rssPosts by John Tomasic
John Tomasic has worked as a writer and editor at various news, literary and academic publications, including at the Huffington Post, Business 2.0 magazine and Francis Ford Coppola’s Zoetrope All-Story. He was managing editor at OffTheBus, the Huffington Post’s 2008 presidential-election citizen-journalism project. He was also editor at Pop+Politics, a journalism training program and website hosted by USC's Annenberg School. He was an analyst for the UN commission established to investigate war crimes in the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s. He has a master's degree in history and has taught at universities in America and Europe.
Santorum Super Tuesday closes with win in Colorado caucuses
Rick Santorum won the Colorado Republican caucuses Tuesday, garnering roughly 40 percent support and defeating runner-up Mitt Romney by nearly 4,000 votes. As see-sawing caucus tallies trickled in after 11 p.m., it became clear Santorum would sweep the three primary contests held Tuesday and revive his flagging candidacy to become the latest “anti-Romney” in the race.
‘Cousin Ricky’ Santorum’s family is a bunch of old-world red communists
Newt Gingrich speculated last fall that a theoretical family-based “Kenyan anti-colonial worldview” explained President Obama’s equally theoretical socialist-leaning “denial of reality.” Gingrich has so far let Republican presidential primary rival Rick Santorum off the hook, however, for the unabashed family-based Italian communist worldview that may or may not have shaped Santorum’s American political views.
Polis, gay-rights activists applaud latest court ruling finding Prop 8 unconstitutional
Minutes ago, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals announced it was upholding an earlier court ruling that California’s Proposition 8 voter-passed ban on gay marriage is unconstitutional. The decision sets the stage for another appeal, likely to the U.S. Supreme Court, and drew applause from gay-rights advocates buoyed by another clear legal victory. Openly gay Colorado Congressman Jared Polis declared the ruling a victory for American notions of justice and equality.
Ahead of caucuses, major Colorado tea party group promotes Ron Paul
In advance of the Colorado Republican caucuses tonight, the Northern Colorado Tea Party– perhaps the most influential of the state’s many tea party groups– isn’t backing away from its constitutional conservative mission. Far from recommending members warm up to presidential frontrunner Mitt Romney, the group has unofficially thrown its support behind libertarian Congressman Ron Paul.
Rep. DeGette ‘still concerned about how Komen is making its funding decisions’
Colorado Congresswoman Diana DeGette today lauded the announcement made by breast cancer foundation Susan G. Komen for the Cure that it planned to rework new policies that prevented it from funding Planned Parenthood. DeGette told the Colorado Independent that the dramatic turnaround, while good news, served mostly to raise wider questions about whether or not the blockbuster charity organization was basing its health-care funding decisions on solid scientific findings.
Planned Parenthood salutes Colorado Komen for leadership in funding policy flap
In the wake of news, breaking only an hour ago, that the renowned Susan G. Komen for the Cure breast cancer foundation would reverse its controversial decision to pull funds from Planned Parenthood, local Planned Parenthood representatives praised Colorado Komen affiliates for leading in what was clearly an internal Komen revolt against the decision, where local affiliates demanded national leaders put the mission to fight breast cancer and save women’s lives over anti-abortion politics.
Aspen Komen leads revolt against anti-Planned Parenthood national policy
The Aspen affiliate of juggernaut breast cancer foundation Susan G. Komen for the Cure rejected the national foundation’s new policy to end funding cancer screening and education provided by women’s health care and abortion provider Planned Parenthood. The news from Aspen came hours before reports began to leak this morning that national Komen leadership may be reversing its new funding policy. The Aspen news drew praise from Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, which runs vital breast cancer screenings for low-income women in Glenwood Springs roughly 25 miles outside the tony cosmopolitan ski town.
Udall applauds Denver Komen affiliate for standing by Planned Parenthood
At the end of a day that saw the mediasphere light up with reactions to news that juggernaut breast cancer foundation Susan G. Komen for the Cure aimed to end its financial support of Planned Parenthood, Senator Mark Udall praised Komen’s Denver affiliate for standing by Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains.
Colorado’s Udall, Bennet weigh response to evolving Komen-Planned Parenthood funding clash
Colorado U.S. Senators Mark Udall and Michael Bennet are penning a joint letter on the evolving relationship between the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation and Planned Parenthood to reflect the unique situation developing between the organizations in Colorado, staffers told the Colorado Independent.
For now, Denver Komen leaves politics out of funding decision
The Denver affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the nation’s top charity battling breast cancer, announced this week it would not automatically stop funding Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains. Komen made clear in its announcement that the decision is based on the fact that, in Colorado, Planned Parenthood is a leader in fighting breast cancer and is also likely the organization that provides the most bang for the buck to the Denver Komen foundation.
