DebateGate

Wasilla, Alaska got it's first full-time police force in 1993, when eight uniformed officers formed the city's "thin blue line." More than a decade later, the small-town police force has tripled in size, to 24 commissioned officers.

As with small town police forces everywhere, the majority of the WPD's work involves motor vehicle accidents (MVAs), petty theft (larceny), and DWIs. WPD also deals with sexual assaults.

CNN reports this morning that Palin's town charged women for rape exams, the latest in a series of media accounts dealing with the charges. The account is true enough, in that that Wasilla was one of several small Alaskan police forces with limited budgets that found it difficult to deal with the cost of forensic medical examinations. Wasilla had a policy of allowing the City to bill victims (or more likely, their insurers) for rape kits, which can cost up ot $1,000. The policies allowing billing the victims in these small towns was finally outlawed by the state in 2000.

Palin was mayor of Wasilla from 1996 until the time the state law (AS 18.68.040) banned the practice of charging victims August 12, 2000.

We also know, via contact with the Wasilla City Clerk, that there were no rape kits charged to victims or insurers in fiscal 2000 (their computerized system only goes back that far), meaning that there is only the possibility of the unknown number of rapes in the 49 (or less) sexual assaults prior to the beginning of fiscal 2000 in mid-1999.

From the beginning of 1996 until the end of 2000, there were 49 reported sexual assaults in Wasilla, which "includes all associated sex crimes."

Of those 49 (or less) sexual assaults, we don't how many were rapes, or how many of those rapes required rape kits for which the city billed the victims.

The current Wasilla Police Chief Angela Long, responded via City Clerk Kristie Smithers that:

   

The Finance Department searched all financial records on our system for fiscal year 2000, 2001 and 2002. There are no records of billings to or collections from rape victims or their insurance companies in our system. The financial computer system goes back to the beginning of fiscal year 2000, and accounts receivable backup documentation goes back six (6) years per our records retention schedule.

    A review of files and case reports within the Wasilla Police Department has found no record of sexual assault victims being billed for forensic exams. State law AS 18.68.040, which was effective August 12, 2000, would have prohibited any such billings after that date.

The Wasilla City Finance Department can't provide us with much of anything useful, but the Police Chief seems to state that the Police Department records don't show any evidence that any victims were billed.

I'm attempting to clarify if that means that no rape victims were ever billed for rapes in Wasilla from 1996 to mid-1999 (the 2000-2002 data is irrelevant) despite the fact then Police Chief Charlie Fannon reserved the right to do so, but Fannon has declined multiple media requests for comment, and I doubt he'll start with me.

At the same time, current Police Chief Long's statement of, "A review of files and case reports within the Wasilla Police Department has found no record of sexual assault victims being billed for forensic exams" would seem to stand on it's own, would it not?

If current Police Chief Long's information is correct, then Mayor Palin didn't know that rape victims were charged for rape kits, because none were.

If that is indeed the case (and I'm not 100% sure that it is), why, then, is this story about nothing even making the rounds, and where did it come from?

The entire "scandal" seems to have been manufactured around September 9, when stories began to run through the progressive blogosphere, seemingly out of nowhere. Far left Americablog was the most-linked source, and he credits a small blog called Stop All Monsters.

The blog, features a tagline of "A blog dedicated to rooting out and stopping all monsters. Sarah Palin, for instance," has only been in existence since July, and is written by a character who claims to be a writer/stand-up comedian based in Los Angeles.

And while it is merely speculation, given current events and the way this meme spread from an obscure blog to the mainstream media in a matter of days, it may be fair to ask if the author has any ties with Winner & Associates and "astroturfing" expert David Axelrod of the Barack Obama campaign.

http://confederateyankee.mu.nu/archives/273965.php

Published: September 19, 2008

Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama will share the stage this Friday for the first of three presidential candidate forums.

The first, to be held at the University of Mississippi in Oxford, Miss, will focus on domestic issues. The second, on Oct. 7 at Belmont University in Nashville, will be a town-hall format with questions submitted by the audience. The third, on Oct. 15 at Hofstra University in New York, is devoted to foreign policy questions.

A debate between the vice presidential candidates, Democrat Joe Biden and Republican Sarah Palin, is scheduled for Oct. 2 at Washington University in St. Louis.

Here is a snapshot of where the presidential candidates stand, and a look into what has been found about the public's mood, on 22 issues:

1. ABORTION

McCain: Opposes abortion rights. Has voted for abortion restrictions permissible under Roe v. Wade and now says he would seek to overturn that guarantee of abortion rights. Would not seek constitutional amendment to ban abortion.

Obama: Favors abortion rights.

You said: According to a Gallup poll in May, 54 percent of Americans think abortion should be legal under certain circumstances.

2. AFGHANISTAN

McCain: Favors unspecified boost in U.S. forces.

Obama: Would add about 7,000 troops to the U.S. force of 36,000, bringing reinforcements from Iraq. Has threatened unilateral attack on high-value terrorist targets in Pakistan "if Pakistan cannot or will not act" against them.

You said: An Associated Press poll this month found that a plurality of Americans favors increasing U.S. troop strength in Afghanistan, with 28 percent strongly favoring and 20 percent somewhat favoring it.

3. CAMPAIGN FINANCE

McCain: The co-author of McCain-Feingold campaign finance law is running his general campaign with public money and within its spending limits. He urged Obama to do the same. He applied for federal matching funds for primaries but later turned them down so he could spend more than the limits. The Federal Election Commission belatedly approved his decision to bypass the primary funds, but rejected McCain's claim that he needed no such approval. He raised more than $160 million before having to stop to accept the $84 million in public money for the fall. McCain accepted primary campaign contributions from lobbyists.

Obama: The presidential campaign's fundraising champion has brought in more than $450 million. He is raising private money for his general election, despite his proposal last year to accept public financing and its spending limits if the Republican nominee does, too. Obama refuses to accept money from federal lobbyists and has instructed the Democratic National Committee to do the same for its joint victory fund, an account that would benefit the nominee. Obama does accept money from state lobbyists and from family members of federal lobbyists.

You said: According to an April 2007 Gallup poll, most Americans would prefer that presidential candidates not take public financing for their campaigns, and most think private financing is the best way to fund a presidential campaign.

4. CATASTROPHE FUND

McCain: Opposes a national catastrophe fund as a way to help stabilize homeowners insurance premiums. Says he will work with governors of the most affected states to pool insurance risks against hurricanes. He says broad pooling will improve prices and effective regulation can support the quality policies needed by homeowners and businesses.

Obama: Supports the creation of a national catastrophic insurance program as a way to help stabilize homeowners insurance premiums. He co-sponsored a bipartisan bill that would spread the risk of hurricanes and other natural disasters to provide homeowners some relief, and pledged to sign the bill into law as president.

You said: Public opinion has not been measured by a major independent polling organization. A bill to establish a national fund has passed the House, but not the Senate, and President Bush has said he will veto the legislation if it does pass. The congressional budget office estimated the fund would cost taxpayers $25 billion annually.

5. CUBA

McCain: Ease restrictions on Cuba once the United States is "confident that the transition to a free and open democracy is being made."

Obama: Ease restrictions on family-related travel and on money Cuban-Americans want to send their families in Cuba. Open to meeting new Cuban leader Raul Castro without preconditions. Ease trade embargo if Havana "begins opening Cuba to meaningful democratic change."

You said: According to the 2007 Florida International University's Cuba Poll, approximately 65 percent of the South Florida Cuban-American community would support a dialogue with the Cuban government.

6. DEATH PENALTY

McCain: Has supported expansion of the federal death penalty and limits on appeals.

Obama: Supports death penalty for crimes where the "community is justified in expressing the full measure of its outrage." As Illinois lawmaker, wrote bill mandating videotaping of interrogations and confessions in capital cases and sought other changes in system that had produced wrongful convictions.

You said: According to Quinnipiac University poll in July, 63 percent of Americans favor the death penalty for persons convicted of murder.

7. ECONOMY

McCain: On Friday, said the Federal Reserve should stop bailing out failing financial institutions. As president, would create a Mortgage and Financial Institutions Trust to help homeowners avoid foreclosure. Although he has generally championed deregulation throughout his career in the Senate, he now calls for a commission to find out what went wrong in the financial markets and how to better regulate them. Supported legislation in 1999 that tore down Depression-era legal walls separating commercial banks, investment banks and insurers from one another. President Clinton, a Democrat, signed it into law.

Obama: On Friday, said he supports giving "broad authority" to the Treasury Department to deal with credit crisis, but says he's not giving details of his own plans in order to avoid roiling the markets further. Says a recovery plan should not reward reckless business leaders. Refused to put a price tag on a plan he would support, but said it would not bar him from advocating middle-class tax cuts.

You said: A CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll this month found the economic problems that most concern Americans are the price of gasoline (35 percent), the availability of jobs (28 percent), mortgages and home values (18 percent) and taxes (18 percent). The economy, the poll found, had replaced the Iraq War as the most important issue voters would weigh in voting for a presidential candidate: 31 percent cited the Iraq War in June 2007, but only 13 percent said so in September.

8. EDUCATION

McCain: He is not proposing a federal voucher program that would provide public money for private school tuition, in contrast to his proposed $5 billion voucher plan in 2000. Only proposes expansion of District of Columbia's voucher program. Sees No Child Left Behind law as vehicle for increasing opportunities for parents to choose schools. Proposes more money for community college education.

Obama: An $18 billion plan that would encourage, but not mandate, universal pre-kindergarten. Teacher pay raises tied to, although not based solely on, test scores. An overhaul of No Child Left Behind law to better measure student progress, make room for non-core subjects such as music and art and be less punitive toward failing schools. A tax credit to pay up to $4,000 of college costs for students who perform 100 hours of community service a year. Obama would pay for part of his plan by ending corporate tax deductions for CEO pay. Has backed away from his proposal to save money for education by delaying NASA's manned moon and Mars missions.

You said: According to an Associated Press poll in June, most Americans would be willing to pay more in taxes if the money were spent on hiring more teachers and improving public school facilities.

9. ENERGY

McCain: Favors increased offshore drilling, but is opposed to drilling in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Argues that prohibiting more drilling in the Outer Continental Shelf stands in the way of energy exploration and production. Thinks states, including Florida, should be able to decide whether to expand drilling off their coasts. Would use federal money to help build 45 nuclear power reactors by 2030. Proposed suspending the 18-cent a gallon federal gasoline tax but idea got no traction. Global warming plan would increase energy costs.

Obama: Now would consider limited increase in offshore drilling, but opposes drilling in Arctic reserve. Proposes windfall-profit tax on largest oil companies to pay for energy rebate of up to $1,000. Opposed suspension of the gas tax. Proposed releasing 70 million barrels of oil from Strategic Petroleum Reserve to boost supplies. Global warming plan would increase energy costs. Supports forcing oil and gas companies to drill on the 68 million acres of already leased areas, but remains skeptical that new offshore drilling will bring down gas prices in the short-term. Says care must be taken to protect Florida's coastal resources and the tourism industry they support.

You said: A CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll in August found most Americans favor increased offshore drilling for oil and natural gas, and most favor drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. A Mason-Dixon poll in August found 61 percent of Floridians favor drilling for oil and natural gas off the state's coast.

10. EVERGLADES

McCain: Expressed support this spring for Everglades restoration and his commitment to doing so as president. He missed the vote on the issue and later urged President Bush to veto a broader $23 billion water bill that authorized $2 billion for Everglades clean-up. McCain said that was because it included millions of dollars for other projects he considered wasteful.

Obama: Says he supports the restoration of the Everglades and as president will make this project a top environmental priority. He supported the Water Resources Development Act, which would have allocated $2 billion in federal funding to help Florida restore the Everglades.

You said: Public opinion has not been measured by a major independent polling organization. As conceived in 2000, the restoration plan was to be a 50-50 split between the state and federal governments. A bill to have the federal government spend about $23 billion on water projects, including $2 billion on the Everglades, passed Congress, was vetoed by President Bush, then overridden by Congress.

11. GAY MARRIAGE

McCain: Opposes constitutional amendment to ban it. Says same-sex couples should be allowed to enter into legal agreements for insurance and similar benefits, and states should decide about marriage. Supports the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which denies federal recognition of same-sex marriages and gives states the right to refuse to recognize such marriages.

Obama: Opposes constitutional amendment to ban it. Supports civil unions, says states should decide about marriage. Switched positions in 2004 and now supports repeal of Defense of Marriage Act, which denies federal recognition of same-sex marriages and gives states the right to refuse to recognize such marriages.

You said: According to an Associated Press poll this month, 49 percent of Americans think the federal government should not give legal recognition to same-sex marriages, and 47 percent said it should.

12. GLOBAL WARMING

McCain: Broke with President Bush on global warming. Led Senate effort to cap greenhouse gas emissions. Favors plan that would see greenhouse gas emissions cut by 66 percent by 2050.

Obama: Ten-year, $150 billion program to produce "climate friendly" energy supplies that he'd pay for with a carbon auction requiring businesses to bid competitively for the right to pollute and aimed at cutting greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050. Joined McCain in sponsoring earlier legislation that would set mandatory caps on greenhouse gas emissions. Increase federal fuel economy requirements beyond 35 mpg.

You said: According to a Gallup poll in March, most Americans worry about global warming and think the effects of it are already happening, but do not think it will pose serious threats to their way of life during their lifetime.

13. GUN CONTROL

McCain: Voted against ban on assault-type weapons but in favor of requiring background checks at gun shows. Voted to shield gun manufacturers and dealers from civil suits. "I believe the Second Amendment ought to be preserved, which means no gun control."

Obama: Voted to leave gun manufacturers and dealers open to suit. Also, as Illinois state lawmaker, supported ban on all forms of semiautomatic weapons and tighter state restrictions generally on firearms.

You said: According to a Quinnipiac University poll in July, most Americans support stricter gun control laws but oppose a constitutional ban on individual gun ownership.

14. HEALTH CARE

McCain: $2,500 refundable tax credit for individuals, $5,000 for families, to make health insurance more affordable. No mandate for universal coverage. In gaining the tax credit, workers could not deduct the portion of their workplace health insurance paid by their employers.

Obama: Mandatory coverage for children, no mandate for adults. Aim for universal coverage by requiring employers to share costs of insuring workers and by offering coverage similar to that in plan for federal employees. Says package would cost up to $65 billion a year after unspecified savings from making system more efficient. Raise taxes on wealthier families to pay the cost.

You said: An ABC News/Washington Post poll in June found most Americans think it is important to provide health care coverage for all, even if it means raising taxes.

15. HOUSING

McCain: Open to helping homeowners facing foreclosure if they are "legitimate borrowers" and not speculators.

Obama: Tax credit covering 10 percent of annual mortgage-interest payments for "struggling homeowners," scoring system for consumers to compare mortgages, a fund for mortgage-fraud victims, new penalties for mortgage fraud and aid to state and local governments stung by housing crisis.

You said: According to a Gallup poll in March, most Americans favor having the federal government take steps to prevent people from losing their homes because they can't pay their mortgages. In a breakdown, most Republicans oppose federal intervention and most Democrats and independents favor intervention.

16. IMMIGRATION

McCain: Sponsored 2006 bill that would have allowed illegal immigrants to stay in the United States, work and apply to become legal residents after learning English, paying fines and back taxes and clearing a background check. Now says he would secure the border first. Supports border fence.

Obama: Voted for 2006 bill offering legal status to illegal immigrants subject to conditions, including English proficiency and payment of back taxes and fines. Voted for border fence.

You said: According to an Associated Press poll in April, 49 percent of Americans favor building a fence along the border between the United States and Mexico, and 48 percent oppose it. However, a majority of all respondents are not confident it would reduce the number of illegal immigrants.

17. IRAN

McCain: Favors tougher sanctions, opposes direct high-level talks with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Obama: Initially said he would meet Ahmadinejad without preconditions, now says he's not sure. "Ahmadinejad is the right person to meet with right now." Says direct diplomacy with Iranian leaders would give the United States more credibility to press for tougher international sanctions. Says he would intensify diplomatic pressure on Tehran before Israel feels the need to take unilateral military action against Iranian nuclear facilities.

You said: According to a Gallup poll in July, Americans ranked Iran as the country's greatest enemy (25 percent), followed by Iraq (22 percent), China (14 percent) and North Korea (9 percent).

18. IRAQ

McCain: Opposes scheduling a troop withdrawal, saying latest strategy is succeeding. Supported decision to go to war, but was early critic of the manner in which administration prosecuted it. Was key backer of the troop increase. Willing to have permanent U.S. peacekeeping forces in Iraq.

Obama: Spoke against war at start, opposed troop increase. Voted against one major military spending bill in May 2007; otherwise voted in favor of money to support the war. Says his plan would complete withdrawal of combat troops in 16 months. Initially had said a timetable for completing withdrawal would be irresponsible without knowing what facts he'd face in office.

You said: According to an Associated Press poll this month, most Americans are in favor of setting a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq.

19. SOCIAL SECURITY

McCain: "Nothing's off the table" when it comes to saving Social Security.

Obama: Would raise payroll tax on wealthiest by applying it to portion of income over $250,000. Now, payroll tax is applied to income up to $102,000. Rules out raising the retirement age for benefits.

You said: According to a CBS News poll last October, most Americans think the financial situation of Social Security is threatened, with 30 percent saying it's a crisis.

20. STEM CELL RESEARCH

McCain: Supports relaxing federal restrictions on financing of embryonic stem cell research.

Obama: Supports relaxing federal restrictions on financing of embryonic stem cell research.

You said: An April 2007 Gallup poll found a plurality of Americans, 38 percent, think the federal government should ease restrictions on federal funding for stem cell research.

21. TAXES

McCain: Pledged not to raise taxes, then equivocated, saying nothing can be ruled out in negotiating compromises to keep Social Security solvent. Twice opposed Bush's tax cuts, at first because he said they were tilted to the wealthiest and again because of the unknown costs of Iraq war. Now says those tax cuts, expiring in 2010, should be permanent. Proposes cutting corporate tax rate to 25 percent. Promises balanced budget in first term, says that is unlikely in his first year.

Obama: Raise income taxes on wealthiest and their capital gains and dividends taxes. Raise corporate taxes. $80 billion in tax breaks mainly for poor workers and elderly, including tripling Earned Income Tax Credit for minimum-wage workers and higher credit for larger families. Eliminate tax-filing requirement for older workers making less than $50,000. A mortgage-interest credit could be used by lower-income homeowners who do not take the mortgage-interest deduction because they do not itemize their taxes.

You said: In a Gallup poll in April, 52 percent of Americans think the amount of federal income tax they have to pay is too high. The poll found most Americans think lower-income people are paying too much, middle-income people are paying their fair share and upper-income people are paying too little.

22. TRADE

McCain: Free trade advocate.

Obama: Seek to renegotiate North American Free Trade Agreement to strengthen enforcement of labor and environmental standards. In 2004 Senate campaign, called for "enforcing existing trade agreements," not amending them.

You said: A Pew Research Center poll in April found that a plurality of Americans, 48 percent, thinks the effects of free trade agreements are bad for the country.

Sources: The Associated Press, Tribune research by Michael A. Messano, and Tribune reporter Billy House in Washington

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/sep/19/where-presidential-candidates-stand/news-politics

Dos Palos students protest after school forces sophomore to remove American flag shirt

Several students at Dos Palos High School are protesting today ? by wearing patriotic regalia to school -- after a sophomore student was forced to remove a T-shirt depicting the American flag.

School officials confirmed today that Jake Shelly, a sophomore at the school, was forced to take off a red, white and blue tie-dyed American flag T-shirt on Tuesday. The shirt contained the words: "United States of America, Washington, D.C."

The school's assistant principal issued Shelly a different T-shirt that read "DVC: Dress Code Violator." He was given his shirt back at the end of the day.

"It was really embarrassing and humiliating to have to wear that all day ? and just for supporting your country," his sister Kaycee Shelly said.

District officials said they apologized to the student, his family and the local American Legion on Wednesday ?- Constitution Day.

"In reviewing the dress code at the time, an administrator felt the shirt was in violation of that section of the dress code," District Superintendent Brian Walker said. "She asked him to remove it and he did."

The student violated a clause of the school dress code that does not allow "shirts/blouses that promote specific races, cultures, or ethnicities." School officials said they will now interpret that clause of the dress code differently.

A student who refuses to remove an article of clothing that violates the dress code is automatically suspended for 3-5 days.

Students on campus, Jake Shelly included, started a campaign to wear as much red, white, or blue clothing and carry as many flags as possible today.

Kaycee Shelly told members of the media that her brother was overwhelmed and did not want to participate in any more interviews.

Jake Shelly was wearing the tie-died T as part of a hippie dress-up day during Homecoming week.

http://www.mercedsunstar.com/275/story/460170.html

From Byron York at The Corner:

The McCain has released a new ad entitled "Advice."  It says:

    Obama has no background in economics.

    Who advises him?

    The Post says it's Franklin Raines, for "advice on mortgage and housing policy."

    Shocking.

    Under Raines, Fannie Mae committed "extensive financial fraud."

    Raines made millions.

    Fannie Mae collapsed.

    Taxpayers? Stuck with the bill.

    Barack Obama.

    Bad advice. Bad instincts. Not ready to lead.

Just a few moments ago, the Obama campaign released a statement from Raines:

    I am not an advisor to Barack Obama, nor have I provided his campaign with advice on housing or economic matters.

Added Obama spokesman Bill Burton:

    This is another flat-out lie from a dishonorable campaign that is increasingly incapable of telling the truth.  Frank Raines has never advised Senator Obama about anything ? ever...

Now, when the ad was released, the McCain campaign also released this supporting information:

    The Obama Campaign Has Solicited Franklin Raines, Who "Stepped Down As Fannie Mae's Chief Executive Under The Shadow Of A $6.3 Billion Accounting Scandal," For "Advice On Mortgage And Housing Policy." "In the four years since he stepped down as Fannie Mae's chief executive under the shadow of a $6.3 billion accounting scandal, Franklin D. Raines has been quietly constructing a new life for himself. He has shaved eight points off his golf handicap, taken a corner office in Steve Case's D.C. conglomeration of finance, entertainment and health-care companies and more recently, taken calls from Barack Obama's presidential campaign seeking his advice on mortgage and housing policy matters." (Anita Huslin, "On The Outside Now, Watching Fannie Falter," The Washington Post, 7/16/08)

   The Washington Post: "Two Members Of Mr. Obama's Political Circle, James A. Johnson And Franklin D. Raines, Are Former Chief Executives Of Fannie Mae." (Editorial, "Tough Decision Coming," The Washington Post, 8/28/08)

As far as I can tell, the Post has not corrected its reporting.  Who is correct?  We'll see.

http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=NDY5MGQ1MWMwMjQzM2E5ODI0NzNiZmUyZDVkNGVkYTY=

From Jay Nordlinger at The Corner:

I am no violet, and I know that politics is an ugly business. But I must say: The attempted destruction of Gov. Sarah Palin ? by some of the worst forces in this country ? is making me sick. You? For most of our lives, we have heard squawks from the left about civil liberties. Also about the ?politics of personal destruction.? I know they hate her, politically and personally. But won?t some of them stand up against what is happening now? Just for the sake of a semblance of integrity?

And, by the way: The argument that Sarah Palin is less prepared than Barack Obama is laughable. It basically comes down to: ?I think Barack?s smarter than Sarah. And cooler ? less country.? A few days after the Republican convention ? before talking points really gelled ? I went on Irish radio (from the comfort of my home in New York). A man on the other end was not able to say that Obama had more experience. So he said, ?He has a more rounded intelligence.?

This was after he had heard one speech by Sarah Palin. And the obvious core of his objection was: She?s a conservative.

As usual, what is rotten is all the pretending: all the pretending about experience and censored books and whether she has traveled widely enough. If they?d only say, ?She?s a conservative, and that is intolerable,? that would be fine. It would even be welcome. But they have to go into all this other, and destroy the woman personally.

And once they stigmatize and caricature a person, that person usually stays stigmatized and caricatured ? as with Quayle, as with Bork. Reagan, somehow, managed to escape the noose. How about ?our Sarah?? In reality, she is a reformist governor and a heartwarming American success story. Will they ? you know: ?they? ? succeed in making her an extremist dunce?

Stay tuned . . .

http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=MTc2NDZkNzg0NzZmZmYyYWZlYzE0ZjU4ODJkNWQ0YTA=

I was listening to an interview with one of the directors of The Boys from Baghdad High, a documentary that follows the lives of four boys during their last year of high school in Baghdad.  The boys were given digital cameras and they recorded their day-to-day activities at school, at home, and with their friends.  Aside from the similarities with teens everywhere - resisting their parents' control, hating homework and teachers, loving music, sports, and just hanging out - there were, of course, obvious differences.  When one boy complains that he can't reach his girlfriend on his cell phone, you realize that he's not just wondering why she's not calling him back and if maybe she doesn't like him anymore.  He's worried that she may have been one of the 2700 casualties in the city that month.  The suicide bombers had been very busy.

The project was dangerous, to say the least.  The boys and their families took a great risk in carrying the cameras and filming themselves and their surroundings.  That risk came from the bad guys, who have taken to giving cameras to children (some as young as 5) and ordering them to film market areas and neighborhoods; that way they can determine the best target for their next attack.

The director was asked the obvious question: Do the Iraqis want us out?  And her answer was very interesting.  She said that there were two paradigms to consider.  Under Saddam Hussein, they didn't have to deal with the possibility of being killed while shopping for dinner.  On the other hand, now they don't worry about being turned in by their neighbors, which is what happened to one man after he brought home a banned DVD.  Following a knock on his door, he was arrested and was 'disappeared'; his family was never told what happened to him.

The bottom line, she said, was this:

They want us to stay.  Their biggest fear is that we will leave and that the fanatics will begin a chaotic era of retribution where no one will know who to trust and what is safe to say or do...or think. 

She also mentioned that the Christians are being imprisoned, tortured, and killed in great numbers, and that she has been trying for some time to get backing in order to tell their story.  Unfortunately, no one seems to be interested.  The Christians are fleeing the city and moving north, where they are safe among the Kurds.

This movie is being shown on HBO starting Monday, August 4th.  I don't have HBO, so I'm hoping it will end up in my On Demand menu at some point. 

The Boys from Baghdad High:
http://www.tribecafilm.com/filmguide/16735986.html

Doc, what?s up with snooping?
Pediatrician paranoia runs deep

They?re watching you right now.

They counted every beer you drank during last night?s Red Sox game.

They see you sneaking out to the garage for a smoke.

They know if you?ve got a gun, and where you keep it.

They?re your kids, and they?re the National Security Agency of the Nanny State.

I found this out after my 13-year-old daughter?s annual checkup. Her pediatrician grilled her about alcohol and drug abuse.

Not my daughter?s boozing. Mine.

?The doctor wanted to know how much you and mom drink, and if I think it?s too much,? my daughter told us afterward, rolling her eyes in that exasperated 13-year-old way. ?She asked if you two did drugs, or if there are drugs in the house.?

?What!? I yelped. ?Who told her about my stasher, I mean, ?It?s an outrage!? ?

I turned to my wife. ?You took her to the doctor. Why didn?t you say something??

She couldn?t, she told me, because she knew nothing about it. All these questions were asked in private, without my wife?s knowledge or consent.

?The doctor wanted to know how we get along,? my daughter continued. Then she paused. ?And if, well, Daddy, if you made me feel uncomfortable.?

Great. I send my daughter to the pediatrician to find out if she?s fit to play lacrosse, and the doctor spends her time trying to find out if her mom and I are drunk, drug-addicted sex criminals.

We?re not alone, either. Thanks to guidelines issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics and supported by the commonwealth, doctors across Massachusetts are interrogating our kids about mom and dad?s ?bad? behavior.

We used to be proud parents. Now, thanks to the AAP, we?re ?persons of interest.?

The paranoia over parents is so strong that the AAP encourages doctors to ignore ?legal barriers and deference to parental involvement? and shake the children down for all the inside information they can get.

And that information doesn?t stay with the doctor, either.

Debbie is a mom from Uxbridge who was in the examination room when the pediatrician asked her 5-year-old, ?Does Daddy own a gun??

When the little girl said yes, the doctor began grilling her and her mom about the number and type of guns, how they are stored, etc.

If the incident had ended there, it would have merely been annoying.

But when a friend in law enforcement let Debbie know that her doctor had filed a report with the police about her family?s (entirely legal) gun ownership, she got mad.

She also got a new doctor.

In fact, the problem of anti-gun advocacy in the examining room has become so widespread that some states are considering legislation to stop it.

Last year, my 7-year-old was asked about my guns during his physical examination. He promptly announced to the doctor that his father is the proud owner of a laser sighted plasma rifle perfect for destroying Throggs.

At least as of this writing, no police report has been filed.

?I still like my previous pediatrician,? Debbie told me. ?She seemed embarrassed to ask the gun questions and apologized afterward. But she didn?t seem to have a choice.?

Of course doctors have a choice.

They could choose, for example, to ask me about my drunken revels, and not my children.

They could choose not to put my children in this terrible position.

They could choose, even here in Massachusetts, to leave their politics out of the office.

But the doctors aren?t asking us parents.

They?re asking our kids.

Worst of all, they?re asking all kids about sexual abuse without any provocation or probable cause.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has declared all parents guilty until proven innocent.

And then they wonder why we drink.

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/opinion/op_ed/view.bg?articleid=1035832