eva young
Eva Young is President of Log Cabin Republicans of Minnesota and lives in Minneapolis with her cat, Kiddleleewink. You can also read her other blog here.
	latest posts   Hate Amendment Gets Over 50% in House, but Loses   Anti-Gay Ex-Gay Steven Bennett Visits the Midwest   Free Speech and Hate Music   Tom Delay/Ralph Reed/Alabama Christian Coalition Gambling-Gate   Stonewall: Gay or Democrat

September 30, 2004

Results here.

filed under: Gay Politics

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September 30, 2004

Gads, Steven Bennett was in Minneapolis at an Olive Tree Ministries Conference. To get a sense of this group, listen to some of Jan Markell's radio shows - State Senator Michele Bachmann (Minnesota's Marilyn Musgrave) and Steven Bennett are both frequent guests - and the stuff is just wacko...... The shows are archived.

He's a professional "ex-gay".... As his bio states:

Stephen is leading the way on a national level in the battle against "gay marriage" and the "gay agenda." He lived the homosexual lifestyle for many years, but God set him free. He is married with children. His testimony is more evidence that no one is beyond God's saving grace. The "gay marriage/gay agenda" is the issue of the century for America. Stephen is a part of "Concerned Women for America" but has been featured on national media including Fox News, The O'Reilly Factor, CBS This Morning, and more. He has his own ministry and is also a recording artist.

His "personal story" is rather suspect - folks have been looking into his claim - and noone can find anyone who has known him when he lived the "homosexual lifestyle" as he put it. Supposedly he had a partner and also had been with "hundreds of men".....

He's the one who did the exgay outreach at Provincetown.... This charming little email from Steven came yesterday.

Delivered-To: usucceed.com-eva@usucceed.com From: "Stephen J. Bennett" To: Date: Mon, 27 Sep 2004 12:11:39 -0400 X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2800.1437 X-Mailman-Approved-At: Mon, 27 Sep 2004 14:08:14 -0400 Subject: SBM in Minneapolis, St. Paul & Chicago Update

--- SBM, Inc. ---
Stephen Bennett Ministries, Inc.
P.O. Box 2095
Huntington, CT 06484-1095
www.SBMinistries.org
Nationwide Toll-Free 1-800-832-3623
A Pro-Family Organization Advocating for
The Traditional Family, The Protection of Children
and Proclaiming the Truth About Homosexuality
--------------------------------------------------
Special Media Note: Monday, Sept. 27, 2004
--------------------------------------------------

From Monday, Sept. 27, 2004's Chicago Tribune:

Church's stance on gays is hit
An Oak Park congregation's services against same-sex marriage draw 2 sets of protests [Steven posted full text of article]

*PS - Three camera trucks with satellite dishes, many protestors with megaphones screaming "Bennett hates gays!" Stephen Bennett lies!" and CBS, ABC and another local affiliate broadcast the interviews with Stephen and Irene as well as parts of the service. Two of the stations lied saying Stephen stated he compared homosexuality with "mental illness."

EY: Oh really.... Stephen Bennett has said the most viscious things about gays. Bennett isn't known for telling the truth on this issue.

God's truth and life transforming word got out, yet it breaks our hearts that many in the gay agenda and pro-gay media can only get their message out through the use of one thing -- lies. Secondly, at the end of the article, Stephen never said homophobic means "I hate homosexuals" -- he said homophobic means "fear of homosexuals." But again, we all know the many in the secular media never can get their stories "straight."

Watching all the local news casts in Chicago last night were disheartening -- yet the Lord was no doubt glorified!

They probably exposed the bigotry for what it was. The Leviticus Crowd was unhappy that the St Paul Pioneer Press mentioned the "Death Penalty for Homosexuals" sign at the so-called "Rally for Marriage" in St Paul.

The "Understanding the Times" Conference in Minneapolis, St. Paul, MN this past Friday and Saturday went fantastic. Featured speakers on Friday and Saturday were Stephen Bennett, Dave Hunt and Bill Koenig. Jan Markell of Olive Tree Ministries organized a fantastic event and it drew well over 1,000 we believe each day. Keep the Bennetts in your prayers as Stephen ministers in music at a benefit concert tonight in Arlington Heights, IL for the Illinois Family Institute.

I suppose this will help finance more "research" for Executive Director Peter LaBarbara - like the "research" he did attending International Mr Leather.

Would you like Stephen Bennett to minister at your church, conference or special event nationally? We are now booking Stephen Bennett's 2005/2006 Calendar. See Stephen Bennett's updated National Itinerary.

I think I'll pass....

filed under: Bigots

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September 29, 2004

Excellent column by Paul Varnell posted at the Independent Gay Forum.

Money quote:

Perhaps the most specious defense of the lyrics is that we should tolerate them because we must preserve everyone's right to free speech. But the defense is without merit. Constitutional protections for “free speech” only guarantee that speech is safe from interference by government authorities.

Anyone can freely espouse any cause, write letters to a newspaper, post notices, distribute flyers and handbills, rent a room or lecture space and make a speech saying just about anything short of sedition and incitement to riot — and governments may not interfere.

But the Constitution does not say that people must be paid for their speech. "Free speech" does not mean that a private club, organization or lecture hall is obligated to pay someone to speak their piece or sing their songs. No agent is obligated to promote them, no lecture series or concert manager is obligated to book them. The Constitution guarantees "free speech" not "paid speech."

filed under: Gay Politics

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September 28, 2004

This is getting investigated federally....

For years, the head of Alabama's Christian Coalition John Giles has been putting money where his mouth is. He has been a major player in defeating most gambling proposals in the state legislature, and for years he's been saying none of the money for that fight came from Mississippi casinos. Dog track owner Milton McGregor didn't believe him. "He's caught. He's been being dishonest for four years to the media, to the public of Alabama and to state officials."

Several newspapers have reported that money from the Mississippi casinos may have made its way to Alabama and into the hands of John Giles. The allegations are the Indian casinos across the county paid two people at least $45,000,000 to stop all their gambling competition. Most of that money $31,000,000 allegedly went to a public relations executive Michael Scanlon to lead the fight. He then reportedly paid a man who has fought gambling for years - the former head of the national Christian Coalition, Ralph Reed, almost $4,000,000 for his help. It is believed some of that money went to John Giles to defeat gambling in Alabama so that wouldn't be competition to gambling in Mississippi.

Daily Kos has links to an All Things Considered Report and WaPO article connecting the dots to Tom Delay.

What a scam:

Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff and public relations consultant Michael Scanlon quietly worked with conservative religious activist Ralph Reed to help Texas shut down an Indian tribe's casino in 2002, then the two quickly persuaded the tribe to pay $4.2 million to try to get Congress to reopen it.

Dozens of e-mails written by the three men and obtained by The Washington Post show how they built public support for then-Texas Attorney General John Cornyn's effort to get the courts to close the Tigua tribe's Speaking Rock Casino in El Paso in late 2001 and early 2002. The e-mails also reveal what appears to be an effort by Abramoff and Scanlon to exploit the financial crisis they were helping to create for the tribe by securing both the multimillion-dollar fee and $300,000 in political contributions, which the tribe paid.

Ralph Reed, Grover Norquist, Tom Delay all seem to be caught up in this.

filed under: Republican Politics

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September 28, 2004

BoifromTroy has an interesting post that descibes his conversation with the chair of the LA Democratic Party. Now this character - my guess - Eric Bauman - from the way boifromtroy describes him - is typical of some in Stonewall. Others in Stonewall - such as John Marble - the Stonewall Communications Director at the National Level, and Alan Hooker, chair of Stonewall DFL locally are both legitimately interested in moving gay issues forward.

The anonymous Gay Patriot would be a gay republican counterpart to a Bauman breed.

The Eric Bauman breed of Stonewaller would rather have wackjobs like the anti-gay Alan Quist over the inclusive Arne Carlson win Republican primaries - because that makes it easier for Dems to keep hegemony over gay votes.

Now there's nothing wrong with putting party before gay identity - but it's interesting how gay republicans who do this get called "self-loathing" or whatever else - while gay democrats who do this don't get called on it.

After all, gay democrats and the HRC endorsed Bill Clinton - even after he
signed DOMA. In Minnesota, Democratic legislators, Karen Clark and Alan Spear undermined their own credibility in the gay community defending liberal Senator Paul Wellstone's anti-gay vote on DOMA. Republican opponent former Senator Rudy Boswitz was the "Democratic Jesse Helms" they warned. Now Boswitz might be many things - but he's no Jesse Helms.

filed under: Gay Politics

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September 28, 2004

Checking out the Catholics for Bush yahoogroup suggests that the group they are reaching out to are real wackos. A typical thread is "The Bible's Teaching on Abortion."

I got an email from "Catholic Outreach" from the Bush campaign today. The email promoted this article in the Boston Globe....

Money quote from the article:

Monsignor Francis Maniscalco, spokesman for the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, said a parish that formally provides a mailing list to the Republican National Committee would endanger its nonprofit status because that is "a valuable property which would be considered a contribution." But Maniscalco said, "this advice is not applicable to individual parishioners."

A GOP memo urging collection of church directories has been published on the website of the National Catholic Reporter. It quotes an official of the Republican Party's Catholic Outreach as writing: "Access to these directories is critical as it allows us to identify and contact those Catholics who are likely to be supportive of President Bush's compassionate conservative agenda. Please forward any directories you are able to collect to my attention. . . . It is critically important in the 2004 election that faithful Catholics turn out to vote in record number." A Republican National Committee official verified the quotation is accurate.

"It is outrageous that they organize by asking for church membership lists," Meehan said.

Gillespie, the committee chairman, confirmed that the GOP is trying to collect church membership lists from members. "There has always been an ongoing effort to get whatever lists we can," Gillespie said.

filed under: Presidential Politics

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September 26, 2004

The New York Times has an excellent piece on Blogs....

Andrew Sullivan sniffs:

ABOUT THAT NYT PIECE: I thought it was fun enough, but, sadly, Matt Klam doesn't seem to grasp how deeply revolutionary the new medium is beginning to be. It was also skewed toward the leftward part of the blogosphere - and it failed to distinguish adequately enough, I thought, between blogs that are journalistic and those that are blatantly activist. It's not that DailyKos or FreeRepublic are "nastier"; it's that they're unabashedly partisan, help organize politics as well as comment on it. But, hey, there's plenty of space for all kinds of blogs; and no piece can cover it all. The good news is that I think we may have reached a blogging tipping point in terms of public awareness. This piece helps advance that. And it was a jolly read.

Perhaps this is what got Andrew's undies in a bunch:

But just as Fox News has been creaming CNN, the traffic on Kaus's and Sullivan's sites has flat-lined recently, while Atrios's and Moulitsas's are booming. Left-wing politics are thriving on blogs the way Rush Limbaugh has dominated talk radio, and in the last six months, the angrier, nastier partisan blogs have been growing the fastest. Daily Kos has tripled in traffic since June. Josh Marshall's site has quadrupled in the last year. It's almost as though, in a time of great national discord, you don't want to know both sides of an issue. The once-soothing voice of the nonideological press has become, to many readers, a secondary concern, a luxury, even something suspect. It's hard to listen to a calm and rational debate when the building is burning and your pants are smoking.

filed under: Blogs

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September 26, 2004

[Updated: added the emails so people can copy paste for emailing]

The Republican National Committee has acknowledged sending the
mailing saying that if liberals get elected, Bibles will be banned.
The White House Press Gaggle with Scott McClellan rather defensively dealt with this flyer on Friday. (Hat Tip: Christian Grantham)

Minnesota Republican Party Chair, Ron Eibensteiner, RNC Committee Members Jack Meek and Evie Axdahl, have the obligation to publically commit to deep sixing this mailing in Minnesota (if it hasn't already gone out). If it has, they should apologise for insulting the intelligence of Minnesota voters - especially conservative christians. This mailing suggests that the Republican Party thinks people of faith are ignorant bigots.

I'd encourage people to write letters to the editor to and to call and write the Republican National Committee and the Bush Cheney Campaign. [Updated with email addresses for RNC in a nice little link] Mark Shields on Capitol Gang held up the flyer in the "Outrage of the Week" segment of Capitol Gang.

Address Letters to:

Chairman Ed Gillespie
Your State Party Chair
Your State Party RNC Committeemen and women.

Emails: linked so you can send the email. I included National Party emails, and the chair of the Minnesota Party.

You can also copy and paste the emails:

dgurley@rnchq.org,chairman@gop.com,kewarner@aol.com,
administration@gop.com,rncommunications@gop.com,
counsel@gop.com,memberrelations@gop.com,
finance@gop.com,political@gop.com,jbanning@rnchq.org,
mcino@rnchq.org,shogenson@rnchq.org,tjosefiak@rnchq.org,
cspies@rnchq.org,mduncan@rnchq.org,lsigler@rnchq.org,
info@georgewbush.com,opinion@coleman.senate.gov,
chair@mngop.com,mbb@mngop.com

Urge them to publically renounce this flyer and to avoid these tactics in your state.

Request that the Republican Party for your state publically urge Ed Gillespie to appologise for these flyers - which insult both gay people and christians. If you are gay and/or are a Christian, mention that in your letter. Dennis Sanders and Mark Hanson from Log Cabin Republicans of Minnesota both wrote letters.

Dennis Sanders, VP of Public Relations, LCR/MN

Dear Mr. Gillespie,

I am writing to express my outrage at your participation in a flier that said that if the Democrats are elected, gay marriage will be made legal and the Bible will be banned. As a Republican, who is gay and a devout Christian, I am appalled by what can only be called sheer bigotry.

We live in a nation where we are free to worship. I can read my Bible and not worry about the government coming down on me. Believe me, I have seen what is it to live in a totalitarian system where there is no such thing as religious freedom. I was in mainland China five years ago, and saw how Christians had to
practice their faith under the watchful eyes of the State and the Party. Nothing like that is destined here and you know it.

I also think you have a lot of nerve telling people that gay Americans are something to be feared. Such talk only leads to more violent homophobia. I know many gay and lesbian couples and they are wonderful people leading everyday American lives. How dare you slander them.

Let it be known that I will not send you one cent until the GOP becomes more tolerant of gays and lesbians. All we want to be treated like everyone
else. Shame on you for fanning the flames of hate.

Dennis Sanders

You go Dennis!

Mark Hanson, PAC Chair, Log Cabin Republicans of Minnesota

Mr. Gillespie and Mr. Warner

Is this story true? If not, I guess the Associated Press is wrong. If it's true, please read on.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040918/ap_on_el_pr/campaign_mail_5

My name is Mark Hanson, and I live in Minneapolis, MN. I'm lifelong, devout, practicing Lutheran, and active in the local chapter of the Log Cabin Republicans. I do plan to vote for the President in November.

I wasn't thrilled a few weeks ago when the Vice President warned voters that a vote for Democrats could mean another terrorist attack. Demonizing somebody isn't an honorable way to win votes. The difference between his statements and the flyer that is described in this news story is that the Vice President demonized the terrorists. This flyer demonizes American citizens, including me.

Don't you think the President has a strong enough case to win West Virginia without using taking such a low road? Maybe I'm over-estimating the average voter in that state. Robert Byrd has had quite a long Senate career.

I fail to see how any election or politician would be able to stop me from reading the Bible or otherwise restricting my religious practice. I'd like to have that one explained. Whether or not God, Jesus, or Allah can be acknowledged in the public sector should be irrelevant. The clergy I listen to on Sunday, the congregation I worship with, and the Gospel I try to live by every day of the week will not be constrained by any law, court ruling, or recitation to a
flag.

In Minnesota, we have an independent group driving around something called the 'Truth Truck', which features a large photo of two men kissing. The verbiage on the truck suggests that a vote for Democrats in November will allow same sex marriage. We're a little confused on whether we should also be concerned about a Constitutional amendment re: kissing. Maybe that's next.

Our group has responded in the local media, both newspapers and talk radio. It's as low and wrong as what the RNC is doing, but I'd give an independent group a little more slack than a national party. Another shattered illusion, I guess.

If the citizens of West Virginia are concerned about the perils of same-sex marriage, then they should follow the advice of the Vice President, Bob Barr, John McCain, and a host of others, and deal with it at the state level. The whole FMA discussion is a sham, equal to Harold Hill demonizing the mayor's pool table to try and sell band instruments. Unfortunately, those shams are sometimes effective in the short-run.

In the long run, pathetic tactics like this can backfire. Not everybody on a mailing list or with access to a website/blog will agree with the outrageous suggestions in this flyer. It might not matter for the current election, but it's not a way to build a strong party in the long run.

Stay on the high road, gentlemen. Give the voters a little more credit. There is plenty of material out there that will help the President win for the right reasons.

Regards

Mark C. Hanson

After the New York Times article, Mark Hanson sent a followup.

Mmmm - I read today that the RNC fessed up. You must be really proud.

It has to feel great for the RNC and Jimmy Swaggart to be on the same
side of this issue. Maybe the confessed whoremonger Reverend could
help with some fundraising.

Shame on you

Mark Hanson

filed under: Presidential Politics

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September 26, 2004

Craig Crain writes a hard hitting editorial condemning Kerry's Flip-Flops on the issue of anti-family state constitutional amendments.

Recently, including in February on National Public Radio and in last week’s gay press interview, Kerry cited the institution of marriage as religious and “sacramental.”

But when faced with pressure from Catholic leaders to change his stance on another hot-button issue, abortion, Kerry has made clear that private religious beliefs should not influence public policy. On abortion, Kerry has said he personally believes abortion is a sin, but is devoted to protect a woman’s right to choose.

How can he draw the line so clearly on abortion but not on marriage? Would political polling have anything to do with that? Or maybe the acquiescence of left-leaning gay rights groups?

It's seemed rather clear to me that Kerry has gotten worse on gay issues since the Human Rights Campaign endorsed him. The problem is, HRC is VERY good at raising money, and holding glitzy black tie dinners but are less effective at grass roots organizing. Endorsement from the HRC doesn't translate into GLBT votes all the time. Too often the Kerry campaign has used them to take flack when he supports anti-gay amendments like the one in Missouri. That in turn undermines their credibility further.

The HRC message about why to oppose the FMA has been about this issue being a distraction from health care (or whatever else), rather than directly addressing why this amendment is really about trying to marginalize Gays and Lesbians in the constitution. HRC's credibility is also damaged since they acknowledged providing poll testing for New Jersey Governor, Jim McGreevey's "I am a Gay American" speech. I won't go as far as the Independent Gay Forum's Steve Miller to call for Jacque's resignation from HRC.

But I digress... Crain's article continues:

BUSH HAS OFTEN accused Kerry of lacking core principles, and Kerry insisted again this week his guiding standard on gay rights is “equal protection under the law.”

So why has he taken the extraordinary step of encouraging state legislatures to veto — in most cases proactively — the considered opinion of their highest courts that denying marriage to gay couples violates that very “equal protection.”

Every state supreme court to address this issue in recent times — from Hawaii to Alaska to Vermont to Massachusetts — has reached the same conclusion, and yet despite Kerry’s “guiding principle,” he would overrule those judgments.

Kerry emphasized again last week that gays should remember this election is about the U.S. Supreme Court. But if Kerry favors overturning judges in Massachusetts on marriage, why should we expect otherwise of his judicial nominees?

DOES ANY OF this justify voting for Bush? Of course not. On every gay rights issue including marriage, the choice between Kerry and Bush couldn’t be clearer. Where Kerry sees nuance, President Bush sees good vs. evil, and it should be clear to every voter, including gay Republicans, on which side of that divide we reside.

But John Kerry suffers from the reverse malady, and his congenital inability to state a clear, principled view and then stick to it is costing him dearly and may decide the election.

Kerry's had a good week this week - partly because his campaign has been more clear and on message. However, it's clear that his position on marriage has nothing to do with "nuanced principle" and everything to do with saying different things to different audiences.

That's politics though, and that's what politicians do. What the internet does is bring under the radar appeals to the general public, so this method becomes less and less successful. Case in point: the Republican National Committee's Liberals will ban the bible mailing.

filed under: Family Values , Gay Politics , Gay Rights , Presidential Politics

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September 25, 2004

Don Sneed, from the Abe Lincoln Club claiming to represent "Black Gay Republicans" was a guest on Sirius Radio's John McMullen Show.... He used that opportunity to try to call out Log Cabin Republicans....

This suggests that the group isn't serious about reaching out for the Bush campaign with a new target demographic, but rather that the group's goal is just to try to stir division within Log Cabin Republicans.

"The hostility we are receiving is from people who don't understand our legitimate reasons for endorsing and supporting President Bush's re-election," said Anthony Falls, ALBRC National Spokesman. "This decision is well thought out; it has merit, we are sticking with the decision, and we will not be bullied by those who claim that they should decide what black gays should think and do when it comes to politics in this country. That in and of itself is a form of extreme prejudice and bigotry."

Yup, play the race card again....

Now I'm curious: is this group a Blacks only group... because Don Sneed says:

"Yet we have also received calls of support and encouragement (from black and white gays) and inquiries about them about starting chapters of the ALBRC in their cities."

Now it's true that there are Gay Republicans who disagree with Log Cabin Republicans decision to withhold endorsement from Bush. Gay Patriot (who is anonymous) "tells Log Cabin Republicans to Shove it" on his blog. But this has nothing to do with race.

There are other web forums discussing this Bush endorsement.

Freeper Wackiness:

This time about the Abe Lincoln club "representing" Black Gay Republicans Bush Endorsement.... Here.

Students for Family Values

This is convincing some of them to switch from Bush to the Constitution Party's Peroutka.

John Kerry Forum

Gay Patriot: Black Gay Republicans stick it to LCR

There's a number of comments on this post, though many seem focused on Mike Rogers and the Outing campaign.

filed under: Republican Politics

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September 25, 2004

Captain Ed:

No one, to my knowledge, has ever raised the question of banning the Bible. In fact, that smear is as grounded in reality as Republicans supposedly secretly planning on bringing back the draft. It's a stupid charge, easily debunked, and insults the intelligence of the voters to whom it was directed. In the Internet age, spewing forth like this only makes the spewer look bad when they're caught, and as Dan Rather found out, they inevitably are. The RNC should apologize.

As Christian Grantham pointed out, Scott McClellan got grilled on this at the White House Press Gaggle.

Log Cabin Republicans Chris Barron comments to Planetout:

Christopher Barron, the political director for the Log Cabin Republicans, said, "This is disgusting -- an embarrassment for the RNC -- and I would hope that the people that get these mailings would be offended."

When asked if the RNC contacted the Log Cabin Republicans about the appropriateness of such tactics, Barron responded, "We're not endorsing the president, so they're not coming to us for what they can do."

"This is evidence that the president's re-election campaign has decided to use gays and lesbians as wedge issues in an attempt to win the election," he said.

"The RNC has several different outreach categories, including snowmobilers, but not gays and lesbians," Barron added.

We'll see if this will be showing up in mailings in Minnesota. This is backfiring big time. It will be interesting to see if Kerry raises this issue during the debates.

filed under:

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September 24, 2004

Hat Tip Dennis Sanders

The Denver Post has a column about a group of moderate republican rebels in Colorado - home of anti-family amendment author, Marilyn Musgrave.

filed under:

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September 24, 2004

Tamba Bay Online

TAMPA - After days of negotiation, Bill McCollum has agreed to endorse fellow Republican Mel Martinez in Florida's U.S. Senate race, but he did so Monday with a statement restrained in tone.

"I remain deeply disturbed by the last-minute negative Martinez campaign tactics that grossly misrepresented my views on social issues and appealed to the worst in people," McCollum said.
. . .

In an interview, McCollum said he wasn't reluctant to endorse Martinez, and he plans to participate in an upcoming fundraiser, but he wanted his statement to "let anybody who reads this know that it doesn't make the [negative campaigning] any less wrong."

During the Florida Republican Primary Mel Martinez's campaign ran radio ads, and set out flyers claiming that Bill McCollum was the candidate for "homosexual extremists". McCollum confronted Martinez on his "homophobic" ads during the final candidate debate. McCollum also asked Floridian Republicans to reject the "politics of hate and bigotry" during the last days of the campaign. Unfortunately McCollum lost in the primary.

filed under: Bigots

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September 23, 2004

First from the Bush campaign, now from Crisis Magazine.

Here....

Andrew Sullivan comments.

Some sordid details here.

filed under: Presidential Politics

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September 23, 2004

The Strib has some interesting profiles of voters.....

Bob Battle is a well known fixture in St Paul politics. Recently I've seen him featured in the Minnesota Family Council's "Pro-Family News"..... He testified and spoke at a press conference at the hearing for the anti-gay amendment in Minnesota. When he spoke at the press conference, he identified himself as the former chair of the St Paul Human Rights Commission. I asked Mayor Randy Kelly about that, when Kelly spoke to a gay audience at TC Quorum. I asked if Battle was giving the St Paul Human Rights Commission a bad name with his statement - especially since St Paul had passed a resolution in opposition to the Minnesota version of the anti-family amendment.

Now Battle is blaming gays for the loss of morality: "We've lost our moral dignity, lost our sense of family and morality, and we're about to go down the
same path as the Roman Empire."

Voter: The Rev. Bob Battle, 64, pastor of Berean Church of God in Christ, an evangelical church in St. Paul.

Preference: Solid for Bush. An African-American community leader with 40 years of activism in the Democratic Party, Battle recently switched allegiances and supported Republican Norm Coleman for the U.S. Senate. Like some other black religious leaders, he has openly broken with the Democratic Party on the gay marriage issue. "This society has to make a course correction. ... We've lost our moral dignity, lost our sense of family and morality, and we're about to go down the same path as the Roman Empire."

On the political climate: "Really, everybody wants the same thing: security, good education, good jobs, good government. ... The differences are played up too much."

A related article describes two African American Ministers who oppose Gay Marriage. One is Battle, who was recruited by Norm Coleman to switch to the Republican party. The other is Rev Efrem Smith of North Minneapolis, who also opposes gay marriage, but is supporting the Democrats for many other reasons. More here:

For many, differences on moral issues are matters of degree. The Rev. Bob Battle, of the Berean Church in St. Paul, is a Bush supporter. The Rev. Efrem Smith, of the Sanctuary Covenant Church in Minneapolis, is leaning toward Kerry and considers himself a "progressive Christian."

They share nearly identical theologies about salvation through Jesus Christ and the truth of the Bible. Both are black evangelical ministers, and as such belong at once to an African-American community that has become overwhelmingly Democratic in recent decades and to an evangelical community that has become strongly Republican. Moral priorities distinguish them.

Battle strongly opposes gay marriage, is worried about rampant drug abuse and sexual immorality and thinks America is descending into decadence, "much like the Roman Empire." It's a major factor in his transition to the GOP after 40 years as a Democrat.

Smith says conservative evangelicals "see the world through the Christian lens of individual responsibility and individual salvation." He shares those values, and admires the GOP for marketing itself as the party of the "ideal American family that works hard and stays together."

But, Smith adds, "I believe that social justice and addressing the needs of the poor are just as central to the Christian message." Smith has decided that gay marriage, which he too opposes, "is not the number one issue ... not when you look at the number of African-Americans shot and killed on our streets."

Ofcourse, John Kerry also opposes gay marriage..... Bush, Kerry and Edwards have explicitly said they oppose gay marriage. Interestingly enough, Dick Cheney has not said that.

Now the question is this - will this be the one and only Republican effort to woe African American voters - to appeal to anti-gay animus in the Black church?

PS - Regarding Swagart.... Isn't he the guy who was filmed hustling prostitutes - and one of his prostitutes ended up telling Penthouse magazine that Swaggart had wanted to know the cost of procuring her 10 year old daughter. Yup - good "family values" there.

filed under: Gay Politics , Presidential Politics

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September 23, 2004

Dennis Sanders, who runs the Moderate Republican website, and is Vice President of Public Relations for Log Cabin Republicans of Minnesota has made the news again in the Star Tribune.

The Rev. Dennis Sanders laughed at the suggestion that he's your typical gay, black, Republican minister.

"No, I'm more of a moderate, old-style Rockefeller Republican, which makes me even more of an oddity," said Sanders, 34, a vice president of Minnesota's Log Cabin Republicans and a minister at Lake Harriet Christian Church in Minneapolis.

The Rev. Terry Steeden, senior minister at Lake Harriet Church calls Sanders "an anomaly," describing the Flint, Mich., native as a man who "encompasses some very meaningful old traditions, but, on the other hand, is a rebel ... with a cause."

"Dennis defies stereotypes," added Joe Grubbs, the retired minister at First Christian Church Disciples of Christ who helped with Sanders' ordination. "You wouldn't want to label him."

But this is a story about labels. Black. Gay. Republican. Minister. Let's throw in tall and good-looking while we're at it, Grubbs suggested.

"Labels at least help identify who a person is," Sanders said. "It's only a problem when the labels basically become the people.

"People who have labeled me have asked, 'Why would you stay in a party that doesn't want you?' Well, I'm a Republican, but I hope people don't think all Republicans sit and listen to Pat Robertson."

The only child of retired auto-factory workers who urged him at an early age to question things, Sanders studied journalism at Michigan State University. He spent one summer in Washington, D.C., as a congressional intern, working for Rep. Dale Kildee, a Michigan Democrat. Sanders said that in the 1992 presidential primary, he voted for Paul Tsongas, a Democratic reformer from Massachusetts.

Sanders came to grips with his sexuality when he was 22, "concluding that this wasn't a terrible sin," and says he has many black and gay friends who are Democrats. He says he is a Republican by choice, not by default. He is affiliated with a political party that, he acknowledges, remains outwardly uncomfortable with gay marriages in an era when TV shows like "Will and Grace" and "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" are celebrated in mainstream culture.

"The attitude of the gay community is if you want equal rights, you've got to have Democrats," Sanders said. "But it would be dangerous for the gay community as a whole to put all our eggs in one basket. To me, equal rights should not be a partisan issue."

A military issue

Sanders became interested in the Log Cabin Republicans, a small organization that backs gay-friendly Republican candidates for office, in 1992, when gays in the military was a big issue.

Minnesota's governor at the time was Arne Carlson, whose political career defied stereotypes and labels. Carlson, a longtime Republican, campaigned for governor in 1990 as an independent. He was elected with the blessing of Republicans only after the party's endorsed candidate, Jon Grunseth, withdrew from the race just weeks before the election after being accused of sexual misconduct involving adolescent girls.

Eva Young, president of Minnesota's Log Cabin Republicans, recalled telling Carlson in 1992 that "we wanted an executive order that would ban discrimination against people in state employment.

"We got it," Young said recently, because "Carlson wasn't afraid to stand up and do what needed to be done, even if other Republicans might not agree."

But Republicans have never been easy to stereotype and are continuing to change and become more diverse, Carlson says.

"I've never met Dennis Sanders, and while a gay, black, Republican minister may sound unusual, it doesn't surprise me," Carlson said. "Look at how the Republican Party has changed. What happened to the party that was cautious about war? Talk about flip-flops! It's the parties that flip-flopped.

"Who defines what a Republican is? Tim Pawlenty? Norm Coleman ... a former Democrat? The Republican Party is becoming the party of the South. Nobody challenges a new breed of Republicans in love with deficits. Rudy Giuliani and [Arnold] Schwarzenegger are keynote speakers at the Republican Convention. No, the party is changing."

Changes in the party are obvious in the Twin Cities. Peter Bell, chairman of the Metropolitan Council, is well-known for his conservative views. Bell is black. And a Republican.

Carleton Crawford, co-chairman of the Fifth Congressional District, is black, a Republican and an admirer of Sanders.

"Joining a political party is not about being accepted," Crawford said. "It's about trying to make changes. Being accepted is essentially determined by what you do."

If any label need be applied to Sanders, it's "determined," said his partner, Eric Doughty. "And maybe a little stubborn."

Wanted to write

Sanders became a Republican because, in part, as a gay, black man, the party could not ignore him.

"Political parties are tools to get things done," he said. "But before you can get things done, sometimes you have to be noticed first."

The day after Dennis's profile was published, I got this in my email:

Abe Lincoln Black Republican Caucus Letter of Endorsement Will Be Delivered to the Republican National Committee Headquarters at 11:30 a.m. Today, Wednesday, September 22

Now how much do you want to bet, we see ads from this group running in the gay and black press pushing this Bush endorsement.

A Log Cabin insider comments:

This is a total set up by the White House political strategists.

Four years ago, they used their friends brother, Charles Francis, to
have a meeting. It was an attempt to screw Log Cabin by setting up a
meeting on their terms.

They used Log Cabin for three years to get their appointees through
the Senate.

In December of last year, they told us to leave the table and slammed
the door in our face by not returning any phone calls, refusing to
talk to us and telling us in clear English they did not want us
around.

When we said O.K., but we do have self respect. Well, the vast
majority of us anyway. We are not going to support you. Now, they
find some guy from their home state to put this little attention
grapper together to put a "fuck You" Log Cabin to the country.

Yes, Bush will probably win, and yes we have a lot of work to do
amongst our friends in the Republican party and to get ready in four
years.

Exactly..... It's the way Rove et al exploited internal divisions within Log Cabin Republicans before.

UPDATE: More press releases from the group here and here.

They sure do race bait.

"We are not afraid of the white gay economic and political behemoth that continues to treat us like third class citizens and trash. It is the epitome of hypocrisy for White gays and lesbians to base their claims for rights to marry upon prejudice, discrimination and civil rights violations, when they are prejudiced, discriminatory and disrespectful of Black gay's and lesbian's human rights each and every day," stated Mr. Sneed. "The White gay community is one of America's last strongholds for White Supremacy. We will begin the dismantling of that stronghold today in downtown Dallas," stated Willie Beard, an ALBRC member.

This rhetoric also sounds alot like the rhetoric from the left.

See also Wonkette, Andrew Sullivan, BoifromTroy.

Now I recall reading that Donna Brazile, Gore's former campaign manager is one of Karl Rove's regular correspondants.

filed under: Log Cabin Republicans

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September 20, 2004

Stacy Harp has an account for this here:

Tom Delay, who is the House Majority Leader, spoke via video and urged everyone to contact their representatives and tell them to vote to pass the Constitutional amendment to protect marriage. The vote will be taking place on September 30th.

filed under:

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September 19, 2004

Remember the picture of the 3 year old little girl crying because a Bush Cheney sign was ripped away from her. Well it turns out that her father has a habit of staging these things.

Captain Ed has more. According to one of his commenters: "You should also know that the photographer (who is not an AP photographer) is the same one who took photos at the 2 previous times that Parlock says he was assaulted at political rallies."

This was bad enough that Mitch Berg retracted his story (rare for Berg).

filed under: Presidential Politics

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September 19, 2004

Here:

What will John Kerry say?

UPDATE: Andrew Sullivan comments....

Here's the text:

Marriage in the state of Louisiana shall consist only of the union of one man and one woman. No official or court of the state of Louisiana shall construe this constitution or any state law to require that marriage or the legal incidents thereof be conferred upon any member of a union other than the union of one man and one woman. A legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried individuals shall not be valid or recognized. No official or court of the state of Louisiana shall recognize any marriage contracted in any other jurisdiction which is not the union of one man and one woman.

This is a radical denial of any civil protections for gay couples at all - the most radical attack on an American minority since Jim Crow. Even the mildest protections for a gay couple that are integral to any meaningful bond - visitation rights in hospital, inheritance rights, the right not to testify against one another in court, and so on - will now be vulnerable to legal challenge or flat-out denied gay couples under the law. And the margin of victory is stunning: a full 80 percent want to keep gay people permanently without any protections for their relationships or any incentives to get together and settle down. It's too depressing for words.

Hopefully the Kerry staff will brief him about this one. (He said he had been unbriefed about the Missouri amendment - and that is why he had said he supported it).

filed under: Gay Marriage , Gay Politics , Presidential Politics

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September 19, 2004

Andrew Sullivan has an excellent piece on the effect of new media - including blogs on politics and traditional media here.

Money quote:

The downside, of course, is that sleaze is far more easily parlayed and smears more effectively deployed. But the benefit is that the new system is also porous. The competition between new and old media can help both get stories right; media bias is more openly admitted so that the reader or viewer can make up his or her own mind; new information emerges that might never have been known before. It's not perfect and it can lead to some ugly moments (besmirching someone's war-medals or possibly faking documents). But it's real and dynamic and open. It's democratic. And if you're interested in politics, it keeps you looking forward to opening your laptop each morning.

filed under: Blogs

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September 19, 2004

There's internal debate among Republicans that it does. Deacon and Big Trunk over at Powerline, the blog that's gotten alot of attention over memogate, have been divided on whether this is politically advantageous or not.

Later on Big Trunk urges Bush to make this a bigger issue.

Kerry advisers said a strong public defense of gay marriage could undermine the candidate's appeal in culturally conservative states, so he rarely raises it on the hustings. Last week, after speaking in Topeka, Kan., at a ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the Supreme Court's school desegregation decision in Brown v. Board of Education, he was asked why he did not mention gay marriage, since that day also marked the first day his home state was allowing such unions. He brushed aside the questions without answering.

I would think that a competent campaign on behalf of the president would make this one issue that Kerry can't evade, although the Bush camp's relative silence on it to date is not a good sign. The Post article is "Kerry broadens scope of his pitch."

Well the Powerline crowd and Karl Rove have their wish. Bush has been making a big issue of restricting gays from participating in marriage, and Log Cabin Republicans have withheld endorsement from Bush. Bush's numbers have decreased since Log Cabin Republicans have withheld endorsement. Correlation is not causation, but this is interesting.

filed under: Presidential Politics

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September 19, 2004

Carol Newman, and alternate delegate to the convention from California has an oped in the Advocate.

She asks some provacative questions:

support many of Bush’s policies, including a strong defense, a decisive response to terrorism, and lower taxes, and I am no fan of John Kerry. I am incensed, however, at Bush’s use of gays and lesbians as pawns in this election. I cannot condone that strategy no matter what its purported justification may be. And Kerry is marginally better on gay issues. I do not yet know who I will vote for in November. But I do know that I will not drop out of the Republican Party.

If I drop out of the party, the religious right wins. Much as we might like to believe that a third party is the answer, no third party has been able to consistently garner a substantial portion of the vote in the United States. Our government is, for better or worse, a two-party system. That is the very reason the religious right has sought to take over the Republican Party, and that is why the struggle for the heart of the party is so important. We cannot cede control to the Jerry Falwells and the Rick Santorums.

Carol hits the nail on the head here. That's why the Leviticus Crowd is doing whatever they can to drive gays out of the party.

Carol continues:

I find myself trying to get beyond my anger to determine what my vote will accomplish in terms of policy. Should I support Bush because, as has often been said, gay marriage is meaningless if we are killed in a suicide bombing? Should I oppose Bush in hopes that his loss will make the party see the light of day and become more inclusive and tolerant?

To those who say that is impossible, just look at California: After years of losing at the polls because statewide candidates were too conservative, the Republican Party in California faced a crisis. As a result, it has become more moderate in the last couple of years in order to survive. Hope springs eternal that this could happen on a national level.

I am concerned that Bush may choose Supreme Court justices based upon their positions on gay rights and choice. Nevertheless, justices chosen in the past because they were thought to be ultraconservative have not always proved to be so—among them, Justices O’Connor, Souter, and Kennedy. A worthy Supreme Court justice will make up his or her own mind on the issues regardless of politics.

Should I base my vote on my fear, or on my hope?

Looking beyond election day, those of us who continue to believe in the core values of the Republican Party, the values the party is supposed to stand for—a strong defense, fiscal conservatism, personal responsibility, lower taxes, freedom, small government, and personal privacy—will not give up.

As Patrick Guerriero of the Log Cabin Republicans has said, “The fight is bigger than one platform, one convention, or one president.” Whatever happens in November, we will continue to support the two-party system and to make sure that both parties, at least sometimes, field candidates who are worthy of our votes.

Exactly. Unfortunately what happens far too often, is that it seems that many gay democrats WANT anti-gay Republican candidates because that make it easier for them to deliver gay votes to the Dems. Ofcourse sometimes anti-gay candidates that get through primaries win general elections.

UPDATE: Dennis Sanders at Moderate Republican has more.

filed under: Log Cabin Republicans

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September 18, 2004

This article compares the Brown vs Board of Education and Lawrence vs Texas decision. It's one of the few articles I've read that directly rebuts the "judicial activism" nonsense. The Blade has an article about the debate over comparing the black civil rights movement with the gay equal rights movement.

filed under: Gay Politics

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September 18, 2004

The Washington Blade interviews members of the "Austin 12", the gay republicans who met with Bush during the 2000 campaign.

filed under: Log Cabin Republicans

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September 18, 2004

Truly wacky....

Campaign mail with a return address of the Republican National Committee warns West Virginia voters that the Bible will be prohibited and men will marry men if liberals win in November.

The literature shows a Bible with the word "BANNED" across it and a photo of a man, on his knees, placing a ring on the hand of another man with the word "ALLOWED." The mailing tells West Virginians to "vote Republican to protect our families" and defeat the "liberal agenda."

Republican National Committee Chairman Ed Gillespie said Friday that he wasn't aware of the mailing, but said it could be the work of the RNC. "It wouldn't surprise me if we were mailing voters on the issue of same-sex marriage," Gillespie said.

The flier says Republicans have passed laws protecting life, support defining marriage as between a man and a woman and will nominate conservative judges who will "interpret the law and not legislate from the bench."

"The liberal agenda includes removing `under God' from the Pledge of Allegiance," it says.

It does not mention the names of the presidential candidates.

This flyer should be used in advertising in the mainstream press. That's the best way to combat this sort of tactic - give it the light of day.

There's also this radio ad...

The RNC also is running radio ads in several states urging people to register to vote.

"There is a line drawn in America today," one ad says. "On one side are the radicals trying to uproot our traditional values and our culture. They're fighting to hijack the institution of marriage, plotting to legalize partial birth abortion, and working to take God out of the pledge of allegiance and force the worst of Hollywood on the rest of America."

"Are you on their side of the line?" the ad asks before making the plea to "support conservative Republican candidates."

filed under: Bigots , Presidential Politics

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September 18, 2004

The AFA blog rants about McGreevey...

The homosexual community is, as one would expect, rallying around the governor. Allan Van Capelle, executive director of the New York-based Empire State Pride Agenda, said during an interview with WCBS in New York that "[His resignation] highlights the issue that being in the closet is the most terrible thing to be for a person. . .It is sad that he lived such a tortured life for 47 years."

Human Rights Campaign (HRC) President Cheryl Jacques praised McGreevey for showing "enormous courage" by coming out. Like he had a choice!

I saw two articles in Lavender Magazine critical of McGreevey last month. When I've talked to gay friends, I haven't found much sympathy for McGreevey. I was appalled to learn that the Human Rights Campaign had provided poll testing for the "I am a Gay American" message.

Boifromtroy has a good question.

Why is it that when a straight politician is in an adulterous affair *ahem* Bill Clinton, for example...it is is just "private matter"? If McGreevy thought plain old adultery (or even being sued for it) were grounds for resignation alone, he would have called for President Clinton's. Is Governor McGreevy trying to tell us that Gays are unfit to serve in public office? That is certainly the message he's sending!

filed under: Gay Politics

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September 18, 2004

The Leviticus Crowd is furious at Kerry.... From the American Family Association blog....

Actually, Cheney's view is not even as firm as Sen. John Kerry's position. Kerry at least made the strong pronouncement that marriage is between a man and a woman. The vice president's view was much mushier: "With respect to the question of relationships, my general view is that freedom means freedom for everyone. People … ought to be free to enter into any kind of relationship they want to."

Geez, compared to Cheney, Kerry comes off sounding like a homophobe.

Politically speaking, and with all due respect to Cheney's intellect, his wealth of valuable political experience, and his obvious clout within the Bush administration, the main job of a vice president is to be available in case something happens to the head guy. How is it that the vice president took it upon himself to publicly split with the president? What's next? Saying he disagrees on Iraq?

OK, so the vice president has a lesbian daughter. Certainly, in light of that, no one can fault Dick Cheney for trying to be what he thinks is a good father. But he's not just Dick Cheney – he's Vice President Dick Cheney. As a public servant, he's not supposed to only consider what's best for his own family, but what's best for the country. And most Americans – and the President – believe that traditional marriage is best, and that the best way to protect marriage is to let the people vote on the FMA.

Cheney should have saved his personal opinions for his memoirs.

Now this is what I find so odd.... Dick Cheney was showing this crowd what "Family Values" was all about. But they don't get it. As Jon Stewart would say "oh the humanity!"

filed under: Bigots

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September 17, 2004

Hat Tip Pharyngula

Pharyngula is one of the best blogs covering Evolution.... I got tipped off to Pharyngula after posting to the talk.origins newsgroup about the efforts by Minnesota Legislators to bring Creationism nonsense to Minnesota Science Classrooms.

Science: Should “intelligent design” or other scientific critiques of evolutionary theory be taught in public schools?

BUSH: The federal government has no control over local curricula, and it is not the federal government’s role to tell states and local boards of education what they should teach in the classroom. Of course, scientific critiques of any theory should be a normal part of the science curriculum.

KERRY: I believe that ideology should not trump science in the context of educating our children. Still, public school curriculum is a matter subject to local control. Communities must decide which sound, scientific theories are appropriate for the classroom.

First, it’s a bad question. It implies that Intelligent Design creationism is legitimately scientific, and that there is any question about whether scientific criticisms should be excised from the curriculum (the answer to both, obviously, is no). The question should be, “Should the religious ideas with no scientific evidence in their support be taught in public school science classrooms?” That, at least, is a more accurate portrayal of what groups like the Discovery Institute are trying to do.

And look at those answers! You could switch them around and there is no clue who is saying what. “Leave it up to local communities…” Bah. One of the things we have to do on a larger scale is set standards and set general criteria for what schools ought to do. It’s particularly bizarre for that arch-hypocrite Bush to make excuses about leaving it up to local school boards when he’s been pushing standards with the NCLB. Is this how we’re supposed to acquire 100% compliance with the NCLB standards? By teaching kids useless, idiotic drivel so that they can easily meet a very low bar?

And Kerry…Kerry disappoints me. I dearly wish he’d be more fierce when confronted with questions like this. He should have sharply stated that Intelligent Design creationism has absolutely no place in the classroom. Is he afraid he’ll alienate the swing wingnuts or something?

filed under: Presidential Politics

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September 17, 2004

He is not happy that Log Cabin Republicans withheld endorsement from Bush.

From his letter to Log Cabin Republicans:

From: GayPatriot2004@aol.com Sent: Wednesday, September 08, 2004 9:44 AM To: admin@logcabin.org; press@logcabin.org Subject: Shame on you.

Please take the word "REPUBLICAN" out of your organization's name.

You are no more a Republican organization than the Human Rights Campaign is"non-partisan."

If you spent more time fighting the civil rights violations happening to Republican gay staffers on Capitol Hill by Michael Rogers... and less time cozying up to your gay liberal friends at HRC, etc., perhaps your organization would still have some relevance.

Earth to Gay Patriot, Log Cabin Republicans HAS taken a very public stand in opposition to the Outing campaign. So has the Human Rights Campaign. But both Log Cabin Republicans and the Human Rights Campaign are organizations that work on Gay Equal Rights issues. Log Cabin Republicans and Stonewall Democrats are both partisan Gay Equal Rights organizations. HRC claims to be non-partisan, though they seem more of a Democratic group during presidential elections.

Patriot continues his rant to Log Cabin Republicans

Instead, you are simply another shrill gay liberal group whose leader hails from the state of Massachusetts.

I hope Ed Gillespie sues you to take back the word Republican.

You disgust me.

-GayPatriot

Ed Gillespie is too busy telling people in West Virginia that if the Democrats win, the government will take away their bibles and marry gays.

filed under: Gay Politics

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