Gingrich: Hard Working Dead People Should Keep Their Money

Republican Presidential Candidate Newt Gingrich tells a crowd of supporters in Minnesota: “In addition on taxes, we would abolish the ‘death tax’ permanently because we believe that it is very, very important that people who work hard are allowed to keep what they earn.”

Gingrich is referring to the inheritance tax. He apparently is asserting that the children of the dead worked hard for their parents money.

Gingrich had some other interesting statements during his speech in Bloomington, MN.

On capital gains he had two plans for capital gains tax rate which right now is about 15%. First cut it to zero… and then reduce it to 12.5%.

More video … Continue Reading

Replay-Newt Gingrich On Eve Of MN Caucuses

Republican candidate for President Newt Gingrich speaks to supporters and potential supporters on the eve of Minnesota’s precinct caucuses. While the Republican party Presidential straw poll taken at the caucuses isn’t binding upon delegates, it does provide that one thing that candidates want right now —momentum.

Gingrich had some funny lines, some intentional, some not. Read and see more here.

Ron Paul’s MN Support Crosses Political Boundaries

Hundreds of enthusiastic Ron Paul supporters jammed the meeting room at the AutoMotoPlex in Chanhassan Minnesota on Saturday to show their support for his Presidential bid. Video of his entire speech available here.

There was standing room only in the room and the garage bay doors were opened to handle the overflow crowd that almost circled the building.

“He was Tea Party before Tea Party was cool.” said one of his supporters who introduced the Republican Congressman from Texas.

The crowds choice in the 2008 election ran the gamut. Lots of Republicans – one had cast his first vote for Reagan – but also a number of 2008 Obama voters, Ron Paul write-ins plus votes for Libertarian and Constitution parties. A few claimed to be undecided, but most were very clear on their 2012 choice: Ron Paul— even if they had to write him in.

Video and photos: Ron Paul’s Minnesota supporters say why they back him. … Continue Reading

Ron Paul In Chanhassen, MN- Full Speech

Several hundred Ron Paul supporters jam a meeting hall in Chanhassen, MN on Feb 4, 2012.

DFL Candidates Vie To Replace Vulnerable MN GOP Congressman

Minnesota’s Eighth Congressional District race is already rated a toss up by the Cook Report, even though Democrats have not picked which candidate is going to face first-term Republican Chip Cravaack.

That process of endorsing a candidate begins this Tuesday at Minnesota’s precinct caucuses. So with less than a few days to make their decision, it’s no wonder that 75 people recently fought their way through a snowstorm in Northeastern Minnesota to hear three of the Democratic Farmer Labor Party (DFL) candidates who would like to replace Representative Cravaack.

Former Congressman Rick Nolan, Duluth City Council member Jeff Anderson, and former state Senator Tarryl Clark answered questions.
… Continue Reading

Palestinian Priest Lambasts Newt Gingrich’s “Invented People” Charge

Bethlehem Catholic Priest Ibrahim Shomali said, “I am here, born here, and my ID says I am from Bethlehem” in response to U.S. presidential candidate Newt Gingrich’s claim in December that Palestinians are an “invented people”.

Shomali speaks for his congregation in opposition to Israel’s settlements and the Separation Wall in the West Bank.

He spoke to the Run Across Palestine’s media team Tuesday. Follow the upcoming Run Across Palestine at www.RunAcrossPalestine.org

Video by Aaron Dennis

Somali Women To Flex Political Muscle At MN Caucuses

Party precinct caucuses can be puzzling to long-time political activists. It is democracy in action but some of the rules and procedures can be confusing.

Imagine what the process is like to people living here with a different cultural background, U.S. Somalis for example. Not many Somalis have participated in the caucus.

Somali activist Fartun Weli says, “The process is confusing and Democrats have not reached out to us.” Fartun and the leadership of DFL Senate District 44 decided to change that situation.

DFL produces political action training videos for Somali community … Continue Reading

How Should We Pay For Campaigns & Elections?

It takes a lot of money to get elected to federal office in the United States. Barack Obama’s campaign spent $750 million in 2008 to win the Presidency. Tens of millions of dollars are spent on single Senate campaigns.

Who should pay for that? More and more the answer has been large corporations who now can spend unlimited dollars on ads to influence elections

Is that the way it should be? The UpTake posed that question to mostly Republican voters in Iowa during the January caucuses. Surprisingly most of the conservative voters we talked to told us there should be some sort of limit on what corporations can do to influence elections. That’s in direct opposition to the Republican party line that corporations should be able to spend as much as they want on elections.

Video shot by Allison Herrera and Jacob Wheeler, edited by Allison Herrera.

GOP Candidates Ignore Americans with Mental Disabilities

Rick Westendorf, an Iowan with a mental disability, told The UpTake on Caucus night that the candidates competing for the Republican presidential nomination have not addressed the rights of Americans with mental disabilities.

Westendorf, who lives in a group home in Waterloo, Iowa, is appalled that the candidates have paid lip service to opposing Social Security benefits. He mentioned seeing a television advertisement recently that appeared to attack the popular program. No GOP presidential candidates have actually advocated for eliminating Social Security, but former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum has favored making immediate cuts to the program. He did so in Fort Dodge, Iowa., and again Friday in Keene, New Hampshire.

“That would mean that I couldn’t live in a group home,” said Westendorf. “But people need those kinds of places. What about people who have to live in group homes because they don’t have any other place to live?”

“People are going to get very mad if we lose our funding, and have to go find work even though we can’t work.”

Iowa Voter: “Corporations Should Quit Buying Elections”

“If Newt Gingrich or Mitt Romney are on the (Republican) ticket, I think we deserve four more years of Barack Obama,” Waterloo, Iowa, resident Paul Smith told The UpTake during Caucus night.

Smith, who says he’s been a conservative ever since voting for Jimmy Carter in 1976, supported Rick Santorum on Tuesday night. He takes offense to wealthy elitists like Romney coming into Iowa and donning blue jeans and a flannel shirt to pretend he’s a farmer. “He’s not me, he’ll never be me, he doesn’t want to be me,” said Smith. “I don’t want to be him, and I’m tired of him.”

If Mitt Romney ultimately wins the Republican nomination, as the former Massachusetts governor is expected to, Smith will consider voting to re-elect Obama, or he’ll vote for a third-party candidate.

“You’ve got to be a registered voter to make a contribution and if you’re not a registered voter, get out!” added Smith, who wants to see corporate money out of political elections. “Corporations need to get back to their jobs of doing business and quit buying elections. We all know that if I make million dollar contribution to your campaign, I do so because I expect something in return.”

“That’s the part of politics that really has to change.”