political research associates
GRITtv: Health Care: Fight's Just Starting
The House of Representatives, under Speaker Nancy Pelosi, passed historic health care reform late Sunday night. That's a fact. Also a fact is that the bill is far from perfect, and legislators from all sides will be working to shape the bill more to their liking. Progressives regret the lack of a public option, let alone single payer, and the use of women's reproductive choice as a political football in the negotiations--Obama was forced into an executive order reaffirming the Hyde Amendment's commitment not to use federal dollars for abortions. But what does it all mean? Will the protests die down, or just get worse? What can we do to get REAL change we can believe in, with a country this polarized? Laura asks Chip Berlet, an expert on right-wing populism and senior analyst with Political Research Associates, and Nina Agrawal, pediatrician and director of community outreach with the National Physicians Alliance.
Email this pageGRITtv: The F Word: What Do You Mean, Civilized?
The Washington Post ran an impassioned editorial January 7, condemning the anti-homosexuality law being considered in Uganda. Originally calling for the death penalty, the bill now calls for life imprisonment for "homosexual behavior and related practices. " The bill is ugly, ignorant and barbaric, writes the Post. "That it is even being considered puts Uganda beyond the pale of civilized nations." I hate to quibble, but just who is calling whom civilized here? If by "civilized" the Post means good, western, developed, and all the rest -- wasn't this the week we learned that it was "civilized," American fundamentalist Christians who helped inspire this legislation -- and even write it? Equating civilization with rights and justice is easy shorthand for editorial purposes, but it's bad history and lazy journalism. -- Laura Flanders
GRITtv: White Nationalism in the Age of Obama
While progressives argue over who's failing to organize whom, other organizations have no trouble rounding up recruits from the many in the U.S. who are angry over bailouts, economic failures, and a governing class they feel is out of touch. Independent journalist Rick Rowley of Big Noise Films co-produced a film, "White Power U.S.A.," for Al Jazeera English on the rise of white nationalist groups since the inauguration of Barack Obama. He found that many of the new recruits to these groups don't consider themselves white nationalists, but are finding few other places to turn. Rowley and Chip Berlet, senior analyst at Political Research Associates, join us to talk about the rise of the extreme right, racism, anti-immigrant sentiment and the proper progressive response. We also talk to Jonathan "J.D." Meadows, who is featured in Rowley's film, about his involvement with the Council of Conservative Citizens and his fears for the economy.
