Gary Johnson, the Libertarian Party nominee for President has come out in support of statehood for Washington, D.C.
The notion that D.C. is a Federal enclave whose citizens don’t deserve representation expired LONG ago. https://t.co/qmaeEoN3Q6
— Gov. Gary Johnson (@GovGaryJohnson) June 27, 2016
Johnson’s position on the matter puts himself in line with the expected official position of the Democratic Party as well.
So could D.C. actually become a full fledged state?
Probably not.
The Washington Post calls the effort a “longshot” as it would require a massive bi-partisan effort on multiple levels of government.
But Johnson’s statement in support of D.C. statehood could be a moment of change as it marks a high profile non Democratic political who supports the effort.
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“Can I Shit In Your Mouth?”: C-SPAN Caller Asks Crazy Question To GOP Congressman
So this happened this morning on C-SPAN. Congressman Dave Brat (R-VA) got quite the question thrown at him during a live call in show.
WATCH: C-SPAN caller asks crazy question to Congressman. (Video from TPM)
H/T: Political Wire
Cover Photo Credit: Roll Call/ Youtube (Screengrab)
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London Just Did Something Incredibly Historic
While America is focused on the Donald Trump circus currently gripping the Republican Party, the people of London just did something few would have thought possible in past years.
Sadiq Khan, a leading Labour Party politician was elected as Mayor of one of the world’s oldest and largest cities. He will be the first Muslim to hold the post.
The election is critical for many political reasons- it will be the first time that Labour controls London in eight years, but Khan’s election holds particular importance due to his religious beliefs.
According to Salon, Khan will be the first Muslim to ever be the mayor of a major Western city.
His election comes at a time of increased tensions among politicians in Western democracies and Muslim minority communities.
Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for President of the United States has called for a “complete and total” ban of Muslim immigration to the country until America can get a handle on what he perceives is a crisis.
Trump’s last major opponent in the Republican primary, Ted Cruz has also called for American police to surveil Muslim communities, something that many law enforcement experts have rebuffed as a stupid idea.
Khan’s election was not a sure thing as he faced a brutal onslaught of negative campaign messaging from his main opponent, Conservative Party candidate Zac Goldsmith.
Some election observers called Goldsmith’s campaign racist due to the way in which it sought to question Khan’s connection to a radical Islamic cleric (it turned out that Goldsmith had a similar relationship to the man in question) and for how it accused Khan of “giving platform, oxygen and cover to extremists”.
Goldsmith’s own sister called out her brother’s campaign for the way in which it was conducted:
Sad that Zac’s campaign did not reflect who I know him to be- an eco friendly, independent- minded politician with integrity.
— Jemima Goldsmith (@Jemima_Khan) May 6, 2016
Congratulations to @sadiqkhan-1st Muslim Mayor of London- a city for all cultures, backgrounds & religions. A great example to young Muslims
— Jemima Goldsmith (@Jemima_Khan) May 6, 2016
Khan has been a member of the British Parliament since 2005 and comes from a modest background.
The son of Pakistani immigrants, his father was a bus driver in the same city that Khan will now lead for the next four years.
RISE NEWS is a grassroots journalism news organization that is working to change the way young people become informed and engaged in public affairs. You can write for us.
Cover Photo Credit: Policy Exchange/ Flickr (CC By 2.0)
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This Congressman Just Compared Rick Snyder To A Woman Beater To Make A Powerful Point About Flint
Hyperbole is the flavor of the month in politics right now.
And Congressman Matt Cartwright (D-PA) was happy to tap into that feeling during a Congressional hearing to make a point about the leadership of Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder during the Flint water crisis.
Cartwright compared Snyder to a domestic abuser who makes excuses about his actions because of wider systemic issues.
“Governor Snyder, plausible deniability only works when it’s deniable, and I’m not buying that you didn’t know about any of this until October 2015,” Cartwright said in a minute long tirade against Snyder.
“I’ve had about enough of your false contrition and your phony apologies,” Cartwright said. “Pretty soon we will have men who strike their wives saying, ‘I’m sorry dear, but there were failures on all levels.”
“I’ve had about enough of your false contrition and your phony apologies … Pretty soon we will have men who strike their wives saying, ‘I’m sorry dear, but there were failures on all levels.'”- Congressman Matt Cartwright challenges Governor Rick SnyderWatch more: http://on.msnbc.com/1R0qNrp
Posted by MSNBC on Thursday, March 17, 2016
The comments came during a Congressional hearing on the Flint water crisis.
Cover Photo Credit: MSNBC (Screengrab)
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