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Re: Rundown 7-31-03
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8:00-8:01 Billboard:
Bush Speaks On Iraq, Economy and Gay Marriage; NYT Describes
Performance as “Vague and Sometimes Nearly Incoherent”
INTRO: In his first press conference since before the invasion
of Iraq, President George Bush yesterday vowed that weapons
of mass destruction would still be found in Iraq.
As President Bush Assumes “Personal Responsibility”
for Uranium-Niger Statement We Take a Look at Another Lie
in the State of the Union
INTRO: In his speech Bush claims that Saddam Hussein attempted
to buy aluminum tubes for nuclear weapons construction. We
speak with Mother Jones reporter Tim Dickinson who reveals
the falsity of the statement and how the administration knew
about it.
ACLU Files First Major Lawsuit Against Patriot Act
INTRO: The suit seeks to have a major section of the U.S.A.
Patriot Act declared unconstitutional arguing that the law
gives federal agents virtually unchecked authority to spy
on Americans. We speak with ACLU attorney Noel Saleh.
Ashcroft Seeks Death Penalty in Puerto Rico Murder Case Overriding
Island's Constitution and 74-Year Capital Punishment Ban
INTRO: The trial of two men accused of kidnapping and murder
has reignited a political debate about Puerto Rico’s
political status. Democracy Now! hosts a debate between University
of Puerto Rico’s Rafael Bernabe and Justice Department
spokesman Jorge Martinez.
Should the Media ID the Woman Kobe Bryant Allegedly Raped?
INTRO: Pulitzer Prize wining LA Times columnist David Shaw
debates rape survivor and advocate Karen Pomer over whether
the media should rethink its guidelines on naming victims
of rape and sexual abuse.
8:01-8:06 Headlines
8:06-8:07 One Minute Music Break
8:07-8:12 Bush Speaks On Iraq, Economy and Gay Marriage;
NYT Describes Performance as “Vague and Sometimes Nearly
Incoherent”
INTRO: In his first press conference since before the invasion
of Iraq, President George Bush yesterday vowed that weapons
of mass destruction would still be found in Iraq.
He backed his controversial tax cuts despite the worsening
economy.
He said he took responsibility for including a false claim
about Iraq’s weapons program in the State of the Union.
He defended National Security Advisor Condelliza Rice.
He denied repeatedly that he oversold the case of war against
Iraq.
And he announced White House lawyers were actively looking
for a way to bar same sex couples from being allowed to get
married.
It was only the ninth press conference of Bush’s term.
By comparison, Bill Clinton had held 33 by this stage of his
presidency, and Bush's father 61.
A New York Times editorial described Bush’s responses
on Iraq and the economy to be “vague and sometimes nearly
incoherent” and said that he issued a series of “rambling
non-answers.” The Times points out that this may be
part of a strategy. The editorial reads “The president
and his advisers obviously still believe that the constant
repetition of several simplistic points will hypnotize the
American people into forgetting the original question.”
Finally the editorial points out Bush was concise on one matter,
campaign fundraising. When asked how he could spend a record
$170 million in the Republican campaign without any opponents,
Bush simply said, “Just watch me.”
- President George Bush, speaking at a White House press
conference on July 30th, 2003.
8:12-8:20 As President Bush Assumes “Personal Responsibility”
for Uranium-Niger Statement We Take a Look at Another Lie
in the State of the Union
INTRO: In his speech Bush claims that Saddam Hussein attempted
to buy aluminum tubes for nuclear weapons construction. We
speak with Mother Jones reporter Tim Dickinson who reveals
the falsity of the statement and how the administration knew
about it.
An article in Mother Jones beings like this:
“Lost in the now radioactive State of the Union scandal
is the fact that the attempted procurement of African uranium
wasn't the only false claim the president uttered that night
about Saddam's nuclear aims. The 19 words that followed the
now-infamous "16 enormously overblown" ones have
proved to be every bit as untrue, and the intelligence underlying
the claim nearly as shoddy.
The article goes on to say that Bush’s claim that Saddam
“attempted to purchase high-strength aluminum tubes
suitable for nuclear weapons production" was false and
provides a time-line of events revealing that this was well
known at the time of the speech.
- President George Bush, giving his State of the Union
Address on January 28th, 2003
8:20-8:21 One Minute Music Break
8:20-8:30 ACLU Files First Major Lawsuit Against Patriot
Act
INTRO: The suit seeks to have a major section of the U.S.A.
Patriot Act declared unconstitutional arguing that the law
gives federal agents virtually unchecked authority to spy
on Americans. We speak with ACLU attorney Noel Saleh.
The first constitutional challenge to the Patriot Act was
brought to federal court yesterday. The lawsuit was filed
by the American Civil Liberties Union and six Muslim groups.
The suit seeks to have a major section of the U.S.A. Patriot
Act declared unconstitutional on the grounds that it violates
the privacy, due process and free speech rights of Americans.
The suit names Attorney General John Ashcroft and F.B.I.
director Robert Mueller, as defendants.
The Justice department issued a statement saying that the
expanded law enforcement powers granted in the section under
attack had proved to be essential tools in fighting “terrorists.”
In another major set back for the Justice Department, the
U.S. House last week voted 309 to 118 to overturn key provisions
of the Act.
- Noel Saleh, attorney with the Michigan chapter of the
American Civil Liberties Union. He also has been serving
as the attorney for Rabih Haddad who was recently deported
to Lebanon.
Link: www.aclu.org
8:30-8:40 Ashcroft Seeks Death Penalty in Puerto Rico Murder
Case Overriding Island's Constitution and 74-Year Capital
Punishment Ban
INTRO: The trial of two men accused of kidnapping and murder
has reignited a political debate about Puerto Rico’s
political status. Democracy Now! hosts a debate between University
of Puerto Rico’s Rafael Bernabe and Justice Department
spokesman Jorge Martinez.
The trial of two men accused of kidnapping and murder in
Puerto Rico has reignited a political debate about the island’s
political status.
Following a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court federal prosecutors,
who answer to Attorney General John Ashcroft, are asking for
the death penalty.
Puerto Rico banned the death penalty 74 years ago. The island’s
current constitution, approved by Congress in 1952, even includes
a clause that says, “the death penalty shall not exist.”
Prosecutors are saying that federal criminal laws override
local laws, whether they are statutes, state constitutions
or the Puerto Rican Constitution. Legislation implemented
in 1994 allows federal prosecutors to seek the death penalty
for several crimes in states and territories that have banned
it.
Puerto Rico’s 4 million people are U.S. citizens but
have no vote in Congress. The Puerto Rico Bar Association
has spoken out against the reimposition of the death penalty
and opinion polls show that many residents oppose it as well.
The two men on trial are charged with the 1998 kidnapping
and murder of a businessman.
- Rafael Bernabe, professor at the University of Puerto
Rico.
- Jorge Martinez, public affairs specialist for the Justice
Department.
8:40-8:41 One Minute Music Break
8:50-8:58 Should the Media ID the Woman Kobe Bryant Allegedly
Raped?
INTRO: Pulitzer Prize wining LA Times columnist David Shaw
debates rape survivor and advocate Karen Pomer over whether
the media should rethink its guidelines on naming victims
of rape and sexual abuse.
It will likely turn out to be the biggest sports criminal
case since O.J. Superstar basketball player Kobe Bryant has
been charged with sexually assaulting a 19-year-old woman.
The story has been the top story on sports pages across the
country because it involves one of the nation’s best
known and most talented athletes. At the age of 24, Bryant
has already led his team, the Los Angeles Lakers, to three
world championships.
Bryant became a pro straight out of high school and because
a start NBA player immediately.
But now the story has also moved not just from the sports
pages but to columns on the media and how journalists should
cover the case.
The big question is should the media name the woman who is
accusing Kobe Bryant of sexual assault.
So far no major media organization has named the 19-year-old
woman but last week radio host Tom Leykis broke precedent
and named her on the air. Her name is one of the most searched
items on the Internet.
Now several journalists are coming forward to say it is time
to reconsider the long-held policy of not naming rape victims.
Among them is former Washington Post ombudsman Geneva Overholser.
A recent column in the Los Angeles Times is titled “If
the Accused is Named, the Accuser Should Be Too.” The
author is Pulitzer Prize winning journalist David Shaw. He
joins us on the phone.
We are also joined by Karen Pomer, founder of the Rainbow
Sisters Project, an advocacy group for rape victims.
- David Shaw, Pulitzer Prize winning columnist for the Los
Angeles Times. He recently wrote the column “If the
Accused Is Named, the Accuser Should Be Too.”
Link: www.latimes.com
- Karen Pomer, founder of the Rainbow Sisters Project, an
advocacy group for rape survivors. She lives in Los Angeles.
8:58-8:59 Outro and Credits
For a copy of today’s program, call 1 (800) 881 2359.
Our website is www.democracynow.org.
Our email address is mail@democracynow.org.
Democracy Now! is produced by Kris Abrams, Mike Burke, Angie
Karran, Sharif Abdel Kouddous, Lenina Nadal, Ana Nogueira,
and Elizabeth Press. Mike Di Filippo is our music maestro
and engineer.
[Thanks also to Uri Galed, Angela Alston, Orlando Richards,
Simba Russeau, Rafael delaUz, Gabriel Weiss, Johnny Sender,
Rich Kim, Chris Zucker, Karen Ranucci, Denis Moynihan, Jenny
Filipazzo and Ionnis Mookas.]
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