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Page 2 The Skanner Portland December 13, 2017 ® Challenging People to Shape a Better Future Now Opinion THE SKANNER EDITORIAL: Bernie Foster Founder/Publisher Alabama Voters Wise in Rejecting Moore Bobbie Dore Foster Executive Editor Allegations of predatory behavior are troubling — and so is his resume O Christen McCurdy News Editor Patricia Irvin Graphic Designer Melanie Sevcenko Reporter Monica J. Foster Seattle Office Coordinator Susan Fried Photographer 2017 MERIT AWARD WINNER The Skanner Newspaper, es- tablished in October 1975, is a weekly publication, published every Wednesday by IMM Publi- cations Inc. 415 N. Killingsworth St. P.O. Box 5455 Portland, OR 97228 Telephone (503) 285-5555 Fax: (503) 285-2900 info@theskanner.com www.TheSkanner.com The Skanner is a member of the National Newspaper Pub lishers Association and West Coast Black Pub lishers Association. All photos submitted become the property of The Skanner. We are not re spon sible for lost or damaged photos either solicited or unsolicited. n Tuesday Alabama vot- ers chose one man to represent them in the US Senate. Their choice is between Democrat Doug Jones, a former US Attorney with a track record of sup- porting civil rights; and Re- publican Roy Moore, a former state judge with a track record of a very different sort. Moore’s opponents have highlighted allegations that while he was an assistant DA in his 30s he habitual- ly harassed young women. Nine women spoke out and three say he sexually assault- ed them, with his youngest accuser just 14 at the time. That’s enough reason for Moore to stand down, but there are many more reasons why Moore is unfit to serve in Congress. Moore is not just a Republi- can — he is one of the most ex- treme hard right voices in the party. Electing Moore would have been a vote against healthcare, against the social safety net and against civil rights. In fact, Moore has said America was at its greatest during slavery, telling a rally in September: “I think it was great at the time when families were united — even though we had slavery — they cared for one another.... Our families were strong, our country had a di- rection.” America certainly did have ‘a direction’— the wrong one. But for Moore Black Ameri- cans simply don’t count. In the same speech Moore Editorial Staff The Skanner News refers to Native Americans and Asian Americans as “reds and yellows”. Somebody should tell him that we are all human beings, not M & Ms. Moore put his own extreme religious views before the constitution. He was removed from his post as Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court for refusing to take down a mon- ument to the Ten Command- ments that he had put up in lobby of the Alabama Judicial Building. He opposes teach- ing our children about evolu- tion and claims that “taking a knee” during the national an- them is against the law. During President Obama’s “ AP PHOTO/BRYNN ANDERSON Jerry Foster Advertising Manager U.S. Senate candidate Roy Moore rides a horse to vote, Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2017, in Gallant, Ala. Alabama voters are deciding between Moore, former chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court and Democrat Doug Jones. riage even though it had been judged unconstitutional. After the Sandy Hook mas- sacre, Moore claimed the shootings were a punishment from God. In his twisted world view, a loving God would send America certainly did have ‘a di- rection’— the wrong one. But for Moore Black Americans simply don’t count term he was one of the most strident “birther” voices, re- peatedly questioning Barack Obama’s citizenship and even suggesting he was a secret Muslim. He has also said that Mus- lims, like Rep Keith Ellison, should not be allowed to hold office. Moore opposes equal rights for gays and lesbians and was suspended from the post after telling judges to continue the state ban on same sex mar- a gunman to kill five-year- olds to tell the rest of us to be more religious. And by the way he said the same thing about 9/11. It’s illegal to set up a charity for the benefit of an individ- ual, but experts say Moore’s Foundation for Moral Law raises questions about who it is benefiting. A Washington Post investigation found his Foundation for Moral Law, which pays salaries to his wife and children in addition to his $180,000 a year salary,(plus a bodyguard, healthcare and travel expenses) had failed to fully declare the $1 million it paid him between 2007- 2012. The foundation, which also accepted $1,000 from a neo-Nazi group in 2005, pro- motes Moore’s books, politi- cal views and speeches. Roy Moore is a disgrace and electing him would have brought shame on the state of Alabama. This election was close, but was a no-brainer for Demo- crats. Roy Moore is the worst of the worst. For Republicans it didn’t have to be difficult. Conscien- tious Republicans had the op- tion of voting differently, and some — like Alabama Repub- lican Senator — did vote their conscience. In the end — with more than a little help from Black voters and grass-roots organizers — Jones won the day, and we’re all better off for it. ©2017 The Skanner. All rights re served. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission prohibited. Don’t Delay — Sign Up for Healthcare By Dec. 15 T Local News Pacific NW News World News Opinions Jobs, Bids Entertainment Community Calendar LOCAL NEWS BRIEFS d ay ! • L i ke u s o n F ebo m me • nts TheSkannerNews o k • learn • co in y o u r c o m m u n to y • ac it Updated daily. he deadline to enroll or modify healthcare cover- age under the Affordable Care Act is December 15. So, time is running out. Despite what you may have heard, the Affordable Care Act is still the law of the land, and everyone must have health insurance or pay a penalty. Go to www.healthcare.gov to find a plan that works for you. Don’t delay, enroll today. Congress enacted the Af- fordable Care Act (ACA) to ensure all Americans have access to affordable quality healthcare, which ought to be a basic human right. Since be- coming law, the ACA has pro- vided health insurance for more than 20 million people who did not have it before its passage. When Congress was consid- ering the Affordable Care Act, I spoke on the House floor and called the legislation the “Civil Rights Act of the 21st Century.” I gave it that moni- Rep. James E. Clyburn D-S.C., Chairman, Dem. Faith Working Grp ker, because the ACA outlaws discrimination against sick people and their families. “ Access to high-quality healthcare should be a right for all It outlaws discrimination against women, closes the Medicare “donut hole” and allows adults up to age 26 to stay on their parents’ policies. I strongly believe that access to affordable, high-quality healthcare should be a right for all, not a privilege solely for the wealthy and well-con- nected. Despite the current admin- istration’s ongoing attempts to undermine the law, sign- ups for 2018 have outpaced most expert predictions. To date, more than 2.5 million Americans have already chosen plans. This is a great showing and proves Ameri- cans want affordable health care. Discounts and subsidies are still in place and may be better than last year. In fact, 80 percent of healthcare.gov enrollees will be able to pur- chase a plan for $75 or less per month. As the Chairman of the Democratic Faith Working Group in the U.S. House of Representatives, I have been working with faith groups from across the country to spread the word and articu- late the good work about the ACA. This outreach has en- gaged the faith community in promoting sign-ups during this open rnrollment period through our “Souls 2 Enroll” outreach effort and other en- gagement activities. We need to build on this record of suc- cess in the remaining days of Open Enrollment. Time is running out for you to enroll in the Affordable Care Act. If you have ques- tions or need help, there are many people willing to assist you. Go to the website, www. healthcare.gov or you may be able to find in-person help in your area at https://localhelp. healthcare.gov/#/ to shop for plans and sign up. You can also call the marketplace call center at 1-800-318-2596. Don’t be left without health insurance; get covered today. U.S. House Assistant Demo- cratic Leader James E. Clyburn represents South Carolina’s 6th congressional district. In Con- gress, he serves as the Chair of the Democratic Faith Working Group. Follow him on Twitter at @Clyburn. nt • lo c a l n e w s • eve
