Signature needed: Scalise must go!

[ckaihatsu]

Signature needed: Scalise must go!


The #3 Republican in the House has admitted to associating with white supremacists.



Demand Speaker John Boehner disavow white supremacy and strip Minority Whip Steve Scalise of his leadership position.

Take Action

Dear Chris,

A local Louisiana political writer has uncovered that House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA) gave a speech at a 2002 conference for a white supremacist group run by former Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard David Duke. 1

Rather than take action, House Speaker John Boehner has not only made excuses for Scalise but also issued a statement of support and reaffirmed his position as the #3 Republican in the House of Representatives. 2 It is galling that the Speaker of the House would defend Scalise attending an event like this — let alone speaking at one.

With the convening of the next Congress only days away, Speaker Boehner and the House GOP must repudiate white supremacy by taking immediate action to strip Scalise of his leadership position. Join us now.

When the story broke, Scalise tried to justify his actions and claim he didn’t know the European-American Unity and Rights Organization’s (EURO) hateful purpose. His explanations are not credible. It was widely reported that the conference was so upsetting that a minor league baseball team moved to another hotel. And considering David Duke’s notoriety and legacy, it’s difficult to believe that anyone — especially in Louisiana — would not recognize his name or affiliations.3

In a recent interview, Duke claims that in addition to the conference he and Scalise have met on several occasions. Duke gives Scalise a glowing endorsement calling him “a fine family man and a good person." Scalise has even been known to describe himself as “David Duke without the baggage.” 4 In a 1999 interview with Roll Call, Scalise brags that he and Duke share similar conservative views and he argues that he is a better, more-electable candidate.5

Scalise’s speech to EURO was about supposed corruption within the Housing and Urban Development Fund, implying the program constitutes, “an apparent giveaway to a selective group based on race.” This attack on a government program to help the poor is the same type of racially-divisive rhetoric — though in this case less coded — which far too many in Boehner’s Republican caucus use to rally support.

Let Speaker Boehner and the rest of the Republican party know that racism will not be tolerated in the US Congress.

Why hasn’t Speaker Boehner taken action? Perhaps it’s because David Duke issued him a warning that if Republicans rebuke Scalise “then a lot of them better be looking over their shoulders,” essentially threatening to name other politicians with whom he has met.6 As Speaker, John Boehner has consistently bowed to pressure from the ultra-conservatives on his side of the aisle. As Republicans take control of both houses and Congress on Tuesday, Speaker Boehner and the GOP have an important choice to make: they can disavow white supremacy, strip Steve Scalise of his leadership role and stand up to David Duke; or they can leave Scalise in power and confirm that Republicans are unwilling to confront racism in their own party.

Demand Speaker Boehner stand up to hate in the GOP!

Thanks and peace,

Arisha, Rashad, Aimée, Brandi, Matt, Johnny, Kenneshea and the entire ColorOfChange.org team

References

1. "House Majority Whip Scalise confirms he spoke to white supremacists in 2002" Washington Post, 12-29-14
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/4510....872082.AV_aHh

2. "Republicans Try to Fix Damage Scalise’s 2002 Speech Could Do in 2016" New York Times, 12-30-14
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/4512....872082.AV_aHh

3. “Steve Scalise’s Denials Are Not Believable,” SPLC Hatewatch, 12-30-2014
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/4513....872082.AV_aHh

4. "Stephanie Grace: Scalise’s pitch to Duke supporters seems plausible," The Advocate, 12-31-14
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/4514....872082.AV_aHh

5. See #3

6. "Ex-KKK leader David Duke: Lay off Steve Scalise or I’ll start naming other pols I met with," Raw Story, 12-30-14
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/4515....872082.AV_aHh


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[The Feral Underclass]

Can the Speaker remove the Majority Whip from office?

[ckaihatsu]

Can the Speaker remove the Majority Whip from office?

Only found the following at Wikipedia which doesn't directly address your inquiry....

Party leaders and whips of the United States House of Representatives are elected by their respective parties in a closed-door caucus by secret ballot and are also known as floor leaders.[1] The U.S. House of Representatives does not officially use the term "Minority Leader" although the media frequently does. The House instead uses the terms "Republican Leader" or "Democratic Leader" depending on which party holds a minority of seats.

The current party leaders are: Majority (Republican) Leader Kevin McCarthy, Majority (Republican) Whip Steve Scalise, Minority (Democratic) Leader Nancy Pelosi, and Minority (Democratic) Whip Steny Hoyer.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_l...epresentatives

[The Feral Underclass]

I don't know a massive amount about US parliamentary rules, but from the little I've studied, I think the Speaker's power doesn't extend to dismissing elected members of the leadership, but of course I could be wrong.

[ckaihatsu]

Is there a politician in the house -- ?

Please! We need a politician desperately!!


= D

[Le Libérer]

Is there a politician in the house -- ?

Please! We need a politician desperately!!


= D

Well......
Let's see, I am very familiar and close to this story and have kept up with it
Yes, the speaker can remove the whip, but there has not been 1 republican that has asked for his removal in the House. Bohner is standing by Scalize, so theres really nothing that can be done to remove him unless the house votes him out. But thats not going to happen either.

What it is saying here is that every republican in office is not only apologetic towards Scalize (and obviously Duke) but endorses his politics, which is David Duke without the baggage.

He should resign in my opinion. You have to understand here, Congress is now 80 percent white, 80 percent male and 92 percent Christian.

There is more and more being revealed everyday, most of his lies have been debunked. The La. blogger who broke this story debunked every lie Scalize has told. You really should read it. But still there has been no movement to remove Scalize. Here

Also Rachel Maddow summed up the story quite nicely HERE

[Sharia Lawn]

Scalise must go...and be replaced by who? A Republican who isn't racist?

[cyu]

If demagogues lie, they may lie about their racism as well - ie. not actually being racist, despite trying to encourage racism. One might argue that they are racist in that they couldn't care less if some group X perished, but some are merely using racism as a tool to attain and maintain power. "Leaders" may stroke nationalism in order to push their military misadventures, but how many of them actually believe stuff like "I live in the best country in the world"? Only the idiots dumb enough to fall for their own lies.

[TheRadicalAntichrist]

They don't care. He's one of them.

[Le Libérer]

Since the blogger, who broke this story went to SF.org and found proof of the meeting, someone compromised his internet connection. I warned him of the D0S attacks, etc they we have endured and gave him some advice on how to handle that.

But he found out today someone literally came into his yard and cut his cables with wire cutters. I really feel like it is a petty scare tactic, but knowing what SF members are capable of I feel he should stay a head of it. One of the things I suggested was to create a google alert on his name just to make sure it isnt a white supremacist group who is planning this stuff. But in my opinion, it is probably some redneck Louisianian or cowboy type from Texas.

[Le Libérer]

"Leaders" may stroke nationalism in order to push their military misadventures, but how many of them actually believe stuff like "I live in the best country in the world"? Only the idiots dumb enough to fall for their own lies.

Yes they really believe they live in the best country in the world because it is a Christian nation. They pander to those who believe the Constitution is a divinely inspired document just like the Bible that is literal. The majority of US citizens believe this.

Quite hard to wrap your head around isnt it?

[Le Libérer]

In fact, Ted Cruz (R-TX), a man who doesn’t believe climate change is real and who’s dad recently claimed evolution was a communist lie to “convince you that you came from a monkey” as a way to disprove God, will now oversee the subcommittee on Space, Science, and Competitiveness, including NASA. We’re screwed.

[cyu]

The majority of US citizens believe this.

Quite hard to wrap your head around isnt it?

Well, this is how I picture a typical demagogue's movement:

1. The followers are true believers, as you mention.

2. The demagogue is not a believer. He makes up whatever lies that are convenient, as long as it satisfies his followers.

http://www8.gsb.columbia.edu/ideas-a.../powerful-lies

research shows that people with power feel just fine when lying — and are better at getting away with it.

subjects assigned leadership roles were buffered from the negative effects of lying. Across all measures, the high-power liars — the leaders —resembled truthtellers, showing no evidence of cortisol reactivity (which signals stress), cognitive impairment, or feeling bad. In contrast, low-power liars — the subordinates — showed the usual signs of stress and slower reaction times. “Having power essentially buffered the powerful liars from feeling the bad effects of lying, from responding in any negative way or giving nonverbal cues that low-power liars tended to reveal”

evidence does suggest that power would make you lie more easily and therefore more often.