Top Videos 2009

Ron Paul Takes the Radissson 12/26/2008 Ron Paul supporters, frustrated by his exclusion from the Republican Debates, find out that much of the media is staying at the Radisson. An impromptu noise demonstration ensues. Full Video

Debate in 30 Seconds 12/26/2008 ABC News has told news organizations that they can only use 30 seconds of video from Wednesday night's debate between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. The UpTake's Noah Kunin is in Philadelphia where the debate took place and sees if the entire debate can be summarized in 30 seconds. Full Video

Inside The DNC Protests 08/26/2008 Recreate 68 is one of the controversially-named progressive groups organizing demonstrations and other activities at the 2008 DNC in Denver. The UpTake's Chuck Olsen interviews one of the group's founders, Mark Cohen, and documents the first big protest of the DNC. The theme was, "End the Occupation."   Cohen points out that the group is not named "Recreate Chicago 68" or "Recreate DNC 68" a reference to the police riots that errupted during the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago.  The group is dedicated to peace, and unlike those protests in 1968, these ended peacefully with no immediate reports of arrests.    Additional footage by Corrine McDermid and Josh Mull. Live music performance by Dead Prez. Full Video

RNC: Cop Attacked 09/02/2008 The UpTake captured video of a St. Paul police officer dragging a "black bloc" protester away from a bus, only to get tackled from behind. The officer sprayed a chemical agent all around him but ultimately lost the suspect and called for backup. Video by Conduit. **http://the-uptake.groups.theuptake.org/en/videogalleryView/id/692/ Full Video

Rep. Bachmann Blames Mortgage Crisis On Rules Designed To Help Minorities 09/28/2008 Minnesota 6th District Congresswoman Michele Bachmann is placing the blame for the current mortgage crisis on actions by the Clinton administration 15 years ago.   At a hearing Thursday she read portions of a story by Investors' Business Daily's Terry Jones which said the rules were written to allow more lending to minorities. (CSPAN video clip to right)   "Loans started being made on the basis of race, and often little else." said Bachmann reading from the article.   Earlier this week Bachmann told MPR "too much government intervention" was to blame for the nation's financial crisis   Democrats Respond DFL Spokesman Eric Fought said "Bachmann owes the people of Minnesota, especially her Sixth District constituents, an apology. At a time of great economic crisis, Minnesotans look to their elected officials to lead the charge, finding solutions. Instead, Bachmann has let us down once again."   Related Coverage: Rep. Oberstar says plan not a "bailout" Full Video

Inside McCain's Florida Campaign 10/26/2008 Central Florida McCain Chairman Lewis Oliver on ACORN, paid volunteers, republicans limiting hours and locations of polling stations in Florida, and voter turn out tactics used by the McCain campaign. Video by Sam Mayfield Full Video

Media Calls MN GOP Chair On Being "Presumptuo us" 11/18/2008 Minnesota GOP Chair Ron Carey told reporters on Monday that it was "presumptuous" of Franken to take a trip to Washington, DC.  Franken is visiting the nation's capitol to give Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and others an update on the recount in Minnesota.   Minnesota reporters didn't take Carey's bait, instead asking wasn't it presumptuous of Carey to declare Coleman the winner, not once, but twice when the state has yet to certify any results? Full Video

McCain on the Stump, and a Different Jewish Perspective 12/26/2008 Lynn Smith got out to Concord yesterday to check out one of John McCain's final stump speeches in New Hampshire. After the rally, she met some Orthodox Jews with an unexpected position on Zionism. Full Video

Obama Victory Speech-uncut 06/05/2008 The UpTake was on hand to live stream and record Barack Obama’s speech from the Xcel Center in Saint Paul Minnesota when he claimed victory in the Democratic primary. Full Video

Democrats Tossed Protesting Too Much/Not Enough Religion 08/26/2008   Democratic National Convention: at the interfaith service both secular and fundamentalist protesters are ejected from the service.   One of the protesters tossed from the service said " She (the leader of the service) said these are all people of faith. I'm not a person of faith. She doesn't speak for me.   "The Democratic Party is supposed to be a party of all the people and you're holding a religious service for people of faith. You go to a Democratic function and they tell you you're a person of faith. Well I'm not a person of faith. I believe in the constitution."   Ted Fritschel, who helped organize the faith group noted that the groups mission statement says Athiest and Agnostics has as much freedom in action as anybody else.   Protesters who are against abortion (Pro-life, Anti-Choice pick your desciptor) were removed from the service when they stood up and began shouting.   Video by Noah Kunin and Salimah Ebrahim   Full Video

Journalists Trapped Between Police, Protestors And Pyrotechnics 09/02/2008 Outside the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, UpTake Journalists Corrine McDermid and Oliver Dykstra find themselves caught between police and protesters when there are suddenly explosions.  Video edited by Michael McIntee. **http://the-uptake.groups.theuptake.org/en/videogalleryView/id/695/ Full Video

Al Gore: Now Is The Time Of Reckoning 10/05/2008   This is the speech Al Gore gave in support of Al Franken at the DFL Founders Day event on October 4, 2008.   Transcript:( video starts a few minutes into this speech)   Al Gore:  I appreciate the warm welcome and you know why I’m here.  We’ve got to elect Al Franken to the United States Senate.   I really appreciate my friendship with Al and I’m going to talk about why I feel so strongly that we should elect him.   Before I do that, I want to acknowledge his wife Franni and his daughter Thomasin, all of their hard work in this incredibly hard campaign.   And I want to acknowledge that a hero of mine, and I don’t throw the word around lightly, former vice-president Fritz Mondale and Joan Mondale right here.  Thank you.  Great to see you   He made more of a difference to me when after I was elected Vice President, long before the inauguration, the first thing I did was spending some time talking in depth with Fritz Mondale.  I can’t even begin to tell you how important that was.   He is really the one who redefined the job of the vice president in the American system.  And that worked out pretty well until this last Vice-President (laughs).  But that’s another story.   I want to acknowledge with respect to Amy Klobuchar who has done such a tremendous job and her husband John and her daughter Abigail .  And I’m particularly proud and grateful that Senator Klobuchar immediately established herself as a very effective and eloquent and powerful voice on behalf of solving the climate crisis.  So few of them down there have been doing that.  Amy Klobuchar has been doing a fantastic job.  I’m very grateful to her.  I thank you for sending her.   To Congressman Tim Walz and Congressman Keith Ellison, thank you both for doing a terrific job.  And to three outstanding candidates, in the third district Ashwin Madia and another Iraq war veteran Steve Sarvi in the second district and El Tinklenberg in the sixth district, let’s elect these candidates for Congress.   And I want you to remember how important it is to pay attention to these state legislative races.   I want to acknowledge speaker of the house Margaret Anderson Kelliher. You need a veto proof majority in the House of Representatives here in Minnesota.  So remember that.   To Mark Ritchie and Rebecca Otto and Laurie Swanson and others and Chairman Brian Melendez of the DFL and to all distinguished guests.  OK     --video starts here--     I’ve had a chance to come here quite a few times to talk about elections and you’ll often hear “this election is the most important election”. Sometimes it’s a stretch.  This is one of those times that it is dead on true.  This election is really fateful for our country.  I was thinking about how often I come here Fritz when I was at a restaurant recently and a woman came walking by in front of my table, just staring at me as she walked past.   And I didn’t think anything of it until a few moments later from the corner of my eye I saw her coming from the opposite direction.  And she was just staring at me.  And so I said “how do you do”.  And she took two steps forward and said “ you know if you died your hair black, you would look just like Al Gore. “   So I said “thank you Ma’am .”  She said, “You sound like him too”.   I’ve known Al Franken for a long time. And I said early I always thought he was in the wrong line of business for two reasons.  One he’s not really funny.   That was a joke Al.  But secondly and of course the point I’m making is that for as long as I’ve known him, he has been passionately involved in debating and thinking about in very creative ways the public policy issues of our day.  And he really cares deeply.  He really has been deeply involved in trying to come up with the right solutions.   And let me tell you, Washington, DC needs a breath of fresh air and an eloquent advocate for the middle class Americans who’s interests are at stake in this race.  And Al Franken is the person to do that.  He’s got the heart and the mind, the passion and the depth and the experience for it and I feel so strongly about it.   Back in 2000, there was nobody who did more for me and I know his capacity for hard work and I really respect him a lot.   But now let’s look at the big picture here.  Part of what American democracy is all about is the opportunity elections provide to hold elected officials and political parties and groups that have been given responsibility for guiding our country, accountable for what they have done or what they have failed to do.   And over the last several years, roughly eight years, (laughter) If you look back and decide whether or not this is a good time to reward members of the United States Senate who have been virtually in lockstep of the policies that have produced the results that we now have so vividly on display in our country.  And because our country is a global power around the world, do you think it’s time to reward those who are the architects and cheerleaders and supporters of these policies.  This election provides you an opportunity to do that.   But if you think it is time to bring about a change in the course our nation is following, it’s time to elect Al Franken to the United States Senate.   And just look at the record. Eight years ago there were the biggest surpluses in the history of our nation.  And our economy was strong with strong job growth.  And there was hope and there was optimism.  And with all of the problems that we’re always facing, there was a sense that we had the ability to solve those problems and we would continue in our efforts to form a more perfect union and to try to realize the destiny of our country.  To make a better way of life for our people.   And now look eight years later.  Instead of surpluses, the largest deficits in the history of our country.  Deficits so large they would have been completely unimaginable in prior generations.   The national debt increase by so much you… it’s hard to even use the numbers to count, the numbers they are so big now.  And the economy is suffering and nine straight months of job losses and it’s getting worse.  And all around the world other countries are looking at the United States and instead of feeling what we want them to feel, pride in the fact that the Unites States is living up to what we’re supposed to be, and hopefulness that the United States is going to make it possible for others around the world to dream of the kind of experience that America has always given to its citizens.  Instead, the people in the rest of the world are looking at the United State’s economy and are thinking oh this is so bad it’s going to bring down the economies in other countries.   And when you turn on the news and you hear the commentators using phrases such as “worse than anything since the Great Depression of 1929” “Worse than any conditions since the 1930s” I saw the head of one of the largest banks in on the floor of the stock exchange interviewed last week saying “this would be a good time to find a financial bomb shelter.”   When you hear things like that, one of the things that tells you ….let me just translate it for you: The people who have been in charge in the White House and their supporters in the United State Senate have made a complete mess of this economy and it’s time to kick them out of there and have a change and. start putting our country on the right track again.    It’s not that complicated.  This is not that complicated.  They have made a mess of things.  What about foreign policy?  They invaded the wrong country, hello? (Wild applause).  It’s not that complicated.  And given every chance after chance to change course and try to recognize the mistake and take off in a different direction, this White House and their supporters in the Unites States Senate have just kept on going the same course.  And they will still not acknowledge the mistake.   It shouldn’t be necessary to repeat the basic facts.  The people who attacked us where Al-kada from Afghanistan and on the border with Pakistan.  They invaded Iraq, which has absolutely to do with it.     Now we know that here, but they spent considerable time and effort and expense trying to convince people of something completely different.  And I know you’ve heard this but now is the time of reckoning.  31 days and a few hours from now we have to have a reckoning.  We have to hold them accountable.   What about America’s reputation in the world?  Torture? Torture?   You know 230 years ago General George Washington at Valley Forge was approached by two lieutenants who wanted him to settle a dispute.   The colonial soldiers had captured some Hessians.  And the Hessians, allied with the British in the Revolutionary war, had a custom that was all too common the 19th century had tortured the American soldiers.  Some of our troops wanted to return the favor.   And one of the Lieutenants said “ no it doesn’t feel right, let’s take it to General Washington”.    And General Washington said “absolutely not” because the United States of America is going to stand for something new on the surface of this planet.   We’re going to respect the dignity of individuals.   We’re going to respect men and women because they have God-given rights.  And he said that if we were to torture captives it would bring in his words “shame disgrace and ruin” to the United States.   Now in wars throughout our history that principle has sometimes been observed and of course in the breech in every war there have been excesses and atrocities but never until now has there been a policy of torture devised and compelled and directed in the White House of the United States in the name of the American People.  It’s time to hold them accountable.  We’re better than that.  We need to stand for what this country is based on. (Wild applause).   These are not minor matters.   I tell you they’ve done some many things that, well you know I’m not going to spend a lot of time talking about the climate crisis because I’ve talked here on quite a few occasions and you know how strongly I feel about it.  But that issue as stake in this election also because the oil companies and the carbon polluters are on one side of this race and the people are on the other side of this race.   And during the hour that we are spending here, the world will put another three-million-tons of global warming pollution into the thin fragile shell of atmosphere around this planet.   Three percent increase world wide just in one year.   The figures released yesterday, er ah two days ago show the north polar ice cap normally the size of the lower 48 states, been there for three-million years, an important feature defining the planet, with a 75 percent chance that it will be completely and totally gone during the summertime in less than five years.   And we continue to put that pollution up there and the current group that’s in there refuses to do anything about it.  And when the scientists coming out with warnings to the people, this group has allowed the censorship – the White House has censored their words if the warnings were ones that would upset the oil companies. And they have actually inserted in their place words written by Exxon /Mobile and some of the other largest polluters.  You would think that you’d have to make up something like that. But that has actually been happening. And they have done absolutely nothing about it.  And by the way, they have also stood by when Halliburton and other contractors have been ripping off the taxpayers and undermining the welfare and safety of our troops over there.  I gotten to the point when a new outrage comes along, I’ve got to download some existing outrage to make room for the new outrage in order to react to it.  (Applause)   And Al Franken’s opponent… one of the positions he held was chairing the permanent subcommittee on investigations.  And as Fritz Mondale can tell you that is one of the most coveted positions in either the House or the Senate because through out the history of the Congress, that’s been place where the tough investigations have been carried out.   Think of what Senator Harry Truman did when he covered the fraud and abuse during the early years of World War Two.  You can go back through history.  And with all of these outrages and abuses the chairman of that investigative committee does absolutely nothing except applaud and cheerlead.  It is time to hold him accountable. It is time for a change.  It is time for an advocate of the people. (Applause)   There are as I say 31 days, one month from today, 31 days and a few hours.  Early voting has already started.  You have a very clear choice.  One of the problems in our modern political system is that the effort to hold people in political parties accountable sometimes runs up against the outpouring of special interest money from the powerful groups that want to twist perceptions and distract people and put out things that will try to cause people to vote on something other than the issues.  Other than their own self interest.  Other than what democracy is supposed to be about at election time, and that is making clear choices and holding incumbents accountable and making a choice as to what the direction is for the future.   But this time, if this record on the war, on torture on mass wire-tapping without warrants, on financial mismanagement of a scale that’s unprecedented in the whole history of our country, of wrecking the economy, of ignoring the environment, of actively choosing the interest of these special interests over the interests of the people, if this record were to be rewarded rather than used as a basis for a clear and decisive choice to go in new direction, what would it say about the vitality of our democracy?    I don’t believe that’s going to happen this time.   I believe that this record on the part of the White House and the part of those who have been cheerleading and supporting lock step forward this White House.  I believe this record is going to be examined closely by the people and I hope right here in Minnesota and based on what I what I’m hearing I believe the people of Minnesota are going to make a clear choice because the alternative is a breath of fresh air, a new perspective, a fresh energy, passion commitment and values that are in line with the middle class voters and people and families of Minnesota.   Ladies and Gentlemen, now is the time for change if we’ve ever had a time for change.  Now is the time and let’s do it by electing Al Franken to the United States Senate.  Thank you.  **http://the-uptake.groups.theuptake.org/en/videogalleryView/id/893/   Full Video

Election Protection: Know Your Rights! 10/29/2008 When you go to the polls, it's possible that someone might challenge your right to vote. If that happens, what should you do? With the help of the ACLU we get a demonstration of how to handle some of the situations that could come up. This demonstration was based upon the laws in Michigan . Laws vary from state to state and sometimes even from county to county. To find out what the laws are in your location, check either one of these websites: www.866ourvote.org www.epwiki.org Full Video

Minnesota Senate Recount Update 11/19/2008 Lawyers for Norm Coleman and Al Franken dueled in Minnesota while the state canvassing board reset the race to zero-zero and the recount begins. Full Video

Early Returns From New Hampshire Primary 12/26/2008 Sock le Puppet has the first returns from New Hampshire Full Video

CAUGHT: GOP Tosses Journalist 06/05/2008 Minnesota’s Republican Party seems very camera-shy. Over the past several months Republicans have prevented journalists from recording their candidates at events. The latest incident was rather dramatic as Gavin Sullivan was tossed out of the Republican convention for district 42B for shooting video. The UpTake’s Mike McIntee shows us Gavin Sullivan’s video and talks to another journalist who has been tossed out twice from Republican events. If you like this video and want more people to see it, view and rate the video on YouTube and Digg it! UPDATE: Gavin provides the backstory to this incident. Here’s Gavin Sullivan, a citizen journalist, trying to cover the Minnesota Republican Convention for District 42 B. Watch what happens. Unfortunately it’s not an isolated incident. Over the past several months, Minnesota Republicans have repeated booted video journalists from their events. This is Republican Congresswoman Michele Bachmann at a recent tax rally. You can see and hear her here because the rally was at the state capital. But you can’t see or hear what she said when shewas endorsed last month.That’s because the sixth district GOP banned all cameras and audio recording devices, including The Saint Cloud Times and Minnesota Public Radio. The UpTake’s video volunteers have been booted from the party’s state convention in Blaine and a debate between Republican First Congressional candidates in Jackson, and the Republican First Congressional convention in Albert Lea. Kyle Potter, a Volunteer Journalist for The UpTake describes what happened to him. “A few weeks ago, I got the assignment to go there and I emailed and called the person who was in charge of the event, the chair person for the first congressional district, and I got no response. So I figured, OK I’ll just go down there. I’ll talk to someone at the press credential table and we’ll see what happens. “I went down. I didn’t see any press credential table so I walked in and I set up my camera. I filmed for awhile and I was told by the Sergeant-At-Arms that I have to register my camera. I asked him who to do that with, and he said that he would talk to the person who I emailed originally. “The Sergeant-At-Arms comes back and says that I was denied access. And I asked why and he said there wasn’t any reason given. So I had to leave. That’s kind of similar to another time when I was up in Blaine. I was doing pretty much the same thing. Before the event started I talked to the communications director at the Minnesota GOP and told him what I was doing there and said everything. And then later a guy aggressively approached me. That time it was aggressively approached me and said that I had to leave. And gave no reason. He didn’t identify who he was. He didn’t say why he could tell me to leave. I eventually asked him to go talk to the communications director and he came back and just said I have to leave.” The DFL makes it a policy to allow press, including videobloggers to attend all of its conventions and debates. Republican Blogger Michael Brodkorb says it’s a policy “the Republicans should look at mirroring”. Full Video

DNC 2008: Analysis of Michelle's Speech 08/26/2008 "America will have a different view of her," says Jamal Simmons, Senior Democratic Advisor to Barack Obama, about Michelle Obama after her speech on the opening night of the DNC Convention. Calling her both vulnerable and strong, Simmons believes the potential First Lady took Republican criticisms head-on in her charged speech about her experiences growing up in Middle America. Salimah Ebrahim reports. Full Video

RNC Day 1: Mostly Peaceful 09/03/2008 Independent media have given a lot of coverage to the confrontations between police, demonstrators, and - well - independent media. The UpTake now has proof that creative, peaceful people were in fact spotted in downtown St. Paul on the first day of the RNC; an estimated 10,000 of them in fact. Here's a little taste. **http://the-uptake.groups.theuptake.org/en/videogalleryView/id/706/   Full Video

Franken To Coleman: "Bring On The Negative Ads" 10/06/2008 The advertisements running in the very expensive Minnesota US Senate race sparked some heated comments during Sunday night's debate between Al Franken, Norm Coleman and Dean Barkley. Franken said the ads he was running were about Norm Coleman's record, "so  it's a lot of negative."  Coleman countered that his ads are about Franken's career as a comedian and the negative things he has said.   Partial Transcript:   Franken :"There's been some nasty ads against me. I understand the sentiment behind this question. You know, part of an election is holding an incumbent accountable, holding an elected official accountable. We've been running ads about Norm Coleman's record, and so it's a lot of negative, because his record hasn't been very good.   "Now, they have put out some pretty nasty personal ads against me, and people have said to me, 'Well, how can you take it?' And I say, 'Well, that's nothing compared to the hits that people are taking around Minnesota.' Kids who can't go to college; one woman in Fergus Falls who has diabetes and her son has diabetes and she can't pay for his - she has to share insulin with him.   "I see stories like this all the time. So, bring on the negative ads. I think they're going to backfire like they backfired against Rudy Boschwitz when he ran them over and over again against Paul Wellstone."   Full Video

What if the polls are wrong? - Possible violent reaction 10/30/2008 By Corrine L. McDermid -- After the Obama rally in Denver, nine days before the election, I asked some supporters what they think might happen if McCain wins the Presidency. Full Video

War And Peace On A Street Corner 11/26/2008 Every Tuesday a group holds a peace vigil in Burnsville.  Sometimes they ask you to honk if you support peace.  Sometimes there are counter-protests to their peace vigil.  The guy in the cowboy hat is on the executive committee of the local Republican party.  And many of the people in the peace vigil are Democrats.  But this isn’t a story about politics. It’s a story about what happens when peaceful people meet conflict. Video and photos by Greg Skog.  Story by Michael McIntee Full Video

What We Learned In New Hampshire 12/26/2008 Conclusions, exclusions and delusions from the granite state primary. Full Video

Tax Protest Puts "Me" Over "We" 06/05/2008 If you consider yourself middle class, then you probably have a right to be upset about taxes. When you include all local, state and federal taxes, you pay a higher proportion of your income in taxes than those who make more than $400,000 a year (follow the link and look at table 4-6 on page 52). And those who are poor pay a rate nearly twice as high as the rich. The culprits for this disparity: a decade of tax cuts for the rich based upon the false belief that they trickle down to the rest of the economy, and tax hikes on the middle class and poor in the form of property taxes, or disguised as fees. At a time when Minnesota’s economy, quality of life and infrastructure are declining, protesters and Republican Congressional Representatives are calling for even more tax cuts. Growth and Justice’s Angela Eilers says the protesters are a vocal minority who are putting “me” over “we.” Full Video

Torturing Michelle Malkin 08/27/2008   9/11 Truther  Alex Jones  chases conservative TV personality  Michelle Malkin  away from the Denver Mint protest "Shake Your Money Maker." **http://The-UpTake.groups.theuptake.org/en/videogalleryView/id/524/   Full Video

McCain Supporter: President Obama = Weak Country 09/11/2008 You might expect delegates to the Republican National Convention to give their Presidential nominee high ratings for his acceptance speech. The UpTake's Mike McIntee interviewed delegates and found there are varied reasons for supporting McCain, and some of them have more to do with his running mate than McCain himself. We also get analysis of McCain’s speech from a media consultant who says the Senator spoke too much about Hanoi and not enough about the economy and solutions. **http://the-uptake.groups.theuptake.org/en/videogalleryView/id/754/ Full Video

Press Tries To Unravel Sen.Coleman Suit Story 10/08/2008 Who paid for Senator Norm Coleman's expensive suits? It's a pretty straight question that's not getting a straight answer from Senator Coleman or his campaign. This video provided by the DFL Party is of Senator Coleman refusing to respond to an allegation first reported by Ken Silverstein of Harpers Magazine.   Senator Coleman's reason for not responding to the question was because it had been reported in "the blogs".   The blog that reported the allegation is published by Harper's Magazine and written by its award winning reporter Ken Silverstein . His article indicates Minnesota businessman Nasser Kazeminy, a big donor to the G.O.P., may have bought suits for Coleman at Neiman Marcus when Coleman was still Mayor of St. Paul. So, Coleman would not have to report the gift since he was not a Senator at the time. That could explain the carefully worded answer his campaign gave today to repeated questions about the suits.   Coleman's Campaign Manager Sticks To The Exact Same Evasive Answer This is a link to a transcript and video of a press conference today(Wednesday) where Coleman's Campaign Manager gave the same answer twelve times about whether the Senator's Suits were a gift.   That answer was "The Senator has reported every gift he has ever received".   Excerpt: REPORTER: So the Senator will only go according to the Senate ethics laws or rules rather than answer questions? CULLEN SHEEHAN: He has done everything that he is required to do, Rachel. REPORTER: That is not my question, Cullen. CULLEN SHEEHAN: But that is my response. Full Video

I Am The Zombie Media 10/31/2008 You've heard of "gonzo journalism"? Welcome to "zombie journalism." It ain't easy being a citizen zombie journalist. For one thing, you need lots of BRAINS. Also, you need MORE BRAINS. Special thanks to Jeremy Afterglide and the Zombie Pub Crawl of Minneapolis. Full Video

"Lizard People" invade MN Senate Recount 12/19/2008 Review of challenged ballots in the recount for the MN seat for US Senate brings some welcome comic relief in the name of write-in candidates on challenged ballots: Lizard People and Flying Spaghetti Monster, with a little Frankenstin [sic] for good measure. EDIT: Chuck Olsen PRODUCTION: Mike McIntee VIDEO: Noah Kunin     **http://the-uptake.groups.theuptake.org/en/videogalleryView/id/1483/ Full Video

Politics and the Strip 12/26/2008 Volunteers from all over the country hit Las Vegas, preparing for Saturday's caucus. Their earnest dedication to politics clashes with the outsider perception of Vegas. Michelle Obama, appearing with Senator John Kerry, moves one supporter to tears. Full Video

FOX News Ambushes Bill Moyers at NCMR 06/07/2008 At the National Conference for Media Reform 2008. Fox personality Bill O'Reilly's producer, Porter Barry, ambushes PBS Bill Moyers to pepper him with questions regarding his political affiliations and his "refusal" to appear on O'Reilly's show. Moyers disputes Fox's "facts." Full Video

Rednecks for Obama 08/27/2008 An unlikely pairing? They don't think so.  Our Chuck Olsen gets it straight from the horse's mouth on why these good old boys support Obama. Rednecks do not always equal red states. These are highlights from Chuck Olsen's live streaming camera. Tune into theuptake.org to see the latest live clips!   **http://the-uptake.groups.theuptake.org/en/videogalleryView/id/550/ Full Video

ERA Opponent Questions Obama's Patriotism 09/11/2008 Phylis Schlafly, best known for her opposition to the Equal Rights Amendment in the 1970s is very happy with Senator John McCain as the Republican Party nominee for President.  At the recent Republican National Convention she gives The UpTake a review of McCain's acceptance speech.   Says Schlafly about McCain "I know he's for our country.  I'm not so sure about his opponent."   **http://the-uptake.groups.theuptake.org/en/videogalleryView/id/757/ Full Video

Coleman Campaign Denies Independent Media Access To News Conference 10/10/2008 When is a news conference not a news conference? When you don't let all the media in. The UpTake and the Minnesota Independent were denied access to Senator Norm Coleman's news conference about the Economic Rescue Plan this morning. **http://the-uptake.groups.theuptake.org/en/videogalleryView/id/916/ Full Video

The Neverending Vote 11/03/2008 Election day in Denver in 2006 saw lines late into the night, and an uncountable number simply walking away from the polls. A lot of things have been changed to try and address that, including going back to systems less dependent on computerized systems. And it's estimated that 35% of Coloradans have already voted by mail or early vote. But the ballot in Colorado is long this year. Seriously long. It took me about 45 minutes to vote it, and I skipped the judges. I don't know how many minutes election officials here figured people would need when they decided how many voting booths needed to be where. I'm guessing it wasn't 45. The rumor is this is the longest ballot in the country. We'll be keeping an eye on things on election day to see how the system handles such a ginourmous ballot. Tune in to theuptake.org.   **http://the-uptake.groups.theuptake.org/en/videogalleryView/id/1168/ Full Video

Barack the Caucus! 12/26/2008 Barack Obama rocks the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Student Union, Royce D'Orazio reports.    Full Video

Old Coal Plant Smokestack Detonated 06/28/2008 Note: there are two camera angles of the drop - watch the entire video. Little known to the general public, in order to keep our "mainstream press license", The UpTake needs to release a video of something exploding at least once per year. Here is our entry from St. Paul, MN. Xcel Energy has converted the High Bridge power plant from coal to natural gas in order to reduce carbon emissions and eliminate pollutants like mercury. They are demolishing sections of the site no longer active and will convert them for community use. Thankfully, this video meets all of our criteria: guys throwing up a high-five after the collapse, someone woefully misjudging the size of the smoke stack, etc. Full Video

Ralph Nader: Peace, Love and Hugs 08/29/2008 Citizen Kate asks Ralph Nader what it takes to be a great leader, and more significantly - how much money does it take?  These questions and many more answered by the man himself, Ralph Nader at the DNC in Denver, CO. These are highlights of our live streaming camera that is following Kate around. Tune into theuptake.org to see the latest live clips   **http://the-uptake.groups.theuptake.org/en/videogalleryView/id/584/ Full Video

The Right to Assemble: ACLU on RNC Police Action 09/11/2008 The American Civil Liberties Union is representing dozens of protestors arrested at the RNC. Chuck Samuelson, Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota, says much of the police repression during the RNC was based on law coming out of the Patriot Act. This video was produced by Geraldine Cahill of The Real News Network: http://therealnews.com/ **http://the-uptake.groups.theuptake.org/en/videogalleryView/id/760/ Full Video

McCain Volunteer "Obama Is An Arab" 10/11/2008   Gayle Quinnel, a John McCain supporter says at a McCain Rally that "Obama is an Arab". She is quickly corrected by John McCain who takes away her microphone. This is an interview with her done by a live streaming cell phone.  Interviewers include Noah Kunin, Senior Political Correspondent from The UpTake, Adam Aigner of NBC News and Dana Bash of CNN. Quinnel cited that she obtained the information on Obama being an Arab at "her local library" and from a pamphlet obtained at a local McCain campaign office (provided by a fellow volunteer not the campaign itself).  She has taken it upon herself to redistribute the information as widely as possible by making copies of the pamphlet and sending it to random names in the phone book.   Full Video

"Vigilante Voter Police" Harass Minority Voters/Attac k ACORN 11/03/2008 Two lawsuits have been filed against New Mexico's Republican heavyweights on behalf of voters who endured visits from a private investigator and having their personal information publicly distributed via press conference.  Story By Stuart Overbey   **http://the-uptake.groups.theuptake.org/en/videogalleryView/id/1174/ Full Video

Obama-Mobile Man 12/26/2008 Royce D'Orizio talks to the man with the traveling Obama plan, van, well, really it's a truck. Full Video

Why We Celebrate July 4th-Full Version 07/04/2008 Most of us know July 4th is the day the United States issued the Declaration of Independence. But have you ever read it? Here is a video of notable Minnesotans reading the declaration. Listen to the power this diverse group of people gives to these centuries old words. As you listen to the list of grievances against the King of England, consider them in the light of today's political turmoil. Has much really changed? Consider this line: "He has endeavored to prevent the population of these states; for that purpose obstructing the laws for naturalization of foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migration hither, and raising the conditions of new appropriations of lands." Even though the issue of open immigration was central to the founding of our country 232 years ago, it continues to be a political hot potato today. Readers include Former First Lady of Minnesota Jane Freeman, Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie, Minnesota State Senator Satveer Chaudhary, St. Paul Police Chief John Harrington, Minnesota Public Radio Host Gary Eichten, Minnesota Speaker of the House Margaret Anderson Kelliher and many others. Full text of the Declaration of Independence can be found at: http://www.earlyamerica.com/earlyamerica /freedom/doi/text.html Full Video

McCain Arrives For The RNC in Minneapolis -PG13 Version 08/29/2008 With no fanfare "John McCain" has arrived at the site of the Republican National Convention. The UpTake's Ken Avidor followed the Senator around and got an exclusive interview on the low-tech way McCain will use to announce his Vice Presidential choice. **http://the-uptake.groups.theuptake.org/en/videogalleryView/id/586/   Full Video

Lipstick 09/11/2008 Who can keep track of all these animals wearing lipstick? Debate Porridge contrasts the latest McCain ad that accuses Obama of making sexist remarks with remarks McCain has previously made. OriginalMcCain ad can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U32G5_bqFvA   **http://the-uptake.groups.theuptake.org/en/videogalleryView/id/762/ Full Video

McCain Volunteers Circulate Letter Saying "Obama Is An Arab" 10/11/2008 Gayle Quinnel, a John McCain supporter says at a McCain Rally that "Obama is an Arab". She is quickly corrected by John McCain who takes away her microphone. This is an interview with her done by a live streaming cell phone.  Interviewers include Noah Kunin, Senior Political Correspondent from The UpTake, Adam Aigner of NBC News and Dana Bash of CNN. Quinnel cited that she obtained the information on Obama being an Arab at "her local library" and from a pamphlet obtained at a local McCain campaign office (provided by a fellow volunteer not the campaign itself).  She has taken it upon herself to redistribute the information as widely as possible by making copies of the pamphlet and sending it to random names in the phone book. Full Video

Final Franken Coleman Confrontatio n Turns Nasty 11/03/2008 Senator Norm Coleman took every opportunity he could to claim he was a victim and blame DFL candidate Al Franken for publicizing a lawuit that alleges one of Coleman's wealthy supporters funneled money to the Senator through a company his wife works for.   And that was just the first question.   Things didn't get much more civil after that.  Watch! Full Video

Meet Protesters Against Undocumented Workers in Nevada 12/26/2008 Royce D'Orozio meets a small but vocal group of protesters outside the Hillary Campaign celebration in Nevada. Full Video

We're All Naked On A Bike 07/14/2008 According to organizer Kate/Owen, the point of the World Naked Bike Ride is tripartate- protesting oil use and car culture; advocating bikes, skateboards, rollarblades and other alternative forms of transport; and celebrating the human body. The event that took place up and down the streets of Denver on the evening of Saturday the 12th was half-expected to run into trouble from the police. In 2006 the ride ended in arrests in Boulder, and that is Boulder mind you, famous for, well, some leeway in these sorts of things. This was Denver. Not so much leeway. Organizers made sure they had copies of applicable laws, a lawyer somewhere in the crowd (he or she wasn't wearing a suit), and a street medic, for contingincies. The ensuing, impromptu partnership between police and riders says a lot about what has changed, not just in two years, but in the protest movements and police offices generally. This reporter didn't make it all the way to the end of the ride, but there have been no reports of arrests or trouble. In fact, since I often ride on sidewalks, had to borrow a glowstick to comply with regulations to have a light on my bike, and couldn't film and keep up with the pack, I was probably the most arrestable person there. Full Video

John Legend : Obama "Gets" Hip Hop 08/28/2008 John Legend has been a Barack Obama supporter even before Obama officially entered the race.   In this interview with Max Blumenthal, Legend talks about how Hurricane Katrina pulled him to be politically active, even though he says he's been politically minded all along.  Even though Obama is not the same age as Legend, he says Obama "gets" what hip hop is about. Full Video

John McCain Did Not Invent The Blackberry 09/17/2008 Did John McCain invent the Blackberry as one of his aides suggested? No. But Senator McCain has invented a lot of other stuff.   The UpTake's Sock Le Puppet investigates.   Info on Gov. Sarah Palin's false claim that Alaska provides 20% of US energy here.   Info on Sen. John McCain's false claim that Barack Obama supports corporate welfare for oil companies, and McCain wants to increase spending on alternative energy.   Watch this also on You Tube. Full Video

RNC: Cop Attacked 09/02/2008 The UpTake captured video of a St. Paul police officer dragging a "black bloc" protester away from a bus, only to get tackled from behind. The officer sprayed a chemical agent all around him but ultimately lost the suspect and called for backup. Video by Conduit. **http://the-uptake.groups.theuptake.org/en/videogalleryView/id/692/ Full Video

FOX News Ambushes Bill Moyers at NCMR 06/07/2008 At the National Conference for Media Reform 2008. Fox personality Bill O'Reilly's producer, Porter Barry, ambushes PBS Bill Moyers to pepper him with questions regarding his political affiliations and his "refusal" to appear on O'Reilly's show. Moyers disputes Fox's "facts." Full Video

Gook: John McCain's Racism and Why It Matters 07/22/2008 The UpTake's Chuck Olsen interviews author Irwin Tang about his book, "Gook: John McCain's Racism and Why It Matters."   McCain first used the work "gook" in the mass media in his 1973 article for U.S. News & World Report. The word appears 12 times in the article and is available online here.   Most recently, McCain used the term in his 2000 presidential campaign, as documented by the San Francisco Chronicle.   To learn more about Mr. Tang's book, which also details McCain's connection to white supremacist groups, visit his web site: http://irwinbooks.com/ Full Video

"We've Been Arrested" - Adventures In Reporting At The RNC 09/02/2008 Outside the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, UpTake Journalists Corrine McDermid and Oliver Dykstra are swept up in a massive poice arrest. Video edited by Michael McIntee. **http://the-uptake.groups.theuptake.org/en/videogalleryView/id/689/ Full Video

The McCain Campaign may not want you to see this 10/24/2008 By Sam Mayfield If there's one thing both the McCain and Obama campaigns agree on it's that the election will be close in Florida.  The McCain campaign says it has more volunteers than the Democrats and that ultimately gives them the edge.  McCain's Central Florida Campaign Manger says ACORN and the Democrats have to rely on paid workers.     However, the McCain campaign is hiring paid workers who sometimes also call themselves volunteers.  The UpTake's Sam Mayfield talked to a few of them... and that's when one McCain campaign worker decided you shouldn't see what is going on and threatened to have her arrested. Full Video

In-Depth: Front Groups and Fraud in MN Senate Race 08/05/2008 This past week in Minnesota we've seen the Senate Race between Sen. Norm Coleman and Al Franken become an epic proxy battle between corporations and unions over the Employee Free Choice Act. Find out why and what it means in the video. For more information: Read the actual text of the Employee Free Choice Act View the full list of backers behind the "Coalition for a Democratic Workplace" Watch WCCO's Pat Kessler's "Reality Check" on the Coalition's ad. Full Video

Tax Protest Puts "Me" Over "We" 06/05/2008 If you consider yourself middle class, then you probably have a right to be upset about taxes. When you include all local, state and federal taxes, you pay a higher proportion of your income in taxes than those who make more than $400,000 a year (follow the link and look at table 4-6 on page 52). And those who are poor pay a rate nearly twice as high as the rich. The culprits for this disparity: a decade of tax cuts for the rich based upon the false belief that they trickle down to the rest of the economy, and tax hikes on the middle class and poor in the form of property taxes, or disguised as fees. At a time when Minnesota’s economy, quality of life and infrastructure are declining, protesters and Republican Congressional Representatives are calling for even more tax cuts. Growth and Justice’s Angela Eilers says the protesters are a vocal minority who are putting “me” over “we.” Full Video

Police Bust Thru Attic to Detain "Democracy Now" Producer 08/31/2008 Note: this is a recording of a live video stream. Elizabeth Press is a producer with “Democracy Now” and is in St. Paul to help the group “iwitness Video” document any police abuses during the Republican National Convention. She was staying in a house on Iglehart in St. Paul (949 Iglehart) She says a Federal agent came to the door this morning and asked for someone named Fred who was involved with a bike ride a few months ago and they wanted to question him. He said it wasn’t related to the Republican National Convention. He then left. The iwitness video group decided then to move from the house because they felt their meeting wasn’t safe. Around 1pm about 20 St. Paul police officers surrounded the house. A few of the group went outside and were handcuffed. They had to wait for the search warrant to arrive. When the warrant arrived, it was not for their house. It was for the apartment next door. Police went into that other apartment and then busted through the attic into where the journalists were. “They came in with pistols drawn” said Press “ I was pointing my video camera back. They said ‘St. Paul Police, put your hands on your head’ and then we were all detained for the next several hours in the back yard. Police then searched the journalists’ belongings, unhandcuffed them and let them go. “I feel like these are intimidation tactics. iwitness video has been in the news recently, in the New York Times and all over the internet. Their video work has gotten over 400 people’s charges dropped from the National Republican Convention in New York City and they are going to be here today and through out the week to document police behaviors at the 2008 Republican National Convention. Three members of the group were biking away from the home at the time of the raid and were detained by police on the sidewalk. All of their belongings were searched. They went through their maps, their notes and wrote things down after viewing the notes. The police had riot gear and tasers. One of the group members said she asked the St. Paul police how far they have to be away from somebody to shoot a taser. The police officer told her they can be any distance. She had heard that if you’re too close they can be fatal or cause heart attacks. She also said she doesn’t know if they were targeted because they are with iwitness or because of the house they are staying in, or something totally different. **http://the-uptake.groups.theuptake.org/en/videogalleryView/id/641/ Full Video

Old Coal Plant Smokestack Detonated 06/28/2008 Note: there are two camera angles of the drop - watch the entire video. Little known to the general public, in order to keep our "mainstream press license", The UpTake needs to release a video of something exploding at least once per year. Here is our entry from St. Paul, MN. Xcel Energy has converted the High Bridge power plant from coal to natural gas in order to reduce carbon emissions and eliminate pollutants like mercury. They are demolishing sections of the site no longer active and will convert them for community use. Thankfully, this video meets all of our criteria: guys throwing up a high-five after the collapse, someone woefully misjudging the size of the smoke stack, etc. Full Video

Police Detain Journalists -Amy Goodman Jumps Fence To Question Cops 08/31/2008 Sat. Aug 30, 2008. Saint Paul, MN Police Department raids a home at 951 Iglehart Avenue at gunpoint. The journalists include a contributing photojournalist with "Democracy Now", whose host Amy Goodman appears in this clip jumping a fence to question police officers.   This is part of a series of police actions on the eve of the Republican National Convention in St. Paul.   After several hours, all those detained were released. No arrests. No property was seized as result of the search warrant. The clip ends with an interview with homeowner Mike Whalen. At the start of the clip, a neighbor shouts to the media and onlookers that we could all come into her backyard to see the detained people held in the adjacent backyard.   Video by Chuck Tomlinson **http://the-uptake.groups.theuptake.org/en/videogalleryView/id/647/ Full Video

RNC Eve: The Police Raids Begin 08/31/2008 Video by Mike McIntee This is video from the first of a series of raids Ramsey County Sherrifs deputies carried out on groups, people and locations related to plans to protest the Republican National Convention. This raid happened at 10pm on Friday night and Wyoming and Smith in St. Paul.   The pattern of detaining, searching and then releasing large numbers of people would be followed in the several raids that followed on Saturday. Full Video

"Lizard People" invade MN Senate Recount 12/19/2008 Review of challenged ballots in the recount for the MN seat for US Senate brings some welcome comic relief in the name of write-in candidates on challenged ballots: Lizard People and Flying Spaghetti Monster, with a little Frankenstin [sic] for good measure. EDIT: Chuck Olsen PRODUCTION: Mike McIntee VIDEO: Noah Kunin     **http://the-uptake.groups.theuptake.org/en/videogalleryView/id/1483/ Full Video

Obama Victory Speech-uncut 06/05/2008 The UpTake was on hand to live stream and record Barack Obama’s speech from the Xcel Center in Saint Paul Minnesota when he claimed victory in the Democratic primary. Full Video

Journalists Trapped Between Police, Protestors And Pyrotechnics 09/02/2008 Outside the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, UpTake Journalists Corrine McDermid and Oliver Dykstra find themselves caught between police and protesters when there are suddenly explosions.  Video edited by Michael McIntee. **http://the-uptake.groups.theuptake.org/en/videogalleryView/id/695/ Full Video

"We need God in our governments" 12/26/2008 These Christian fundamentalists in Lynchburg, Tennessee explain why they're supporting Mike Huckabee for president, their misguided ideas about Barack Obama and the Koran, the Iraq War, President Bush, and of course the ever-popular End Times. Full Video

National Lawyers Guild: Police Raid "Preventive Detention" 08/30/2008 Raid- 3240 17th Ave. South Ken Avidor Reporting When I arrived at the home at 3240 17th Avve. South in Minneapolis, the police and city inspectors were boarding up the house. The city said they had to board up the house because the owner wasn’t available, but the owner was in jail. Bruce Nestor of the National Lawyers Guild was on hand to explain what happened. “I got a phone call from our legal hotline that a raid was happening , that the occupants called the hotline . I live about four blocks away and I got in my office which is actually three blocks away and I said I would come over. So I got here about 8:15 (AM) and there were 20 to 25 officers present. One of the first things I saw there was an officer with an army helmut, automatic weapon, automatic rifle over his.. and flak jacket coming out. A number of other officers in bullet proof vests ... armed. And a number of undercover officers, “ Reporter: “ So you think the raid took place right around eightish? Nestor: I assumed it happened right around eight. The warrant did not authorize a night time execution and I think off the top of my head I think that means they got to wait until 8 am. Reporter: What did it say The warrant, it wasn’t the application for the warrant to establish probable cause. It just describes what can be searched for. It was very broad. One category of stuff was political literature, computers, notebooks, that type of information. The second category would be common household items: paint, spray paint, twine, cardboard, and the it ran all the way up to Molitav cocktails or preparations for molitov cocktails . So very broad warrant, basically authrizing the sezure of all computers, mp3 players any electronic device, any political literature, many common household items. Reporter: so they did take some things and left with They did. They took cash from the home. I had a brief opportunity to review the inventory before we sent it off to be copied. They took foam mattresses. They took old tires. They took cans of paint thinner. I saw the truck it was loaded with stuff that’s in my garage right now. I represent the homeowner Monica Bicking. So there were 13 people in the home. Ten were released within about an hour. They were all forced to lie face down. They were all handcuffed. They were handcuffed throughout the duration of the search. And then 10 of them were released one by one. Three people out of this home were arrested. I was told by Sgt. J. Maher of Ramsey County special investigations intelligence unit that those individuals those individuals were being charged with conspiracy to commit riot. 13 were detained and three were arrested. And according to the Hennepin County Jail records they’re being held on probable cause. Which means no formal charges have been issued. No complaint has been reviewed or signed by a prosecutor or a judge. But the police have detained these people. They can be held on probable cause until Wednesday at 12 noon. In my view this is a preventive detention action by the Ramsey County Sheriff’s department . It’s designed to keep people off the streets. It’s designed to scare people from participating in protest activity. The single best thing that other citizens can do is to speak out against these violations of people’s rights and to come out in the streets and join people in a democratic exercise over the next week Reporter: This raid warrranted or un warranted ? Look if this raid was warranted people would be arrested on criminal complaints. **http://the-uptake.groups.theuptake.org/en/videogalleryView/id/630/ Full Video

Subtitled: McCain Volunteer Sends Out "Obama is an Arab" Letters 10/11/2008 Gayle Quinnel, a John McCain supporter says at a McCain Rally that "Obama is an Arab". She is quickly corrected by John McCain who takes away her microphone.   This is an interview with her done by a live streaming cell phone. Interviewers include Noah Kunin, Senior Political Correspondent from The UpTake, Adam Aigner of NBC News and Dana Bash of CNN.   Quinnel says she obtained the information on Obama being an Arab at "her local library" and from a pamphlet obtained at a local McCain campaign office (provided by a fellow volunteer not the campaign itself). She has taken it upon herself to redistribute the information as widely as possible by making copies of the pamphlet and sending it to random names in the phone book. TRANSCRIPT OF INTERVIEW (It is a little hard to hear in parts) Gayle Quinnell: I went to the library in Shakopee   and I got lots of … three pages of information about Obama   Adam Aigner of NBC News : And what kind of information did you get?   Quinnell :I got to tell you , you call me.   It’s a long story. I’m afraid of what’s going to happen to this country.   Aigner: What would you think would happen?    Do you think it would become Muslim country and what would that mean?   Quinnell :It would be bad   Aigner: So even though Senator McCain told you that he didn’t feel that was true and you ought to be more respectful, you still fear that?   Quinnell I still do.   Yeah.     I’m not alone.   I go to Burnsville, the main Republican headquarters and I do a lot of work over there.   A lot of sending out mail and talking to people.     And all the people agree with what I’m saying to you   about Obama.   Aigner :Then do you feel there are a lot of volunteers for McCain who feel that way?   Quinnell Yes. A lot of them.   In fact I got a letter from another woman that goes over there to Burnsville and she sent me more things about Obama.   Aigner:What was on the letter?   Quinnell Oh all kinds of bad things about him and how, I mean I have to tell you to call me.    It’s all bad.   Reporter:   Are a lot of people getting this letter and are a lot of people believeing it and is that turning a lot of votes or support for McCain?   Quinnell Yeah I sent out 400 letters.   I went to Kinkos and I got them all printed out.    And I sent about 400 letters.   I went in the telephone book and sent them out to people.    So they can decide if they would want Obama.   Aigner :Can you give me   your name again?   Quinnell Gayle Quinnell and I honestly think that these people hear about this Obama, they wouldn’t want him.   Aigner: Because they would know what you know in the letter?   Quinnell Yeah, he read that letter.   In fact when I was standing in line , there were about eight girls, young girls standing in line.   And they said “what have you got”.   I had one of the letters and they said “Give it to me. I want to read it.   I want to read it”   And they read it.   And they just went (shakes head) .   They hadn’t read it before and they didn’t (unintelligible) all that information.    To me it’s bad news.   Aigner :   So maybe if I call you you’ll give me one of the letters maybe?   Quinnell I sure can!   Aigner: You don’t have another one on you now?   Quinnell No I don’t.   But I can give you what I got and I can give you what she sent me in the mail.   Aigner:   I’d be interested to read it.   Quinnell OK   Aigner:: and can you spell your name for me?   Quinnell Q-U-I-N-N-E-L-L   Aigner: E-L-L?   And Gayle is just…   Quinnell G-A-Y-L-E   Aigner: And where you from?   Quinnell I’m from Shakopee.   Aigner: Shakopee?   Quinnell Shakopee, Minnesota   Aigner:   And and I’m sorry how old are you ma’am?   Quinnell I’m 75   Aigner : 75?   Quinnell (Nods yes) And I got a lot of grandkids and a lot of kids, I’ve got five kids.   I got seven grandkids and they all think the same way.   (PHONE NUMBER EDITED OUT OF CONVERSATION)     Noah Kunin( The UpTake):   Do you volunteer at the Republican Party Headquarters or the McCain Campaign office over in Burnsville?   Quinnell McCain.   McCain Headquarters in Burnsville.   Noah: The McCain headquarters.   Quinnell It’s out over by , over by that post station there.   Noah: Yeah, I know which one you’re talking about.   And just to be sure to make sure we got your quote OK, you called Obama and Arab terrorist?   Quinnell ardon?   Noah: You called him an Arab terrorist?   Is that correct?   Why do you think he is an Arab?   Quinnell Because his dad is.    If you… I’ll send you the paper.   Female reporter: His dad is Muslim   His dad was Muslim.   Barack Obama has never been a Muslim.   Quinnell No but he’s….   Dana Bash of CNN :he’s a Christian.   Quinnell He’s not an Arab either, he’s a   Bush: His father was Muslim, and he’s a Christian.   Quinnell Yeah , but he’s still got Muslim in him.   So that’s still part of him.   I got all the stuff from the library and I could send you all kinds of stuff on him.   In fact….   Bush: What did you think about McCain said.   He said he’s a decent person.   Quinnell Well he did   have didn’t have (unintelligible)   I think McCain   wanted to (unintelligible)   I don’t think he wanted to say anything against him.    You know he didn’t want to cut him down.   That was my way of thinking.   I don’t think he wanted to cut him down.   So he just kind of brushed me off.     Reporter:   Plus he criticizes Barack Obama plenty himself, so why wouldn’t he do it now?   Quinnell Well I probably brought up something that he didn’t want to talk about.   Reporter: Do you think John McCain thinks that he’s Arab?   Do you think he knows this stuff that you’re saying you know is fact?   Quinnell I don’t know.   I don’t know.   Maybe he doesn’t want to bring it up then.   I don’t know why.     Is there some way I can get to you more information.   Bush: Can you wait for me for like five more minutes?   Quinnell Yeah.   Bush:: I want to an interview on camera.   Our camera team is occupied right now.    What’s your name?   Quinnell Gayle Quinnell   (Spells name again)   Bush: In case I lose you, you don’t have a cell phone do you?   Quinnell No I wish I had it on me but I don’t.   Bush: See the pretty lady over there with red hair?    That’s our camera.   As soon as she’s done , we’ll be over there Ok   Reporter: What was your reaction when Senator McCain backed away   Quinnell What was my reaction?   Well when he didn’t want to talk about it Full Video

Citizen Journalist Deported from Beijing, China 08/15/2008 This is not what democracy looks like. Citizen journalist Noel Hidalgo streamed live web video of protests in Tiananmen Square by activist group, Students for a Free Tibet. Hidalgo was detained by Chinese authorities and deported, along with the demonstrators. Full Interview http://blip.tv/file/1176252 Interview by Chuck Olsen of The UpTake. Photos by Noel Hidalgo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/noneck Qik streaming videos by Noel Hidalgo: http://qik.com/noneck Full Video

Obama: Is he a citizen? 10/14/2008 A McCain supporter described Barack Obama as "non-citizen" and asked the media to look into his citizenship. Obama was born in Hawaii, a U.S. state, on August 4, 1961 and is indeed a U.S. citizen. McCain, however, was born in the Panama Canal Zone and has been the subject of constitutional debate around the definition of "natural born citizen." Filmed by Chuck Olsen in Lakeville, MN.   **http://the-uptake.groups.theuptake.org/en/videogalleryView/id/952/ Full Video

The Right to Assemble: ACLU on RNC Police Action 09/11/2008 The American Civil Liberties Union is representing dozens of protestors arrested at the RNC. Chuck Samuelson, Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota, says much of the police repression during the RNC was based on law coming out of the Patriot Act. This video was produced by Geraldine Cahill of The Real News Network: http://therealnews.com/ **http://the-uptake.groups.theuptake.org/en/videogalleryView/id/760/ Full Video

Gun owner says Obama "not American" 10/21/2008 Hunters at a rural Minnesota gathering for Sen. Norm Coleman fear they'd lose their guns under an Obama presidency. Their objections closely reflect inaccurate talking points from the National Rifle Association. Filmed by Chuck Olsen for The UpTake: http://theuptake.org.   **http://the-uptake.groups.theuptake.org/en/videogalleryView/id/1008/ Full Video

Why We Celebrate July 4th-Full Version 07/04/2008 Most of us know July 4th is the day the United States issued the Declaration of Independence. But have you ever read it? Here is a video of notable Minnesotans reading the declaration. Listen to the power this diverse group of people gives to these centuries old words. As you listen to the list of grievances against the King of England, consider them in the light of today's political turmoil. Has much really changed? Consider this line: "He has endeavored to prevent the population of these states; for that purpose obstructing the laws for naturalization of foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migration hither, and raising the conditions of new appropriations of lands." Even though the issue of open immigration was central to the founding of our country 232 years ago, it continues to be a political hot potato today. Readers include Former First Lady of Minnesota Jane Freeman, Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie, Minnesota State Senator Satveer Chaudhary, St. Paul Police Chief John Harrington, Minnesota Public Radio Host Gary Eichten, Minnesota Speaker of the House Margaret Anderson Kelliher and many others. Full text of the Declaration of Independence can be found at: http://www.earlyamerica.com/earlyamerica /freedom/doi/text.html Full Video

Lipstick 09/11/2008 Who can keep track of all these animals wearing lipstick? Debate Porridge contrasts the latest McCain ad that accuses Obama of making sexist remarks with remarks McCain has previously made. OriginalMcCain ad can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U32G5_bqFvA   **http://the-uptake.groups.theuptake.org/en/videogalleryView/id/762/ Full Video

Bachmann: "Not All Cultures Are Equal" 10/24/2008 Rep. Michele Bachmann caught the national spotlight recently when she told MSNBC's Chris Mathews that Barack Obama "may have anti-American views."   While Bachmann's statement may have come as a surprise to people outside of her home district in central Minnesota, she has a history of making statements that are inflammatory, controversial and requiring further explanation. Up until now, the most famous of those was her assertion that there was a plan already in place to partition Iraq and give half of it to Iran. She later said her comments had been "misconstrued", but did not elaborate.   One comment that she has never explained was made in a debate she had while running for Congress the first time in November of 2005. Prompted by the rioting that was going on in France at the time, Bachmann said "not all cultures are equal, not all values are equal." and implied heavily that people of the Muslim faith had an inferior culture to that of the United States.   Her statement has not been seen outside of that debate room until now. Here is the transcript of that exclusive video from The UpTake.   Minnesota Republican 6th Congressional District Debate sponsored by the Taxpayers League- November 2005.   Moderator : Given the recent rioting in France that is the result of a sub-culture that has not assimilated, what would you do to make sure that a similar situation does not take place in America? (Edit) Michele Bachmann: I just want to say only in France, only in France could you have suburban youth rioting because the welfare benefits aren’t generous enough. And that’s… That’s what they’re telling us now is happening there. And only in France could that happen.   And what we’re seeing is just the fruits of leftism. It’s suburbanites, the kids, that are watching cable TV, Did you know that? In a lot of these high rises where a lot of the suburban youth are doing writing or doing they have cable TV in their apartments. They’re listening to Al-jazirah, and they’re being encouraged and prompted to go ahead and start these riots all over France.   There is a movement afoot that’s occurring and part of that is whole philosophical idea of multi-cultural diversity, which on the face sounds wonderful. Let’s appreciate and value everyone’s cultures. But guess what? Not all cultures are equal. Not all values are equal.   And one thing that we’re seeing is that in the midst of this violence that’s being encouraged by Al-jazirah and by the jihadists that’s occurring., is that we are seeing that those who are coming into France –which had a beautiful culture – the French culture is actually diminished. It’s going away. And just with the population of France they are losing Western Europeans and it’s being taken over by muh…by a Muslim ethic . Not that Muslims are bad. But they are not assimilating.   And that’s what I had mentioned in my previous response is that America is a great nation, with great values. We are equal opportunity for all. And it’s because we all came here and we came together as one. Out of many one. Multi-cultural diversity says out of one many. And if we go with tribalism we will not long be one nation united under God.   http://the-uptake.groups.theuptake.org/en/videogalleryView/id/1058/ Full Video

Definition of Citizen Journalism 07/21/2008 Jay Rosen, Professor of Journalism at NYU, offers up his definition of citizen journalism. Do you agree? You can find Jay's thinking on how the press is changing at http://pressthink.org . Filmed at the Netroots Nation conference in Austin, TX by Chuck Olsen of The UpTake. Full Video

Citizen Kate: Stars, Stripes and Mace 09/17/2008 Citizen Kate found herself in the middle of a protest during the RNC in St. Paul. She interviews protesters and members of the National Lawyer Guild, and discovers the key to staying out of cuffs: your wardrobe. **http://the-uptake.groups.theuptake.org/en/videogalleryView/id/781/ Full Video

Torturing Michelle Malkin 08/27/2008   9/11 Truther  Alex Jones  chases conservative TV personality  Michelle Malkin  away from the Denver Mint protest "Shake Your Money Maker." **http://The-UpTake.groups.theuptake.org/en/videogalleryView/id/524/   Full Video

Kline Paid Consultant Disrupts Opponents' Campaigns 08/04/2008 Remember the uproar over a supporter of Democrat Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton asking a question at the Republican Presidential debate? The problem was not that Retired Brig. Gen. Keith H. Kerr asked a question. It was that he and CNN didn't identify him as a co-chairman of Clinton's National Military Veterans Group. A similar case of non-transparency happened recently involving a person with strong ties to Minnesota Congressman John Kline and his campaign. The UpTake investigated and found the lack of transparency was only the tip of the iceberg in this story. More in this video from Mike McIntee. GO TO BLIP IF YOU WANT TO POST THIS VIDEO ON YOUR BLOG AND CLICK ON SHARE . Video Transcript: Transparency and accessibility are very desirable in our political system. Without accessibility you can’t ask the questions that need to be answered. And without transparency, it’s hard to trust what people tell you. For example, I’m about to tell you a story about Republican Congressman John Kline. But if I didn’t tell you I was a supporter and occasional volunteer for his Democratic opponent Steve Sarvi, that would not be transparent. Transparency was at the heart of Kline’s opening salvo against his Democratic opponent last election cycle.This flyer accused Coleen Rowley of “playing dirty tricks” when one of her volunteers tried to get on Kline’s mailing list and didn’t identify himself as a volunteer for Rowley. This is the woman who’s word the advertisement was based upon. Diana Bratlie was staffing the Kline campaign office when the volunteer, David Bailey, asked to be on the list. She wrote that Bailey used “false pretenses and deception to misrepresent himself.” Fast forward to this election cycle…Kline’s new opponent, Democrat Steve Sarvi, holds a news conference about how high gas prices are forcing a local gravel pit operator to lay off people. Bratlie was there and didn’t reveal her history with the Kline campaign before she went in front of the TV cameras and started arguing with Sarvi about oil drilling in Alaska. Sarvi: “I just don’t think we should be drilling up there.” Bratlie: "So you don’t want any oil exploration whatsoever anywhere." Sarvi: I didn’t say that. She was trying to get Sarvi to say he was against all oil drilling. And even claimed he had done so when our videotape showed that not to be the case. Bratlie: "Gosh, I stood right there and I watched him say no. And I said 'nowhere, you wouldn’t drill anywhere?'and he said 'no'." McIntee: "No he said he wouldn’t drill in Alaksa." REWIND SOUND EFFECT Bratlie: "So you don’t want any oil exploration whatsoever anywhere." Sarvi: "I didn’t say that." Bratlie: "Yeah you did." Sarvi: "I said in ANWR. No I didn’t." Bratlie: "yeah well you said..." McIntee: "You’re putting words in his mouth." So is this just a case of someone forgetting to reveal she’s working for the other candidate…or was it a planned ambush? I say working because Bratlie told Sarvi she was a Republican, but made no mention that she is a long time Kline volunteer ….a “volunteer” who has made a thousands of dollars as a paid Kline campaign consultant. Bratlie and her husband own a company called “Family Celebrations” that operates out of their house in Lakeville. Since 2004 the Kline campaign has regularly bought research services from Bratlie’s company. Kline’s payments to Bratlie’s company started in January 2004 with $5,385 for “analysis and conversion of database”… followed by another payment of $6,450 in August and $7,925 in November.   In 2005 Kline paid her company $10,000 for research. Another $12,000 dollars in 2006 and as recently as April of last year Kline paid her company $3,000. (not included in video- payment of $6,125 for caucus and convention planning in May of 2004 )Total so far more than fifty-thousand dollars. Ironically, Bratlie once wrote a letter to the editor accusing Democratic letter writers of being on a candidate’s payroll. She wrote that a few months after her company billed John Kline’s campaign for $10,000 and just a few months before her company billed Kline for $12,000 more. Bratlie was being paid by Kline when she was involved in other activities designed to disrupt Kline’s opponent’s campaign. She was with John Kline’s District Director Mike Osskopp when he attempted to disturb a campaign rally by yelling racial slurs at cars as they pulled into a parking lot. Osskopp: "sure enough... another Jap car. All your buddies are supporting these Jap and German cars." Osskopp later apologized for his remarks. Kline’s opponent Steve Sarvi has been giving people such as Bratlie plenty of opportunities to ask him questions…holding more than a dozen pre-announced question and answer events in the first week of the campaign alone. However, John Kline has been reluctant to do so in an uncontrolled situation.   Video from April 3, 2007 This is Kline at his last open and face-to-face meeting with constituents. He did it only after hundreds of people signed a petition requesting it. You can see why he might be hesitant to do another. The topic was making college tuition more affordable. Kline: "and so I'm looking for solutions. If you got one, I'd love to hear about it." Student: " Would you like to hear my solution?" Kline: " Yes" Student: "OK, well maybe you can roll back the tax cuts on the on the very wealthiest Americans."(Applause & cheering from crowd) Kline’s office promised many more meetings like that one. Since it happened more than a year ago, Kline has not lived up to that promise. Instead holding “tele-town hall meetings” where residents are randomly chosen to listen to Kline answer questions on a phone call.Constituents are given no prior notice that Kline is calling, so there is little time to prepare any questions. So why doesn’t John Kline hold more press conferences to answer questions like his opponent Steve Sarvi does? I asked Kline’s paid consultant Diana Bratlie that question.She said Since Kline has a record he doesn’t have to do that.For The UpTake, I’m Michael McIntee. Related coverage: Bratlie letter in Eagan's "This Week" newspaper insisting that Sarvi opposes all oil drilling in the United States. I then asked if, hypothetically, the oil companies gave up their current leases, would Sarvi be amiable to allowing them to drill in ANWR and/or off shore? A trade of sorts. He answered, “no.” I responded, “Would you ever consider drilling anywhere in the U.S. … ANWR or off shore.” Answer: “No.” Video:Kline Paid Consultant Challenged On Oil Drilling Disinformation Click here to watch Kline's paid consultant challenged on camera about her oil drilling disinformation: Bratlie: If the oil problem is going to be corrected by the Arabs drilling more oil, why wouldn’t it be corrected if the Americans drilled more oil? McIntee: Wouldn’t it have something to do with most of the oil in the world is there as opposed to here? Bratlie: But that’s not proven. Theirs is running low. McIntee: The last geo-survey of oil which was printed in the Star Tribune has a nice big map you can see. And if you look at the relative sizes of the countries and the oil, Saudi Arabia pretty much dominates the entire picture while the US makes up like a very small portion of that. And that’s known reserves. Bratlie: That includes ANWR and that includes off-shore drilling and that includes North Dakota and everything? That includes oil shale and all the rest of it? Well then you have me there, I’m going to have to go read that. Full Video

"Let Our Men Die For Nothing - Great Idea"- McCain Supporter 09/19/2008 In response to a "stop the war" sign outside of the John McCain Rally in Blaine, Minnesota a McCain supporter sarcastically says "End the war. Let our men die for nothing. Great idea." The supporter was carrying a sign that read "Obama's NOT fooling this teen. I vote John McCain."   **http://the-uptake.groups.theuptake.org/en/videogalleryView/id/801/ Full Video

Waiting for Palin 09/22/2008 John McCain was the headliner, but The UpTake found more enthusiasm for Sarah Palin at this Blaine, MN Republican rally. Full Video

McCain Arrives For The RNC in Minneapolis -PG13 Version 08/29/2008 With no fanfare "John McCain" has arrived at the site of the Republican National Convention. The UpTake's Ken Avidor followed the Senator around and got an exclusive interview on the low-tech way McCain will use to announce his Vice Presidential choice. **http://the-uptake.groups.theuptake.org/en/videogalleryView/id/586/   Full Video

McCain Volunteer Sends Out "Obama is an Arab" Letters 10/11/2008 Gayle Quinnel, a John McCain supporter says at a McCain Rally that "Obama is an Arab". She is quickly corrected by John McCain who takes away her microphone.   This is an interview with her done by a live streaming cell phone. Interviewers include Noah Kunin, Senior Political Correspondent from The UpTake, Adam Aigner of NBC News and Dana Bash of CNN.   Quinnel says she obtained the information on Obama being an Arab at "her local library" and from a pamphlet obtained at a local McCain campaign office (provided by a fellow volunteer not the campaign itself). She has taken it upon herself to redistribute the information as widely as possible by making copies of the pamphlet and sending it to random names in the phone book. TRANSCRIPT OF INTERVIEW (It is a little hard to hear in parts) Gayle Quinnell: I went to the library in Shakopee   and I got lots of … three pages of information about Obama   Adam Aigner of NBC News : And what kind of information did you get?   Quinnell :I got to tell you , you call me.   It’s a long story. I’m afraid of what’s going to happen to this country.   Aigner: What would you think would happen?    Do you think it would become Muslim country and what would that mean?   Quinnell :It would be bad   Aigner: So even though Senator McCain told you that he didn’t feel that was true and you ought to be more respectful, you still fear that?   Quinnell I still do.   Yeah.     I’m not alone.   I go to Burnsville, the main Republican headquarters and I do a lot of work over there.   A lot of sending out mail and talking to people.     And all the people agree with what I’m saying to you   about Obama.   Aigner :Then do you feel there are a lot of volunteers for McCain who feel that way?   Quinnell Yes. A lot of them.   In fact I got a letter from another woman that goes over there to Burnsville and she sent me more things about Obama.   Aigner:What was on the letter?   Quinnell Oh all kinds of bad things about him and how, I mean I have to tell you to call me.    It’s all bad.   Reporter:   Are a lot of people getting this letter and are a lot of people believeing it and is that turning a lot of votes or support for McCain?   Quinnell Yeah I sent out 400 letters.   I went to Kinkos and I got them all printed out.    And I sent about 400 letters.   I went in the telephone book and sent them out to people.    So they can decide if they would want Obama.   Aigner :Can you give me   your name again?   Quinnell Gayle Quinnell and I honestly think that these people hear about this Obama, they wouldn’t want him.   Aigner: Because they would know what you know in the letter?   Quinnell Yeah, he read that letter.   In fact when I was standing in line , there were about eight girls, young girls standing in line.   And they said “what have you got”.   I had one of the letters and they said “Give it to me. I want to read it.   I want to read it”   And they read it.   And they just went (shakes head) .   They hadn’t read it before and they didn’t (unintelligible) all that information.    To me it’s bad news.   Aigner :   So maybe if I call you you’ll give me one of the letters maybe?   Quinnell I sure can!   Aigner: You don’t have another one on you now?   Quinnell No I don’t.   But I can give you what I got and I can give you what she sent me in the mail.   Aigner:   I’d be interested to read it.   Quinnell OK   Aigner:: and can you spell your name for me?   Quinnell Q-U-I-N-N-E-L-L   Aigner: E-L-L?   And Gayle is just…   Quinnell G-A-Y-L-E   Aigner: And where you from?   Quinnell I’m from Shakopee.   Aigner: Shakopee?   Quinnell Shakopee, Minnesota   Aigner:   And and I’m sorry how old are you ma’am?   Quinnell I’m 75   Aigner : 75?   Quinnell (Nods yes) And I got a lot of grandkids and a lot of kids, I’ve got five kids.   I got seven grandkids and they all think the same way.   (PHONE NUMBER EDITED OUT OF CONVERSATION)     Noah Kunin( The UpTake):   Do you volunteer at the Republican Party Headquarters or the McCain Campaign office over in Burnsville?   Quinnell McCain.   McCain Headquarters in Burnsville.   Noah: The McCain headquarters.   Quinnell It’s out over by , over by that post station there.   Noah: Yeah, I know which one you’re talking about.   And just to be sure to make sure we got your quote OK, you called Obama and Arab terrorist?   Quinnell ardon?   Noah: You called him an Arab terrorist?   Is that correct?   Why do you think he is an Arab?   Quinnell Because his dad is.    If you… I’ll send you the paper.   Female reporter: His dad is Muslim   His dad was Muslim.   Barack Obama has never been a Muslim.   Quinnell No but he’s….   Dana Bash of CNN :he’s a Christian.   Quinnell He’s not an Arab either, he’s a   Bush: His father was Muslim, and he’s a Christian.   Quinnell Yeah , but he’s still got Muslim in him.   So that’s still part of him.   I got all the stuff from the library and I could send you all kinds of stuff on him.   In fact….   Bush: What did you think about McCain said.   He said he’s a decent person.   Quinnell Well he did   have didn’t have (unintelligible)   I think McCain   wanted to (unintelligible)   I don’t think he wanted to say anything against him.    You know he didn’t want to cut him down.   That was my way of thinking.   I don’t think he wanted to cut him down.   So he just kind of brushed me off.     Reporter:   Plus he criticizes Barack Obama plenty himself, so why wouldn’t he do it now?   Quinnell Well I probably brought up something that he didn’t want to talk about.   Reporter: Do you think John McCain thinks that he’s Arab?   Do you think he knows this stuff that you’re saying you know is fact?   Quinnell I don’t know.   I don’t know.   Maybe he doesn’t want to bring it up then.   I don’t know why.     Is there some way I can get to you more information.   Bush: Can you wait for me for like five more minutes?   Quinnell Yeah.   Bush:: I want to an interview on camera.   Our camera team is occupied right now.    What’s your name?   Quinnell Gayle Quinnell   (Spells name again)   Bush: In case I lose you, you don’t have a cell phone do you?   Quinnell No I wish I had it on me but I don’t.   Bush: See the pretty lady over there with red hair?    That’s our camera.   As soon as she’s done , we’ll be over there Ok   Reporter: What was your reaction when Senator McCain backed away   Quinnell What was my reaction?   Well when he didn’t want to talk about it     **http://the-uptake.groups.theuptake.org/en/videogalleryView/id/933/ Full Video

McCain Supporter: President Obama = Weak Country 09/11/2008 You might expect delegates to the Republican National Convention to give their Presidential nominee high ratings for his acceptance speech. The UpTake's Mike McIntee interviewed delegates and found there are varied reasons for supporting McCain, and some of them have more to do with his running mate than McCain himself. We also get analysis of McCain’s speech from a media consultant who says the Senator spoke too much about Hanoi and not enough about the economy and solutions. **http://the-uptake.groups.theuptake.org/en/videogalleryView/id/754/ Full Video

On Suspending Campaigns 09/25/2008 This is Sock Le Puppet with breaking campaign news. Senator John McCain says he is going to suspend his Presidential campaign so he can focus on the nation's financial crisis. He has challenged Barack Obama to do the same. However, John McCain did not define what "suspend" would mean. To help fill the this void of information, I, Sock Le Puppet offer a list of items that should also be suspended so we can all focus on this financial crisis. First : Sex. You can't think about money when you're having sex. Unless of course you're being paid for it. Next: Mortgage payments. Isn't this what started this whole mess anyway? Give the consumers a "banking holiday" and get on with it. Third: Disbelief. The suspension of disbelief is important for any entertainment presentation. And what is politics but entertainment? Or as some washed up actor put it... watching Sarah Palin run for president is like a "Bad Disney Movie". We must suspend disbelief in our government's inability to control the economy. We should forget that the deregulation of the past 30 years has left our government powerless and given all the power to the world corporations. if this is so important to the economy why the fuck aren't Coke, Pepsi and Microsoft proposing a bailout for financial firms? Next we have a list of things that have already been suspended: Habeas Corpus - The right to free speech, The right to assemble And of course Vikings starting left tackle Bryant McKinnie for fighting outside a Miami Bar. Do we miss any of these things? I only have to point to the debacle of journalists' arrests at the Republican National Convention to confirm this was a bad thing. That and the Vikings started out their season oh and two without McKinnie. For those and many reasons... suspending the things we depend on whether it is civil rights, a left tackle or a political campaign is BULLSHIT. This is Sock Le Puppet. Goodnight.   **http://uptake-editorial.groups.theuptake.org/en/videogalleryView/id/845/ Full Video

Obama Moment 75% of Dr. King's Dream 08/30/2008 Emma Flemming, who marched with Martin Luther King, is joyous on the day of Barack Obama's DNC acceptance speech. But, in this interview with Salimah Ebrahim, she says we'll only realize Dr. King's dream when we can see beyond party lines. **http://the-uptake.groups.theuptake.org/en/videogalleryView/id/631/   Full Video

ERA Opponent Questions Obama's Patriotism 09/11/2008 Phylis Schlafly, best known for her opposition to the Equal Rights Amendment in the 1970s is very happy with Senator John McCain as the Republican Party nominee for President.  At the recent Republican National Convention she gives The UpTake a review of McCain's acceptance speech.   Says Schlafly about McCain "I know he's for our country.  I'm not so sure about his opponent."   **http://the-uptake.groups.theuptake.org/en/videogalleryView/id/757/ Full Video

Denver:"Secr et" Detention Center & Caged Free Speech 08/17/2008 The city of Denver has been very secretive about its plans for dealing with protesters during the DNC. First, no one could find out where the "Free Speech Zone" was going in, then the parade route lottery was kept under wraps, and so on.   Finally journalists got wind of a secret detention center with a high capacity for holding people. The race was on, as a blogger pinpointed the location and the local CBS affiliate managed to get inside and film. I spoke to several protest organizers at a press conference at the secret detention center location during a small, but relatively well attended press conference. We talked about the detention center, but also about their frustrations with the current electoral system and what they hoped to achieve in their protests at the DNC.   Thanks to Erin Rosa of the ColoradoIndependent.com for putting me on this story. Please see her excellent and detailed story, including a history of the building, and more detail on potential problems and conditions. Full Video

Blaine on McCain 09/25/2008 Suspended high above Central Park, David Blaine has some thoughts on John McCain's latest move to suspend his campaign and postpone Friday's debate. A few words... from one stunt man to another. Produced by Debate Porridge: http://debateporridge.blogspot.com/   **http://uptake-editorial.groups.theuptake.org/en/videogalleryView/id/854/ Full Video

Two Words for John McCain 10/17/2008 Supporters and protesters at a McCain rally are asked to give two words to describe John McCain. The answers range from "love" to "cronyism." Filmed by Chuck Olsen in Lakeville, MN for The UpTake.   **http://the-uptake.groups.theuptake.org/en/videogalleryView/id/990/ Full Video

Rep. Bachmann Blames Mortgage Crisis On Rules Designed To Help Minorities 09/28/2008 Minnesota 6th District Congresswoman Michele Bachmann is placing the blame for the current mortgage crisis on actions by the Clinton administration 15 years ago.   At a hearing Thursday she read portions of a story by Investors' Business Daily's Terry Jones which said the rules were written to allow more lending to minorities. (CSPAN video clip to right)   "Loans started being made on the basis of race, and often little else." said Bachmann reading from the article.   Earlier this week Bachmann told MPR "too much government intervention" was to blame for the nation's financial crisis   Democrats Respond DFL Spokesman Eric Fought said "Bachmann owes the people of Minnesota, especially her Sixth District constituents, an apology. At a time of great economic crisis, Minnesotans look to their elected officials to lead the charge, finding solutions. Instead, Bachmann has let us down once again."   Related Coverage: Rep. Oberstar says plan not a "bailout" Full Video

Al Gore: Now Is The Time Of Reckoning 10/05/2008   This is the speech Al Gore gave in support of Al Franken at the DFL Founders Day event on October 4, 2008.   Transcript:( video starts a few minutes into this speech)   Al Gore:  I appreciate the warm welcome and you know why I’m here.  We’ve got to elect Al Franken to the United States Senate.   I really appreciate my friendship with Al and I’m going to talk about why I feel so strongly that we should elect him.   Before I do that, I want to acknowledge his wife Franni and his daughter Thomasin, all of their hard work in this incredibly hard campaign.   And I want to acknowledge that a hero of mine, and I don’t throw the word around lightly, former vice-president Fritz Mondale and Joan Mondale right here.  Thank you.  Great to see you   He made more of a difference to me when after I was elected Vice President, long before the inauguration, the first thing I did was spending some time talking in depth with Fritz Mondale.  I can’t even begin to tell you how important that was.   He is really the one who redefined the job of the vice president in the American system.  And that worked out pretty well until this last Vice-President (laughs).  But that’s another story.   I want to acknowledge with respect to Amy Klobuchar who has done such a tremendous job and her husband John and her daughter Abigail .  And I’m particularly proud and grateful that Senator Klobuchar immediately established herself as a very effective and eloquent and powerful voice on behalf of solving the climate crisis.  So few of them down there have been doing that.  Amy Klobuchar has been doing a fantastic job.  I’m very grateful to her.  I thank you for sending her.   To Congressman Tim Walz and Congressman Keith Ellison, thank you both for doing a terrific job.  And to three outstanding candidates, in the third district Ashwin Madia and another Iraq war veteran Steve Sarvi in the second district and El Tinklenberg in the sixth district, let’s elect these candidates for Congress.   And I want you to remember how important it is to pay attention to these state legislative races.   I want to acknowledge speaker of the house Margaret Anderson Kelliher. You need a veto proof majority in the House of Representatives here in Minnesota.  So remember that.   To Mark Ritchie and Rebecca Otto and Laurie Swanson and others and Chairman Brian Melendez of the DFL and to all distinguished guests.  OK     --video starts here--     I’ve had a chance to come here quite a few times to talk about elections and you’ll often hear “this election is the most important election”. Sometimes it’s a stretch.  This is one of those times that it is dead on true.  This election is really fateful for our country.  I was thinking about how often I come here Fritz when I was at a restaurant recently and a woman came walking by in front of my table, just staring at me as she walked past.   And I didn’t think anything of it until a few moments later from the corner of my eye I saw her coming from the opposite direction.  And she was just staring at me.  And so I said “how do you do”.  And she took two steps forward and said “ you know if you died your hair black, you would look just like Al Gore. “   So I said “thank you Ma’am .”  She said, “You sound like him too”.   I’ve known Al Franken for a long time. And I said early I always thought he was in the wrong line of business for two reasons.  One he’s not really funny.   That was a joke Al.  But secondly and of course the point I’m making is that for as long as I’ve known him, he has been passionately involved in debating and thinking about in very creative ways the public policy issues of our day.  And he really cares deeply.  He really has been deeply involved in trying to come up with the right solutions.   And let me tell you, Washington, DC needs a breath of fresh air and an eloquent advocate for the middle class Americans who’s interests are at stake in this race.  And Al Franken is the person to do that.  He’s got the heart and the mind, the passion and the depth and the experience for it and I feel so strongly about it.   Back in 2000, there was nobody who did more for me and I know his capacity for hard work and I really respect him a lot.   But now let’s look at the big picture here.  Part of what American democracy is all about is the opportunity elections provide to hold elected officials and political parties and groups that have been given responsibility for guiding our country, accountable for what they have done or what they have failed to do.   And over the last several years, roughly eight years, (laughter) If you look back and decide whether or not this is a good time to reward members of the United States Senate who have been virtually in lockstep of the policies that have produced the results that we now have so vividly on display in our country.  And because our country is a global power around the world, do you think it’s time to reward those who are the architects and cheerleaders and supporters of these policies.  This election provides you an opportunity to do that.   But if you think it is time to bring about a change in the course our nation is following, it’s time to elect Al Franken to the United States Senate.   And just look at the record. Eight years ago there were the biggest surpluses in the history of our nation.  And our economy was strong with strong job growth.  And there was hope and there was optimism.  And with all of the problems that we’re always facing, there was a sense that we had the ability to solve those problems and we would continue in our efforts to form a more perfect union and to try to realize the destiny of our country.  To make a better way of life for our people.   And now look eight years later.  Instead of surpluses, the largest deficits in the history of our country.  Deficits so large they would have been completely unimaginable in prior generations.   The national debt increase by so much you… it’s hard to even use the numbers to count, the numbers they are so big now.  And the economy is suffering and nine straight months of job losses and it’s getting worse.  And all around the world other countries are looking at the United States and instead of feeling what we want them to feel, pride in the fact that the Unites States is living up to what we’re supposed to be, and hopefulness that the United States is going to make it possible for others around the world to dream of the kind of experience that America has always given to its citizens.  Instead, the people in the rest of the world are looking at the United State’s economy and are thinking oh this is so bad it’s going to bring down the economies in other countries.   And when you turn on the news and you hear the commentators using phrases such as “worse than anything since the Great Depression of 1929” “Worse than any conditions since the 1930s” I saw the head of one of the largest banks in on the floor of the stock exchange interviewed last week saying “this would be a good time to find a financial bomb shelter.”   When you hear things like that, one of the things that tells you ….let me just translate it for you: The people who have been in charge in the White House and their supporters in the United State Senate have made a complete mess of this economy and it’s time to kick them out of there and have a change and. start putting our country on the right track again.    It’s not that complicated.  This is not that complicated.  They have made a mess of things.  What about foreign policy?  They invaded the wrong country, hello? (Wild applause).  It’s not that complicated.  And given every chance after chance to change course and try to recognize the mistake and take off in a different direction, this White House and their supporters in the Unites States Senate have just kept on going the same course.  And they will still not acknowledge the mistake.   It shouldn’t be necessary to repeat the basic facts.  The people who attacked us where Al-kada from Afghanistan and on the border with Pakistan.  They invaded Iraq, which has absolutely to do with it.     Now we know that here, but they spent considerable time and effort and expense trying to convince people of something completely different.  And I know you’ve heard this but now is the time of reckoning.  31 days and a few hours from now we have to have a reckoning.  We have to hold them accountable.   What about America’s reputation in the world?  Torture? Torture?   You know 230 years ago General George Washington at Valley Forge was approached by two lieutenants who wanted him to settle a dispute.   The colonial soldiers had captured some Hessians.  And the Hessians, allied with the British in the Revolutionary war, had a custom that was all too common the 19th century had tortured the American soldiers.  Some of our troops wanted to return the favor.   And one of the Lieutenants said “ no it doesn’t feel right, let’s take it to General Washington”.    And General Washington said “absolutely not” because the United States of America is going to stand for something new on the surface of this planet.   We’re going to respect the dignity of individuals.   We’re going to respect men and women because they have God-given rights.  And he said that if we were to torture captives it would bring in his words “shame disgrace and ruin” to the United States.   Now in wars throughout our history that principle has sometimes been observed and of course in the breech in every war there have been excesses and atrocities but never until now has there been a policy of torture devised and compelled and directed in the White House of the United States in the name of the American People.  It’s time to hold them accountable.  We’re better than that.  We need to stand for what this country is based on. (Wild applause).   These are not minor matters.   I tell you they’ve done some many things that, well you know I’m not going to spend a lot of time talking about the climate crisis because I’ve talked here on quite a few occasions and you know how strongly I feel about it.  But that issue as stake in this election also because the oil companies and the carbon polluters are on one side of this race and the people are on the other side of this race.   And during the hour that we are spending here, the world will put another three-million-tons of global warming pollution into the thin fragile shell of atmosphere around this planet.   Three percent increase world wide just in one year.   The figures released yesterday, er ah two days ago show the north polar ice cap normally the size of the lower 48 states, been there for three-million years, an important feature defining the planet, with a 75 percent chance that it will be completely and totally gone during the summertime in less than five years.   And we continue to put that pollution up there and the current group that’s in there refuses to do anything about it.  And when the scientists coming out with warnings to the people, this group has allowed the censorship – the White House has censored their words if the warnings were ones that would upset the oil companies. And they have actually inserted in their place words written by Exxon /Mobile and some of the other largest polluters.  You would think that you’d have to make up something like that. But that has actually been happening. And they have done absolutely nothing about it.  And by the way, they have also stood by when Halliburton and other contractors have been ripping off the taxpayers and undermining the welfare and safety of our troops over there.  I gotten to the point when a new outrage comes along, I’ve got to download some existing outrage to make room for the new outrage in order to react to it.  (Applause)   And Al Franken’s opponent… one of the positions he held was chairing the permanent subcommittee on investigations.  And as Fritz Mondale can tell you that is one of the most coveted positions in either the House or the Senate because through out the history of the Congress, that’s been place where the tough investigations have been carried out.   Think of what Senator Harry Truman did when he covered the fraud and abuse during the early years of World War Two.  You can go back through history.  And with all of these outrages and abuses the chairman of that investigative committee does absolutely nothing except applaud and cheerlead.  It is time to hold him accountable. It is time for a change.  It is time for an advocate of the people. (Applause)   There are as I say 31 days, one month from today, 31 days and a few hours.  Early voting has already started.  You have a very clear choice.  One of the problems in our modern political system is that the effort to hold people in political parties accountable sometimes runs up against the outpouring of special interest money from the powerful groups that want to twist perceptions and distract people and put out things that will try to cause people to vote on something other than the issues.  Other than their own self interest.  Other than what democracy is supposed to be about at election time, and that is making clear choices and holding incumbents accountable and making a choice as to what the direction is for the future.   But this time, if this record on the war, on torture on mass wire-tapping without warrants, on financial mismanagement of a scale that’s unprecedented in the whole history of our country, of wrecking the economy, of ignoring the environment, of actively choosing the interest of these special interests over the interests of the people, if this record were to be rewarded rather than used as a basis for a clear and decisive choice to go in new direction, what would it say about the vitality of our democracy?    I don’t believe that’s going to happen this time.   I believe that this record on the part of the White House and the part of those who have been cheerleading and supporting lock step forward this White House.  I believe this record is going to be examined closely by the people and I hope right here in Minnesota and based on what I what I’m hearing I believe the people of Minnesota are going to make a clear choice because the alternative is a breath of fresh air, a new perspective, a fresh energy, passion commitment and values that are in line with the middle class voters and people and families of Minnesota.   Ladies and Gentlemen, now is the time for change if we’ve ever had a time for change.  Now is the time and let’s do it by electing Al Franken to the United States Senate.  Thank you.  **http://the-uptake.groups.theuptake.org/en/videogalleryView/id/893/   Full Video

Minnesota Senate Recount Update 11/19/2008 Lawyers for Norm Coleman and Al Franken dueled in Minnesota while the state canvassing board reset the race to zero-zero and the recount begins. Full Video

RNC Eve: "Police Are Acting Like Nazis" 08/31/2008 Michelle Gross of Communities Against Police Brutality was the victim of a burglary...and she's hinting strongly that she thinks someone from the government did it. She and her husband were detained by police in St. Paul on Fri. 8/29/08 while attending an organizing meeting of activists protesting the RNC in the Twin Cities. They were not arrested, and eventually released. However, they returned home to find their garage and car had been burglarized. Nothing was taken, but documents and belongings had been searched. Interviewed at a gathering in Powderhorn Park on 8/30/08. **http://the-uptake.groups.theuptake.org/en/videogalleryView/id/652/ Full Video

We're All Naked On A Bike 07/14/2008 According to organizer Kate/Owen, the point of the World Naked Bike Ride is tripartate- protesting oil use and car culture; advocating bikes, skateboards, rollarblades and other alternative forms of transport; and celebrating the human body. The event that took place up and down the streets of Denver on the evening of Saturday the 12th was half-expected to run into trouble from the police. In 2006 the ride ended in arrests in Boulder, and that is Boulder mind you, famous for, well, some leeway in these sorts of things. This was Denver. Not so much leeway. Organizers made sure they had copies of applicable laws, a lawyer somewhere in the crowd (he or she wasn't wearing a suit), and a street medic, for contingincies. The ensuing, impromptu partnership between police and riders says a lot about what has changed, not just in two years, but in the protest movements and police offices generally. This reporter didn't make it all the way to the end of the ride, but there have been no reports of arrests or trouble. In fact, since I often ride on sidewalks, had to borrow a glowstick to comply with regulations to have a light on my bike, and couldn't film and keep up with the pack, I was probably the most arrestable person there. Full Video

John McCain Did Not Invent The Blackberry 09/17/2008 Did John McCain invent the Blackberry as one of his aides suggested? No. But Senator McCain has invented a lot of other stuff.   The UpTake's Sock Le Puppet investigates.   Info on Gov. Sarah Palin's false claim that Alaska provides 20% of US energy here.   Info on Sen. John McCain's false claim that Barack Obama supports corporate welfare for oil companies, and McCain wants to increase spending on alternative energy.   Watch this also on You Tube. Full Video

Hamtramck, MI: Sometimes The Vote Stops Here 11/03/2008 A brief history and explanation of voter suppression in Hamtramck, Michigan. **http://the-uptake.groups.theuptake.org/en/videogalleryView/id/1182/ Full Video

Early Returns From New Hampshire Primary 12/26/2008 Sock le Puppet has the first returns from New Hampshire Full Video

Franken To Coleman: "Bring On The Negative Ads" 10/06/2008 The advertisements running in the very expensive Minnesota US Senate race sparked some heated comments during Sunday night's debate between Al Franken, Norm Coleman and Dean Barkley. Franken said the ads he was running were about Norm Coleman's record, "so  it's a lot of negative."  Coleman countered that his ads are about Franken's career as a comedian and the negative things he has said.   Partial Transcript:   Franken :"There's been some nasty ads against me. I understand the sentiment behind this question. You know, part of an election is holding an incumbent accountable, holding an elected official accountable. We've been running ads about Norm Coleman's record, and so it's a lot of negative, because his record hasn't been very good.   "Now, they have put out some pretty nasty personal ads against me, and people have said to me, 'Well, how can you take it?' And I say, 'Well, that's nothing compared to the hits that people are taking around Minnesota.' Kids who can't go to college; one woman in Fergus Falls who has diabetes and her son has diabetes and she can't pay for his - she has to share insulin with him.   "I see stories like this all the time. So, bring on the negative ads. I think they're going to backfire like they backfired against Rudy Boschwitz when he ran them over and over again against Paul Wellstone."   Full Video

War And Peace On A Street Corner 11/26/2008 Every Tuesday a group holds a peace vigil in Burnsville.  Sometimes they ask you to honk if you support peace.  Sometimes there are counter-protests to their peace vigil.  The guy in the cowboy hat is on the executive committee of the local Republican party.  And many of the people in the peace vigil are Democrats.  But this isn’t a story about politics. It’s a story about what happens when peaceful people meet conflict. Video and photos by Greg Skog.  Story by Michael McIntee Full Video

Press Tries To Unravel Sen.Coleman Suit Story 10/08/2008 Who paid for Senator Norm Coleman's expensive suits? It's a pretty straight question that's not getting a straight answer from Senator Coleman or his campaign. This video provided by the DFL Party is of Senator Coleman refusing to respond to an allegation first reported by Ken Silverstein of Harpers Magazine.   Senator Coleman's reason for not responding to the question was because it had been reported in "the blogs".   The blog that reported the allegation is published by Harper's Magazine and written by its award winning reporter Ken Silverstein . His article indicates Minnesota businessman Nasser Kazeminy, a big donor to the G.O.P., may have bought suits for Coleman at Neiman Marcus when Coleman was still Mayor of St. Paul. So, Coleman would not have to report the gift since he was not a Senator at the time. That could explain the carefully worded answer his campaign gave today to repeated questions about the suits.   Coleman's Campaign Manager Sticks To The Exact Same Evasive Answer This is a link to a transcript and video of a press conference today(Wednesday) where Coleman's Campaign Manager gave the same answer twelve times about whether the Senator's Suits were a gift.   That answer was "The Senator has reported every gift he has ever received".   Excerpt: REPORTER: So the Senator will only go according to the Senate ethics laws or rules rather than answer questions? CULLEN SHEEHAN: He has done everything that he is required to do, Rachel. REPORTER: That is not my question, Cullen. CULLEN SHEEHAN: But that is my response. Full Video