Your Fight The Right-Wing Wackos for July 22, 2008

** Human Rights Campaign **
It's time to remove the ban on gay, lesbian and bisexual troops that allow them to serve openly in the military. A measure to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell", called The Military Readiness Enhancement Act, has been re-introduced in the US House of Representatives and has received critical support from your representative.

Tell Congress: Repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"
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** Send Karl Rove to Jail **
Karl Rove has made a career out of distorting facts to destroy political rivals. In the case of former Alabama Governor Don Siegelman, he went even further: he deliberately put a political opponent in prison based on trumped up charges. The GOP couldn’t beat the most successful Democratic politician in recent Alabama history at the ballot box. So instead, at Karl Rove’s direction, the Bush Justice Department used U.S. attorneys to cook up a false criminal case against Siegelman in order to hand the Governor’s Mansion over to the Republican Party.

It’s no surprise that Karl Rove puts politics before due process, democracy and civil rights. That’s why even when faced with a subpoena from Congress, Rove has refused to testify. Unlike Don Siegelman, Karl Rove is breaking the law.

Rove believes that he is not only above the law, but that he controls it. He’s wrong.

Sign our petition. Send Karl Rove to jail.
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** Food and Water Watch **
Whether it's tomatoes, jalapenos, or cilantro, we are in the midst of the largest Salmonella outbreak in the last decade, and the FDA still can't find the source of contamination. This is due at least in part to the inadequate systems FDA has in place for dealing with these sorts of large scale food safety problems.

FDA is currently taking comments on their Food Protection Plan, and we have some very specific suggestions for them. These suggestions include having more FDA inspectors on the ground, having control over where imported food comes from, and having mandatory recall authority.

Submit your comments and demand the FDA to fix their broken system.
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** National Audubon Society **
Each spring, millions of birds travel thousands of miles from Latin America and the Caribbean to their breeding grounds as far north as the Arctic. Months later, as the temperature drops and winter sets in, these migrants make the long trip back to warmer southern climates. These neotropical migrants face increasing threats—habitat loss, invasive species, disease, and a changing climate. Since its inception in 2002, the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act has provided millions of dollars for vital conservation efforts, including monitoring efforts, habitat restoration, education, and other projects in the United States, Canada, Latin America, and the Caribbean. But many essential conservation projects remain unfunded.

Please urge your U.S. Representative to cosponsor HR 5756, which will reauthorize this vital program with increased funding.
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** Center for American Progress **
Customs and Border Patrol at the Department of Homeland Security was just given the green light to search and seize laptops at the border, without probable cause, by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. They can deny entry to anyone who refuses to give up their laptops and password. This is an affront to our progressive values of privacy and protection from unwarranted search and seizure.

Join us in demanding that Customs and Border Protection conduct and publish a Privacy Impact Assessment on this policy. People have a right to privacy.