meaning to be found in painting a blue lagoon black?
Rachel told the story tonight of the inviting blue water in and English quarry that is actually toxic with a pH level of 11.3, "almost equivalent to swimming in bleach." But despite posted warnings, including pointing out that the water contains a number of dead animals and car parts, people couldn't resist and still jumped in - surely to great regret. So town officials addressed the real source of the problem, the water's tempting color, and dyed it black. That seems to have worked, but doesn't the whole affair seem like a metaphor for something else? Helping people who can't stop themselves by taking away temptation for them? Does that describe a political story you can think of?
The color (and presumably the pH) is reportedly the result of caustic chemicals in the quarry stone. Here's Google's satellite view of it. That's no trick of the light.
View Larger Map
Ahead on the 6/12 Maddow show
Tonight's guests include:
Jose Antonio Vargas, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, immigration activist, and undocumented immigrant whose film “Documented” premiers at the American Film Institute screening on Friday, July 21
James Bamford, renowned author and reporter on the National Security Agency, author of “The Puzzle Palace: A report on N.S.A., America’s Most Secret Agency.” His latest piece for Wired magazine, "The Secret War," was published at the start of tonight's show.
Join us for tonight's show! Here is executive producer Bill Wolff with a preview:
Collective sky
Last night around sunset, as I was walking my dogs in New Jersey, I felt compelled to whip out my iPhone and snap a pic of a gorgeous rainbow adjacent to dramatic, golden clouds. I immediately shared it on Facebook (as you do) and saw that I was not the only one looking up at that moment. Several friends, all people I know from various gigs in the news biz, were sharing, too. Here is one moment in time from various angles, miles apart.
Here is what Sarah Schultz saw, from Madison, NJ:
Sarah Schultz
And here are three views from New York City (specifically Manhattan) courtesy of Jim Zarroli, Berkley Wilson, and Liz Heeden.
Jim Zarroli
Berkley Wilson
Liz Heeden
Incidentally, it was only us Jersey girls who saw the rainbow. Why? you wonder. Hint: if you want to see a rainbow, keep the sun at your back.
Wednesday's Mini-Report
Today's edition of quick hits:
* Tensions in Turkey have eased, but protests continue.
* The NSA's defense: "The head of the National Security Agency said Wednesday that his agency's extensive electronic surveillance programs have played a critical role in thwarting 'dozens' of terrorist attacks aimed at U.S. targets and abroad."
* Snowden speaks: "Self-identified NSA leaker Edward Snowden broke the low profile he has kept since passing details of two classified American government surveillance programs to reporters, saying he is 'neither traitor nor hero' in an interview with the South China Morning Post."
* CIA shake-up: "The deputy C.I.A. director, Michael J. Morell, retired from his post Wednesday, after managing the resignation of the former C.I.A. director David H. Petraeus over an extramarital affair, and defending the agency's performance over the attack on an American diplomatic post in Benghazi, Libya."
* On a related note, Morell will transition to a role on President Obama Intelligence Advisory Board, and he will replaced by Avril Haines, currently a deputy assistant to the president and legal adviser at the National Security Council.
* Syria: "At least 30 Shiite Muslim residents of a village in eastern Syria were killed in a reprisal raid by rebels, the government and opposition fighters and activists said Wednesday, the latest in a string of massacres underscoring the increasingly sectarian nature of the Syrian conflict."
* Wait, we're still talking about this? "The U.S. special operations team in Libya were never ordered to stand down during last September's deadly terrorist attack on the American Consulate in Benghazi."
* Because it can be difficult to keep track of the details, Timothy B. Lee summarizes everything the public has learned about PRISM to date.
* Remember the culture of corruption? This was a doozy: "A jury convicted former Rep. Rick Renzi of 17 out of 32 counts in his federal corruption trial in Tucson, Ariz., Tuesday, including convictions for wire fraud, conspiracy and extortion stemming from his time in office."
* Immigration: "Democrats want it to be crystal clear. They don't think Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) is crucial to passing immigration reform. So they aren't negotiating with him over his non-starter amendment to make a pathway to citizenship contingent upon establishing an unrealistic border security regime."
* And the White House did a really terrific job with this one: "What The Great Gatsby Teaches Us About America In 1 Chart."
Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.
