House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy’s family benefited from U.S. program for minorities based on disputed ancestry

[barbos]

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/mccarthy-threatens-companies-cooperate-jan-6-probe-n1278209

Kevin McCarthy is one of the biggest assholes and threats to democracy who currently holds a powerful position in US government.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy warned "a Republican majority will not forget" telecommunications companies that turn over phone records to the congressional committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol attack. More than 30 companies including Apple, AT&T and Verizon, received a request for phone records from congressional investigators Monday.

"If these companies comply with the Democrat [sic] order to turn over private information, they are in violation of federal law and subject to losing their ability to operate in the United States,” the California Republican said in a statement issued last night. “If companies still choose to violate federal law, a Republican majority will not forget and will stand with Americans to hold them fully accountable under the law."

McCarthy didn't specify which "law" he believes telecommunication companies will be violating if they cooperate with the investigation, suggesting his intimidation tactics were rooted in hollow posturing.

Part of what makes this so extraordinary is the nature of the message. In the spring, when Republicans went after companies that supported voting rights, the campaign was largely about message discipline: GOP officials expected corporate America to toe the party line.

McCarthy's new message is worse because he's actively trying to undermine an ongoing federal investigation. The bipartisan select committee is closely examining an insurrectionist attack on the United States Capitol — a probe the House minority leader said he supported before changing his mind for partisan reasons — and investigators need the assistance of telecommunications companies to learn the whole truth.


It's against this backdrop that the House's top Republican — a man who might very well become House Speaker after the 2022 midterm elections — effectively told these companies, "Keep the whole truth hidden or we'll punish you later."

Kevin is a dangerous man. Will he be able to manipulate the Republican base as well as Trump?

Witness intimidation, is not there a law for that?

 

[Trausti]

When you create a racial spoils system, you invite corruption.

It is cute you think these assholes need an invitation for corruption.

It’s cute you don’t think a racial spoils system leads to corruption.

 

[Jarhyn]

When you create a racial spoils system, you invite corruption.

It is cute you think these assholes need an invitation for corruption.

It’s cute you don’t think a racial spoils system leads to corruption.

It's cute that you think it didn't already do that, in creating the current economic landscape.

Are we to just put it up to shrugging and saying "I got mine" when new contracts are being considered today?

Maybe some group decides to turn casino money into building-something money. Saying "they must be dealt in" is a great way to move some tribal structures away from reliance on casinos. Maybe it creates openings for jobs and paths to prosperity for some of those folks camped out in tent cities here in Minneapolis.

Because the fact is, when people don't have access to community wealth structures, especially community wealth structures that require active participation, things just get shitty for everyone.

The company I work for is heavily Chinese oriented. When it was established, it was largely by a Chinese investor who had a Chinese researcher friend. They knew some folks who were their first go-to for hires. Then when internships and jobs came up and people knew folks, those were the ones who got the jobs.

Through no act of overt racism, the company hires plurality Chinese, especially in more professional positions.

It's really good for every person I know who has managed to quit the company and go elsewhere.

The fact is, allowing systems like this, in a world where other systems cannot be expected to provide equally lest the Trausti's of the world cry racism there, may help in ways that expecting equal opportunity in employment cannot. It doesn't require any company to hire any first peoples. It does, however, make first peoples have more opportunities to see meaningful wealth come as a result of doing useful work.

 

[laughing dog]

When you create a racial spoils system, you invite corruption.

It is cute you think these assholes need an invitation for corruption.

It’s cute you don’t think a racial spoils system leads to corruption.

Those assholes did not have to choose to engage in corruption. Apparently most contractors did not. So why are you blowing smoke to excuse corruption by Republicans?

 

[Elixir]

Racist policies? How much did Raytheon get last year? White owned military contractors have not hit on hard times because of these "racist" policies. The issue in the OP is fraud. I've got to imagine this is an inside joke at that base/property/whateva. The Native American contractor with no Native Americans.

Honestly, I would as soon see as well that currently wildly successful companies, even if they were Native American in some way, be excluded as well.

The point of "affirmative action" here is to make more minority-backed businesses competitive in the space. That only happens when you pick ones that are solid but not already "winners".

Not to mention excluding outright fraud.

The penalty (lack thereof) system is faulty. It's not like being black, native American, female or minority of any kind - even Alaskan native - gets your bid automatically accepted. Unless, that is, you have connections and can land a rare no-bid small business set-aside. GSA can't do much to corrupt an actual bidding process, BUT ... they can allow a business to avoid it altogether, especially if they are politically connected. They can also turn a blind eye to the set-aside rules, which self-declared multi-billion dollar "small businesses" can ignore at little or no risk of repercussions. All they have to do is retract their bid if they're called out... but they usually aren't because the people calling them out would be ACTUAL small businesses. It's scary being a fledgling SB, going up against a multi-billion dollar contractor with board members who are Generals, deputy Cabinet Secretaries and the like. (From actual real life experience.)

 

[Jarhyn]

I expect so.

I've had a moment (well, many) in my life where I'm staring down someone who probably has in their mind that they are "above" me. Having to do that indirectly in abstract without even the strength of my will to overpower them with in the moment... That just seems a losing proposal.

I'm sorry you have had to deal with that.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

It’s cute you don’t think a racial spoils system leads to corruption.

Those assholes did not have to choose to engage in corruption. Apparently most contractors did not. So why are you blowing smoke to excuse corruption by Republicans?

Because if a right-winger commits corruption, that too is pwn'ing a lib. And that is all that matters.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/mccarthy-threatens-companies-cooperate-jan-6-probe-n1278209

Kevin McCarthy is one of the biggest assholes and threats to democracy who currently holds a powerful position in US government.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy warned "a Republican majority will not forget" telecommunications companies that turn over phone records to the congressional committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol attack. More than 30 companies including Apple, AT&T and Verizon, received a request for phone records from congressional investigators Monday.

"If these companies comply with the Democrat [sic] order to turn over private information, they are in violation of federal law and subject to losing their ability to operate in the United States,” the California Republican said in a statement issued last night. “If companies still choose to violate federal law, a Republican majority will not forget and will stand with Americans to hold them fully accountable under the law."

McCarthy didn't specify which "law" he believes telecommunication companies will be violating if they cooperate with the investigation, suggesting his intimidation tactics were rooted in hollow posturing.

Part of what makes this so extraordinary is the nature of the message. In the spring, when Republicans went after companies that supported voting rights, the campaign was largely about message discipline: GOP officials expected corporate America to toe the party line.

McCarthy's new message is worse because he's actively trying to undermine an ongoing federal investigation. The bipartisan select committee is closely examining an insurrectionist attack on the United States Capitol — a probe the House minority leader said he supported before changing his mind for partisan reasons — and investigators need the assistance of telecommunications companies to learn the whole truth.


It's against this backdrop that the House's top Republican — a man who might very well become House Speaker after the 2022 midterm elections — effectively told these companies, "Keep the whole truth hidden or we'll punish you later."

Kevin is a dangerous man. Will he be able to manipulate the Republican base as well as Trump?

Witness intimidation, is not there a law for that?

Sure, hard as hell to prove. Our Government has lasted this long, in large part due to an acceptance of certain protocols and traditions. The GOP has shit on most of them.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

What you're supporting here in this thread is racism.

Like many people through the centuries, you've got your reasons. Racism is fine with you. But that's what you're doing.
Supporting racism.
Tom

Funny how the unwitting enablers of racism attack affirmative action.

There are two groups that attack affirmative action.

One is the racists.

However, there are also those of us who do not believe that the answer to discrimination is more discrimination. You are unfairly lumping us with the racists.

 

[TomC]

What you're supporting here in this thread is racism.

Like many people through the centuries, you've got your reasons. Racism is fine with you. But that's what you're doing.
Supporting racism.
Tom

Funny how the unwitting enablers of racism attack affirmative action.

There are two groups that attack affirmative action.

One is the racists.

However, there are also those of us who do not believe that the answer to discrimination is more discrimination. You are unfairly lumping us with the racists.

Exactly this.
I think affirmative action was absolutely needed half a century ago. But now, it's more of a drag than a benefit. It is racial discrimination.
Tom

 

[ZiprHead]

Derec is unusually quiet, considering how much bile he spilled on Elizabeth Warren.

 

[laughing dog]

What you're supporting here in this thread is racism.

Like many people through the centuries, you've got your reasons. Racism is fine with you. But that's what you're doing.
Supporting racism.
Tom

Funny how the unwitting enablers of racism attack affirmative action.

There are two groups that attack affirmative action.

One is the racists.

However, there are also those of us who do not believe that the answer to discrimination is more discrimination. You are unfairly lumping us with the racists.

I did not lump anyone with anyone else.

 

[Toni]

Make Elizabeth Warren look like a piker.

I agree.
It's time for affirmative action to go away. Especially when it's taxpayer funded construction projects.
Tom

You got yours so it doesn't matter that others haven't had a fair shot in the past...400 years or so, I guess.

Or to use a baseball analogy: It's easy to say let's do away with designated hitters when you're already on 2nd or third base.

 

[Toni]

Make Elizabeth Warren look like a piker.

I agree.
It's time for affirmative action to go away. Especially when it's taxpayer funded construction projects.
Tom

I don't think "affirmative action" really seems the culprit; it's fairly apparent to me that the problem here is that there's no means testing on the program...

Means testing makes zero difference with regards to affirmative action. The criteria isn't income/wealth based but opportunity based where opportunity is doled out on the basis of (white)race, ethnicity (European), religion (Judeo-Christian), gender (male) and sexual orientation (cis straight). I'm sure I'm leaving something out but I've had a day and I'm cutting myself that break.

 

[Toni]

I don't think "affirmative action" really seems the culprit; it's fairly apparent to me that the problem here is that there's no means testing on the program...

I'm using the term affirmative action broadly. He got jobs based on racist policies. That is he got lucrative contracts based on his ethnicity, rather than competence, is the point.
Tom

Racist policies? How much did Raytheon get last year? White owned military contractors have not hit on hard times because of these "racist" policies. The issue in the OP is fraud. I've got to imagine this is an inside joke at that base/property/whateva. The Native American contractor with no Native Americans.

Exactly

 

[Toni]

is using a definition for the word that isn't applicable.

is deciding who gets the contract based on the race of the owner, rather than the best value for the taxpayer. That's racism, whether it's white people getting the contracts 40 years ago or non-whites getting them today. Racism is racism.

And racism is actually about using the system to displace or remove the *insert group* from whatever. SBE (small), MBE (minority), FBE (female), VBE (veteran... I actually don't know if it called "VBE") requirements are always a fraction, a small one, of total contracts (or within a contract). It is providing crumbs to small, lesser established firms in order to create a more diverse and competent engineering environment.

So it isn't racist, racist would be no white firms can file for contracts with the US Navy. There might be other words it is, but it isn't "racist".

What you're supporting here in this thread is racism.

Like many people through the centuries, you've got your reasons. Racism is fine with you. But that's what you're doing.
Supporting racism.
Tom

Nope. Racism is prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against a person or people on the basis of their membership in a particular racial or ethnic group, typically one that is a minority or marginalized. Affirmative action is an attempt to somewhat level the playing field for minority groups who traditionally have less access to jobs, education, government contracts, etc.

 

[Toni]

Racist policies? How much did Raytheon get last year? White owned military contractors have not hit on hard times because of these "racist" policies. The issue in the OP is fraud. I've got to imagine this is an inside joke at that base/property/whateva. The Native American contractor with no Native Americans.

What I mean by racist is deciding who gets the contract based on the race of the owner, rather than the best value for the taxpayer. That's racism, whether it's white people getting the contracts 40 years ago or non-whites getting them today. Racism is racism.

I well understand why systemic government racism was a good idea 40-50 years ago. But that was then, and this is now.
It's time to put racism aside as a tool and get on with dealing with the real problems.
Tom

Words have meaning and your definition of racism is not actually the definition of racism but an attempt to alter the meaning of a word that more conveniently suits your world view and allows you to feel aggrieved if white males are not automatically assumed to be the winner of whatever prize is being offered.

 

[Toni]

What you're supporting here in this thread is racism.

Like many people through the centuries, you've got your reasons. Racism is fine with you. But that's what you're doing.
Supporting racism.
Tom

Funny how the unwitting enablers of racism attack affirmative action.

There are two groups that attack affirmative action.

One is the racists.

However, there are also those of us who do not believe that the answer to discrimination is more discrimination. You are unfairly lumping us with the racists.

Nah, you just believe that there is no racism except for affirmative action and that if minorities and underserved groups can't catch up to the 400 year old lead white christian males have, then it's their fault and a reflection of their 'culture.' With no recognition of the white 'culture' of racism and discrimination.

 

[Toni]

Racist policies? How much did Raytheon get last year? White owned military contractors have not hit on hard times because of these "racist" policies. The issue in the OP is fraud. I've got to imagine this is an inside joke at that base/property/whateva. The Native American contractor with no Native Americans.

Honestly, I would as soon see as well that currently wildly successful companies, even if they were Native American in some way, be excluded as well.

The point of "affirmative action" here is to make more minority-backed businesses competitive in the space. That only happens when you pick ones that are solid but not already "winners".

Not to mention excluding outright fraud.

The penalty (lack thereof) system is faulty. It's not like being black, native American, female or minority of any kind - even Alaskan native - gets your bid automatically accepted. Unless, that is, you have connections and can land a rare no-bid small business set-aside. GSA can't do much to corrupt an actual bidding process, BUT ... they can allow a business to avoid it altogether, especially if they are politically connected. They can also turn a blind eye to the set-aside rules, which self-declared multi-billion dollar "small businesses" can ignore at little or no risk of repercussions. All they have to do is retract their bid if they're called out... but they usually aren't because the people calling them out would be ACTUAL small businesses. It's scary being a fledgling SB, going up against a multi-billion dollar contractor with board members who are Generals, deputy Cabinet Secretaries and the like. (From actual real life experience.)

Good to hear from someone who actually knows what he's talking about in this thread.

 

[Toni]

There are two groups that attack affirmative action.

One is the racists.

However, there are also those of us who do not believe that the answer to discrimination is more discrimination. You are unfairly lumping us with the racists.

Exactly this.
I think affirmative action was absolutely needed half a century ago. But now, it's more of a drag than a benefit. It is racial discrimination.
Tom

You mean, half a century ago, when you were a kid and it wouldn't affect you directly.

I really wish that it were not needed any more but it takes more time than half a century to change the hearts and minds of those in power.