Apple has reportedly joined a group of high-power companies, including Apple, Morgan Stanley, Facebook and Intel, among others, are planning on making a case to the U.S. Supreme Court in support of the nationwide legalization of same-sex marriage.

The group, which Bloomberg says is made of “dozens of companies,” will reportedly tell the nation’s highest court that same-sex marriage bans in 41 states harm workplace morale and negatively impact employee recruitment operations.

The Supreme Court is scheduled to begin deliberation on California’s passage of Proposition 8, a 2008 initiative that banned gay marriage in the state. Apple previously donated $100,000 to fight Prop 8 in October of 2008.

Apple will be joined by about 60 companies in its Prop 8 brief, including Abercrombie & Fitch Co., EBay Inc., Marsh & McLennan Cos., NCR Corp., Nike Inc., Oracle Corp., Office Depot Inc., Panasonic Corp., Qualcomm Inc., Sun Life Financial Inc., Xerox Corp. and Zynga Inc.

The court is slated to being hearings for two separate cases regarding the matter on March 26 and 27.

Read more about it and read comments here.

Journalist Accosted By Security Over Mayor Bloomberg Gun Control Question

In the video, Bloomberg is seen surrounded by security. Mattera approaches Bloomberg and asks, “In the spirit of gun control, will you disarm your entire security team?”

Bloomberg’s reply:  “Uh, you, we’ll get right back to you.”

“Why can you defend yourself but not the majority of Americans?” Mattera asks as the mayor walks away. “Look at the team of security you’ve got.  And you’re an advocate for gun control?”

The video then cuts to Mattera walking further down the street when one of the men guarding Bloomberg, identified as Officer Stockton NYPD, stops Mattera and asks to see his photo ID.

Mattera complies before asking, “Is this standard procedure for the press?  Wait, wait, wait, it’s standard procedure to be questioning members of the press?

The officer reaches inside his jacket and grabs a pen, as if to write down the journalist’s name.  “You’re going to write it down now?” asks Mattera.  “Oh, no, sorry,” says Officer Stockton.

The video then cuts to a scene further down the street where Officer Stockton, trailing Mattera once again, can be heard saying, “Mr. Mattera, sir?  Do you have a date of birth?”

“It’s none of your business what my date of birth is,” Mattera replies.

Mattera’s Jan. 18th on-the-street interview, done in conjunction with Talk Radio Network’s “The Andrea Tantaros Show,” is not the first time Mattera has received brusque treatment for asking liberal politicians tough questions.

The two-time New York Times bestselling author’s past on-the-street interviews have created viral video Internet sensations.  In 2011, Vice President Joe Biden warned Mattera “Let’s get it straight, guy–don’t screw around with me” when he confronted Biden about his use of a rape reference when discussing Republican opposition to President Barack Obama’s “jobs” bill.

The Washington Post calls Bloomberg “America’s most prominent and deep-pocketed advocate for gun control.”

Newtown Fathers Speak Out

Mark Mattioli, whose six-year-old son James perished inside of the school, testified that a plethora of new gun laws isn’t the answer and that, instead, personal responsibility, accountability and civility are the best path forward. He made his comments as intense debate surrounding gun control and the causal factors behind the shooting continue to be at the forefront of public discussion.

The grieving father, who ended up receiving a standing ovation, said that he believes in “simple, few gun laws” and that there are already “more than enough on the books.” Mattioli contends that “the problem is not gun laws” and that these regulations simply need to be enforced.

“How do we expect to have any impact on a society and say, ‘We’re going to pass a law. Hey this is inexcusable. We can’t allow any more of this. Let’s pass a law that will change the course of the future’  when we don’t enforce the laws that we have on the books — the most important laws?,” he asked.

Gun activists heckle father of child killed at Sandy Hook

The grieving father of a six-year-old boy killed during the Sandy Hook massacre was heckled by gun activists as he begged for tighter firearms restrictions in the wake of the tragedy.

I wish I had never heard of the Tea Party. Ever since this organization was started, the country has seen nothing but trouble! The obstructionist behavior of Congressional Tea Party members has been detrimental to all citizens, businesses, and state governments. Many of your members have engaged in racist and xenophobic rhetoric which has only served to inflame the public and certainly does nothing to solve problems. And now, to see the market ONCE AGAIN tank because of right wing absolutist policy stances, makes me furious. I will do everything in my power to reelect Democrats as long as I am still a citizen of the USA!

Kathy Reackhoff

Saturday, June 30, 2012
10:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Crabtree Valley Marriott
4500 Marriott Drive, Raleigh, NC

from Triangle Conservatives Unite:
Please join Americans for Prosperity and the Civitas Institute for our Hands Off Our Healthcare rally, and tell President Obama we need free market healthcare solutions, not another government takeover.

Join us Saturday, June 30th at noon at the Crabtree valley Marriott. Doors open at 10 A.M. with activities for children and a chance for adults to join the fight against President Obama’s destructive health and economic policies. The event is free.

Please join us at high noon on Saturday, June 30th at the Crabtree vally Marriott as we tell President Obama to keep his hands of our health care.

more info-

https://www.nccivitas.org/events/?ee=58

The 2012 Primary Election Straw Poll Results are in! Take a look to see which candidates won the poll. We had a sampling of 814 people that were polled from 4/30/12 – 5/6/12.

(click on the score card to see the Raw Data)

Here is the zip code map for the straw poll participants (not all provided zip codes)