Do You Value Booker Rising?

Booker Rising recently celebrated its 8th year (you can see the blog's very post here). Yes, it's that time of the year again: Booker Rising's biannual fundraising drive.

As mentioned back in January, I had to delay redesigning the blog (which was last done in 2008). As you know, my schedule has been crazy busy this year, which prevented regular blog posting until recently. Now that I'm getting around to the redesign, the designer has increased his price somewhat in the interim as well.

In celebration of Booker Rising's 8th birthday, my goal is to raise $800. Booker Rising is the only one-stop source on the Internet on the global black center-right, from America to Zimbabwe. It's the go-to source for black center-right news, amid a vast sea of black center-left news sources. If only 18 of my readers contribute $25, the goal will be met.

It is Day 29 of the campaign. Booker Rising has met 46% of its birthday goal so far ($365). If you appreciate the work of Booker Rising, you can donate by clicking on the "Donate" button at the top of the blog. You can donate through PayPal, if you have an account. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can donate using Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, or Echeck. I should note that contributions are not tax-deductible.

Challenges Ahead For New Oklahoma House Speaker

From The Republic (Indiana): "As the Republican Party has grown in Oklahoma and expanded its majorities in the Legislature, the House GOP caucus in particular has grown more fractured with a tea party-aligned right wing calling for action on social issues like guns, abortion and illegal immigration often battling with chamber-of-commerce-style moderates who want to focus mostly on pro-business measures. First, an agreement to cut the income tax that had been pushed hard by Republican Gov. Mary Fallin fell apart when members of the 67-strong House GOP caucus balked at the proposal. Then nearly 20 House Republicans joined with Democrats to initially derail a budget deal before a handful of Republicans switched their vote."

The article continues: "With House Speaker Kris Steele being forced from office because of term limits, the job of shepherding the diverse caucus next year is expected to fall to House Speaker-Designate T.W. Shannon, a 34-year-old Republican from Lawton who is in line to become the first African-American speaker in Oklahoma's history. A former administrator for the Cherokee Nation and field representative for U.S. Reps. Tom Cole and J.C. Watts, Shannon said he embraces the diversity of the growing GOP caucus and sees it as a strength moving forward.

'You look at the Republican caucus now — you've got a mix of urban and rural. You've got both genders represented. You've got people of different socio-economic backgrounds. And you've got people on different ends of the philosophical spectrum, which is great. That reflects how Oklahoma should look," Shannon said. "There's no question when you're having policy discussions, there are disagreements, but that's a good thing. What always worries me is when a leader stands up and there's absolutely no opposing voice whatsoever. That's when people should be really concerned.'

More about Mr. Shannon: "And while Democrats and Republicans alike praise Shannon for his ability to relate to the rank-and-file members, he narrowly won the caucus vote over Steele's choice for a successor, Rep. Jeff Hickman of Darcoma, with the help of the right-wing members. Shannon also has yet to lead the caucus that could be as many as 70 strong after the November elections and with an even larger tea party presence."

Ellis Washington: "Democrats Are Using Nazi Tactics Against Romney & The GOP"

Asserts the conservative Republican commentator: "Obama’s liberal fascist attacks on Bain Capital and against American capitalism remind me of an earlier more radical time in history when Hitler was running for election as chancellor of Germany in 1932. No, I am not calling Obama a Hitler, but I am stating in the most emphatic manner that Obama and the Democratic Party are using Nazi propaganda campaign tactics against Romney and the GOP."

He continues his commentary: "Remember that the word propaganda comes from the Latin verb propagare, meaning 'to propagate', 'to reproduce' or 'to spread from person to person.' We must remember that Hitler did not take power by force; he was voted into office using the democratic process and his superior rhetorical skills to convince the people to vote for him. Once he tricked the German people to elect him chancellor, they became, in the words of historian Daniel Goldhagen, 'Hitler’s willing accomplices.' Hitler next quickly suspended the constitution, burned down the German parliament building (the Reichstag), declared martial law and combined the presidency with the chancellorship to become Germany’s absolute dictator, or fuehrer. He then launched World War II and the Holocaust against the Jews."

More: "In conclusion, remember the infamous words of Joseph Goebbels, Hitler’s minister of propaganda, who said: If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. Obama can’t run on the truth of his four-year record as president because it was an unmitigated disaster that has pushed America to the brink of another Great Depression. Therefore, he must resort to misdirection, chaos theory, lies and Nazi tactics using shameless campaign propaganda against Romney. Obama’s lies and continuous propaganda reminds me of the conclusion of Goebbels quote [once] – 'The truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the [Socialist] State.'"

Free-Market Democrats Push Back

From the Arizona Republic: "Whether he intentionally wishes it or not, the president is stigmatizing the free market in his critique of Romney and Bain Capital. There are people who have a problem with that. And they are not all Republicans. While delicately acknowledging that Romney's private-sector experience is 'fair game' for criticism, a surprising number of influential Democrats have effectively said 'enough' to the constant beat-down of the private-equity business, an important subset of the free market."

The op-ed continues: "Newark Mayor Cory Booker, a key member of the Obama re-election team, has called the attacks 'nauseating to the American public.' In the same breath that he called on Republicans to stop resurrecting the specter of Obama's former pastor, Jeremiah Wright, he demanded that his own side 'stop attacking private equity.' Booker has been underscored by Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, who called Bain 'a perfectly fine company.' Former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell also has said he is displeased with the tone of attacks against an important tool of the free market. Former Rep. Harold Ford Jr. of Tennessee criticized Booker....for later walking back his criticisms of the Obama ad campaign. Ford observed that private equity is 'a good thing in many, many instances.' Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., made a point of noting that Bain had 'done a good job for their investors,' a group that included many retirees and union pension funds. Then, on Thursday, former President Bill Clinton stepped voluntarily into the off-campaign-message fray, offering abundant praise for Romney and Bain. Clinton called Romney's work at Bain 'sterling,' and added that it constituted 'a good business career.'"

More: "The impetus behind all the Democratic push-back against the 'vampire' imagery is not hostility to Obama's re-election. Every one of the campaign critics bracketed his comments with support for the president. More accurately, their comments represent the return of an aggregation of Democrats who do not reflexively view business or free enterprise as a bad thing. That was a perspective promoted by the Democratic Leadership Council, a pro-business wing of the Democratic Party that enjoyed much popularity during the Clinton years, including from Clinton himself. Led by famous 'third-way' advocate Al From, the DLC backed the 1996 welfare reforms and some school-choice plans, and opposed a government-directed single-payer health-care plan. It was viewed as enthusiastically pro-business. It nearly dissolved in 2011 as the Democratic Party became increasingly infused with a view of business and free markets as malevolent and undertaxed. The reaction of these important Democrats to the anti-market sentiments of the 'vampire' ads is refreshing. If it leads to a resurrection of a more business-friendly party, all the better."

Star Parker: "Americans Have Become More Pro-Life"

Asserts the conservative Republican commentator in D.C.: "New Gallup polling shows that bringing abortion back into the national debate may not be a bad political call for Republicans. Whereas public opinion has moved in recent years against the conservative position opposing same-sex marriage, the opposite is true on abortion. On abortion, Americans have become decidedly more pro-life, moving in the direction of conservatives."

She continues her commentary: "A just released Gallup poll shows that 50 percent now identify as 'pro-life' compared to 41 percent as 'pro-choice.' This is a complete reversal from 16 years ago in the mid-90s when 56 percent were 'pro-choice' and 38 percent 'pro-life.' Moreover, 51 percent now say abortion is morally wrong compared to 38 percent who say it is morally acceptable. Also of political interest is that Independents are now on the 'pro-life' side of the ledger, 47 percent identifying as 'pro-life' compared to 41 percent 'pro-choice.'"

More commentary from Ms. Parker: "Those who insist that social and moral issues constitute an agenda separate and apart from economic issues should consider why socialist societies are secular, atheist societies. We need not be limited to looking at China and the former Soviet Union to appreciate this. On display today is the tragic collapse of Europe, now largely secular, under the burdens of the unsustainable welfare state it has created. It is societies that respect both life and property, societies in which the mystery of life is revered and respected, that nurture a culture of personal responsibility that make a free and prosperous nation possible. Latest polling indicates good news that a majority of Americans are waking up to this fact."