Let's take an extended multiple choice quiz. Right now, which of the following topics is likely causing the discomfort inside Ailes' Fox News empire?
A) CNN's resurgence as the go-to cable destination for election coverage.B) The incredible shrinking candidacy of Fox News' favored son, Rudy Giuliani.C) The still-standing candidacy of Fox News nemesis and well-funded, anti-war GOP candidate Rep. Ron Paul.D) The Democratic candidates' blanket refusal to debate on Fox News during the primary season.E) Host Bill O'Reilly being so desperate for an interview from a Democratic contender that he had to schlep all the way to New Hampshire, where he shoved an aide to Sen. Barack Obama and then had to be calmed down by Secret Service agents.F) Former Fox News architect and Ailes confidante Dan Cooper posting chapters from his a wildly unflattering tell-all book about his old boss. ("The best thing that ever happened to Roger Ailes was 9/11.")G) The fledgling Fox Business Network, whose anemic ratings are in danger of being surpassed by some large city public access channels.H) Host John Gibson's recent heartless attacks on actor Heath Ledger, just hours after the young actor was found dead.I) Fox News reporter Major Garrett botching his "exclusive" that Paul Begala and James Carville were going to join Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's presidential campaign, and then refusing to correct the record.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Evangelicals Fight LGBT Citizens
evangelicals rate gays as top election issue
http://www.pinknews .co.uk/news/ articles/ 2005-6628. html
22nd January 2008 11:15Tony GrewA survey has revealed that for evangelical Christians in the United States homosexuality is one of the key issues in the 2008 election.The Barna Group's research found that in this important group of voters, whose strong support propelled George W Bush into the White House, abortion was the most pressing problem their country faces for 94%.For 75% of evangelicals "homosexual lifestyles" or the "political efforts of homosexual activists" were a concern. Among the general population only 35% agreed."Out of more than sixty different subgroups reviewed, there were no differences of opinion on these two survey questions, suggesting that the two issues may be linked in Americans' minds," the report states.However, 23% of voters said the "political efforts of conservative Christians" are a major problem facing the country.
http://www.pinknews .co.uk/news/ articles/ 2005-6628. html
22nd January 2008 11:15Tony GrewA survey has revealed that for evangelical Christians in the United States homosexuality is one of the key issues in the 2008 election.The Barna Group's research found that in this important group of voters, whose strong support propelled George W Bush into the White House, abortion was the most pressing problem their country faces for 94%.For 75% of evangelicals "homosexual lifestyles" or the "political efforts of homosexual activists" were a concern. Among the general population only 35% agreed."Out of more than sixty different subgroups reviewed, there were no differences of opinion on these two survey questions, suggesting that the two issues may be linked in Americans' minds," the report states.However, 23% of voters said the "political efforts of conservative Christians" are a major problem facing the country.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Homophobia Based On Puritan Sexual Hangups
At its root, anti-Queer sentiment is based in a visceral sense that what we do is wrong and distasteful. Our staunchest opponents do not care about nor are they compelled by how much we love each other, how successfully we raise our children, or how dutifully we pay our taxes, or how we serve the public good in numerous other ways. In the final analysis, they just think we're nasty.Anti-Queer arguments based in religion, culture and the creation of children are all smoke screens to cover up something that's really very base: disgust. Trying to rationalize and cover up disgust with other excuses merely serves to justify the perpetuation of political, social and physical violence against Queer communities. But if we pay attention to the messages from the LGBTQQI movement -- particularly the messages we send ourselves -- it would appear that we have forgotten that our marginalization is based in others' discomfort around our sexuality, and we've responded by not talking about our sexuality and instead talking about love.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
VP Gore Back Gay Marriage
"I think it's wrong for the government to discriminate against people because of a person's sexual orientation. I think that gay men and women ought to have the same rights as heterosexual men and women to make contracts, have hospital visiting rights, and join together in marriage. I don't understand why it is considered by some people to be a threat to heterosexual marriage to allow it for gays and lesbians. Shouldn't we be promoting the kind of faithfulness and loyalty to one partner regardless of sexual orientation? Because if we don't do that, then to that extent you are promoting promiscuity and promoting all the problems that can result from promiscuity. And the loyalty and love that people feel for one another when they fall in love ought to be celebrated and encouraged and shouldn't be prevented by any form of discrimination in the law." - Vice President Al Gore
Another Terrorist Case Exagerated By Bush
The Miami "terrorists" who Bush said were planning to blow up a building in Chicago had their case thrown out as just plain imaginary. Now the case against the American caught in Afghanistan turns out to be nothing but exageration by the Bush administration.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/23/us/23padilla.html?_r=1&th=&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&emc=th&adxnnlx=1201090406-W0XPSgoSf6gNrb/aIJuCqg
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/23/us/23padilla.html?_r=1&th=&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&emc=th&adxnnlx=1201090406-W0XPSgoSf6gNrb/aIJuCqg
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Republican Candidate Supports Symobl Of Slavery
'Preacher' Huckabee says Confederate flag opponents can shove flag pole up their ass by John Aravosis (DC) · 1/18/2008 07:43:00 PM ET · Link
Discuss this post here: Comment s (86)
Does Huckabee pray to Jesus with that mouth? So much for our Christ-invoking preacher. Now he's suggesting that civil rights advocates shove flag poles up their ass. Not a very nice, or mature, thing for any adult candidate to be saying, let alone the guy who says that God wants him to be president and that he's going to amend the Constitution to bring it in line with the Bible. I don't think the Bible says anything about shoving flag poles up your ass.
Discuss this post here: Comment s (86)
Does Huckabee pray to Jesus with that mouth? So much for our Christ-invoking preacher. Now he's suggesting that civil rights advocates shove flag poles up their ass. Not a very nice, or mature, thing for any adult candidate to be saying, let alone the guy who says that God wants him to be president and that he's going to amend the Constitution to bring it in line with the Bible. I don't think the Bible says anything about shoving flag poles up your ass.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Friday, January 18, 2008
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Capri Cafaro Could Be On Democrat Leadership Team
From Gongwer (pay shield):
Sen. Miller (D-Columbus) said a majority of the caucus met Wednesday morning to lend him support for the caucus' top position, but questions remained about the process by which the vote was taken, and whether a resignation letter would be tendered.
Set to join Sen. Miller in the new leadership slate are: Sen. Shirley Smith (D-Cleveland) as assistant minority leader; Sen. Lance Mason (D-Cleveland) as minority whip; and Sen. Capri Cafaro (D-Hubbard) as assistant minority whip. Sen. Mason is a member of the caucus leadership team.
Sen. Fedor declined to comment after session.
Caucus rules apparently require either the minority leader, or the caucus dean - currently Sen. Tom Roberts (D-Dayton) -to call for a caucus meeting at which elections can be conducted. Neither called for such a meeting.
Scandal? Is the vote legit?
I'd be reaaaaal interested to see the roll call on that one. Any BSB snoopers on the inside wanna pass it my way?
Sen. Miller (D-Columbus) said a majority of the caucus met Wednesday morning to lend him support for the caucus' top position, but questions remained about the process by which the vote was taken, and whether a resignation letter would be tendered.
Set to join Sen. Miller in the new leadership slate are: Sen. Shirley Smith (D-Cleveland) as assistant minority leader; Sen. Lance Mason (D-Cleveland) as minority whip; and Sen. Capri Cafaro (D-Hubbard) as assistant minority whip. Sen. Mason is a member of the caucus leadership team.
Sen. Fedor declined to comment after session.
Caucus rules apparently require either the minority leader, or the caucus dean - currently Sen. Tom Roberts (D-Dayton) -to call for a caucus meeting at which elections can be conducted. Neither called for such a meeting.
Scandal? Is the vote legit?
I'd be reaaaaal interested to see the roll call on that one. Any BSB snoopers on the inside wanna pass it my way?
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Ohio Actually Preparing For Recession Ahead Of Time
Gov. Ted Strickland has asked his agencies to look into offering employees early retirement incentives to save money in light of a potential recession and continued state budget problems.
Agencies were told Jan. 7 to begin looking at ways to trim their work force by offering to purchase additional years of service for long-term classified, primarily union, employees, allowing them to retire early.
The agencies would need to demonstrate savings before extending the voluntary buyouts, although in some cases the offers would be mandatory because of state law and union agreements.
In the memo from J. Pari Sabety, Strickland's director of the Office of Budget and Management, it appears the administration is contemplating closing some state institutions or laying off relatively large numbers in state departments.
Keith Dailey, Strickland's spokesman, said no decisions have been made on either idea.
''The governor is prepared to make the tough choices that may have to be made overtime,'' Dailey said.
He said the cost-saving option is being extended to all state government, and the governor shared the contents of the memo at a recent Cabinet meeting.
''This is guidance to the agencies. It is the how-to. It's updated guidance and something that's been in discussion at OBM for several months,'' Dailey said.
The state's economy is facing significant challenges, in large part because of the slumping housing market and rising energy costs, so the governor is monitoring the budget day to day, Dailey said.
''We're expecting slower growth in '08 than we had in '07 and the governor is committed to living within our means,'' Dailey said.
No timeline has been given to agencies to submit plans and the governor does not have a specific dollar amount in mind for savings, Dailey said.
Developing a plan
Under the proposal, state agencies would need to develop plans for mandatory and voluntary buyouts. OBM would review each agency's proposal, and notify the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) of approved plans.
The OBM would receive reports starting six months after the early retirements begin that would outline details of a department's payroll before and after the downsizing.
Agencies were told Jan. 7 to begin looking at ways to trim their work force by offering to purchase additional years of service for long-term classified, primarily union, employees, allowing them to retire early.
The agencies would need to demonstrate savings before extending the voluntary buyouts, although in some cases the offers would be mandatory because of state law and union agreements.
In the memo from J. Pari Sabety, Strickland's director of the Office of Budget and Management, it appears the administration is contemplating closing some state institutions or laying off relatively large numbers in state departments.
Keith Dailey, Strickland's spokesman, said no decisions have been made on either idea.
''The governor is prepared to make the tough choices that may have to be made overtime,'' Dailey said.
He said the cost-saving option is being extended to all state government, and the governor shared the contents of the memo at a recent Cabinet meeting.
''This is guidance to the agencies. It is the how-to. It's updated guidance and something that's been in discussion at OBM for several months,'' Dailey said.
The state's economy is facing significant challenges, in large part because of the slumping housing market and rising energy costs, so the governor is monitoring the budget day to day, Dailey said.
''We're expecting slower growth in '08 than we had in '07 and the governor is committed to living within our means,'' Dailey said.
No timeline has been given to agencies to submit plans and the governor does not have a specific dollar amount in mind for savings, Dailey said.
Developing a plan
Under the proposal, state agencies would need to develop plans for mandatory and voluntary buyouts. OBM would review each agency's proposal, and notify the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) of approved plans.
The OBM would receive reports starting six months after the early retirements begin that would outline details of a department's payroll before and after the downsizing.
Trumbull Endorses Three In Primary
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN — The Trumbull County Democratic Party’s central committee has endorsed Joseph Consiglio for Trumbull County sheriff, David DeChristofaro for county engineer and Dr. Humphrey Germaniuk for coroner.
Consiglio, of Weathersfield Township, police chief there since 2002, won the endorsement over incumbent Sheriff Thomas Altiere of Howland 122 to 86. Consiglio lost to Altiere in the 2004 primary.
DeChristofaro, of Niles, has been vice president of engineering and development at the Cafaro Co. since 2002 and part-time Niles city engineer since 1995. He outpolled Randy Smith, of Hartford, the chief deputy engineer under Engineer John Latell, 114 to 97.
Dr. Germaniuk of Warren, the county’s forensic pathologist, received 180 votes for the endorsement for county coroner, while Dr. Gary Kraker of Howland earned 24 votes.
The endorsement voting took place Monday night at DiVieste’s Banquet Hall.
Kenneth Kubala received the highest vote total among four candidates for 32nd District State Central Committee, with 106. The others seeking that post were Rokey Suleman, the deputy Trumbull County Board of Elections director, with 51; present committeeman state Rep. Thomas Letson, 32; and Dennis Gartland, 19.
Meanwhile, the party nominated its chairman, Christ Michelakis, and its vice chairman, Ralph Infante, to serve on the county board of elections.
Michelakis has been nominated to serve the remaining two years of Barbara Katzenberger’s term, while Infante, the Niles mayor, has been nominated a second time to serve a four-year term on the board. The final selection is made by Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, a Democrat.
Infante would replace Sherron Platt, who chose not to seek the position a second time. Platt, a retired schoolteacher from Newton Falls, was appointed to the board in October 2004.
Platt took the position the party originally had recommended Katzenberger for in 2004, and then recommended for Infante. Platt got the nod after a secretary of state’s opinion said Katzenberger was not able to serve on the board of elections while her boss, Michelakis, was on the ballot running for re-election as county treasurer. Katzenberger later served the board for two years, but resigned last week because her current boss, Treasurer Sam Lamancusa, will be on the ballot this year.
Infante never served as a board of elections member in 2004 because then-Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell, a Republican, refused to appoint him because of a 13-year-old elections violation, a day-late campaign finance report and failure to report the violations on an application form.
Infante was re-elected to a four-year term as Niles mayor last November and would have to run for re-election to the position in 2011. Ron Masullo, a regional representative for Brunner, said Infante would have to quit his position on the elections board in 2011 to run for Niles mayor or certain other positions.
Infante said Monday he doesn’t plan to run for Niles mayor again when his term expires.
Meanwhile, Trumbull County Republicans met last week and selected their party’s chairman, Craig Bonar, to serve another four years as an elections board member. Bonar is in the final months of his second four-year term on the board.
runyan@vindy.com
WARREN — The Trumbull County Democratic Party’s central committee has endorsed Joseph Consiglio for Trumbull County sheriff, David DeChristofaro for county engineer and Dr. Humphrey Germaniuk for coroner.
Consiglio, of Weathersfield Township, police chief there since 2002, won the endorsement over incumbent Sheriff Thomas Altiere of Howland 122 to 86. Consiglio lost to Altiere in the 2004 primary.
DeChristofaro, of Niles, has been vice president of engineering and development at the Cafaro Co. since 2002 and part-time Niles city engineer since 1995. He outpolled Randy Smith, of Hartford, the chief deputy engineer under Engineer John Latell, 114 to 97.
Dr. Germaniuk of Warren, the county’s forensic pathologist, received 180 votes for the endorsement for county coroner, while Dr. Gary Kraker of Howland earned 24 votes.
The endorsement voting took place Monday night at DiVieste’s Banquet Hall.
Kenneth Kubala received the highest vote total among four candidates for 32nd District State Central Committee, with 106. The others seeking that post were Rokey Suleman, the deputy Trumbull County Board of Elections director, with 51; present committeeman state Rep. Thomas Letson, 32; and Dennis Gartland, 19.
Meanwhile, the party nominated its chairman, Christ Michelakis, and its vice chairman, Ralph Infante, to serve on the county board of elections.
Michelakis has been nominated to serve the remaining two years of Barbara Katzenberger’s term, while Infante, the Niles mayor, has been nominated a second time to serve a four-year term on the board. The final selection is made by Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, a Democrat.
Infante would replace Sherron Platt, who chose not to seek the position a second time. Platt, a retired schoolteacher from Newton Falls, was appointed to the board in October 2004.
Platt took the position the party originally had recommended Katzenberger for in 2004, and then recommended for Infante. Platt got the nod after a secretary of state’s opinion said Katzenberger was not able to serve on the board of elections while her boss, Michelakis, was on the ballot running for re-election as county treasurer. Katzenberger later served the board for two years, but resigned last week because her current boss, Treasurer Sam Lamancusa, will be on the ballot this year.
Infante never served as a board of elections member in 2004 because then-Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell, a Republican, refused to appoint him because of a 13-year-old elections violation, a day-late campaign finance report and failure to report the violations on an application form.
Infante was re-elected to a four-year term as Niles mayor last November and would have to run for re-election to the position in 2011. Ron Masullo, a regional representative for Brunner, said Infante would have to quit his position on the elections board in 2011 to run for Niles mayor or certain other positions.
Infante said Monday he doesn’t plan to run for Niles mayor again when his term expires.
Meanwhile, Trumbull County Republicans met last week and selected their party’s chairman, Craig Bonar, to serve another four years as an elections board member. Bonar is in the final months of his second four-year term on the board.
runyan@vindy.com
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Dem Drops Out Of 65th district Race
Candidate drops out of rep race
By Tribune Chronicle
One of three candidates dropped out Friday from the race for the 65th District state representative seat.John D. Williams, a Liberty resident who is squadron commander of the 757th Airlift Squadron at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station in Vienna, said he withdrew his name in the interest of party unity. He said in a news release that he is backing incumbent Rep. Sandra Stabile Harwood of Niles in the Democratic primary.‘‘A three-way race is not what the Democratic Party needs right now in the 65th District. We need to concentrate on placing our support behind the incumbent for the primary in anticipation of a horse race,’’ Williams said.‘‘Sandra has a solid resume and will work hard for the district,’’ he said.That leaves attorney Mike Harshman as Harwood’s only opponent in the March 4 primary. The winner will face Newton Falls Republican Lyle A. Waddell in the fall.The 65th District covers southern Trumbull County and includes Niles, Girard, Hubbard, Vienna, Brookfield and parts of Bazetta and Fowler
By Tribune Chronicle
One of three candidates dropped out Friday from the race for the 65th District state representative seat.John D. Williams, a Liberty resident who is squadron commander of the 757th Airlift Squadron at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station in Vienna, said he withdrew his name in the interest of party unity. He said in a news release that he is backing incumbent Rep. Sandra Stabile Harwood of Niles in the Democratic primary.‘‘A three-way race is not what the Democratic Party needs right now in the 65th District. We need to concentrate on placing our support behind the incumbent for the primary in anticipation of a horse race,’’ Williams said.‘‘Sandra has a solid resume and will work hard for the district,’’ he said.That leaves attorney Mike Harshman as Harwood’s only opponent in the March 4 primary. The winner will face Newton Falls Republican Lyle A. Waddell in the fall.The 65th District covers southern Trumbull County and includes Niles, Girard, Hubbard, Vienna, Brookfield and parts of Bazetta and Fowler
Friday, January 11, 2008
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Gay Men In Military Not A Problem
Army Sgt. Darren Manzella figured that stating he was gay on national television would surely get him booted from the military under the Pentagon's "don't ask, don't tell" policy.But Manzella has heard nothing in the three weeks since he told CBS' 60 Minutes that his fellow soldiers knew he was gay and the program aired a home video that showed him kissing a former boyfriend."I thought I would at least be asked about the segment or approached and told I shouldn't speak to the media again," says Manzella, 30, a medic who recently returned from Kuwait and plans to hold a news conference today in Washington to discuss the military's silence.He says he is among a growing number of servicemembers who have told other troops and even commanders they are gay and have not been discharged.The Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, a gay advocacy group, says it knows of about 500 gay troops who are serving openly without consequences. "That's the highest number we've ever been aware of," says SLDN spokesman Steve Ralls. "Their experiences point to an undeniable shift in the armed forces."Manzella says he was invited to join more than 600 members of an invitation-only MySpace group, Guys and Gals Like Us, for gays who don't hide their orientation from their units. The members use pseudonyms because some gay servicemembers have been discharged for acknowledging their sexual orientation elsewhere online.Nearly 12,000 troops have been dismissed under the policy approved by President Clinton in 1993. Discharges peaked at 1,273 in 2001 and have fallen sharply since the war began.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Court Upholds California Protections
The California Supreme Court declined to review an appeal challenging basic property tax protections for domestic partners, according to a joint statement released Thursday by advocacy groups the National Center for Lesbian Rights, Lambda Legal and Equality California.
The decision is a major victory for same-sex couples because no further appeals are possible.
"We are grateful to the board and the legislature for protecting same-sex couples," Shannon Minter, legal director for NCLR, said in the statement. "Today's ruling by the supreme court ensures that this protection is secure."
"The board of equalization has the authority to grant gay and lesbian couples the same protections in a time of grief as everyone else," Brian Chase, Lambda Legal senior staff attorney, said in the statement. "No one should lose their home after the death of a partner."
In March 2005, Sutter and Orange counties challenged the protection in state court while three same-sex couples along with NCLR, Lambda Legal, Equality California, and the law firm of Munger, Tolles and Olson defended it.
Ultimately, Orange County dropped out, while assessors from Tehama and Madera counties joined, but in 2006, Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Jack Sapunor rejected the challenge.
The counties appealed again in October 2007 in Strong v. Board of Equalization, but the Third District of the California Court of Appeals upheld Sapunor's ruling.
The decision is a major victory for same-sex couples because no further appeals are possible.
"We are grateful to the board and the legislature for protecting same-sex couples," Shannon Minter, legal director for NCLR, said in the statement. "Today's ruling by the supreme court ensures that this protection is secure."
"The board of equalization has the authority to grant gay and lesbian couples the same protections in a time of grief as everyone else," Brian Chase, Lambda Legal senior staff attorney, said in the statement. "No one should lose their home after the death of a partner."
In March 2005, Sutter and Orange counties challenged the protection in state court while three same-sex couples along with NCLR, Lambda Legal, Equality California, and the law firm of Munger, Tolles and Olson defended it.
Ultimately, Orange County dropped out, while assessors from Tehama and Madera counties joined, but in 2006, Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Jack Sapunor rejected the challenge.
The counties appealed again in October 2007 in Strong v. Board of Equalization, but the Third District of the California Court of Appeals upheld Sapunor's ruling.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Letson Has Republican Opponent
A Republican will oppose State Rep Letson in Warren area.
http://tribunechronicle.com/news/articles.asp?articleID=26659
http://tribunechronicle.com/news/articles.asp?articleID=26659
Pope Pushes For Return Of Dark Ages
What the Pope and Linda Blair Have in Common by Tommi Avicolli-Mecca‚ Jan. 03‚ 2008
I have to admit it, Pope Benedict XVI is an atheist’s dream come true. Not only is he a former member of Hitler’s Nazi Youth, but he once headed up the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the modern-day version of the Inquisition (as in the mass slaughter of Jews and heretics.) He also used to lovingly refer to queers as “intrinsically evil.” The former Joseph Ratzinger now has a new cause: Exorcism. As in the classic 1973 horror movie featuring Linda Blair as a young girl possessed by the devil. Obviously no one told the pontiff it was only a work of fiction.According to London’s Daily Mail, Benedict XVI recently ordered his bishops to form exorcism squads in every parish (even San Francisco?!) to combat the rise in the practice of satanism allegedly encouraged by “rock music and the internet.” It seems that demonic possessions are on the rise.Father Gabriele Amorth, who is billed as the Vatican’s “exorcist-in- chief” (I’m not making this up), explained it this way: “Thanks be to God, we have a Pope who has decided to fight the Devil head-on. Too many bishops are not taking this seriously and are not delegating their priests in the fight against the Devil. You have to hunt high and low for a properly trained exorcist.”
I have to admit it, Pope Benedict XVI is an atheist’s dream come true. Not only is he a former member of Hitler’s Nazi Youth, but he once headed up the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the modern-day version of the Inquisition (as in the mass slaughter of Jews and heretics.) He also used to lovingly refer to queers as “intrinsically evil.” The former Joseph Ratzinger now has a new cause: Exorcism. As in the classic 1973 horror movie featuring Linda Blair as a young girl possessed by the devil. Obviously no one told the pontiff it was only a work of fiction.According to London’s Daily Mail, Benedict XVI recently ordered his bishops to form exorcism squads in every parish (even San Francisco?!) to combat the rise in the practice of satanism allegedly encouraged by “rock music and the internet.” It seems that demonic possessions are on the rise.Father Gabriele Amorth, who is billed as the Vatican’s “exorcist-in- chief” (I’m not making this up), explained it this way: “Thanks be to God, we have a Pope who has decided to fight the Devil head-on. Too many bishops are not taking this seriously and are not delegating their priests in the fight against the Devil. You have to hunt high and low for a properly trained exorcist.”
Saturday, January 5, 2008
ENDA Without Transgender Again
Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) is expected to push for a Senate vote in 2008 on the same gay-only version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act that the House of Representatives passed in 2007, a Kennedy spokesperson said this week.
Kennedy stated on the Senate floor on Nov. 8, one day after the House passed ENDA by a vote of 235 to 184, that he hoped the Senate would follow suit by passing the employment protection bill in the current Congress, which lasts through 2008.
But until this week, Kennedy's office had not stated publicly where Kennedy stood on the demands by many gay and transgender organizations that Congress should withhold any action on ENDA unless it includes protection for transgender persons.
"Although Sen. Kennedy strongly supports protections against job discrimination for transgender workers, inaction won't advance justice for anyone, and will just make it harder to pass any version of ENDA in 2009," said Kennedy spokesperson Melissa Wagoner.
Kennedy stated on the Senate floor on Nov. 8, one day after the House passed ENDA by a vote of 235 to 184, that he hoped the Senate would follow suit by passing the employment protection bill in the current Congress, which lasts through 2008.
But until this week, Kennedy's office had not stated publicly where Kennedy stood on the demands by many gay and transgender organizations that Congress should withhold any action on ENDA unless it includes protection for transgender persons.
"Although Sen. Kennedy strongly supports protections against job discrimination for transgender workers, inaction won't advance justice for anyone, and will just make it harder to pass any version of ENDA in 2009," said Kennedy spokesperson Melissa Wagoner.
Best Candidate For Gays Who Won't Win
If you go by certain polls, Dennis Kucinich is a shoo-in for the presidency of the United States.
For instance, in Democracy for America's online poll of more than 150,000 potential voters, the congressman from Ohio took 32 percent of the vote -- more than Hillary Clinton (4 percent) and Barack Obama (14 percent) combined.
A staggering 77 percent of respondents in a nationwide poll by IndependentPrimary.com choose him as the best candidate for the job; and, according to a query posed by the Virginia Democratic Party this December, 30 percent of the democrats in that state would back him if the primary were held today.
Of course there are other polls -- notably, the one last November from Hunter College in New York, which found that 63 percent of gay, lesbian and bisexual likely voters will cast their ballots for Clinton in the primaries, followed by 22 percent for Obama and 7 percent for John Edwards. Interestingly, when asked to rank the gay rights most important to them, half of the respondents said, "legalizing gay marriage" -- not a strong point for these candidates.
Let's review: Of the seven Democratic contenders, only former Alaska senator Mike Gravel and Kucinich support gay marriage. The rest are content with federally recognized civil unions or domestic partnerships.
On other important gay issues, Kucinich, like his competitors, supports a trans-inclusive employment nondiscrimination act (ENDA), a federal hate crimes law protecting sexual orientation and gender identity, the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell," access to survivor benefits, equal tax treatment for same-sex couples, unfettered gay adoption and funding for HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment.
But let's say you're like the 79 percent of gays in the Hunter poll who don't consider gay rights the most important issue affecting your vote. In that case, it might be important to note that Kucinich is the only Democratic candidate to oppose the Iraq war from the outset, when it was political suicide to do so.
He also supports not-for-profit universal health care, withdrawing from the North American Free Trade Area (NAFTA) and World Trade Organization (WTO) until all countries agree to the same environmental and human rights standards, and raising the minimum wage. He's pro-choice and pro-medical marijuana, and he introduced impeachment proceedings against Vice President Dick Cheney.
In short, he's the candidate we've been asking for. So why aren't you voting for Dennis Kucinich?
We caught up with the candidate in New Hampshire on the eve of the Iowa primaries to ask him what he thought about being the very dark horse in the race for the Democratic nomination.
How intimidating is it to be the long shot in the run for the Democratic nomination?
Not at all. People in the LGBT community understand what it's like to go against the odds. They've been doing that their whole lives. And there are a lot of Americans that face long odds every day as to whether they'll have a job, health insurance, education, housing. So I understand what it's like to be a long shot. But long shots do win, and they win when people stand up for what they believe in.
Like, say, marriage equality.
If the LGBT community doesn't stand for marriage equality and supports a candidate without an established record of supporting it early and consistently, then how can you ever hope to win? If you don't vote your heart, your heart never wins.
Anyone who saw the Logo Forum learned a lot about the different candidates. They can still go to the website because it's still up. They can see how people responded in the moment to the question and see whose heart is open and whose isn't. Hillary Clinton is essentially saying, "It's not time yet." And Senator Edwards is having quite a bit of difficulty with it. Why? What's that about?
This issue becomes not only a question of where we are on the issue but where we stand with ourselves -- as inevitably any issue that concerns the LGBT community does. Anyone who would have to wring their hands over the issue of marriage equality doesn't get it.
To me it's a very simple question of equal protection of the law. It's a constitutional issue, and as president of the United States, I'm going to make sure that people are not denied equal protection of the law for any reason, including sexual orientation.
What do you say to gays who think you're unelectable and therefore a wasted vote?
People have to know that they can win. It's not about what candidate wins. Will LGBT people be winners in this election? The only way you can win is to have the courage to vote for what you want. A courageous vote is the only vote worth casting. As a community of people with courage, the LGBT community has been able to demonstrate a great deal of courage and authenticity. So why would politics represent something different than what our lives represent?
I'm not disappointed what the people in the community do. It's their right to choose whomever they want. But I think there needs to be a pretty open and candid discussion about how you get to where you want to go if the people you're traveling with don't want what it is you want.
If you want marriage equality and you vote for someone who isn't for marriage equality, then you can't complain later on that you don't have marriage equality. If you want marriage equality, then support someone who stands for it -- because that demonstrates integrity. It's really simple. You want health care, and you vote for a candidate who's in favor of propagating a for-profit system? Then you can't afford health care.
You want to end the war in Iraq, and you vote for someone who decides to keep the troops there until 2013 or longer? And the next year you say, "Gee, I wish we were out of Iraq." You know what? You voted for that candidate. You have to take responsibility for the consequences of your vote. This is a moment when people have to take responsibility not just for their decision but the consequences of that decision.
What responsibility do the candidates have?
We are in a period right now when candidates are unlikely to take responsibility for the consequences of their decision. We may say we're wrong, but there's no consequence for that decision. John Edwards can vote for the war. He can say he was wrong. But where is the consequence? And it doesn't show any change in judgment when he says, of Iran, "All options are on the table."
The most important decision anybody running for president would have to make is whether to send young men and women to battle, to put their lives in danger. If you're wrong, how do you say you're sorry to the parents of a dead soldier? How do you say you're sorry to the millions of innocent Iraqis who have lost their lives to a war based on lies? How do you say you're sorry to taxpayers whose government borrowed money from China to finance this war in Iraq?
If elections are only about voting for the winner, we're going to have a Republican, because the Democrats aren't establishing a clear enough difference between who we are and who they are.
Don't Democrats these days essentially think it's safer to play the center line?
Playing it safe means forgoing marriage equality. That's accommodating a system that's ready to deny people fundamental human rights. To me, the minute you stop fighting for your rights is the minute you start losing your rights. That's what's happening in America today. The wiretapping, the eavesdropping, the government going into people's health records and financial records. We've stopped fighting for our rights. The peace movement has basically given up.
So what I represent is courage to stand up for what I believe in and to demonstrate to other people that it's possible to stand up for what they believe in. That's the way to win. Victory isn't measured by what happens on a certain day in New Hampshire or Iowa, Nevada or Michigan or South Carolina. Victory is determined by one's own integrity expressed every moment. The minute we stop doing that, we become something the system describes.
But why should it take courage to vote for what you've been asking for?
I think there's a winner's psychology, which the mass media propels, that promotes a false consensus. And actually it often disenfranchises people, because people keep voting against their own interests.
The one great gift the LGBT community has given to the world is personal authenticity, integrity and the courage to be who you are in an open and uncompromised way. There's real power there. You're going to give that up to vote for someone because they might win and they don't stand for marriage equality? To me, that's antithetical to the entire movement and counterproductive to the point of being worrisome.
This is the one community that should be strong enough. If you make concessions on the issue of marriage equality, the possibility of it happening is going to diminish. The reason any gains have been made is because people were willing to go out on a limb. And you know what? That's where the fruit is -- out on the limb.
Anyone who has watched the final minutes of a football game only has to look at quarterback's face to realize if he stops believing he can win, the game is lost. Is there a point when you give up the game?
That's a good analogy. OK, let's say it gets to be fourth down with 99 yards to go. I'm not going to punt.
So you're not getting out.
You got it. (Rachel Dowd, The Advoca
For instance, in Democracy for America's online poll of more than 150,000 potential voters, the congressman from Ohio took 32 percent of the vote -- more than Hillary Clinton (4 percent) and Barack Obama (14 percent) combined.
A staggering 77 percent of respondents in a nationwide poll by IndependentPrimary.com choose him as the best candidate for the job; and, according to a query posed by the Virginia Democratic Party this December, 30 percent of the democrats in that state would back him if the primary were held today.
Of course there are other polls -- notably, the one last November from Hunter College in New York, which found that 63 percent of gay, lesbian and bisexual likely voters will cast their ballots for Clinton in the primaries, followed by 22 percent for Obama and 7 percent for John Edwards. Interestingly, when asked to rank the gay rights most important to them, half of the respondents said, "legalizing gay marriage" -- not a strong point for these candidates.
Let's review: Of the seven Democratic contenders, only former Alaska senator Mike Gravel and Kucinich support gay marriage. The rest are content with federally recognized civil unions or domestic partnerships.
On other important gay issues, Kucinich, like his competitors, supports a trans-inclusive employment nondiscrimination act (ENDA), a federal hate crimes law protecting sexual orientation and gender identity, the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell," access to survivor benefits, equal tax treatment for same-sex couples, unfettered gay adoption and funding for HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment.
But let's say you're like the 79 percent of gays in the Hunter poll who don't consider gay rights the most important issue affecting your vote. In that case, it might be important to note that Kucinich is the only Democratic candidate to oppose the Iraq war from the outset, when it was political suicide to do so.
He also supports not-for-profit universal health care, withdrawing from the North American Free Trade Area (NAFTA) and World Trade Organization (WTO) until all countries agree to the same environmental and human rights standards, and raising the minimum wage. He's pro-choice and pro-medical marijuana, and he introduced impeachment proceedings against Vice President Dick Cheney.
In short, he's the candidate we've been asking for. So why aren't you voting for Dennis Kucinich?
We caught up with the candidate in New Hampshire on the eve of the Iowa primaries to ask him what he thought about being the very dark horse in the race for the Democratic nomination.
How intimidating is it to be the long shot in the run for the Democratic nomination?
Not at all. People in the LGBT community understand what it's like to go against the odds. They've been doing that their whole lives. And there are a lot of Americans that face long odds every day as to whether they'll have a job, health insurance, education, housing. So I understand what it's like to be a long shot. But long shots do win, and they win when people stand up for what they believe in.
Like, say, marriage equality.
If the LGBT community doesn't stand for marriage equality and supports a candidate without an established record of supporting it early and consistently, then how can you ever hope to win? If you don't vote your heart, your heart never wins.
Anyone who saw the Logo Forum learned a lot about the different candidates. They can still go to the website because it's still up. They can see how people responded in the moment to the question and see whose heart is open and whose isn't. Hillary Clinton is essentially saying, "It's not time yet." And Senator Edwards is having quite a bit of difficulty with it. Why? What's that about?
This issue becomes not only a question of where we are on the issue but where we stand with ourselves -- as inevitably any issue that concerns the LGBT community does. Anyone who would have to wring their hands over the issue of marriage equality doesn't get it.
To me it's a very simple question of equal protection of the law. It's a constitutional issue, and as president of the United States, I'm going to make sure that people are not denied equal protection of the law for any reason, including sexual orientation.
What do you say to gays who think you're unelectable and therefore a wasted vote?
People have to know that they can win. It's not about what candidate wins. Will LGBT people be winners in this election? The only way you can win is to have the courage to vote for what you want. A courageous vote is the only vote worth casting. As a community of people with courage, the LGBT community has been able to demonstrate a great deal of courage and authenticity. So why would politics represent something different than what our lives represent?
I'm not disappointed what the people in the community do. It's their right to choose whomever they want. But I think there needs to be a pretty open and candid discussion about how you get to where you want to go if the people you're traveling with don't want what it is you want.
If you want marriage equality and you vote for someone who isn't for marriage equality, then you can't complain later on that you don't have marriage equality. If you want marriage equality, then support someone who stands for it -- because that demonstrates integrity. It's really simple. You want health care, and you vote for a candidate who's in favor of propagating a for-profit system? Then you can't afford health care.
You want to end the war in Iraq, and you vote for someone who decides to keep the troops there until 2013 or longer? And the next year you say, "Gee, I wish we were out of Iraq." You know what? You voted for that candidate. You have to take responsibility for the consequences of your vote. This is a moment when people have to take responsibility not just for their decision but the consequences of that decision.
What responsibility do the candidates have?
We are in a period right now when candidates are unlikely to take responsibility for the consequences of their decision. We may say we're wrong, but there's no consequence for that decision. John Edwards can vote for the war. He can say he was wrong. But where is the consequence? And it doesn't show any change in judgment when he says, of Iran, "All options are on the table."
The most important decision anybody running for president would have to make is whether to send young men and women to battle, to put their lives in danger. If you're wrong, how do you say you're sorry to the parents of a dead soldier? How do you say you're sorry to the millions of innocent Iraqis who have lost their lives to a war based on lies? How do you say you're sorry to taxpayers whose government borrowed money from China to finance this war in Iraq?
If elections are only about voting for the winner, we're going to have a Republican, because the Democrats aren't establishing a clear enough difference between who we are and who they are.
Don't Democrats these days essentially think it's safer to play the center line?
Playing it safe means forgoing marriage equality. That's accommodating a system that's ready to deny people fundamental human rights. To me, the minute you stop fighting for your rights is the minute you start losing your rights. That's what's happening in America today. The wiretapping, the eavesdropping, the government going into people's health records and financial records. We've stopped fighting for our rights. The peace movement has basically given up.
So what I represent is courage to stand up for what I believe in and to demonstrate to other people that it's possible to stand up for what they believe in. That's the way to win. Victory isn't measured by what happens on a certain day in New Hampshire or Iowa, Nevada or Michigan or South Carolina. Victory is determined by one's own integrity expressed every moment. The minute we stop doing that, we become something the system describes.
But why should it take courage to vote for what you've been asking for?
I think there's a winner's psychology, which the mass media propels, that promotes a false consensus. And actually it often disenfranchises people, because people keep voting against their own interests.
The one great gift the LGBT community has given to the world is personal authenticity, integrity and the courage to be who you are in an open and uncompromised way. There's real power there. You're going to give that up to vote for someone because they might win and they don't stand for marriage equality? To me, that's antithetical to the entire movement and counterproductive to the point of being worrisome.
This is the one community that should be strong enough. If you make concessions on the issue of marriage equality, the possibility of it happening is going to diminish. The reason any gains have been made is because people were willing to go out on a limb. And you know what? That's where the fruit is -- out on the limb.
Anyone who has watched the final minutes of a football game only has to look at quarterback's face to realize if he stops believing he can win, the game is lost. Is there a point when you give up the game?
That's a good analogy. OK, let's say it gets to be fourth down with 99 yards to go. I'm not going to punt.
So you're not getting out.
You got it. (Rachel Dowd, The Advoca
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