Use of Presidential Seal Lands Center for American Progress In Hot Water
Posted: 25 Nov 2010 06:40 AM PST
Americans for Limited Government (ALG) President Bill Wilson today asked White House Counsel Robert Bauer if he granted an exception to the Center for American Progress in its recent use of the Seal of the President of the United States in a policy publication.
The use of the seal is restricted under law (TITLE 18, PART I,CHAPTER 33, § 713 of the U.S. Code), which prohibits reproduction of the seal for “the purpose of conveying, or in a manner reasonably calculated to convey, a false impression of sponsorship or approval by the Government of the United States”.
Exceptions have been outlined via executive order for educational and historical uses as well as limited uses by news media. Under Executive Order 11649, further exceptions can also be granted by the White House Counsel.
In his letter, Wilson wrote, “As you are well aware, the rationale for restricting the use of the Seal is to prevent any suggestion of presidential support or endorsement of third-party messages. However, as exceptions are provided for pursuant to Executive Order 11649, we would like to know if such an exception has been granted in this case.”
The Center for American Progress prominently used the seal on the cover of its November 2010 publication, “The Power of the President: Recommendations to Advance Progressive Change” at http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/issues/2010/11/pdf/executive_orders.pdf
The paper advocated the use of executive orders by the Obama Administration to advance its agenda after Democrats lost control of the House of Representatives in the November elections.
Wilson explained in a statement, saying, “The Center for American Progress use of the seal appears to indicate presidential endorsement of its agenda. The question is whether the White House granted an exception in this case or not. If it did, that would appear to be a stretch beyond the intent of the law and the order, in which exceptions are supposed to be provided for educational, historical, and news purposes. If it did not, then it would appear to be a violation of the law by the Center for American Progress.”
From FoxNews.Com:
A conservative group is calling on the Justice Department to take action against a liberal think tank for using the presidential seal on a new policy publication.
Americans for Limited Government says the use of the seal is restricted under the law, which prohibits reproduction of the seal for “the purpose of conveying, or in a manner reasonably calculated to convey, a false impression of sponsorship or approval by the government of the United States.”
The law allows exceptions for educational and historical uses as well as limited usage by news media. The White House counsel can also grant an exception under an executive order.
ALG President Bill Wilson initially sent a letter to White House counsel Robert Bauer asking if he granted an exception to the Center for American Progress to use the seal for its publication, “The Power of the President: Recommendations to Advance Progressive Change.”
The report offers President Obama a blueprint on how he can advance his agenda through the use of executive orders, instead of relying on Congress after Democrats lost control of the House in this month’s midterm elections.
“The Center for American Progress’ use of the seal appears to indicate presidential endorsement of its agenda,” Wilson said in a statement. “The question is whether the White House granted an exception in this case or not.”
“If it did, that would appear to be a stretch beyond the intent of the law and the order, in which exceptions are supposed to be provided for educational, historical and news purposes,” he said. “If it did not, then it would appear to be a violation of the law by the Center for American Progress.”
A spokeswoman with the Center for American Progress told FoxNews.com that the think tank purchased a photograph of the seal from The Associated Press. The group did not respond to further inquiries.
Neither the White House nor the Justice Department returned messages seeking comment.
When told by FoxNews.com that the center used an AP photograph of the seal, Rick Manning, a spokesman for ALG, called the purchase “interesting” but “irrelevant in terms of the law.”
“Given what you have learned…our request to the White House is moot,” Manning said. “They’re admitting they did not get permission.”
“So the operating question is: Is the White House going to take action to protect the seal because it violates the statute?” he said.
Manning noted that the second Bush administration forced the satirical newspaper, The Onion, to stop using the presidential seal on its website for its parody of the president’s weekly radio address.
“Even on something that’s clearly satirical in that kind of environment, it appears if it’s used to convey of being official, it’s not within the scope of the exemption of the law,” he said. “So the White House and the attorney general need to take action either to enforce the law or not.”
The Horn of Plenty
Posted: 25 Nov 2010 05:30 AM PST
By William Warren -
I drew this cartoon for Thanksgiving in 2008. I hoped that this would still not be appropriate today, but alas, it is. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Stop Fred Upton
Posted: 25 Nov 2010 04:02 AM PST
Next week is when the Steering Committee will make their decision on Upton’s future. They will decide if they want to promote a bailout loving, free market hating, light bulb regulating, career politician to serve as Chairman of the very important House Energy & Commerce Committee.
Here is a little bit of background on Upton:
* Upton was one of only 16 GOPers who supported in 2009 House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s omnibus spending bill that increased spending 8.4 percent on top of the $787 billion stimulus program.
* Upton was one of nine GOPers who opposed in 2009 an amendment by Rep. Dave Camp, R-Mich., that would have substituted an array of tax cuts and credits for the Obama-Pelosi-Reid stimulus program.
* Upton was one of 43 GOPers who opposed in 2009 a Republican amendment to cut the Democrats’ stimulus bill by $355 billion.
* Upton was one of 20 GOPers who opposed in 2009 a Republican amendment to cut Environmental Protection Agency funding to its 2008 level.
* Upton was one of 34 GOPers who voted in 2009 for the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act that removed millions of acres of federal lands from energy exploration and production.
* Upton was one of 19 GOPers who voted in 2009 for a Democratic amendment directing the secretary of education to establish an advisory council for “high-performing” green public schools, thus further entrenching environmental radicals in the public education system.
* Upton was one of 29 GOPers who voted for the Democrats’ bill establishing the Santa Cruz National Heritage area along the U.S./Mexican border, which effectively prevents the U.S. Border Patrol from doing its work along the border.
* Upton was one of 26 GOPers who voted in 2009 for significantly increased funding for AmeriCorps.
* Upton voted for the Bush $700 billion Wall Street bailout twice in 2008.
* Upton voted for the Obama revision of the Bush bailout in 2009.
* Upton was one of 40 GOPers who voted in 2009 for the Democrats; doubling of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program’s budget.
* Upton was one of more than 40 GOPers who voted in 2007 and 2008 to override President Bush’s veto of spending increases for SCHIP.
* Upton was one of 35 GOPers who voted in 2008 for Rep. Charlie Rangel’s bill raising taxes on energy companies to provide tax subsidies for renewable energy special interests.
* Upton was one of 26 GOPers who voted in 2007 for federally mandated incandescent light bulbs.
* Upton was one of three GOPers who voted in 2005 against extending the Bush capital gains tax cut.
So it’s time to start contacting the Steering Committee Members. Contact info below:
MEMBER TITLE CONTACT PHONE
John Boehner Speaker 202-225-6205
Eric Cantor Republican Leader 202-225-2815
Kevin McCarthy Republican Whip 202-225-2915
Jeb Hensarling Republican Conference Chair 202-225-3484
Tom Price Policy Chair 202-225-4501
Cathy McMorris-Rodgers Conference Vice-Chair 202-225-2006
John Carter Conference Secretary 202-225-3864
Pete Sessions NRCC Chairman 202-225-2231
Greg Walden Leadership Chairman 202-225-6730
Tom Cole NRCC Chairman (last Congress) 202-225-6165
Lamar Smith Texas Representative 202-225-4236
Ken Calvert California Representative 202-225-1986
Jeff Miller Florida Representative 202-225-3414
Doc Hastings Region I Representative 202-225-5816
Tom Latham Region II Representative 202-225-5476
John Shimkus Region III Representative 202-225-5271
Mike Rogers Region IV Representative 202-225-4872
Bill Shuster Region V Representative 202-225-2431
Steve LaTourette Region VI Representative 202-225-5731
Hal Rogers Region VII Representative 202-225-4601
Lynn Westmoreland Region VIII Representative 202-225-5901
Bob Goodlatte Region IX Representative 202-225-5431
Cynthia Lummis Small State Representative 202-225-2311
Gregg Harper 111th Class Representative 202-225 5031
Todd Rokita 112th Class Representative 317-268-4964
Joe Heck 112th Class Representative 702-614-5900
Pat Meehan 112th Class Representative 484-454-3203
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