Is Hillary Clinton hitting below the belt in her attacks against Barack Obama. Clinton's campaign, clearly upset by Obama's brochures attacking her failed healthcare policies during her husband's administration, and her husband's NAFTA policy, is hitting back. Her campaign allegedly sent a picture of Obama in an Somali "dress" (robes and headdress) that he wore during a tour of Kenya and Somali ... his grandfather is from Kenya near the Somali border and converted to Christianity and then later Islam. Obama went there as a U.S. Senator a few years back to help promote residents there taking HIV tests to promote the fight against AIDS.
But, in the wake of controversial Imam Louis Farrakhan, of the Nation of Islam, endorsing Obama in a three hour long speech (all Farrakhan knows how to do is give speeches and cause controversy), Clinton's photo of Obama is on the web site of conservative gossip hatemonger Matt Drudge.
Here's the link:
http://gawker.com/360385/obama+in+dress-photo-backfires-on-clinton
AND ... should Ralph Nader quit the presidential campaign. Nader jumped into the campaign -- his 5th race since 1992 ... here;s my column on the topic:
http://swnewsherald.com/online_content/2008/02/021508rh_nader.php
What's your thoughts on either topic?
Call in at 4:30 for the open line at 773-777-1450 and share your views.
Thanks
Ray Hanania
http://www.radiochicagoland.com/
Monday, February 25, 2008
Friday, February 22, 2008
Funn week at new radio show WCEV 1450 AM
Loads of laughs and buttons and technology ... but the first week of radio shows went well ... we had Bill Lipinski on Tuesday helping to analyze the fall of Hillary Clinton and rise of Barack Obama, and Heather Warthen, the editor of the Orland Park Prairie Newspaper talking about the Lane Bryant/Tinley Park killings ... and some listener calls to the new station at WCEV 1450 AM Radio; we had syndicated columnist Suzette Strandring join us to discuss her new book "The Art of Column Writing" and then veteran journalist Monroe Anderson analyzing the latest from the campaign trail with Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.
The best line so far: Dick Cheney is the anti-Christ, but isn't that merely an unjust slander of the anti-Christ?
Check out the archived interviews online at http://www.radiochicagoland.com/, or download the podcasts for all of the interviews segments.
Next week, we feature former City Clerk Jim Laski Jr., discussing his new controversial book "My Fall from Grace" which exposes allegations of corruption against many big name politicians, but mainly Mayor Richard M. Daley whose administration is soaked in corruption charges.
Ray Hanania
The best line so far: Dick Cheney is the anti-Christ, but isn't that merely an unjust slander of the anti-Christ?
Check out the archived interviews online at http://www.radiochicagoland.com/, or download the podcasts for all of the interviews segments.
Next week, we feature former City Clerk Jim Laski Jr., discussing his new controversial book "My Fall from Grace" which exposes allegations of corruption against many big name politicians, but mainly Mayor Richard M. Daley whose administration is soaked in corruption charges.
Ray Hanania
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
People who hate moderation thrive in Northwest Suburbs
This is the response I received to my column in the Arlington Heights Daily Herald arguing for moderation and fairness and an end to the killing and punishing of innocent people. It only shows that there are extremists and haters on both sides:
Letter to the Editor
Arlington Heights Daily Herald
Feb. 19, 2008
=========== =======
Ray Hanania must think he is really clever with his column "Punishing the people in Gaza feeds extremism" (Feb. 4). He decries that Israel is collectively punishing the innocent majority of Gazans for the actions of a few Palestinian terrorists.
He seems to ignore that Hamas was popularly elected by the majority of Palestinians as their government, which now has total control over Gaza. They are sworn to Israel's total destruction. They are the ones firing rockets daily into Israel or supporting the groups that also are involved. And they claimed credit for Monday's suicide bombing in Dimona as a "heroic act". This is not individual militia men acting independently as Hanania claims.
Where under international law is a country obligated to provide services to and trade with an enemy nation? We have had a trade embargo against Cuba for nearly 50 years. I don't seem to recall Castro ever firing rockets at Key Largo or Miami. We have sanctions against North Korea where people are actually starving to death. And we have sanctions against Iran, which ironically have caused gasoline shortages for its 75 million people. Tehran has rolling blackouts every day now leaving people without heat and electricity. Where is Hanania's outrage over all this?
The wall that Hamas blew up is along the border with Egypt, not Israel as Hanania indicates. Remember, Gaza belonged to Egypt before 1967. They could supply Gaza with all its fuel and electricity. But Egyptian President Mubarek does not want that responsibility so that it remains Israel's "problem".
In fact, Israel directly supplies nearly 70 percent of Gaza's electricity from a power plant in Ashkelon. What other country in the world would be expected to supply electricity to a government which aims rockets at the very same power plant and its employees supplying this electricity?
Hanania calls for peace between two states based on compromise, a very nice concept. Israel has openly accepted the creation of a Palestinian state in all of Gaza and about 98 percent of the West Bank, even though it would mean no Jews would be allowed to live there.
The Palestinian National Covenant calls for Palestine to be an Islamic state ruled by Sharia law. That would mean that Hanania's fellow Palestinian Christians would be second class citizens with less rights than Arabs have as Israeli citizens. He never writes about that situation.
Since Hamas is sworn to Israel's destruction and will never negotiate peace with her, the only room for compromise is how fast the Jews are willing to flee Israel. The prospects aren't much better with Mahmoud Abbas' so-called "moderate Fatah." It was his own security forces which were responsible for murdering three Israelis last month. When George Habash, the arch-terrorist leader, died Jan. 26, Abbas declared three days of national mourning. And in November, during the time of Bush's Mideast Summit, Abbas along with all the other top Fatah leaders, declared they would never recognize Israel as a Jewish state.
Steven Peck, Riverwoods
=========== ===================
RAY HANANIA COMMENTS: The Wall was built by Israel, and access in and out of Gaza has been controlled under agreement with and by Israel. It is amazing how extremist supporters of Israel never acknowledge the horrible deeds of their own country. It's always blame someone else. I don't agree. I think there is a growing clarion of voices among Israelis and Palestinians who seek peace and moderation and who are willing to acknowledge their own faults.
Letter to the Editor
Arlington Heights Daily Herald
Feb. 19, 2008
=========== =======
Ray Hanania must think he is really clever with his column "Punishing the people in Gaza feeds extremism" (Feb. 4). He decries that Israel is collectively punishing the innocent majority of Gazans for the actions of a few Palestinian terrorists.
He seems to ignore that Hamas was popularly elected by the majority of Palestinians as their government, which now has total control over Gaza. They are sworn to Israel's total destruction. They are the ones firing rockets daily into Israel or supporting the groups that also are involved. And they claimed credit for Monday's suicide bombing in Dimona as a "heroic act". This is not individual militia men acting independently as Hanania claims.
Where under international law is a country obligated to provide services to and trade with an enemy nation? We have had a trade embargo against Cuba for nearly 50 years. I don't seem to recall Castro ever firing rockets at Key Largo or Miami. We have sanctions against North Korea where people are actually starving to death. And we have sanctions against Iran, which ironically have caused gasoline shortages for its 75 million people. Tehran has rolling blackouts every day now leaving people without heat and electricity. Where is Hanania's outrage over all this?
The wall that Hamas blew up is along the border with Egypt, not Israel as Hanania indicates. Remember, Gaza belonged to Egypt before 1967. They could supply Gaza with all its fuel and electricity. But Egyptian President Mubarek does not want that responsibility so that it remains Israel's "problem".
In fact, Israel directly supplies nearly 70 percent of Gaza's electricity from a power plant in Ashkelon. What other country in the world would be expected to supply electricity to a government which aims rockets at the very same power plant and its employees supplying this electricity?
Hanania calls for peace between two states based on compromise, a very nice concept. Israel has openly accepted the creation of a Palestinian state in all of Gaza and about 98 percent of the West Bank, even though it would mean no Jews would be allowed to live there.
The Palestinian National Covenant calls for Palestine to be an Islamic state ruled by Sharia law. That would mean that Hanania's fellow Palestinian Christians would be second class citizens with less rights than Arabs have as Israeli citizens. He never writes about that situation.
Since Hamas is sworn to Israel's destruction and will never negotiate peace with her, the only room for compromise is how fast the Jews are willing to flee Israel. The prospects aren't much better with Mahmoud Abbas' so-called "moderate Fatah." It was his own security forces which were responsible for murdering three Israelis last month. When George Habash, the arch-terrorist leader, died Jan. 26, Abbas declared three days of national mourning. And in November, during the time of Bush's Mideast Summit, Abbas along with all the other top Fatah leaders, declared they would never recognize Israel as a Jewish state.
Steven Peck, Riverwoods
=========== ===================
RAY HANANIA COMMENTS: The Wall was built by Israel, and access in and out of Gaza has been controlled under agreement with and by Israel. It is amazing how extremist supporters of Israel never acknowledge the horrible deeds of their own country. It's always blame someone else. I don't agree. I think there is a growing clarion of voices among Israelis and Palestinians who seek peace and moderation and who are willing to acknowledge their own faults.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
First show on WCEV now posted/Podcast and online
The first WCEV 1450 AM broadcast of Radio Chicagoland is now available online and in podcast format. Here's the Podcast feed:
http://rayhanania.libsyn.com/rss
Enter the feed into the "subscribe option" for your iPod and we'll update the feed with new shows.
Tuesday show, Feb. 19, 2008 featured former Congressman Bill Lipinski discussing the presidential elections, the fight between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, and the candidacy of Republican front-runner and likely nominee John McCain.
And, an interview with Heather Warthen, editor of the Orland Park Prairie Newspaper on the Feb. 2, 2008 Lane Bryant/Tinley Park muders.
END
http://rayhanania.libsyn.com/rss
Enter the feed into the "subscribe option" for your iPod and we'll update the feed with new shows.
Tuesday show, Feb. 19, 2008 featured former Congressman Bill Lipinski discussing the presidential elections, the fight between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, and the candidacy of Republican front-runner and likely nominee John McCain.
And, an interview with Heather Warthen, editor of the Orland Park Prairie Newspaper on the Feb. 2, 2008 Lane Bryant/Tinley Park muders.
END
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Radio Chicagoland expanding and moving to a new station, WCEV 1450 AM beginning Feb. 19
RadioChicagoland is moving from WJJG AM 1350 Radio to WCEV 1450 AM Radio beginning Feb. 19. The show will now be broadcast every Tuesday and Thursday from 4 until 6 PM. The studio call-in line is 773-777-1450. You can listen to the show online on your computer live at http://www.wcev1450.com/. I enjoyed my brief stint at WJJG. Joe Gentile and his wife Carol are tremendous people, and so are the staff there. Joey. Eric and Matt. What great engineers. George Bliss, John, the other hosts there, I will miss. They are great people and I hope you continue to support them all.
WCEV offers me the opportunity to expand the show to two days each week later in the afternoon and early evening to appeal to the rushhour crowd, from 4 to 6 PM each night. We'll be taking listener calls now during interviews, and spending more time chatting with callers on major news issues. I hope you will join me when we officially launch the first show Tuesday, Feb. 19 at 4 PM on WCEV 1450 AM radio ... call the studio line at 773-777-1450 and share an opinion ... or listen live on the internet using your computer at http://www.wcev1450.com/.
I'll continue to promote the same line of high quality guests, always being fair and inclusive and always respecting the listners. But at the same time, I'll still be "Ray Hanania," controversial, provocative and always seeking to help people better understand our world. You will be able to listen to archived shows at http://www.radiochicagoland.com/.
You can subscribe to the Radio Show feed using RSS at
http://feeds.feedburner.com/RadioChicagoland
-- Ray Hanania Host/Producer
WCEV offers me the opportunity to expand the show to two days each week later in the afternoon and early evening to appeal to the rushhour crowd, from 4 to 6 PM each night. We'll be taking listener calls now during interviews, and spending more time chatting with callers on major news issues. I hope you will join me when we officially launch the first show Tuesday, Feb. 19 at 4 PM on WCEV 1450 AM radio ... call the studio line at 773-777-1450 and share an opinion ... or listen live on the internet using your computer at http://www.wcev1450.com/.
I'll continue to promote the same line of high quality guests, always being fair and inclusive and always respecting the listners. But at the same time, I'll still be "Ray Hanania," controversial, provocative and always seeking to help people better understand our world. You will be able to listen to archived shows at http://www.radiochicagoland.com/.
You can subscribe to the Radio Show feed using RSS at
http://feeds.feedburner.com/RadioChicagoland
-- Ray Hanania Host/Producer
Monday, February 11, 2008
Arlington Heights Daily Herald Newspaper reader off-base; real issue is rejection of moderate voice
Ernest Mahaffey writes a public letter to the editor in today's Arlington Heights Daily Herald Newspaper that he no longer reads my column or the column by Chaya Gil (which appears only once each month ont he first Monday -- down over the years from weekly) because he thinks we are dueling. Clearly, Mahaffey doesn't read my column at all.
I met Chaya Gil a few times years ago. We do not communicate. And I can say that when I write my column I never take Chaya's column topics into considerati9on at all. Although the newspaper put an "Israeli" view across the page from my column, to add the balance all newspapers require when an Arab view is published, we have no connection whatsoever.
In the past, Chaya has attacked my views directly in her column, but I never write about her or her views in my column at all. I believe I am too moderate for Chaya and we are in two different leagues. She is an activist and works for an organization that has a very specific political agenda int he Middle East and I am sure she represents that view loyally. In my case, I do not represent anyone and write fromt he standpoint of being aprofessional journalis.
I am proud of the fact that in 2003, I was awarded the Society of Professioanl Journalists Lisagor Award for column writing for my columns in the Daily Herald. I have since won another Lisagor for my syndicated columns and was named in Nov. 2006 Best Ethnic American Columnist in America by the New American Media for the columns that appeared ins everal newspapers including in the Daily Herald, which never acknowledged the awards.
The Arlington Heights Daily Herald deserves praise for their courage; there are only a very few newspapers in the United States who run columns by Arabs, let alone Palestinians, on a regular basis.
What Mahaffey really dislikes is the idea that a Palestinian is not a hack like most of the Palestinian and Arab and even Muslim activists who write columns in other newspapers like the Chicago Tribune. They advocate viewspoints rather than explore issues objectively, as my column tries to do in a journalistic manner. That is how my column stands apart from the others. I apply one principle to issues. I criticize not only Israeli government policies but also Palestinian government policies, which I have not seen Gil do. Gil criticizes the Arabs and Palestinians, like many Jewish Americans activists, and I think she should write criticizing Israeli policies when they deserve to be criticized.
A true moderate is someone who applies principle to both sides and who does not pull their punches when their side does wrong, as most Palestinian and Arab and Muslim writers do and what Mr. Mahaffey appears to prefer.
The columns are not pitched against each other. We are not given topics to write about. Anyone who really reads my column knows that I write about what is the most important topic in the news at the moment and I strive to define the moderate Arab and Palestinian voice to give readers a perspective they can never find elsewhere -- principled views that weigh both sides fairly.
Chaya Gil and I certainly disagree on everything, but that is not the mandate of my column at all. Any appearance that we have selected the same topic to explore only reflects the fact that some topics weigh heavily more than others at certain times, and it is pure coincidence. Anyone who reads my column knows that frequently, we touch on different topics.
Here is Mahaffey's letter, which I am glad he wrote, even though I think he seems to write from a perspective that reflects not having read my column at all.
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=132477&src=
I think the Arlington Heights Daily Herald deserves much praise again for offering both views and more importantly for offering a view rarely found on a regular basis, even if only once each month. It's not an easy thing to do in this day and age after Sept. 11, 2001, when Americans blame anyone who
Thanks
Ray Hanania
I met Chaya Gil a few times years ago. We do not communicate. And I can say that when I write my column I never take Chaya's column topics into considerati9on at all. Although the newspaper put an "Israeli" view across the page from my column, to add the balance all newspapers require when an Arab view is published, we have no connection whatsoever.
In the past, Chaya has attacked my views directly in her column, but I never write about her or her views in my column at all. I believe I am too moderate for Chaya and we are in two different leagues. She is an activist and works for an organization that has a very specific political agenda int he Middle East and I am sure she represents that view loyally. In my case, I do not represent anyone and write fromt he standpoint of being aprofessional journalis.
I am proud of the fact that in 2003, I was awarded the Society of Professioanl Journalists Lisagor Award for column writing for my columns in the Daily Herald. I have since won another Lisagor for my syndicated columns and was named in Nov. 2006 Best Ethnic American Columnist in America by the New American Media for the columns that appeared ins everal newspapers including in the Daily Herald, which never acknowledged the awards.
The Arlington Heights Daily Herald deserves praise for their courage; there are only a very few newspapers in the United States who run columns by Arabs, let alone Palestinians, on a regular basis.
What Mahaffey really dislikes is the idea that a Palestinian is not a hack like most of the Palestinian and Arab and even Muslim activists who write columns in other newspapers like the Chicago Tribune. They advocate viewspoints rather than explore issues objectively, as my column tries to do in a journalistic manner. That is how my column stands apart from the others. I apply one principle to issues. I criticize not only Israeli government policies but also Palestinian government policies, which I have not seen Gil do. Gil criticizes the Arabs and Palestinians, like many Jewish Americans activists, and I think she should write criticizing Israeli policies when they deserve to be criticized.
A true moderate is someone who applies principle to both sides and who does not pull their punches when their side does wrong, as most Palestinian and Arab and Muslim writers do and what Mr. Mahaffey appears to prefer.
The columns are not pitched against each other. We are not given topics to write about. Anyone who really reads my column knows that I write about what is the most important topic in the news at the moment and I strive to define the moderate Arab and Palestinian voice to give readers a perspective they can never find elsewhere -- principled views that weigh both sides fairly.
Chaya Gil and I certainly disagree on everything, but that is not the mandate of my column at all. Any appearance that we have selected the same topic to explore only reflects the fact that some topics weigh heavily more than others at certain times, and it is pure coincidence. Anyone who reads my column knows that frequently, we touch on different topics.
Here is Mahaffey's letter, which I am glad he wrote, even though I think he seems to write from a perspective that reflects not having read my column at all.
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=132477&src=
I think the Arlington Heights Daily Herald deserves much praise again for offering both views and more importantly for offering a view rarely found on a regular basis, even if only once each month. It's not an easy thing to do in this day and age after Sept. 11, 2001, when Americans blame anyone who
Thanks
Ray Hanania
Monday, February 4, 2008
Last minute press releases: Ron Paul on fundraising
RON PAUL'S ILLINOIS FUND-RAISING NUMBERS
REVEAL WIDESPREAD SUPPORT
Campaign Contributions Exceed Those of Rivals in Much of State
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Lisa Wogan
February 4, 2008 (815) 355-4159
CHICAGO ― Recently released 2007 presidential campaign fund-raising records from the Federal Elections Commission reveal that in at least nine large Illinois ZIP code regions, Rep. Ron Paul outpaced Republican rivals Senator John McCain and former Governor Mitt Romney, often times by a substantial margin. Though statewide fund-raising totals for both McCain ($1,090,964) and Romney ($1,285,356) exceeded Paul's ($492,407), the Texas congressman exhibited stronger support in much of the state's rural west and south as well as key suburban centers.
(FEC records show Former Governor Mike Huckabee raised $144,515 in Illinois in 2007.)
Following are the Illinois ZIP code regions from which Rep. Paul has generated the most campaign contributions of all Republican candidates:
- 604XX ZIP code region (including the towns of Frankfort, New Lenox, Oak Lawn, Tinley Park, Orland Park, Lockport, Crete, Mokena, Joliet and others)
Paul - $38,375
Romney -$24,863
McCain - $17,822
- 617XX ZIP code region (Bloomington/Normal area)
Paul - $16,260
McCain - $12,247
Romney - $2,699
- 628XX ZIP code region (Centralia, Mt. Vernon)
Paul - $12,070
Romeny - $505
McCain - $250
- 624XX ZIP code region (Effingham, Vandalia)
Paul - $6,740
McCain - $766
Romney - $135
Additional ZIP code regions in which Rep. Paul has garnered the most fund-raising support of all Republican candidates are 613XX (LaSalle, Peru, Ottawa) and the Western edge of the state, ZIP code regions 610XX, 612XX, 614XX and 623XX (including Macomb, Moline, Rock Island, Quincy, Belvidere, Rock Falls, Winnebago and others).
Rep. Ron Paul reported record-breaking campaign fund-raising in Q4 2007 – nearly $20 million – half of it collected in two separate, one-day drives. The average individual donation during the 24-hour drives was approximately $100. Federal Election Commission records can be found here: http://www.fec.gov/DisclosureSearch/mapApp.do?drillLevel=state&stateName=IL&cand_id=P80000748
FOR MORE INFORMATION, contact Lisa Wogan, Illinois Communications Coordinator, (815) 355-4159 or lisa@ronpaul2008.com.
###
REVEAL WIDESPREAD SUPPORT
Campaign Contributions Exceed Those of Rivals in Much of State
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Lisa Wogan
February 4, 2008 (815) 355-4159
CHICAGO ― Recently released 2007 presidential campaign fund-raising records from the Federal Elections Commission reveal that in at least nine large Illinois ZIP code regions, Rep. Ron Paul outpaced Republican rivals Senator John McCain and former Governor Mitt Romney, often times by a substantial margin. Though statewide fund-raising totals for both McCain ($1,090,964) and Romney ($1,285,356) exceeded Paul's ($492,407), the Texas congressman exhibited stronger support in much of the state's rural west and south as well as key suburban centers.
(FEC records show Former Governor Mike Huckabee raised $144,515 in Illinois in 2007.)
Following are the Illinois ZIP code regions from which Rep. Paul has generated the most campaign contributions of all Republican candidates:
- 604XX ZIP code region (including the towns of Frankfort, New Lenox, Oak Lawn, Tinley Park, Orland Park, Lockport, Crete, Mokena, Joliet and others)
Paul - $38,375
Romney -$24,863
McCain - $17,822
- 617XX ZIP code region (Bloomington/Normal area)
Paul - $16,260
McCain - $12,247
Romney - $2,699
- 628XX ZIP code region (Centralia, Mt. Vernon)
Paul - $12,070
Romeny - $505
McCain - $250
- 624XX ZIP code region (Effingham, Vandalia)
Paul - $6,740
McCain - $766
Romney - $135
Additional ZIP code regions in which Rep. Paul has garnered the most fund-raising support of all Republican candidates are 613XX (LaSalle, Peru, Ottawa) and the Western edge of the state, ZIP code regions 610XX, 612XX, 614XX and 623XX (including Macomb, Moline, Rock Island, Quincy, Belvidere, Rock Falls, Winnebago and others).
Rep. Ron Paul reported record-breaking campaign fund-raising in Q4 2007 – nearly $20 million – half of it collected in two separate, one-day drives. The average individual donation during the 24-hour drives was approximately $100. Federal Election Commission records can be found here: http://www.fec.gov/DisclosureSearch/mapApp.do?drillLevel=state&stateName=IL&cand_id=P80000748
FOR MORE INFORMATION, contact Lisa Wogan, Illinois Communications Coordinator, (815) 355-4159 or lisa@ronpaul2008.com.
###
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Subscribe to Ray's
Join Ray Hanania on the LinkedIN network today
Follow Ray Hanania's Suburban Chicago Blog
