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For Immediate Release
September, 02 2008, 02:03pm EDT
Contact:
Drew Courtney or Josh Glasstetter
202-467-4999 / media@pfaw.org
Right Wing Praises McCain's Obedience
In 2000, John McCain solidified his "maverick" reputation by
lambasting the Religious Right. He labeled Pat Robertson and Jerry
Falwell "agents of intolerance" and decried the
Right's role within the Republican Party:
WASHINGTON
In 2000, John McCain solidified his "maverick" reputation by
lambasting the Religious Right. He labeled Pat Robertson and Jerry
Falwell "agents of intolerance" and decried the
Right's role within the Republican Party:
They are corrupting influences on religion and
politics, and those who practice them in the name of religion or in the name of
the Republican Party or in the name of America shame our faith, our party
and our country.
"John McCain has been working hard to get back in the good graces
of the Right," said People For the American Way President Kathryn
Kolbert. "He's given them exactly what they want - a book
banning, anti-choice, anti-gay, anti-science extremist who's short on
experience but long on ideology. Americans don't want a candidate who
believes that victims of rape and incest should be denied a right to choose
abortion. But the far right does. They said jump, and McCain just
asked how high."
In return, the right-wing's response has been over the top:
James
Dobson, Focus on the Family: "A lot of people were praying, and
I believe Sarah Palin is God's answer."
Tony
Perkins, Family Research Council: "Senator McCain made an outstanding
pick."
Connie
Mackey, FRCAction: "I am elated with Senator McCain's
choice."
Mat Staver, Liberty Counsel:
"Absolutely brilliant choice."
Richard Land:
"Governor Palin will delight the Republican base."
Rick
Scarborough, Vision America,
"I'm elated. I think it's a superb choice."
Ralph
Reed: "They're beyond ecstatic. This is a home run."
Gary
Bauer, American Values: "[A] grand slam home run."
Phyllis
Schlafly, Eagle Forum: "She is the best possible choice."
Wendy Wright, Concerned
Women for America:
"Governor Palin will change the dynamics of the entire presidential
race."
Janice Shaw Crouse, CWA's Beverly
LaHaye Institute: "She is an outstanding woman who will be an excellent
role model for the nation's young people."
David
Barton, Wallbuilders: "The talk won't be about, 'look at Sarah Palin'
as much as 'look at what McCain's choice of Palin says about McCain's core
beliefs."
Jonathan
Falwell: "John McCain made it very clear that his administration was
going to be a pro-life administration, and he proved that's his belief
and his passion today with the choice of Sarah Palin."
Jerry
Falwell, Jr.: "I think it's a brilliant choice."
Charmaine
Yoest, Americans United for Life: "And then when [Palin] was
announced - it was like you couldn't breathe. [We] were grabbing
each other and jumping up and down."
Gary
Marx, Judicial Confirmation Network: "I can tell you that this pick
tells millions in the base of the party that they can trust McCain. More
specifically that they can trust him with Supreme Court picks and other key
appointments."
David Keene,
American Conservative Union: "The selection of Governor Palin is great
news for conservatives, for the party and for the country. I predict any
conservatives who have been lukewarm thus far in their support of the McCain
candidacy will work their hearts out between now and November for the
McCain-Palin ticket."
People For the American Way works to build a democratic society that implements the ideals of freedom, equality, opportunity and justice for all. We encourage civic participation, defend fundamental rights, and fight to dismantle systemic barriers to equitable opportunity. We fight against right-wing extremism and the injustice it fosters.
1 (800) 326-7329LATEST NEWS
Swalwell's Gubernatorial Campaign Implodes Amid Bombshell Sexual Assault Allegation
“He needs to withdrawal from the governor’s race and resign from Congress, immediately,” said one of Swalwell's Democratic opponents.
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Calls for Democratic Congressman Eric Swalwell to drop out of the California gubernatorial race mounted Saturday as prominent supporters rescinded their endorsements and staffers fled his imploding campaign after more—and more serious—sexual misconduct allegations against him emerged.
Multiple women had already accused Swalwell, 45, of unwanted touching and kissing, and sending them unsolicited explicit images and messages. On Friday, the San Francisco Chronicle reported that a woman who had worked for the Swalwell said he sexually assault her twice while she was too intoxicated to consent. The woman's identity was concealed.
Hours later, CNN aired a report in which a former Swalwell staffer—who is apparently the same woman interviewed by the Chronicle—said the East Bay and Central Valley congressman raped her while she was drunk, leaving her bruised and bleeding. CNN also interviewed three other women who alleged various types of sexual misconduct they said was committed by Swalwell.
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Hear it directly from me. These allegations are flat false. And I will fight them. pic.twitter.com/bQSlCquD1U
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Swalwell has claimed that Cheyenne Hunt—the activist and social media influencer who published the initial allegations against him earlier this week—has academic and political connections with former Congresswoman Katie Porter (D-Calif.), one of his rivals in the crowded gubernatorial race.
Porter campaign spokesperson Peter Opitz countered that Hunt and Porter "don't have a relationship to speak of," and that "in fact, Katie endorsed a different candidate when [Hunt] was running in a neighboring district."
Swalwell campaign staff and supporters are fleeing fast.
US Sens. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), and Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.); House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY); and Reps. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Ted Lieu (D-Calif.), Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.), Mike Thompson (D-Calif.), Doris Matsui (D-Calif.), and Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.) are among the prominent erstwhile endorsers of Swalwell calling on him to quit.
“What is described is indefensible,” Gallego—who initially defended his friend Swalwell—said in a statement Friday. “Women who come forward with accounts like this deserve to be heard with respect, not questioned or dismissed. I regret having come to his defense on social media prior to knowing all the information. I am equally as shocked and upset about what has transpired.”
Groups ranging from the California Federation of Labor to the California Police Chiefs Association have rescinded their endorsements of Swalwell.
The California Federation of Labor Unions withdraws its endorsement of Rep. Eric Swalwell in the California Governor's race.
[image or embed]
— California Federation of Labor Unions (@californialabor.bsky.social) April 11, 2026 at 9:18 AM
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Porter, billionaire Tom Steyer, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan, former state Comptroller Betty Yee, and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond are among the gubernatorial candidates urging Swalwell to withdraw from the race—and, in some cases, from Congress.
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Porter said: “The allegations against Congressman Swalwell are horrifying. I’m thinking of the courageous women who have come forward to share their stories. We believe you and we stand with you.”
Yee called the allegations against Swalwell "sickening."
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Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton, a supporter of President Donald Trump—who was found civilly liable for sexually abusing and defaming journalist E. Jean Carroll and who is accused of rape or other sex offenses against dozens of women and a child—also called on Swalwell to exit the race.
Other elected officials in California and beyond are urging Swalwell to quit the governor's race and Congress.
The accusations against Eric Swalwell are serious and deeply disturbing. There is no place for sexual assault in public life or anywhere else. He should undertake a swift, public and independent investigation into these allegations. He should resign from Congress and end his campaign for governor.
— Nithya Raman (@nithyaforthecity.bsky.social) April 10, 2026 at 10:03 PM
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Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) said, "Rep. Swalwell should immediately withdraw from the governor’s race and there must be a quick and thorough investigation."
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Gaisford asked Mamdani if he is frustrated that "$900 million a day [is] being spent on the war, when you have projects that cost much less that can make a difference."
"I think it should frustrate all of us, you know what I mean?" the democratic socialist mayor replied. "Tupac said it decades ago, it continues to be true, about the fact that we always seem to have money for war but not to feed the poor. And that is not the way politics should be; that is not what Americans want politics to be."
Mamdani was referring to Tupac Shakur's 1993 track "Keep Ya Head Up," which contains the lyrics, "You know, it's funny when it rains it pours/They got money for wars, but can't feed the poor."
Shakur's 1998 song "Changes" also feels relevant today, as the slain rapper asks, "Can't a brother get a little peace?/It's war on the streets and the war in the Middle East/Instead of war on poverty, they got a war on drugs so the police can bother me."
Watch Mamdani's interview with Gaisford here:
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A suspect was arrested in San Francisco Friday after being accused of throwing a Molotov cocktail at the home of Sam Altman, the CEO of the artificial intelligence firm OpenAI.
The 20-year-old man was found at the OpenAI headquarters about three miles away from Altman's home, where he was threatening to burn down the building, San Francisco police said.
The device the suspect threw onto Altman's property in the Russian Hill neighborhood caused a fire on the exterior gate. It was unclear whether Altman and his family were at home.
The suspect was in custody Friday, with charges pending.
Altman's company and other companies have been under fire as AI has expanded rapidly at President Donald Trump's urging, with the president issuing an executive order attacking states' ability to regulate the industry.
Experts have warned the expansion of generative AI threatens jobs and democracy, with political campaigns already using the technology to create fraudulent media in advertisements.
Massive, energy-sucking AI data centers have also been blamed for higher household electricity bills and water consumption.
Protesters have rallied against Altman's company for agreeing to provide its technology to the Department of Defense.
In November, The New York Times reported, a person who had once been associated with the anti-AI group Stop AI "expressed interest in causing physical harm to OpenAI employees," causing the company to lock down its headquarters.
On Friday, Stop AI condemned the attack on Altman's house and emphasized that the group "seeks to protect human life."
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