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October 15, 2014 9:47 pm | By DerekPFAW Activists Host “Ditch Mitch” Debate Watching Party
On Monday night, Sen. Mitch McConnell and Democratic challenger Alison Lundergan Grimes went face-to-face in debate for the first and only time in their race, and PFAW activists were paying attention. More than 50 people turned out to a debate…
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October 15, 2014 7:26 pm | By Alex
PFAW Announces 2014 Endorsements for Federal Office
PFAW is proud to announce 13 new endorsements. These candidates and officials, representing a diverse and broad swath of constituencies, are some of the best and brightest progressive champions in the country. Pete Aguilar (CA-31) Staci Appel (IA-3) Alan Grayson…
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October 15, 2014 2:58 pm | By Paul GordonFifth Circuit’s Voter ID Decision Shows the Attitude of Bush’s Judges
Last week, a federal district court judge concluded that Texas's strict voter ID law (SB 14) violated both the Constitution and the Voting Rights Act. Judge Nelva Ramos concluded that the law was passed with illegitimate motives: This Court concludes…
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October 14, 2014 3:44 pm | By Paul GordonDid a Nevada Federal Judge Let Personal Beliefs Affect His Marriage Ruling?
The federal district court judge whose pre-Windsor decision to uphold Nevada's marriage ban was recently reversed by the Ninth Circuit has now raised serious questions about whether his ruling was inappropriately influenced by his personal beliefs. Last Tuesday, the Ninth…
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October 10, 2014 3:52 pm | By Paul GordonTexas Judge Could Teach the Roberts Court a Thing or Two
Late yesterday, federal district Judge Nelva Gonzales Ramos struck down Texas' restrictive voter ID law. Judge Ramos found that it creates an unconstitutional burden on the right to vote, has an impermissible discriminatory effect on African Americans and Latinos, and…
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October 9, 2014 3:14 pm | By Paul GordonThe Roberts Court Gives North Carolinians a Reason to Vote
Late yesterday, the Roberts Court allowed North Carolina to re-impose obstacles to voting that particularly harm African Americans. Over the dissents of Justices Ginsburg and Sotomayor, and without explanation, the Justices issued a stay of the Fourth Circuit's order that…
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October 8, 2014 9:20 pm | By Ian
Marriage Bans Overturned in Idaho and Nevada
Yesterday, a three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled unanimously in favor of equality, striking down same-sex marriage bans in Idaho and Nevada. Judge Stephen Reinhardt delivered the ruling for the panel, which applied heightened scrutiny because…
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October 7, 2014 5:30 pm | By Paul GordonAnother Nail in the Coffin for Baker v. Nelson
A Supreme Court decision not to take an appeal of a lower court ruling is generally (and correctly) recognized as not being a ruling on the merits by the nation's highest court. But yesterday's determination not to hear several lower…
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October 6, 2014 9:23 pm | By Paul GordonSupreme Court Action on Marriage Cases Is No Surprise
The Supreme Court's decision this morning to not hear appeals of any of the pending marriage equality appeals came as a surprise to some. But as PFAW Foundation's Supreme Court 2014-2015 Term Preview explained last month, most of the Justices…
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October 6, 2014 3:31 pm | By Paul GordonLet Freedom (and Wedding Bells) Ring
With the far-right Roberts Court, it's usually good news when they choose not to address a case, and that's especially so this morning: The Court announced it will not be hearing the appeals of any of the pending marriage cases.…
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October 3, 2014 9:43 pm | By BernarditaKentucky Activists Protest Mitt and Mitch Fundraiser
On Thursday, PFAW members joined MoveOn.org, Kentucky AFL-CIO, and other activists to protest Sen. Mitch McConnell’s pro-corporate agenda outside of a high-dollar fundraiser for the senator featuring Mitt Romney. The exclusive event was priced at $1,000-$5,000 a ticket. Activists, standing…
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October 3, 2014 3:08 pm | By BernarditaThe Supreme Court’s 2014-2015 Term: PFAW Member Telebriefing
Yesterday, People For the American Way members participated in a telebriefing to discuss the Supreme Court’s upcoming term and to preview some of the important cases the Court will be hearing this year. The call was kicked off by PFAW…
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October 2, 2014 8:24 pm | By IanNew Poll Demonstrates Bipartisan Support to Restore the Voting Rights Act
For nearly half a century, the Voting Rights Act (VRA) has helped protect each American’s right to vote, a founding principle of our democracy. Last year, the 5-4 Supreme Court decision in Shelby County v. Holder gutted a key provision…
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September 30, 2014 8:10 pm | By Layne AmerikanerFairer Elections Through Public Financing: Montgomery County, Maryland, Leads the Way
It’s no secret that our country’s elections have been taken over by out-of-control spending, and this year’s rapidly approaching midterms are no exception. Maybe that’s why it’s so refreshing to read about some recent progress in the fight to reclaim…
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September 29, 2014 9:33 pm | By Paul GordonThe Roberts Court vs. Ohio Voters
Earlier this month, supporters of voting rights cheered when a federal district judge struck down restrictions on early voting in Ohio. That ruling was upheld by the Sixth Circuit. But today, the five conservative members of the Supreme Court ordered…
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September 29, 2014 7:51 pm | By Layne AmerikanerVideo: PFAW’s Drew Courtney Discusses the Values Voters Summit on Politics Nation with Al Sharpton
People For the American Way’s Right Wing Watch closely followed this weekend’s Values Voter Summit, an annual event hosted by the Family Research Council where GOP elected officials pander to Religious Right leaders. On Friday, PFAW’s Director of Communications Drew…
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September 29, 2014 6:39 pm | By Rio TazewellJustice Ginsburg Would Overturn Citizens United
In a recent interview with the New Republic, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg reiterated her belief that Citizens United v. FEC was the worst ruling to be handed down from the Roberts court: “If there was one decision I…
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September 25, 2014 9:23 pm | By Alex HartThe ‘Tech Exodus’: Yahoo! and Yelp Follow Google’s Example, Ditch ALEC
It’s been a monumental week for our campaign to end corporate sponsorship for the right-wing group ALEC. Three of the country’s biggest tech companies – Google, Yahoo! and Yelp – announced plans to end their ALEC membership, with tech titan…
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September 25, 2014 7:50 pm | By BernarditaBarbara Comstock’s “FedEx” Comments Part-and-Parcel with GOP Trend of Dehumanizing Immigration Rhetoric
In a debate yesterday, Barbara Comstock, GOP candidate for Congress from Virginia’s 10th District, compared the tracking of immigrants to the tracking of Fedex packages. I think first and foremost we need to stop playing politics with this, secure the…
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September 25, 2014 5:49 pm | By Layne AmerikanerThe Right Enemies: A Look Back at Right Wing Attacks on Eric Holder
Attorney General Eric Holder, who today announced his plans to resign, has been a leader in addressing systems of racial discrimination and protecting the fundamental rights of every American to be treated equally under the law and participate in our…