Latest Updated News Headline Animator
Cornyn, Steele Call on Reid to Resign as Senate Leader After Obama 'Negro' Comment
Cornyn, head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, said Sunday that Reid should follow the example set by Trent Lott in 2002, who resigned his leadership post after making unfortunate remarks at the centennial birthday party for Sen. Strom Thurmond, who had been a segregationist in the 1940s.
"In 2002, Democrats expressed outrage at Senator Lott and called on him to step down as leader. That same standard should be applied to Senator Reid and his embarrassing and racially insensitive statements; statements, I would add, that Senator Reid still has yet to clarify," Cornyn said in a written statement.
"As we await his explanation, Senator Reid should do the right thing, follow the example that he himself set in 2002, and step down as majority leader."
Earlier in the day, Steele also accused Democrats of hypocrisy on the matter.
"There is this standard where Democrats feel that they can say these things and they can apologize when it comes from the mouths of their own. But if it comes from anyone else, it is racism," Steele told "Fox News Sunday."
"If (Senate Minority Leader) Mitch McConnell had said those very words that this chairman and this president would be calling for his head, and they would be labeling every Republican in the country as a racist for saying exactly what this chairman has just said," Steele continued.
Reid went into damage control over the weekend, mobilizing a raft of supportive statements both in Washington, D.C., and Nevada.
Reid spoke by phone to numerous Democratic senators and took part in the regular weekend call with Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island to go over the Sunday show talking points on his gaffe and other topics.
Reed and Reid were on the call with staff members for Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Joe Lieberman. The message: Reid did it, it was wrong, he apologized immediately, the president has accepted the apologize, time to move on.
"Harry Reid made a misstatement. He owned up to it. He apologized. I think he is mortified by the statement he's made," Reed said on "Fox News Sunday." "And I don't think he should step down. I think he's a valuable member of the Senate and someone who's going to continue to lead."
"Clearly this was a mistake. Clearly the leader misspoke. He has also apologized," Feinstein said. "So the president has accepted the apology. And it would seem to me that the matter should be closed."
Reid also called prominent African Americans, including National Action Network head Al Sharpton, Democratic strategist Donna Brazile, NAACP Chairman Julian Bond, House Majority Whip James Clyburn, Congressional Black Caucus Chairwoman Rep. Barbara Lee and Leadership Conference on Civil Rights chief Wade Henderson.
Reid was not speaking publicly about the matter on Sunday. Aides said he had no plans to cancel his appearance at a scheduled event on energy on Capitol Hill on Monday.
Reid is taking ownership of his comments, having made the remarks directly to one of the authors of "Game Change," the tell-all book on the 2008 presidential campaign being released Tuesday. Reid spoke straight to author Mark Halperin in context of what he believed was a positive statement about why he backed Obama as early as he did.
Reid and his staff did not expect this direct quote to appear in the book and he began apologizing shortly after the excerpts were reported on the Web site of The Atlantic magazine. According to several sources familiar with the senator's actions, Reid called Obama from his home in Searchlight, Nev. Obama took the call in the Oval Office.
"I deeply regret using such a poor choice of words. I sincerely apologize for offending any and all Americans, especially African-Americans for my improper comments," Reid said in a statement.
"I was a proud and enthusiastic supporter of Barack Obama during the campaign and have worked as hard as I can to advance President Obama's legislative agenda."
In a written statement Saturday, Obama said he accepted Reid's apology "without question because I've known him for years, I've seen the passionate leadership he's shown on issues of social justice and I know what's in his heart."
"As far as I am concerned, the book is closed," he added.
A senior Democratic source with close contacts on Capitol Hill said Reid is not depending only on Obama for forgiveness.
"He's in the midst of an aggressive mea culpa tour that has thus far produced supportive statements from key African American leaders in the Congress and civil rights community. He's got a strong record on social justice and related issues and is doing the right thing by immediately taking responsibility for the comment. He knows it was a boneheaded thing to say and is showing appropriate remorse," the source said.
Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine also defended Reid. "I don't think this is an issue that is going affect his leadership at all. In fact, he's doing some very heavy lifting -- wonderful lifting right now to get this health care bill over the goal line," Kaine told "Fox News Sunday."
The Democratic source added that Reid will likely not lose his position, as Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott did after his 2002 tribute to the now-deceased Sen. Strom Thurmond on his 100th birthday.
"The only way he gets deposed is if the Democrats decide they have a political interest in seeing him go. Based on the reaction thus far, he'll endure a few bad days but will be fine in the long run and can focus his efforts on his campaign."
But Steele responded that if Lott is the standard, then Reid's comments fall into the same category for resignation.
"It's more than just an apology here. It's a reflection of an attitude. Now, remember, this is the same leader who, just a few weeks ago, you know, was talking about health care in the context of slavery. Clearly, he is out of touch not only with where America and his district are but where -- how African-Americans generally feel about these issues," he said.
Steele's response Sunday was much more fiery than his initial tepid remarks to the news a day earlier. Some had suggested the reason for his stilted reply was due to his own use of the racially charged term "honest injun" during an interview last week.
Steele said he too never intended to make a racial slur.
"Well, if it is, I apologize for it. It's not an intent to be a racial slur. I wasn't intending to say a racial slur at all," he said.
Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., agreed that if Lott should have resigned, then Reid should too.
"Harry Reid has said a lot of insensitive things for which he's had to apologize," he said. "My tendency is that when these people apologize, if you know what's in their heart, they shouldn't. But I'd like to see the same standard applied to both."
Reid's aides cite vast differences between him and Lott. They say Reid has backed civil rights legislation, has voted for pro-civil rights court nominees, has promoted diversity in hiring in the Nevada casino industry and has always had an open and productive relationship with the civil rights community in his home state and nationally.
With Reid's poll numbers tanking in his home state, the majority leader is persisting. With no challenges to his majority leader position, he also will not drop out of his re-election race.
But rank and file Democrats have been put in a difficult position. They don't want to sound like nothing happened, but are uncomfortable criticizing Reid in public.
No Pants Day a Hit on Metro
It was all part of the 2010 No Pants Metro Ride. Similar pantless events took place in Baltimore and New York.
Capitol Improv organized the event. Those taking part met at about 3 p.m. Sunday for a pep rally of sorts. The plan was to act natural. "No Pants" participants walked through the Metro terminal and boarded trains without giving away any clues to their upcoming prank.
After the doors closed and the train went on its way, the pants started coming off. Men and women stood barelegged among seats of stunned fellow passengers.
"What the?" gasped some innocent bystanders. Some took pictures. Others just gawked. So far, there have been no reports of any negative disruption from the stunt.
To the relief -- or disappointment -- of onlookers, the underwear stayed on. Participants did take the time to put their boots back on. You know the saying: "No shirt, no shoes, no service." Obviously that old gem never said a thing about pants.
It turns out the No Pants stunt did have a point, of sorts. Capital Improv says their goal is to "bring moments of random happiness and confusion to as many people as possible." Confusion, definitely. Happiness? Depends on whom you ask, right?
The group is responsible for other stunts. In July 2008, they played a life-sized game of Risk at the Navy Memorial, recruiting unsuspecting tourists to compose additional armies.
Harry reid racist comments:
google_protectAndRun("render_ads.js::google_render_ad", google_handleError, google_render_ad);
A book, Game Change, authored by Mark Helperin and John Heilemann claims that during the 2008 presidential campaign Reid had described Obama a “ 'light-skinned' African American 'with no Negro dialect unless he wanted to have one.” Following this incident, Reid, who also faces reelection this year, apologized for his coarse remark. President Obama accepted it. But Republicans are unwilling to forgive him. Rather they have mounted pressure on him to resign from his post.Their campaign has nothing to do with Obama. They are punishing him for his earlier remarks in which Reid had called President George Bush a liar. Besides, he had also lashed out at Alan Greenspan, calling him a hack.
Since then Republicans have been waiting for a chance to nail him down. And they got it now. They have all the ammo to toss him out from the Senate. Michael S. Steele, a Republican National Committee Chairman and a black leader, is leading the campaign to oust Reid."There is this standard where the Democrats feel that they can say these things and they can apologize when it comes from the mouths of their own," Steele said. "But if it comes from anyone else, it's racism. It's either racist or it's not. And it's inappropriate, absolutely."
Iran protesters killed, including Mousavi's nephew
Four protesters have been killed amid violence between anti-government crowds and police in Iran's capital, Tehran.
Opposition sources said the nephew of former presidential candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi was among those killed when police opened fire.
A senior police official said three people had died in accidents, the fourth was hit by a bullet, but police were not carrying weapons.
Opposition websites also reported four deaths in Tabriz, north-western Iran.
There is no confirmation.
It is almost certainly the worst loss of life in protests since the disputed result of June's presidential election sparked days of clashes.
On Sunday, opposition parties had urged people to take to the streets as the Shia Muslim festival of Ashura reached a climax.
People were chanting "Khamenei will be toppled", opposition sources said, a reference to Iran's Supreme Leader.
Thousands of demonstrators are reported to have taken part in the protests, in defiance of official warnings.
Initial reports from Tehran said the security forces fired in the air to disperse the protests.
Police sources, quoted by the Iranian Fars news agency, denied this, saying foreign media were exaggerating reports of unrest.
But state television later acknowledged there had been several fatalities, and Iranian police said they had arrested 300 people in Tehran.
Iran's deputy police chief Ahmad Reza Radan, speaking on state television, said the death of the person hit by a bullet was being investigated.
Of the other three fatalities in Tehran, according to Mr Radan, one had fallen off a bridge and the other two had died in car accidents.
Although there were deaths in the immediate aftermath of the disputed elections and protests in June, fatalities since then have been rare.
Mr Mousavi was at the hospital where his nephew Seyed Mousavi was taken after being fatally shot in the heart at Enghelab Square.
The security forces clearly have to tread a fine line between not appearing weak but also not provoking opposition protesters, says Siavash Ardalan of BBC Persian TV.
Police helicopters were seen flying over central Tehran as clouds of black smoke billowed into the sky, reports said.
On the ground, the security forces clashed with protesters trying to reach central Enghelab Square, witnesses said.
Protesters were chanting, "This is the month of blood", and calling for the downfall of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to opposition websites.
At the same time, crowds of pro-government demonstrators marched on Enghelab Street to voice support for Ayatollah Khamenei, witnesses said.
Protests were also reported in the cities of Isfahan and nearby Najafabad.
In a statement, the White House said it strongly condemned the "unjust suppression of civilians in Iran".
"Hope and history are on the side of those who peacefully seek their universal rights, and so is the United States. Governing through fear and violence is never just," a White House spokesperson said.
The French foreign ministry said it condemned the "arbitrary arrests and the violent actions committed against simple protesters who came to defend their right to freedom of expression and their desire for democracy."
The French government has continued to lobby the Iranian authorities to release a French university lecturer who was charged with spying during the election. Clotilde Reiss remains in Tehran, and last appeared in court on 23 December.
Disputed election
Tensions have risen in Iran since influential dissident cleric Grand Ayatollah Hoseyn Ali Montazeri died a week ago aged 87.
Supporters of opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi have sought to use Shia religious festivals this weekend to show continued defiance of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's government.
Denied the right to protest, the opposition chose the highly significant festival of Ashura when millions of Iranians traditionally go onto the streets for ceremonies and parades, BBC Tehran correspondent Jon Leyne says.
The festival mourns the 7th Century death of Imam Hussein, a grandson of the Prophet Muhammad.
Iranian television had live coverage of the Ashura ceremonies, including those in Tehran attended by President Ahmadinejad.
Mr Mousavi came second in the June election, and anger at the result saw mass protests in Tehran and other cities that led to thousands of arrests and some deaths.
Mr Mousavi has said the poll, that returned Mr Ahmadinejad to power, was fraudulent.
Expensive Last-Minute Christmas Eve Shopping
Research suggests, £951,000 per minute will have been spent on last minute shopping, with Sainsbury’s Credit Cards saying 19% of adult shoppers who spent around £1.37-billion, planned to do some of their seasonal shopping Thursday i. e. on Christmas Eve.
According to Experian, a financial data firm, consumers making the most of 2009’s last few days of shopping, expected over 13-million people to spend £57-million an hour on Christmas Eve shopping.
As people made last minute buys, major high street and online retailers reported brisk business, with home improvement and garden centre retailer B&Q starting its online and in-store sale Thursday.
Tesco’s online sale began Tuesday, while Debenhams online sale was launched Thursday at 0600 GMT.
Waitrose’s Wednesday sales at £38.7-million were up £4.4-million on the same day last year.
Despite overnight snow in the region, the weather failed to deter the huge shopper turnout, with Meadowhall Shopping Centre near Sheffield reporting large numbers of Christmas Eve shoppers, up
38% on 2008 figures.
Retailers in Cardiff also reported the number of Christmas Eve shoppers to have exceeded all expectations.
The figures for last minute shoppers have proven NRF’s report’s prediction of a one percent decline in 2009 holiday sales from that of last year, completely wrong.
Pilgrims crowd Bethlehem on warm Christmas eve
BETHLEHEM, West Bank (Reuters) - Thousands of pilgrims and dignitaries crowded into Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity for a Christmas Mass, where Latin Patriarch Fuad al-Tuwal urged visitors to return home bearing a message of peace for the Holy Land.
Entertaining crowds outside, bagpipers played carols and whirling dervishes danced, unfurling giant white skirts embroidered with the word peace in various languages.
Some 15,000 visitors packed into the stone flagged square opposite the small Door of Humility where pilgrims stoop to enter the multi-denominational church, built above the spot where Christians believe Jesus was born.
While much of North America and Europe were gripped in winter's icy embrace, visitors to Bethlehem were buying chilled fruit juice in Manger Square and stripping off sweaters in the mild weather.
"It's about 20 degrees (68 Fahrenheit) and it's a little hard to get that Christmas feeling I'm used to having," said Phillip Well, 22, from Germany.
Some tourists were bemused by the scene.
"I'm not used to seeing marching bands and scout troops do the Christmas festivities, but it's entertaining," said 40-year-old Vijey Raghavan, of San Francisco, California.
Inside the church at midnight mass, monks kept the celebrations traditional with Christmas hymns and al-Tuwal delivered a special Christmas message in six different languages, including Arabic.
Likening modern-day pilgrims to the shepherds who harkened the angel's message of Jesus' birth, al-Tuwal extended blessings of reconciliation and hope to families worldwide.
"You can take back with you the desire for peace and work for peace -- peace in the Holy Land where the prince of peace was born. And peace to all the world for men and women of goodwill," he said.
Tourism in Bethlehem has picked up in the past few years, after collapsing during the Palestinian intifada, or uprising, which erupted in 2000. Hotels expect a 60 to 70 percent rise in business this year.
Still, many locals say development is hindered by elaborate security arrangements Israel has put in place to keep Palestinian attackers out, including an eight meter (25 foot) high wall between Bethlehem and neighboring Jerusalem.
Visitors and local people cannot escape the sight of the wall but they were not allowing it to dampen the Christmas spirit. "It's safe, it's warm, it's a happy time. It's good for visitors to see the good things too," said 16 year-old Bethlehem resident Reem Mohammad.
Yemen airstrikes hit suspected Al Qaeda members
"Yemeni fighter jets launched an aerial assault" before dawn on a compound in the southern part of the country, says a statement issued Thursday by the Yemeni Embassy in Washington.
Anwar al Awlaki, a cleric who communicated with the accused Ft. Hood gunman before the attack last month at the Army base and who afterward applauded the carnage that left 13 dead, is among those who "were presumed to be at the site," the Yemeni government statement said.
U.S. military and intelligence officials said it was unclear whether Awlaki was at the targeted site.
Subscribe Now: excitemix
Subscribe Now: podnova
