Archives for December 2011

Billy Corriher 

President Obama will sign into law a defense authorization bill that purports to expand his authority to indefinitely detain persons suspected of terrorism.  The President initially threatened to veto the bill over objections to provisions that required military custody of detainees.  The Obama administration argued it needed the flexibility to take both a military and a law enforcement approach to fighting terrorism.  Republicans criticized the president as lacking a “consistent” policy on handling suspected terrorists.

Congress added waivers and exemptions that assuaged the president’s concerns about flexibility and ensured that Obama’s policy will remain inconsistent.  Republicans asserted that military custody would assure a focus on obtaining intelligence, instead of evidence for a criminal trial. Both law enforcement and military officials opposed the bill and echoed support for flexibility.  The bill seems to confer authority for endless detention, but the Supreme Court had already recognized a broad detention authority under the 2001 Authorization to Use Military Force. [Read more…] about Congress and Obama compromise on executive power, ignore civil liberties

Peter Dunne

It has been an extraordinary ten days for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Rights – both in the United States and abroad.

As I previously posted, last week Hillary Clinton made a landmark speech on sexual orientation and gender identity rights at the United Nations (UN) in Geneva. Her address was accompanied by the release of a US Presidential Memorandum, urging US Foreign Diplomats to make LGBT rights a priority in their work, and announcing the creation of a three million dollar Global Equality Fund. On Thursday December 8th, the UN hosted its fifth annual LGBT Side Event, bringing together activists from all corners of the globe and, in the process, filling the Economic and Social Council Chamber. The following day, the United Kingdom’s government announced its first ever plan of action to promote Transgender Equality.

This morning, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights published its much anticipated report on sexual orientation and gender identity: “Discriminatory laws and practices and acts of violence against individuals based on their sexual orientation and gender identity.” The report, the first ever at the UN to focus specifically on LGBT issues, documents widespread discrimination and violence faced by individuals worldwide and calls upon States to apply the international legal framework to end these human rights violations. [Read more…] about Putting The US LGBT Domestic Agenda in Perspective: The First UN Report on LGBT Rights

Billy Corriher

With the country still mired in a recession caused by the reckless decisions of big banks, Republicans in Congress continue to fight tooth and nail against stronger government oversight of the financial industry.  Last week, Senate Republicans rejected the nomination of former Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray to head the new Consumer Finance Protection Bureau (CFPB), created by the Dodd-Frank financial reform legislation.  Republicans did not feign doubts about Mr. Cordray’s qualifications or suggest that he was the wrong person for the job.  Instead, they pledged to reject any nominee to head the CFPB until the structure of the agency itself is changed.

These Senate Republicans are apparently unhappy with the manner in which the previous Congress responded to public outrage about the financial crisis and the lax government oversight that enabled it.  So they are using the Senate’s arcane rules to thwart the democratic process.  Congress established new rules to protect consumers from exploitation by financial institutions.  The CFPB was intended to be independent from Congress, but Republicans seem determined to reign in the agency. [Read more…] about Republicans Still Hoping to Gut Financial Reform

Peter Dunne

Much has, and will, be said about Hillary Clinton’s recent remarks on LGBT rights, and the accompanying memorandum which President Obama released on Tuesday morning. However, I think that there are, at this stage, a few points worthy of particular note.

First, in addition to the humility with which the Secretary of State addressed America’s own record on LGBT rights, she also acknowledged that it is the LGBT activists, those actually on the ground in the Global South, who ultimately must lead the way. While Governments and other straight allies are vital to the success of any LGBT rights movement, they cannot be the ones who drive reform. [Read more…] about LGBT Rights: American Advocacy at the United Nations