Showing posts with label 1972 Democratic Presidential Campaign. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1972 Democratic Presidential Campaign. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Obama Wins Major Victory in First Ohio Straw Poll
Early results of a straw poll by the Hamilton County Democratic Party Tuesday night indicate Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is the winner. The event is being held by the Democratic party at the 20th Century Theater in the Oakley neighborhood of Cincinnati. Actual results from the poll will be posted when they become available.
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Kucinich Wants Law Limiting Military Recruiters In Schools
CINCINNATI (TDB) -- Cleveland Rep. Dennis Kucinich, a Democrat running for president on an anti-war platform, signed up last week to cosponsor a measure designed to reduce access military recruiters now have to high school students. The bill, H.R. 1346, amends the No Child Left Behind Act and blocks schools from releasing student information to military officials without parental parental consent.
Chief sponsor Rep. Mike Honda, a California Democrat whose district includes the Silicon Valley, said his measure ensures student information remains private if parents want it that way. Under current law, parents have to opt-out of the recruiting notification program, and many times they fail to fill out the paperwork or don't see it. Honda said he has "greatest respect" for the military but thinks privacy rights trump the Pentagon's recruitment efforts.
The National Education Association, the nation's largest teachers union, and National PTA are supporting the privacy plan. Kucinich is one of 37 congressional cosponsors. Honda's remarks when he filed the bill last week follow:
"Mr. HONDA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to announce the introduction of my bill, the Student Privacy Protection Act.
"The Student Privacy Protection Act is legislation that will restore the privacy rights of children and families that were taken away by a little-known provision of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, the so-called No Child Left Behind Act.
"Under No Child Left Behind, high schools are required to turn over lists of student contact information to the Department of Defense, which adds this information to an extensive database of children. The Department of Defense claims to need the names, addresses, and phone numbers of high school students for recruiting purposes, because it enables recruiters to contact children directly in their homes and at school, which is often done without the knowledge or consent of their parents.
"As a former high school teacher and principal, I am concerned that the fundamental right of privacy has been taken away from both parents and children. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis defined privacy as 'the right to be left alone.' Families are not being left alone, and their personal, private information is being divulged without their knowledge. Any database of personal information is subject to abuse. A government that was established for the pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness has no business collecting extensive personal data about Americans.
"I have the greatest respect for Americans who choose to enter the military, as well as for those in the Armed Forces who engage in the recruiting process. Those efforts, however, should respect the privacy rights of children and their families.'
No Child Left Behind requires schools to give military recruiters the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of students, unless their parents 'opt-out' of the list. Schools are only required to provide one notice of the military recruiting list, so it can be easily overlooked by parents, or perhaps never received. Moreover, language and cultural barriers can prevent understanding of the opt-out process, especially in immigrant communities that are subject to aggressive military recruiting. If parents do not respond, and do not explicitly object to having their child's personal information released to recruiters, it is assumed that they have no objections. Under current law, they must 'opt-out' in order to protect their rights.
The privacy rights of all Americans should be respected. One should not have to ask for these rights. Today, I am reintroducing the Student Privacy Protection Act, which I introduced in the 109th Congress. This legislation will restore the privacy rights of parents and children. The Student Privacy Protection Act will change the military recruitment provision of No Child Left Behind from an 'opt-out'' system to 'opt-in.' Under my bill, families may still choose to 'opt-in' to the recruiting database, but privacy will be respected by default. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the rights of students and the rights of families, by supporting the Student Privacy Protection Act."
Chief sponsor Rep. Mike Honda, a California Democrat whose district includes the Silicon Valley, said his measure ensures student information remains private if parents want it that way. Under current law, parents have to opt-out of the recruiting notification program, and many times they fail to fill out the paperwork or don't see it. Honda said he has "greatest respect" for the military but thinks privacy rights trump the Pentagon's recruitment efforts.
The National Education Association, the nation's largest teachers union, and National PTA are supporting the privacy plan. Kucinich is one of 37 congressional cosponsors. Honda's remarks when he filed the bill last week follow:
"Mr. HONDA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to announce the introduction of my bill, the Student Privacy Protection Act.
"The Student Privacy Protection Act is legislation that will restore the privacy rights of children and families that were taken away by a little-known provision of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, the so-called No Child Left Behind Act.
"Under No Child Left Behind, high schools are required to turn over lists of student contact information to the Department of Defense, which adds this information to an extensive database of children. The Department of Defense claims to need the names, addresses, and phone numbers of high school students for recruiting purposes, because it enables recruiters to contact children directly in their homes and at school, which is often done without the knowledge or consent of their parents.
"As a former high school teacher and principal, I am concerned that the fundamental right of privacy has been taken away from both parents and children. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis defined privacy as 'the right to be left alone.' Families are not being left alone, and their personal, private information is being divulged without their knowledge. Any database of personal information is subject to abuse. A government that was established for the pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness has no business collecting extensive personal data about Americans.
"I have the greatest respect for Americans who choose to enter the military, as well as for those in the Armed Forces who engage in the recruiting process. Those efforts, however, should respect the privacy rights of children and their families.'
No Child Left Behind requires schools to give military recruiters the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of students, unless their parents 'opt-out' of the list. Schools are only required to provide one notice of the military recruiting list, so it can be easily overlooked by parents, or perhaps never received. Moreover, language and cultural barriers can prevent understanding of the opt-out process, especially in immigrant communities that are subject to aggressive military recruiting. If parents do not respond, and do not explicitly object to having their child's personal information released to recruiters, it is assumed that they have no objections. Under current law, they must 'opt-out' in order to protect their rights.
The privacy rights of all Americans should be respected. One should not have to ask for these rights. Today, I am reintroducing the Student Privacy Protection Act, which I introduced in the 109th Congress. This legislation will restore the privacy rights of parents and children. The Student Privacy Protection Act will change the military recruitment provision of No Child Left Behind from an 'opt-out'' system to 'opt-in.' Under my bill, families may still choose to 'opt-in' to the recruiting database, but privacy will be respected by default. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the rights of students and the rights of families, by supporting the Student Privacy Protection Act."
Sunday, March 04, 2007
Former Dem Sen. Tom Eagleton Dies: Helped End Vietnam War
CINCINNATI (TDB) -- Tom Eagleton, who died today (see family obit below), briefly was the vice presidential running mate of Sen. George McGovern on the 1972 Democratic ticket, but was dropped because he had been treated for mental illness. McGovern famously said he was 1,000% behind Eagleton, then dumped him from the peace ticket that was targeted for dirty tricks by the Nixon White House in the scandal now known as Watergate. An Eagleton amendment ended U.S. involvement in Vietnam. He also sponsored important environmental legislation, including the Clean Air Act, and was deeply involved in creating the Pell Grant program for college financial aid. Eagleton's final act of public service -- he donated his body to science.
The obituary being distributed by his family in St. Louis follows:
"U.S. Senator from 1968 Until 1987. Wrote the Eagleton Amendment that Ended U.S. Involvement in the Vietnam War.
"ST. LOUIS, March 4 -- Former United States
Senator Thomas F. Eagleton died this morning at St. Mary's hospital in Richmond Heights, Missouri. He was 77 years old. Senator Eagleton had been in declining health for several years. The cause of death was a combination of heart, respiratory and other problems that overwhelmed his weakened system.
"Thomas F. Eagleton was born in St. Louis on September 4, 1929, the
second son of prominent attorney Mark D. Eagleton and Zitta Swanson Eagleton. He was raised near Tower Grove Park. Eagleton was educated at Saint Louis Country Day School, Amherst College, Harvard Law School and Oxford University. He served in the United States Navy.
"In 1956, Eagleton was elected Circuit Attorney of the city of St. Louis at the age of 27. He was elected Attorney General of Missouri in 1960 (the youngest person ever to hold that office); Lieutenant Governor of Missouri in 1964; and United States Senator from Missouri in 1968. He was 39 years old at the time of his election to the Senate. He was re-elected to the Senate in 1974 and 1980. In 1986 he declined to seek re-election.
"In the Senate, Eagleton was one of the principal sponsors of the Clean Air Act of 1970 and the Clean Water Act of 1972, the bills that are generally regarded as the foundation of modern environmental protection. On May 15, 1973, Senator Eagleton successfully offered an amendment to a defense appropriations bill to cut off funding for the bombing of Cambodia, effectively ending America's involvement in the Vietnam War. Eagleton subsequently described the passage of this amendment as the proudest moment of his career.
"In the area of education, Senator Eagleton was a principal Senate
proponent of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to improve educational opportunities for children with disabilities. He was a co-author of the bill that created Basic Educational Opportunity Grants (now known as "Pell Grants") for college students. He was a principal Senate proponent of the creation of the National Institute on Aging."
"In 1991 Senator Eagleton joined the board of the Truman Library in
Independence and led a successful effort to raise new funds and revitalize the library. In 1993, President Bill Clinton appointed Senator Eagleton to the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board. As chairman of FANS Inc. Senator Eagleton led the successful civic effort to relocate the Los Angeles Rams football team to St. Louis in 1995. He remained politically active on behalf of many candidates and issues. In 2006 he was active in the campaign for Amendment 2 to the Missouri Constitution to protect stem
cell research. At the time of his death, Senator Eagleton was working on a personal memoir of his career in public service. In accordance with his wishes, Senator Eagleton's body has been donated to the Washington University School of Medicine for medical research. Plans for a memorial service are pending and will be announced shortly. It was Senator Eagleton's wish that memorial contributions in lieu of flowers be directed either to Catholic Charities of St. Louis or to the Democratic National Committee in Washington, DC. "
The obituary being distributed by his family in St. Louis follows:
"U.S. Senator from 1968 Until 1987. Wrote the Eagleton Amendment that Ended U.S. Involvement in the Vietnam War.
"ST. LOUIS, March 4 -- Former United States
Senator Thomas F. Eagleton died this morning at St. Mary's hospital in Richmond Heights, Missouri. He was 77 years old. Senator Eagleton had been in declining health for several years. The cause of death was a combination of heart, respiratory and other problems that overwhelmed his weakened system.
"Thomas F. Eagleton was born in St. Louis on September 4, 1929, the
second son of prominent attorney Mark D. Eagleton and Zitta Swanson Eagleton. He was raised near Tower Grove Park. Eagleton was educated at Saint Louis Country Day School, Amherst College, Harvard Law School and Oxford University. He served in the United States Navy.
"In 1956, Eagleton was elected Circuit Attorney of the city of St. Louis at the age of 27. He was elected Attorney General of Missouri in 1960 (the youngest person ever to hold that office); Lieutenant Governor of Missouri in 1964; and United States Senator from Missouri in 1968. He was 39 years old at the time of his election to the Senate. He was re-elected to the Senate in 1974 and 1980. In 1986 he declined to seek re-election.
"In the Senate, Eagleton was one of the principal sponsors of the Clean Air Act of 1970 and the Clean Water Act of 1972, the bills that are generally regarded as the foundation of modern environmental protection. On May 15, 1973, Senator Eagleton successfully offered an amendment to a defense appropriations bill to cut off funding for the bombing of Cambodia, effectively ending America's involvement in the Vietnam War. Eagleton subsequently described the passage of this amendment as the proudest moment of his career.
"In the area of education, Senator Eagleton was a principal Senate
proponent of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to improve educational opportunities for children with disabilities. He was a co-author of the bill that created Basic Educational Opportunity Grants (now known as "Pell Grants") for college students. He was a principal Senate proponent of the creation of the National Institute on Aging."
"In 1991 Senator Eagleton joined the board of the Truman Library in
Independence and led a successful effort to raise new funds and revitalize the library. In 1993, President Bill Clinton appointed Senator Eagleton to the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board. As chairman of FANS Inc. Senator Eagleton led the successful civic effort to relocate the Los Angeles Rams football team to St. Louis in 1995. He remained politically active on behalf of many candidates and issues. In 2006 he was active in the campaign for Amendment 2 to the Missouri Constitution to protect stem
cell research. At the time of his death, Senator Eagleton was working on a personal memoir of his career in public service. In accordance with his wishes, Senator Eagleton's body has been donated to the Washington University School of Medicine for medical research. Plans for a memorial service are pending and will be announced shortly. It was Senator Eagleton's wish that memorial contributions in lieu of flowers be directed either to Catholic Charities of St. Louis or to the Democratic National Committee in Washington, DC. "
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