Obama Caves on Tax Cuts for Wealthy, Capitulating to 'Bush-McCain Philosophy' | | AlterNet

Obama Caves on Tax Cuts for Wealthy, Capitulating to 'Bush-McCain Philosophy' AlterNet

I believe that Mr. Obama did not recapitulate. He is listening to the American people. They created the government they want and they wanted President Obama to work with the Republicans and that’s what he is doing and that’s the wish of the people. It is totally against what the President would have wanted did he have the majority in the house but why should he hold up a bill dilly-dallying when poor people are starving and need the respite of a tax break.


A government can only do so much. A wise government knows when to compromise. There are always hard choices to be made. Mr. Obama, as far as I read him, is not in government to boost his self-image or to accumulate accolades or money; he is there for the people. He strikes me as a person for whom doing the right thing, the honest think is at the core of his politics. For a man like him, giving in to the Republican’s need to fatten the pockets of their rich friends, relatives and business partners, is worth the price of ensuring that the average American does not suffer.

At the end of the day, the American people would have themselves to blame if the economy takes even longer to bounce back because they have deliberately tied the hands of the man who has the vision and the ability to pull America out of the abyss that the former Republican government has left it in. How quickly we forget. The short memory span of the aging population and even shorter one of the twitter generation is dubious political leaders’ dream. They know that whatever they have done will quickly be forgotten as fresh lies are piled on.

Those who will criticize Obama for his decision to go along with the Republicans are as short-sighted as the general population and are ego-driven. Their kind of leaderships is one-upmanship and let’s sees who will win. It’s all about what men are about, arm wrestling for personal power, forgetting what is at stake. This is where Obama shines. He is not all about himself. He does not need tax breaks. He had a good life outside of the White House. He is the voice in the wilderness crying out for the American people, the ordinary folks, folks like his mother who had to worry about her medical bills, insurance and all that while fighting for her life. Do you see where this man’s motivation is coming from? I rest my case.

‘Whiter Shades of Pale’ by Christian Lander - NYTimes.com

More stuff that white people like from a white man himself. Seems to know himself pretty well.
‘Whiter Shades of Pale’ by Christian Lander - NYTimes.com

Watch: The Obamas Dance Adorably, Awkwardly With Indian School Children | AlterNet

Watch: The Obamas Dance Adorably, Awkwardly With Indian School Children AlterNet

Arts & Cultural Center for African Caribbean Canadians | Aviva Community Fund

Arts & Cultural Center for African Caribbean Canadians Aviva Community Fund

image of a globe - Google Search

image of a globe - Google Search

James T. Kloppenberg Discusses His ‘Reading Obama’ - NYTimes.com

Barack Obama, the Philosopher President - a rare breed. Read this article and be inspired by the man
James T. Kloppenberg Discusses His ‘Reading Obama’ - NYTimes.com

LEAF addresses Gendered social context of the Crime of Infanticide

For Immediate Release:


LEAF Intervenes in R. v. L.B at Ontario Court of Appeal
to address the gendered social context of the crime of infanticide
September 22, 2010, Toronto – On September 23 and 24, 2010 the Ontario Court of Appeal will be asked to consider the offence of infanticide in the Criminal Code. LEAF is intervening in the appeal to offer the Court a perspective on the ongoing relevance and importance of infanticide as a homicide offence that is separate and distinct from murder.

“In the past few years, we have seen what appears to be an emerging trend of the Crown charging women who have killed their newly born children with murder as opposed to infanticide. The result is that these women face life imprisonment with no eligibility for parole” says LEAF Legal Director, Joanna Birenbaum. “This is a significant concern to LEAF since the offence of infanticide, which carries a maximum sentence of 5 years imprisonment, is intended to account for the complex and gendered social, economic, psychological and medical context in which the offence occurs.”

“The women who commit infanticide in Canada tend to be young, poor, socially isolated and without adequate social and economic supports to cope with childbirth or caring for a child. They have often experienced sexual or other abuse and have often denied the pregnancy to others and even to themselves. Many accused women have given birth alone, and commit the offence in a state of panic, intense pain, shock, disassociation, exhaustion and alienation” explains Birenbaum. “The offence of infanticide is treated differently in law than murder because of the many overlapping social, cultural, psychological and medical factors which may affect the state of mind of accused women following childbirth. It is a very serious crime, but it is a crime which recognizes the reduced culpability of women whose minds are “disturbed” due to the interaction of these complex factors related to childbirth.”

Infanticide is one of only two gender-specific crimes in the Code. It applies only to women who have recently given birth. The offence recognizes the reproductive functions and caregiving roles of women and the unique stressors accompanying those roles.

LEAF’s factum argues that where the elements of infanticide are present, the infanticide offence should be available to women regardless of whether the Crown charges murder. This approach is consistent with the clear intention of Parliament to include the offence of infanticide in the Criminal Code.
Marie Henein will be representing LEAF at the hearing.
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Contact:Joanna Birenbaum Marie Henein
LEAF Legal Director and Co-Counsel Counsel
647-500-3005 (cell) 416-400-9991(cell)
416-595-7170 ext. 223 (office) 416-368-5000 (office)
j.birenbaum@leaf.ca mhenein@henein.com