"The Universal Declaration of Human Rights" You Tube... Updates Regarding the Obama Administration... A Few Things to Think About...

["The Universal Declaration of Human Rights"; as Submitted to You Tube on 10/7/08 by HumanRightsActionCtr; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTlrSYbCbHE]

For more on:

"President Barack Obama is signing into law an equal-pay bill that is popular with labor and women's groups and is expected to make it easier for workers to sue for decades-old discrimination..."

"This bill will be a big step forward not just for women, but for families," the White House said in a statement announcing the bill signing. "It is not only a measure of fairness, but can be the difference for families struggling to make ends meet during these difficult times..." ["Obama set to sign equal-pay bill"; Philip Elliott, Associated Press (AP); 1/29/09]

Go to: http://www.rr.com/home/home/article/9000/6704217/Obama_set_to_sign_equal-pay_bill

---------------------------------------------------------

For More On:

"... Without a single Republican vote, President Obama won House approval on Wednesday for an $819 billion economic recovery plan as Congressional Democrats sought to temper their own differences over the enormous package of tax cuts and spending..."

"While the House and Senate measures are similar, they are most likely to differ in ways that could snarl negotiations between Democrats from the two chambers, and delay getting a measure to the president. In particular, House and Senate Democrats are split over how to divide $87 billion in relief to the states for Medicaid, with senators favoring a formula more beneficial to less-populous states..." [For a Print Version of this Article, see "House Passes Stimulus Plan Despite G.O.P. Opposition" in the "New York Times" (NYT), 1/29/09; P. A1]

Otherwise Check Out the Article at: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/29/us/politics/29obama.html?_r=2&partner=msnbcpolitics&emc=rss

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

For More On (This is an area where I have some questions / concerns; bold emphasis mine...):

"President Obama plans to name Joshua DuBois, a 26-year-old Pentecostal pastor and political strategist who handled religious outreach for the Obama campaign, to direct a revamped office of faith-based initiatives, according to religious leaders who have been informed about the choice.

The office, created by President George W. Bush by executive order at the start of his first term, is likely to have an even broader mandate in the Obama White House, said the religious leaders, who requested anonymity because the appointment has yet to be announced...

Renamed the Council for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, the office will not merely oversee the distribution of grants to religious and community groups, but will also look for other ways to involve those groups in working on pressing social problems..."

"...The most contentious issue that Mr. DuBois will have to help resolve is whether Mr. Obama should rescind a Bush administration legal memorandum that allows religious groups that receive government money to hire only those who share their faith.

Mr. Obama said in a campaign speech last June, “If you get a federal grant, you can’t use that grant money to proselytize to the people you help and you can’t discriminate against them — or against the people you hire — on the basis of their religion.”

Mr. DuBois led an effort during the transition to consult with dozens of religious and charity groups about the work of the faith-based office, including what to do about the hiring question, and whether the faith-based centers that Mr. Bush inserted into 12 federal agencies should all be preserved" [For a Print Version of "Leaders Say Obama Has Tapped Pastor for Outreach Office", See Laurie Goodstein's article in the NYT, 1/29/09", P. A16]

Otherwise check out the Article at: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/29/us/politics/29faith.html?partner=msnbcpolitics&emc=rss

[You can copy and paste these links into your browser and they will be made available in the sidebar>>>]

Peace, Love, Equality and Humane Justice,

NS