On Wed. Nov. 16, a House Judiciary Committee hearing began on the Stop Online Piracy Act (H.R.3261), which many claim would lead to internet censorship.
Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX), who introduced the bill and chairs the House Judiciary Committee, says it will help “stop the flow of revenue to rogue websites and ensures that the profits from American innovations go to American innovators”. However, the tech freedom organization Fight for the Future (and tech companies such as Google, Yahoo!, Facebook and more) claim the bill would “stifle free speech and innovation” and have launched a campaign to spread the word and ask Congress to oppose it.
The House Judiciary Committee could vote on H.R.3261 soon, but the Senate Judiciary Committee has already approved its piracy bill, the Protect IP Act. It has been placed on hold, however. Check out the video above and visit fightforthefuture.org/pipa for more information.
On Friday (November 11), President Barack Obama, assisted by Sgt.1st Class Chad Eric Wayne Stackpole, 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment Sergeant of the Guard, commemorated Veterans Day by visiting Arlington National Cemetery and placing a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington, Virginia, before paying tribute to the men and women defending our country, many of whom will be coming home in the coming weeks.
“Because of their incredible efforts, we can stand here today and say with confidence the tide of war is receding. In just a few weeks, the long war in Iraq will finally come to an end. Our transition in Afghanistan is moving forward. And my fellow Americans, our troops are coming home.”
President Obama mentioned that while the war in Iraq may be winding down, “the nation we now need to build is our own“. In a video dedication to veterans, he mentioned that the country “has a sacred trust with our veterans — to guarantee you the care and benefits you’ve earned, and the chance to share in the opportunity you defend”. As a result of this, the post-9/11 GI Bill will be fully-funded and other initiatives have been announced to “help our returning heroes”. In his Veterans Day remarks, the president commented that “just as our greatest generation left a country recovering from depression and returned home to build the largest middle class in history, so now will the 9/11 generation play a pivotal role in rebuilding America’s opportunity and prosperity in the 21st century“. View President Obama’s full address below.
Continue
On Tuesday, Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain held a press conference in Scottsdale, Arizona, and addressed allegations of sexual harassment while he was head of the National Restaurant Association from a fourth accuser who held her own on Monday.
Sharon Bialek alleges Cain made unwanted advances toward her and is the first to speak publicly about it and share her identity following three others who cited sexual harassment claims anonymously. According to Bialek, following a business dinner with Cain to discuss her job search as they sat in a parked car, he reached under her skirt and pulled her head toward his crotch.
Cain denied the allegations during his press conference, saying “I have never acted inappropriately with anyone, period”. He also addressed accusations by another woman, Karen Kraushaar, who went public on Tuesday and identified herself as one of the original women who claimed Cain had sexual harassed her. According to Cain, “It was treated as a personnel matter because there was no basis to her accusations.” Kraushaar was reportedly paid $45,000 after leaving her position. Cain added that the “Democrat machine in America has brought forth a troubled woman” to make these claims and that he would “vigorously defend [his] reputation”. Continue
ABOVE: Map identifies the electoral votes of each state.
Should the Electoral College be replaced with a direct, popular vote system?
According to a recent Gallup poll, 62 percent of Americans say they would amend the Constitution to replace the Electoral College with a popular vote system when electing presidents. Continue
