Did the media learn anything from Manny Pacquiao’s latest fight? Can an undocumented immigrant practice law in California? Donna Summer has passed away. Does a music-label merger threaten the music biz? John Edwards trial is wrapping up, how likely is a conviction? The improbable life and success of pitcher Jim Abbott.
Did the media learn anything from Manny Pacquiao’s latest fight?
In an interview published on May 12th on Examiner.com, boxer Manny Pacquiao appeared to suggest through a scripture passage that not only is he against same-sex marriage, but people who are in one should be put to death as well. Several media outlets jumped on the story, and a firestorm of subsequent articles were written condemning Pacquiao’s comments, ultimately leading to the cancellation of his scheduled appearance on the celebrity news show “Extra." The show is filmed on location at the outdoor Los Angeles mall The Grove, which issued a statement on Tuesday evening that Pacquiao would no longer be allowed at the mall and that his remarks were antithetical to its mission of tolerance.
Since then, however, Pacquiao was interviewed by “Extra” at his home in Los Angeles and clarified his statement, saying that he did not quote scripture and that even though he is against gay marriage he is not condemning gays. The author of the original story on Examiner.com has also backed up Pacquiao’s account and apologized for the confusion caused by his article.
How much blame if any should the media take for furor over Pacquiao’s comments? With how easy it is to publish on the web, do we need to tighten the reins on what makes it out to the public? Is sensational news journalism ever going to be held accountable?
GUEST
Shelly Holmes, Crisis Management Expert and Senior Partner at Rogers Finn Partners based in Los Angeles, which represents public and private sector clients.
Can an undocumented immigrant practice law in California?
For most applicants trying to gain a license to practice law in California, the requirements are cut and dry. There is a written test, an examination of one’s moral character, a routine background check, and the appropriate degree from an accredited school. Once met, the State Bar of California certifies the application and sends it to the California Supreme Court for nominal approval.
Sergio C. Garcia is one such legal hopeful who has fulfilled all these obligations, so why is the California Supreme Court holding hearings to review his specific case? Because Garcia is an undocumented immigrant. He was brought to the country from Mexico at seventeen-months-old, and has lived his entire life since then here. He has now filed for legal status, but that is just step one in a process that could take up to fifteen years.
This is the first case of its kind in California, and it opens up the door to numerous questions about undocumented immigrants and their right to work for state agencies. With similar cases pending in Florida and New York, it will surely add fuel to the fire that is the current national debate on immigration.
WEIGH IN
Should an undocumented immigrant be allowed to practice law in this country? If officers of the court must uphold the law, would Garcia be seen as breaking it, even if he was brought to this country as a young child? How would you respond if you found out your lawyer was someone in Mr. Garcia’s shoes? Does it really make a difference?
GUESTS
Holly Cooper, lecturer and staff attorney with the UC Davis School of Law Immigration Law Clinic
John Eastman, professor and former dean at Chapman University Law School in Orange, Calif.
RIP Donna Summer: a look at the Queen of Disco's legacy
The queen of the disco era Donna Summer died today at the age of 63 after a long battle with cancer. Her family confirms to the Associated Press. Summer had massive hits in the 1970’s like “Last Dance," "Hot Stuff" and "Bad Girls." She also co-wrote "Love to Love You Baby" and many other hits. We’ll take a look at her life and work.
GUEST
Alice Echols, Professor in Contemporary Gender Studies at USC and author of "Hot Stuff and the Remaking of American Culture"
Does a music-label merger threaten the music biz?
Capitol Hill is ready to step into the fight over whether Universal Music Group should be allowed to buy a big portion of fellow music giant EMI.
Last November, Universal and Sony negotiated to split EMI. Universal would get the recorded music division -- including the likes of Katy Perry and its rich catalogs including The Beatles and Pink Floyd -- for $1.9 billion. Sony would get the publishing assets -- copyrights for songwriting and composition -- for $2.2 billion. The proposed mergers would shrink major labels down from four big players to three. The odd man out is Warner Music Group which dropped out of the bidding war and now opposed the deal.
But Warner isn't the only stakeholder worried about it all. Consumer groups and some antitrust experts say Universal would have too much control over the cost of music -- especially problematic during a time of rapid innovation. Dr. Mark Cooper of the Consumer Federation of America argues that “[a]ccess to current and catalog albums is essential to the success of any new business model. One company controlling over 40 percent of the marquee content would have the power to undermine alternatives it did not like.” Cooper sent a protest letter to the Senate Committee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Protection. It will hold hearings soon to determine if the deal would run afoul of antitrust laws. Other antitrust experts say the massive changes to the music landscape mean major labels simply don't have the power that would lead to noncompetive conditions for the market.
WEIGH IN
What does the future hold for the major labels? Do they need to consolidate to remain competitive in the face of music piracy? Would the cost of music rise? Would they stymie growth and creation of streaming sites such as Pandora and Spotify?
GUESTS
Casey Rae, Deputy Director, Future of Music Coalition, an artists’ advocacy group.
C. Evan Stewart, attorney who practices antitrust law; Partner with Zuckerman, Spaeder law firm based in New York.
John Edwards trial is wrapping up, how likely is a conviction?
Neither mistress Rielle Hunter or John Edwards himself took the stand in the former presidential candidate’s federal corruption trial this week. Both sides will present their closing arguments today and the case will likely be before a jury by tomorrow.
Edwards is charged with taking over a million dollars in illegal campaign contributions. Contributions which his defense team says were simply gifts from supporters that wanted to help him keep a salacious extramarital affair under wraps. According to the defense, which rested yesterday after just three days, Edwards didn’t even know that the his aide, Andrew Young, was requesting the money from wealthy donors and Young spent most of the money on himself instead of handing it over to Rielle Hunter.
How will the jury find? Is Edwards headed to a guilty verdict?
GUEST
Michael Rich, Assistant Professor of Law, Elon University School of Law. Has been attending the Edwards trial in Greensboro, NC
The improbable life and success of pitcher Jim Abbott
Born without a right hand, Jim Abbott not only defied the odds of becoming a Major League pitcher but challenged the impossible by throwing a no-hitter.
In his book, "Imperfect: An Improbable Life," Abbott retraces his path from his days as an All-American at Michigan, to his pivotal role in winning the 1988 Olympic Gold Medal for the U.S. national team, to the seminal moment of his career when he threw a no-hitter in 1993 for the New York Yankees. However, as is the case with any Major League career, Abbott had his share of adversity as well. After a season of difficult losses, he was released from the team and found himself once again on the outside trying to get in.
Abbott said he still feels wary about showing the missing hand in public sometimes, but he's grown more comfortable as time has passed.
"I like my little hand. I haven't always liked it, it hasn't always been easy, but my hand taught me important lessons in life. With belief and determination, the challenges in life don't have to hold us back," he said.
According to the former Angels pitcher, his hand gave him the drive and ambition to make the Major Leagues. "A pitcher's mound, a baseball field was my place to fight back, to move past those low expectations and what other people thought of me," he added.
But Abbott said that he didn't grow up with the dream to pursue sports in order to debunk peoples' expectations. He said that going to an outdoor basketball hoop and shooting, imagining himself making the last shots in important games was something that every kid did. He treated baseball the same way.
"We lived in an end unit, in a town house in Flint, Michigan that had a brick wall, and I used to draw a strike zone on that brick wall, and take my glove and a rubber coated baseball and fire at that strike zone, and it was meditative," he recalled. "It was fun. I was working on trying to hit a single brick over here, the one up on the upper right hand corner, the one on the lower left hand corner."
Abbott said that after joining the Major Leagues and getting lauded for playing well, he thought he could move past the label of being 'the one-handed pitcher.' But the label never really left. Meeting fans with similar afflictions was a constant reminder of his missing hand, something Abbott said was both troubling and inspirational.
"It was a fine line to walk. Sitting in the clubhouse, I'd be with my teammates either playing cards or listening to music, and I'd get the tap on the shoulder and they'd say 'Jim there's a family down there.' And I didn't always want to walk down there and meet them in that corridor ... and yet, when I saw the look in those parents' eyes, and when I saw the young kids, ... I'd walk back into that club house renewed," he said.
In this insightful memoir, Abbott and his coauthor, L.A. Times writer Tim Brown, offer an honest look at the pitcher’s struggles related to his disability and his need to conceal feelings of alienation even as he played baseball in front of thousands. Throughout his career of highs and lows, Jim’s greatest honor was providing counsel and advice to the countless families waiting on the other side of the diamond with similar disabilities, an obligation that he continues to carry on today.
Guest:
Jim Abbott, author of “Imperfect: An Improbable Life,” (co-authored by Tim Brown) (Ballantine Books) and a former Major League pitcher with the Los Angeles Angels and the New York Yankees.