I fought 25+ years to bring justice to human trafficking victims. The only problem? I'm a Republican.

Alex Datig (right)
Daphne Phung, California Against Slavery (left)

By Alex Datig, July 26, 2016, EIC, Front Page Index

The DNC speaker on human trafficking is a good example of how opportunistic Dems are. I fought against pimps and black market drug dealers, campaigning to enact some of the toughest laws in our country against adult youth and child sex trafficking. My story is only possible in America. 

Do you think for a minute Hillary even knows my name? She knows my pimps name! The one I turned in. Everyone who was on the party scene in Hollywood in the early 90's knew her name. But because I'm a Republican be default of working with Democrats for 12 years, my fight and voice is not politically equitable with Hillary or the Dems. 

Because it's not about solving real problems! It's about maintaining the status quo and giving lip service and grants to fat cats who do nothing to help those who really need it. As we speak, right now, young girls are walking the streets for money, on Western and 15th Street here in Los Angeles. Only a few blocks away from my studio. Prop. 35 did nothing to help those women. They have no way out because all politicians know how to do is create "issues de jour" giving lip service till the microphones and the cameras are gone. Wake up people! Wake up! (In the photo: Me and Daphne Phung of California Against Slavery) #HillaryClinton #DNC #HumanTrafficking

Opinion: How High-Jacking the Protected Class is Ruining America - By Alexandra D. Datig

By Alexandra D. Datig, May 1, 2016, Front Page Index

Every American should have the right to be treated equal. The 13th Amendment keeps reminding us we should not outcast or single out any one group or individual who is a contributing citizen of the United States. Yet every day there are a variety of radicalized groups and individuals catastrophizing America's views on race, gender, creed, socioeconomic status, politics, education and so much more. It's nearly impossible to keep track of what group is calling for us to be outraged on any given day. Somehow we are intensely persuaded to believe we are clueless when it comes to understanding how we should be treating other fellow Americans. #ReadTheConstitution

In 2008, the 13th Amendment spoke through the voters by electing President Barack Obama. Since then, America is being pummeled Alinsky-style with an avalanche of groups demanding equal rights, equal pay, gender equality, drug liberalization, socialized medicine, causing a divide so great we are now being convinced we no longer know ourselves. We are lobbied daily by the liberal media that government has the answers and that your life is none of your business.

If you say anything about race you're a racist. If you say anything about government, you’re anti-establishment. If you’re a woman and you don't want to vote for Hillary Clinton, according to Madeleine Albright, you have a special place in hell. Which begs the question; what happens to men who don't want to vote for Hillary? Is it beginning to look like the feminists are gaining ground by out-casting women who don't want revenge by unleashing the feminist wrath on men? 

As a considerate people we are repeatedly reminded not to paint anyone or any group with too broad of a brush. But don't think for yourself! You might actually see the writing on the wall.

If you're a Republican you couldn't possibly be for gay rights! Actually, if you're Republican you're against everything that causes "the illusion of freedom!" If you support Donald Trump you hate women, are racist, are sexist, are against a pathway for citizenship for illegal immigrants costing the taxpayer at least $100 billion a year. After all, we can afford it right? Even though only 45% of taxable, wage earning Americans pay federal income tax. But God help you if you want to be treated fairly! You're expected to believe you must trust government to fix everything through a liberal agenda.

Radicals have high-jacked the protected class. LBGT, equal employment opportunity, Middle Eastern creeds, out-casting Israel, women, a variety of issues like global warming and abortion, designed to lay a hard and heavy guilt trip on you. 12% of the nation is black yet every time you turn on your television it feels more like 12% of the country is white! We are told women must have a female president because the battle for equal power is more important than enjoying the freedom and delight of true feminity. We are told so-called nonviolent drug offenders are being treated unfairly by the criminal justice system, even though many of them have pled down to a lesser charge from a far more serious crime. Arguments in favor of criminal justice system reform are presented by Black Lives Matter in the form of hysterics and party crashing. We need gender-neutral bathrooms and if you don't like it you're a @#?*&x!. Is anything simple anymore?

What happened to men who are men and women who are women? Everything we love about men has been neutralized. Everything we love about women has become masculine and chauvinist in the female sense. Is that a good thing? Do women really need to have more power instead of self-reflection and respect? Will that make the world a better place? Or should we be going back to basics? 

Ted Kennedy Jr. Ought To Apologize To Patrick Kennedy For Ridiculing Him Over His New Book On Addiction And Mental Illness By Alexandra D. Datig

Available on Amazon.com

By Alexandra D. Datig, Oct. 5, 2015

The Boston Globe published an article on Sunday about an interview Patrick Kennedy gave regarding his new book “A Common Struggle: A Personal Journey Through the Past and Future of Mental Illness and Addiction.”

It may come as a surprise to some that Patrick Kennedy, who is in recovery more than four consecutive years, found himself being criticized by his own family for courageously talking about his battles with addiction and mental illness.  In the Boston Globe article Kennedy’s brother Ted Jr. is quoted as having said about his brother’s account that it is an “inaccurate and unfair portrayal of our family.”

The Kennedy Family is one of America’s most prominent families that has seen the dark side of public life in the most devastating ways imaginable.  The prolonged suffering resulting from shooting deaths of his brothers, President John F. Kennedy and Senator Robert Kennedy are without a doubt a lifelong reflection of sorrow for Patrick Kennedy and the Kennedy family as a whole.  Many Americans can probably understand how such devastation can result in finding comfort in the bottle to numb out the reality of what took place.  The question is however; can Americans understand with the same level of empathy how Patrick Kennedy found solace in recovery to deal with the reality of the devastation he is reminded of for the rest of his life?

Beating addiction is the toughest thing I have ever done.  Even after 16 years of recovery, I realize I know very little about addiction, especially someone else’s.  What I do know is addiction is a daily reprieve. It is a second chance at life.  A chance every addict deserves.  Why is it then we don’t see the kind of family support people in recovery deserve?

While drinking and drugging is a conscious choice, the progressive brain disease resulting from addiction is not.  Bottles of alcohol do not warn drinking may cause lack of impulse control that cause behavior which may be harmful to the user and may cause the user to become a danger to him or herself and others.  Families should to be educated to become more understanding of the helplessness and hopelessness addiction brings. 

Patrick Kennedy is courageous and brave to take on the issue of addiction and mental illness at the government level.  His work to bring about much needed change in how we view addiction as a health problem instead of a moral failing and a criminal justice problem ought to be strongly supported, especially by his family.

Lack of family support can further devastate and even trigger harmful relapse in an addict.  Family support is essential for the mental health of the entire family as addiction affects those around the user in ways that warrant treatment.  In essence, the entire family becomes ill when having to defend the addict’s actions because we don’t know enough about the type of mental illness addiction brings as each case is uniquely different.

Patrick Kennedy is working on behalf of so may to bring change to understanding the intervention process, so we can begin to fight addiction and mental illness with love, empathy and understanding, not merciless shaming and ridicule.   

Ted Kennedy Jr. should apologize to Patrick Kennedy for ridiculing him over his new book on addiction and mental illness, instead of making him more vulnerable by criticizing him for doing the best he could.

Trump Likely To Get Clobbered In Thursday’s GOP Debate By Alexandra D. Datig

By Alexandra D. Datig, Aug. 4, 2015

Donald Trump is leading in the polls and it is difficult to dispute he is the popular favorite. This coming Thursday however, will not be about who or what is popular, it will be about who has the solutions to solve America’s problems. Trump has already pointed out he is not a debater, knowing he will likely be outfoxed by shrewd politicians like Gov. Jeb Bush, Sen. Marco Rubio, Gov. Chris Christie and Gov. Scott Walker who have a long history of fierce debating skills.

Political debates give the voting population insight on who will be America’s best problem solver and who is fit to make the tough decisions with the least consequence. Assuming politics is the art of compromise, Trump has hardly shown he is willing to compromise on anything that we know about. We can almost be certain Trump will continue to be a clumsy bull in a China shop who knows how to move the TV ratings needle.

Getting elected and being elected are two completely different processes. Winning the hearts and minds of the people with popular opinion will not get the job done of being elected. Trump will face and really get to know his opponents for the first time this coming Thursday and is likely to learn a valuable lesson from those who have a track record of winning elections and understanding the rules of what it means to be elected.

Copyright 2015, Alexandra D. Datig. All Rights Reserved.

Could President Obama’s Complacency In Honoring Our Murdered Marines Be Part Of His Core Beliefs? Maybe We Should Ask The Dalai Lama

By Alexandra D. Datig, Jul. 22, 2015

On July 16, 2015, domestic terrorist Mohammad Abdulazeez, 24, a Kuwaiti-born, naturalized U.S. citizen, opened fire at a military recruiting center and Navy Operational Support Center in Chattanooga, Tennessee.  Five Marines are now dead.  The Marine Corps has identified the five Marines as Gunnery Sergeant Thomas Sullivan of Hampden, Massachusetts, Staff Sergeant David Wyatt of Burke, North Carolina, Sergeant Carson Holmquist of Polk, Wisconsin, reservist Lance Corporal Squire Wells of Cobb, Georgia and Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Randall Smith of Rossville, Georgia.

It took the White House six days to honor our murdered Marines by flying the U.S. flag at half-staff.  It was not until a public outcry that reached the press and social media something was done, all of six days later.  On July 21, 2015 the White House finally issued a proclamation to fly flags at half-staff to honor our service members.  This is an outrage!

While these events were taking place, Candidate for President Donald Trump shocked the nation with disparaging remarks by stating Arizona Senator John McCain “is not a war hero.”  In this case, the White House saw a political opportunity and within 24 hours released a statement saying “there’s no denying” Sen. John McCain “is a hero.”

A so-called anti-war President, the complacency of the President of the United States as it relates to our military, is without a doubt, manifested in his core beliefs and philosophy and got me thinking about an event I attended which some would consider a great honor, but quite honestly I was appalled by. 

In October of 2014, I was invited to hear the Dalai Lama speak at the Boston Marriott Copley.  President Obama calls the Dalai Lama “a good friend” as he did at the 2015 National Prayer Breakfast.  At the event in Boston, audience members had to provide identification and had to go though rigorous security screenings in order to attend.  I was there with a group that was shooting a documentary on one of the speakers.  When the time came for the Dalai Lama to speak, his thick accent was barely intelligible.  For a moment I was holding on dearly to find meaning in the teachings on human rights abuses and discrimination from one of the world's most controversial spiritual leaders.  This until he said “war heroes are murderers."  At that point I was no longer interested in what the Dalai Lama had to say as my father was a combat wounded, Bronze Star and Purple Heart decorated, disabled WW II veteran.

Trump’s Bombastic Behavior On Immigration Is That Of A Bull In A China Shop By Alexandra D. Datig

By Alexandra D. Datig, Jul. 12, 2015

In the minds of many Americans, Donald Trump is speaking a truth that has captured the hearts and minds of Americans fed up with the cost of warehousing and supporting illegal immigrants from Mexico, South America, Cuba and other countries.  These undocumented immigrants are costing the country billions in taxpayer dollars that could be spent on things like job-creating infrastructure. 

Unauthorized immigrants make up 5.1% of the labor force amounting to around 8.1 million unauthorized immigrants working or looking for work, i.e. living off the taxpayer dole (Pew Research Center, 2012).  One question we should ask is how much of your tax dollars are being spent on supporting the lives of illegal immigrants and how much of that money ends up back in Mexico and other foreign lands?

According to the Department of Homeland Security, there were 11.4 million unauthorized immigrants in the U.S. in 2013, around 3.6% of the nation’s population. Half of those unauthorized immigrants represent people from Mexico. Pew cites 60% of unauthorized immigrants come from six states; California, Texas, Florida, New York, New Jersey and Illinois.

Presidential Candidate Carly Fiorina recently stated on ABC’s "This Week with George Stephanopoulos," Donald Trump is tapping in to an anger with divisive comments he made on illegal immigration.  It is hard to argue against illegal immigration costing Americans millions of jobs and billions in taxpayer dollars.  Trump’s recent surge however, only takes a populist stance and offers no plan of action on how to mitigate or solve the enormous problem illegal immigration has caused in the U.S. 

Americans like to hear something will be done about an endless injustice on both sides of the border. Trump's lacks a plan of action and does not show Americans how to solve this highly complex problem.  Trump’s bombastic behavior on immigration is that of a bull in a China shop.  How Trump will handle issues on the environment, foreign policy and race relations, to name a few, is anyone’s guess.  While Trump is surging in the polls, Americans supporting Trump should ask if Trump’s provocative stance on immigration is right for the future of America in the national and global perspective or if it's just good TV.