Religion

What Would the Other George Do? An Interview with the Author of "Saving General Washington"

Saving General Washington cover I spoke with author J.R. Norton in June of this year about his book, Saving General Washington: The Right Wing Assault on America's Founding Principles. The following excerpts are from an interview on "A Public Affair" on WORT (89.9 FM), community radio in Madison, WI, and from a follow up in-person interview.

JSP: Why do George Washington and the rest of the Founding Fathers need to be saved?

J.R. Norton: Well, it's a bit of metaphor. It's in part aimed at rehabilitating and reintroducing these founding figures of American history, but on a broader level, on a more important level, it's about reintroducing the values that these guys stood for. Certainly over the last five or six years, I think we've really lost sight of those virtues.

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Hill & Knowlton Challenged Over Maldives Work

Submitted by Bob Burton on October 6, 2006 - 5:20pm

In an overview of the changes occurring in the Maldives, a cluster of islands to the southwest of India, reporter Meera Selva sketches how the repressive president, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, is failing to respond to the either the democracy movement or the growing influence of Islamic fundamentalism. "The government is aware that the problems facing ordinary Maldivians may affect its tourism industry, but its response has been cynical rather than hopeful," Selva writes.

Main Source:

The Independent (UK), October 5, 2006

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What Iraqis Want

Submitted by Sheldon Rampton on August 29, 2006 - 11:50am

According to a recent survey conducted by two Michigan universities, 91.7 percent of Iraqis now oppose the presence of U.S. troops in their country — a nearly 20 percent increase since 2004. A big majority (76 percent) thinks the U.S. is in their country for the oil. The survey also found "a growing sense of powerlessness, pessimism about the future and insecurity.

Main Source:

Abu Aardvark weblog, August 23, 2006

Topics:

Iraq

Politics

Religion

Newt & the Neocons Pitch World War III -- Who's Buying It?

Submitted by John Stauber on July 20, 2006 - 4:46pm

Bill Berkowitz reports, " For years, U.S. neoconservatives have been ratcheting up the rhetoric -- mostly in small gatherings and on partisan web sites -- claiming that terrorist activities around the world constituted the initial stages of a new world war. But during the past week or so ...

Main Source:

Inter Press Service, July 20, 2006

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The Sins of Ralph Reed

Submitted by Sheldon Rampton on July 14, 2006 - 5:16pm

Why won't Ralph Reed talk to reporters, even though he's running for public office? "He can’t afford to," writes Sean Flynn in a lengthy profile of the scandal-dogged former Christian Coalition organizer. "If he does, they’ll just start asking him all those uncomfortable questions that have nothing to do with being lieutenant governor.

Main Source:

GQ, July 2006

Topics:

Right Wing

Religion

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Hadji Girl

Joshua Belile performs "Hadji Girl" at the Al-Asad Air Base in Iraq.

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'Hearts and Minds': U.S. Wins Some, Loses Some

Submitted by Diane Farsetta on December 27, 2005 - 5:18pm

Wall Street Journal editorial board member Bret Stephens writes that U.S. assistance to Pakistan following the devastating October 8 earthquake is "one of America's most significant hearts-and-minds successes so far in the Muslim world. ... The Chinook has become America's new emblem in Pakistan, a byword for salvation in an area where until recently the U.S.

Main Source:

Agence France-Presse, December 17, 2005

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USAID in Indonesia: Expecting Waves of Gratitude

In September 2005, long-time Bush confidante Karen Hughes started her new job as Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs. Her first official week of work was admittedly ambitious -- a "listening tour" of Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Turkey.

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Evangelical PR

Submitted by Bob Burton on October 29, 2005 - 3:22pm

Mike Paul, the president of the New York-based MGP & Associates PR, counts amongst his clients the conservative Black evangelical Bishop Harry Jackson's High-Impact Leadership Coalition.

Main Source:

Media Transparency, October 28, 2005

Topics:

Media

Public Relations

Religion

Is That "Anti-war Left" or "Anti-gay Right"?

Submitted by Sheldon Rampton on August 31, 2005 - 9:35pm

Media Matters caught Sean Hannity on Tuesday blaming the "anti-war left" for protesting at the funeral of a soldier killed in Iraq. In reality, the protesters were members of the Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) in Topeka, Kansas, which claims that terrorism and other disasters are divine retribution against America for the "sin" of tolerating homosexuality.

Main Source:

Media Matters for America, August 31, 2005

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