The Patriot Post Digest 6-10-2015

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The Patriot Post Digest 6-10-2015
From The Federalist Patriot
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Daily Digest

Jun. 10, 2015

THE FOUNDATION

“The danger is not, that the judges will be too firm in resisting public opinion, and in defense of private rights or public liberties; but, that they will be ready to yield themselves to the passions, and politics, and prejudices of the day.” —Joseph Story, Commentaries on the Constitution, 1833

TOP RIGHT HOOKS

Obama Unleashes Teleprompter to Defend ObamaCare1

In a speech before the Catholic Health Association Tuesday, Barack Obama bent the narrative of history to fit his will. In the days leading up to when the Supreme Court will decide whether it’s legal for the federal government to provide subsidies for health insurance not purchased on a state exchange, Obama is leveraging every rhetorical trick, trying to convince the Court to allow him to rewrite ObamaCare. On Monday, he told a group of reporters2 that SCOTUS shouldn’t have taken up King v. Burwell. But since it has, he said, “This should be an easy case” because legal scholars side with his interpretation.

The next day, Obama ramped up his attack on the impartiality of the Supreme Court when he used the Bully Pulpit to defend ObamaCare using religious and historical rhetoric, evoking the names of Teddy Roosevelt and Ted Kennedy. In his speech at the Catholic conference3, Obama said, “The rugged individualism that defines America has always been bound by a shared set of values, an enduring sense that we’re in this together, that America is not a place where we simply turn away from the sick, or turn our backs on the tired, the poor, the huddled masses. It is a place sustained by the idea: I am my brother’s keeper. I am my sister’s keeper — that we have an obligation to put ourselves in our neighbor’s shoes and see each other’s common humanity.” What Obama left out: This law he says is couched in historical precedent was rammed through Congress with a midnight, party-line vote, and now he’s rewriting it to suit his purposes. As for values, the freedom from coercion is a pretty strong American value, running through the nation since the rebellion against the Stamp Act. More…4

Russia Violates Treaty, State Dept. Shrugs5

Is this the Obama administration’s “smart power” and “reset,” not embarrassing Russia as it violates nuclear arms treaties? Every year, the State Department releases a report about how the U.S. and other countries are upholding or violating the various treaties governing arms control, nonproliferation and disarmament. In this year’s report6, State discloses, “In 2014, the Russian Federation continued to be in violation of its obligations under the INF Treaty not to possess, produce, or flight-test a ground-launched cruise missile (GLCM) with a range capability of 500 km to 5,500 km.” Disturbing news, right? Not to State, which believes the violation is not a big deal. The report continues: “The Administration believes that it is in the mutual security interests of all the Parties to the INF Treaty that Russia and the other 11 successor states to the Soviet Union remain Parties to the Treaty and comply with their obligations.” Obviously, if Russia believed it was in its best interest to stop development of intermediate-range missiles, it would stop. Furthermore, the government knew of the INF violations7 for three years before disclosing them publicly. U.S. officials lied about Russia and continue to obfuscate8 the extent of Russia’s violations. Guess it’s easier than, well, wielding power smartly.

Eastwood ‘Mocks’ Jenner, Hollywood Uproar Ensues9

Iconic actor Clint Eastwood made the terrible mistake of stepping outside the bounds of political correctness during the taping of Spike TV’s Guys Choice Awards. The self-described libertarian, who has been in Hollywood timeout ever since he eviscerated Barack Obama in his illustrious “empty chair” rendition at the 2012 Republican National Convention, was introducing Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson when he made an obscure — or what the Leftmedia is calling “insensitive” — reference to Bruce Caitlyn Jenner10. According to HollywoodLife.com, Eastwood “compared the San Andreas star to former athletes who have become actors, like ‘Jim Brown and Caitlyn Somebody.’” The audience didn’t find it very funny, and neither did Spike TV. The network says it “will remove the reference in the version that will air” June 18. Aside from the obvious question — what exactly was so derogatory about Eastwood’s remark? — there lies a double standard. Liberals thought it was hilarious when Barack Obama used the “lipstick on a pig” reference against Team McCain in 2008, and they smirk every time Democrats describe right-wingers as terrorists, to name just a couple. In other words, not only must we call Bruce a girl, but we must not make fun of him or any other protected class; meanwhile, the Right is fair game.

FEATURED RIGHT ANALYSIS
Can’t We All Just Get Along?11

By Nate Jackson

The plural of anecdote is not data. And yet when anecdotes repeatedly fit a narrative, it becomes ever more difficult to separate the two — especially when those pushing the narrative control the media.

The latest story of cops versus minorities comes from McKinney, Texas, where Cpl. Eric Casebolt of the city’s police department took down a black teenage female while being videoed12. As the video went viral, the narrative was reinforced: Racist white cops13 target blacks.

As usual, however, it’s a bit more complicated.

First, a quick rundown of the facts: Residents say a woman invited a group of teens to the neighborhood pool for a birthday party, but the homeowners' associations limits homeowners to two guests. When 130 unruly teens descended on the pool, hopping fences and engaging in fights, concerned residents called the police. Casebolt was among three officers (at least on film) who responded.

A few of the teens bolted from the officers, who gave chase. Several teens ended up in handcuffs, with others trying to explain themselves and still others jawing at the cops. Most of them largely ignored police instructions, though otherwise presented no perceivable threat.

But the real brouhaha centered on Casebolt’s treatment of one bikini-clad girl, whom he pulled from a group and wrestled to the ground while cursing at her. Several teens rushed forward, prompting Casebolt to briefly draw his sidearm and chase off two large boys. He then held the girl down by kneeling on her back while continuing to curse at numerous other teens.

Second, let it be acknowledged that all we see are seven minutes of footage; we don’t know all the details that prompted the police call or their response. The police department issued a statement indicating they responded to a disturbance “involving multiple juveniles at the location, who do not live in the area or have permission to be there, refusing to leave.” Beyond that and the explanations of residents and teenagers, the story is hazy. One resident claimed the kids “assaulted” security guards near the pool, and well as accosted a mom and her kids. The teens in the video claim to merely be there for a birthday party.

Now, the lessons. For all of us citizens, follow (reasonable) instructions and don’t run from the police. Officers don’t take kindly to having to chase down even innocent bystanders — who they don’t know are innocent and must assume, based on the behavior of fleeing, may be guilty of a crime. Or, in the not-so-eloquent phrasing of Cpl. Casebolt, “Don’t make me f—ing run around here with 30 pounds of G—d—ed gear on in the sun!”

For officers, assume you’re always on camera and that your actions will be evaluated based on the footage. Casebolt surely knows the rationale for his actions beyond what we see, but it’s hard to come away from the video sympathizing with his severely agitated and bullying response.