Iowa Republican State Senator Tries to Apologize to College Students He Told to 'Go Home'

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Tuesday June 21, 2011 · 11:22 AM PDT

2011/06/21 · 11:22

A few weeks ago, Republican Iowa State Sen. Shawn Hamerlinck told five Iowa university student government representatives to "go home" and to not worry about the work the senate is doing in the state house.

Here's the video in case you need a reminder:

He rightfully faced a steady barrage of flak for that, with Campus Progress taking the lead on a petition effort that asked Hamerlinck to apologize for his condescending remarks.

For a week, Hamerlinck was silent. But last Thursday he was moved to write an op-ed piece that posed as an apology.

bergerc84

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Monday June 13, 2011 · 3:44 PM PDT

2011/06/13 · 15:44

Crossposted from Future Majority.

In my work with college students, one of the things I have observed is that anytime students hear the word "politics," they tend to exclusively link it with our national political discourse. With our national political dialogue and process failing to solve the large problems we face, we shouldn't be surprised that many students consequently develop a negative attitude toward politics and believe the political world is unproductive and difficult to access and navigate. Basically, trying to get through the large mess isn't worth the effort.

These observations have led me to question a few things.

bergerc84

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Sunday March 07, 2010 · 12:24 PM PST

2010/03/07 · 12:24

Crossposted at Politics of the Common Good

As a journalist, isn't one supposed to report the facts, not what they think the facts mean?

The other day in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Salena Zito penned a piece headlined "Young Voters Increasingly Identify with Conservative Politics." Not surprisingly (especially considering the paper's conservative editorial page), that conclusion is flawed.

bergerc84

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Saturday January 16, 2010 · 10:16 AM PST

2010/01/16 · 10:16

Crossposted at Politics for the Common Good.

I just wanted to pass on a few good reads about the Haiti situation -- not so much the news, but some commentary on how elites, such as the media and organizational leadership (the UN), model institutional racism and classism. Please follow below the fold.

bergerc84

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Friday July 03, 2009 · 1:43 PM PDT

2009/07/03 · 13:43

Crossposted at Politics of the Common Good.

Last week Sarah at Future Majority wrote about the lasting negative impacts recessions can have on society, decimating a generation's collective trust placed in important financial institutions and processes.

There's another side to this recession coin, though. As cliche as it may be, one large opportunity we as Americans have is to re-examine what really matters to us. I'm not invoking that mushy stuff about "living like you're dying," or seizing the day, living as if every day is your last. Unfortunately deaths occur every day that reinforce the fragility of life. Recessions force us to get back to basics. We have to clean out our closets, separating the SWAG of life from the non-negotiables.

bergerc84

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Sunday November 09, 2008 · 11:27 AM PST

2008/11/09 · 11:27

Crossposted from Politics of the Common Good.

It would not be shocking to know that I'm thrilled that Obama won; my friends know me as a big Democrat (figuratively, but also literally, as I'm a 6'6" 290 lb. guy), and my very liberal politics bleeds into my writing. But what might shock some of my friends is the reason I'm happy he won. It's not just that Obama is the first Democrat to win the presidency since my political awakening; it's not just that he's the first black president (sorry Bill); and it's not just that he is a Millennial-friendly president. For me, the excitement is rooted in his views on the relationship between Americans and their government.

bergerc84

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Tuesday July 15, 2008 · 3:23 PM PDT

2008/07/15 · 15:23

On pushback, Lee Fang posted a transcript of an interesting interview taking place on CNN. The guest was Ben Ferguson, a 27 year old right-winger. Fang describes him as "the media's go-to guy for all matters relating to young people and conservative politics." Of course, Fang also points out Ben's credentials: "He abhors MTV and popular youth culture, is a proud virgin, and routinely mocks progressive causes through his nationally syndicated talk-show and newspaper column." Let's take a look.

bergerc84

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Sunday July 13, 2008 · 2:40 PM PDT

2008/07/13 · 14:40

Crossposted at Politics of the Common Good.

In his inaugural address, President John F. Kennedy called on Americans to serve. Sadly, those words -- "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country" -- have become cliche today. We hear them, but most of us drive right by that message of sacrifice without really pondering what it means.

bergerc84

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Sunday June 22, 2008 · 12:15 PM PDT

2008/06/22 · 12:15

If you're like me, you're sitting at your computer right now, reading various news about the campaign. You root from the sidelines, content with recommending the occasional diary here or logging into the Obama website.

At least you're doing something, right?

bergerc84

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Friday May 23, 2008 · 10:01 PM PDT

2008/05/23 · 22:01

An interesting nugget of information came forth today, thanks to Al Giordano at The Field. I was actually quite surprised this has not been diaried here at all today.

There are reports from a North Carolina blog that Edwards' campaign, having donated his former office space to a small business, has asked for it back -- immediately:

This morning, we have been officially informed that Edwards campaign needs the offices back and we must move as of today.

bergerc84

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Wednesday January 30, 2008 · 8:43 PM PST

2008/01/30 · 20:43

To be truthful, my conversion was a bit forced. I have been a steadfast Edwards supporter since early January 2003 when he first declared his candidacy for the presidency in the 2004 election. I was inspired by his passion and his commitment to bringing the "two Americas" together in 2004, and more recently, I was energized by his insistence on giving voice to the voiceless, whether they be trapped in poverty, suffering from government inaction after Hurricane Katrina, or ignored by our country even after fighting for it.

bergerc84

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Thursday June 22, 2006 · 11:53 PM PDT

2006/06/22 · 23:53

... behind Edwards.

I apologize for yet another diary about John Edwards, but since yesterday afternoon, I've been unable to stop thinking about the guy. For a year or so, I actually wondered which Democrat I would be supporting in 2008. A few seemed intriguing - Feingold is extremely principled, Warner seemed to have a strong organization, and even now, Gore seems to be himself again, staying true to his core beliefs. But after today, I realized why I was for Edwards in 2004, and why it's going to be very hard to sway my allegiance, come 2008. He's the one person remotely interested in the presidency thus far, for me, that maintains an authenticity, a credibility, and a level of audacity that is needed to move America out of its quagmire. Read More

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