GOP Racist Messaging

Screen Shot 2015-11-23 at 9.27.43 PM“Yesterday the Minnesota 7th Congressional District Republican Party posted the following statement on their Facebook page: “MN #‎DFL now propose a “special session” to deal with their self-created “#‎Negroproblem”.

 You don’t have to look far to find ignorant hate speech masquerading as acceptable party messaging.  However, this is not the first time the Minnesota Republican Party and their affiliates have posted racially insensitive material.

“The GOP is clearly out of touch on issues of race here in Minnesota and around the country.  Regrettably these comments have become commonplace in the Republican Party  and it should be no surprise that they are now an accepted and normal part of their conversation.

 While our community is still struggling with the death of a young man and trying to find answers for his family, the Republican Party of Minnesota decided to chime in with racist and bigoted comments. There is absolutely no place for this kind of ugly language in our state and we call on Chairman Downey to apologize to the people of Minnesota for the racist and bigoted comment from the Minnesota 7th Congressional District Republican Party.”  

Why Gender Equality is Good for Everyone — Men Included

Please take a moment to watch the TED Talk below by Michael Kimmel. Here’s TED’s synopsis:

Yes, we all know it’s the right thing to do. But Michael Kimmel makes the surprising, funny, practical case for treating men and women equally in the workplace and at home. It’s not a zero-sum game, but a win-win that will result in more opportunity and more happiness for everybody.

[ted id=2329]

Bargaining for the American Dream

346497_origThe following article was written by Richard Freeman, Eunice Han, David Madland and Brendan Duke for the Center for American Progress and was posted on September 9, 2015:

What Unions do for Mobility

Upward mobility and opportunity are the definition of the American dream. But today, the nation has less mobility and fewer opportunities when compared to other advanced economies. Research by economists Raj Chetty of Stanford University, Nathaniel Hendren of Harvard University and Patrick Kline and Emmanuel Saez of the University of California, Berkeley, show that five factors have the strongest geographical relationship—positive or negative—with mobility: single motherhood rates, income inequality, high school dropout rates, social capital, and segregation. This report examines the relationship between mobility and another variable that Chetty and his co-authors did not consider: union membership.

Based on the research for this report, it is clear that there is a strong relationship between union membership and intergenerational mobility. More specifically: Areas with higher union membership demonstrate more mobility for low-income children. Furthermore, the relationship is at least as strong as the relationship between mobility and high school dropout rates—a factor that is generally recognized as one of the most important correlates of economic mobility.

Learn more about what unions do for economic mobility.

Watch the event featuring Richard Freeman, Lawrence H. Summers, David Madland, and Neera Tanden.

You can view the original post here.

The GOP Needs a Lesson on Women’s Equality Day

classroomOn Aug. 26, the Democratic Party celebrated Women’s Equality Day. Ninety five years ago, women won the right to vote, guaranteeing them one of the most basic rights available to an American citizen. 

While Democrats are fighting to protect women’s rights every day, it occurs to us that the GOP presidential candidates are in serious need of a lesson on women’s equality. When it comes to paid leave, equal pay, women’s health, and the importance of raising the minimum wage, the GOP candidates don’t have a clue! 

So as a favor to anyone who has the chance to school these candidates on equal rights, we hope you find the following lesson plan helpful. 

TITLE: Women’s Equality 101 

OBJECTIVES: To teach the GOP presidential candidates the importance of women’s equality; to correct policy positions that will take women backwards 

STUDENTS: Jeb Bush, Donald Trump, Ben Carson, Chris Christie, Ted Cruz, Carly Fiorina, Jim Gilmore, Lindsey Graham, Mike Huckabee, Bobby Jindal, John Kasich, George Pataki, Rand Paul, Rick Perry 

BASE KNOWLEDGE OF SUBJECT: Minimal  

MISCONCEPTIONS OF SUBJECT: Candidates lack understanding of the following:

View the rest of this post here.

Rep. Daudt’s Flip Flop on Remodeling Money

Flipo FlopsPatrick Condon with the StarTribune published an article in the August 25, 2015 issue of that paper titled “Speaker says additional Capitol restoration money he sought should be spent where it’s most needed”.  In it, Mr. Condon details Rep. Daudt’s comments at the State Capitol Preservation Commission meeting.  Even with a written e-mail chain showing the money request for the House Majority Caucus space upgrades came from his office.

Sounds like a pretty visual and loud flip flop to us.

You can read the original article here.

Speaker Daudt Cannot be Trusted

08.21.15.daudtleftThis week Minnesotans learned that Speaker of the House Kurt Daudt lobbied for $2 million in furniture for the Minnesota Capitol, including $10,000 for a door for his new “Speaker’s suite.”

“Daudt couldn’t find $30,000 to help Minnesota’s deaf children, but he wants to turn our Capitol restoration into his personal version of HGTV’s ‘Property Brothers’ using taxpayer dollars,” said DFL Chairman Ken Martin.

Once again Daudt has shown he cannot be trusted, Martin said. Daudt promised to rein in government spending, but in addition to his $10,000 door voted for the largest budget in state history. Daudt promised to make rural communities a priority, and then zeroed out funding to expand broadband. Daudt promised to fix our roads and bridges but did nothing to make this a reality.

“Minnesotans deserve a leader who will be responsible with state resources and take the steps to grow Minnesota’s economy and open the doors of success to everyone.”