This Letter Goes To Leahy…

Wednesday, May, 27, 2009 by Mel Phillips.

Remember that letter sent to Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) from minority broadcasters and leaders opposing the Performance Rights Act?  Guess who just got a similar letter?  The Senate version of Conyers - Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) who sponsors the same act in the Senate.  Like the House letter, minority broadcasters and leaders “respectfully urge the Senate Judiciary Committee to ensure proper due process by conducting a thoughtful public hearing on the likely consequences this legislation would have on minority and female radio broadcast ownership and service to minority communities before any official committee action is taken on this legislation.” …

The letter says any hearing must also explore the bill’s impact on “fundamental civil rights,” noting that the Supreme Court is considering voting-rights cases this term, including a challenge to the constitutionality of the Voting Rights Act.  “Should the court strike down Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, the Justice Department’s main enforcement tool against discriminatory changes affecting elections,  minority communities will be ignored by elected officials, advances in civil rights progress will be rolled back and future gains will be uncertain at best.” …

Those fears voiced by minority broadcasters and leaders is more than a bit of a stretch.  That could never happen in an Obama administration and they know that.  They just want a hearing.  How bad will Conyers look if Leahy grants the minority coalition a hearing while the Rep. snubbed them after they requested the same thing???      

10 Timeline Memories:

1. 1668] New England justice: Three colonists are expelled from Massachusetts for being Baptists. Lighten up people!!!
2. 1932] Debuted on this date: Massachusetts Governor Joseph Ely signs a bill making Sunday baseball possible at Fenway Park…1933] The Walt Disney Company releases the cartoon “The Three Little Pigs” which featured “Who’s Afraid Of The Big Bad Wolf“…1937] The Golden Gate Bridge connecting San Francisco and Marin County opens to “pedestrians only”. On May 28th it opens to traffic…
3. 1941] Sink The Bismarck: The British naval and air forces do! 2,300 are killed on the German battleship…
4. 1957] Top 40 eh?: CHUM (AM) becomes Canada’s first top 40 station…
5. 1960] Catch this!: The Baltimore Orioles debut a giant catcher’s mitt, the size of Rhode Island, to help Clint Courtney catch Hoyt Wilhelm’s knuckleball…
6. 1968] Papa Bear hangs up his paws: George Halas retires after 48 years as coach of the Chicago Bears…
7. 1969] Disney discovers Florida: Construction of Walt Disney World begins in Orlando. The theme park will open in 1971…
8. 1995] Superman upended: Christopher Reeve is paralyzed when thrown from his horse during a jumping competition in Charlottesville (VA)…
9. 1997] The Supes Rule: The Supreme Court rules that Paula Jones can pursue her sexual harassment lawsuit against President Bill Clinton while he is in office…
10. 1998] Guilty as charged: The government’s star witness in the Oklahoma City bombing case, Michael Fortier is sentenced to 12 years in prison for not apologizing for not warning anyone about the deadly plot.  Fortier was released in January, 2006 and is now in the Witness Protection Program.…

Music Memories:

• 1957] Released on this date: “That’ll Be The Day” - The Crickets…1962] “The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan” LP. From the LP: “Blowin’ In The Wind“…

“Happy Birthday…happy birthday”: Todd Hundley (40), Todd Bridges (44), Peri Gilpin (48), Cynthia McFadden (53), Bruce Weitz (66), Cilla Black (66), Louis Gossett Jr. (73), Lee Meriwether (74), Ramsey Lewis (74), Sumner Redstone (86) and Henry Kissinger (86)…

Timeline Countdown: 25 days until Father’s Day, 25 days until summer and 38 days until July 4th…

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