OPINION: Relax. Bachmann Didn't Pledge To Ban Pornography

The reports making the rounds on the blogosphere claiming Michele Bachmann promised to ban pornography if elected President are amusing, but false. 

The story emerged after the Minnesota Congresswoman signed a pledge that the Family Leader, an Iowa Christian organization, extended to GOP hopefuls asking for them to tackle a variety of social issues from rejecting Sharia law to offering “vigorous opposition” to gay marriage.

According to a report posted by Think Progress Thursday evening, tucked inside one of the 14 vows was a commitment to ban “all forms” of pornography.

I’m no fan of Michele Bachmann’s politics, and admittedly the thought of her calling for an end to porn appears to fall in line with the bizarre missteps her campaign has made so far, but in this instance, her hands seem to be clean.

In actuality, the pledge asks candidates to offer “humane protection of women and the innocent fruit of conjugal intimacy- our next generation of American children- from human trafficking, sexual slavery, seduction into promiscuity, and all forms of pornography and prostitution, infanticide, abortion and other types of coercion or stolen innocence.”

When reached for comment, Bob Vander Plaats, the organization’s president, appeared surprised that the language has been interpreted as a call to outlaw adult entertainment.

“We are not calling for a nationwide ban on pornography,” Vander Plaats said during a phone interview. “The bullet point doesn’t even come close to calling for that.”

Vander Plaats explained that the language was meant to imply opposition to women being forced into pornography or prostitution, a far cry from the Think Progress headline: BREAKING: Bachmann pledges to ban pornography

Senate Confirms Petraeus

General David Petraeus was unanimously confirmed by the Senate Wednesday as the new U.S. Commander in Afghanistan.

Although the July 2011 date to begin withdrawing troops from Afghanistan has become a dividing issue between Democrats and Republicans, there was little doubt that the former head of Central Command would face a smooth confirmation process.

Petraeus will replace Gen. Stanley McChrystal, who was relieved of his position after criticism levied from him and his staff against various members of the Obama administration made it into a recent issue of Rolling Stone Magazine. McChrystal announced his retirement Monday.

The White House has not yet announced who will step-in for Petraues at Central Command, but it is widely assumed that it will be either Lt. General John Allen, the current Deputy Commander at CENTCOM, or General James Mattis, the head of U.S. Joint Forces Command. Both Generals were also considered as possible replacements for McChrystal.

Petraeus assumes command as U.S. forces prepare for a critical offensive in Kandahar province this summer.

McChrystal Steps Down, Petraeus Named New Afghan Commander

General Stanley McChrystal will be replaced as U.S. Commander in Afghanistan by General David Petraeus, after comments from McChrystal and his staff mocking administration officials made it into an upcoming issue of Rolling Stone magazine.

President Barack Obama announced the change during a statement Wednesday afternoon from the White House Rose Garden.

“Today I accepted General Stanley McChrystal’s resignation as commander of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan,” he said. “I did so with considerable regret, but also with certainty that it is the right thing for our mission in Afghanistan, for our military and for our country.

As the head of U.S. Central Command, Petraeus is currently McChrystal's boss. He must be confirmed by the Senate before he can assume his new role. Mr. Obama did not say who will fill Petraeus' position.

The decision to appoint Petraeus will likely shield the President from the political fallout of relieving a current commander. Petraeus garners immense respect from both Democrats and Republicans, a factor that will prove important as U.S. and Afghan security forces prepare for a major offensive in Kandahar province this summer. Perhaps more importantly, Petraeus is reportedly liked by Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who notably possessed a fond view of Petraeus' predecessor.

The Rolling Stone article was not the first instance in which the four-star General had frustrated the White House. Last October, McChrystal gave a speech in which he publicly shot down a counter-insurgency approach to the Afghan war promoted by Vice President Joe Biden. The President reportedly scolded the commander for the remarks during a private meeting aboard Air Force One, but McChrystal’s call for additional troops was implemented soon after.

However, the Rolling Stone article seemed to be the last straw for the White House. Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters Tuesday that the President was visibly angry when shown excerpts and the General was summoned from the Afghan capital of Kabul for a face-to-face meeting.

“The conduct does not meet the standard that should be met by a commanding general,” Mr. Obama said.

McChrystal assumed the role of Afghan Commander last summer. He replaced General David Mckiernan.

Talk Radio News Service Correspondent Geoff Holtzman contributed to this report.

Petraeus Collapses, Afghanistan Hearing Postponed

By Justin Duckham & Miles Wolf Tamboli-Talk Radio News Service

Cencom Commander General David Petraeus appeared to pass out during a Senate Armed Services hearing on Afghanistan Tuesday.

Petraeus slumped over suddenly during an exchange with Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.). He seemed to recover several moments later and was escorted from the room. The Committee called a brief recess.

The General returned shortly after and told Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.) that he “just got dehydrated,” joking that the incident was not caused by Senator McCain's questioning.

Petraeus fainted shortly after Senator McCain asserted that the General was, "one of America's great heroes."

Despite Petraeus’s return to the witness table and insistence that he was in good health and completely competent to continue the hearing, Levin "overruled" his claims and stated that the Committee would reschedule Tuesday’s meeting for the following day.

Those in attendance applauded as Petraeus departed.

Obama May Not Have Called Conservative Activists "Tea Bags"

By Justin Duckham - Talk Radio News Service

President Barack Obama has caught flak for reportedly calling the conservative activists that descended on Capitol Hill twice in the past week “tea bag, anti-government people.”

The description comes from a New York Times blog written by Jackie Calmes featuring a quote provided by Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) detailing Obama’s talks with Congress in the hours leading to the House vote.

“According to Representative Earl Blumenauer of Oregon, who supports the health care bill, the president asked, “Does anybody think that the teabag, anti-government people are going to support them if they bring down health care? All it will do is confuse and dispirit” Democratic voters “and it will encourage the extremists.”

Right wing blog redstate.com posted an article Tuesday morning chiding the left for its use of “tea bag” or “tea bagger” as in insult aimed at conservative activists, using the New York Times blog to charge that even the President uses the insulting term to describe the demonstrators.

However, it seems that Obama might not have uttered those words and that Blumenauer was in fact paraphrasing.

Talk Radio News Service was present during Blumenauer’s discussion with Calmes and captured sound from the exchange. While the audio shows that Blumeanuer did make the statement in question, the Oregon Democrat appears to revise his words several seconds later to instead suggest that the president only said “extreme people.”

Click on the audio icon below to listen to the exchange.