A Call for Full
Equality
From Barack Obama for The
Bilerico Project
[EDITOR'S NOTE:] Democratic
presidential candidate Barack Obama issued this guest post
to explain his support for LGBT civil rights.
 Over
the last several weeks, the question of GLBT equality was
placed on center stage by the appearance of Donnie
McClurkin at one of my campaign events. McClurkin is a
talented performer and a beloved figure among many African
Americans and Christians around the country. At the same
time, he espouses beliefs about homosexuality that I
completely reject.
The events of the last several weeks are not the
occasion that I would have chosen to discuss America’s
divisions on gay rights and my own deep commitment to GLBT
equality. Now that the issue is before us, however, I do
not intend to run away from it. These events have provided
an important opportunity for us to confront a difficult
fact: There are good, decent, moral people in this country
who do not yet embrace their gay brothers and sisters as
full members of our shared community.
We will not secure full equality for all GLBT Americans
until we learn how to address that deep disagreement and
move beyond it. To achieve that goal, we must state our
beliefs boldly, bring the message of equality to audiences
that have not yet accepted it, and listen to what those
audiences have to say in return.
For my entire career in public life, I have brought the
message of GLBT equality to skeptical audiences as well as
friendly ones. No other leading candidate in the race for
the Presidency has demonstrated the same commitment to the
principle of full equality. I support the full and
unqualified repeal of the federal Defense of Marriage Act.
While some say we should repeal only part of the law, I
believe we should get rid of that statute altogether.
Federal law should not discriminate in any way against gay
and lesbian couples. I will also fight to repeal the U.S.
military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy, a law that
should never have been passed, and my Defense Department
will work with top military leaders to implement that
repeal.
As President, I will use the bully pulpit to urge
states to treat same-sex couples with full equality in
their family and adoption laws. I personally believe that
civil unions represent the best way to secure that equal
treatment. But I also believe that the federal government
should not stand in the way of states that want to decide
on their own how best to pursue equality for gay and
lesbian couples – whether that means a domestic
partnership, a civil union, or a civil marriage. I will
also place the weight of my administration behind the
enactment of the Matthew Shepard Act to outlaw hate crimes
and a fully inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act to
outlaw workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual
orientation and gender identity. I have supported fully
inclusive protections since my days in the Illinois
legislature, when I sponsored a bill to outlaw workplace
discrimination that expressly included both sexual
orientation and gender identity.
That is where I stand on the major issues of the day.
But having the right positions on the issues is only half
the battle. The other half is to win broad support for
those positions. And winning broad support will require
stepping outside our comfort zone. If we want to repeal
DOMA, repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, and implement
fully inclusive laws outlawing hate crimes and
discrimination in the workplace, we need to bring the
message of GLBT equality to people who are not yet
convinced.
That’s why I brought this message of inclusiveness to
all of America in my keynote address at the 2004
Democratic convention. I reiterated that message in the
speech announcing my candidacy for President. Since
beginning my campaign, I have been talking about GLBT
equality on the stump, from rural farmers to Southern
preachers. Just as important, I have been listening to
what all Americans have to say in return. I will never
compromise on my commitment to equal rights for all GLBT
Americans. But neither will I close my ears to the voices
of those who still need to be convinced. That is the work
that we need to do if we are going to move forward
together. It is difficult. It is challenging. And it is
necessary.
The American people have been poorly served by two
terms of an administration that seeks to manipulate us
through fear: fear over national security, fear over
immigrants and fear over gay and lesbian couples in loving
relationships. Americans are yearning for leadership that
will put an end to the fear mongering and instead begin
empowering us once again to reach for the America we know
is possible. I believe that we can achieve the goal of
full equality for the millions of GLBT people in this
country. To do that, we need leadership that appeals to
the best parts of the human spirit, rather than the worst.
Together, we will achieve real equality for all Americans,
gay and straight alike.
Comcast is not going to like this
From Chris in Paris for AMERICABlog
The FCC is - gasp! - going
to open
up competition with cable TV. There is absolutely no reason
why TV should be as costly as it is in the US. Comcast has been
effective with their political lobbying and the result to
consumers has been bloated and increasingly expensive cable
bills. How many people in the
US have monthly cable bills that are under $45 and include cable
TV, phone service, and high-speech Internet? In Europe,
it's common.
As I have mentioned quite a few times, when France can offer
numerous options for phone/internet/TV that are lower than the
US, there's something seriously wrong in the US. Even with the
strong euro, the deals over here are still attractive at 30 euro
or roughly $44 dollar per month. The offers are all about the
same with high speed internet, phone calls around the world and
a block of standard TV channels plus VOD and pay channels. Here
are a few: 9Telecom,
Free.fr, Alice
(TelecomItalia), Club
Internet, and too many more
to even list here. Yes, competition in France (at least in
this industry) puts the US to shame.
Cable costs in the US are high because they have been allowed to
dominate the market without competition. The US used to be known
for competition but the GOP has let that drift across countless
industries. This move by the FCC is not a bad start but let's
see what else they're planning.
Bush/GOP Sweetheart: 11/10 - Tom DeLay
From TomCat for Politics
Plus
Speaking in the UK yesterday, former House Majority
Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX) predicted that if a Democrat
is elected president in 2008, he or she would seek to
install universal health care, similar to the system
in Britain. This possibility “received thunderous
applause.” DeLay claimed that, under the U.S.
system, “no American is denied health care”:
By the way, there’s no one denied health care
in America. There are 47 million people who
don’t have health insurance, but no American is
denied health care in America.
The audience, understandably, greeted DeLay’s
preposterous claims with “derisive laughter,”
according to the AP... [emphasis original]
Inserted from <Think
Progress>
Only a true Bush/GOP
Sweetheart would tell such a bold-faced lie.
Today, like every day, on average, over 49 people in
the US will die, because they are denied access to
health care.
Know a blog that
deserves to be featured on the Blog World Report? Contact Robert.
The weasel has landed
From JJ for Unrepentant
Old Hippie
 Whackjob
Coulter wannabe Rachel Marsden, cut
loose from the Toronto Sun this week to spin wildly around
the media-o-sphere like a rapidly-deflating hot-air balloon,
came in for a landing exactly where many of us predicted she
would: Canada
Free Press, aka Canada Wingnut Daily. Good good, that's just
the right spot for her writing (if by "writing", you
mean vapidly hysterical tripe tossed at the page like
monkey-feces). She may have contributed to CFP before now, who
knows -- at least now it's "home".
Her CFP
column today shrieks
hysterically about losing the war on Teh Islamofascism, and
cites her recent firing as proof that people just don't get it
-- How To Do War. (Because RM is an expert military strategist,
doncha know.) I must have missed the point when the Rules Of
Engagement were revised to include the media doling out regular
doses of the paranoid screeching of batshit-crazy howler
monkeys. My bad!!!
The Not-So-Divine Ms. M then revisits her waterboarding fetish,
comparing the torture technique to competitive swim
training bobbing for apples at a kids' Hallowe'en party:
Last
week, in my weekly Sun Media column, I argued that it’s
really not that big of a deal to make terror suspects like
9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed essentially do what any
kid does at Halloween when he bobs for apples--except in the
presence of the CIA, and with the prize in the terrorist’s
case being lifesaving information.
Yes yes,
and as we all know, it's been proven that torture is
an effective way to get information. Bobbing for apples?
Well, that's not what Malcolm
Nance says, and he's ex-military and has personally
supervised waterboarding training sessions. And it's certainly
not what former assistant AG Daniel
Levin says, and he's actually been
waterboarded. It's not too hard to figure out who has
more credibility.
But hey, it's Canada Free Press: who's reading? I mean, who's
reading that's relevant to anything? CFP readers are about as
relevant as CFP writers.
Govardhana
Puja and Go Puja
From Hector Diego for The
Walrus Speaks
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George Bush's Church Says "Out Of
Iraq Now"
From Paddy for Cliff
Schecter
President Bush's church, long at odds with him on
matters of public policy, called on the United States
and its partners today to begin withdrawing troops
from Iraq immediately.
The Bishops of the United Methodist Church approved
a resolution calling on Bush, Congress and leaders of
the other coalition partners to begin the
"immediate safe and full withdrawal" of all
troops, declare that there will be no permanent
military bases in Iraq, increase support for veterans
of all wars and initiate a reconstruction plan to
address the humanitarian, social and educational needs
of the Iraqi people.
(snip)
In issuing the call, the bishops said their
position is based on the denomination's belief that "war
is incompatible with the teachings and examples of
Christ," and on the call of Jesus Christ for
"his followers to be peacemakers."
"Every day that the war continues,
more soldiers and innocent civilians are killed with
no end in sight to the violence, bloodshed and
carnage," the bishops said in their resolution.
Coffee and doughnuts after service tomorrow?
Awkward!!!!
Clinton Campaign Busted for Planting
Questions
From Christopher for From
the Left
Did Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Hillary Clinton,
sleep through the recent FEMA mock reporters fracas?
Apparently, because her campaign tried a similar tactic in
Iowa.
ABC News reports:
The Clinton campaign has admitted to planting
questions in Iowa. They have confirmed that a campaign staffer
approached a student to ask Sen. Clinton a question about global
warming during a campaign stop at a biodiesel plant in Newton,
Iowa, on Nov. 6.
The story was first reported by Patrick Caldwell, a
junior at Grinnell College and the features editor of The
Scarlet and Black college newspaper. He reported that
student Muriel Gallo-Chasanoff was approached by the campaign to
ask a question.
She told the reporter that “they wanted a question
from a college student.” She also said that she “noted that
staffers prompted Clinton to call on her and another who had
been approached before the event, although Clinton used her
discretion to select questions and called on people who had not
been prepped beforehand. Some of the questions asked were
confusing and clearly off-message.”
This is not standard campaign policy unless you happen to be
FEMA.
2.6 Billion for a Chopper that overheats
in California?
From Dusty for It's
My Right to Be Left of the Center
 Christ,
this is federal fuckwittery
at its best. It's also what our federal government
does better than anything else; blow our tax dollars on 322 piecces of
useless junk that now has to be retrofitted my dear reader.
The Army is
spending $2.6 billion on a
fleet of European-designed helicopters for homeland security and
disaster-relief missions that
cannot be used in hot weather because their cockpits overheat,
according to an internal report obtained by The Associated Press. The
internal report, prepared for the Army last summer, said the
helicopter is effective in light-duty missions "but is not
effective for use in hot environments or for medical evacuation of two
litter patients requiring critical medical care."
They tested this over-priced piece of crap in Cali..which of
course has the most consistently mild weather in the U.S. and... IT
OVERHEATED HERE! The temperature in the Lakota rose to over 104
degrees.The Army says the communication, navigation and flight control
systems can overheat and shut down at that point.
How nice..it's..so.. BushCo! According to the Army report, and I
quote:
"is not
effective for use in hot environments."
The temp's in the Middle East soar to 116 friggin degrees for the
summer sportsfans. The Temps in NOLA also rise to over a 100, as
does many other parts of the U.S. Oh, and the cost of retrofitting?
The retrofitting will cost at least $10 million and will
come out of the Army's budget, according to the Army.
It should come out of someone's ass imho. The Lakota Indians are a
proud tribe or northern dwelling folks. Guess someone should tell
them that they now have a helicopter named after them that will
only work in the cool north.
Very Effective, Indeed
From Undeniable Liberal for Undeniable
Liberalism
At the very least, it would eliminate repeated
offenses
"Later this month, South African women will be
able to purchase the Rapex
device, marketed as the "anti-rape
condom." The rapex, shaped like a female
condom, is worn internally and equipped with 25
teeth in its lining. The razor-sharp teeth fasten on
the attacker's penis if he attempts penetration.
Since the device does no lasting damage to the
attacker, it is completely legal and will sell for 1
Rand (around 14 cents) when it hits stores. The
majority of women surveyed about the device said
they would be willing to use it.
The inventor of Rapex, South African Sonette Ehler,
a former medical technician, got the idea when a
traumatized rape victim lamented to her, "If
only I had teeth down there."
 Bonus
info from the manufacturer's FAQ
page.
"Can this be worn during
masturbation?", to which the manufacturers
tactfully answer "No, not at all", rather
than "Yes, but only if you really hate your
dildo", or "Of course it can, silly, but
only if you fancy explaining to an emergency room
doctor what a toothed female condom is doing
attached to your fingers."
BLOG RECOMMENDATION
Are you a foodie? Do you love
food? I know I do, but I'm fighting poundage
because of diabetes medication - however, that doesn't
mean I can't taste good food or live vicariously through
others. That said, I suggest you head over to the
blog, Serious
Eats: A Food Blog and Community, where you can read
about food and get some great recipes and tips.
What a day, look it in
the face...
From Randal Graves for L'ennui
mélodieux
...and
hold your vomit.
Voters asked Congress "to focus on
withdrawing our troops from Iraq, on expanding
healthcare access. ... They did not ask us to
spend any time on the impeachment of the vice
president," Wasserman Schultz insisted.
Then it's a good thing our troops are
being withdrawn and healthcare
access has
been expanded so you don't have to waste your
precious time with the silly frivolities of us
moonbats, perpetually uninformed as we lounge about
in a haze of marijuana smoke, discarded clothing and
empty potato chip bags strewn at our feet.
"That is all the media would focus on. ...
And to what end?" she asked, arguing that
Bush was the real problem and removing Cheney
wouldn't make a significant difference with only a
year until the next election.
Of course. The guy publicly implementing the
policies is the real problem, certainly not the
actual source of the policies. If it wasn't for
Agent 41, Babs and Saudi cash bailing his ass out at
every turn, this fuck would be pumping gas or have
been a drug casualty in a morgue. [Being a
wishy-washy lefty, I humbly apologize to the gas
pumpers and those who indulge in illegal substances]
So why not go after the big boogeyman himself? Oh,
that's right, there are never
enough votes in the other chamber. It really
does make your job easier having a built-in excuse,
doesn't it.
But thanks for admitting that it's all about 2008.
The slightest deviation from the narrative that
you've never countered - that you're all a bunch of
gutless hacks who'll wither at the slightest
chastisement from the other side of the aisle or a
sternly-worded essay by one of the Beltway Cocktail
Circuit - would all but assure your defeat in a
general election.
Yes, Democratic purists, I completely understand
that we have to keep on pushing for better and more
progressive members. Like Debbie Wasserman Schultz.
Because impeaching someone who's been guilty of
subverting the Constitution sends a terrible message
that America isn't a forgiving nation.
Even though it
happened once, everyone's certainly learned
their lesson and
it
will
never
happen
again.
Rep. Robert Wexler (D-FL), who's district
neighbors Wasserman Schultz's, called for the
committee to "schedule impeachment hearings
immediately".
"I believe Robert Wexler is off base,"
Wasserman Schultz said.
I believe Debbie Wasserman Schultz is a fucking
coward.
What say you, Madame
Speaker?
"One year ago, the American people entrusted
their hopes and their dreams, their aspirations
for themselves, for their families and for the
future in this 'new-direction' Congress,"
said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California.
"This new Congress is focused on creating a
great America for our children and
grandchildren."
That's great. I'm focused on having hot, erotic sex
with Alessandra Ambrosio in a variety of exotic
locales as we travel the world, but I've done about
as much towards that goal as you guys have done
towards yours. Don't believe me? Let's ask your
constituents:
A CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll released last
week shows the approval rating for all members of
Congress is at 22 percent, while 75 percent of
those surveyed disapproved of the way Congress is
handling its job.
Wow. Thats a lot of DFHs. So, please tell me Nancy,
do we have any reason for hope? Can you give me the
faintest glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel
that is simply the dawning sun of a new liberty and
not an oncoming Amtrak car?
"I don't approve of Congress because we
haven't done anything -- we haven't been effective
in ending the war in Iraq," she said,
"and if you asked me in a [polling] phone
call, as ardent a Democrat as I am, I would
disapprove of Congress as well."
Sorry, I can't hold it any longer.
No Heroes For Our
Vets
From Windspike for Educational
Whisper
With President Bush flinging blame anywhere but
at himself, we find no heroes for our vets this
Veterans Day:
Congress can also meet its responsibility to
our veterans by passing a clean Veterans
Affairs appropriations bill. Unfortunately,
Congressional leaders let the fiscal year end
without passing this bill they know our
veterans need.
So I urged Congress to pass this bill by
Veterans Day -- and they still have failed
to send me this vital legislation. The time to
act is running out. There are now just four
days left on the legislative calendar before
Congress leaves town for their Thanksgiving
break. The best way members of Congress can
give thanks to our veterans is to send me a
clean bill that I can sign into law.
So, whose fault is it that our vets continually
get screwed? Of course it's politically
advantageous for Bush to sling blame at
Congress, but it's also a signal of failed
leadership and diplomacy on his part that there
was nothing worth signing into law.
Why do I get the feeling that the only reason
Bush wanted this bill to sign on Veterans day
was that he needed to appear the hero by signing
a bill on Sunday? Denied the chance, he's not
happy. The feeling is mutual.
Day
5
From
By
Ken Levine
 What
a huge turnout on Friday for the strike rally at
Fox. I had to park in the next area code. Are
there any major studios across the street from
Dodger Stadium?
 Everyone
was there. Including my buddy, Paul Haggis.
 Avenue
of the Stars became Avenue of the Scribes and a
few Stars for about an hour. I understand
Radiohead or Rage Against the Machine or Ronny
& the Daytonas did a set. I didn’t hear
them. I also understand there were speeches.
Didn’t hear a word. Every so often people
would cheer and I would too. I’m sure if I had
heard what was being said I would’ve been
enthusiastically supportive.
We were hardly what you would call an unruly
mob. CAA assistants circulated with trays of
churros. You hear stories of how assistants in
talent agency mailrooms are forced to do the
most humiliating degrading things but serving
churros to writers? Oh the horror! The humanity!
 I
said hi to at least twenty-five former
colleagues who had no idea who I was.
My policy was to not show pictures with
celebrities but damn, Sharon Lawrence looks
absolutely incredible!  A
couple of cast members from RENO 911 were
there…in costume.
A street musician was playing the sax on Pico
Blvd. I gave him a dollar. My agency took a dime
out of the cup.
As we all moved towards Pico to begin the
picketing portion of the day it looked like the
start of a marathon with the most out of shape
runners in history.
 The
rah-rah guys were given a weapon more dangerous
than guns – airhorns. They tried to lead us in
some inspirational chants. Of course no one went
along. However, when the police announced they
were closing Pico Blvd. for us a huge
spontaneous cheer of “LAPD! LAPD!” arose.
These are the same people that 40 years ago were
yelling “PIGS! PIGS!”
What we really should be chanting is
“SHOWRUNNERS! SHOWRUNNERS!” Their courage in
standing up to the networks and studios is
nothing short of heroic.
Thanks to Howard Hoffman and Tom Straw for the
photos.
Now I must get out of the way before I’m
trampled by a news camera crew trying to get to
Kelsey Grammer.
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