March 31, 2008
A funny thing happened recently: Ever since Mike Gravel jumped back into the race, I’m not paying a lot of attention to Barack Obama — other than to shake my head and cluck my tongue every time he says something stupid. (Did you hear what he said about a woman’s right to choose? I agree with the guy, on every word, but that “punished with a baby” line is red meat for the Right. Dumb, Barry, really dumb.)
Nevertheless, that doesn’t mean I’m not glad to see Obama’s very real liabilities brought up in the MSM, as often as possible. I don’t hate Barack — I just don’t want him to be president, and to that end, I want all Americans who have yet to vote in a primary to understand that Barack Obama is not the Messiah he and his blindly adoring supporters want you to think he is.
To that end, I direct your attention to a long, detailed piece that gets into the specifics of Obama’s ties to some very unsavory characters (and Jeremiah Wright isn’t even one of “the four stumps”!) worth bookmarking:
Four Stumps in the Water for Obama
As the high-water mark for Barack Obama recedes, his campaign must now confront several dangerous stumps that were once hidden below the surface. The problems began with Obama’s long attachment to Rev. Wright, Trinity United Church, and Black Liberation Theology, but they won’t end there.
So, what issues are now lurking for Obama?
The first is the volatile mix of race and religion, begun with the Rev. Wright controversy. Videos have now surfaced of virulent race-baiting by yet another Chicago preacher with ties to Obama, the Rev. James Meeks. Obama was not a member of Meeks’s church and their connection may be only a tactical alliance between prominent local figures. That’s the question: how close are those ties?
Meeks is no ordinary pastor. He is an important political and religious figure in African-American Chicago. He not only leads a mammoth congregation, he is an Illinois state senator and a key player in Jesse Jackson’s powerful local political organization, which is squarely behind Obama’s run for the Presidency. …
Obama’s second problem is his most important patron in Illinois politics: Emil Jones. Jones heads the Illinois State Senate and is one of the two most powerful legislators in Springfield. He played a vital role in Obama’s rise in state politics and, most significantly, he blessed Obama’s underdog candidacy for the U.S. Senate.
Now that Obama is playing on a national stage, his ties to Jones raise uncomfortable questions about his years in Illinois politics. …
The Rezko trial highlights another problem for Obama, potentially a devastating one, though it is unlikely to arise for several months or more. Antoin “Tony” Rezko is on trial for taking large bribes in return for political favors. …
…Rezko problems are bad news for Obama because the two have close, long-standing ties. Obama initially downplayed those ties and minimized the money Rezko had raised for him. When local reporters raised pointed questions, Obama declined to answer. He broke that silence at a strategic moment, just as the Rev. Wright story hit and the national media was focused on nothing else. That’s when Obama found time to give extensive interviews about Rezko to the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Sun-Times. Predictably, the story got some play locally but was drowned out nationally. …
Where does Obama figure in all this, aside from being a recipient of Rezko’s campaign cash? No one knows for sure, but suspicion centers on one particular real estate deal. …
Obama’s final stump also lies in Kenwood, where he was friendly with the 1960s radicals, Bill Ayers and Bernadine Dohrn. Ayers and Dohrn, now married, were members of the Weather Underground, a group that killed police and tried to bomb the US Capitol. …
Obama served with Ayers on the board of a small, leftist foundation, the Woods Fund. Ayers later chaired the board and is still a member. Obama served from 1999 until 2002 and received several thousand dollars annually as compensation. According to the 2001 annual report, the fund made a $6000 discretionary grant to Rev. Wright’s Trinity United Church “in recognition of Barack Obama’s contribution of services to the Woods Fund as a director.” Serving with Obama and Ayers was the prominent Palestinian activist, Rashid Khalidi, then a historian at the University of Chicago and now the Edward Said Professor at Columbia. (While they were all on the board, the Woods Fund gave a generous grant to the Arab American Action Network, headed by Khalidi’s wife, Mona.)…
Much, much more at the link, and all well worth reading.
See also:
Pork-Barrel Spending, Billjacking, and Strong-Arm Tactics: How Barack Obama Got Where He Is Today
And the Meeks Shall Inherit the Obamanation
Posted by: Sapphocrat
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Barack Obama,
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Election 2008,
Homeland Insecurity,
Illinois,
Mike Gravel,
Race/Ethnic Issues
…and we do — but at the same time, we don’t. Find out why after you read this:
Gay couple loses benefits with move
What they didn’t know before moving to Idaho could fill a house, and in many ways it does.
The kitchen table holds stacks of legal papers. Medication bottles litter a nearby countertop. The two-story home Robert Ryan, 42, shares with his partner, Ralph Martinelli, 53, overlooks a quaint suburb west of Boise, a rural landscape of ruddy hills that doesn’t seem quite as welcoming as it once did.
A 2,400-mile move west once seemed like a chance at a fresh start, has instead it has delivered some hard lessons, especially about moving from a state that recognizes same-sex unions to one of the 21 states that don’t.
The couple was stunned when Ryan was dropped from the company insurance plan the two shared in New Jersey, where they were able to register as domestic partners. Idaho does not formally recognize same-sex couples.
“It didn’t even dawn on us that this would have an impact,” Ryan said. …
[Ryan] was dropped from the policy last October, shortly after the Konica Minolta company found the couple had moved to Idaho, where they couldn’t register as domestic partners. In 2006, 63 percent of Idaho voters approved a constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union of of a man and a woman, effectively outlawing same-sex unions.
Martinelli is still covered by a COBRA policy through the company. Ryan now pays $650 a month for a separate COBRA insurance policy that will expire in March 2009.
“It’s ridiculous,” Ryan said. “It’d be like a married couple being forced to get remarried every time they moved.” …
“We fell in love with the area, we love Idaho,” Martinelli said. “But here it is 2008 and people are still being discriminated against.”
FFS, what did you expect, guys? I’m sorry it didn’t “dawn on you” before you moved from the Near-Queer-Paradise of New Jersey to the most gay-hating state this side of Virginia, but, frankly, it’s your own darn fault you failed to inform yourselves of the repercussions first.
There’s something called the Internet, guys — and it would have taken you all of two seconds to Google gay + rights + idaho, and find out… Welll, let’s see what happens when we Google gay + rights + idaho:
Idaho Gay Rights - The Fight for Gay Rights in Idaho
Idaho already bans gay marriage. What other restrictions is Idaho trying to pass against gays and lesbians?
lesbianlife.about.com/od/lesbianactivism/a/IdahoGayRts.htm - 22k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this
First hit. Gee, that was real hard to find.
Coldhearted? Nope. Just ticked off at yet another example of fellow gay people who don’t even know what rights they don’t have — and don’t care until they’re the ones smacked by the Big Anti-Gay Stick.
How do I know Ryan and Martinelli don’t care about LGBT equality (or didn’t, at least until now)? Because they were obviously unaware of the gaping chasm of inequality among states. Because they obviously never even paid attention to the freaking mainstream media for the past eight years, when state after state after state (what’s it up to now, 22 states? 26? 28?) caved in to the Radical Religious Right’s campaign of hate against us and banned marriage equality based on whether both partners had the same genitalia.
How can you even be gay without knowing this stuff?
In-your-face radio host Karel (with whom I agree about 50% of the time — but when I do agree with him, I agree 100%) summed it up best in his post-2004 election broadcast, when he slapped the entire gay “community” upside its collective head for letting our nonexistent rights slip away, because too many of us just don’t damn care:
Yesterday — November 2, 2004 — 11 states, almost one fifth of the electorate, voted on state constitutional amendments to ban same-sex marriage. All received overwhelming approval. …
As I read the optimistic outlook of it all by Evan Woflson, executive director of Freedom to Marry posted on this Web site, I have to say, Are you serious? You sound like a gay party doll as much as Ann Coulter is a Republican party doll. Victory trumps loss, lose it forward, bring about generational change… Oh, it all sounds good on paper, but the fact is, we’re big losers, and [Matt] Foreman was right: Our side does not have the time, the resources, or the infrastructure to beat back the zealots.
And why don’t we? Because not enough of us care about it, because not enough of us want it, that’s why. Don’t give me all this disempowered, disenfranchised, battered, low-self-esteem don’t-blame-us psychobabble. If we all wanted same-sex marriage or federally recognized civil unions, we’d have them. Because trust me, as a collective, we’ve got nothing but time and more resources at our disposal than our nongay counterparts, and if we connected ourselves to something more than online meeting places, we’d have quite an infrastructure.
But we simply don’t want it. …
Most of you don’t even know what states voted yesterday to outlaw marriage equality (they were Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Utah) but can tell me when the next circuit party, fund-raiser, or group meeting is, or what’s in the deleted scene from Collin Farrell’s new bioflick, Alexander. Many of you may not even know what your workplace’s or state’s stance on domestic partnership is, what benefits may or may not be granted to you or your partner. Many more couples haven’t even filled out the agreements. Not surprising, since 50% of you don’t have wills and 100% of you are going to die.
I’m just as guilty. It took Andrew and me 10 years to fill ours out. Who knew he’d die a little over a year later — 10th anniversary present and all.
Yeah, I know: Not everybody can be clued in, up to the minute, on every twist and turn in the fight for LGBT equality — but you’d think two responsible, middle-aged gay men whose very survival depends on legal recognition of their relationship (Ryan, you’ll see if you read the article, was covered under Martinelli’s insurance “for medication to treat his depression, anxiety and the childhood asthma that resurfaced from severe smoke inhalation” in the 9/11 attacks) would have at least enough motivation to find out how the wave of anti-gay legislation in this puritan country affects them.
What is it going to take to force all LGBT Americans to start caring about their rights — before they find themselves utterly and totally screwed by their own ignorance?
Posted by: Sapphocrat
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Idaho,
Insurance,
Marriage Equality,
New Jersey
March 30, 2008
Unfortunately we weren’t able to make it to the event due to financial constraints, but we’re excited nonetheless. About 400 people marched on Topeka to protest the nasty, homophobic Phelps clan and their practice of picketing funerals across America. The event was such a great success they hope to make it an annual event.
They came with signs of love, respect and tolerance in all different races, sexual orientations and age groups, to show members of the Westboro Baptist Church that they too have first amendment rights.
“Standing up is the right thing to do,” said JD Stottlemire, march participant. “I think it’s exciting it’s the million fag march today, not because it has anything to do with homosexuality but because it dis-empowers the Phelps.”
…..
Chris Love is the organizer of the march, but you didn’t have to be homosexual to participate.
So what’s behind the name?
Love said it has to do with the church’s use of the word.
“Generally it seems to be the case with them that anybody who’s not apart of their church gets called a fag, so in that situation everybody here is a fag,” Love said.
…..
The Phelps have been around for 17 years and have done more than 34,000 pickets.
They were invited to the march to express their views but didn’t show up.
…..
With police protection on the ground and in the air participants peacefully walked the streets of Topeka.
And though the demonstrators know they won’t change the minds of the Westboro members, Love had this to say.
“You can at least have your voice heard,” he said.
Topeka police say there were no problems with the march.
Because of the large turnout, organizers are planning to make the protest an annual event.
Maybe next year we can be there!
Posted by: Buffy
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Category:
Christianity,
Fred Phelps,
Homophobia,
Kansas,
Radical Religious Right,
Religion & Spirituality,
United States
March 29, 2008
Email from The Billy DeFrank LGBT Community Center:
The DeFrank Center and Equality California need your urgent help to stop two bills in the Legislature that would take protections away from youth.
Anti-gay activists want to strip away safe schools protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth that we have worked long and hard to secure. The latest assault comes next week - when two anti-equality bills come before the Assembly Education Committee.
The DeFrank LGBT Community Center is joining Equality California in urging members of the California State Education Committee to stop these hateful attacks on LGBT students.
Take action now to oppose these two misguided bills.
Stop Assembly Bill 2085 (Huff)
AB 2085 would delete existing civil rights protections against discrimination in public school instruction based on actual or perceived sexual orientation and perceived gender (including gender identity) disability, nationality, race or ethnicity, and religion.
Stop Assembly Bill 2086 (Huff)
This bill would discourage schools from offering diversity programs that discuss sexual orientation and gender identity issues. Programs like Coming Out Week and the Day of Silence, which could be affected by this bill, are critical for fighting intolerance that often leads to harassment and violence against LGBT youth.
All students need and deserve school settings that are free from hate and discrimination. These spiteful bills must be stopped to protect our youth. Take action today.
Thank you for helping the DeFrank LGBT Center and EQCA stop unfair attacks on our equality and our youth. Please forward this to everyone you know and ask them to supprt the equailty and safe of youth in school.
Posted by: Sapphocrat
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California,
Education/Schools,
Homophobia,
Youth
March 28, 2008
And here I was expecting a flood of Kool-Aid-drinkin’ Obamaniac spew re Jeremiah Wright’s white-bashing, Italian-bashing, and prettymucheverybodyelse-bashing— well, OK, there was one:
Name: ETSpoon
email address: spoonreport@hotmail.com
Message: Wow! Whodah guessed a queer’d be so racist!!
Just kidding.
Love Ann Coulter
But the rest… All I can say is: Thank you for your support, and for your courage to speak the truth, which means more to me than I can express:
From Tyler D:
No comment is really necessary except my complete and unequivocal support!
From Linda C:
I believe that Senator Obama should be expelled from the United States Senate. I believe that the Reverend Jeremiah Wright is a traitor to this beloved country of mine and that Senator Obama supports him. If you listened or followed the “rhetoric” of Obama’s speech, he admits he lied. I cannot respect Senator Obama or Reverend Wright.
From Karen M:
Sorry, not going to convince you…… Am going to AGREE with you! Wright is the Racist. And, Obama, appears to be one, too!
From coquettelovesjesus:
I’m sorry about his racist remarks. I’m also amazed at the people who cannot see through the bubble of Obama. If he can sit in a church and listen to this racist ranting and not make an appointment with the pastor and try to clear up these remarks and then leave because there is obviously no hope, well what kind of a commander in chief would he make? The truth will set you free but you need to read the truth for yourself. You need to let the Holy Spirit lead and guide you. When He does, there is a transformation that comes about in your life that leads you to repentance then a whole change in your life towards love and good. Anything different than that is not of God, there is none good but God.
From MoniQue:
Obama can kiss the Italian vote arrivederci !
The FACT is that Italians did not exist as a people until at least 500 years AFTER Jesus.* The “Romans” in Jesus’ day were actually of Greek origin. And Obama calls his pastor a “scholar?”
A TYPICAL RICH WHITE ITALIAN FAMILY? (mine):
http://www.facebook.com/ …
There is only 1 race: HUMAN.
Just ask any animal. They will teach you they do not see a black person or a white person, they just see a HUMAN.
From MarieL:
So wrong, on so many levels! “Garlic Noses?” “Italian style lynching?”
Jeremiah Wright needs a lesson in true tolerance and history! If I’d used RevWrong’s reasoning on a logic exam in HS, I’d gotten a big “F” - Romans were Romans, not Italians, and the Roman empire was one of the most ethnically diverse (in urban areas) of any in history. The Pax Romana meant fairly open borders, safe passage and excellent trade. Guess “Pastor” Wright proves that we’re really all alike - even an Af-Am uber-theo-pseudo-lib can be a bigot.
And on Mike Gravel’s fair-tax proposal, Tom K writes:
The FairTax is the only sense able cure for S.S. Broadening the tax base is what we need.
Posted by: Sapphocrat
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Barack Obama,
Hate Speech,
Jeremiah Wright,
Mike Gravel,
Race/Ethnic Issues
Propaganda and Hate Groups like NARTH and Traditional Values Coalition are fond of throwing out statistics citing the fact that LGBT individuals tend to have a higher predisposition to substance abuse (as well as other mental health issues). What they don’t tell you is the reasons behind those problems, because then they’d be exposing their own guilt. Enter this new study:
The odds of substance use for lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) youth are on average 190 percent higher than for heterosexual youth, according to a study by University of Pittsburgh researchers published in the current issue of Addiction. What’s more, for some sub-populations of LGB youth, the odds were substantially higher, including 340 percent for bisexual youth and 400 percent for lesbians, researchers found.
Ok, nothing new there. But read on. It gets better.
“Homophobia, discrimination and victimization are largely what are responsible for these substance use disparities in young gay people,” said Michael P. Marshal, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychiatry at the Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic of UPMC, who led the study. “History shows that when marginalized groups are oppressed and do not have equal opportunities and equal rights, they suffer. Our results show that gay youth are clearly no exception.”
Interesting none of the “Won’t somebody please think of the children?” people can be moved to consider the LGBT children who are suffering as a result of their bigotry and oppression.
In a meta-analysis of 18 previous studies from 1994 to 2006, which tested the association between sexual orientation and teen substance use, Pitt researchers found that gay youth reported higher rates of cigarette, alcohol and marijuana use, as well as other illicit drugs, including cocaine, methamphetamines and injection drugs. Almost all of the studies in their review were cross-sectional, suggesting that very little is known about the long-term patterns or consequences of drug use in this vulnerable population. Furthermore, the authors conducted a systematic review of the prevention and intervention guidelines published by the American Medical Association, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the National Institute on Alcohol and Alcoholism and the Institute of Medicine. They found that none of the institutions mentioned sexual orientation as a potential risk factor for substance use in teens, and did not provide information for researchers and health care professionals on how to prevent such problems.
“It is important to remember that the vast majority of gay youth are happy and healthy, despite the stressors of living in a violent, homophobic society,” noted Dr. Marshal. “More than anything, gay youth need love, support and acceptance from their family members and friends. It also is imperative that health care providers offer a safe, confidential environment to discuss health care needs with gay teens.”…
Though this is a significant study I doubt the people who need to heed it most will do so as it would require them to change their attitudes and behaviors. Accordingly we’ll continue to fight an uphill battle. Nonetheless we have another valuable weapon in our arsenal, for which I am very grateful.
Posted by: Buffy
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Bisexuality,
Homophobia,
Pennsylvania,
United States,
Youth
March 27, 2008
About that “flat tax” — it’s not a flat tax at all. (Never take the word of staunch supporters of a different candidate!)
Here’s Mike’s fair tax plan:
Progressive Taxes - A fair Tax Senator Gravel’s Progressive Fair Tax proposal calls for eliminating the IRS and the income tax and replacing it with a national sales tax on new products and services. To compensate for the tax on necessities, such as food, lodging, transportation and clothing, there would be a “rebate” to reimburse taxpayers. This would be paid in a monthly check from the government to all citizens. The focus on taxing new goods would also help tackle the global climate change problem. For more information go here and here More information on what FairTax is and how it works can be found here, here, and here.
I like that. I like that, a lot.
That leaves only his Social Security plan that I might take issue with — but the jury’s still out on SS until I understand exactly what he intends to do.
This is getting dangerous, folks — not to you, or to me, but to the Democratic candidates: Mike Gravel is viable.
Posted by: Sapphocrat
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Category:
Business/Economy,
Election 2008,
Libertarian Party,
Mike Gravel
