Career Pathways Bill Begins Important Education Conversation

Comments (0) | california policies, California Policy, Career Pathways, darrell steinberg, Education, education legislation, jobs, Linked learning, Opinion, SB 594, unemployment

Christian Patterson
Columnist

Steinberg's career pathways bill provides one way to guarantee that California schools are preparing our students for the real world.

Introducing The Series, 'California Policies'

Comments (0) | California, california policies, California Policy, Democrats, Education, G.I. Bill, Opinion, political issues, politics, Republicans, social issues, STEM, United States

Christian Patterson
Columnist

As California goes, so goes the nation. Check out this introduction to our new series on California policy.

The Dark Stain On George Bush's HIV/AIDS Policy

Comments (0) | abortion, Africa, AIDS, family planning, george w. bush, global development, Global Gag Rule, hiv, NGOs, Opinion, PEPFAR, Presidential Library, rape, reproductive rights, Sexual Education

Christian Patterson
Columnist

creative commons

President Bush's Gag Rule cut life-saving services for countless women.

Top 5 Reasons Rick Perry Is Wrong About The Medicaid Expansion

Comments (8) | arkansas, John Cornyn, Medicaid expansion, Obamacare, Opinion, rick perry, Ted Cruz, texas, uninsured

Christian Patterson
Columnist

(Eschipul, Creative Commons)

While some Republicans will certainly claim that Perry’s heart is in the right place, no one in their right mind could argue that his head is.

Priebus Backtrack Shows GOP Silencing Of Republican Moderates

(Gage Skidmore, Creative Commons)

Republicans are letting themselves be held hostage in a way that Democrats would never tolerate.

Menendez Story Illustrates Difference Between Liberal And Conservative Media

(Creative Commons, Talk Radio News Service)

Shining a light on incendiary stories is not the same as manufacturing them.

Portman's Change Of Heart Shows Empathy Gap In Washington

Comments (0) | 47 percent, affordable care act, climate change, coal, CPAC, defense spending, empathy, gay marriage, Global Gag Rule, global warming, marriage equality, Mexico City Policy, mitt romney, Obamacare, Opinion, Rob Portman

Christian Patterson
Columnist

(Creative Commons, Be the Change, Inc.)

Portman’s conversion allows members of both parties to consider other perspectives.

McCain And Coburn Take Steps Showing Progress In Budget Debate

Comments (0) | budget, Continuing Resolution. obstruction, ideology, John McCain, Opinion, Paul Ryan, Senate, Tom Coburn

Christian Patterson
Columnist

(Talk Radio News Service, Creative Commons)

Their objection to pork barrel spending is a rare segue into non-obstructionism.

Rand Paul's Opportunistic Filibuster

Comments (1) | drones, filibuster, libertarian, Obama, Opinion, rand paul

Christian Patterson
Columnist

(Talk Radio News Service, Creative Commons)

Someone should inform Rand Paul that there is nothing new or fresh about naked opportunism.

Section Five Of The Voting Rights Act Is Worth Saving

Comments (0) | african-americans, antonin scalia, demographics, Florida, GOP, Gov. Rick Perry, Opinion, section five, Supreme Court, voting rights act

Christian Patterson
Columnist

Justice Scalia’s willingness to heap it into the dustbin of history is disturbing, but not shocking.

Critics Of Chris Christie's Weight Should Lay Off

Comments (0) | Aaron Schock, center for disease control, Chris Christie, Corzine, donut, joe walsh, Michael Bloomberg, Michelle Obama, New Jersey, Obesity, Opinion, Scott DesJarlais, straight talk, weight

Christian Patterson
Columnist

(New Jersey National Guard, Creative Commons)

It’s ridiculous that every time he speaks to the media he has to talk about the number he sees on the scale.

Why The Opposition To Same-Sex Couples Benefiting From Immigration Reform?

Comments (1) | Barack Obama, Defense of Marriage Act, family research council, gay marriage, immigration reform, John McCain, mitt romney, Opinion, same-sex, Southern Poverty Law Center

Christian Patterson
Columnist

(Steven C. Webster, Creative Commons)

Is it really rooted in concern for “family values"?

Top Three Reasons Immigration Reform Is Not A Winner For The GOP

Comments (0) | abortion, Charles Krauthammer, Democrats, immigration reform, John McCain, latinos, marco rubio, Obamacare, Opinion, President Obama, Republicans, same sex marriage, Sean Hannity, spending cuts, Talk Radio, tax cuts, tea party

Christian Patterson
Columnist

(Creative Commons, Anuska Sampedro)

Immigration overhaul is unlikley to win Republicans the Latino vote.

Paul Ryan's Comments Betray The Real Republican Strategy

Christian Patterson
Columnist

(Natalie Kolb, Creative Commons)

Republicans will prevent Democrats from helping struggling Americans.

Local Politics Matter, Too

Comments (0) | city council, inauguration, local politics, Los Angeles, Opinion, poverty, unemployment

Christian Patterson
Columnist

(frontenddeveloper.com, Creative Commons)

The resolution of local issues will have a much larger impact on a community’s quality of life than major national policies.

USC's Internship Policy Is Threatening Its Students' Futures

Comments (4) | Career Planning, college credit, internship costs, internships, Opinion, USC

Christian Patterson
Columnist

A cost of $1,300 per credit makes summer internships difficult for students

Romney And Obama Are Showing Real Bipartisanship

Comments (6) | Bain Capital, bipartisanship, birther, fiscal cliff, Obama, Opinion, Romney, trump

Christian Patterson
Columnist

(The White House, Wikimedia Commons)

Their "private lunch" should inspire Congress to tone down the partisanship and get something done.

Immigration Reform Shouldn't Be About Winning Elections

Comments (6) | Hannity, immigration, Jeb Bush, Jindal, Krauthamer, Obama, Opinion, Republican, Romney, rubio

Christian Patterson
Columnist

(Boss Tweed, Creative Commons)

The debate should be about the people who are suffering from Washington’s inaction.

The American People Sent A Message On Tuesday Night

Comments (0) | 2012 election, 2012 Presidential Election, Barack Obama, Election 2012, Obama, obama 2012, obama victory, obama wins election, obama won, Opinion, President Obama

Christian Patterson
Columnist

(Barack Obama, Creative Commons)

Their message? The complete refusal to take part in governing has to stop.

Barack Obama Is Moving Our Country Forward

Comments (0) | 2012 election, 2012 Presidential Election, Barack Obama, Democrats, Election 2012, forward, four more years, Governor Romney, Hope and Change, mitt romney, Obama, Opinion, President Obama, Romney

Christian Patterson
Columnist

(Rob Rudloff, Creative Commons)

Nov. 6, he’ll extend his hand to millions of Americans to find citizens ready to move our country forward.

Top Five Unanswered Questions Of The 2012 Presidential Election

(League of Women Voters of California, Creative Commons)

Obama and Romney have been asked every question a swing voter could ever imagine, but some remain unanswered.

Third Debate: Obama And Romney Don't Differ Much On Iran

(A. Davey, Creative Commons)

Despite the rhetoric spewed by both sides, there isn't much difference between Obama and Romney's views on Iran.

Obama's Effective Foreign Policies

(Dawn Megli / Creative Commons)

Obama's foreign policies protect the U.S.'s power while ensuring our nation is safe from real threats.

Vice Presidential Debate Prediction: Don't Expect Fireworks

Comments (0) | 2012 election, Barack Obama, biden, Debate, debate 2012, Election 2012, Joe Biden, mitt romney, Opinion, Paul Ryan, Romney, Ryan, Vice Presidential Debate, vp debate

Christian Patterson
Columnist

(Center for American Progress, Creative Commons)

Even though the debate features two of the election's most interesting characters.

First Debate Showed Romney Lacks Credible Fiscal Policy

Comments (0) | 2012 election, Barack Obama, Debate, debate 2012, Debates, economic plan, economy, Election 2012, fiscal policy, mitt romney, Opinion, opinion, President Obama, presidential debate, presidential race, taxes

Christian Patterson
Columnist

(Talk Radio News Service, Creative Commons)

Romney turned his biggest strength – the perception that he had a more realistic deficit plan – into his biggest weakness.

Polls Aren't Skewed, Republicans Are Just Paranoid

Comments (1) | 2012 election, election, Election 2012, mitt romney, Obama, Opinion, opinion, President Obama, presidential campaign, presidential race, Romney, skewed polls, turnout rate, unskewed polls, voting

Christian Patterson
Columnist

(standupamericaus.org)

The Republican Party is entitled to its own opinions, but it is not entitled to its own facts.

Presidential Debate Preview From A College Debater's Perspective

Comments (1) | 2012 election, debate team, Debates, election, Election 2012, mitt romney, Opinion, President Obama, Presidential Debates, presidential race, university of southern california, USC

Christian Patterson
Contributor

(Creative Commons)

The upcoming Presidential debates will probably fail to answer the tough questions.

Why We Should Stop Turning People Into Victims

Comments (0) | ABC, bystander, discrimination, disempowerment, Harassment, homophobia, injustice, john quinones, mitt romney, Opinion, reality tv, What Would You Do

Christian Patterson
Contributor

(Solofotones, Creative Commons)

Instead of focusing on stories of disempowerment, maybe we should focus on stories about people who overcome.

Why Paul Ryan Is A Liability For Romney In Florida

Comments (0) | 2012 election, aarp, aca, affordable care act, Election 2012, Florida, medicare, Opinion, Paul Ryan, paul ryan vp, President Obama, presidential campaign, presidential race, romney ryan 2012, romney-ryan, seniors, swing states, voting

Christian Patterson
Contributor

(Talk Radio News Service, Creative Commons)

Romney should keep hiding Paul Ryan from the public eye if he wants to win in Florida.

Republican Extremism Imperils Romney's Chance To Win In Virginia

Comments (0) | 2012 election, Bob McDonnell, Democrats, Election 2012, mitt romney, Opinion, Republicans, swing states, trans-vaginal ultrasound bill, Virginia, women's rights

Christian Patterson
Contributor

(Virginia Guard Public Affairs, Creative Commons)

The Virgina GOP's sharp move to the right will drive voters toward Democrats.

Why The Democrats Will Win Ohio And Wisconsin

Comments (0) | 2012 election, auto bailout, chrysler, Election 2012, gm, mitt romney, Ohio, Opinion, President Obama, presidential campaign, presidential race, swing states, Wisconsin

Christian Patterson
Contributor

(Chrysler Group, Creative Commons)

Romney might not want to get his hopes up about putting these states in the "win" column.

Romney's "47 Percent" Video Gives Americans A Real Choice

Comments (3) | 2012 election, 47 percent, barak obama, Budget Cuts, Election 2012, income divide, medicare, mitt romney, Opinion, Paul Ryan, Romney, Romney video, Ryan budget, social inequality, social safety net, Wealthy, welfare

Christian Patterson
Contributor

(Steve Rhodes, Creative Commons)

The content of the video demonstrates what Romney actually believes, giving voters a real choice.

Rank And File Republicans Threaten Goal Of Broadening Republican Base

Comments (0) | 2012 election, broad base, minority votes, mitt romney, Opinion, President Obama, presidential campaign, Republican National Convention, Republicans, rnc, underrepresentation

Christian Patterson
Contributor

(Victoria Pickering, Creative Commons)

At the RNC Tuesday, some Republicans sent strong signals that they will turn away minority and female voters.

Reaction To Todd Akin's "Legitimate Rape" Comment Sign Of Division

Comments (0) | abortion, Akin rape comments, legitimate rape, Opinion, rape, Todd Akin, women's issues, women's rights

Christian Patterson
Contributor

(DonkeyHotey, Creative Commons)

The reaction to his comment highlights the division that currently defines U.S. politics.

Focus On Romney's Tax Returns Justified By Central Issues Of His Campaign

Comments (2) | 2012 election, mitt romney, Opinion, presidential campaign, romney taxes, romney-ryan, tax rate, tax returns

Christian Patterson
Contributor

(Sunset Parkerpix, Creative Commons)

He's in favor of lessening the tax burden on job creators, so his tax returns are fair game.

Paul Ryan's Voting Record In Opposition To His Belief In Small Government

Comments (0) | 2012 election, h.r.2587, mitt romney, Opinion, Paul Ryan, presidential campaign, presidential race, romney ryan 2012, romney-ryan, Washington DC

Christian Patterson
Contributor

(Gage Skidmore, Creative Commons)

Ryan purports to believe in small government, but his voting record indicates otherwise.

With New Voter ID Laws, More Than Just Americans' Rights At Risk

Comments (2) | 2012 election, early voting, election, minority voters, Opinion, voter id laws, voting restrictions

Christian Patterson
Contributor

(Vox Efx, Creative Commons)

The laws could not only disenfranchise countless in the U.S., but they also risk the U.S.'s credibility in spreading democracy abroad.

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