| christian grantham | |||
| Christian Grantham was a student activist in the late 90s and later was a consultant to domestic policy forums for the Clinton Administration as well as events for HRC and GLAAD. | |||
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latest posts
June 28, 2004
During the 2000 presidential campaign in the United States, the Bush/Cheney 2000 campaign was fond of dismissing policy discussions with the campaign mantra "the record speaks for itself." It was an easy line to remember when reporters began asking tough questions. It was a liner that required the media do homework they aren't often prepared to do.
Throughout the 2000 campaign, Bush hoped to demonstrate in words the actions his Administration would take on behalf of the American people:
- "uniter, not divider"
- "compassionate conservative"
- "dignity and respect to the oval office"
- "change the tone in Washington"
- "reject nation building"
- "fiscal responsibility"
- "leave no child behind," etc, etc, etc,
Now comes the Quipper-in-Chief armed with his latest 2004 release of Reaganesque one-liners in hopes the American people pay as close attention as they did in 2000. If 2000's one-liners are any indication, Bush's words will, again, speak louder than his actions.
Bush camp hits back at Kerry with a quip
By Bill Sammon
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
June 28, 2004
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June 22, 2004
After all this talk about putting Ronald Reagan on the $10 bill, I kinda like the idea of honoring more modern American leaders. I've come to the conclusion, though, that it might be better to honor a far more worthy conservative leader. There is no better American of distinguished stature than President George W. Bush.
If we're going to change the $10 bill, Ronald Reagan might be nice, but President George W. Bush is far more deserving. I know my Republican friends agree.
Let's look at President Bush's distinguished record. President Bush is a uniter, not a divider. He's a compassionate conservative. He doesn't condone torture. President Bush doesn't believe in discrimination, and he has brought dignity and respect to the Oval Office. Bush is the most fiscally responsible President we've ever had and has raised over $200 million for the Republican party. He's a Christian man that talks with God. He can't stand the gays, but doesn't think you should be digging logs out of people's eyes, or something like that. He views nation building with disdain, and when faced with questionable intelligence, President George W. Bush doesn't sit around asking stupid liberal questions and brings the war to the enemy.
The next time you hear someone say they want President Reagan on the $10 bill, tell them to go twist on a stick with that baby killing wife of Ronnie's, and you tell them you want George Bush!
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June 12, 2004
VirginiaIsForHaters.org wants you to boycott the Outlet Radio Network. Why? It's not because we're a gay-owned business or because we're the #1 lgbt webcaster in the nation. It's because we're located in Virginia. Confused?
The boycott of "Virginia companies and their products and services" was launched by Jay Porter and his partner David Smith of Seattle, WA when Virginia State Delegate Robert G. Marshall navigated discriminatory legislation through our state Congress.
The bill, HB-751, states,
"The General Assembly hereby concludes that the Commonwealth of Virginia is under no constitutional or legal obligation to recognize a marriage, civil union, partnership contract or other arrangement purporting to bestow any of the privileges or obligations of marriage under the laws of another state or territory of the United States unless such marriage conforms to the laws of this Commonwealth."
The divisive bill would have never existed or have been brought to the floor for a vote if it wasn't for one man: Robert G. Marshall. Rather than specifically target Robert G. Marshall's seat and contributors, or raise money for education efforts in Mr. Marshall's district, VirginiaIsForHaters.org would rather you place your power to make real change aside and join Mr. Marshall in soiling the entire state. VirginiaIsForHaters wants you to, instead, punish the hundreds of lgbt-owned small businesses and their friends that call Virginia home.
Last night, my partner and I joined more than 400 lgbt colleagues at the first annual National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) dinner in Washington, D.C. Present at that dinner were several members from the Potomac Executive Network, a group of which I and other lgbt owned Virginia area businesses are proud members. The evening was a wonderful celebration of the continued success of lgbt owned businesses and the changes we make in our communities. It wasn't at all a surprise that not a single mention was made or requested for anyone in the room to boycott businesses from Virginia.
Are lgbt owned businesses the kind of businesses VirginiaIsForHaters.org asks our community to join "in boycotting Virginia companies and their products and services?" Unfortunately, the answer is yes. Not only is this gay Seattle couple asking you to stop listening to Outlet Radio, but they are also asking you to stop buying products and services from me and my partner's computer business.
As VirginiaIsForHaters put it, "Virginia seems to have lashed out at same-sex couples with little logic so we're trying the same tack." I couldn't have said it any better.
There are responsible choices worth advocating to make real change, but they take hard work that serious groups like Equality Virginia are doing. Is VirginiaIsForHaters.org raising money to defeat Robert G. Marshall? No. Are they raising money to educate voters in Robert G. Marshall's district as to the impact of his divisive politics? No. What VirginiaIsForHaters.org are doing is missing an opportunity to isolate the divisive politics of Robert G. Marshall and his supporters.
StopDrLaura.com didn't advocate boycotting Paramount Studios. They advocated targeting Dr. Laura's commercial sponsors. There is a reason for that, and it works. VirginiaIsForHaters.org claims to model themselves after a boycott against the state of Colorado after the passage of Amendment 2 in the 1990s. VirginiaIsForHaters.org most resembles the poorly organized and misguided boycott of Disney by the Southern Baptists.
The sad truth is the only people advocating a statewide boycott of Virginia is a gay couple on the other side of the country. As far as Robert G. Marshall is concerned, anything aiming to harm the entire state of Virginia is ammunition in a common cause. For that, I’m certain Mr. Marshall thanks VirginiaIsForHaters from the bottom of his heart, but I don't.
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June 08, 2004
As President Bush and some of his campaign surrogates begin rolling out the overt comparisons between him and Ronald Reagan, one important difference they'll try to avoid at the heart of Reagan's appeal was a tangible bipartisanship that leant him support from "Reagan Democrats."
That spirit, being praised by many all week, was very visible throughout the administrations of Reagan, Bush and Clinton. They are painfully absent from President George W. Bush's Administration, and that absence permeates much of President Bush's diplomatic style. If the 60th anniversary of D-Day wasn't a fitting enough reminder that we must meet the world's challenges with our friends, Reagan's life certainly illustrated that.
If President Bush is similar to Ronald Reagan, where are the "Bush Democrats?" If Zell Miller is the shinning example of a "Bush Democrat," then I suppose we ought to make a special denomination of currency to bear Bush's bust for gallantly caring forward Reagan's bipartisan legacy.
There are a few similarities worth pointing out. Both Presidents delivered "trickle down economics" involving tax cuts, and both delivered our nation ballooning deficits that would make even former Gov. Gray Davis blush.
While both Presidents Reagan and Bush deplored "big government," President Bush differs only slightly in that he at least says he hates "big government" while delivering us an era of big government unlike any other.
Both Presidents Reagan and Bush hate the sin, but love the sinners. Their policies of ignoring what a good sex education can prevent compassionately allowed God's will to infect evil-doers with AIDS, thus touching many families and bringing them into the loving arms of the Lord.
Both Presidents Reagan and Bush hated baby killers, but President Bush towers over Ronald Reagan when it comes to the courage to stand up to Satan's minions on this issue. Who can forgive Reagan for appointing that woman to the Supreme Court that turned her back on the Lord? Paul would be rolling in his grave.
Thanks to President Bush's leadership, our nation rejects Satan's secular reason and the witchcraft science of stem cell research. President Bush had the courage Ronald Reagan didn't to tell Nancy Reagan to go twist on a stick when it comes to grinding baby heads into cures for diseases. Sometimes a higher authority has to trump immoral pagan desires for clean living.
Not even the vast armies of Bush Democrats will move President Bush to give in to Nancy's desire for the day the sick and dying are entitled to a Satanic fetus slurpee. Thank Jesus that Bush is different from Reagan in that respect.
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June 04, 2004
Pete, give up! The Senate seat isn't that important.
Rampage in Granby
By Associated Press
June 4, 2004GRANBY, Colo. - An armed man barricaded inside a fortified bulldozer went on a rampage Friday, firing shots and knocking down buildings as he plowed down the streets of this Colorado town.
It was not immediately known whether anyone had been injured.
"He's got gun turrets, he's even got the tracks covered up," witness Scott Schaffer told KUSA-TV. Another resident, Judy Craig, told the station she heard heavy damage was done to the town library and city hall.
read more: Rocky Mountain News
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June 03, 2004
Coors Brewing Company responded today to calls by gays and lesbians for boycotts of Coors beer. In a press release, Coors Brewing Company spokesperson Laura Sankey asked gay media to separate the political positions of Pete Coors from Coors Brewing Company.
"Pete Coors is on an unpaid leave of absence from Coors Brewing Company in order to run for the U.S. Senate. As a candidate, he'll likely be in the position of expressing views on political issues on which it is inappropriate for Coors Brewing Company to have a position."
Sankey is, of course, referring to avid support from Pete Coors for a Federal Marriage Amendment that writes discriminatory language into the United States Constitution. Sankey's release selectively asks subscribed gay media to separate Coors Brewing Company from Pete Coors, but doesn't seem to mind Pete Coors publicly marrying his company with his candidacy when it benefits his candidacy and divisive politics.
If you are looking online for a copy of the release, forget it. I'm not posting it until Coors has the guts to post it themselves. John Tuttle, the Assistant Managing Editor of U.S. Newswire, told me Coors Brewing Company has requested the release not be posted and was not distributed through any other service. Why? Coors Brewing Company wants only subscribed gay media to be reminded via email that they are gay friendly, not the Republican voters of Colorado that prefer the version of Coors Brewing Company that Pete Coors is selling.
Coors Brewing Company apparently doesn't care the general public associates the disgraceful attacks on equal rights by Pete Coors with Coors Brewing Company because the confusion will help get Pete elected. But they do care if gays and lesbians make that association and decide not to buy their products.
Norman Provizer, political science professor at Metropolitan State College of Denver, had this to say in today's Rocky Mountain News about Pete Coors association with the company his family worked hard to build:
"You have somebody running as a successful businessman who has no track record in any essential part of the political realm," he said of Coors. Attacks on his stewardship of the company should be expected, Provizer said, especially since Coors often cites his business acumen in campaign appearances.The first two words describing Coors in his own campaign literature are entrepreneur and businessman. Coors' first television spot, which began Tuesday, touts him as someone who "learned about business from the ground up."
I agree.
At the heart of Pete Coors eagerness to represent Colorado in the United States Senate is a company Mr. Coors is eager to marry with his public image and, regrettably, his divisive politics.
Mr. Coors is very comfortable with that poor choice. Until Coors Brewing Company publicly repudiates in a widely posted and distributed press release the divisive politics Mr. Coors is associating with his family's business, the associations Pete Coors is selling in his bid for Senate will stand.
Chicago gay bars boycott Coors Co.
By Steve Raabe
Denver Post
May 26, 2004
View the "What Are Your Really Buying" ad placed by Chicago gay bars
Coors says he'd support proposal to ban gay marriages
By Gwen Florio
Rocky Mountain News
May 25, 2004Browse the shameful comments made by supporters of the Federal Marriage Amendment in Community Quotes.
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June 03, 2004
Massachusetts has married thousands of gays and lesbians. For Texas conservatives, the sky is falling.
President Bush has an optimistic view of America. It includes an economy on the mends and freedom on the march in the Middle East, among other things. But some radical "Texas Conservatives," bent on highjacking this optimistic view, want Americans to believe our society is imperiled by the prospects of equal marriage rights for gays and lesbians.
Texas conservatives have a friend in President George W. Bush.
What are "Texas conservatives?" Unlike "Massachusetts liberals," these radical elements of society are best summed up by the Texas delegation to the 2000 Republican National Convention. You might remember them bowing their heads in prayer when openly gay Republican Senator Jim Kolbe spoke on the stage as part of the party's desperate attempt to portray inclusiveness.
Texas conservatism has infected every level of the Republican Party. Vice President Dick Cheney, who once viewed equal marriage rights as something the federal government has no business in, now embraces a radical amendment to the United States Constitution. The amendment would deny his own daughter the very rights and happiness her parents enjoy, but Cheney knows a little sacrifice goes a long way.
Texas conservatives not only supports writing discrimination into the United States Constitution, they continue to exercise their exclusive vision of America in many communities across our nation. Texas conservatives are emboldened by President Bush lending a voice to thier cause, and they beckon America to emulate their demand that gays and lesbians get out of their party, our places of worship, our halls of justice, our schools and our communities.
Texas conservatives within the Republican Party are deeply troubled by the very freedoms Americans are sacrificing to bring to the Middle East. To Texas conservatives, freedom and equality should be as exclusive as they are under the very dictators our nation deplores. To Texas conservatives, our nation's founding principles have gone too far in making them equal before the law with hell-bound sinners.
The fears expressed by Texas conservatism infesting the Republican party is best outlined in all its glory in the doomsday visions of the Republican Policy Committee report of July 29, 2003:
[Gays] will buy property in and out of the State, adopt and rear children, get divorced, incur child support and alimony obligations, and enmesh themselves in the same kinds of legal obligations that most traditionally married couples do.
Oh, the travesty of equality! This, Texas conservatives warn, will subvert President Bush's optimistic view of America, plunging the economy into depression, threatening the process in Iraq, and causing heterosexuals to dissolve their marriages and run off to all-gay colonies in the forests of South America. The vision is as ridiculous as their idealogical predecessor’s on the perils of mixed-race marriage.
"Intermarriage between whites and blacks is repulsive and averse to every sentiment of pure American spirit. It is abhorrent and repugnant. It is subversive to social peace. It is destructive of moral supremacy, and ultimately this slavery to black beasts will bring this nation to a fatal conflict"
-- Representative Seaborn Roddenberry (D-GA) - December 1912 | Gilmore, Al-Tony (1975). p.108 - Bad Nigger! The National Impact of Jack Johnson. Port Washington, N.Y.: Kennikat Press."Let this condition go on if you will. At some day, perhaps remote, it will be a question always whether or not the solemnizing of matrimony in the North is between two descendants of our Anglo-Saxon fathers and mothers or whether it be of a mixed blood descended from the orangutan-trodden shores of far-off Africa."
-- Representative Seaborn Roddenberry (D-GA) - December 1912 | Kristof, Nicholas D (March 3, 2004). Marriage: Mix and Match: New York Times
Texas conservatives have found that same silly voice they ignorantly attribute to whispers from God, and now they have a President that needs four more years to implement their vision of America. With your support, America, the United States Constitution will forever proclaim exclusion and become the clarion call for gay and lesbian Americans to be treated like the second-class citizens they will certainly become under such divisive and irrational politics.
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