(Photo via Being Liberal / Facebook)

This is quite an interesting look at religion and freedom in the U.S. I never quite thought about it in this fashion, but it’s so true.

We have truly upended some of the concepts the U.S. was founded upon — some for good and others for bad. In the case of using religion to persecute .. *sigh* .. we can’t catch a break.

The GOP swears there is no real “War On Women.” But, reading the news lately will have you thinking a lot differently.

In Missouri, a bill passed the House that essentially allows medical providers to not provide contraception to women if their personal beliefs conflict with the request. Healthcare providers will not be punished for standing up for their beliefs, including not participating in abortions.

I’d love for some of the patients to say that paying for the doctor visits in any form “conflicts with their personal beliefs.” I bet the doctors would have none of that. They want their half of the business transaction as they see fit. Why can’t women have the same?

My best recommendation would be for women in Missouri would be to have several doctors on speed dial. That can get tricky, though, when insurance companies only authorize patients to see certain physicians in an area. Freedom of choice is still quite important.

The bill is now headed to the Missouri Senate for consideration before the Friday recess.

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Ladies: Would you patronize a physician who would deny you birth control based on their personal beliefs? 

(Cartoon by David Horsey / Los Angeles Times)

If you can’t find any reason to choose between President Obama and Mitt Romney this fall, just think of how they were in high school.

This cartoon provides the perfect illustration for all of the confused voters out there. LOL!

Mitt Romney is not playing any games when it comes to fundraising for his campaign. (Photo credit unknown)

President Obama may be the favorite to win the presidential election in November right now. However, Mitt Romney has some strong financial pull to give him a run for his money.

The April campaign fundraising numbers are in for the presumptive GOP nominee. He took in a handsome $40.1 million in campaign funds for the month. President Obama beat him slightly with a $43.6 million haul in April. Romney now has $61.4 million in cash on hand.

Romney has seen a major jump in his fundraising after both Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich nose-dived out of the race in April. Not only has Romney seen more cash coming in, but his poll numbers against President Obama have improved as well. Republicans are at the “we don’t have anyone else to choose” point in the race … so they are supporting Romney.

More money means more resources to hire staff and try to rally voters to pick Romney over Obama. It also means more television, radio, and Internet ads. So, if you’re sick of the spots now, get ready to HATE them by November.

I predict that Romney’s fundraising is only going to strengthen as the campaign goes on.

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ANSWER IN THE COMMENTS SECTION BELOW: 

Does the April fundraising total for Mitt Romney’s campaign surprise you? 

The Obama campaign loves sub-groups to focus on for their voting efforts. Until now, Latinos, African-Americans, women, nurses, the LGBT community, and a few other groups received special attention.

Now, the Obama campaign has launched Veterans and Military Families for Obama. The concept is simple. The Administration has made supporting military families and the troops a priority since 2009. They have sounded the alarm about some sobering issues facing veterans, such as unemployment, homelessness, mental health issues, and access to healthcare.

It is now the campaign’s turn to engage this community and make their stories be heard in 2012. According to CNN, outreach efforts will be in 16 states, including Ohio, Florida, Pennsylvania, Nevada, Michigan, North Carolina, New Mexico, New Hampshire, Colorado, and Virginia.

Politically, this is a smart move for the president’s team. Though combat troops serve under the president despite party affiliation, veterans and military families don’t. They are good gauges of what may and may not be working in the military community and their spouses friends who do serve the country.

In short, the military community is a voting bloc that cannot be ignored.

It’s highly unpopular to knock combat troops and their families. I’m sure the campaign sees this as they brace for potential GOP backlash. Republicans will have to tread lightly around this one for fear of people saying they don’t support the troops.

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ANSWER IN THE COMMENTS SECTION BELOW:

What do you think of the Obama campaign’s extra focus on veterans and military families? 

Dennis Kucinich is hanging it up on his Congressional career after this term is over. (Photo credit unknown)

One of the most outspoken and quirky Democratic members of Congress will step aside at the end of his term in January, according to reports.

Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) will leave the House for greener pastures. After serving for 16 years and representing part of the Cleveland area, he became a “victim” of redistricting from state legislators. The process cut him out of his district in the March primary when he was forced to run against Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) and lost.

The two incumbents’ districts were merged by state Republicans (probably on purpose) and the race found them pitted against each other. Kaptur’s district covers some of the Toledo area and parts of northern Ohio heading east to Cleveland.

After his primary loss, Kucinich had considered running from Washington state. But, that never materialized. Running for Congress from Washington made little sense to me anyway. But, who am I?

Kucinich has been mayor of Cleveland in addition to a Congressman. He also ran as a Democratic candidate for president in 2004 and 2008.

No word yet on Kucinich’s post-Congressional plans.

Howard Dean, the former presidential candidate and past governor of Vermont, was conducting a call-in radio interview on Wednesday morning when he was involved in a car crash.

The accident can be heard slightly on the CJAD 800 AM audio record, but Dean said he and the others involved were not injured. As soon as the accident happened, Dean told the host that he needed to end the interview and hung up. He was a passenger in the vehicle.

Good thing Dean nor anyone else involved was hurt.

(Cartoon by Clay Bennett / Chattanooga Times Free Press)

Here’s a cartoon that hits home about Mitt Romney 2.0 — basically the new and improved version of him we’re seeing after his past dealings.

I think a lot of people feel like this. It’s hard to know the “real” Romney when he’s done so many shady things in the past and/or supported items that he now “opposes.” It doesn’t make sense…

President and Mrs. Obama are sitting pretty on some coins these days. (Photo by Pete Souza / White House)

President Obama has been honest with the American people that he sits in a comfortable tax bracket.

Outside of the presidency, he is a best-selling author and has invested some of his money well. Trust me, the Obama family isn’t missing any of their organic, home-grown meals.

Check out the list that CNN Money compiled of the Obama family’s estimated assets, as required by the Ethics in Government Act:

• Between $1.6 and $6.3 million in Treasury notes and bills. This is essentially government debt they hold that they can cash in later.
• A JPMorgan Chase account containing an estimated $500,000 to $1 million.
• 529 college savings plans — obviously for Malia and Sasha.
• Royalties between $100,000 and $1 million for the book, “Dream from My Father.”
• Royalties between $50,000 and $100,000 for the book, “The Audacity of Hope.”
• Though it’s not an asset, the family does carry a mortgage between $500,000 and $1,000,000 on their Chicago home.
• Earned over $789,000 in income in 2011, per their recent tax returns.

All of the assets are listed in range, but not specific, values. That’s why there is such a gap in the estimated wealth of the First Family.

I’ll take the low end of their range! Works just fine for me.

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ANSWER IN THE COMMENTS SECTION BELOW: 

What do you think of the Obama family’s assets?

Did you think they held more or less than what was reported?

The Obama campaign is making it rain in the form of $20, $50, and $100 bills this spring! Please believe that.

A new video has made its way to YouTube. Jim Messina, the president’s campaign director, is running down some facts and figures of their fundraising, electoral strategy, and the work that needs to be done. It’s not that the campaign has been lazy. They pulled in a cool $43.6 million in fundraising in April with an average donation of just over $50.

As I suspected, the campaign is going to make it all about the battleground states this year — Ohio, New Mexico, Nevada, Florida, Virginia, Iowa, and North Carolina, to name a few. They all got special shouts-out in the new video. I think the campaign knows that some of these places will be knock-down drag-out fights.

Watch the video for yourself and see how the campaign is progressing.

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ANSWER IN THE COMMENTS SECTION BELOW:

Have you or do you plan to donate to the Obama campaign in 2012?

Do his huge fundraising amounts affect your decision to give?