Russian newscaster loses job over gesture to Obama; No mention of God in Obama's Thanksgiving address; D.C. Council wants to add ex-offenders to anti-discrimination laws;

The UK Telegraph reports: Online footage of the incident involving news anchor Tatyana Limanova went viral in both Russia and the West causing REN TV, her employer, huge embarrassment.

To broadcast bosses' horror, Ms Limanova was caught mechanically raising her left arm and showing the camera her raised middle finger after referencing US President Barack Obama.

REN TV, a privately owned channel controlled by associates of Vladimir Putin, the prime minister, said on Thursday it had decided to take her off air calling her actions "unacceptable" and "unprofessional". http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/8912395/Russian-newsreader-fired-after-Obama-middle-finger-insult.html
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Fox News reports: President Obama did not include any reference to God during his weekly address titled, “On Thanksgiving, Grateful for the Men and Women Who Defend Our Country.”
His remarks were void of any religious references although Thanksgiving is a holiday traditionally steeped in giving thanks and praise to God.
The president said his family was “reflecting on how truly lucky we truly are.”
For many Americans, though, Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on how blessed and thankful they are.http://radio.foxnews.com/toddstarnes/top-stories/obama-leaves-god-out-of-thanksgiving-address.html


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Washington Post writes: D.C. Council member Marion Barry is driving legislation to give ex-offenders legal safeguards against employment discrimination, a proposal that unnerves some in the business community and activists covered by similar protections.
Hoping to jump-start a proposal that has floated around for a decade, Barry (D-Ward 8) has been reaching out to council colleagues to gauge interest in adding people charged with a crime to the city’s Human Rights Act.
Considered one of the broadest anti-discrimination documents in the nation, the act offers protection based on “race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, familial status, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, disability, source of income, and place of residence or business.”
Now, Barry and advocates hope to include the words “past arrests and convictions" to that list. http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/marion-barry-seeks-anti-bias-protection-for-those-with-past-arrests-and-convictions/2011/11/23/gIQAa8AHtN_story.html?hpid=z4

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Washington Times writes: In cash-strapped Washington, President Obama’s $1 trillion health care law is presenting a tempting target for lawmakers seeking funds for other projects, as Congress last week raided the health care piggy bank for the third time in less than a year.Congress last week axed a part of Democrats’ signature domestic achievement to find $11 billion to cover the cost of repealing a withholding tax that otherwise would have hit government contractors in 2013. Mr. Obama signed that bill into law on Monday.
The withholding bill follows two other efforts - one n December and another in April - that reworked the health care law to squeeze savings for other priorities. The December bill funded higher payments for doctors who treat Medicare patients, and the April legislation repealed a paperwork provision in the original health care law that businesses said would be onerous.

All told, Congress and the president have tapped some $50 billion earmarked to pay for benefits and programs in the health care overhaul in future years to fund more-immediate spending needs.
Both earlier efforts dealt with health care issues, but the bill Mr. Obama signed Monday marks the first time that the massive 2010 law has been tapped to fund something completely unrelated. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/nov/24/money-slated-for-health-law-gets-detoured/
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