| 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
April 28, 2005
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"What I think the president ought to do is he ought to get on the phone with the OPEC cartel and say we expect you to open your spigots. One reason why the price is so high is because the price of crude oil has been driven up. OPEC has gotten its supply act together, and it's driving the price, like it did in the past. And the president of the United States must jawbone OPEC members to lower the price."
[First in the Nation: The New Hampshire Debates -- GOP Presidential Candidates Square off - CNN - 01-26-00]
But, listen, the energy bill is certainly no quick fix. You can't wave a magic wand. I wish I could.It's like that soldier at Fort Hood that said, How come you're not lowering the price of gasoline? I was having lunch with the fellow, and he said, Go lower the price of gasoline, President.
I said, I wish I could. It just doesn't work that way.
[Text of Bush's speech - AP - 04-28-05]
filed under:
April 26, 2005
While the rest of us were stuck in traffic today, our opponent in the House of Delegates race for Virginia's 13th District was busy tackling the use of chocolate covered strawberries as aphrodisiacs. The people of the 13th district are tired of divisive pandering and ineffective leadership. They want a leader who will deal with the issues that matter the most: transportation, education and healthcare.
"We are concerned that the frivolous manner in which human sexuality is being treated here with GMU approval is counter productive to the best interests of Virginia's citizens," the legislators wrote."It was supposed to be something funny - strawberries, oyster crackers, food alleged to be aphrodisiacs. Chocolate," Agan said. "It's just food, basically, just trying to draw people in."
In a phone interview yesterday, Marshall said he failed to find the humor in the aphrodisiac "come-on," as he called it, and said the event was just "a cover for propaganda."
"Is there anybody who gets into college who is ignorant about sex? You can't walk down the aisle of a grocery store without seeing condoms and jelly for diaphragms," Marshall said.
Marshall said that George Mason will have to see how the event fits with its mission statement, and will discover "they can't justify this."
University officials don't plan to respond to the legislators, unless they call Merten directly, Walsch said. "We have nothing to say. We support what the students have organized and have been pleased with how this has turned out."
[Sex-ed fair held despite objections - Richmond Times Dispatch - 04-26-05]
filed under: Elect Roemmelt
April 22, 2005
Take a look at this letter that went out from a very good friend of our opponent here in the 13th District. Eugene Delgaudio is a Supervisor for a county in our district, and he's "worn to the bone" from fighting the "radical homosexual" somewhere between the outter fringe of reality and the end of the rainbow. The last set of tools of the desperate is divisive pandering, and this is likely not to be the worst of it as they do anything possible to ignore the real issues facing voters in the 13th District.
Will Delgaudio and his ilk seek to fight for issues that matter to Virginians with such zeal and fundraiser prowess? Don't count on it. To these radical voices in Virginia, we don't have a problem with transportation. There are no overcrowded schools. And the best healthcare is simply not getting sick.
April 11, 2005
Dear fellow conservative,Tonight, after a long day of fighting the Radical Homosexuals, I just feel exhausted. Beaten down, wrung out, and worn to the bone. This has been a most difficult year.
The radical Homosexual Lobby is more intimidating than ever. Now, they dare me to stand in their way . . . they laugh, and brag that they have the votes to kill the Federal Marriage Amendment and will legalize homosexual "marriage" state by state.
And they boast about ramming the Gay Bill of Special Rights and Thought Control Bill through Congress even with Republicans in charge . . . Once again I wonder if Shiela and the children should be here. Once before I had to send my family away to a safe house.
I'll never forget that time. And what does it say about a ruthless adversary that would attack my family rather than face me? My friend, without your support during this time I'm not sure that I will be able to manage things. Never have the Radical Homosexuals and their allies been so vicious, so powerful, and so well financed.
Never.
They have been strolling through the Halls of Congress handing out campaign "contributions" like sweet candy, and even some conservative Congressmen have taken the bait. In fact, one so-called "Republican," Congressman Jim Kolbe of Arizona has confessed that he is a practicing Homosexual!
And ever since he admitted his perversion, campaign money has poured into his office. One pro-gay rights committee even handed Kolbe $11,000. The Homosexuals have welcomed him with open arms, and he is ready to do their bidding. It is just sad to watch. And believe me, people are watching.
Congressmen and Senators see the power and the riches of the Homosexuals, and they are tempted. And like serpents with apples, the Radical Homosexuals are in the shadows, making deals and issuing threats. And those who ignore their siren call are risking their political lives.
My friend, I see what is happening and I am afraid.
Because when I return home from work, long after midnight, I feel like I am trying to hold back the waves on the beach. The Radical Homosexuals keep coming and coming, and they grow in size daily. This is a time when, if we are not careful everything we have worked for could fall apart. The insiders whisper that even though President Bush has come out for the Federal Marriage Amendment, he still supports key parts of the Homosexual Agenda. Frankly, I'm not sure what he's going to do anymore.
I am speaking to you from the heart, my friend.
This time we are facing an enemy who is riding high, and hungry for victims. And I am nearly at the breaking point. So I am coming to you, and asking you to help me like never before. I am asking you to put it on the line for what we believe in.
I am asking you for the strength to carry on.
Because what we are doing has never been so necessary, so important. And never have the odds been so stacked against us. At the beginning of this note, I told you how down and tired I have been. And it is true. But when things are at their worst, when I just can't take another step, I think about what Barney Frank, Jim Kolbe, Hillary Clinton and all the other pro-Homosexual
Congressmen want to do to America.I think about their "pet" bill -- The "Gay Bill of Special Rights" -- and what it will do to America . . . and how close it is to passing. And how right now, night and day, I'm fighting to kill their evil Thought Control Bill.
Meanwhile, the perversity of so-called homosexual "marriage" is sweeping through America like a plague, and few in Washington seem to want to even fight back. I know the Homosexual Lobby will stop at nothing. And I see what their victory will do to the families of America. And then I reflect on how I will feel if I don't do everything in my power to stop them. I would never be able to forgive myself. Or look my children in the eye.
And then, from somewhere, I get the energy to carry on, to go forward. And I rejoin the battle. So now, I am coming to you. The simple truth is that I can't do this alone. So you now have a choice to make.
Will you join me in making a stand?
You and I have a chance to make history, to stop the Radical Homosexuals just as everything seems lost. No one thinks we can do it. Many in "Official" Washington have already given up. But I will not compromise. I will not "cut deals" with the enemies of the American family.
Never. Ever. Ever.
I will do what is right, and I will always keep my promise to you. And now the rest is up to you. Because our financial situation is incredibly dangerous. Now as you know, we have never had the financial resources of the Radical
Homosexuals. We don't have the limousines, the plush offices, tens of millions from the Hollywood elite or the tax dollars that they have at their disposal.But that's OK.
I have always said that with family, faith, and hard work we can accomplish anything. And in the past, we have. But now, we are dangerously low on money. And without an emergency gift from you today, our work will be in serious jeopardy.
So can I count on you to make a special, one time gift to my office? If you could send $1,000 or $500 right now, it would really make a huge difference. Things are so serious I don't know what to do, except to turn to prayer and to you. So please, give what you can. $200 or $100 would be such a special surprise, and it would be such a Godsend. I know what a sacrifice this is, and believe me, if I could pay for this on my own, I would.
But the truth is, I don't have it, so I am coming to you with open arms. And this is a struggle for all of us to be a part of. So whatever you can afford, please send it in immediately. $75, $50, $25, or any amount you can manage, these are all badly needed.
No matter how discouraged I become at times, I know that what we are doing is important. I know that we are on the right side. We are in the lead on this, and we are on the line. I am here, alone except for your prayers and support, nd I am ready for the fight of a lifetime.
The Radical Homosexuals are boasting that they are in the driver's seat, that no one can stop them, and that the Thought Control Bill is going to be the law of the land and they swear they'll pass the Gay Bill of Special Rights. And they brag the Federal Marriage Amendment is going nowhere in Congress.
I have devoted everything in this battle and at times risked my life. And my family has made many great sacrifices too. You have trusted me, sacrificed to keep our work going and I will never forget what you have done. And now, our destiny awaits us. This is our time to stand tall.
Join me, and we will make history.
Your friend,
Eugene Delgaudio
PresidentP.S. You and I have been through so much together that sometimes it seems like a lifetime. Once before when my family was away, your support and prayers meant more than ever. Like my own family, you sustain me in this crusade. The Radical Homosexuals are trying to turn America into a perverted pleasure palace. They hate us for standing in their way, and they have vowed to defeat us.
This will be the battle of a lifetime. Your maximum gift is absolutely necessary to keeping our struggle alive. I will be waiting to hear from you.
filed under: Virginia Is For Lovers
April 21, 2005
Sorry for the lapse of posts. As many of you know, I'm working on a Virginia House of Delegates race to elect Bruce Roemmelt. Our opponent is one of our commonwealth's most radical Delegates who's solution to just about everything is a platform of divisive social issues.
This summer, our opponent isn't spending his time trying to get on committees dealing with important issue like transportation. His plate is much too full trying to figure out the best way to strip Virginia spouses of their right to make medical decisions for their dying loved one. That's what the 13th District of Virginia has in Richmond, and it's time for a change.
Starting on April 28, the Outlet Wire will go on hiatus through the November elections. This is the news feed you see to the left (on the right on outletRadio.com). The morning hours are starting to fill up with what it takes to win. I will probably be blogging less and less here as I blog more and more at www.Bruce2005.org. I hope each of you interested in my posts here on the political realities we face in our great nation will follow our campaign there.
This is what it takes to wake up our country and stir America's common sense of fairness. As a reader, you've followed with me a narrative of political forces that are more concerned with bankrupting American Democracy on every level. You've read how radical forces within the Republican Party's base are attacking their own party's moderate leaders and thwarting their efforts to do what is right for their party and our country. You've read how our opponent in the 13th District literally called me a "Sodomite" rather than discuss legislation that affects the rights of his constituents. You've read how these same radical forces elected George Bush as President more for his position on "moral values" than they did for the issues that really matter: jobs, the economy and the war on terror. Some of those "moral values" include letting the paragon of morality for the Republican Party's chosen House leadership, Tom DeLay, make the medical decisions for your spouse rather than you. Like Tom DeLay, our opponent likes that idea a lot.
It's time each and everyone of us take these threats on our democracy and commonsense seriously. On a local level, I want to see our commonwealth's most radical Republican Delegate, who has become weak and ineffective as he's lost favor even with his own party, be replaced with the commonwealth's common sense I hear in Bruce Roemmelt. But I cannot do it without your help. I need everyone who has enjoyed this blog over the years to think about what you can do to help us. Join the discussion on www.Bruce2005.org. Contribute. Tell your friends to follow our campaign.
If you can give $10 a month until November, please click here, scroll to the bottom of the page and become a sustaining donor. if you can afford a lump sum, click here and give. Join our campaign. Tell your friends you've stepped up to the plate to focus on a race in Virginia to challenge the subversion our nation's Democratic balance of power by radical political forces.
The battle for our country's founding values and principles is here, and it's local. In Virginia, it's a battle for the commonwealth's largest district, the 13th District. Join us, and stand with America's commonsense. Stand up for the commonwealth!
filed under: Elect Roemmelt
April 15, 2005
Following the national "Day of Silence," a day students pledge silence in support of gays and lesbians, came the "Day of Truth," a day for fundamentalist evangelicals to proclaim their disdain for gays and lesbians.
Participating students wore T-shirts, saying "Day of Truth. The Truth Cannot be Silenced," and passed out material during lunch without incident, Poway Unified School District spokeswoman Sharon Raffer said. At Poway High School, Tyler Chase Harper, who sued the district last year after he was pulled out of class for wearing an anti-gay slogan on his T-shirt, spoke to students.Tyler said about 30 students wore the "Day of Truth" shirts yesterday but estimated that he spoke to about 200 students.
"The truth was spoken," Tyler, 16, said by phone yesterday. "This is something kids need to know," he said, referring to the conservative Christian perspective on homosexuality he presented.
['Day of Truth' event peaceful in county - San Deigo Union-Tribune - 04-15-05]
filed under:
April 14, 2005
Yet more thuggish behavior by public school administrators.
The student, whose name was withheld, was sent to the principal's office at her Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., school, where she was told to change shirts or leave campus, according to the Pacific Justice Institute, a Sacramento, Calif.-based public-interest law firm.The front of the T-shirt says "tolerance is the virtue of believing in nothing," and the back says "truth is truth – homosexuality is wrong."
['Homosexuality is wrong' spells trouble - WorldNetDaily - 04-14-05]
What has America's public schools become if learning has been limited to school administrators expressing their ignorance and disrespect for the law of the land and students expressing their beliefs on important social issues?
filed under: Free Speech
April 13, 2005
Here is a pic from today of the potted Queen Crimson Maple tree in our backyard.
filed under:
April 13, 2005
Well, now, this should give the Republican Party some comfort. Republican House Majority Leader Tom DeLay has a plan to avoid responsibility to ethics rules and the law, and it's a doozy. Blame Democrats. The ethically challenged and admonsihed Republican Party leader, currently under multiple investigations, even went as far as to suggest anyone interested in ethics in government has a "Democratic agenda." Why, thanks, Tom!
Giving a preview of the approach he is likely to take when he appears before reporters this afternoon, DeLay dismissed questions about his travel and his relationships with lobbyists as "the Democratic agenda."Attendees said DeLay, in extremely brief remarks, told the senators that, if asked about his predicament, they should blame Democrats and their lack of an agenda. The attendees said DeLay thanked Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) for supportive comments on ABC's "This Week" on Sunday. Santorum had said that DeLay is "very effective in leading the House," but he also noted that the Texas lawmaker needs to "lay out what he did and why he did it."
[DeLay Seeks GOP Senators' Support - Washington Post - 04-13-05]
filed under: Scandal
April 12, 2005
As conservative Republican Party leadership and its evangelical base circle around Tom DeLay, they have a question for us to ponder: "Isn't this how Jesus would run America?"
From unanimous decisions by both Republicans and Democrats, DeLay was admonished for ethical lapses not once, not twice, but three times. Several of his colleagues were indicted on felony charges in Texas for criminal activity. DeLay is currently under multiple investigations.
Let's all pay very close attention to those defending DeLay's style of governance. The American people have had it with corruption.
At a party conclave last week, Weldon and others spoke in support of their leader. But one participant who has clashed with DeLay, Rep. Joel Hefley, R-Colo., says reaction was mixed. “No one wants to come out openly and attack him,” says Hefley, who was removed as Ethics Committee chairman after the panel admonished DeLay. House leaders said it was because his term was up; Hefley called it “a purge.”Another sign that DeLay's allies are worried: Some of them recently convened a summit to plan his defense. “We're going to do whatever is necessary to back him. He's not going to be left out to dry,” says Paul Weyrich, a veteran conservative activist who attended the meeting.
DeLay has been admonished more by the House Ethics Committee than any sitting member of Congress.
Last year, the bipartisan panel — the only House committee with equal numbers of Republicans and Democrats — unanimously criticized DeLay for three things. It said a golf fundraiser with executives of an energy company created the appearance that he was giving donors special access. It said he improperly tried to have the Federal Aviation Administration find Texas legislators who were hiding in Oklahoma to thwart action on his plan to redraw the state's congressional districts. And it said he promised a retiring House Republican he would endorse the man's son to succeed him if he voted for Bush's Medicare drug plan.
In 1999, the committee warned DeLay after he threatened the Electronic Industries Alliance, a trade group, for hiring a former Democratic congressman as its president. And it cautioned him in 1997 about creating the impression that campaign contributions would bring “official action or access.”
In addition, two investigations — one in Texas, the other in Washington — are targeting close DeLay allies.
Texas prosecutor Ronnie Earle has indicted three DeLay associates for fundraising activity involving Texans for a Republican Majority, an offshoot of DeLay's national political action committee, and hasn't ruled out indicting DeLay. Earle accuses the Texans of using illegal corporate donations to engineer a GOP takeover of the Legislature.
The Justice Department, the Interior Department, the IRS and two Senate committees are also investigating two former DeLay associates, lobbyists Jack Abramoff and Michael Scanlon, who billed Indian tribes $82 million. At hearings last fall, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said that Abramoff and Scanlon worked behind the scenes to close a tribe's casino, then offered their services to help save it.
In recent weeks, foreign trips taken by DeLay and paid for by private interests have come under scrutiny. Three of the trips, to Britain, Moscow and the Pacific Mariana Islands, involved Abramoff. A fourth, to South Korea, was financed by a group registered with the Justice Department as a foreign agent and barred from paying for lawmakers' travel. DeLay says he believed the trips were underwritten by legitimate educational organizations.
When Congress convened in January, House Republican leaders rewrote the chamber's rules to make it harder to initiate an ethics investigation. Hefley, ousted at the same time, said it "could not have been handled worse."
[Despite ethics flap, few in GOP publicly criticizing influential House leader - USA Today - 04-12-05]
filed under: Scandal
April 12, 2005
When former President Clinton learned that gay Republican strategist Arthur J. Finkelstein planned a well-funded political action committee to defeat Hillary's 2006 re-election, Bill pushed the "self-loathing" button.
"Either this guy believes his party is not serious and he's totally Machiavellian," Mr. Clinton said, or "he may be blinded by self-loathing." Mr. Finkelstein, a reclusive former adviser to Gov. George E. Pataki, did not respond to a message left at his office seeking a comment on Mr. Clinton's remarks. But his allies quickly did."It's really beneath a former president to comment on someone's personal life like that," said Michael McKeon, a Republican strategist, former Pataki aide and friend of Mr. Finkelstein's. "After everything he has been through in his own life, you'd think he'd know better."
[Clinton Says Gay Opponent of His Wife May Be 'Self-Loathing' - New York Times - 04-12-05]
filed under:
April 11, 2005
"Men, it has been well said, think in herds; it will be seen that they go mad in herds, while they only recover their senses slowly, and one by one."
[Extraordinary Popular Delusions And The Madness Of Crowds by By Charles MacKay - 1841]
Rick Santorum, the No. 3 Republican in the Senate, said Sunday that DeLay needs to explain his conduct."I think he has to come forward and lay out what he did and why he did it and let the people then judge for themselves," Santorum said on ABC's This Week. "But from everything I've heard, again, from the comments and responding to those, is everything he's done was according to the law."
But Rep. Chris Shays, R-Conn., calling for Delay to step down as majority leader, told the Associated Press, "Tom's conduct is hurting the Republican Party, is hurting this Republican majority and it is hurting any Republican who is up for re-election."
[GOP colleagues pressuring DeLay - Arizona Republic - 04-11-05]
filed under: Scandal
April 10, 2005
Republicans Launch Congressional Assault on Judiciary
The Texas Republican on Friday suggested an impeachment case could be made against judges who rebuffed Congress' will in the Schiavo case. As the severely brain-damaged Florida woman faded, Congress passed a law allowing federal courts to review the decisions of state judges who turned down her parents' efforts to resume her feeding. But state and federal judges all the way up to the Supreme Court upheld those decisions.Health care, Education, Protecting Tom DelayArguing that federal courts had "run amok," largely because Congress failed to confront them, DeLay said: "Judicial independence does not equal judicial supremacy."
[DeLay in Hot Water Again - FOXnews - 4-10-05]
The Republicans said the strategy combines leaks from DeLay allies about questionable Democratic trips and financial matters; denunciations of unfavorable news stories as biased, orchestrated rehashes; and swift, organized responses to journalists' inquiries.Republican Leadership: 'Down With American Democracy'The resistance was launched two weeks ago when DeLay flew back to Washington from Texas during Easter recess to speak to a group of about 30 conservative leaders who had gathered in the conference room of the Family Research Council for a call to arms on his behalf.
[DeLay's Backers Launch Offense - Washington Post - 04-10-05]
What Rep. DeLay is attempting to do is to inflame religious passions to further his reckless and destructive assault on the courts. He argued at the conference that federal courts have "run amok" largely because Congress has failed to control them. He said the proper response "is to reassert (Congress') constitutional authority over the courts."But Congress doesn't have that authority, beyond narrowly defined roles such as Senate confirmation of federal judges and impeachment powers in the case of criminal behavior. Otherwise, judicial independence is a cornerstone of the constitutional separation of powers that defines the American system of checks and balances. Conservatives should understand that.
[Tom DeLay's jihad - Louisville Courier-Journal - 04-10-05]
filed under: Sunday Read
April 10, 2005
Republican House Majority Leader Tom DeLay is stepping up his rhetoric and assault on the judiciary and the democratic balance of power. Last week, I watched live on C-SPAN a 3 hour forum titled "Confronting the Jucidical War on Faith." In that extraordinary three hours, Republican House Majority Leader Tom DeLay and other conservatives launched blistering and inflammatory rhetoric calling for everything from dismantling our democratic balance of power to out-right thuggish police intimidation and imprisonment of the judiciary.
If you want to see the level of disdain for our country's Democracy today's conservative movement has stooped to, you owe it to yourself to watch "Confronting the Jucidical War on Faith." If you value Democracy in America, you owe it to yourself to arm yourself with their own words.
Republicans have chosen as their leader in the United States House of Representatives a man who is not only ethically challenged, but who is about to launch in the party's name a firey war on America's judiciary with any available means.
Republican House Majority Leader Tom DeLay is preparing to imprison judges. He is entertaining legislation to circumvent impeachment procedures and use police to forcibly remove judges from their jobs and offices. He is prepared to shepherd radical nominations to the judiciary with inflammatory anti-constitutional views. He is preparing to dismantle the balance of power in America with your permission, the permission of the silent, the permission of the apathetic and worst of all, the permission of the entire Republican Party.
Don't take my word for it. Read a couple of sections of the forum I transcribed featuring Michael Schwartz, Chief of Staff to Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK), echoing some of DeLay's previous comments. Here, Schwartz finds the jurisdiction of the courts to measure Congress against the nation's highest law simply too much to swallow. Perhaps he would prefer a dictatorship?
The Supreme Court is an inheritantly anti-majoritarian institution as long as it purports to be able to grade the papers of Congress and to be able to grade the papers of the legislatures. And, as an anti-majoritarian institution, and I don't think all anti-majoritarianism is necessarily wrong, but over the long haul, it is counter to the very basis of this Republic, which is not soverignty of judges, but soveriengty of the people. And until we can restore the sovereinty of the people, it is a sick and sad joke to claim that we have a constitution here.
[Confronting the Jusidical War on Faith - CSPAN - 04-07-05]
Here, Schwartz proposes to scrap the entire impeachment process for the President having the power to simply call the police to forcibly remove judges that violate Republican defined "good behavior." The arrogance and thuggish rhetoric of Republicans has never seen such appauling lows.
There is an easier way. Uh, because, uh, Impeachment requires, afterall, a two-thirds vote in the Senate after a trial. And, and what, uh, what, uh, uh, Professor Berger wrote harkens back to discussions, uh, in, uh the first Congress, even, at the time the first jucidicary act was written, uh, where it was proposed that Congress establish, by law, a set of standards of judicial good behavior. And those standards could include things, like, uh, obeying the text of the Constitution and being, uh, faithful to their oath and other things that, uh, I think it would be hard to pin down any of the current incumbents, uh, and find them guilty of. Uh, and uh, and I, I think that would be a much easier way, uh, to, uh, to, uh, to focus the attention of judges on, uh, on, uh, doing their job, instead of, uh, instead of doing someone else's job, namely the legislature's job. Because, if we have a clear standard, and if it is breached, then the judges term has simply come to an end, and the President gives him a call and says clean out your desk, uh, the, uh, the capitol police will be in to help you, uh, find your way home. Uh, that's the end of it. We don't need any trials. We don't need any impeachment. We don't need the politics of that. If a judge violates a clear established standard of good behavior in the law, then he can be removed by the President.
[Confronting the Jusidical War on Faith - CSPAN - 04-07-05]
filed under: Republican Fire Oaths
, Scandal
April 08, 2005
On the battlefield, soldiers talk openly about their families back home, and the military makes provisions to keep them in touch with their family support network and those they love. Gay and lesbian soldiers serving in the U.S. armed services are asked to sacrifice and suppress this network, not talk about their families with other soldiers, leave the family photos behind, and defend their country alone in silence.
Sgt. Robert Stout, 23, says he has not encountered trouble from fellow soldiers and would like to stay if not for the policy that permits gay men and women to serve only if they keep their sexual orientation a secret.''I know a ton of gay men that would be more than willing to stay in the Army if they could just be open,'' Stout said. ''But if we have to stay here and hide our lives all the time, it's just not worth it.''
Stout, of Utica, Ohio, was awarded the Purple Heart after a grenade sent pieces of shrapnel into his arm, face and legs while he was operating a machine gun on an armored Humvee last May.
[Gay GI who got Purple Heart wants to serve openly - Chicago Sun Times - 04-08-05]
When I hear the Pentagon tell Congress about shortcomings in recruitment and the FBI tell Congress the agency's translation work load is critically under staffed, I have to wonder why discrimination against gays and lesbians in the War on Terror is a higher priority than fighting the real enemy.
filed under: Don't Ask, Don't Tell
April 07, 2005
If you are a regular reader of this blog, you've likely followed the growing Free Speech thread in which it seems America's public schools are in a crisis over this cherished civil liberty.
Story after story illustrates how uneducated school Administrators are violating the United States Constitution with thuggish suppression of free speech. It's not just suppression of liberal thought. It's suppression of conservative beliefs, as well. We may not agree with either opinion on subject matters, but can we all agree that public school Administrators hiding behind claims that opinions are a disruption to eductation is intellectual hooliganism run amock?
Here is yet another case showing why the United States Constitution ought to be made a mandatory civics class in every American high school. When students are taught our basic rights, including those protecting free speech, an atmosphere of respect for difference is fostered and democracy is invigorated by young leaders.
LaStaysha Myers, 15, said she was sent home twice from Webb City High School for wearing such shirts. She is heterosexual but sported shirts with handwritten phrases including "I support the gay rights!""Schools that prevent students from expressing their opinions on gay rights or any other issue are not only failing their duties to teach students how to be good citizens," said Dick Kurtenbach, executive director of the ACLU of Kansas and Western Missouri, "they're also violating the United States Constitution."
Controversy erupted at Webb City High last fall over the T-shirts of a young man, Brad Mathewson, that included phrases including "I'm gay and I'm proud."
He was briefly suspended and returned to school only after promising not to wear shirts with such messages. But supporters made T-shirts in his honor and the ACLU said seven had been sent home for refusing to change them.
[ACLU sues school over T-shirts - News-Leader - 04-07-05]
If Administrators have forgotten the basic rights guaranteed in the United States Constitution, including free speech, what more can we expect from the students they are supposed to be educating? You need look no further than the Republican Party's outrageous legislative assaults on the judiciary and basic civil liberties to see how far ignorance is willing to go toward soiling our Constitution and the balance of power in America. How much further do we have to let it go before we figure out where this crisis is born?
Here is a great example of a smart high school administrator.
In a protest organized by the group Gay Marriage No and the school's Conservative Club and its student president and founder, Tim Beuler, about a dozen students from the school wore anti-gay sweat shirts and waved anti-gay signs as trucks drove around town emblazoned anti-gay slogans.The gathering took place across the street from the school as protestors gave up their lunch hour to send their message to other students and people driving by. Other students from the school who support the April 13th “Day of Silence” observance weren’t quiet about letting the anti-gay protestors know they didn’t support their views.
Though things got a little tense as both sides loudly voiced their beliefs, district superintendent Michael Watenpaugh recognized the need to protect freedom of speech for all students. “It's a delicate situation.We need to preserve the rights of the students and we need to make sure that learning continues in the classroom."
[Anti-Gay Rally Stirs Controversy At High School - KRXI-TV - 04-06-05]
filed under: Free Speech
April 06, 2005
In the same 2004 Presidential exit polls now being used by Republicans to claim an increase in support among black and women voters, most of those (corrected by DCRob in comments) the biggest single issue among those who voted for President Bush was "moral issues," more than jobs, the economy, and the war in Iraq.
When Republican House Majority Leader Tom DeLay sought to deny court protection of Michael Schiavo's marrital rights to honor his wife's medical wishes, America saw the Republican Party's evangelical base in a vulgar act of arrogance.
The controversy over Terri Schiavo has raised concerns among many Americans about the moral agenda of the Republican Party and the political power of conservative Christians, a USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup Poll finds.In the survey, most Americans disapprove of the efforts by President Bush and Congress to draw federal courts into the dispute over treatment of the brain-damaged Florida woman. She died last week.
Some old stereotypes about the two parties have been reversed:
•By 55%-40%, respondents say Republicans, traditionally the party of limited government, are “trying to use the federal government to interfere with the private lives of most Americans” on moral values.
•By 53%-40%, they say Democrats, who sharply expanded government since the Depression, aren't trying to interfere on moral issues.
[Many wary of GOP's moral agenda - USAToday - 04-06-05]
But if you think Republican House Majority Leader Tom DeLay and his colleagues are finished meddling with the civil liberties and personal lives of Americans with disgraceful and arrogant legislation, think again. DeLay and the Republican Party's evangelical base have designs on writing discrimination into the United States Constitution to deny equal protections for gay and lesbian families.
Why would the Republican controlled Congress want to waste their time with the economy, education and health care when their party's radical evangelical base would much rather high-jack the business of the American people with divisive issues?
filed under: Equal Marriage Rights
, Moral Majority
April 06, 2005
I don't know how Pat Robertson expects high school teens to "entice" their gay friends to a heterosexual lifestyle.
QUESTION: My high school has all these different programs that support homosexuals. I recently found out that one of my close friends was a homosexual, so I attended some events with him just to show him he’s still my friend. Is this going too far? How do I show him he’s still my friend without making him think I approve of his lifestyle?ANSWER: If you go to those homosexual events, then you are approving of his lifestyle and thinking it’s okay. The Bible says, “Have nothing to do with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” We as Christians always want to be nice to people, “Well, I don’t offend him. It might hurt my witness,” and all this stuff. Well, I’m sorry. The Bible says, “Have nothing to do with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” If you go to these places, the next thing you know, you will be enticed into their lifestyle instead of him being enticed to yours. I would strongly advise against it. If you have to go get another friend or other friends, do so. It’s a pity. I would certainly pray for him, but I just don’t think I’d go into that game.
[Bring It On: Moral, Social, and Ethical Issues - CBN - 04-06-05]
If Pat Robertson had enough spiritual honesty and integrity to apply this answer to the lifestyle of divorce, the world would be a lonely place.
QUESTION: Dear Pat, my best friend's parents live a heterosexual lifestyle of divorce. I went to his house the other day just to let him know he's still my friend. Is this going too far?
ANSWER: You should run away from them people as fast as you can. Jesus says divorce is adultery plain as day in the Bible. In Mathew 19:9, Jesus says, "And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery." Listen, boy, don't go a covorting with the Devil at that boy's house again. We'll send someone over right away to burn these witches out of life and home.
filed under: Moral Majority
April 06, 2005
GAY.com's recent ad campaign has us focusing on America coming together for random hook-ups. I bet this wasn't what they had in mind.
"Once I met him I was so scared," the boy testified about his first meeting with Bruce Wernick, then 43. "He kind of persuaded me into wanting to do things."Wernick, now 47, of Valley Stream, is accused of sodomizing the boy, who was 15 then, in his family's home. Wernick is charged with doing the same to two other underage boys, as well as downloading, saving and sharing child pornography through his computer. Wernick faces up to 50 years in prison if convicted.
During cross-examination, Wernick's attorney, Bruce Barket of Garden City, attempted to engender sympathy for his client by painting the teenager, now 19, as a willing participant in the encounter.
Barket asked him to explain an e-mail he wrote Wernick after the two met on gay.com in 2001 that stated: "I hope we can meet also!!! I want to learn a lot of things."
"What you were referring to there was sexual matters, yes?" Barket asked.
"Yes," the teen said.
[He persuaded me, teen boy tells jury - Newsday - 04-07-05]
also read: Another GAY.com Chat Murder?
filed under: Media
April 05, 2005
(via GayOrbit) - As Robert Shurbet's wanted poster spreads all over the Internets after Michael Rogers had his website yanked, now comes a comic strip from Chris Muir (Day-By-Day) shedding light on the Blogactive author.
10-Headed Hydra: some sites carrying the poster:
- Classic Values
- Lime Shurbet
- Gay Orbit
- Haight Speech
- Nice Doggie
- Yippe-Ki-Yay!
- The Politiker
- My Vast Right Wing Conspiracy
- Six Meat Buffet
- Frizzen Sparks
"Outing" as my post shows...is an outdated term. Effective today, It's no longer used on blogACTIVE.com, except when quoted (and then I will be sure to explain to folks what a silly word it has become.)
[Michael Rogers - BlogActive - 03-28-05]
filed under: Coming Out
, Free Speech
April 04, 2005
I'm glad Vice President Dick Cheney said DeLay's jihad against the judiciary is not appropriate. While DeLay continues his vulgar and inappropriate threats against the balance of power and disgraceful pandering to the party's evangelical base, some of his Republican colleagues have gone as far as threaten the judiciary with imprisonment for upholding the "sacred institution of marriage" in Michael Schiavo's right to honor his wife's dying wishes in Florida.
There are just some things a little more sacred than marriage for Tom DeLay, namely using Terri Schiavo as political cover from media attention on DeLay's ethical lapses and criminal investigations into corruption.
If Cheney and other Republicans didn't realize, DeLay could care less about what is and isn't appropriate behavior for Republicans in Congress. Why should they ever believe this man has the party's best interests in mind? With multiple admonishments and current investigations into inappropriate and felonious behavior, DeLay is putting the wrong face on our nation's leadership.
If Republicans are looking for leadership that acts more appropriately, maybe it's time for Tom DeLay to step aside as the Republican House Majority Leader.
Vice President Cheney says he opposes revenge against judges for their refusal to prolong the life of the late Terri Schiavo, although he did not criticize House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) for declaring that they will "answer for their behavior."Cheney was asked about the issue on Friday by the editorial board of the New York Post. He said twice that he had not seen DeLay's remarks, but the vice president said he would "have problems" with the idea of retribution against the courts. "I don't think that's appropriate," he said. "I may disagree with decisions made by judges in any one particular case. But I don't think there would be much support for the proposition that because a judge hands down a decision we don't like, that somehow we ought to go out -- there's a reason why judges get lifetime appointments."
[Cheney Opposes Retribution Against Schiavo Judges - Washington Post - 04-04-05]
Yeah, that reason is to protect the balance of power from enemies of our Democracy like Republican House Majority Leader Tom DeLay.
filed under: Scandal
April 03, 2005
Graphic shows how a new pope gets elected. (AP Graphic)
filed under:
April 03, 2005
I haven't seen an episode of Queer Eye for months. There is probably very little good to be found in the Pope's death, but I have a feeling cable television is seeing a lot of channel surfing. Today's episode of Queer Eye over morning coffee focused on a comedian named Kevin Downey Jr. In my opinion, the two seconds of his routine they could show of his performance really sucked. But when he proposed to his girl friend at the end of the show, Vince and I lost it. His girl friend was genuinely surprised and very happy. How sweet!
There is only one other show that regularly has us in tears, and we watch it pretty regularly. It's ABC's Extreme Makeover Home Edition. Every weekend, ABC does something amazing for a family that really needs it. We need more of that on television.
Speaking of TV, I know VIACOM's Logo, the all gay cabale channel, is slow coming out of the gate, but they were wandering around filming Equality Virginia's Second Annual Commonwealth Dinner last night in Richmond. There were over 1200 people that showed up at the sold out event, including Bruce and his wife Beth, Vince and me. The Governor and his wife slipped in at the last minute. Something about gravity, you know. Anyway, If Logo caught Bruce jumping up on his seat twirling his napkin in the air when the event co-chair recognized him from the stage, I'll just die.
The event was very nice, and Equality Virginia did an amazing job. I have the sense that the gays really don't like our opponent in the 13th district, judging from the comments of the Republicans on stage. Julian Bond, Chairman of the NAACP, was on hand to receive the Equality Commonwealth Award, and gave a very moving speech about Loving v. Virginia, and how the decision allowed he and his wife to be able to marry, celebrate and share their love for one another. He also talked briefly about how those who are on the losing side of history often resort to desperate measures. We've seen a lot of desperate measures over the past year in the Virginia House of Delegates, and it's time for change.
Disclosure: even on the day of the Lord, I work for Elect Roemmelt
filed under: Elect Roemmelt
April 02, 2005
It's pouring rain here in the 13th District. Needless to say, they called off the parade in Manasass today featuring the drivers for the opening season race at the Old Dominion Speedway. We were really looking forward to seeing ACC Motorsports #66, Team Roemmelt's sponsored car. We'll have to wait until next weekend. We're all rooting for Rob and Ron Jardine, and can't wait to get out to the track for a few races over the summer. Here is a picture of Bruce with the car from last weekend.
Late last night, after a meeting with some amazing grassroots Democrats at Matt Harrison's house, I had dinner with Maura Keany from Democracy For Virginia. Last week, she posted a couple of great posts on DKos about our campaign. You can also read her coverage on the DFV site. We literally closed the place down talking well past dinner about the challenges ahead as people cleaned up around us. Somewhere into the hour past closing, they turned up the air conditioner, then the heat, and dimmed and brightened the lights. Around 1:30 in the morning, the manager finally had to ask us to leave, and we stood in the parking lot for another few minutes in the drizzling rain. We could have talked for hours more. I have a feeling this is what Friday nights and weekends are going to look like for some time, but it's a lot of fun, and when it's spent with passionate people like Maura eager to elect people like Bruce, it's time well spent.
Maura is doing an amazing job with Democracy for Virginia and working to help build our Democratic party precinct by precinct. Democracy for Virginia recently won a national contest to recieve free consulting on house parties from Party2win and will soon be able to provide a lot of support for targeted House of Delegate races across the commonwealth.
It's because of the work of people like Maura that the Democratic party is able to continue building upon the grassroots energy from the 2004 elections. We aren't giving up. We're going to need all the help we can get over the coming months, and Maura is just one of many faces you'll come to know as we tell our campaign's story.
disclosure: I work for Elect Roemmelt.
filed under: Elect Roemmelt
April 01, 2005
Keeping the Pope in our thoughts...
filed under:
April 01, 2005
Court documents exclusively obtained by GayPatriotWest an hour ago show former Chief Operating Officer Dwight Lodge is suing Log Cabin Republicans for $15 million for alleged wrongful termination, negligent supervision and defamation.
Court documents allege LCR Executive Director Patrick Guerriero misused organizational funds and defamed Lodge by claiming he used drugs. Lodge seeks $5 million for "Wrongful Termination in Violation of Public Policy," $5 million for "Negligent Supervision," and $5 million for "Defamation."
10. By October 2004, however, Mr. Lodge became concerned about improper and well-documented business and financial practices of LCR/LEF’s Executive Director, Patrick Guerriero. These practices included but were not limited to: misuse of restricted funds, reclassification of funds and creation of false reports to obtain matching funds, and the reclassification of funds to hide losses incurred by certain programs for the purpose of misleading the board. Mr. Lodge understood that those practices, if true, were not only inconsistent with Generally Accepted Accounting Practices but potentially exposed LCR/LEF to liability under federal and state. When Mr. Lodge, consistent with his own fiduciary responsibilities, presented his concerns to Mr. Guerriero on or about November 12, 2004, Mr. Guerriero cavalierly and inexplicably dismissed Mr. Lodge’s concerns. Within three weeks, Mr. Guerriero began disseminating defamatory rumors of Mr. Lodge’s purported “drug use,” along with curiously vague and sudden allegations of Mr. Lodge’s supposed “poor” job performance. These rumors were circulated around LCR’s offices throughout the country.
[SUPERIOR COURT FOR THE FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA - 03-31-05 (word doc file)]
More...
16. As a direct and proximate result of the illegal employment action by defendants, Mr. Lodge has suffered, and continues to suffer, severe pain and suffering and extreme mental anguish and emotional distress. Mr. Lodge has suffered and will continue to suffer a loss of earnings and other employment benefits and job opportunities.
[SUPERIOR COURT FOR THE FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA - 03-31-05 (word doc file)]
UPDATE 2:51PM: GayPatriotWest has responses from LCR here. 365gay.com has more.
filed under:
April 01, 2005
"Improper business and financial practices of Patrick Guerriero?" Uh oh. Superior Court of the District of Columbia documents to follow.
developing...
Dwight Lodge, former chief operating officer of Log Cabin Republicans (LCR) and Liberty Education Forum (LEF), has filed a lawsuit claiming he was wrongfully terminated after uncovering improper business and financial practices of Patrick Guerriero, LCR and LEF’s president. Mr. Guerriero fired Mr. Lodge following a November 12 meeting that was requested by Lodge to discuss his concerns over improper and well documented business and financial practices that were discovered while deploying new financial systems. Mr. Guerriero cavalierly and inexplicably dismissed Lodge’s concerns and within three weeks began disseminating defamatory rumors in LCR’s offices and chapters throughout the country.On December 22, 2004 Mr. Guerriero terminated Mr. Lodge’s employment, citing an alleged and previously undocumented sub-standard job performance.
"Mr. Lodge’s termination reveals all too clearly that this sudden adverse action was wholly without cause and in retaliation for the exposure by Mr. Lodge of potentially illegal and unethical financial and business practices by Mr. Guerriero. The adverse action of Mr. Guerriero and the board of director’s ratification of his adverse action have caused, and continues to cause Mr. Lodge irreparable harm and extreme emotional distress," said Lisa Alexis Jones, counsel for Mr. Lodge.
The complaint, filed in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, cites five causes of action including; breach of contract, wrongful termination, breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, negligent supervision and defamation and seeks to recoup lost compensation as well as compensatory damages, punitive damages and other penalties.
[FORMER EXECUTIVE OF LOG CABIN REPUBLICANS AND
LIBERTY EDUCATION FORUM SUES FOR WRONGFUL TERMINATION - March 31, 2005]
filed under:
April 01, 2005
Well, now, this ought to balance the budget. Just when you thought you've heard every fanciful arguement to be made against equally protecting gay and lesbian families, Republicans have a new boogie man: interspecies marriage.
A Loveland Republican on Thursday warned that same-sex marriage could one day lead to interspecies marriage, if the state fails to ban gay nuptials."Where do you draw the line?" Rep. Jim Welker asked. "A year ago in India, a woman married her dog."
Welker's comments were made at a news conference called by Rep. Kevin Lundberg, R-Berthoud, to promote Lundberg's proposal for a state constitutional amendment banning gay marriage.
Rep. Angie Paccione, D-Fort Collins, who attended to decry the idea as a throwback to long-discarded laws criminalizing interracial marriage - she grew up in a biracial family - reacted strongly to Welker's comment. She ran toward the podium.
"Come on, Jim, that's not the same. Come on, man!" she yelled.
"A guy in Boulder tried to marry his horse a couple years ago," Welker said.
[Gay-marriage foe irks fellow lawmakers with "extreme" talk - Denver Post - 04-01-05]
filed under: Equal Marriage Rights
April 01, 2005
Not that you need to be reminded what a bafoon and partisan tool FOX's Sean Hannity is, but here is Hannity's special reminder of that very point straight from his own mouth.
In this audio, compliments of Oliver Willis, Hannity accidentally forgets he's being recorded as he also accidentally forgets his own blathering about civility in American politics.
Click here for the audio clip.
The subject of his attack is Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA), who Hannity calls a "jerk" and an "asshole" adding "I hate these people. You have no idea." Hannity's ire and deep rooted partisan hatred was stoked by Moran's audacity to want to talk about Medicare.
filed under: Media
