After Benghazi, IRS tea party probe: Govt seized AP phone records

Original Post: Yahoo

By Olivier Knox

Exactly ten days ago, President Barack Obama was piously telling reporters who cover him that free speech and an independent press are “essential pillars of our democracy.” On Monday, the Associated Press accused his administration of undermining that very pillar by secretly obtaining two months’ worth of telephone records of AP reporters and editors.

“We regard this action by the Department of Justice as a serious interference with AP’s constitutional rights to gather and report the news,” AP President and Chief Executive Officer Gary Pruitt wrote in a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder.

The latest revelations are sure to pour fuel on the fire of Richard Nixon comparisons in the wake of revelations that the IRS may have improperly scrutinized the tax-exempt status of conservative, tea party-linked groups. This might, in order words, not be a great time to announce a groundbreaking trip to China.

And the news threatens to pile fresh political woes on a second term already burdened by a painful gun control defeat, a seemingly stalled economic agenda, and Republican rage at the botched response to the Sept. 12, 2012 terrorist attack that killed four Americans in Benghazi, Libya.

The revelations that the Justice Department may have sought AP phone records drew an angry response from Republican House Speaker John Boehner's office. “The First Amendment is first for a reason. If the Obama Administration is going after reporters’ phone records, they better have a damned good explanation," said Boehner spokesman Michael Steel.

And Laura Murphy, a top American Civil Liberties Union official in Washington, D.C., condemned "unwarranted surveillance" of the press and urged Holder to explain what transpired "so that we can make sure this kind of press intimidation does not happen again.”

Holder was expected to face questions on the issue when he appears Wednesday before the House Judiciary Committee.

A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia did not answer a question from Yahoo News on whether other news outlets had been targeted. The spokesman, Bill Miller, did not confirm the AP allegations, but insisted in a statement that "we take seriously our obligations to follow all applicable laws, federal regulations, and Department of Justice policies when issuing subpoenas for phone records of media organizations."

Pruitt, in his letter to Holder, fiercely disagreed. He said that the Justice Department had obtained telephone records for more than 20 separate phone lines assigned to the AP -- the world's largest wire service -- and its journalists. The records cover a two-month span in early 2012 and cover phones lines for AP in New York City, Washington D.C., Hartford, Conn., and one line at the AP workspace in the House of Representatives.

"This action was taken without advance notice to AP or to any of the affected journalists, and even after the fact no notice has been sent to individual journalists whose home phones and cell phone records were seized by the Department," Pruitt wrote. "There can be no possible justification for such an overbroad collection of the telephone communications of The Associated Press and its reporters," Pruitt wrote. "These records potentially reveal communications with confidential sources across all of the newsgathering activities undertaken by the AP during a two-month period, provide a road map to AP’s newsgathering operations, and disclose information about AP’s activities and operations that the government has no conceivable right to know." Pruitt called it "particularly troubling" that the Justice Department "undertook this unprecedented step without providing any notice to the AP, and without taking any steps to narrow the scope of its subpoenas to matters actually relevant to an ongoing investigation."

In his statement, Miller said DoJ regulations "require us to make every reasonable effort to obtain information through alternative means before even considering a subpoena for the phone records of a member of the media."

And "we must notify the media organization in advance unless doing so would pose a substantial threat to the integrity of the investigation," he said. "Because we value the freedom of the press, we are always careful and deliberative in seeking to strike the right balance between the public interest in the free flow of information and the public interest in the fair and effective administration of our criminal laws."

An Associated Press news story on the Justice Department's actions noted: The government would not say why it sought the records. U.S. officials have previously said in public testimony that the U.S. attorney in Washington is conducting a criminal investigation into who may have leaked information contained in a May 7, 2012, AP story about a foiled terror plot. The story disclosed details of a CIA operation in Yemen that stopped an al-Qaida plot in the spring of 2012 to detonate a bomb on an airplane bound for the United States.

Ever since the days of his history-making 2008 presidential campaign, Obama has repeatedly cast himself as a champion of open government and reform. Aides are fond of praising "the most transparent administration in history" -- a moniker that might be accurate, but mostly because of poor standards set by his predecessors. It's like being the most powerful cricket team in Alaska.

And the Obama administration has not been shy about taking steps to deny Freedom of Information Act requests on national security grounds.

Just ten days ago, on May 3, Obama noted during a visit to Costa Rica that it was "World Press Freedom Day."

"So everybody from the American press corps, you should thank the people of Costa Rica for celebrating free speech and an independent press as essential pillars of our democracy," he said.

On Monday, Obama was scooping up cash for Democrats in New York City. His spokesman, Jay Carney, referred questions about the AP letter to the Justice Department.

Racist Madison to disenfranchise the elderly and minorities

Original Post:JS Online

Madison to require IDs for bus riders with passes

Madison - Riders who have an unlimited pass on Madison Metro buses will now have to show identification.

University of Wisconsin students and employees have unlimited ride passes. There are concerns the bus passes are being used fraudulently. So, beginning Monday, an employment or school photo ID will be required.

UW-Madison employee and student bus passes are non-transferable. So, if the users don't have their IDs, the passes will be confiscated and a 1-day pass will be offered.

UW and UW Health employees who have their passes confiscated can get a replacement for $20. Students should contact the bus program office.

The university says no identification is needed for the free campus bus routes.

Well this is absolutely outrageous! This only hurts the people who need the bus the most. How can minorities and the elderly ride the bus now? Answer, they can't. We know only white males have Drivers Licenses and that it's not possible for anyone else to get them, even if they're free; so if you can't get an ID you can't ride the bus and you have no options. I'm absolutely disgusted by Madison.

ANOTHER ACTRESS ENDORSES ROMNEY, ANOTHER ACTRESS GETS MAULED BY THE LEFT: ‘I HOPE YOU F**KING DIE B**CH’

Original Post:The Blaze
Actress Melissa Joan Hart, best known for her roles in “Sabrina, the Teenage Witch” and “Clarissa Explains It All,” threw her support behind the Romney/Ryan ticket on Twitter Monday, swiftly prompting vicious attacks from the Left.

The actress first tweeted “Finish this sentence for me … Being a Republican in Hollywood is like…” She followed up with a full blown endorsement for GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney and his running mate Paul Ryan.

@MelissaJoanHart Can't get too political in only 140 chac but for those asking, I'm voting #RomneyRyan. 5 Nov 12 ReplyRetweetFavorite And that seemingly innocent tweet posted by an American female expressing her constitutional right to vote for the candidate of her choice was more than enough to shake the metaphoric bee hive of the “tolerant left,” as Hart put it.

Here are some of the ugliest attacks hurled at the actress (WARNING! Graphic language):

@MelissaJoanHart Ahhh the "tolerant left" at work!RT @BasiaMilewicz: On behalf of women everywhere, may I say 'Fuck you, bitch!' Washed-up has-been cunt. 5 Nov 12 ReplyRetweetFavorite

@MelissaJoanHart So to u that is a punishment? RT @17days: @trentvanegas @pitnb am incredible let down. I hope she ends up with a gay child. Clarissa sucks.

5 Nov 12 ReplyRetweetFavorite Big Crow@BIGCROENT “@MelissaJoanHart: Peace to all! Get out and #VOTE tomorrow! instagr.am/p/RrGrKhlHhs/” Fuck this bitch she's voting for bitch Romney and the hoe

5 Nov 12 ReplyRetweetFavorite Jah.@JaheemWith2Es Stupid bitch RT “@MelissaJoanHart: Can't get too political in only 140 chac but for those asking, I'm voting #RomneyRyan.”

5 Nov 12 ReplyRetweetFavorite Ghetto Ass Kass@WhamBamBitch Melissa Joan Hart is a stupid cunt. Her show is garbage and she should just give up on her sad, republican life.

5 Nov 12 ReplyRetweetFavorite Landon@WhoaLando You aint been shit since Sabrina bitch RT @MelissaJoanHart Can't get too political but for those asking, I'm voting #RomneyRyan.

5 Nov 12 ReplyRetweetFavorite Eddie Haskell ☜ ™@EddieisKrueger Go fuck yourself Sabrina "@HuffPostEnt Melissa Joan Hart's Last-Minute Romney Endorsement huff.to/Yy1fG3" 5 Nov 12 ReplyRetweetFavorite Though out of all of the disgustingly profane and ugly tweets, this one may take the cake:

PRETTY MOTHERFUCKA!!@RomanMinaj_ @MelissaJoanHart YOUR A FUCKING IDIOT AND I HOPE YOU FUCKING DIE BITCH #OBAMA2012

5 Nov 12 ReplyRetweetFavorite However, it should be noted, for every hateful message that Hart received, she got two or three supportive tweets. And she was appreciative.

“The amazing amount of love & kind messages were overwhelming today. Lets all get out and #vote tomorrow for whichever candidate u prefer!” she later tweeted.

Mitt Romney literally ripped for gathering food donations

Tell me there's no media bias. Mitt Romney is gathering food for people and this is apparently a poor act. It is no possible for him to do good in the eyes of the media.

Obama condemns violence tied to anti-Muslim film

Apparently I have to post this because the President and Crowley have forgotten that it has happened. It has already gone down the Memory Hole.
Original Post:Yahoo

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — President Barack Obama is condemning an anti-Muslim film and the violence in the Middle East that has followed its release, saying there is "no speech that justifies mindless violence."

Obama says in a speech Tuesday before the U.N. General Assembly that "there are no words that excuse the killing of innocent" and "no video that justifies an attack on an embassy."

Obama says the video "is an insult not only to Muslims, but to America as well." The president was speaking in the aftermath of violent protests in the Middle East and North Africa connected to the release of an anti-Muslim video produced in the United States.

Four Americans were killed in Libya, including U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens, along with more than 50 others in the violence.

During the Presidential debate tonight, Obama claims that he was standing in the Rose Garden on 9/11/12 and blamed the Libyan attack on terrorists. Mitt Romney called him on his lie and Obama turned to back him up. SHE AGREED WITH OBAMA!

She went along with the story that Obama called it a terrorist attack from day 1 and did not, in fact blame it on the video. That was less than a month ago. We have stories, we have video. It happened. I felt so bad for Mitt Romney standing there incredulously. It was a fact that the President said what he said and everyone knows it. Everyone, except apparently, Barack Obama and Candy Crowley. The thing is, I don't even think Obama thinks he was lying. I'll bet he's convinced himself that it's the truth. "It's not a lie if you believe it."

Information cannot stay buried. Candy goes on CNN later and recants her idiotic position and lets the world know that Romney was right, Obama lied and she's a fool. Maybe she should have stuck to the moderators traditional position of moderator and not Obama flunky.

Editorial: Dallas Morning News endorses Mitt Romney for president

Original Post: Dallas News

Barack Obama will forever be a historic, as well as historical, figure in American life. The 44th U.S. president, yes, but more noteworthy, he will forever be the first African-American to lead a nation riven through centuries by racial and ethnic division.

His election in November 2008 inspired. Even those who may not have supported him could not deny the significance.

With it came an optimism that the ideals he stressed as a candidate, like a post-partisan Washington where Democrats and Republicans worked together, were within reach. He took office amid great turmoil, a crashing economy and two wars atop his priorities.

Candidate Obama, an orator of great skill and cadence, might have overcome everything and put the U.S. on a brighter path. President Obama, unfortunately, fell short of the challenge. The wars have largely faded from headlines, but the economic struggles remain, along with an attendant worry about future federal spending, deficits and debt.

Obama’s Democratic supporters would argue that no one could have succeeded in what he inherited, that the nation’s problems were far more severe than anyone could handle in four years.

We respectfully disagree. On the central issue that will define his presidency — a stalled U.S. economy weighed down by crushing annual deficits and accumulated debt — Obama showed himself to be less leader than follower. While he expended his political capital on new government programs, unemployment stayed at debilitating heights. For that reason, this newspaper recommends Republican challenger Mitt Romney for president.

We see evidence of Obama’s shortcomings in his re-election campaign, a relentlessly negative push to disqualify his opponent instead of standing on his accomplishments. His campaign has worn voters’ patience thin by constantly blaming predecessor George W. Bush for “the mess he left behind.”

Cleaning up that mess, however large, was what Americans trusted to Obama. Romney had to survive a fractious primary by steering too far right on some issues. At his core, however, we see him as a “Chamber of Commerce Republican,” more attuned to business interests than the tea party/social conservatism that defines today’s GOP.

Importantly, Romney speaks the language of industry. His tenure leading Bain Capital, for instance, has come under sharp criticism for years, but it also reveals a man who understands capital formation and how that, extrapolated through an economy, can lift the U.S. from its stalled state. Even some of Obama’s Democratic allies — notably rising star Cory Booker, former adviser Steven Rattner and former Rep. Harold Ford — were quick to criticize the campaign’s Bain-centric attacks on profit.

Unlike many in his party, Romney understands that government has a place in the economy and in American life, just not as much of a place as Obama would afford it. Obama has cited, with some justification, recalcitrance from congressional Republicans for thwarting him. But in his first two years, when Democrats had a wide margin in the House and filibuster-proof majority in the Senate, Obama’s wounds were self-inflicted. He put his chips on a necessary but ill-conceived stimulus program and a massive health care overhaul. Left to languish were a broad-based energy bill, comprehensive immigration reform, entitlement reform and, most ominously, effective job-creation programs.

Obama’s people warned of unemployment rates as high as 8 percent without the stimulus spending, only to see rates exceed 8 percent, anyway, for 43 consecutive months — and counting. Real household income has fallen in consecutive years. Food stamp enrollment has hit record highs; the percentage of adults in the workforce approaches record lows.

Annual deficits for every year of the Obama presidency will top $1 trillion, pushing the federal debt past an astounding $16 trillion.

Obama’s Affordable Care Act was his signature domestic achievement. Its many laudable features included the individual mandate, but one was not its financing, which led this newspaper to oppose it. Obama left the details to Congress, and what emerged had no realistic funding stream and did too little to contain future costs.

Of most concern, Obama was not unaware of the fiscal problem. He put together a bipartisan panel to help forge a solution but then abandoned it. Left to languish, the Simpson-Bowles group could not achieve the votes to force congressional action. The proposal, which included a roughly 3-to-1 package of spending cuts to revenue increases, was the kind of compromise candidate Obama had advocated. As president, he chose not to act.

Romney has shown an ability to lead, from turning around the deficit-ridden 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics to his term as Massachusetts governor. His plans for tax and entitlement reform are encouraging, shifting the focus from government first to freeing the private sector to innovate. Voters should demand more specifics, but at the heart of his plans — especially on reforming a teetering Medicare system — is an instinct to rely on competition over regulation to drive growth.

Yet Romney does give us pause. His famed flip-flops on issues from immigration to health care, always pushing further right, are worrisome. His difficulty in speaking precisely and inoffensively on such issues as London’s Olympic preparedness, Israeli Palestinian issues and U.S. embassy assaults paint him, at best, as a foreign policy neophyte.

And his secretly recorded comments at a Boca Raton, Fla., fundraiser drew an unreasonably sharp line between those who pay income taxes and “the 47 percent” of Americans who only take and would never support him, anyway. These ill-advised statements offended many and played directly into the Obama campaign’s picture of an excessively wealthy candidate out of touch with the common man.

Not his finest moment, nor was it the lone defining one for Romney. What we’ve seen of him over many years — from business success to running a state to impeccable personal and family attributes — convinces this newspaper that the time is right for someone with his broad skill set.

Obama himself once said that if he didn’t repair the economy “in three years, this would be a one-term proposition.” The facts show it’s time for a principled, pragmatic leader who can get Washington working again.

Crybaby cries about Scott Walker Victory

This will never get old.

Liberal L.A. City Council literally mandating use of condom

Should condom use in pornography be regulated by the city or the state?

Original Post:SCPR

Everybody knows that using condoms during sexual intercourse is safer than not using them, but what the City of Los Angeles appears to be uncertain about is who is responsible for regulating this safety precaution within the adult film industry. A proposed ballot measure that would require porn actors to wear condoms while filming in the city of Los Angeles has qualified for the June ballot. However, City Attorney Carmen Trutanich has filed court papers earlier this month arguing that Los Angeles voters would have no legal authority to adopt the proposed measure even if it were listed on a ballot.

Trutanich asserted that only the state — not the city — could legally implement rules requiring the use of condoms on porn sets and charge inspection fees. However, Ellen Widess, the head of the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health that regulates workplace safety, claims the city could legally impose the actions necessary to uphold the proposed ballot measure. "We believe the city can use its authority to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS among people involved in the adult film industry" said Widess in a recent interview. County health officials have repeatedly stated it would be difficult to regulate the porn industry through the Department of Public Health and the county’s public health chief has said that the issue is a matter for the California Legislature.

I call the city council liberals because, they are. It's not evident from this piece but, c'mon.

Man Claims He Signed 80 Walker Recall Petitions

Original Post: WISN

MILWAUKEE, Wis. -- A man told 12 News that he has signed as many as 80 petitions to recall Gov. Scott Walker.

The man had the following exchange with 12 News' Kent Wainscott on Thursday: Man: "I think I signed about 80 times."

Wainscott: "You've signed 80 petitions, you think?"

Man: "I signed a lot of them for the past two weeks. I've been seeing them at the Grand Avenue Mall. Out here by Pick 'n Save and stuff like that."

Wainscott: "Well, you know they're only going to count one of your signatures?"

Man: "Oh well. Whatever it takes to get Scott Walker out of here, I'm happy."

Wainscott: "That means signing repeatedly?"

Man: "Yeah. They cheated for Bush, so hey, I'm going to cheat to get Scott Walker out of here."

Wisconsin's Government Accountability Board in Madison polices the recall process. The Board's director said the legality of signing multiple petitions really comes down to intent.

"If a person is signing this with the intent of artificially inflating the number of signatures that are going to be turned in, or if they're signing it to argue these petitions are riddled with fraud, because anybody can do this, then they're committing fraud on the process," said Director Kevin Kennedy. So, if someone signs a recall petition but later worries that petition might not be legit, he or she can sign another one. That's different from signing dozens of different petitions, hoping to sneak in some extra signatures, according to the director.

The latter is a practice the Democratic Party of Wisconsin said it discourages. The party's spokesman said people should sign only one petition, and he said he had not heard of any other cases of people signing dozens of petitions. "Well, these are not credible people. They either have mental illnesses or they're up to no good," said Graeme Zielinski, spokesman for the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. "They're up to criminal activity, and if they are up to criminal activity, they should be prosecuted."

The state's Republican Party spokesmen told 12 News that its members are concerned about duplicate signatures sneaking into the total count.

"This is a serious problem that needs to be addressed, and the Republican Party of Wisconsin will be looking into the matter further," said Ben Sparks, communications director of the Republican Party of Wisconsin. "This type of behavior calls the entire recall process into question."

The Democrats said they're working to weed out repeat signatures before submitting them to the GAB. The Board may not necessarily catch the duplicates. The GAB director said, according to state law, it's up to the officeholder to catch duplicates. So, in this case, it will be up to Walker's campaign and Republicans to catch any duplicate recall signatures turned in.

Lena Taylor, Property Accessory To Voter Fraud

Original Post: Media Trackers

By Collin Roth

Media Trackers discovered that over 20 individuals voted, some illegally, from one of Senator Lena Taylor’s (D-Milwaukee) properties during the April 5, 2011 spring election. According to a Media Trackers open records request with the City of Milwaukee Election Commission, the property at 1018 N 35th St. in Milwaukee currently has 36 active voter registrations and at least 23 individuals voted using the address.

Media Trackers was tipped off to Senator Taylor’s property by the Wisconsin GrandSons of Liberty, who found 11 individuals that registered on election day to vote from Taylor’s property, 7 of which were corroborated by Senator Taylor’s mother, Lena J Taylor.

“Using open records requests, we obtained copies of the 11,017 Milwaukee County Election Day Registrations and created a database to analyze the entries from all 19 municipalities in the county,” said Tim Dake of the Wisconsin GrandSons of Liberty. Dake explained further that “our volunteers ran numerous queries on the data and were surprised to see the name Lena Taylor appear on so many forms.”

According to property records obtained from the Milwaukee Department of Neighborhood Services, Senator Lena C. Taylor owns the property at 1018 N. 35th St. in Milwaukee. The property has 6 units and is zoned by the Milwaukee Zoning Code as RT3. According to the City of Milwaukee Zoning Code, properties zoned RT3 are intended to “promote, preserve and protect neighborhoods intended primarily for two-family dwellings.”

According to records from the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions, Senator Taylor’s mother, Lena J. Taylor, ran a delinquent and now defunct non-profit on the property called “Mama Delta’s Lovehouse.” The non-profit was allegedly a “homeless/temporary shelter” from February 2007 until March 2011, less than one month before the April 5, election. The organization was found delinquent in January of 2010, given a notice of dissolution in January 2011, and officially administratively dissolved as of March 15, 2011.

Despite the presence of the non-profit on the premises of 1018 N. 35th St., the City of Milwaukee Zoning Code reads:

H. Group Home, Group Foster Home, or Community Living Arrangement

h-2 If the use is located in an RS1 to RS6 or RT1 to RT3 district, not more than 8 clients shall reside on the premises. In all other residential districts, not more than 15 clients shall reside on the premises. Even if Taylor’s mother’s delinquent and dissolved non-profit were an excuse for the number of voters at 1018 N. 35th St., housing 36 individuals would be a violation of the City of Milwaukee Zoning Code for the property itself.

The issue with Senator Taylor’s property does not stop at the exorbitant number of active voters or the number of individuals who used the address to vote on April 5. When Media Trackers began to look at the individuals that voted from Taylor’s property, questions began to emerge about whether voters were ineligible to vote and whether they actually lived on the premises, let alone the state of Wisconsin. One individual was a felon voter and another may reside in Chicago.

According to court documents, there are at least 3 other questionable registrations at Taylor’s property. These individuals list different addresses in court documents from previous years but it cannot be determined when they registered to vote from Taylor’s property.

The Ineligible Felon Voter

On election day April 5, Russell Collins registered and voted from the property in question. Senator Taylor’s mother even corroborated for Collins, claiming to be the owner of the property on Collins’ voter registration form. When Media Trackers searched the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access Program, it was discovered that Collins’ was convicted of a Class G Felony (theft of moveable property from person) on November 5, 2010 and sentenced to 10 months in a “house of correction” with credit for 98 days served. According to Collins’ Criminal Court Filing with the Milwaukee County Court:

Court advised defendant his voting rights are suspended, and he may not vote in any election until his civil rights are restored. With no indication on his Criminal Court Filing that his civil rights have been reinstated, and the fact that Collins’ could not have served out the totality of his 10 month sentence by April 5 election, it raises questions about whether Collins’ voted illegally and whether Senator Taylor and her mother were complicit in this fraud.

Chicago Voter?

Another individual, Mark E Lewis Sr., first registered to vote from Taylor’s property on November 4, 2008. Without voting at all in 2010, Lewis voted again from 1018 N. 35th St. for the April 5, election. But what is peculiar about Lewis is that just one month after the April 5, election, Lewis was cited for consuming food or beverage on a city bus. The rather benign citation aside, Lewis listed his address on May 4, 2011 as 4843 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, Illinois.

Leading to further questions about Lewis’ residency at Taylor’s property, on June 21, 2010, Lewis was cited for a host of charges including Disorderly Conduct and Resisting Arrest. In June of 2010, Lewis listed his address as 2933/37 W Wells St. Milwaukee, WI.

Either Lewis lived at 3 different residences and 2 states in the course of 11 months, the last move from Wisconsin to Illinois in less than one month, or Lewis used his active voter registration at Taylor’s property when he did not reside there.

Conclusion

Senator Lena Taylor wants to recall Gov. Scott Walker for what she believes is his misuse of power, but in this case she appears to have been an accessory to illegal voting activities. Furthermore, Senator Lena Taylor was an outspoken critic of the Photo ID bill, but if that bill had been in place it could stopped some of the potential voter fraud that took place from her property.

Just last week, Sen. Lena Taylor re-introduced legislation to extend the right to vote to felons and other convicts the moment they leave jail. But instead of waiting to change the law, Senator Taylor appears to have been an accessory to at least one voter breaking current election law as it relates to felon voting.

Just after the August recall elections, Senator Taylor wrote “when you assault the values and history of the Badger State, you will be held accountable.”

The scope of this scheme indicates that Senator Lena Taylor and her mother need to be asked very serious questions about how the property was used, and how it came to be that 36 voters, some felons still on extended supervision, and others who appear to possibly be from out of state, were registered to vote at the address. At best this is gross negligence that undermines the integrity of the election process, at worst it is an offense against the state of Wisconsin.

Using one of Senator Taylor’s favorite lines, is this really what democracy looks like?

Another compassionate liberal calls for the death of someone he disagrees with

Original Post: Digital Journal

Actor Orlando Jones defends tweet calling for Sarah Palin's death

Orlando Jones, best known for his stint at comedy show MADtv, recently tweeted for liberals to kill Sarah Palin and defended his statement, saying, "My tweet hit a nerve. That's good."

Several days ago, Jones wrote on his Twitter account: "Libyan Rebels kill Gaddafi, if American liberals want respect they better stop listening to Aretha & kill Sarah Palin(:"

He then faced a barrage of criticism on his Twitter feed and via his Facebook account. CNN reports Jones responded to a number of Twitter users, "including one that asked why the actor 'thinks it's funny to call for Sarah Palin to be murdered.' Jones replied to the query, 'I don't. I think it's funny that you are so upset about my inane tweet.'"

Jones, also known for being a 7-Up spokesperson in the late 1990s, defended his tweet, recently writing, "My tweet was farcical not funny or a call to action."

On his Facebook Page, Jones went further to fully explain his motive behind the inflammatory tweet: "Any anger directed at me and my right to free speech is an absolute waste of time. I am not a statesman. My comments reflect no political affiliation. It's just me being me, So...he just randomly calls for the death of random people he has no interest in? That's rather sociopathic. in a world that will never comfortably mix political correctness with artistic expression. For that, I offer no apologies, excuses or wisdom."

Palin or her representatives haven't responded to the tweet or its fallout yet. This story will be updated as news comes in.

Warren Buffet demand that his taxes be raised, but not really

Warren 'Raise My Taxes' Buffett's Company May Owe IRS $1 Billion

Original Post: News Busters By Noel Sheppard

As NewsBusters reported Monday, American media almost completely ignored a report that Warren "Raise My Taxes" Buffett's company Berkshire Hathaway has been fighting with the IRS for almost a decade over taxes it owes.

On Tuesday, the organization digging into Berkshire Hathaway's numbers, Americans for Limited Government, estimated the total could be as much as $1 billion:

Using only publicly-available documents, a certified public accountant (CPA) detailed Berkshire Hathaway’s tax problems to ALG researcher Richard McCarty. Now, the American people have a better idea of how much in back taxes the company could owe Uncle Sam.

According to page 56 of the company report, “At December 31, 2010… net unrecognized tax benefits were $1,005 million”, or about $1 billion. McCarty explained, “Unrecognized tax benefits represent the company’s potential future obligation to the IRS and other taxing authorities. They have to be recorded in the company’s financial statements.”

He added, “The notation means that Berkshire Hathaway’s own auditors have probably said that $1 billion is more likely than not owed to the government.” Google News and LexisNexis searches have uncovered only the New York Post as a major outlet reporting ALG's previous revelations.

Now that the money involved is 10 figures, will anyone in the Obama-loving media address the hypocrisy of one of the President's wealthiest supporters?

Stay tuned.

Is America doing poor Orwell?

I just finished reading a couple of rather well known George Orwell books. Wow. Just wow. They are timeless and could have easily be written today. So, in that vein I decided to help prove him right by taking some of my favorite quotes of his and placing them into a modern day context by putting them up against actual events or phrases spoken by American "leaders".

Animal Farm

Squealer, with very round cheeks, twinkling eyes, nimble movements, and a shrill voice. He was a brilliant talker, and when he was arguing some difficult point he had a way of skipping from side to side and whisking his tail which was somehow very persuasive. The others said of Squealer that he could turn black into white.
Women faint at Obama rally
Obama head swings from side to side to two teleprompters

The pigs did not actual work, but directed and supervised the others. With their superior knowledge it was natural that they should assume the leadership.
Obama goes golfing after America's downgrade

It is for YOUR sake that we drink that milk and eat those apples.
$30,000 to go to Obama's birthday party

This work was strictly voluntary, but any animal who absented himself from it would have his rations reduced by half.
Obamacare end of life counseling not voluntary

It had become usual to give Napoleon the credit for every successful achievement and every stroke of good fortune.
Obama gets Osama

...Squealer was soon able to convince them that their memories had been at fault.
I inherited this mess
Bush's unemployment rate

The truest happiness, he said, lay in working hard and living frugally.
We can't keep our thermos at 72.


1984

'Who controls the past,' ran the Party Slogan, 'controls the future: who controls the present controls the past.;
Tea Party shouldn't be given equal time

It appeared that there had even been demonstrations to thank Big Brother for raising the chocolate ration to twenty grammes.
Obamacare rations healthcare for elderly

Nor was it a satisfactory solution to keep the masses in poverty by restricting the output of goods.
Cap and Trade

If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face-for ever.
"My friends, we live in the greatest nation in the history of the world. I hope you'll join me as we try to change it." - President Obama

John Kerry tries to use media to censer TEA party free speech

Original Post: Real Clear Politics

John Kerry: Media Has "Responsibility" To "Not Give Equal Time" To Tea Party

Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) told MSNBC's "Morning Joe" on Friday that the media has the responsibility to not give equal time or credence to the Tea Party's views:

SEN. JOHN KERRY: "And I have to tell you, I say this to you politely. The media in America has a bigger responsibility than it's exercising today. The media has got to begin to not give equal time or equal balance to an absolutely absurd notion just because somebody asserts it or simply because somebody says something which everybody knows is not factual." It's clearly an absurd notion and you know it is because I say so. Big Brother knows what's best and to think otherwise is to be guilty of thoughtcrime.

"It doesn't deserve the same credit as a legitimate idea about what you do. And the problem is everything is put into this tit-for-tat equal battle and America is losing any sense of what's real, of who's accountable, of who is not accountable, of who's real, who isn't, who's serious, who isn't?"

E-mails Raise Questions About Truthfulness of Pasch Denial

Original Post: Media Trackers

By: Brian Sikma

UPDATE: This article was updated at 10:09 AM on August 3, 2011 to include more emails between Rep. Sandy Pasch and Citizen Action of Wisconsin.

As the barbecue for votes scandal involving Wisconsin Jobs Now! draws significant media attention, Rep. Sandy Pasch has spent the early days of this week attempting to distance herself from the organization. Pasch serves on the board of directors of Citizen Action of Wisconsin, a liberal umbrella group that is the parent organization of Wisconsin Jobs Now! Interestingly, WJN is only operating within the 8th Senate District, where Pasch is attempting to unseat Sen. Alberta Darling in a recall election next Tuesday.

After Media Trackers brought to light Pasch’s connection with Citizen Action and WJN, questions were raised about whether or not Pasch and her campaign have coordinated with the liberal non-profit groups. Such coordination would be a violation of state election law. Speaking to the Milwaukee Press Club on Monday, Pasch denied having any involvement with the political activities of Citizen Action of Wisconsin, even though she serves on the group’s board.

The Journal-Sentinel reported that that Pasch “said she has had no contact with anyone at Citizen Action regarding any political activities.” A local reporter for the Foxpoint Patch news website quoted Pasch as saying:

“I have not had no [sic] contact with them about any political activities or any political plans that they’ve been making. I cut off contact with them.”

This theme was reiterated by Citizen Action of Wisconsin and Democratic Party of Wisconsin officials.

The truthfulness of Rep. Pasch’s statements are brought into question as a result of e-mails obtained by Media Trackers through an open records request on Rep. Pasch’s office. A number of the more than 1,500 e-mails obtained were from Robert Kraig, the executive director of Citizen Action, to his board members. Kraig used Pasch’s official e-mail address quite frequently when updating her on what Citizen Action of Wisconsin was doing, and what actions the board of directors needed to take.

One particularly fascinating exchange took place from June 1 through June 5 between a Citizen Action staffer, Jennifer Epps, and Pasch’s aide, Fred Ludwig. Citizen Action was looking to film promotional statements by liberal lawmakers opposed to Gov. Walker’s proposed reform to the Wisconsin Shares program. The exchange includes both sides working to nail down a time for Pasch to record the video statement, and also finds the Citizen Action staffer offering some helpful insight into a way Pasch could get on a radio show at WMCS to promote the issue.

Sandy Pasch announced her campaign to unseat Alberta Darling on May 6. The exchange about a promotional video and potential radio show appearance between Pasch’s office and Citizen Action of Wisconsin came nearly a month into the election. Clearly some measure of coordination was taking place, and it must be assumed that Citizen Action of Wisconsin was aware of the political value that Pasch could have put on having a video filmed by Citizen Action of Wisconsin shown to supporters.

Other e-mails discovered include talking points sent to Pasch’s office by Citizen Action of Wisconsin on February 12 outlining what Citizen Action believed to be effective ways of opposing the Budget Repair Bill. That e-mail also included a note that Citizen Action would be helping to lead the way on the massive protests that engulfed Madison in the following weeks.

Several e-mails were quick reminders about upcoming Citizen Action board meetings, including one hosted by WEAC. It also appears that the SEIU will be hosting a Citizen Action board meeting on December 9 at 260 E. Highland Avenue in Milwaukee.

One final e-mail of note was sent on March 18 to Rep. Pasch’s official e-mail address asking her to reply with her completed ballot regarding candidates that Citizen Action of Wisconsin should endorse in the Spring election. Robert Kraig reminded the board that, “You as the Board of Directors make the final decision on all endorsements.” Members were asked to include Matt Brusky, the treasurer of the dubious Wisconsin Jobs Now! group and political director for Citizen Action, on their reply.

Clearly the truth is not exactly as Rep. Sandy Pasch would have the public believe. Her statements to the press about her involvement with Citizen Action of Wisconsin would appear to be at best misspoken, at worst misleading. The e-mails obtained show a history of coordination between her official office and Citizen Action of Wisconsin, and they show the extent of the political duties involved in serving as a board member for Citizen Action.

The e-mails obtained by Media Trackers are only the tip of the iceberg. They only reveal a tremendous amount of communication between Rep. Pasch’s office and Citizen Action of Wisconsin. There is no way to judge, outside of a legal subpoena, how many e-mails are exchanged between Pasch, her treasurer Jackie Boynton, Matt Brusky, and Robert Kraig via personal or campaign e-mail addresses. Judging from the publicly available e-mails, it would appear to be incredible to believe that all of these parties have failed to communicate and coordinate on political activities.

PaschCitizenActionBoardPoliticalActions

E-mailPaschCitizenActionVideoCoordination

Citizen Action Board Meeting On May 13

Citizen Action Talking Points On Budget Repair Bill

Joe Biden collecting rent from Secret Service

Original Post: Yahoo

By Rachel Rose Hartman

Biden (Riccardo De Luca/AP)
Joe Biden is a landlord to the Secret Service.

That's right.

The Washington Times reports that Biden has collected $13,200 from the Secret Service since April to rent a cottage adjacent to his Wilmington, Del., home and continues to charge the agency rent. The Secret Service has agreed to pay $2,200 per month for use of the house in order to provide security to the Biden family, according to Edwin M. Donovan, special agent in charge at the Secret Service's Office of Government and Public Affairs in Washington.

(By the way, that's no discount on the rent--the Times reports that's the amount paid by the previous tenant.)

Some of the watchdog types interviewed by the Times questioned whether the agreement is appropriate, especially given Biden's deficit reduction leadership role. Leslie Paige, spokeswoman for Citizens Against Government Waste, said there's no question Biden deserves protection, "but this arrangement seems bizarre to me."

"You'd think the vice president, who shepherded the deficit committee, would think twice about charging the Secret Service rent. Why would he need the money? I don't get it."

The agency says it is a unique situation. "We don't pay rent to any other protectees," Donovan told The Ticket, but he added that the agency had wanted to be in close proximity to the vice president's house. Officials had been renting other properties in the area when Biden's cottage tenant moved out. So, the Secret Service reached out.

"The cottage was an existing rental property at the time the Secret Service signed its lease," Kendra Barkoff, press secretary for the vice president, informed the newspaper and wrote in an email to The Ticket.

Poll: Voters think reporters are biased liberals

Original Post:Yahoo

By Joe Pompeo

It seems like reporters can't write anything about hot-button topics these days without someone on the right or left accusing them of harboring a clandestine political agenda. They're either in the tank for Obama, or not properly covering the challenges to his health-care plan. One minute they never have anything nice to say about the Tea Party, the next they're overblowing its clout. And so on.

If you think we're just being sensitive here, take a look at this new Rasmussen poll: Sixty-seven percent of likely U.S. voters believe that reporters try to bolster their preferred candidate when covering an election, while 46 percent believe that the average reporter is more liberal than they are, according to the national telephone survey.

Only 21 percent of respondents, on the other hand, have faith that journalists are fair and balanced in their coverage, and 18 percent find the fourth estate's political leanings to be more conservative than their own.

Among the other findings:

- Forty-eight percent of voters believe most reporters would "hide any damaging information they learned to help the candidate they wanted to win."

- Meanwhile, Republicans (59 percent) and unaffiliated voters (58 percent) "feel much more strongly than Democrats that most reporters ... would hold back news that might hurt a candidate they wanted to win."

- Seventy-eight percent of conservatives think the average reporter is more liberal than they are, while 38 percent of liberals think the average reporter is more conservative than they are.

- Seventy-three percent of Republican voters versus 20 percent of Democrats say the average reporter is more liberal than they are.

- Male voters are more skeptical of reporters' integrity than female voters are.

TV Executives Admit in Taped Interviews That Hollywood Pushes a Liberal Agenda

Original Post: Yahoo

By Paul Bond

Some of TV's top executives from the past four decades may have gotten more than they bargained for when they agreed to be interviewed for a politically charged book that was released Tuesday, because video of their controversial remarks will soon be hitting the Internet.

The book makes the case that TV industry executives, writers and producers use their clout to advance a liberal political agenda. The author bases his thesis on, among other things, 39 taped interviews that he'll roll out piecemeal during the next three weeks.

The Hollywood Reporter obtained several of the not-yet-released clips. Each contains a snippet of an interview, usually some historical footage of the TV shows the interviewee was responsible for and, naturally, a plea to purchase the book, "Primetime Propaganda" by Ben Shapiro and published by Broad Side, an imprint of HarperCollins.

In one video, "Friends" co-creator Marta Kauffman says that when she cast Candace Gingrich-Jones, half-sister of Republican former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, as the minister of a lesbian wedding, "There was a bit of [a middle finger] in it to the right wing."

Kauffman also acknowledges she "put together a staff of mostly liberal people," which is another major point of Shapiro's book: that conservatives aren't welcome in Hollywood.

Maybe that's because they're "idiots" and have "medieval minds." At least that's what "Soap" and "Golden Girls" creator Susan Harris thinks of TV's conservative critics.

However, the ranks of dumb right-wingers has dwindled, according to Harris, whose video has her saying: "At least, you know, we put Obama in office, and so people, I think, are getting — have gotten — a little bit smarter."

Some of the videos have executives making rather obvious revelations, like when Larry Gelbart and Gene Reynolds talk about pacifist messages in "M*A*S*H" or when "MacGyver" producer Vin Di Bona says anti-gun messages were a recurring theme in that show.

But an additional video has Di Bona, who also created "America's Funniest Home Videos," becoming remarkably blunt about his approval of a lack of political diversity in Hollywood. When Shapiro asks what he thinks of conservative critics who say everyone in Hollywood is liberal, Di Bona responds: "I think it's probably accurate, and I'm happy about it."

Another video has Leonard Goldberg — who executive produces "Blue Bloods" for CBS and a few decades ago exec produced such hits as "Fantasy Island," "Charlie's Angels" and "Starsky and Hutch" — saying that liberalism in the TV industry is "100 percent dominant, and anyone who denies it is kidding, or not telling the truth."

When Shapiro tells Fred Pierce, the president of ABC in the 1980s who was instrumental in Disney's acquisition of ESPN, that "It's very difficult for people who are politically conservative to break in" to television, he responds: "I can't argue that point." Those who don't lean left, he says, "don't promote it. It stays underground."

Another video rolling out soon has "House" creator David Shore acknowledging that "there is an assumption in this town that everybody is on the left side of the spectrum, and that the few people on the right side, I think people look at them somewhat aghast, and I'm sure it doesn't help them."

In the book, subtitled "The true Hollywood story of how the left took over your TV," Shapiro also tells anecdotes of bias against conservatives. One example is Dwight Schultz, best known for his roles as Murdock in "The A-Team" and Barclay in "Star Trek: The Next Generation."

The late Bruce Paltrow knew that Schultz was a fan of President Ronald Reagan. When Schultz showed up to audition for "St. Elsewhere," a show Paltrow produced, to read for the part of Fiscus, Paltrow told him: "There's not going to be a Reagan [expletive] on this show!" The part went to Howie Mandel.

"Most nepotism in Hollywood isn't familial, it's ideological," Shapiro writes in the book. "Friends hire friends. And those friends just happen to share their politics."

Another video Shapiro will release shortly has producer-director Nicholas Meyer being asked point-blank whether conservatives are discriminated against in Hollywood. "Well, I hope so," he answers. Meyer also admits his political agenda for "The Day After," a TV movie he directed for ABC that was seen by 100 million people when it aired in 1983.

"My private, grandiose notion was that this movie would unseat Ronald Reagan when he ran for re-election," Meyer says.

Even seemingly harmless shows like "Happy Days" and "Sesame Street" have been used to advance a progressive agenda, according to Shapiro.

For example, William Bickley, a writer on "The Partridge Family" and a producer on "Happy Days," says he infused Vietnam War protest messages into the latter. "I was into all that," he says in a soon-to-be-released video.

"Television has been perhaps the most impressive weapon in the left's political arsenal," Shapiro argues in the book.

Other upcoming videos include: "Family Ties" creator Gary David Goldberg explaining how he tried to make Republican character Alex Keaton the bad guy but that actor Michael J. Fox was too darn lovable; and president of MTV Networks Entertainment Group Doug Herzog talking about his network having "superpowers" when it comes to its influence over young people.

The advancement of a gay and lesbian political agenda is mentioned by multiple executives, including Marcy Carsey, a producer of "Soap" and "Roseanne," and "Desperate Housewives" producer Marc Cherry, who is a rarity in Hollywood: a gay Republican.

In her video, Carsey also says she insisted on portraying characters smoking marijuana in "That '70s Show." "If this is a problem for you, we certainly understand, and we just won't do the show," she told executives at Fox.

Shapiro released two videos Tuesday, one featuring "COPS" creator John Langley saying he's partial to segments where white people are the criminals, and the other has Fred Silverman, the former head of ABC and later NBC, saying "there's only one perspective, and it's a very progressive perspective" in TV comedy today.

Shapiro said the executives felt comfortable talking about politics with him because they assumed, incorrectly, that he is on the left.

"Most of them didn't Google me. If they had, they would have realized where I am politically," he said. "I played on their stereotypes. When I showed up for the interviews, I wore my Harvard Law baseball cap — my name is Ben Shapiro and I attended Harvard, so there's a 98.7 percent chance I'm a liberal. Except I happen not to be."

Shapiro said he'll time the debut of certain videos for maximum effect. One that slams Sean Hannity, for example, is reserved for his scheduled appearance on Hannity's show on the Fox News Channel.

And conservative pundit Ann Coulter has a new book out June 7. "I have two people ripping her by name, so I'll release those the day Ann's book is released," Shapiro said.

One of those slamming Coulter is George Schlatter, who directed and produced "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In" in the 1970s, using the show to knock Republicans and the Vietnam War. "The fact we [ticked] the Pentagon off, that pleased me enormously," he says before calling Coulter a vulgar word.

In his video, Schlatter also goes off on right-wing radio hosts Rush Limbaugh and Laura Ingraham.

Shapiro says he didn't disclose that he'd be releasing the tapes, but that his subjects have no reason to complain.

"I asked them for permission to tape, and there's no reasonable expectation of privacy when you're being interviewed for a book," he said.

"If they're going to be shocked at something, it should be themselves, not me," Shapiro said. "They should be shocked that opinion is so one-sided in Hollywood that it's OK to say, 'I'm fine with discrimination.'"

"My whole book is a plea for openness in the industry," he added. "Hire people from the other side of the aisle once in a while, or at least stop mocking them."

More communist warship from Democrat Barbara Boxer

Sen. Boxer cheers naming of the USNS Cesar Chavez
Original Post: Dailycaller

While the idea of naming a U.S. Naval ship after labor leader Cesar Chavez has roiled some, California Democrat Sen. Barbara Boxer is thrilled that the activist will be receiving the honor.

Boxer called Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus Tuesday to thank him for the decision.

“I applaud Secretary Mabus for continuing the Navy’s rich tradition of naming these supply ships after pioneers, explorers and visionaries by honoring César Chávez, who worked tirelessly to promote fair working conditions and equal rights for all Americans,” Boxer said in a statement. “This is a fitting tribute to Chávez, who served in the Navy, and follows the Navy’s recent decisions to name other supply ships after American visionaries from Medgar Evers to Amelia Earhart to Lewis and Clark.”

Republican California Rep. Duncan Hunter, a Marine veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, had a very different opinion. He said that it was indicative of the Navy’s politicization.

“This decision shows the direction the Navy is heading. Naming a ship after Cesar Chavez goes right along with other recent decisions by the Navy that appear to be more about making a political statement than upholding the Navy’s history and tradition,” he said.

According to Hunter, if the Navy is trying to honor the Hispanic community there are people far better suited for that distinction, including Marine Corps Sergeant Rafael Peralta, a Medal of Honor nominee, and World War II Medal of Honor winner John Finn.

Chavez was a labor leader and civil rights activist who co-founded the National Farm Workers Association (which later became the United Farm Workers). He was know for his agressive yet non-violent tactics to organize and demand workers’ rights.

The T-AKE 14 ship to be named is currently under construction at General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Company in San Diego. It is expected to be ready by late 2012.

Update 6:26 : Boxer Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and 13 other Democratic Senators sent a letter of support to Mabus Wednesday.

“Those who have criticized the Navy’s decision to name this ship after César Chávez show a disappointing lack of knowledge of the standards and traditions that are such an important part of United States Navy history,” the letter reads.

Wisconsin business threatened for allegedly selling gas to Republican Senator

Original Post: Examiner

For the heinous act of allegedly selling gas to a Republican State Senator, a Sheboygan, Wisconsin gas station received threats from a local school district employee.

According to WBAY, Dick Hiers, owner of a Northeast Standard gas station, began receiving calls last Tuesday from an unidentified woman who thought she saw Senator Joe Leibham buying gas there. As it turns out, the person she thought was Senator Leibham was actually the Senator's brother.

Molly Hendrickson writes:

"I think that this whole thing has to end. It has to stop," said Hiers. "This type of stuff is totally uncalled for."

Hiers never thought his little gas station in the heart of Sheboygan would be the stage of political controversy. Then again, his week has been full of surprises.

"I was working back here and the answering machine went off, and I was a little surprised by that, and when I heard the message here, I was even a little more surprised."

The conversation was captured on an answering machine that was left on from the previous night.

Caller: "Can you verify that was Senator Leibham at the gas station this morning?"

Gas station clerk: "Senator Leibham?"

Caller: "Yes. Do you guys support him?"

Clerk: "I have nothing to say about that, I am not politically involved."

Caller: "Alright, well you can tell Dick he's not good for business, I'll tell you that."

Translation: Nice business you have here - be a shame if something happened to it.

Hiers quickly traced the call and discovered it came from the Sheboygan area district school office.

On Tuesday, a school district employee Hiers believed was the woman who made the call visited his business, but he was unable to speak with her. Hiers told the Sheboygan Press he thought the woman was instructed to apologize for the call.

Sheboygan School Superintendent Joseph Sheehan was not in the area Friday, but told WBAY the district has taken "appropriate disciplinary action" against the employee.

"Any type of phone call leaving any types of threats or condoning any type of intimidation is strictly prohibited," he said.

According to school officials, the 8:15 call was made before the employee was on the clock.

Hiers told WBAY he wants answers, and says the week's events are a "...sign things have gone too far."

"Everybody's money is green, it's all the same, and I don't pick and choose who can come into my business," Hiers said, according to WBAY. He also expressed concern for the Senator's safety, citing threats the Senator and his family have received.
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Leibham was one of the Republican lawmakers targeted with a death threat sent by email. Katherine Windels, 26, has been charged with two felony counts and two misdemeanor counts for the threats.

In March, a public sector union threatened businesses with boycotts if they did not display a poster showing solidarity with the unions. Most of the businesses refused to cave in to the demands made by the unions and instead of suffering from a public union boycott, saw increased support from the local community.

Earlier in March, a branch of the M&I bank was vandalized with pro-union graffiti and a Sendik's grocery store had its doors glued shut.

WBAY reports that Senator Leibham has filed an open records request with the school district.

According to the Sheboygan Press:

Leibham said his concern is whether a school employee on school time would make statements like that from a school phone.

"My interest in this is as a taxpayer," Leibham said. "I'm interested if this was a call made from a school district phone system and I'm intrigued if it's the responsibility of school district employees to be monitoring the activities of citizens and to be calling businesses to give them advice on how to run their business. I've never, as a taxpayer, understood that was the responsibility of school district employees or the school district as a whole."

Audio of the call can be heard at the Sheboygan Press.