By Laura Smith – University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

A collection of Republican Representatives urged Congress Thursday to listen to soldiers who have served in Afghanistan.

“This is about Congress being informed about how our decisions affects those people out there fighting … this is not a partisan deal,” said Hunter during a press appearance with the organizations Vets For Freedom. “This is about winning in Afghanistan and then bringing our troops home victoriously. That’s what this is all about.”

Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), who joined Hunter, said the appearance was held to back up President Obama, and not in opposition, noting that when Obama was campaigning for President he offered support to the families of those overseas.

“As he was campaigning, he made it very clear that the best way to protect American families was to defeat the terrorists in Afghanistan,” Wilson said.

Pete Hegseth, Chairman and Executive Director of Vets for Freedom, said his organization had one non-partisan message, and that was to “support and listen to the commanders on the ground.”

“You’ve appointed General McCrystal. He’s the smartest guy we’ve got on Afghanistan. He’s lead the counter-terrorism fight for the last five years in Iraq and Afghanistan. If there’s anybody that who knows how to kill bad guys, it’s General Stan McCrystal,” said Hegseth.

“Our message today on the Hill is: ‘Let’s give that commander the assets and resources he needs to finish the job. It’s a very simple message. Give him what he needs to finish the job,” Hegseth added.

Rep. Duncan D. Hunter (R-Calif.) urges Congress to listen to soldiers who have serve in Afghanistan, noting that it is important to hear about what it is like there for the troops. (0:47)

 

 Standard Podcast [0:47m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Rep. Randy Neugebauer (R-Texas) says there are alternative solutions to the House health care reform bill, saying Congress needs to fix what is broken before “throwing the baby out with the bath water.” (0:22)

 

 Standard Podcast [0:22m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

By Ravi Bhatia, Talk Radio News Service

If the public option on health care is viable and sustainable for the American people, then members of Congress and the Senate should sacrifice their own federal health benefits and use it themselves, said Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) and other House Republicans Wednesday.

“If this government-run plan is so good, why don’t members of Congress take the plan?” asked Wilson, during a press conference promoting an amendment to the Affordable Health Care For All Americans Act requiring all members of the House and Senate subscribe to the public insurance option offered by the legislation.

While Wilson admittedly does not support the public option, the proposed amendment is being interpreted as a way to make a point to Wilson’s Democratic colleagues.

“We know why the majority of the ‘Pelosi takeover bill’ does not provide this,” Wilson continued. “They do know that the government-run option will not be in the interest of the American people, either individually or for the American citizens at large. I’m just very hopeful that they’ll reconsider, that they will understand if it’s good enough for the American people, it’s good enough for Congress.”

Wilson added that the House is “shoving this bill through.”

Wilson went on to say that the House is “shoving this bill through.”

“Speaker Pelosi still has not informed us about what the amendment process will be for this bill,” Wilson said in a statement released Wednesday. “An issue as important as a health care overhaul that will impact every American is much too important through rush through without transparency or a democratic amendment process.”

Wilson garnered controversy when he shouted the phrase “you lie” during President Barack Obama’s address to a joint session of Congress in September.

Mike German, Policy Council to the American Civil Liberties Union, says that Congress should create a subcommittee to examine all the violations of the National Security Act. (0:15)

 

 Standard Podcast [0:15m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Mike German, Policy Council to the American Civil Liberties Union, says that Rep. Barbara Lee’s (D-Calif.) proposed subcommittee on National Security Act Violations would not only examine the Central Intelligence Agency, but also look at the other agencies in the U.S Government that work “hand in glove.” (0:15)

 

 Standard Podcast [0:15m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Mike German, Policy Council to the American Civil Liberties Union, says that the ACLU fully supports the investigation of the CIA’s potential violations of the National Security Act. He also says that the ACLU supports the formation of a congressional subcommittee that would investigate all potential National Security Act violations. (0:16)

 

 Standard Podcast [0:16m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

When asked by Talk Radio News Service about the Central Intelligence Agency’s potential violations of the National Security Act, American Civil Liberties Union Policy Counselor Mike German says that Congress has the right to “thorough and truthful briefings.” (0:11)

 

 Standard Podcast [0:11m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

When asked by Talk Radio News Service about the ACLU’s support of Congress’ decision to investigate the Central Intelligence Agency’s (CIA) potential violations of the National Security Act, Mike German, Policy Council to the American Civil Liberties Union, says that the CIA was “less than truthful” with Congres on at least five separate occasions. (:09)

 

 Standard Podcast [0:09m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

By Ravi Bhatia-Talk Radio News Service

Animal cruelty clashed with first amendment rights today in the U.S. Supreme Court case of United States v. Stevens, which also marked Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s second day sitting as an Associate Justice in the Court’s new term. 

In 2004, Robert Stevens was indicted and charged with selling three dogfighting videos to undercover law enforcement agents. Congress enacted the statute in 1999, which deemed that whoever sells depictions of animal cruelty would be fined and/or imprisoned for up to five years. 

Steven’s 37-month sentence was 14 months longer than NFL quarterback Michael Vick’s, who had participated firsthand in a dogfighting venture. Although dogfighting is illegal in all 50 states, the practice is legal in Japan, where much of the footage in Stevens’ videos came from. 

According to Neal Katyal, the government lawyer defending the law, a “robust market” in animal cruelty exists. Upholding the statute would dry up the market for such material, he argued. It would also add to the precedent set in New York v. Ferber in 1982, when the Court ruled that the First Amendment right to free speech did not forbid states from banning the sale of child pornography.

The Ferber case was the last time that the question of whether or not material was too obscene to receive first amendment protection was addressed.

Patricia Millett argued on behalf of Stevens, suggesting that the statute was drafted too broadly and that it applied to legally protected activity.

Congress had enacted Article 48 in order to outlaw “crush videos,” which depicted close-ups of women inflicting torture on animals such as hamsters, puppies and kittens with their bare feet or while wearing high-heeled shoes.

The Supreme Court will release their decision on the case later this year, although the tone of the hearing implies that the justices are leaning towards affirming the decision of the Court of Appeals in overturning the law.