Politics - what I see and what I do not understand

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Obama's support for gay marriage sparks Web reaction

Politicians react to President Obama's gay marriage support

In an interview with ABC News, President Obama said, "I think same sex couples should be able to get married." Politicians, policy-makers and interest groups react to this latest development. For full coverage, follow @NBCNews or visit www.msnbc.com

President Obama sent out this tweet minutes after the news broke
"Same-sex couples should be able to get married."—President Obama

Barack Obama

8 hours ago
VIDEO: NBC News Special Report
Obama supports same-sex marriage

Video on msnbc.com: President Obama says he now supports same-sex marriage, ending months of equivocation on a subject with powerful elec...

Msn
Full Story: Evolution of President Obama's stance on gay marriage
The 'evolution' of Obama's stance on gay marriage

Since stepping on to the national stage in 2004 when he ran for the Senate in Illinois, Barack Obama has shifted his views on whether sam...

Msn
VIDEO: Joe Biden on Meet the Press last Sunday: I'm 'absolutely comfortable' with gay marriage

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Meet the Press

MSNBC

7 hours ago
Ok White House tell us u wouldn't have done this without the Biden push on @meetthepress

Andrea Mitchell

8 hours ago
Mitt Romney says he remains opposed to same-sex marriage during an event in Oklahoma City
Romney says in OKC that he remains opposed to same sex marriage: "I have the same view that I've had since running for office. "

Garrett Haake

7 hours ago
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Dylan Ratigan

MSNBC

6 hours ago
The Republican Party position is clear. We support maintaining marriage between one man and one woman: bit.ly/IUB06T

RNC

8 hours ago
"Marriage…can only be between one man and one woman." — E-mail from the GOP. Of Iowa. Where marriage can be between any two people.

Nick Bergus

6 hours ago
First House Republican to speak out against Obama's support of gay marriage
Pres failures are masked by irrelevant pandering as a collectivist who does not respect individual sovereignty. More of the same politics.

Allen West

7 hours ago
House Speaker John Boehner addresses Obama's gay marriage announcement
Boehner on Fox Business #SSM "I obviously believe marriage is between a man and a woman. #GOP is focused on the economy."

Luke Russert

6 hours ago
Romney calls marriage 'tender' issue, repeats stance

Mitt Romney reiterated his opposition to same-sex marriage on Wednesday but declined to condemn President Obama's endorsement of gay marr...

Msn
Boehner dodges question on Constitutional amendment banning gay marriage saying "he hasn't seen proposal." #SSM

Luke Russert

6 hours ago
Politicians speaking in favor of gay marriage
A great day in our fight for civil rights-President Obama adds his support for marriage #equality. #BeautifulDay

Nancy Pelosi

8 hours ago
Obama’s support today for marriage equality is HUGE. Fundamental fairness for all is within reach!

Senator Jeff Merkley

8 hours ago
"States are able to make decisions on domestic partner benefits." @MIttRomney

David M. Drucker

7 hours ago
President Obama taking a historic step today in declaring support for marriage equality. Couldn't be prouder.

Reply Retweet

.@BarackObama Thx for your support of full #marriageequality today. Your leadership in the fight for #lgbt equality means so much.

Kirsten Gillibrand

20 hours ago

RNC chair: "We support maintaining marriage between one man and one woman and would oppose any attempts to change that."

toddstarnes

19 hours ago

No matter the setbacks, freedom will triumph over fear & #equality will prevail over exclusion: bit.ly/LQaXi7 #ssm

Mike Bloomberg

20 hours ago

We STILL have so much work to do. 100s of laws that deny rights & privileges to gay Americans that straight American's enjoy. #Equality4All

Cory Booker

19 hours ago

I have been blessed to have a long and happy marriage - all Americans deserve that same opportunity. #lgbt #marriageequality

Nita Lowey

21 hours ago

Thank you @BarackObama for supporting marriage equality for all Americans

Jared Polis

20 hours ago

Glad President @BarackObama has come out in support of marriage equality. #LGBT marriage strengthens families & communities.

Mark Udall

20 hours ago

Glad the Pres finished "evolving" on marriage equality. Our core national value is equality and equal protection under the law.

Jim Himes

20 hours ago

Wanted to make sure you saw that President Obama today said that he believes “same sex couples should be able to... fb.me/1sD43Bg11

Rep.George Miller

20 hours ago

I agree w/ Leader McConnell. POTUS' ‘to-do’ list for Congress is breathtaking in its cynicism. bit.ly/J85uAK #ObamaStopList

Senator John Thune

20 hours ago

I applaud the president's announcement today in support of gay marriage. bit.ly/KbbKcZ

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen

20 hours ago

Thank you President @BarackObama for standing up for all American families and supporting marriage #equality

Congressman Nadler

20 hours ago

"President Obama took bold step of recognizing same-sex couples in committed relationships entitled to the same rights as every American!

David N. Cicilline

19 hours ago

Obama support for marriage equality huge step forward for America…. the tide is turning and the current running deeper and faster.

Earl Blumenauer

20 hours ago

Marriage is about two people who love each other. Glad to hear that Pres Obama thinks so too! #NOH8 #equality

Jackie Speier

20 hours ago

Thrilled to hear POTUS’s support for #marriageequality. Historic step in march for equality that touches the hearts of so many Americans.

Sen. Patrick Leahy

19 hours ago

Marriage Equality is a matter of basic human rights. America’s same-sex families are now closer to having their unions recognized by govt.

Congressman Rothman

19 hours ago

Thrilled to see #President #Obama back #MarriageEquality. This is a huge day for the #LGBT community!

Judy Chu

19 hours ago

.@BarackObama gets it right. No barriers to the inalienable rights of our Constitution for any citizen, gay or straight

Gerry Connolly

19 hours ago

Why my family has always supported marriage #equalilty. #BeautifulDay #mepolitics youtu.be/NkdOLMJlsiI

Chellie Pingree

19 hours ago

Yesterday I expressed my desire that President Obama speak with clarity & come out in support of #MarriageEquality. Today, he came through!

Luis V. Gutierrez

19 hours ago

Giambusso from The Ledger asked me 4 a statement re: Obama & marriage equality. I told him I'd give him one as soon as I stopped dancing

Cory Booker

a day ago

With @MichelleObama & @JustinMikita permission I would like to marry @BarackObama right now!

Jesse Tyler Ferguson

a day ago

I'm going to bet people saying President Obama's support "means nothing" never comforted a 15 yr old gay kid asking why everyone hates him.

amaeryllis

a day ago

As someone who is getting married next month, this is the greatest wedding gift of all. Thank you Mr. President.

Sean Eldridge

a day ago

Thank you President @BarackObama for your beautiful and brave words. I'm overwhelmed.

Ellen DeGeneres

a day ago

President @BarackObama’s announcement is a major turning point in the history of American civil rights: bit.ly/LQaXi7 #ssm

Mike Bloomberg

a day ago

Pretty darn happy today. Thanks Mr President, for supporting the dignity of my family and so many others!

Jane Lynch

a day ago

On Fox, Shep Smith shows ABC's clip of Obama, then says: "The president of the United States: now in the 21st century."

Brian Stelter

a day ago

As the adopted son of a mixed race couple, I want to thank President Obama for finally stepping up & doing the right thing.

Scott Fujita

a day ago

Ultimately we all want the same thing for our kids: to live in a loving, stable committed home protected equally under the law. #MD4ME

Martin O'Malley

a day ago

Justice Dept. plans to sue Ariz. sheriff Arpaio

Joshua Lott / Reuters file

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio attends a news conference at the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office Training Center Auditorium in Phoenix, Ariz., March 1.

Controversial lawman denies allegations of racial profiling

By WALTER BERRY

updated 5/9/2012 9:10:21 PM ET

PHOENIX — Federal authorities said Wednesday that they plan to sue Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio and his office over allegations of civil rights violations, including the racial profiling of Latinos.

The U.S. Justice Department has been seeking an agreement requiring Arpaio's office to train officers in how to make constitutional traffic stops, collect data on people arrested in traffic stops and reach out to Latinos to assure them that the department is there to also protect them.
Arpaio has denied the racial profiling allegations and has claimed that allowing a court monitor would mean that every policy decision would have to be cleared through an observer and would nullify his authority.
DOJ officials told a lawyer for Arpaio on April 3 that the lawman's refusal of a court-appointed monitor was a deal-breaker that would end settlement negotiations and result in a federal lawsuit.
The "notice of intent to file civil action" came Wednesday from Assistant U.S. Attorney General Thomas Perez in a letter to an Arpaio lawyer.
Perez, who heads the DOJ's civil rights division, noted that it's been more than 100 days since the sheriff's office received the DOJ's findings report and federal authorities haven't met with the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office counsel since Feb. 6 to discuss the terms of a consent agreement.
Civil rights allegations
Neither Arpaio nor Joseph Popolizio, one of the lawyers representing the sheriff's office, immediately returned calls seeking comment.
Last December, the DOJ released a scathing report accusing Arpaio's office of racially profiling Latinos, basing immigration enforcement on racially charged citizen complaints and punishing Hispanic jail inmates for speaking Spanish in Arizona's most populous county.
The DOJ also accused Arpaio of having a culture of disregard for basic constitutional rights.
The civil rights allegations have led some Arpaio critics to call for his resignation, including the National Council of La Raza, a prominent advocacy group for Latinos.
The sheriff's office also is facing criticism over more than 400 sex-crimes investigations — including dozens of alleged child molestations — that hadn't been investigated adequately or weren't examined at all over a three-year period ending in 2007.
Arpaio has apologized for the botched cases, reopened 432 sex-crimes investigations and made 19 arrests.
Separate from the civil rights probe, a federal grand jury has been investigating Arpaio's office on criminal abuse-of-power allegations since at least December 2009. That grand jury is examining the investigative work of the sheriff's anti-public corruption squad.
The self-proclaimed toughest sheriff in America has been a national political fixture who has built his reputation on jailing inmates in tents and dressing them in pink underwear, selling himself to voters as unceasingly tough on crime and pushing the bounds of how far local police can go to confront illegal immigration.

Indonesian rescuers find bodies near wreckage of jet that 'fell' from sky

hours

ago

AFP - Getty Images

Debris from the crashed Sukhoi Superjet-100 is seen on the slope of Salak Mountain in Indonesia on Thursday.

By msnbc.com staff and news services

Updated at 4:10 a.m. ET: Indonesian rescuers said Thursday that they had discovered bodies near the wreckage of a Russian-made airliner that disappeared from radar south of the capital Jakarta.
The crew of a helicopter searching for the jet had earlier spotted debris on the edge of a cliff in a mountainous area at 5,500 feet, a senior rescue official said.

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The Sukhoi Superjet-100, carrying up to 50 people, lost contact with air traffic controllers during a demonstration flight Wednesday, officials said.
The Indonesian military said the plane "fell" from the sky, Reuters reported.
"The airplane crashed at the edge of Salak mountain," President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono told a news conference. "An investigation must be done immediately and thoroughly."
Search and rescue teams reached the rugged site on Thursday afternoon local time and saw several bodies, The Associated Press reported. Spokesman Gagah Prakoso said the bodies would be placed in nets and lifted by ropes to hovering helicopters.

Adek Berry / AFP - Getty Images

Indonesian soldiers along with members of a search and rescue team try to reach the site of the wreckage.

A photo taken from the rescue helicopter that found the debris appeared to show that the plane flew into an almost vertical wall of rock on an inaccessible part of the mountain.
Small pieces of white debris could be seen scattered down an exposed stretch of cliff surrounded by forest. Rescue officials said earlier that the walk to the site would take at least six hours.
'Completely ready to fly'
The aircraft was carrying Indonesian businessmen, Russian Embassy officials and journalists. Dimitry Solodov from the embassy said there were eight Russians on board, including pilots and technicians.
Those on board included eight crew and 42 guests, according to figures from the Russian Embassy.
The flight took off from Jakarta's Halim Perdanakusuma Airport at about 2 p.m. local time (3 a.m. ET) and disappeared from radar near the 7,200-foot Mount Salak in West Java, national search agency spokesman Gagah Prakoso told The Associated Press. It had been scheduled to return 50 minutes later.

AFP - Getty Images

A handout photo provided by Sergey Dolya shows Russian Sukhoi Superjet 100 taking off for a demonstration flight in Jakarta's Halim Perdanakusuma airport, on May 9.

Citing an official, Reuters reported that radio contact was lost with the plane after it descended from 10,000 feet to 6,000 feet.
"I saw a big plane passing just over my house," said Juanda, a villager who lives near Mount Salak told local station TVOne. "It was veering a bit to one side, the engine roaring. It seemed to be heading toward Salak, but I didn't hear an explosion or anything."
Olga Kayukova, a spokeswoman for Russia's United Aircraft Corporation, told Reuters the Sukhoi Superjet-100 was making a second flight as part of the demonstration program.
"The first flight was carried out in a normal mode ... The pre-flight preparations were carried out in full and the plane was completely ready to fly," she said. "According to information from Indonesia, the contact with the plane was broken after 20 minutes from the take-off ... search works are under way."
An Indonesian charter airline Sky Aviation posted on its Facebook account what it said was a picture of a Sukhoi Superjet-100 at the airport.
Russia Today reported that Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev ordered a special commission to investigate the incident. Relatives of passengers that had gathered at the airport began crying when news of the wreckage was announced, according to the Russia Today story.

Mast Irham / EPA

Relatives of passengers on the missing Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft react as they check the list of the passangers at Halim Perdana Kusuma Airport in Jakarta, Indonesia, May 9.

With a capacity of up to 103 passengers, the Sukhoi's Superjet-100 was developed in partnership with Boeing and Italy's Finmeccanica. The plane is the first completely new airliner designed by Russia since the collapse of the Soviet Union.
The missing plane was on the fourth stop of a six-nation "Welcome Asia!" roadshow after having already been to Myanmar, Pakistan and Kazakhstan.
It was supposed to head next to Laos and Vietnam. Russia has hoped that the short- to mid-range jet, which made its maiden run in 2008, will help it break into international markets dominated by Boeing and Airbus.
Sukhoi, which has orders for 170 planes, plans to produce up to 1,000 Superjets, primarily for foreign markets.
Msnbc.com staff, The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.