Tag Archives: democratic

Super Tuesday: Atlanta Power Couple Size Up Newt Gingrich

Georgia Tech student Thaddeus Johnson tells MTV News Republican nominee ‘has too much baggage’ to take on President Obama. By Becca Frucht Photo: Getty Images ATLANTA — After a slow morning at the polls , things are finally picking up as the Super Tuesday action kicks into gear in A-town. Yes, former Peach State Congressman Newt Gingrich is expected to easily take the state, possibly his only win today, but that doesn’t mean the other candidates aren’t getting attention from voters too. Or that everyone is totally onboard with the Newt message. The weather’s warmed up, the Georgia Tech student center is jumping and the polling place right smack in the middle of it is … still crickets. Every table in the Student Center food court is packed — and when I polled all the kids just steps away from the voting booths, most of them were either registered in their home counties, had already sent in their absentee ballots (props to these conscientious citizens!) or simply unaware that anything was going on. So MTV’s Powerof12 news team stepped outside to see what was going down in the quad and we ran into two cool coeds in spirited sweatshirts. Pals Thaddeus Johnson, 20, and Briana Brown, 22, agreed to a sun-dappled chat on what they’re thinking about this Super Tuesday, how their parent’s politics influenced them and why it’s important for young people to exercise their power to vote. They also threw in on what issues are most important, and we learned that the duo has the same social pressure point, interestingly. For Briana, the debate over contraception is what’s sparked her interest in the GOP race, “It applies a lot to us in this college setting, and it’s an interesting issue that I didn’t think of before the primary.” The issue has blown up into a national talking point thanks to the recent controversial comments from right-wing talk radio personality Rush Limbaugh denigrating law student Sandra Fluke. As far as Johnson is concerned, ” Newt Gingrich has too much baggage” to take on President Obama in the Presidential election, but he thinks whatever happens, it’s important for the youth vote to get out because “we’re the generation of tomorrow. We’re the next people that are gonna run the country. These older people, yeah, they’re gonna vote, but they’re about to die off.” Harsh? Maybe. True? Oh yeah. MTV has Super Tuesday covered, with reporters on the scene in Georgia, Ohio and Massachusetts! Check back for up-to-the-minute coverage on all the primaries, and stick with Power Of 12 throughout the presidential election season. Related Videos Super Tuesday: MTV News Is On The Ground!

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Super Tuesday: Atlanta Power Couple Size Up Newt Gingrich

Super Tuesday Turnout ‘A Little Disappointing’ To Boston Student

Mitt Romney is expected to take the Massachusetts primary, but experts are predicting record-low turnout. By Jacob Soboroff Jacob Soboroff looks for young voters on Super Tuesday in Boston, Massachusetts Photo: Adam Murphy/MTV News BOSTON — What happens when a reporter goes on the hunt for young voters in a state with 969,000 of them on Super Tuesday ? He finds two — and a guy waiting for a bus — at the state’s largest university. At Boston University, over the course of the lunch hour, only two students came into the polling place at Myles Standish Hall to exercise their civic duty. Ben Nichols and Simon Wentzell cast ballots at a polling place on campus where a quick walk-through revealed everything was going smoothly — but the number of poll workers outnumbered voters by far. So where is everybody? Nichols, an independent voter who supports Texas Congressman Ron Paul, said he wasn’t surprised. “It’s a primary. They don’t usually get nearly as many voters as an actual election,” he said. As to why he turned out, the first-time voter said, “To be honest, I live right there. That’s my room. So it kind of helps.” Wentzell, a member of the BU College Democrats, was also greeted by a lack of fellow voters. “It’s been pretty empty, seems like, so far,” he said. The low turnout didn’t get the best of the 19-year-old’s political optimism, though. “It’s a little disappointing. But it’s a little early and we are one of many districts.” A Boston elections official tells me — no joke — that there was a 2.5 percent voter turnout citywide as of noon. In former Governor Mitt Romney’s home state. Then again, the traditionally blue state wasn’t expected to put up record-high numbers in a year when only the GOP side of the equation is being decided. With an incumbent Democrat waiting in the wings in the form of President Obama, many Massachusetts voters appear to be keeping their powder dry for the general election in November. While he is looking at potential runner-up finishes in a number of Southern states and an uncomfortably close race in key swing state Ohio , Romney is expected to cruise to an easy victory in Massachusetts, where 41 delegates are at stake on a day when a total of 419 delegates are in the mix. On the sidewalk outside, though, as he squatted waiting for the bus, Aaron S. wouldn’t be adding to that vote total because he said he wasn’t voting and wasn’t interested. “Around 11 o’clock — or is it 12? — most people are already in class,” he explained. Dressed in a pair of SpongeBob SquarePants pajama bottoms, the physics major said it wasn’t a matter of Boston being a Democratic town or kids getting ready for spring break that was keeping turnout down. “I spend most of my time in the lab,” he said. With that, he got on the bus in front of the polling place and rolled away. MTV has Super Tuesday covered, with reporters on the scene in Georgia, Ohio and Massachusetts! Check back for up-to-the-minute coverage on all the primaries, and stick with Power Of 12 throughout the presidential election season. Related Videos Super Tuesday: MTV News Is On The Ground!

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Super Tuesday Turnout ‘A Little Disappointing’ To Boston Student

DNC defends Obama on Israel ahead of AIPAC

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Washington (CNN) – This may be a first. Ahead of the AIPAC meeting in Washington this weekend, the Democratic National Committee is pre-butting any Republican attacks on the President’s position on Israel. They’re doing so by sending the Jewish press, activists and the general media a video featuring Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying in Broadcasting platform : YouTube Source : Political Ticker Discovery Date : 29/02/2012 16:57 Number of articles : 2

DNC defends Obama on Israel ahead of AIPAC

NJ Assembly Democrats Release Video Condemning Christie’s Marriage Equality Veto, Promising Override: WATCH

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The New Jersey Assembly Democrats have released a video response to Governor Chris Christie’s veto this afternoon of the recently-passed marriage equality bill. Watch, AFTER THE JUMP… New Jersey Assembly Democratic Response to Gov. Christie’s Veto of Marriage Equality Legislation… Broadcasting platform : Vimeo Source : Towleroad Discovery Date : 18/02/2012 00:21 Number of articles : 2

NJ Assembly Democrats Release Video Condemning Christie’s Marriage Equality Veto, Promising Override: WATCH

Our History Makers: President Barack Obama

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Barack Obama , his story is the American story — values from the heartland, a middle-class upbringing in a strong family, hard work and education as the means of getting ahead, and the conviction that a life so blessed should be lived in service to others. President Obama Sings Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together” At The Apollo! [VIDEO] With a father from Kenya and a mother from Kansas, President Obama was born in Hawaii on August 4, 1961. He was raised with help from his grandfather, who served in Patton’s army, and his grandmother, who worked her way up from the secretarial pool to middle management at a bank. Happy Birthday Obama: 50 Things You Might Not Know! After working his way through college with the help of scholarships and student loans, President Obama moved to Chicago, where he worked with a group of churches to help rebuild communities devastated by the closure of local steel plants. He went on to attend law school, where he became the first African-American president of the Harvard Law Review. Upon graduation, he returned to Chicago to help lead a voter registration drive, teach constitutional law at the University of Chicago, and remain active in his community. President Obama’s years of public service are based around his unwavering belief in the ability to unite people around a politics of purpose. In the Illinois State Senate, he passed the first major ethics reform in 25 years, cut taxes for working families, and expanded health care for children and their parents. As a United States Senator, he reached across the aisle to pass groundbreaking lobbying reform, lock up the world’s most dangerous weapons, and bring transparency to government by putting federal spending online. He was elected the 44th President of the United States on November 4, 2008, and sworn in on January 20, 2009. He and his wife, Michelle, are the proud parents of two daughters, Malia, 13, and Sasha, 10. Barack H. Obama is the 44th President of the United States. From www.whitehouse.gov Currently President Obama is gearing up for the 2012 Presidential election. Check out details on his campaign at www.barackobama.com Obama Wins 2008 Election CBS annouces 2008 Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama as the next President of the United States. Katie Couric discusses this historic event. 2009 Inauguration and Address President Barack Obama took the oath of office as the 44th president of the United States and delivered an inaugural address focusing on the themes of sacrifice and renewal on January 20, 2009.

Our History Makers: President Barack Obama

Scarlett Johansson Rallies For Obama: ‘2012 Will Not Be Easy’

Actress teams up with Vogue ‘s Anna Wintour for ‘Runway to Win’ fashion fundraiser. By Uptin Saiidi Scarlett Johansson before attending Runway to Win Tuesday night Photo: Alo Ceballos/FilmMagic Scarlett Johansson , a vocal Barack Obama supporter during his first election campaign, lent a hand to the President’s re-election run on Tuesday night. The actress co-hosted a fundraiser event with Vogue editor in chief Anna Wintour at a Theory store in New York City, where they also promoted new merchandise. The “Runway to Win” event brought together 23 of the biggest fashion designers, all of whom designed Obama swag to sell in support of the campaign. According to the Huffington Post , Johansson gave a talk in which she ticked off Obama’s various accomplishments in the last three years, from signing the Fair Pay Act to ending Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. But while the actress has been supportive during the president’s first term, some of Obama’s A-list supporters have been slower to sign on again. The “We Bought a Zoo” star seemed to hopes the fashion project will help reignite hope. “There is so much at stake in this campaign,” Johansson said in a press release. “2012 will not be easy. We have to fight even harder this time around, and that’s where Runway to Win will make a real difference.” The campaign collection includes merchandise, like tote bags, designed by Marc Jacobs, Sean John, Beyonc

Florida’s Young GOP Voters Confident In Mitt Romney

‘He’s a successful businessman, and that’s what we need,’ one supporter tells MTV News. By Gil Kaufman, with reporting by Andrew Jenks Mitt Romney after winning the Florida primary Photo: Joe Raedle/ Getty Images TAMPA, Florida — As you might expect, things were pretty upbeat at the Mitt Romney primary party Tuesday (January 31). With the GOP presidential candidate solidifying his front-runner status following a convincing win over Newt Gingrich, the former Massachusetts Governor’s supporters had high praise as they poured out of the ballroom at the Tampa Convention Center. After following Romney on his bus Monday and speaking with young voters about the potential impact of the controversial new voter-registration laws in Florida , MTV’s Power of 12 wanted to hear what policies and campaign promises drew 18- to 29-year-old voters to cast a vote for Romney and how they think he may be able to help their generation. Hillary Brunner, 19, said she was drawn in by Romney’s stance on immigration policy. “I chose to vote for Mitt Romney because I really like his policy on the DREAM Act,” she said of Romney’s pledge to veto a long-stalled immigration measure that would create a path to citizenship for some undocumented immigrants. “And making it if you want to immigrate to this country you have to go to the military first instead of just going to college. I think the military is a great way to show that you really want to be an American and that you love this country and that you are dedicated to this country.” Her friend, Shelly Mittal, 19, was more drawn to Romney’s character. “I think he has great family and moral values and he possesses a strong attitude towards good business, and I think he can get the economy back toward where it needs to be,” she said. Not only did Romney trounce bitter rival Gingrich by drawing 46 percent of the vote to the former House speaker’s 32 percent, but in a turnabout from the three previous contests, CNN exit polls in Florida showed that he also finally broke through to young voters (18-29). While Romney had reliably scored with older voters, in Florida, he won 39 percent of the youth votes to 26 percent for Congressman Ron Paul, 23 percent for Gingrich and 12 percent for Rick Santorum. One of those twentysomething converts, Dywan Washington, 22, said he believes Romney’s extensive experience in the private business sector could be the remedy for the country’s financial ills. “The key people that we need in Washington, D.C., at any level of government [are] more business people,” Washington said. “We can’t keep going to career politicians who’ve spent 20 to 30 years in D.C. … Governor Romney is a perfect example of executive leadership that we need. … We need executive experience and business experience, and that’s why I support Mitt Romney.” Earlier in the evening, after congratulating his rivals, Romney issued a stern warning to the Democratic Party in his victory speech. Suspecting that the Obama campaign was savoring the vicious infighting among the GOP candidates, he said, “A competitive primary does not divide us; it prepares us. And we will win.” After he and Gingrich (and their SuperPac supporters ) spent more than $20 million on negative ads, Romney took the opportunity Tuesday night to turn his focus away from his competitors and put it squarely on the president: “My leadership will end the Obama era and begin a new era of prosperity.” MTV is on the scene in Florida! Check back for up-to-the-minute coverage of the primaries and stick with PowerOf12.org throughout the 2012 presidential election season. Related Videos Florida Primary: The Race Is On!

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Florida’s Young GOP Voters Confident In Mitt Romney

Allen West to Obama, Reid, Pelosi: ‘Get the Hell Out of the United States of America’

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Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.) had a strong message Saturday for President Barack Obama, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Democratic National… Broadcasting platform : YouTube Source : The Blaze Discovery Date : 29/01/2012 06:48 Number of articles : 3

Allen West to Obama, Reid, Pelosi: ‘Get the Hell Out of the United States of America’

Jane Carrey Just Latest Famous Kid On ‘American Idol’

Shannon Magrane, Jordin Sparks and Nikko Smith also have bold-name dads. By Gil Kaufman, with additional reporting by Katie Byrne Jane Carrey on “American Idol” Photo: FOX For years, singers have done just about anything they could to get the attention the judges on “American Idol.” There have been wacky costumes, shameless flirtation with the panel and some truly horrible original songs . But one surefire way to pique the interest of Randy, Steven and J.Lo (not to mention Simon and Paula in the past) is to reveal in your bio that your dad is already a bold-faced name. The latest case-in-point is Jane Carrey, the 24-year-old daughter of actor Jim Carrey , who tried out for the show Sunday night. The judges enjoyed her rendition of Bonnie Raitt’s “Something to Talk About,” while former Fly Girl Jennifer Lopez remembered seeing baby Jane on the set of “In Living Color” when she shared the stage with Carrey. But she’s just the latest “Idol” wannabe to use her name to get in the door. Just last week, we met lanky Shannon Magrane , whose father was the starting pitcher in two games for the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1987 World Series. Magrane is among a long list of athlete offspring who’ve given “Idol” a shot. In season seven, we briefly got to know Alyonka Larionov, daughter of former National Hockey League star Igor “The Professor” Larionov, who helped pave the way for Russian hockey players to join NHL teams back in the late 1980s. There was also season-four crooner Nikko Smith, son of Hall of Fame baseball player Ozzie Smith. “Being around my dad and him being in the spotlight kind of prepares you and you have an outlook on things that’s a little bit different, because you’ve been around celebrities and people in the spotlight,” Nikko told MTV News in 2007. But perhaps the biggest jock descendant to make it to the “Idol” stage is Jordin Sparks, the season-six winner whose father is former NFL cornerback Phillippi Sparks. The year she won “Idol,” Jordin recalled to MTV News taking pictures with her family for national magazines and seeing fans swarm her dad for autographs. “He actually told me the other day that when he would sign autographs, I would just be watching so intently,” she remembered. “He said it was really weird, because he was watching me [sign autographs] the other day, and now it’s all turned around.” It also helps to have some music-industry blood pumping through your veins. In season eight, that meant some extra shine for David Osmond, who made it to Hollywood Week that year thanks to his famous singing family’s pedigree and some very smooth vocals but flamed out due to laryngitis. Season-six contestant Sundance Head, son of “Treat Her Right” singer Roy Head, ended up in 13th place on the show. Before he surprised the political world by winning late Democratic stalwart Ted Kennedy’s Senate seat in 2010, Republican lawmaker Scott Brown’s basketball-playing daughter Ayla made it into the top 16 on the show in season five. Get your “Idol” fix on MTV News’ “American Idol” page , where you’ll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

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Jane Carrey Just Latest Famous Kid On ‘American Idol’

Happy 48th Birthday First Lady Michelle Obama! 48 Things You Didn’t Know About Her

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The first lady Michelle Obama turns 48 years old today! Promoting service and working with young people has remained a staple of her career and her interest in the White House, exemplified by her Let’s Move campaign to bring together communities in a nationwide effort to tackle childhood obesity. As Mrs Obama celebrates her birthday today, here are 48 things you didn’t know about about the First Lady: 1. Her nickname is “Miche” (pronounced “Meesh”). 2. Her husband calls her “My Rock” 3. Her father worked the swing shift in the boiler room at Chicago’s water purification plant. 4. She grew up with her older brother, Craig, and parents in a one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment. She shared the living room with her brother, which was separated by a room divider. 5. She and her brother both skipped a year at school – second grade. 6. As a girl, she loved her “Easy-Bake Oven”. 7. Michelle was student council treasurer in high school. 8. Growing up, she practiced playing the piano so much that she had to be told to stop. 9. Although a great athlete, she shied away from competitive sports because, her big brother says, “she hated losing”. 10. Her father died of complications from multiple sclerosis when she was in her 20s. 11. Michelle attended only public schools while growing up in Chicago. 12. She was assigned Barack’s mentor when he came to her Chicago firm for a summer job. 13. Her first impression of Barack wasn’t great; after seeing a photo of him in the law firm directory she decided he had a big nose. 14. She declined Barack’s first invitations to go out on a date, saying it would be inappropriate. 15. Her father and brother had always said you could tell a lot about someone’s character on the court, so before agreeing to date Barack, she asked her brother to take him on on the basketball court. 16. Her university dissertation was entitled, “Princeton-Educated Blacks and the Black Community.” 17. Santita Jackson, Jesse Jackson’s daughter and Michelle’s high school classmate, sang at the wedding 18. She works out “like a gladiator,” according to friends. 19. She hates tights – too “painful.” 20. At the Democratic National Convention in 2004, moments before her husband went on stage to give his speech, she said: “Just don’t screw it up, buddy!” SEE THE REST OF THE LIST BELOW THE GALLERY 21. She watches reruns of The Dick Van Dyke Show 22. For breakfast she likes fruit, eggs and bacon. 23. When she got to Princeton she said the tutors weren’t teaching French correctly. 24. She refused to accompany her husband for walks in the cold Chicago winters. 25. She is the former associate dean at the University of Chicago 26. On their first date Barack took her to see Do The Right Thing, a Spike Lee movie set in Harlem. 27. Her brother, Craig Robinson, is the basketball coach at Oregon State University. 28. At Princeton, Michelle majored in sociology. She got her law degree from Harvard. 29. She worked for Chicago’s Mayor Daley in the city’s office of planning and development. 30. She uses a webcam to stay in touch with Barack while separated. 31. She cooks shrimp linguini – her husband’s favorite meal. 32. Michelle wrote her own stump speech during the campaign and delivered it without notes. 33. Michelle made Barack promise to quit smoking if he ran for president. 34. She plans not to have any more children. 35. She graduated from high school second in her class. 36. She cut back from her six-figure salary with the University of Chicago hospital system to help her husband with his campaign 37. Michelle makes Barack do the dishes. 38. As vice president of community and external affairs at the University of Chicago Medical Centre, Michelle supervised a five hundred per cent increase of volunteerism in the hospital. 39. She was on the board of six major organizations, including the prestigious Chicago Council on Global Affairs, the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools and Tree House Foods; and Vice President, Community and External Affairs at the University of Chicago Hospitals. 40. She routinely drew audiences of 1,000-plus supporters, even when she was campaigning on her own, on the trail 41. Her inauguration dress was designed by Cuban-American designer, Isabel Toledo. Her green gloves were J Crew and her shoes by Jimmy Choo. 42. After her husband’s election to the US Senate, Michelle decided to stay in Chicago with their daughters instead of relocating to Washington, DC. 43. Her great-great-grandfather, Jim Robinson, was a slave in South Carolina before the Civil War. 44. Hillary Clinton, Laura Bush, and Michelle Obama are the only First Ladies to receive master’s degrees. 45. She has committed each episode of The Brady Bunch to memory. 46. At 5 ft 11″, she is tied with Eleanor Roosevelt for tallest First Lady. 47.Her secret service codename is “Renaissance”. 48. Mrs. Obama shares her special day with Muhammad Ali who turns 70 today. Watch Michelle Obama Show Off Her Dance Moves On iCarly [VIDEO] Michelle Obama On Motherhood: ” I Am Just Hoping That I Don’t Mess Them Up”

Happy 48th Birthday First Lady Michelle Obama! 48 Things You Didn’t Know About Her