You have to listen to this! These facts were posted on DU not long ago and here a Democratic Congressional candidate is using it!
This ad can be run against Sweeney in NY and in many other races.
Welcome to the Northern Mariana IslandsThe Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) is officially a U.S. Territory. During the 1990s, both Democrats and Republicans — including staunch conservative Senator Frank Murkowski (R-AK) — were strong critics of the harsh sweatshop conditions used in factories.
http://www.doolittlefacts.org/CNMI.htmlSweatshops, Sex Slavery and Forced AbortionsAccording to a 1998 investigation by the Department of Interior Office of Insular Affairs, a number of Chinese garment workers reported that if they became pregnant, they were “forced to return to China to have an abortion or forced to have an illegal abortion” in the Marianas.” In addition, the report points out that “underage Filipino or Chinese waitresses forced to work as bar girls, who have been recruited under false pretenses to work as waitresses, garment factory workers, or cashiers, but subsequently forced to work as strippers and prostitutes in Karaoke bars, discos, massage parlors and clubs."
Watch a video about the sweatshops and forced abortions Congressman Doolittle is supporting in the Mariana Islands:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7543104430091001172&q=sweatshop+labor&pl=trueThe Doolittle ConnectionDoolittle was made aware of sweatshops, sex slavery, forced abortions and anti-religion abuses on the Northern Mariana Islands in 1997 in three letters from Wendy Doromal: one to Doolittle, one to Rep. Don Young (then Chairman of the House Resources Committee), and one to Rep. Nancy Johnson (then Chairman of the House Ethics Committee).
As a member of the House Resources Committee Doolittle also was privy to a Department of the Interior report chronicling human rights abuses in the CNMI.
Instead of investigating these accusations, Doolittle, at the behest of "good friend" and convicted congressional briber, Jack Abramoff, furthered his support for the local government tolerating and fostering these abuses. In fact, Abramoff referred to Doolittle as a “hero for the CNMI” in an email to a CNMI government official.
Convicted congressional briber Jack Abramoff began lobbying for (CNMI) in 1995. Abramoff collected over $7 million in fees from the CNMI to keep Congress from imposing the federal minimum wage and for other issues. His initial contract with CNMI ended in 1998. He was reinstated as CNMI’s chief lobbyist in 2000 — after help from DeLay, Doolittle and prominent congressional staffers got the contract reinstated.
Billing records from Abramoff's lobbying firm in 2001 show Doolittle spoke and met several times each month with members of Team Abramoff to discuss federal appropriations and the concerns of the CNMI government. (“Lobbyist Donated Cash to Doolittle — Congressman Received $14,000, Helped Abramoff Win Contract,” 8/5/06 Sacramento Bee)
Doolittle secured at least $400,000 of federal money for a CNMI study by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on possible “improvements to the CNMI's water infrastructure.”
Doolittle signed "Dear Colleague" letters praising the islands. The Saipan Tribune reported about one such letter, “Mr. Doolittle's letter is like a whiff of fresh air for CNMI lobbyists in Washington DC.”
Doolittle met a number of times with Marianas officials, particularly Benigne Fitial, a close Abramoff associate who as Speaker of the House of the CNMI lobbied hard to reinstate Abramoff as the CNMI’s lobbyist. Doolittle visited the islands in February of 1999 as part of a congressional delegation. At least twice, in April of 2000 and April of 2001, he met with Fitial in Washington D.C. And in August of 2001, he endorsed Fitial in his run for governor. (8/20/01 Saipan Tribune)
After the damning ABC News’ 20/20 story, “The Shame of Saipan,” — exposing CNMI’s culture of sweatshops, sex slavery, forced prostitution — Doolittle wrote a “Dear Colleague” letter attacking the ABC news report and defending the corrupt practices of the Island. He called the report a “ratings grab” and argued the problems on the Marianas were really no worse than “any other city on the mainland.”
Another letter, sent in March of 2001, about the findings of a report by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was apparently written by former Doolittle Legislative Director and Abramoff employee, Kevin Ring. Records from Abramoff's firm show that Kevin Ring billed the islands on March 12, 2001 for “work with Rep. Doolittle office regarding letter on OSHA report.” Doolittle's letter went out the next day according to press reports in The Saipan Tribune.
In May 2001, Doolittle wrote a letter to Ben Fitial, expressing his eagerness to earmark money for the islands.
Twenty-Nine times. That's how many bills have been proposed to fix things on the CNMI, and that's how many times John Doolittle has stood against addressing the sweatshop, forced abortion, and sex slavery problem on the CNMI.
Paid for by Charlie Brown for Congress. FEC ID#C00416164
Wow. From DU and KOS to the campaign trail. This is great.
And the campaign reports polling showing Republicans are becoming undecided in droves as they hear about the forced abortions.
Stop the Forced Abortions and Sex Slavery! Every GOP candidate should be asked where they stand on the Human Dignity Act.
And contribute to Charlie Brown! The polls are now tied Charlie 39% and Doolittle 41%! You can contribute and help make this into a TV ad:
If you are against forced abortions, forced labor and sex slavery in the Marianas US Protectorate, raise your hand.
You people with your hands raised--RECOMMEND this for Greatest. Make people aware of the impact the forced abortions in the Marianas can have on a race. All of the GOP that enabled this are responsible.