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Amnesty International calls Afghan refugee situation 'hidden but horrific' crisis
Half a million Afghans displaced by war and struggling to survive in makeshift shelters have been let down by their government and international donors "that look the other way", according to a report released by Amnesty International at a February 24 Newsmaker. T. Kumar, director for international advocacy for Amnesty International USA, said the Afghan government estimates that more than 40 people have frozen to deaths in camps across the country. He said at least 28 of these were children. The report, "Fleeing War, Finding Misery: The Plight of the Internally Displaced in Afghanistan", said…
Type: News
ACLU and Heritage Foundation speakers clash over voter identification laws
Laura Murphy of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Hans von Spakovsky of the Heritage Foundation clashed repeatedly over the effects of state laws that require voters to show government-issued photo identification at a Feb. 23 National Press Club Newsmakers news conference. The National Conference of State Legislatures reports that 15 states now require voters to show photo IDs before voting. In 2012, 31 states have legislation pending that would add or strengthen voter-ID laws, according to the state legislatures conference. Spakovsky opened by saying that the key principle of any…
Type: News
Eleanor Herman debuts her biography of 'King Peggy' at the National Press Club
The National Press Club experienced a unique treat on Feb. 22nd, with the world debut of best-selling author, Eleanor Herman's King Peggy at a NPC Book Rap and a fascinating talk given by the King, herself. Peggielene Bartels, the Ghanian Embassy secretary who was enstooled in 2008 as "King Peggy" of Otuam, Ghana, was impressively drummed into the ballroom accompanied by 10 African kings. Herman told the audience how she fortuitously met Bartels at a Ghanian Embassy event. Herman noticed that Bartels was the only person not eating or drinking and started up a conversation with "the most…
Type: News
Danica Patrick tells NPC many can win Daytona 500, promises 'her best' in debut
Danica Patrick, America’s auto racing sweetheart, warned a National Press Club luncheon audience Feb. 21 not to “set expectations too high” as she prepares for her first appearance in the Daytona 500 stock car race Feb. 26 and debut in NASCAR’s top-level Sprint Cup series. Patrick, the 5 ft., 2 in., 100 lb., driver, who parlayed her record as the most successful woman in the open-wheel IndyCar circuit into fame as a model and corporate spokeswoman, made clear that she is out to win. Focusing on NASCAR fulltime this year after splitting time between open-wheel and stock cars in 2011, Patrick,…
Type: News
Thurston discusses 'How to be Black' at NPC Book Rap
Baratunde Thurston of Jack and Jill Politics and The Onion, discussed his satrical book, "How to be Black," at a National Press Club Book Rap, Feb. 13. Before a very large multi-racial crowd, Thurston spoke about his 30-plus years of being black. He talked about his family background in a bad neighborhood in the District of Columbia. There was much laughter as he talked about "How to be the Black friend," "How to speak for all Black people," and "How to celebrate Black History Month." However, not all of Thurston's youth was happy. His father was a murder victim. Thursdton once set-up a panel…
Type: News
Lauder claims perception of lack of U.S. support for Israel at NPC Newsmaker event
In his remarks at a National Press Club Newsmaker newsconference Feb.13, Ambassador Ron Lauder, president of the World Jewish Congress, compared the United States' relationship with Israel to a big brother watching over a little brother on a rough playground. In Lauder’s scenario, the big brother goes inside to get a glass of water and whispers to the neighborhood bullies: “Don’t beat him up too much while I’m gone.” While Lauder praised U.S. military assistance to Israel and said he believes President Barack Obama personally supports close ties with Jerusalem, he told the NPC audience that…
Type: News
Ambassador of Nepal thanks Press Club for embassy night event
Editors Note: The National Press Club held an Embassy Night at the Embassy of Nepal on Feb. 9. Two stories have appeared on line regarding the event and can be found at http://www.ekantipur.com/np/2068/10/29/full-story/342742.html (published in Nepal) and http://www.nepalhorizons.com/news/international-news/embassy_dc/ (published in DC). Additionally, Shankar Prasad Sharma, ambassador of Nepal, sent the National Press Club the following open letter: I hope all of you are in good health and fit for the week ahead. I want to thank you for accepting my invitation and being present on Feb. 9. I…
Type: News
CSIS scholars say U.S. foreign policy shifting to Asia
Three Scholars from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) agreed at a Feb. 13 National Press Club Newsmaker news conference that U.S. major foreign-policy concerns are now in Asia and focused on India and China rather than the Middle East. "Defense policy has shifted to Asia with our existing alliances of strategic value," said Ernest Bower, senior advisor and director of the CSIS Southeast Asia Program and Pacific Partners initiative. The event occurred as Chinese Vice President XI Jinping, expected to succeed President Hu Jintao, arrived in Washington on an official…
Type: News
San Diego ballot could ignite shift in public employee pension plans
If San Diego voters approve a June ballot initiative to end guaranteed pension benefits for newly-hired city employees and offer a 401(k) type retirement plan instead, other cities may soon begin adopting similar approaches, Mayor Jerry Sanders predicted Feb. 13 during a National Press Club newsmaker conference. The initiative, expected to draw strong labor union opposition, is being managed as a citizen-run project and funded through private contributions. Defined benefit pension systems, Sanders said, “are a relic of the past” that cannot be fixed with the unfunded liability that comes with…
Type: News
State AGs Coakley, Cuccinelli lay out opposing cases in Supreme Court health warmup
In a vigorous NPC Newsmaker debate Thursday on the Affordable Health Care Act’s constitutionality, Republican Virginia Attorney General Kenneth Cuccinelli said the health bill’s mandate “crushes liberty.” Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley, a Democrat, countered that “We don’t leave people at the ER door unless we change the slogan to ‘Live Free and Die.’” The debate was a preamble to the Supreme Court’s upcoming March consideration of the Affordable Health Care Act case. Coakley, who spoke first, said the Massachusetts health law spearheaded by then Gov. Mitt Romney is a “…
Type: News