Will Obama carry South Carolina?
As a lot of you know, I reside in South Carolina, a state that is habitually written off in presidential elections.
A Democratic presidential candidate hasn't carried this state since Carter in 1976. Hell, our elected state officials try to out-Republican each other, be they Democrat or Republican.
And I have always felt that despite all, Obama will not carry South Carolina.
But now, I have to wonder.
I sense a serious degree of interest from South Carolina's black population in this election. As November rolls around, I see and hear conversations regarding the elections in places where I have never seen it before.
In a store where I usually shop, which is situated in an African-American neighborhood, the radio was running full blast about early voting in North Carolina and other places. The announcers also took it upon themselves to run audio clips of comments from people at McCain/Palin rallies.
And I don't think I have to rehash those comments.
The curious thing is that usually when the radio is playing in the background, people don't pay attention. They usually go about their business, treating what they hear as background noise.
But not today. Shoppers were actually stopping to listen. The young woman with the children, the old man looking for rubbing alcohol, the young couple who probably just became legal voters, the two elderly women.
All seemed to be interested in what they were hearing. And not just them, but the stockers.
Hell, if someone had started jotting down notes, I think I would have dissolved in pride.
They are even talking about this election at the city bus terminal.
Yes, despite the images put out there by Republicans about "real Americans," people who ride the city buses are generally hard working individuals who just happen not to own a car. They trod every day to and from their jobs.
And the election has been the serious topic of discussion there.
Now some may say "big deal" because the African-American population of South Carolina is not that numerous. Well it's numerous enough to turn the tide of an election if combined with other voters.
Maybe it's just wishful thinking on my part. Or maybe it's something more.
Either way, if McCain does try to carry South Carolina, he is going to know that he was in a fight.
Where is David Parker and the Wirthlins on this matter?
So if Proposition 8 is not passed, students will be" indoctrinated" about gay marriage in schools eh?
Some Proposition 8 supporters aren't even waiting that long:
A Salinas High School teacher who distributed “Yes on Proposition 8” literature to her students last week has been asked to refrain from doing so by administrators.
Proposition 8 on the November ballot in California would make same-sex marriages illegal.
Salinas Union High School District Superintendent Roger Antón said this afternoon that Principal Michael Romero reminded the teacher that faculty members’ political beliefs may not be expressed during work hours.
The teacher’s name was not disclosed by the district.
Anton said the district’s policy allows for political discussion in the classroom only when it is objective and relevant to the curriculum being taught.
The literature that was passed out to students says it is important to protect marriage as an institution between a man and a woman.
The one-page statement also says it is critical to vote yes on Proposition 8, saying its failure would eventually force the state to approve “polygamy, polymory, incest, group and other ‘creative’ arrangements for marriage.”
Hat tip to Box Turtle Bulletin
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Monday, October 20, 2008
Free Republic spins conspiracy theories about Obama's grandmother
The news that Barack Obama is taking time off from his campaign to visit his ailing grandmother doesn't really mean that much except for concern for his family.
But the members of the ultra, to-the-right of Atilla the Hun site Free Republic seem to know why Obama is really postponing his campaign.
I must apologize to my online buddy Pam Spaulding for copying her tactic. She is the one who usually posts the outrageous comments from Free Republic. This time, I thought I would save her the trip.
These folks are so crazy that I am almost hesistant to post some of these comments. I don't want them trying to "investigate" me:
I was under the impression that she was practically under house arrest ever since That One began his campaign.Curious that no one has so much as even seen her, much less get a few words from her.
He has no birth certificate. And his grandmother will mysteriously die while he is there. You know she holds secrets that cannot be revealed...... “Here, Grandma, let me put this pillow over your head. Nice grandma”
“Grandma, you F’n racist!”
Innocent people do not act this way.
Maybe he just needs desperately to get away from Michelle.
What guy wouldn’t?
Time for the Hillary hit.
Hillary is going and to pay off her campaign debts and to get the Supreme Court post she has to whack grandma.
He can work on his tan.
Oh Dear God...he’s not going there to kill her himself is he? I pray for the dear lady.
Could he have a condition which would be considered embarrassing? Sexually transmitted?
UPDATE: According to Americablog, the comments on Fox News website are equally nasty. What's wrong with these people?
A quick lie vs. slow truth - The Wirthlins case and Proposition 8
It has been said that a lie can travel around the world before the truth has time to put on its shoes.
How true it is even when supposed Christians play with the facts.
I have talked about the David Parker case in Massachusetts on many occasions. Parker was the parent who tried to make it seem that his son was "forced to learn about homosexuality" and he was arrested for simply trying to push an opt-out policy.
Well Parker's story was a lie of course but there was another component to the lawsuit he unsuccessfully brought against his son's Massachusetts school.
Another family, the Wirthlins, joined Parker's lawsuit after an incident where their second grade son was read a book in class, King and King, where a prince ended up marrying another prince.
Personally, as a young man who was read all versions of Little Red Riding Hood (including the one with the sad ending where the wolf ate everyone), Hansel and Gretel, The Three Little Pigs (the version where the wolf eats the two pigs and the third pig eats the wolf), and Jack and the Beanstalk before reaching first grade, I don't see anything wrong with a fairy tale as light as King and King.
But that is neither here nor there.
The Wirthlins claimed that reading the book, King and King, violated the opt-out policy where parents could opt out their children in the case of sex education.
The courts, as I have pointed out, ruled against Parker and as such ruled against the Wirthlins. Neither the Parker case nor the Wirthlins case had anything to do with sex education, but a simple acknowledgement of lgbt families.
Now here is where the lies start:
The Wirthlins have filmed a campaign ad pushing for the passage of Proposition 8 in California.
In this ad, which can be seen here, they claim that if Proposition 8 is not passed, then children will be "forced to learn about gay marriage."
The most pernicious part for me was when the father said:
"The courts said we had no right to object or pull him out of class."
Actually that is a clever misconception. Yes the courts did say that the reading of King and King was not an issue of human sexuality, therefore it had nothing to do with the opt-out policy.
But Mr. Wirthlin is clearly deceiving people when he said the courts said the parents could not pull their children out of class. The courts actually advised parents who object to do just that:
In the 38-page decision, Chief Judge Mark L. Wolf, of the U.S. District Court, said that families who don’t agree with the teachings of the public school, have the choice of private schools or homeschooling.
And like I said before, the reading of King and King had nothing to do with marriage equality in Massachusetts. It had to do with the fact that there were children who attended the school and lived in same-sex households.
People like Wirthlin, Parker and the rest of that bunch always seem to forget that despite the fact of whether or not gay marriage is legalized, children will still be brought up in same-sex households. And they should not have to feel like there is something wrong with their families, because there isn't.
The news that Barack Obama is taking time off from his campaign to visit his ailing grandmother doesn't really mean that much except for concern for his family.
But the members of the ultra, to-the-right of Atilla the Hun site Free Republic seem to know why Obama is really postponing his campaign.
I must apologize to my online buddy Pam Spaulding for copying her tactic. She is the one who usually posts the outrageous comments from Free Republic. This time, I thought I would save her the trip.
These folks are so crazy that I am almost hesistant to post some of these comments. I don't want them trying to "investigate" me:
I was under the impression that she was practically under house arrest ever since That One began his campaign.Curious that no one has so much as even seen her, much less get a few words from her.
He has no birth certificate. And his grandmother will mysteriously die while he is there. You know she holds secrets that cannot be revealed...... “Here, Grandma, let me put this pillow over your head. Nice grandma”
“Grandma, you F’n racist!”
Innocent people do not act this way.
Maybe he just needs desperately to get away from Michelle.
What guy wouldn’t?
Time for the Hillary hit.
Hillary is going and to pay off her campaign debts and to get the Supreme Court post she has to whack grandma.
He can work on his tan.
Oh Dear God...he’s not going there to kill her himself is he? I pray for the dear lady.
Could he have a condition which would be considered embarrassing? Sexually transmitted?
UPDATE: According to Americablog, the comments on Fox News website are equally nasty. What's wrong with these people?
A quick lie vs. slow truth - The Wirthlins case and Proposition 8
It has been said that a lie can travel around the world before the truth has time to put on its shoes.
How true it is even when supposed Christians play with the facts.
I have talked about the David Parker case in Massachusetts on many occasions. Parker was the parent who tried to make it seem that his son was "forced to learn about homosexuality" and he was arrested for simply trying to push an opt-out policy.
Well Parker's story was a lie of course but there was another component to the lawsuit he unsuccessfully brought against his son's Massachusetts school.
Another family, the Wirthlins, joined Parker's lawsuit after an incident where their second grade son was read a book in class, King and King, where a prince ended up marrying another prince.
Personally, as a young man who was read all versions of Little Red Riding Hood (including the one with the sad ending where the wolf ate everyone), Hansel and Gretel, The Three Little Pigs (the version where the wolf eats the two pigs and the third pig eats the wolf), and Jack and the Beanstalk before reaching first grade, I don't see anything wrong with a fairy tale as light as King and King.
But that is neither here nor there.
The Wirthlins claimed that reading the book, King and King, violated the opt-out policy where parents could opt out their children in the case of sex education.
The courts, as I have pointed out, ruled against Parker and as such ruled against the Wirthlins. Neither the Parker case nor the Wirthlins case had anything to do with sex education, but a simple acknowledgement of lgbt families.
Now here is where the lies start:
The Wirthlins have filmed a campaign ad pushing for the passage of Proposition 8 in California.
In this ad, which can be seen here, they claim that if Proposition 8 is not passed, then children will be "forced to learn about gay marriage."
The most pernicious part for me was when the father said:
"The courts said we had no right to object or pull him out of class."
Actually that is a clever misconception. Yes the courts did say that the reading of King and King was not an issue of human sexuality, therefore it had nothing to do with the opt-out policy.
But Mr. Wirthlin is clearly deceiving people when he said the courts said the parents could not pull their children out of class. The courts actually advised parents who object to do just that:
In the 38-page decision, Chief Judge Mark L. Wolf, of the U.S. District Court, said that families who don’t agree with the teachings of the public school, have the choice of private schools or homeschooling.
And like I said before, the reading of King and King had nothing to do with marriage equality in Massachusetts. It had to do with the fact that there were children who attended the school and lived in same-sex households.
People like Wirthlin, Parker and the rest of that bunch always seem to forget that despite the fact of whether or not gay marriage is legalized, children will still be brought up in same-sex households. And they should not have to feel like there is something wrong with their families, because there isn't.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Of late I think of Deerfield
During the battle over marriage equality in California, the religious right have been making noise about a recent incident involving school children attending the same-sex wedding of one of their teachers.
They inferred that the children were forced to go and their "innocence" is being corrupted by having been made to view such a thing. They also claim that this incident will be a common occurrence if Proposition 8 (anti-gay marriage amendment) is not passed.
But like always when they create a moral panic, the religious right intentionally left out an important detail to the story.
The children had permission slips from their parents to attend.
This point was brought up in the San Francisco Chronicle article speaking of the event and also highlighted by my good friend Jeremy from GoodAsYou.org
So of course that would make the entire argument of "children being indoctrinated" null and void, right? After all, the parents not only knew of the wedding but allowed them to attend.
But why let the truth get in the way of a good talking point.
The situation reminds me of the Deerfield High School/Angels in America controversy that took place earlier this year.
The religious right, especially our friend Peter LaBarbera, accused Deerfield High School in Illinois of forcing children to read Angels in America, the Pulitzer Prize winning play that spotlights the early years of the HIV/AIDS crisis.
Peter even ran snippets from the play that highlighted not necessarily clean language in an attempt to stoke the emotions of his readers.
Of course Peter and the rest of the moral crusaders conveniently omitted that:
A. No one was forced to read the book. It was an elective
B. It was only offered in a Senior Honors English class, and
C. Parents had to give permission for their children to read Angels in America.
Needless to say when I sent an email to Peter and company highlighting this last point, I was all but ignored.
So it's not about families is it? Nor is about protecting children.
It's all about entitlement and control.
The case about the recent wedding and the Deerfield situation says less about the lgbt community and the American culture than it does about the supposed defenders of morality and truth like Peter, Concerned Women for America, and the rest of the religious right.
They like to talk about "parental rights" and "embracing the family" only when it suits their purposes but there is nothing there but lip service.
They don't care about any family that doesn't look like their own (and that includes ethnicity) or adheres to their Ozzie and Harriet nonsense.
Behind the fascades of truth and morality are petty people with petty plans to try and force American society to conform to their caste system of life and families simply because someone has told them that their religion entitles them to dictate policy on these matters..
They think they own the patent on the words "family," "truth", and "morality."
Not true.
They don't own the patent on any of those words. But if I could, I would gladly give them the patent on the word "bullshit."
After all, they are certainly full of it.
During the battle over marriage equality in California, the religious right have been making noise about a recent incident involving school children attending the same-sex wedding of one of their teachers.
They inferred that the children were forced to go and their "innocence" is being corrupted by having been made to view such a thing. They also claim that this incident will be a common occurrence if Proposition 8 (anti-gay marriage amendment) is not passed.
But like always when they create a moral panic, the religious right intentionally left out an important detail to the story.
The children had permission slips from their parents to attend.
This point was brought up in the San Francisco Chronicle article speaking of the event and also highlighted by my good friend Jeremy from GoodAsYou.org
So of course that would make the entire argument of "children being indoctrinated" null and void, right? After all, the parents not only knew of the wedding but allowed them to attend.
But why let the truth get in the way of a good talking point.
The situation reminds me of the Deerfield High School/Angels in America controversy that took place earlier this year.
The religious right, especially our friend Peter LaBarbera, accused Deerfield High School in Illinois of forcing children to read Angels in America, the Pulitzer Prize winning play that spotlights the early years of the HIV/AIDS crisis.
Peter even ran snippets from the play that highlighted not necessarily clean language in an attempt to stoke the emotions of his readers.
Of course Peter and the rest of the moral crusaders conveniently omitted that:
A. No one was forced to read the book. It was an elective
B. It was only offered in a Senior Honors English class, and
C. Parents had to give permission for their children to read Angels in America.
Needless to say when I sent an email to Peter and company highlighting this last point, I was all but ignored.
So it's not about families is it? Nor is about protecting children.
It's all about entitlement and control.
The case about the recent wedding and the Deerfield situation says less about the lgbt community and the American culture than it does about the supposed defenders of morality and truth like Peter, Concerned Women for America, and the rest of the religious right.
They like to talk about "parental rights" and "embracing the family" only when it suits their purposes but there is nothing there but lip service.
They don't care about any family that doesn't look like their own (and that includes ethnicity) or adheres to their Ozzie and Harriet nonsense.
Behind the fascades of truth and morality are petty people with petty plans to try and force American society to conform to their caste system of life and families simply because someone has told them that their religion entitles them to dictate policy on these matters..
They think they own the patent on the words "family," "truth", and "morality."
Not true.
They don't own the patent on any of those words. But if I could, I would gladly give them the patent on the word "bullshit."
After all, they are certainly full of it.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
UPDATE - It's over and I am so glad
Say what you want, but Obama played a smart game tonight. McCain was obviously trying to rattle him, but with no success.
I think the victory belongs to Obama but since the spin was on "McCain HAS TO DELIVER tonight," I am sure much will be said about his "feistiness."
Sorry but he came across partly as a gassy grandfather who whines too much. And what's the deal with those sounds he kept making when the camera wasn't focused on him.
One last thing - that Joe the Plumber is kinda cute. After tonight, he will be PAID.
I wonder does he like black guys?
Last debate - Thank God
One more debate between Obama and McCain and I am on pins and needles.
Desperate people do desperate things and that being the case, all bets are off regarding what McCain will try tonight.
I have faith in Obama, though. Probably his greatest asset is how he is underestimated.
But I am worried about the tone of this entire campaign.
Today, a friend of mine at work told me something disturbing. While he was at the fair he had heard a comment from someone about taking an Obama poster and using it for target practice.
Based upon the things I have heard going on around the country, I don't think anyone can take this lightly.
The tone of elections in this country got extremely ugly when Clinton was elected. It wasn't about electing someone whose policies would better suit the country. Thanks to the religious right and their cohorts, every election seems to be a mini episode of Star Wars where the United States stands on the brink of annihilation if the right person is not elected.
And it's getting uglier.
But concerning Obama, there is a elephant in the room that no one wants to address - race.
Whether we want to admit it or not, there are a lot of folks who have lost their minds over the idea of a black man possibly becoming president.
And I think we need to admit that to ourselves.
But we won't. Because in doing so, we have to face up to the darkside of America, i.e. our history of racism and violence committed in the name of ethnic supremacy.
It gets white folks defensive and black folks angry.
But sooner or later, we need to address it.
I just hope nothing drastic happens that makes us have to address it.
Say what you want, but Obama played a smart game tonight. McCain was obviously trying to rattle him, but with no success.
I think the victory belongs to Obama but since the spin was on "McCain HAS TO DELIVER tonight," I am sure much will be said about his "feistiness."
Sorry but he came across partly as a gassy grandfather who whines too much. And what's the deal with those sounds he kept making when the camera wasn't focused on him.
One last thing - that Joe the Plumber is kinda cute. After tonight, he will be PAID.
I wonder does he like black guys?
Last debate - Thank God
One more debate between Obama and McCain and I am on pins and needles.
Desperate people do desperate things and that being the case, all bets are off regarding what McCain will try tonight.
I have faith in Obama, though. Probably his greatest asset is how he is underestimated.
But I am worried about the tone of this entire campaign.
Today, a friend of mine at work told me something disturbing. While he was at the fair he had heard a comment from someone about taking an Obama poster and using it for target practice.
Based upon the things I have heard going on around the country, I don't think anyone can take this lightly.
The tone of elections in this country got extremely ugly when Clinton was elected. It wasn't about electing someone whose policies would better suit the country. Thanks to the religious right and their cohorts, every election seems to be a mini episode of Star Wars where the United States stands on the brink of annihilation if the right person is not elected.
And it's getting uglier.
But concerning Obama, there is a elephant in the room that no one wants to address - race.
Whether we want to admit it or not, there are a lot of folks who have lost their minds over the idea of a black man possibly becoming president.
And I think we need to admit that to ourselves.
But we won't. Because in doing so, we have to face up to the darkside of America, i.e. our history of racism and violence committed in the name of ethnic supremacy.
It gets white folks defensive and black folks angry.
But sooner or later, we need to address it.
I just hope nothing drastic happens that makes us have to address it.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
One News Now's readers sound off about Obama (and yes it's hateful)
You don't have to go to a McCain rally to show how supposed Christian conservatives feel about Obama.
You can always go to the One News Now site.
Readers of the site posted comments to a blog post Did Obama Mock the Bible?
For the record, he did not. The blog post is clearly distorting a speech Obama made. Hell, that's obvious from watching the clip.
But check out the comments from these so-called Christians (I am printing these comments verbatim. I did not change a word):
HE STUDIED FROM THE KORAN, WHAT ELSE DO YOU EXPECT. THE GUY IS A MUSLIN SOCALIST.
Yes, He did mock the Bible. I hope U.S. open the eyes and understand we should not vote for him. Obama is false, arrogant, disrespectful to God and very dangerous. Lets pray that He won't be the President, God Bless U.S.A. and God have mercy on us.
This man is a very dangerous man hiding behind a big smile and smooth words. He is not only mocking God and the bible...he is demeaning God's power- and true Christians fundamental beliefs. He is deceiving many and laughing at what's righteous and true. We have to keep praying that God will protect our great nation from Obama's destructive ideals & deceit. This is not an issue of a black or white president...it is an issue of flippancy, hatred, pride, arrogance, & lies Against Morals, Values, Integrity, Faith in a Righteous God & Protection of our Great Nation from terrorist ideals and attacks. Our great nation will be in serious trouble if Obama were elected. Christians - Kneel Together & Pray that God will protect us under McCain and Palin's faithful christian service and leadership to keep us "One Nation Under God" then VOTE!
Louis Farrakhan just announced Obama as the Messaiah... for the Nation of ISLAM!!!
This only further emphacizes Obama's lack of knowledge about the Bible and Christianity. Whether this is a result of Rev Wright or his Muslim background I do not know.
Mr. Obama is NOT a Christian. PRAY to God that this man may never sit in the Oval office of this great Nation. And PRAY that God heals our land and has Mercy on us and Mr. Obama who has mocked God. And God will NOT be mocked.
Obama is truly NOT a Christian. He's an african muslim and don't let him fool anyone. God save us from Obama.
He is the ANTICHRIST come to steal, kill, and destroy
To me he is mocking the Bible. I believe he is a muslim.
Regardless of what Obama says, all data indicates that he is a practicing muslin and what are muslins doing in Iraq now?--they are killing the Christian people over there. If he is elected, he will probably be the antichrist.
I feel the world in be in despiration if Obama is elected. He, to me, is the right hand of satan.
There is NOTHING WRONG with children attending same-sex wedding ceremonies
Our opponents are in a tither over the fact that members of a first grade class attended the same sex marriage of their teacher:
In the same week that the No on 8 campaign launched an ad that labeled as “lies” claims that same-sex marriage would be taught in schools to young children, a first grade class took a school-sponsored trip to a gay wedding. Eighteen first graders traveled to San Francisco City Hall Friday for the wedding of their teacher and her lesbian partner, The San Francisco Chronicle reported. The school sponsored the trip for the students, ages 5 and 6, taking them away fromtheir studies for the same-sex wedding. According to the Yes on 8 campaign, the public school field trip demonstrates that the California Supreme Court’s decision to legal same- sex marriage has real consequences.
Naturally neither this press release nor our friend Peter (who pushed the press release on his site) had anything to say about whether or not the parents of these children gave their permission for the children to attend.
If this was not the case, I would have a problem with the children going as I do with any field trip that takes place without parental approval.
But if parents did give permission, then what's wrong with those children attending the wedding?
Yet again this another bit of nonsense from the religious right: Oh this sort of thing will happen if Proposition 8 in California is not passed. Children will be forced to attend weddings of homosexuals.
Those children don't look like they are being forced to me. As a matter of fact, they look like they are having a good time.
Unlike the religious right, these children get it. A wedding is a joyous occasion.
And what's wrong with a joyous occasion?
You don't have to go to a McCain rally to show how supposed Christian conservatives feel about Obama.
You can always go to the One News Now site.
Readers of the site posted comments to a blog post Did Obama Mock the Bible?
For the record, he did not. The blog post is clearly distorting a speech Obama made. Hell, that's obvious from watching the clip.
But check out the comments from these so-called Christians (I am printing these comments verbatim. I did not change a word):
HE STUDIED FROM THE KORAN, WHAT ELSE DO YOU EXPECT. THE GUY IS A MUSLIN SOCALIST.
Yes, He did mock the Bible. I hope U.S. open the eyes and understand we should not vote for him. Obama is false, arrogant, disrespectful to God and very dangerous. Lets pray that He won't be the President, God Bless U.S.A. and God have mercy on us.
This man is a very dangerous man hiding behind a big smile and smooth words. He is not only mocking God and the bible...he is demeaning God's power- and true Christians fundamental beliefs. He is deceiving many and laughing at what's righteous and true. We have to keep praying that God will protect our great nation from Obama's destructive ideals & deceit. This is not an issue of a black or white president...it is an issue of flippancy, hatred, pride, arrogance, & lies Against Morals, Values, Integrity, Faith in a Righteous God & Protection of our Great Nation from terrorist ideals and attacks. Our great nation will be in serious trouble if Obama were elected. Christians - Kneel Together & Pray that God will protect us under McCain and Palin's faithful christian service and leadership to keep us "One Nation Under God" then VOTE!
Louis Farrakhan just announced Obama as the Messaiah... for the Nation of ISLAM!!!
This only further emphacizes Obama's lack of knowledge about the Bible and Christianity. Whether this is a result of Rev Wright or his Muslim background I do not know.
Mr. Obama is NOT a Christian. PRAY to God that this man may never sit in the Oval office of this great Nation. And PRAY that God heals our land and has Mercy on us and Mr. Obama who has mocked God. And God will NOT be mocked.
Obama is truly NOT a Christian. He's an african muslim and don't let him fool anyone. God save us from Obama.
He is the ANTICHRIST come to steal, kill, and destroy
To me he is mocking the Bible. I believe he is a muslim.
Regardless of what Obama says, all data indicates that he is a practicing muslin and what are muslins doing in Iraq now?--they are killing the Christian people over there. If he is elected, he will probably be the antichrist.
I feel the world in be in despiration if Obama is elected. He, to me, is the right hand of satan.
There is NOTHING WRONG with children attending same-sex wedding ceremonies
Our opponents are in a tither over the fact that members of a first grade class attended the same sex marriage of their teacher:
In the same week that the No on 8 campaign launched an ad that labeled as “lies” claims that same-sex marriage would be taught in schools to young children, a first grade class took a school-sponsored trip to a gay wedding. Eighteen first graders traveled to San Francisco City Hall Friday for the wedding of their teacher and her lesbian partner, The San Francisco Chronicle reported. The school sponsored the trip for the students, ages 5 and 6, taking them away fromtheir studies for the same-sex wedding. According to the Yes on 8 campaign, the public school field trip demonstrates that the California Supreme Court’s decision to legal same- sex marriage has real consequences.
Naturally neither this press release nor our friend Peter (who pushed the press release on his site) had anything to say about whether or not the parents of these children gave their permission for the children to attend.
If this was not the case, I would have a problem with the children going as I do with any field trip that takes place without parental approval.
But if parents did give permission, then what's wrong with those children attending the wedding?
Yet again this another bit of nonsense from the religious right: Oh this sort of thing will happen if Proposition 8 in California is not passed. Children will be forced to attend weddings of homosexuals.
Those children don't look like they are being forced to me. As a matter of fact, they look like they are having a good time.
Unlike the religious right, these children get it. A wedding is a joyous occasion.
And what's wrong with a joyous occasion?
Monday, October 13, 2008
Cut McDonalds some slack!
So now we are starting to get the story from McDonalds on whether or not it capitulated the American Family Associations's boycott:
McDonald's Denies U-Turn on Gay Rights Support
It looks like the American Family Association is again taking credit for a victory it didn't really achieve.
Back in March, the Christian-values lobbying group announced that it had successfully mau-maued Ford into cutting off its marketing efforts targeting the gay community. Ford said it had done no such thing.
Now AFA says it has ended a long-running boycott of McDonald's after the fast-food giant agreed "to no longer support political activity by homosexual activist organizations."
The cessation of the boycott was evidently triggered by the resignation of McDonald's vice president Richard Ellis from the board of the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. "McDonald's also said that the company has no plans to renew their membership in NGLCC when it expires in December," claimed the group.
But a McDonald's spokeswoman disputed details of AFA's account. McDonald's, she said, was never a corporate "member" of NGLCC; its relationship with the organization consisted of Ellis's board seat and a sponsorship he arranged. "McDonald's sponsored a table at an event at an NGLCC gala fundraiser," said the spokeswoman. "That's what they're labeling a sponsorship. That was the extent of our involvement."
Now we all know the anti-gay industry's mode of behavior. No matter what has been said, the AFA will continue to claim that their boycott against McDonalds was successful.
So their bullshit don't concern me.
What bothers me was the ease in which folks on our side started spewing venom against McDonalds.
I read so many nasty things about the restaurant on pro-gay blogs that my head began to spin.
And why did my head spin? Because of the following:
The announcement about McDonalds' alleged capitulation came from the AFA itself in a press release, which leads me to ask a question:
JUST WHEN DID WE START BELIEVING THE AFA?
WHEN DID THE GAY COMMUNITY START THINKING THAT THE AFA WAS CREDIBLE?
In an incredible show of laziness, some of us practically broke our fingers in condemning McDonalds over the alleged capitulation on the words on the AFA, an organization:
who routinely uses a phony news source to distort current events against the lgbt community,
who refers to the studies of a man ( Paul Cameron) who was not only kicked out of the American Psychological Association but actually believes that gay men stick gerbils up their rectums and that lesbians are master seducers,
who continued to sell a video that claimed that a certain individual "walked away homosexuality" even after it was discovered that the man (Michael Johnston) was having sex with men and possibly infecting them with HIV.
Plainly speaking, if I was in the middle of a hot burning desert with AFA head Donald Wildmon and he remarked on hot it was, I would start trying to build an ark.
What I want to know though is why did so many of us take the AFA at its word without even trying wait for more of the truth to come out?
When I get the answer to that question, I will most likely have a better understanding as to why we are having difficulty defeating the religious right in this alleged culture war.
Whip his ass, girlfriend!!!
Our community could learn a lesson in noncapitulation from Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell.
Recently, she caught some flack from Rush Limbaugh because of a column she wrote about how Sarah Palin stokes up negative emotions at campaign rallies:
"Mary Mitchell, a wuss, wimp columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times says that Sarah Palin should be censured. She says that 'Sarah Palin should apologize to the Obama campaign and the American people for her role in bringing out the worst in her supporters.' This is laughable.
"Come on, Mary. Grow up. This is the big leagues. How about the people in your party? I know you're a Democrat, Mary Mitchell. You can't deny it, all you liberal media people are Democrats. What about the incitement of this whole country that you and your fellow journalists have engaged in along with the Democrat Party? You have gendered up hate for this president. You have ginned up a despise for the US military. You have sought to convince the American people their country is worthless and sinking into an abyss. You have been doing it for six years."
How did Ms. Mitchell respond?
She called out Limbaugh using fire and poise that is sorely lacking sometimes in our community when the religious right attacks us. Folks, pay attention to how it's done:
When you step on a pig's tail, it squeals. Rush Limbaugh is a squealer.
And why is he squealing?
Because John McCain and Sarah Palin are losing ground in a contest that they thought was theirs.
And they are losing it to a black man.
Of course, Limbaugh won't say that. Instead, on Thursday he spent his time berating me for saying Palin needs to apologize for inciting crowds that hurled racial epithets at black members of the press.
I'm a "wuss, wimp columnist," Limbaugh says.
So why would a multimillion-dollar squealer use his air time on a "wuss and a wimp?"
The reason Limbaugh is squealing like the pig he is, is because he's the epitome of white privilege.
Hat tip to Pam's House Blend
Lastly, I would like to congratulate Jeremy from Goodasyou.org and his partner, Andrews, on their engagement.
Damn, I need me a man. I wonder if Frank Luntz, Seth Rogen or Jonah Hill is free?
Hush up. I know what I like.
So now we are starting to get the story from McDonalds on whether or not it capitulated the American Family Associations's boycott:
McDonald's Denies U-Turn on Gay Rights Support
It looks like the American Family Association is again taking credit for a victory it didn't really achieve.
Back in March, the Christian-values lobbying group announced that it had successfully mau-maued Ford into cutting off its marketing efforts targeting the gay community. Ford said it had done no such thing.
Now AFA says it has ended a long-running boycott of McDonald's after the fast-food giant agreed "to no longer support political activity by homosexual activist organizations."
The cessation of the boycott was evidently triggered by the resignation of McDonald's vice president Richard Ellis from the board of the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. "McDonald's also said that the company has no plans to renew their membership in NGLCC when it expires in December," claimed the group.
But a McDonald's spokeswoman disputed details of AFA's account. McDonald's, she said, was never a corporate "member" of NGLCC; its relationship with the organization consisted of Ellis's board seat and a sponsorship he arranged. "McDonald's sponsored a table at an event at an NGLCC gala fundraiser," said the spokeswoman. "That's what they're labeling a sponsorship. That was the extent of our involvement."
Now we all know the anti-gay industry's mode of behavior. No matter what has been said, the AFA will continue to claim that their boycott against McDonalds was successful.
So their bullshit don't concern me.
What bothers me was the ease in which folks on our side started spewing venom against McDonalds.
I read so many nasty things about the restaurant on pro-gay blogs that my head began to spin.
And why did my head spin? Because of the following:
The announcement about McDonalds' alleged capitulation came from the AFA itself in a press release, which leads me to ask a question:
JUST WHEN DID WE START BELIEVING THE AFA?
WHEN DID THE GAY COMMUNITY START THINKING THAT THE AFA WAS CREDIBLE?
In an incredible show of laziness, some of us practically broke our fingers in condemning McDonalds over the alleged capitulation on the words on the AFA, an organization:
who routinely uses a phony news source to distort current events against the lgbt community,
who refers to the studies of a man ( Paul Cameron) who was not only kicked out of the American Psychological Association but actually believes that gay men stick gerbils up their rectums and that lesbians are master seducers,
who continued to sell a video that claimed that a certain individual "walked away homosexuality" even after it was discovered that the man (Michael Johnston) was having sex with men and possibly infecting them with HIV.
Plainly speaking, if I was in the middle of a hot burning desert with AFA head Donald Wildmon and he remarked on hot it was, I would start trying to build an ark.
What I want to know though is why did so many of us take the AFA at its word without even trying wait for more of the truth to come out?
When I get the answer to that question, I will most likely have a better understanding as to why we are having difficulty defeating the religious right in this alleged culture war.
Whip his ass, girlfriend!!!
Our community could learn a lesson in noncapitulation from Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell.
Recently, she caught some flack from Rush Limbaugh because of a column she wrote about how Sarah Palin stokes up negative emotions at campaign rallies:
"Mary Mitchell, a wuss, wimp columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times says that Sarah Palin should be censured. She says that 'Sarah Palin should apologize to the Obama campaign and the American people for her role in bringing out the worst in her supporters.' This is laughable.
"Come on, Mary. Grow up. This is the big leagues. How about the people in your party? I know you're a Democrat, Mary Mitchell. You can't deny it, all you liberal media people are Democrats. What about the incitement of this whole country that you and your fellow journalists have engaged in along with the Democrat Party? You have gendered up hate for this president. You have ginned up a despise for the US military. You have sought to convince the American people their country is worthless and sinking into an abyss. You have been doing it for six years."
How did Ms. Mitchell respond?
She called out Limbaugh using fire and poise that is sorely lacking sometimes in our community when the religious right attacks us. Folks, pay attention to how it's done:
When you step on a pig's tail, it squeals. Rush Limbaugh is a squealer.
And why is he squealing?
Because John McCain and Sarah Palin are losing ground in a contest that they thought was theirs.
And they are losing it to a black man.
Of course, Limbaugh won't say that. Instead, on Thursday he spent his time berating me for saying Palin needs to apologize for inciting crowds that hurled racial epithets at black members of the press.
I'm a "wuss, wimp columnist," Limbaugh says.
So why would a multimillion-dollar squealer use his air time on a "wuss and a wimp?"
The reason Limbaugh is squealing like the pig he is, is because he's the epitome of white privilege.
Hat tip to Pam's House Blend
Lastly, I would like to congratulate Jeremy from Goodasyou.org and his partner, Andrews, on their engagement.
Damn, I need me a man. I wonder if Frank Luntz, Seth Rogen or Jonah Hill is free?
Hush up. I know what I like.
Thursday, October 09, 2008
McDonalds caves to the AFA - riiiiiiiiiiight
The American Family Association is claiming victory today. It's claiming to have received "assurances" that McDonalds will now pursue a policy of neutrality in the so-called culture wars.
AFA has been pursuing a boycott of McDonalds accusing the restaurant of "embracing the gay agenda."
Knowing AFA's history of spinning and lying, I will choose to wait for the rest of the story.
Unfortunately, the AFA will get a bit of mileage out of their claim. It is already posted as an article on the phony news site One News Now.
And regardless whatever the official statement from McDonalds will be, expect to hear AFA, Peter LaBarbera and the rest claim that their boycott was successful.
Repeition of lies is a hallmark for the anti-gay industry as well as incorrectly spinning current events.
Take for example the situation involving David Parker that I talked about Monday. Despite the fact that his lies has been turned away on every level, including the Supreme Court, Parker's story is still being spun as the case of a man who "tried to save his child from the gay agenda."
And it's even being used to try and defeat marriage equality in California, which was much like how the Repent America story was used by those who tried to keep the lgbt community from being added to hate crimes legislation.
I don't get depressed over this mess. Lies have a way of being exposed eventually.
But I can't help wishing that our community, especially our leaders, were a bit more vigilant in keeping an eye on these situations and getting the correct information out before the lies have a chance to take root.
If not, even our victories in these cases come back to haunt us.
The American Family Association is claiming victory today. It's claiming to have received "assurances" that McDonalds will now pursue a policy of neutrality in the so-called culture wars.
AFA has been pursuing a boycott of McDonalds accusing the restaurant of "embracing the gay agenda."
Knowing AFA's history of spinning and lying, I will choose to wait for the rest of the story.
Unfortunately, the AFA will get a bit of mileage out of their claim. It is already posted as an article on the phony news site One News Now.
And regardless whatever the official statement from McDonalds will be, expect to hear AFA, Peter LaBarbera and the rest claim that their boycott was successful.
Repeition of lies is a hallmark for the anti-gay industry as well as incorrectly spinning current events.
Take for example the situation involving David Parker that I talked about Monday. Despite the fact that his lies has been turned away on every level, including the Supreme Court, Parker's story is still being spun as the case of a man who "tried to save his child from the gay agenda."
And it's even being used to try and defeat marriage equality in California, which was much like how the Repent America story was used by those who tried to keep the lgbt community from being added to hate crimes legislation.
I don't get depressed over this mess. Lies have a way of being exposed eventually.
But I can't help wishing that our community, especially our leaders, were a bit more vigilant in keeping an eye on these situations and getting the correct information out before the lies have a chance to take root.
If not, even our victories in these cases come back to haunt us.
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