Top Republican Governor Admits Conservatives Have Lost The Battle Against Marriage Equality

Republican Governor Scott Walker (WI) — a likely GOP candidate for president in 2016 — admitted on Sunday that young conservatives support marriage equality for gays and lesbians, suggesting that the Republican party cannot sustain its opposition to same-sex marriage into the future.

Responding to Sen. Rob Portman’s (R-OH) embrace of equal marriage rights during an appearance on Meet The Press, Walker said that the issue of marriage equality did not animate his governor’s race, but admitted to host David Gregory that the next generation of Republicans will expect the party to join the growing popular consensus in favor of full marriage rights and will not be interested in pursuing campaigns against gay people:

GREGORY: Are younger conservatives more apt to see marriage equality as something that is, you know, what they believe, that is basic rather than as a disqualifying issue?

WALKER: I think there’s no doubt about that. But I think that’s all the more reason, when I talk about things, I talk about the economic and fiscal crises in our state and in our country, that’s what people want to resonate about. They don’t want to get focused on those issues.

Walker also questioned why the government sanctions marriage in the first place, noting, “an alternative [would be] to say not have the government sanction it, period, and leave that up to the churches and the synagogues.”

New research released earlier this month found that “while 53 percent of eligible voters support marriage equality, 83 percent believe same-sex marriage will be legal nationwide within five to 10 years.” A majority of Republicans under the age of 30 also said that they “support marriage equality at the state level.”

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Bill O’Reilly Finally Admits ‘Homosexuality Has Nothing To Do With The Crime Of Pedophilia’

Bill O’Reilly has been campaigning against Colorado House Speaker Mark Ferrandino (D) because he won’t allow a vote on a bill to “Jessica’s Law.” Jessica’s Law imposes excessive penalties on individuals who commit sexual abuse against children, and O’Reilly has repeatedly inferred a connection between the fact Ferrandino is openly gay and not “protecting the kids.” Earlier this week, he responded to criticism over this comparison by doubling down on it. On Tuesday’s broadcast, he finally admitted the connection doesn’t exist, but took no accountability for reinforcing it:

O’REILLY: I have to report the truth here. First truism, homosexuality has nothing to do with the crime of pedophilia. Second, everyone we report on is defined and that guy is proud of his circumstance and promotes it, so we reported it.

Watch it (via Equality Matters):

A “truism” is something so obviously true that it isn’t worth mentioning, and the supposed link between homosexuality and pedophilia hardly fits that description. It’s true that there’s no connection, but it has been made or inferred for decades. More importantly, O’Reilly brazenly made it himself without any subtlety to hide behind just seven months ago. He can’t just shrug it off like everybody knows better when he has a history of miseducating his viewers on the issue.

His admission is also compromised by his description of Ferrandino as having a “circumstance” that he “promotes.” Being gay is not a condition, nor can homosexuality be reinforced in anyone. Under the premise of a campaign to “protect the children,” O’Reilly is only continuing to reinforce stigma against gay people with this kind of rhetoric. If he actually supports civil unions as he claims, he has no grounds for demonizing others for doing the same.

Tonight, Denver Post Opinion Editor Curtis Hubbard, who criticized O’Reilly for his smear campaign against Ferrandino, will appear on his show to confront him in person. Maybe fourth time’s the charm for O’Reilly figuring out how to respect the inherent dignity of an elected official.

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UPDATE 3-U.S. drugmaker admits misbranding AIDS appetite medicine

* $45 mln payout includes criminal, civil penalties

* Par accused of marketing drug for off-label use

* TPG Capital bought Par for $1.9 bln in September

(Adds interview with US Attorney in New Jersey)

By Linda Federico-O'Murchu and Jonathan Stempel

March 5 (Reuters) - Par Pharmaceutical Cos, a generic drugmaker, has pleaded guilty to improperly marketing a medication intended to address appetite loss in AIDS patients, and agreed to pay $45 million to resolve a federal criminal probe and related civil litigation.

The company pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge for misbranding the drug Megace ES for uses not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, at a hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Madeline Cox Arleo in Newark, New Jersey.

Private equity firm TPG Capital LP bought Par for $1.9 billion in September.

Federal prosecutors said Megace ES was meant to treat anorexia and other weight loss in AIDS patients, but that Par deliberately promoted it for off-label uses, such as for elderly nursing home residents who were losing weight.

"The conduct of this company was in some real measure flagrant," U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman in New Jersey said in an interview at his office. "The company was told on at least two occasions in 2005 that it did not have permission from the FDA to market this drug as appropriate for senior citizens, and it chose to ignore that. And it made the wrong choice."

Par and its lawyer did not immediately respond to several requests for comment.

WHISTLEBLOWERS

Tuesday's settlement includes an $18 million fine, a $4.5 million criminal forfeiture, and $22.5 million to resolve civil litigation against the Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey-based company.

It also resolves three whistleblower lawsuits brought under the federal False Claims Act, which lets private parties sue on behalf of the United States and share in the government's recoveries.

Par also agreed to enter a five-year "corporate integrity agreement" with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This agreement requires the company to improve oversight, and permits it to take back bonuses from executives who engage in significant misconduct.

The U.S. Department of Justice announced the settlement and the guilty plea, which it said was entered by Par Chief Executive Paul Campanelli on the company's behalf.

At a press conference, Fishman said he was unaware of patients who may have been harmed by the improper off-label use of Megace ES, but that this did not excuse Par's marketing.

"A company looking out too much for profits can lose its perspective and its moral compass," Fishman said in the interview. "And that places the public at risk."

ROLEXES AND MEXICO TRIPS

Par pleaded guilty to a charge of introducing a misbranded drug into interstate commerce.

The alleged improper marketing took place between July 2005 and 2009, according to a court filing describing the government case over Megace ES, whose chemical name is megestrol acetate.

Sales representatives and management at Par "knew that they called on very few, if any, facilities with AIDS patients and very few practitioners that treated AIDS patients," the court filing said.

Par also held contests to spur Megace ES sales, awarding prizes such as Rolex watches and trips to Cabo San Lucas in Mexico to successful sales representatives, the filing said.

Last September, the company said it had set aside $45 million for a possible settlement over Megace ES.

The case is U.S. v. Par Pharmaceutical Cos, U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey.

(Reporting by Linda Federico-O'Murchu in Newark, New Jersey; and Terry Baynes and Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe, John Wallace, Phil Berlowitz and Nick Zieminski)

((jon.stempel@thomsonreuters.com)(646-223-6317)(Reuters

Messaging: jon.stempel.reuters.com@thomsonreuters.net))

Keywords: PARPHARMACEUTICAL SETTLEMENT/

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UPDATE 2-U.S. drugmaker admits misbranding AIDS appetite medicine

* $45 mln payout includes criminal, civil penalties

* Par accused of marketing drug for off-label use

* TPG Capital bought Par for $1.9 bln in September

(Adds comments, background, byline)

By Linda Federico O'Murchu and Jonathan Stempel

March 5 (Reuters) - Par Pharmaceutical Cos, a generic drugmaker, has pleaded guilty to improperly marketing a medication intended to address appetite loss in AIDS patients, and agreed to pay $45 million to resolve a federal criminal probe and related civil litigation.

The company pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge for misbranding the drug Megace ES for uses not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, at a hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Madeline Cox Arleo in Newark, New Jersey.

Private equity firm TPG Capital LP bought Par for $1.9 billion in September.

Prosecutors said Megace ES was meant to treat anorexia and other weight loss in AIDS patients, but that Par deliberately promoted it for off-label uses, such as for elderly nursing home residents who were losing weight.

Tuesday's settlement includes an $18 million fine, a $4.5 million criminal forfeiture, and $22.5 million to resolve civil litigation against the Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey-based company.

It also resolves three whistle-blower lawsuits brought under the federal False Claims Act, which lets private parties sue on behalf of the United States and share in the government's recoveries.

Par also agreed to enter a five-year "corporate integrity agreement" with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This agreement requires the company to improve oversight, and permits it to take back bonuses from executives who engage in significant misconduct.

The U.S. Department of Justice announced the settlement and the guilty plea, which it said was entered by Par Chief Executive Paul Campanelli on the company's behalf.

Par and its lawyer did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

At a press conference, U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman in New Jersey said he was unaware of patients who may have been harmed by the improper off-label use of Megace ES, but that this did not excuse Par's marketing efforts.

"We depend on players to play by the rules. When companies take steps to get around that process, the American people lose faith," he said.

Par's improper marketing "made them a lot of money that they wouldn't have made otherwise," Fishman added.

ROLEXES AND MEXICO TRIPS

Par pleaded guilty to a charge of introducing a misbranded drug into interstate commerce.

The alleged improper marketing took place between July 2005 and 2009, according to a court filing describing the government case over Megace ES, whose chemical name is megestrol acetate.

Sales representatives and management at Par "knew that they called on very few, if any, facilities with AIDS patients and very few practitioners that treated AIDS patients," the court filing said.

Par also held contests to spur Megace ES sales, awarding prizes such as Rolex watches and trips to Cabo San Lucas in Mexico to successful sales representatives, the filing said.

Last September, the company said it had set aside $45 million for a possible settlement over Megace ES.

The case is U.S. v. Par Pharmaceutical Cos, U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey.

(Reporting by Linda Federico O'Murchu in Newark, New Jersey; and Terry Baynes and Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe, John Wallace and Phil Berlowitz)

((jon.stempel@thomsonreuters.com)(646)(223-6317)(Reuters

Messaging: jon.stempel.reuters.com@thomsonreuters.net))

Keywords: PARPHARMACEUTICAL SETTLEMENT/

View the original article here

In new ad, Obama admits he didn’t get it done in three years

"If I don't have this done in three years, then there's going to be a one-term proposition." - President Barack Obama, February 2, 2009:

Today President Obama’s reelection campaign launched a new ad campaign attempting to deal with Obama’s failed economic policies.

As the headline for an article by Yahoo News White House correspondent Olivier Knox, put it:

“New Obama ad strikes ‘don’t blame me’ tone on economy.”

The new ad plays right into the hands of the Republican National Committee’s effort to re-brand the 2008 Obama campaign “hope and change” theme with “hype and blame.” Worse, after attempting to avert blame by once again talking about the “inherited” recession, and another reminder about getting bin Laden, the ad ends with this admission:

“Instead of losing jobs, we’re creating them. Over 4.2 million so far. We’re not there yet. It’s still too hard for too many. But we’re coming back.”

This is a huge mistake for Obama. Having said that if he doesn’t have this “done in three years, then there’s going to be a one-term proposition,” admitting that after three years “we are not there yet,” is the same as admitting that he is going to be a one term president. Perhaps Obama was paying attention when Romney said, the presidential campaign is “still about the economy…and we’re not stupid.”

The new Obama ad is also notable for the fact that it fails to mention Obama’s signature still unpopular ObamaCare, Dodd-Frank financial reform, and $831 billion-dollar so-called stimulus package.

The new ad will air in the battleground states of Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Nevada, New Hampshire, Iowa, North Carolina, Florida and Colorado. You can watch Obama’s “Go” ad here.

View the original article here