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16 April: Tea Party mob take protest to the heart of American governance

16 April: Tea Party mob take protest to the heart of American governance

Also today: Brit politicians slug it out on US-style TV debate; Thai anti-government leader escapes law with Spiderman antics; Pope breaks silence on abuse, but unable to get to grips with common law; Obama orders that gays and lesbians get hospital visiting rights; Cuban academic makes unusually frank public statement.

Tea Party mob take protest to the heart of American governance

US

Protesters from the US political phenomenon, the Tea Party, marked the nation’s April 15 federal tax filing deadline with a protest against government spending, which they see as a tax-grab. The mainly well-educated and more affluent members of the new movement are opposed to the general Democrat notion of big government, but also aren’t entirely in the Republican camp, despite members largely being male, white, middle-aged and conservative. Several thousand of them rallied in Washington’s Freedom Plaza at the end of a nationwide series of protests. While their numbers are modest, Sarah Palin and Republican Congresswoman Michele Bachmann won roars of approval over damning the administration of President Barack Obama for trying to nationalise healthcare, energy, financial services and other parts of the economy. Who knows, the huntin’, shootin’, fishin’, big-oil supporting Palin might find a way into mainstream Republican hearts through the Tea Party. For her, the political opportunity is as sweet as sugar.

Photo: Tea Party activist JoAnn Elar Betts, from Smithtown, New York, demonstrates during a tax day rally outside the Korean War Memorial in Hauppauge, New York April 15, 2010. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Read more: AP, The Seattle Times, The Washington Times, Washington State Tea Party Movement

 

Brit politicians slug it out on US-style TV debate

UK

Britain’s main political rivals Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his Tory counterpart David Cameron played a hard game of verbal volleyball over spending cuts, taxes and political reform in the first US-style party-political television debate ever held in the UK. Brown accused Cameron of glossing over planned spending cuts during the 90-minute encounter, while Cameron told Brown he was trying to frighten voters. Nick Clegg, the leader the Liberal Democrats – Britain’s weak “third force” party – came out best, it seems. He weighed in that neither of the men was being honest about the scale of cuts needed. British politicians rarely address the public in this way, complaining they’re limited to sound bites on TV and radio. Media reports say the only memory voters might have taken away with them is that Brown and Cameron both said they agreed with things that Clegg said, and polls taken immediately after the debate suggested Clegg had won. There are two more debates over coming weeks, before the general election on 6 May. May the best man (and party) win.

Read more: BBC, The Telegraph, Bloomberg, Guardian

 

Thai anti-government leader escapes law with Spiderman antics

Thailand

In a Hollywood action movie scene, a Thai anti-government leader escaped arrest by scaling down a hotel wall using a rope and jumping into a getaway car. But, the theatrics had a sinister side as demonstrators took two police officers hostage to ensure his safety. A largely peaceful four-week protest by tens of thousands of “Red Shirt” protesters in Bangkok turned deadly last week, when at least 24 people were killed. The Red Shirts’ support deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who claims to represent the urban and rural poor. They’re campaigning to oust Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, dissolve Thailand’s Parliament and hold fresh elections. Unfortunately, the stand-off looks like it’s just warming up.

Read more: CNN, Agence France-Presse

 

Pope breaks silence on abuse, but unable to get to grips with common law

Vatican City

Pope Benedict XVI has broken his silence on sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, saying both that Catholicism was under attack and that Christians must repent for sins and recognise mistakes. Reports say victims’ groups immediately dismissed his comments, claiming they mean nothing unless the Pope takes action to safeguard children from paedophile priests. He told a mass inside the Vatican for members of the Pontifical Biblical Commission that the world was now telling the Church about its sins, and it was necessary to repent. The Pope added a litany of religious comfort, but said nothing about what practical steps he would take to purge the scourge.

Read more: The New York Times, AP

 

Obama orders that gays and lesbians get hospital visiting rights

US

The White House announced rule changes that will make it easier for gays and lesbians to make medical decisions on behalf of their partners. And US President Barack Obama also ordered his health secretary to grant hospital visiting rights to same-sex partners in any Medicare or Medicaid hospital that covers the elderly and the poor. Obama said that across America, patients are denied the kindness and caring of a loved one at their sides, adding the new rules could also help those who rely on friends and members of religious orders to care for them. He added gays and lesbians are uniquely affected in the US medical system because they’re often barred from visiting partners. Viva, Mr President, Viva!

Read more: The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal

 

Cuban academic makes unusually frank public statement

Cuba

A leading Cuban academic went out on a limb by stating on the state-run website of the National Artists and Writers Union of Cuba that corruption at the highest levels of government was the greatest threat to Cuba’s communist system, and not the small number of dissidents. The article by historian Esteban Morales said some top Cuban officials are preparing to divide the spoils if Cuba’s political system falls apart. Members of the artists’ union have been highly critical of the government in the past, but often to no effect. Morales has also appeared on state television to defend the government on other issues. Maybe times they are a’changin’. Hopefully not for the worse.

Read more: IPS, AP

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