Memphis Principal Outs Gay Students

Principal Outs Gay Kids, ACLU Steps In

by Nick Langewis

Daphne Beasley, principal of Hollis F. Price Middle College in Memphis, Tennessee, is under fire for outing at least one gay couple in her student body, according to the ACLU-backed couple and their parents.

In September of 2007, Beasley sought out couples of all kinds to monitor them for public displays of affection. She compiled a list of names, which included students Andrew and Nicholas (last names omitted), based on information she received from teachers and students; the list was clearly visible to anyone who visited her office.

Of those that saw this list was Andrew's mother, Andrea. "I couldn't believe it when I went to meet with the principal and that list was right there by her desk where anyone could see it," she said. "African American people face enough obstacles to succeeding in this world and I want my son to have every opportunity he's worked so hard for. Our schools should be helping our children do well, not tearing them down for something like this."

"This is a public high school that runs on taxpayer dollars," said attorney Bruce Kramer. "As such, it is part of the government and must obey the Constitution in dealing with the students entrusted to its care each day."

According to Nicholas' mother Nichole, the principal said that she didn't tolerate homosexuality in the school and repeatedly asked if she knew her son was gay. The honor student underwent further humiliation, in addition to verbal harassment, when taken out of the running for a class trip to New Orleans related to rebuilding efforts, as a risk to the school's image; Nicholas was told that there were fears he'd embarrass the school by engaging in "inappropriate behavior."

"This school has no business singling these boys out and taking away educational opportunities against them simply because they were dating," added Mr. Kramer.

"We never bothered anyone or did a single thing at school that broke any of the rules," Nicholas, a junior, said. "Every day I feel like they're still punishing me, and I'm worried that this is going to hurt my chances to get into a good college."

"The principal's outing of these two students to their families, classmates, and teachers is unacceptable," said Hedy Weinberg, ACLU of Tennessee's Executive Director. "Its only purpose was to intimidate not only these students but all gay students at Hollis Price.

"Educators," Weinberg continued, "should be focused on educating their students and not on harassing them because of their sexual orientation or the people with whom they associate."

Since private talks with the Office of General Counsel failed, the ACLU has issued a letter to Memphis school board officials today, demanding that Beasley be reprimanded, and that school policies be put in place to ensure a learning environment free of discrimination based on a student's actual or perceived sexual orientation.

Also called for is an apology to every person on Beasley's 2007 list.

Also:
365Gay.com: Principal Outs Gay Student Couple

HRC Endorsements

Here's why I don't give money to the Human Rights Campaign:

HRC Has Bad Political Advice for Gay People

The Human Rights Campaign, the largest, mainstream LGBT civil rights group, endorsed Joseph LIEberman over progressive Ned Lamont, and endorsed "moderate" Republicans like Susan Collins over more progressive LGBT supporting Democratic candidates. I'll never forgive them for endorsing Alphonso D'Mato over Chuck Schumer in NY!

It seems like HRC uses every opportunity to endorse "moderate" Republican candidates over more progressive Democratic candidates, probably so they can get more donations from the Log Cabin Republicans!

I only give money, when i Have it, to The National Gay & Lesbian Task Force or the Stonewall Democrats

HRC Endorsements

Rev. Jeremiah Wright: Truth to Power!

Rev. Jeremiah Wright Fights Back!

While some Obama backers, some (white) liberals and the mainstream media plutocracy have been wringing their hands over the "controversial" comments of Rev. Jeremiah Wright, I found myself applauding him! Wright gave defiant brilliant speeches at the NAACP and the National Press Club, but the "uppidty negro" upset the powers that be again. I am an atheist and don't agree with Wright's religious beliefs, but I was shouting AMEN! when he fingered the hypocrisy of Dick Cheney and other chicken hawks who question his "patriotism", and when he laid out the imperialist crimes of the U.S. government I was on my feet clapping. This man has BALLS!

Reminds me of another "radical", "anti-American," uppidty negro who spoke Truth to Power!

Too bad politicians like Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have to be meek and obsequious to the U.S. military-industrial complex and condemn anyone who speaks truth to power.

I guess the difference between "politicians" and "prophets" is that politicians tell people what they WANT to hear, and prophets tell people what they DO NOT WANT to hear.

NOTE: In his speech at the Press Club, Wright included gay people when he criticized the way races and religions treat each other, he also said we need to change the way "Straights Treat Gays".
Some gays mistakenly stereotype Rev. Wright as another anti-gay homophobic black preacher, he is not. His church is very inclusive toward LGBT people and he supports LGBT rights.

See:
The Liberation of Reverend Wright

UPDATE:
Obama "Outraged" by Wright's "Appalling" Comments

NY Daily News: Hillary Clinton Supporter Oragnized Wright Press Club Appearance

First, I understand that, politically, Barack Obama HAD to more strongly denounce Jeremiah Wright, but it is very sad. The only "appalling" thing Wright said at the Press Club was his answer confirming his belief that the U.S. government injected AIDS into the black community, though I agree with him that I would not put it past the government to have created a virus like AIDS, given how involved it has been in creating chemical weapons and selling them to tyrants like Saddam Hussein.

Second, Obama may be going TOO far in pandering to the "mainstream" White Establishment! He finally gave in to an interview on Fox News and was a wet noodle. Never used the opportunity to tell Fox News that they are not a legitimate news organization and are little more than a Republican propaganda machine. (He's not alone, Hillary is going on too, and her campaign advisor Terry McCauliff actually praised them for being "fair and balanced!).

Obama is also criticizing Al Sharpten and black activists who were threatening to protest the NYPD acquittals of the policemen who fired 50 shots and murdered an innocent black man. Their anger is understandable, but Obama may appear to be too much of an "Uncle Tom" to many African-Americans.

Obama handed John McCain a political gun to shot him with by saying that the controversy over Jeremiah Wright as a "legitimate political issue"! He should have denounced the use of Wright in attacks from the GOP and Hillary Clinton, and emphasized that it is NOT a legitimate political issue!

Jokerman

There's our Idiot In Chief entertaining the "free press" which has ignored his crimes and covered his ass for eight years.

Bush the Joker

Will Hillary Clinton Destroy the Democratic Party?

Backlash: Party Fears Racial Divide

It is looking more and more like Hillary Clinton is prolonging her losing campaign to destroy Barack Obama in the general election so she can run again in 2012. She is behind in every legitimate measure: states, delegates and popular vote.

This week several black Democratic leaders, including House Majority Whip James Clyburn, have expressed the concern of many African-Americans that the Clinton campaign's racist campaign against Barack Obama may backfire. Without the overwhelming support of African-American voters, the Democratic nominee cannot win the general election. If Clinton manages to "steal" the nomination from Barack Obama, she will lose the support of Obama supporters, including African-Americans.

Why? Because her negative campaign against Obama has focused on pandering to racist white "working class" voters. Her margin of victory in PA was entirely from white voters who would not vote for Obama because he is black. Hillary has been running a right-wing racist campaign of attack ads focusing on Rev. Jeremiah Wright.

The only way Hillary Clinton can "win" (STEAL) the nomination is to convince enough superdelegates to switch and support her over Obama, who has won the most pledged delegates and states. She can only do this by destroying Obama with a right-wing racist campaign.

The Clinton campaign is also trying to steal the nomination by trying to count the delegates and votes Hillary "won" in Michigan and Florida, both of which were punished by the DNC for violating DNC rules which all the candidates agreed to. HRC wants to count these votes (for HER) even though the other candidates were not even on the ballots and agreed, with her, not to even campaign in those states. Told their votes would not count, many voters did not even vote, so there is NO WAY the results of those elections can be accepted now. The only alternative would be a new primary or caucus in FL and MI, which does not seem possible, or some arrangement to equally divide the delegates between Obama and Clinton.

Hillary's top advisors supported stripping Michigan and Florida of their delegates!
Top Clinton advisors Harold Ickes and Terry McCauliffe were both part of the DNC that decided that if these states violated the rules THEY AGREED TO, they would be stripped of their delegates!

Now Terry McCauliffe is whining about "disenfranchising" the voters in MI and FL for violating the rules HE HELPED MAKE!

Hillary's Gay Problem

While Clinton-supporting gay media (i.e., The Philadelpha Gay News) are accusing Barack Obama of ignoring the "gay media" (see The Advocate: Obama Silent With LGBT Media), why is it that Hillary Clinton never mentions gays unless she is pandering to the "gay media"? Obama includes gays in almost every speech he gives, even in homophobic black churches, while I don't believe Hillary Clinton has said the word "gay" in any speech that was not before a gay audience!

(Obama included gays in his PA concession speech!)

Let's talk about Hillary's Gay Problem

Hillary/McCain Win PA

Rush Limbaugh and John McCain are celebrating!

As expected Hillary Clinton wins the Pennsylvania Democratic Primary, but Obama cut her 20 point lead down to 10% or less (as of 10:30 PM, with 93% of vote in, Clinton 55%, Obama 45%).

She still cannot win the nomination without a bloody fight at the Democratic convention in August... will she destroy the Democratic Party to "win"?

The exit polls are disturbing:
Only 50 Percent of Clinton voters say they will vote for Obama in the general election. (26% say they will vote for McCain, 19 percent will not vote).
67 percent of Obama voters say they will vote for Clinton if she is the nominee, 17% would vote for McCain and 12% would not vote.

See: Racist Democrats Created Clinton Victory in PA

Not long ago, the Clintonistas were attacking Obama supporters who would not vote for Clinton, now they are changing their tune! Now they are bragging that Clinton supporters won't support Obama! And Egalia, what kind of feminist would vote for John McCain over Barack Obama?? Why would white voters who support Clinton NOT vote for Obama? could it be RACISM? Will the Clinton campaign continue to appeal to racist voters to defeat Obama?

According to exit polls, 2/3 blame Clinton for negative attacks, 1/2 blame Obama.

Clintonites may be celebrating tonight, but the clock is running out on Hillary:

NBC: Hillary CANNOT Win the Nomination! She would have to win 70% of the delegates in every remaining state, i.e., it is impossible! Unless, she steals the nomination, going all the way to the convention and wins over just enough superdelegates to overturn the choice of the majority of the voters to steal the nomination from the candidate with the most pledged delegates! Then we'll see how many Obama supporters will vote for Clinton (I WILL NOT!)

Clinton Faces Steady Erosion of Support

Obama has over $40 million, Hillary Clinton is in Debt.

The New York Times Editors BLAST Hillary Clinton!
NYT: The Low Road
"It is past time for Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton to acknowledge that the negativity, for which she is mostly responsible, does nothing but harm to her, her opponent, her party and the 2008 election."

The Big Loser in PA: The Democratic Party--the Bruising Will Go On

Why Clinton LOST in PA and Must Drop Out May 6

AFA Video: The Queers are Taking Over!

The American Family Association has launched a video, They're Coming to Your Town, warning that queers are taking over the city of Eureka Springs, Arkansas and it is happening across the country!

The town of Eureka Springs is turning into the "San Francisco of Arkansas," warns the American Family Association, and it can happen in your town too.

The presentation in the AFA trailer, which can be viewed on PageOneQ, "They're Coming to Your Town," tells the tale of an uncharacteristically diverse resort town's government infiltrated by "a handful of homosexual activists" and bent to their will through the enactment of the town's domestic partner registry on June 22, 2007.

"Watch, and learn," says the trailer, "how to fight a well-organized gay agenda to take over the cities of America, one city at a time."

Eureka Springs, most recently, has gotten an honorable mention from unlikely celebrity and Oklahoma House Rep. Sally Kern, who propped it up as an example of the "gay agenda" that she has called a "death knell" and a larger threat than international terrorism, in addition to comparing such an "agenda" to cancer.

Popular Christian TV Host Comes out

From Out & About:
Popular Christian TV Host Comes Out

The Nashvillian host of The Remix, a popular Christian youth show, Azariah Southworth, has come out of the gay Christian closet.
Southworth has been hosting and producing the popular Christian TV show, The Remix for a year and a half. It is in syndication and can be seen in more than 128 million homes worldwide. It averages more than 200,000 viewers weekly on one of three networks. It has featured major Christian acts such as Jars of Clay, Avalon, Superchick, Building 429 and Rachael Lampa.
Southworth has been featured in national publications such as Charisma Magazine and many other national Christian media outlets.

Time's Up for Hillary Clinton: Obama Winning

Time Is Running Out for Hillary Clinton: Time and Delegate Math Not in Her Favor!

Using the Republican Dirty Tricks PlayBook against Barack Obama seems to be backfiring against Hillary Clinton.
Newsweek Poll: Hillary Drops, Obama Pulling Away
Obama 54%, Clinton 35% !
Only 41% view Clinton as Honest and Trustworthy! (61 Percent for Obama and McCain)

ABC NEWS Poll: Obama Surges on Electability; Hillary Not Trustworthy
By 2 to 1, 62-31 Percernt, See Obama as More Electable in November than Hillary Clinton.
58 Percent say Hillary is NOT trustworthy or honest!
--

Another former member of the Clinton cabinet has endorsed Barack Obama: Robert Reich, Sec. of Labor in the Clinton Administration.

Obama was also endorsed today by Sen. Sam Nunn and Sen. David Boren.

DNC Chair Howard Dean calls upon superdelegates to decide NOW!
----
Meanwhile Hillary blames Democratic activists for her losing: Hillary Slams Moveon.org/Democratic Activists!

Here's another enthusiastic endorsement from the Philly Daily News:

VOTE FOR BARACK OBAMA

THE CHOICE in Tuesday's Democratic presidential primary is not only the one between a white woman and a black man. It's a choice between the past and the future.
More specifically, the nation must decide how to face the future racing toward us in the form of slumping home sales, unstable financial markets and increased joblessness - and staring at us from the Green Zone in Iraq and the beds at veterans hospitals.

Should Democrats choose someone who will employ hard-won - even bitter - experiences gained in a past Democratic administration, or reach beyond political truisms toward a new (and untried) model of governing?

Neither choice is obvious. Perhaps that's why the race has gone on for so long.

But the long slog through 44 primaries and caucuses has confirmed for us that Sen. Barack Obama's vision of change - and the way he plans to pursue it - is what we need right now. Badly.

This is a campaign that really began six years ago, on Sept. 11, 2001. Not only was the U.S. attacked and seriously wounded, it did not bounce back the way "the land of the free and home of the brave" should have. In fact, it still suffers from post-traumatic stress.

That day and its aftermath cried out for a revolution of values: a clear-eyed shared vision, a cooperative effort, a unified purpose. It cried out for a recognition that conventional warfare and conventional responses to domestic challenges in an era of globalization were not enough.

That cry was not answered.

Instead, the Bush administration embarked on an unconscionable plan to exploit the fear we all felt that day for political gain. It lied us into a disastrous war in Iraq, a staggering, record deficit at home, a weakening of the constitutional structure on which the country rests, and poisonous lines of division among Americans. It led us to a place where 81 percent of Americans say we're on the wrong track.

Contrary to Sen. Hillary Clinton's campaign slogan, we believe Barack Obama is more likely to be "ready on Day One" to lead us in a new direction. Because of his experience.

Sure, Clinton has more "experience" of a sort. For one thing, she has 14 more years on earth. How much of this experience is directly applicable to the job of president is, at best, debatable.

We are frankly troubled by her assumption that her husband's administration and accomplishments were her own. And if her equation holds, that the first spouse is an equal partner in the administration, then the reappearance of Bill Clinton in the White House is a prospect we have a hard time reconciling with the work that needs to be done.

THERE IS a way to match Clinton's and Obama's performances on a relatively equal playing field: their campaigns.

A candidate's campaign may be the best indicator of how she or he will govern. If so, an Obama administration would be well-managed, inclusive and astonishingly broad-based. It would make good use of technology and communicate a message of unity and, yes, hope.

It would not be content with eking out slim victories by playing to the narrow interests of the swing voters of the moment while leaving the rest of the country as deeply divided as ever. Instead, an Obama administration would seek to expand the number of Americans who believe that they have a personal stake in our collective future - and that they have the power to change things.

It would motivate them to hold their representatives accountable for making it happen. That is, after all, the only way to get us out of Iraq, to address global warming, to make us energy-independent. It's the only way to resist the forces arrayed against providing universal health care, rebuilding our infrastructure and returning our schools to world-class status. It's the only way to give our children the means to compete with children in other parts of the world who are healthier, better-educated and have more opportunities than many of our own.

An Obama administration would be freer of the the corrupting influence of big-money donors and corporate interests. Obama has raised $240 million overall, with half coming in contributions of less than $200. People who contribute to political campaigns can feel they "own" a candidate and so Obama would owe allegiance to the wide swath of America that has financed his campaign.

Based on his experience in running a quarter-billion-dollar enterprise with thousands upon thousands of volunteers, we could expect an Obama administration to be well-managed and cost-effective, with the president choosing forward-thinking advisers committed to his program, demanding that they work as a team and pay attention to details.

He would be steady and calm, given neither to irrational exuberance or outbursts of anger. He would make mistakes, that's for sure, but he could be expected to recognize them, adjust, and move forward.

He would adjust his views to reality rather than trying to adjust reality to his views.

Obama's unprecedented appeal to younger voters is significant not only because it expands the electorate, which is vital. It's also a validation of his promise as a president to be free of the baby-boomer/Vietnam/segregation-era hangups.

Younger people are more egalitarian, more accepting of diversity, and more comfortable with rapid change. They also are less confined by old resentments or regrets.

AND AN OBAMA administration would lower the tone of the rhetoric that separates us.

As New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson has said, Obama is a once-in-a-lifetime candidate who has the skill and eloquence to help us raise our eyes and our aspirations beyond individual, personal concerns, beyond religion or region or race or gender, beyond our well-founded fears to a shared destiny.

Most candidates claim that they will change the way business is done in Washington. Barack Obama has made us believe that, yes, he can. *"

UPDATE: Obama Greeted by 35,000 People in Independence Park, Philadelphia (Largest Crowd of his campaign!)

Michael Moore Endorses Obama

The REAL Hillary Clinton

Hillary Clinton: Bosnia and Back Again

Picture this as an ad in the general election!
And Hillary's Guerilla Women think the GOP will be nicer to Hillary than Obama!!

More seriously, former Clinton advisor, political sociologist l, Theda Skocpol exposes Clinton's hypocrisy in calling Obama an "Elitist"! Skocpol was at the 1995 Camp David meetings where Hillary Clinton took an "elitist" approach to the working class conservatives she is now courting:


"(Ben) Barber reports in his 2001 book that Hillary Clinton said "Screw 'em" about southern working class whites who did not support Bill Clinton. Two other scholar-particiants, Alan Wolfe and Harry Boyte, agree she said this. Reported demurrals (and not a clear denial) come from Clinton staffers Bruce Reed and Ken Baer, not from the independent intellectuals in attendance. But independent witnesses who keep notes trump employees any day.

I have gone back to my 1995 notes to check my recollections of the event. My notes do not have any exact words, so I am not going to try to corroborate a particular phrase from Hillary Clinton or any other speaker.

But what is clear in both in my memory and my notes is that there was extensive, hard-nosed discussion about why masses of voters did not support Clinton or trust government or base their choices on economic as opposed to what people saw as peripheral life-style concerns. Hillary Clinton was among the most cold-blooded analysts in attendance. She spoke of ordinary voters as if they were a species apart, and showed interest only in the political usefulness of their choices -- usefulness to the Clinton administration, that is.

I vividly remember at the time finding it impressive that Bill Clinton (not Hillary Clinton) showed real empathy for the ordinary people whose motives and supposedly misguided choices were under analysis. Ironically, just as Barber reported, Bill Clinton was the one who combined analysis and empathy, much as Obama himself did in his full San Francisco remarks.

I think this whole angle of "gotcha" politics about snippets of speech transposed from one context to another is ridiculous and pathological for democracy in America -- and I cannot fathom why the Clintons or George Stephanopoulos are descending to this dirt, not to mention the guilt-by-association crap. It is particularly despicable of them to criticize Obama for the sort of observation/analysis that was routine in and around the 1990s Clinton White House. And I cannot help but feel there is a psychological edge of pure envy in Bill Clinton's attacks: Obama is empathetic and charismatic as well as smart, just like Bill was back then, in those so much better days!

Over and out. I am going to try to find a way to preserve in amber my better memories and feelings about the Clintons, so as not to lose altogether the sense of admiration I once felt, but can no longer."

It is amazing how so many former Clinton advisors now despise her and are supporting Barack Obama!

"The Worst Debate Ever"

I didn't even bother watching the (hopefully) last Democratic presidential debate tonight on ABC.

Evidently I didn't miss much! It looks like most of the questions were phoned in from Fox News. Most of the questions were focused on the Clinton/McCain attacks on Barack Obama.

America Blog: The Worst Debate Ever

Huffington Post: The Gottcha Debate

Josh Marshall: An Unmitigated Travesty

Greg Mitchell: A Shameful Night for the U.S. Media

Washington Post: "The Clear Loser is ABC

This wasn't in the debate, but could have been:

Hillary Clinton on Southern Working Class Whites (1995): "Screw 'em"!

Hillary Clinton Sinking in Polls!

You won't see these polls on the Guerilla Women for Hillary, who have been cheering on the Clinton/McCain swiftboating campaign against Barack Obama!

New polls have some BAD NEWS for the Clintonistas:


Wash Post/ABC News: Clinton "has lost trust among voters, a majority view her as dishonest"

Clinton is viewed as "honest and trustworthy" by just 39 percent of Americans, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll, compared with 52 percent in May 2006. Nearly six in 10 said in the new poll that she is not honest and trustworthy. And now, compared with Obama, Clinton has a deep trust deficit among Democrats, trailing him by 23 points as the more honest, an area on which she once led both Obama and John Edwards.

The poll showed Obama leading Clinton by a ten-point margin: 51% - 41%.

More PA Polls Show Unexpected Close Race
The poll from Franklin & Marshall University and the Philadelphia Daily News has Clinton leading Obama by a 46% - 40% margin:
WITH THE Pennsylvania primary six days away, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama has moved within striking distance of rival U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, according to a new Daily News/Franklin & Marshall Poll.

Clinton clung to a lead of 46 percent to 40 percent for Obama among likely Democratic voters, with 14 percent undecided. In March, Clinton led 51 percent to 35 percent.

But experts said that the survey may not fully show the impact of Obama's statements last week that small-town Americans
are "bitter" over their economic status and "cling to guns or religion."

"It's too soon — you'd have to see polls taken Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday," said political consultant Neil Oxman. "It's clear [internal] polling in both campaigns show an uptick in support for her and a downtick for him."
This poll was conducted April 8 - 13, 2008. So, as instructed by Mr. Oxman, let's look at a poll conducted Monday and Tuesday (April 14th & 15th) from PPP Polling -- it shows an Obama lead: 45% - 42%, which is "a statistical tie":Barack
It seems more clear with each passing day that Hillary Clinton's efforts to hurt Barack Obama for his 'bitter' remarks are not working. Earlier this week PPP showed Obama maintaining a 20 point lead in North Carolina, and now for the third week in a row we show the race in Pennsylvania as a statistical tie.

Keep in mind that Hillary Clinton has dropped from a double digit lead to a close 5-6% lead. If she wins by less than 10%, it would really be a "victory" of sorts for Obama, and she will only get about 3 more delegates than he will get!

LA Times: Hillary Loses Traction Over Barack Obama in Pennsylvania and Indiana

It looks like the Clinton/McCain Attacks on Obama have helped Obama!

Arianna Huffington: Hillary Clinton Doing McCain's Job

Bruce Springsteen Endorses Obama

"The Boss," Bruce Springsteen Endorses Barack Obama

Springsteen, the rock poet of working class Americans, is probably the closest thing the "working class" has as a spokesperson in the U.S.

"Dear Friends and Fans:

LIke most of you, I've been following the campaign and I have now seen and heard enough to know where I stand. Senator Obama, in my view, is head and shoulders above the rest.

He has the depth, the reflectiveness, and the resilience to be our next President. He speaks to the America I've envisioned in my music for the past 35 years, a generous nation with a citizenry willing to tackle nuanced and complex problems, a country that's interested in its collective destiny and in the potential of its gathered spirit. A place where "...nobody crowds you, and nobody goes it alone."

At the moment, critics have tried to diminish Senator Obama through the exaggeration of certain of his comments and relationships. While these matters are worthy of some discussion, they have been ripped out of the context and fabric of the man's life and vision, so well described in his excellent book, Dreams of My Father, often in order to distract us from discussing the real issues: war and peace, the fight for economic and racial justice, reaffirming our Constitution, and the protection and enhancement of our environment.

After the terrible damage done over the past eight years, a great American reclamation project needs to be undertaken. I believe that Senator Obama is the best candidate to lead that project and to lead us into the 21st Century with a renewed sense of moral purpose and of ourselves as Americans.

Over here on E Street, we're proud to support Obama for President."

Bruce Springsteen

News Flash: John McCain is a CONSERVATIVE!

Finally, the mainstream media is reporting that John McCain is a right-wing CONSERVATIVE!

"The likely Republican presidential nominee is much more conservative than voters appear to realize. McCain leans to the right on issue after issue, not just on the Iraq war but also on abortion, gay rights, gun control and other issues that matter to his party's social conservatives."

Hillary Becomes a Gun-Loving Church Lady!

The NEW Hillary Clinton!
Hillary Portrays Herself as Pro-Gun Churchgoer

In the most embarrassing political makeover since Dukkakis strolled around in a tank with an over-sized helmet, Hillary Clinton is trying to make herself into a gun-loving, church-going working class American! It is the latest attempt by Hillary Clinton to try to paint the Democratic front-runner Barack Obama as an "elitist" who doesn't understand small town working class folks like her (a multi-millionaire) and John McCain (a millionaire with 8 houses!)

Even Karl Rove must be blushing!

I'm sure the Hillary-hating NRA folks in PA and Alabama are having second thoughts about Hillary Clinton now!

Theda Skocpol NAILS Hillary!:

"I have been in meetings with the Clintons and their advisors where very cinical things were said in a very-detached tone about unwillingness of working class voters to trust government -- and Bill Clinton -- and about their unfortunate (from a Clinton perspective) proclivity to vote on life-style rather than economic issues. To see Hillary going absolutely over the top to smash Obama for making clearly more humanly sympathetic observations in this vein, is just amazing. Even more so to see her pretending to be a gun-toting non-elite. Give us a break!......
But where is her authenticity and her dignity and her sense of any proportion?
This has to be one of the few times in U.S. political history when a multi-millionaire has accused a much less wealthy fellow public servant, a person of the same party and views who made much less lucrative career choices, of "elitism"! (I won't say the only time, because U.S. political history is full of absurdities of this sort.) In a way, it is funny -- and it may not be long before the jokes start."

(Theda Skocpol served in Hillary Clinton's Health Care Reform Panel)

Another former Clinton administration official rebukes Hillary Clinton's "elitist" attack on Obama:
Robert Reich: Obama, Bitterness and the Old Politics
(Sec. of Labor under Bill Clinton)

See Also:

Obama Gets Honest, Clinton/Elites Lash Out

Clinton Support Among White Women Slipping in PA

Hillary Clinton: I'm More American than Barck Obama

Bill Clinton Flashback: "Economically Insecure White People Are Scared to Death"

Consortium News:Bill and Hillary's Stockholm Syndrome
"In their bid to return to the White House, Bill and Hillary Clinton have taken on characteristics of their Republican tormentors from the 1990s, a slash-and-burn, win-at-all-costs approach. It has the look of a Stockholm Syndrome victim identifying with a tormentor."

Gov. Schwarzenegger Shifts Gay Marriage Stand

CA Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger Shifts Gay Marriage Stand

Speaking to the national convention of the Log Cabin Republicans, CA Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger promises that he will oppose a state constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage. The Republican governor has vetoed bills that would legalize gay marriages, arguing that the issue should be decided by voters or the courts not lawmakers.

Schwarzenegger also served as a surrogate for John McCain, who couldn't attend the convention and asked the governor to speak for him.

According to Rex Wockner the Log Cabin Republicans will probably endorse John McCain, who they have had a long-term relationship with, even though the GOP candidate opposes gay marriage, is against relaxing the ban on gays in the military and campaigned against a ballot measure that would have permitted civil unions in Arizona.

"It seems likely LCR will endorse John McCain's presidential bid later this year. (LCR President Patrick) Sammon told me: "We're pleased he was nominated. Our posture during this campaign was stopping Mitt Romney. We're proud of the role we played with our ad campaign and, you know, Sen. McCain, we endorsed him in his Senate re-election in 2004; in 2000 a lot of our members were very supportive of his campaign, and certainly this time as well. We know he's someone who's an inclusive Republican who understands the party needs to get back to its core principles and we are excited about the campaign ahead."

McCain is an "inclusive Republican"?? The same John McCain who welcomed the endorsements of anti-gay, religious extremists Pat Robertson, John Hagee and Rod Parsley?? The same John McCain who once called Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson "agents of intolerance" but flip-flopped and embraced Jerry Falwell at Lilberty University? (Yes, the same John McCain who called the Bush tax cuts "irresponsible" but now supports them!) Good to see someone supporting the Republican's "core principles"!

Will the Uncle Tom Republicans side with Pat Robertson and the anti-gay religious right to endorse John McCain and help elect another Republican President who will appoint anti-gay federal judges and veto gay rights bills?

Clinton/McCain Take Aim At Obama (Again!)

Obama: No Surprise Hard-Pressed Pennsylvanians Turn Bitter

Obama "Small Town" Comments Draw Fire, Support

As usual, the Hillary Clinton's campaign and supporters picked up the right-wing talking points to attack Obama again!
Remember, according to Ann Coulter and the Obama-Hating Clintonistas, Obama threw his grandmother under the bus, made a racist attack by calling her a "typical white person", may be a muslim, or belongs to an anti-American racist church, and lacks experience to be commander in chief, etc.) NOW, Clinton/McCain are attacking Obama for saying that working-class people in PA are "bitter" because they have been screwed economically and politically by politicians. Surprise! 80% of Americans think the country is on the WRONG track! Obama was telling the TRUTH (something Hillary Clinton and John McCain cannot take!)

Here's what Obama said that was so "controversial":

"You go into some of these small towns in Pennsylvania, and like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing's replaced them," Obama said. "And they fell through the Clinton Administration, and the Bush Administration, and each successive administration has said that somehow these communities are gonna regenerate and they have not. And it's not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."

Everthing in his statement is TRUE. What really pissed off the Clintonites was pointing out that even during the "roaring 90s" working class people were hit hard (remember NAFTA? etc.) People are bitter and frustrated because politicians keep promising to do something and they fail to keep those promises.

But compare the responses of Hillary Clinton and John McCain:

Hillary Clinton: "Pennsylvanians," she declared, "don't need a president who looks down on them. They need a president who stands up for them, who fights for them, who works hard for your futures, your jobs, your families."

John McCain:"It shows an elitism and condescension towards hardworking Americans that is nothing short of breathtaking," Schmidt said. "It is hard to imagine someone running for president who is more out of touch with average Americans."

Hmm, sound similar?

And the Clinton campaign is circulating these CONSERVATIVE quotes attacking Obama!
The Clinton campaign emailed around harsh comments from two Republican pundits:

Grover Norquist: 'That sentence will lose him the election... He just announced to rural America: I don't like you.' "Grover Norquist, the anti-tax activist who leads an influential weekly meeting of conservatives, went as far as to argue that Obama's line would cost Democrats the White House. 'That sentence will lose him the election,' Norquist told ABC News. 'He just announced to rural America: 'I don't like you.'" [abcnews.com, 4/11/08]

Republican strategist Ed Rollins: Q: "On a scale of 1 to 10 how damaging is this?" Rollins: 'Ten.' [CNN, Lou Dobbs, 4/11/08]


The Obama camp has released the following statement, responding to John McCain, via spokesman Tommy Vietor:

"Senator Obama has said many times in this campaign that Americans are understandably upset with their leaders in Washington for saying anything to win elections while failing to stand up to the special interests and fight for an economic agenda that will bring jobs and opportunity back to struggling communities. And if John McCain wants a debate about who's out of touch with the American people, we can start by talking about the tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans that he once said offended his conscience but now wants to make permanent."

Once again, Hillary Clinton is teaming with John McCain to ATTACK Barack Obama, while Obama is focusing his attack on John McCain! Who is REALLY standing up for the "working class"??

How ridiculous for two MULTIMILLIONAIRES who support "free trade" policies like NAFTA lecturing Barack Obama on being an "elitist"! Maybe Hillary Clinton will join the McCain ticket! Clinton/McCain have so much in common!

Now Hillary and her cheerleaders are praising the gun nuts who must represent the "working class" !! What a bunch of idiots!

OMG, Now Hillary is claiming to be a Second Amendment gun lover! I'm sure the NRA Hillary Haters will have second thoughts now about supporting a Clinton for President! Hillary Clinton is PATHETIC!

Looks like Hillary Clinton is going to play the Republican "god and guns" political card, will she throw in the "gays" too?
(This reminds me of Bill Clinton playing ads on Christian radio stations bragging that he supported the anti-gay Defense of Marriage Act!) Yes, the Clintons are not above playing the dirty "culture wars" politics like good ol' Republicans!

Why are DEMOCRATS supporting this Karl Rove/Ann Coulter political swiftboating against Barack Obama????

(NOTE TO GUERILLA WOMEN: Egalia you should change the byline of your blog to FIGHTING FOR THE RADICAL RIGHT"!)

See:
Here We Go Again

Clinton Strategist: Obama's Comments "Fair Game" for Attack Ads

Rachel Maddow: An Out Lesbian Becoming Progressive Media Star!

Rachel Maddow: Progressive Media's Next Mainstream Star

I have to confess that I'm in love with Air America's Rachel Maddow!
She's SMART (Ph D, Rhodes Scholar!), Funny, Entertaining and yes, I think she's hot! And I'm a gay man!
(I need to Ask Dr. Maddow what that means about both of us...)

I can't make it through the day without listening to the podcasts on my iPod, which you can download from iTunes.
Or, since we don't have Air America here anymore :( you can streamline the show online at AirAmerica.com

Clinton Campaign Sinking

After "firing" (sort of) her sleeze-bag campaign chief Mark Penn, Hillary Clinton's campaign continues to sink lower and lower in polls and in racist attacks on Barack Obama. Since Hillary is behind in popular votes and pledged delegates (which Clinton says are not really "pledged") to Obama, the only argument the Clinton campaign has to convince superdelegates to support her is that Obama cannot win a general election because of his former pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright. Clinton surrogates have been taking to every right-wing media outlet, including Fox News (where racist ding-bat Geraldine Ferraro is a "political analyst") to the great champion of liberalism, the WALL STREET JOURNAL. This week another Clinton sleeze-bag Lanny Davis published a column in the conservative Wall Street Journal on "Obama's Minister Problem".

Despite the racist attacks by the right-wing media and the Clinton campaign, Hillary Clinton is LOSING support even in Pennsylvania where she has dropped from double digit to a single digit lead!

(Clinton's campaign chief Mark Penn works for a public relations firm that among other horrible clients has been working and lobbying for the Columbia government and the Columbia Free Trade Agreement, which Hillary claims she opposes, but her main campaign advisor, Bill Clinton, supports)

See The Clinton-Columbia Connection Goes Back a Long Way

Would the G.O.P. nominate a Lesbian V.P.?

Sec. of State Condoleezza Rice is on the list of possible V.P. candidates to share the G.O.P. ticket with John McCain. What is not being discussed in the "mainstream media" is the possibility that Condi Rice is a lesbian:

"Rice, while feted by the mainstream press, could actually be a liability for McCain. The media has been loath to ask questions about a revelation by a Washington Post reporter who revealed that real estate documents show she co-owned a home and shared a credit line with a woman at Stanford. Kessler revealed this in his biography of Rice, The Confidante: Condoleezza Rice and the Creation of the Bush Legacy.

Rice co-owned a home and shared a line of credit with Randy Bean, a documentary filmmaker who once worked with Bill Moyers. She later transfered the co-ownership of her property to Bean, who told Kessler she had medical bills which left her financially drained and Rice helped her by co-purchasing the house along with a third person, Coit Blacker, another Stanford professor who is openly gay.

Rice's sexuality is off limits in the mainstream press -- to date, the press has not dealt publicly with the sexuality of California Rep. David Dreier, who lived with his male chief of staff, or Bush reelection chief Ken Mehlman. But in a no-holds-barred presidential campaign (the last time around, McCain was accused of having an African American baby), and an Internet-centric news cycle, nobody can tell."

Hmm..

Ill. Rep. Monique Davis Attacks Atheist

Illinois Rep. Monique Davis Attacks Atheist

Rep. Monique Davis to atheist Rob Sherman: `It’s dangerous for our children to even know that your philosophy exists!'

And she is a Democrat!

I don't know which is hated more in the United States, gays or atheists?

----
Council for Secular Humanism Deplores Intemperate Comments from Rep. Monique Davis; calls for Davis to resign

(Amherst, New York) --Rep. Monique Davis, a Chicago Democrat and member of the Illinois legislature, stepped egregiously over the line when she verbally attacked atheist activist Rob Sherman for his religious unbelief during his testimony April 2nd to the House State Government Administration Committee, says the Council for Secular Humanism.

Sherman had been testifying before the committee that Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich’s plan to donate one million tax dollars to Pilgrim Baptist Church in Chicago was unconstitutional when Davis launched into a diatribe against atheists, asserting that atheists did not have a right to present testimony to the legislature.. Challenging Sherman, Davis wondered aloud, “I don’t know what you have against God?.some of us don’t have much against him. We look forward to him and his blessings.”  Affirming that the people of Illinois believe that there is a God, Davis went on to suggest that the philosophy Sherman was spreading was “extremely dangerous.” “It’s dangerous to the progression of this state. And it’s dangerous for our children to even know that your philosophy exists,” shouted Davis.  After Sherman thanked Davis for sharing her perspective with him, Davis shot back, “Get out of that seat ?You have no right to be here! We believe in something. You believe in destroying! You believe in destroying what this state was built upon.”

The Council for Secular Humanism is appalled by Davis’s apparent belief that atheists and other nonreligious individuals are not entitled to the same rights and liberties as other citizens.

Ronald A. Lindsay, director of the Council for Secular Humanism’s First Amendment Task Force, is calling for Davis to resign. “In informing Sherman that he had ‘no right’ to be there merely because he was an atheist, Davis confirmed that she is not willing to be a representative of all her constituents, regardless of their religious beliefs,” said Lindsay.

“She is unfit to serve in her office, just as a representative who told a Jew or a Hindu to ‘get out of that seat’ would be unfit to serve. If she does not resign, the Illinois House has an obligation to expel her,” continued Lindsay.

Sherman, after being told repeatedly by Davis to get out of his seat  because he was an atheist commented that he felt like Rosa Parks, “who also was told, get out of that seat and arrested when she didn't give up her seat on the bus to a white person.”
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Support our SECULAR Constitution!
Council for Secular Humanism

Secular Coalition of America

Bob Dylan Wins Pulitzer!

My favorite artist wins another award: Bob Dylan wins a Pulitzer Prize!
The citation for the 66-year-old Dylan noted his "profound impact on popular music and American culture, marked by lyrical compositions of extraordinary poetic power."

I've lost count on the awards Bob Dylan has won. He's a living legend, far above anything else in modern music.
I may be the only gay, atheist socialist, Bob Dylan fan in North America!

For more about Bob Dylan visit:
Bob Dylan.com
Expecting Rain

Is Obama Ignoring the "Gay Press"?

Gay Paper: Obama Refuses to Talk With Gay Media Well, at least the Philadelphia Gay News claims so, because Hillary Clinton talked to them and Obama "balked".

The paper's editor also wrote a scathing editorial blasting Obama, claiming that he would rather talk at the LGBT "community" than with them and that he Obama has only spoken with the "gay press" only twice and one was back in 2004 and the other after the Donnie McClurkin controversy.

I guess by "our community" they mean the Philadelphia Gay News, because Obama has certainly not ignored the "gay press" or the "gay community".
Here are some interviews, ads and blog post of Barack Obama with the LGBT media:

Obama had ads in both TX and OH gay papers
www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid52408.asp
http://www.mediainfo.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003785226

Obama explains to Advocate why he is the best candidate for LGBT Americans
www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid50021.asp

Senator Barack Obama, a 2008 presidential candidate, recently granted an exclusive interview with PULSE, a magazine produced by Gay Men of African Descent (GMAD), a New York-based social service and advocacy agency.
http://adhc.wordpress.com/2007/10/24/obama-in-exclusive-interview-with-black-gay-magazine/

Barack Obama's Campaign Names His Gay/Lesbian Supporters
http://rodonline.typepad.com/rodonline/2007/04/barack_obama_ca.html

Obama LGBT
http://pride.barackobama.com/page/content/lgbthome

Open Letter from Barack Obama to the LGBT Community
http://www.bilerico.com/2008/02/open_letter_from_barack_obama_to_the_lgb.php

In addition, Obama has been speaking for LGBT equality in many of his campaign speeches, including in front of black audiences and in black churches! The only time I hear Hillary Clinton saying anything about gay people is in front of gay people!

What the Philadelphia Gay News does not disclose is that its Publisher, Mark Segal, is a Clinton supporter and donor.

And yes, Hillary Clinton continues to support MOST of the "Defense of Marriage Act" (DOMA), which Obama opposes, and promises to undue the anti-gay laws passed with the support of Bill Clinton the last time she was in the White House, including Don't Ask, Don't Tell. She is also LYING when she claims that the Clinton administration supported DOMA to stop the Federal Marriage Amendment. The FMA was not even an issue when DOMA was being debated. Clinton supported DOMA to get re-elected in 1996, and even ran radio ads on Christian radio bragging about his support of the "traditional family"!
(See David Mixner: Keeping Our History Straight)
Yes, actions do speak louder than words!

See Also:
Clinton Promises to Defend Gay Rights

Gay City News Endorses Barack Obama

Barack Obama's Open Letter to the LGBT Community

UPDATE: Obama Talks All Things LGBT to The Advocate

Hillary Clinton's Coup Attempt Good for Democrats?

Hillary Clinton's "Coup Attempt" Good for Democrats? Markos Sees a Silver Lining for Democrats

Also:
Clinton's Chief Strategist, Mark Penn, Resigns

Hillary Lies (Again): Clinton Makes False Claim About Her Iraq Record vs. Obama

Update:
Hillary Clinton Losing Superdelegates

MLK's Last Speech

MLK's last speech, delivered in Memphis forty years ago tonight.

What if King were still alive? He'd be called an anti-American, racist, communist, just like when he was alive.

Ironic how even (most) conservative Republicans praise King now, but when he was alive they despised him. He was feared because he spoke truth to power. He was more than just a "civil rights" leader. He saw that "social justice" would require much more than civil rights legislation. He condemned U.S. imperialism and accused the U.S. of war crimes and terrorism. He opposed the Vietnam War. He was starting to spread his wings to take on poverty and capitalism, before he was taken from us. But his dream is our dream, and he lives through us.

Speaking Truth To Poverty, Martin Luther King III

MLK's Legacy is Alive and Well, Jesse Jackson

Another Angry Black Preacher, E.J. Dionne

When Liberalism's Moment Ended, E. J. Dionne

King's Promised Land is Still Far Off Amy Goodman

What If MLK Had Lived? CNN

Our Politics to Live Up To MLK's Legacy, Barack Obama

Rachel Maddow Slams Scarborough on McCain

Wow! At least SOMEONE is going after the Republican candidate for President, John McCain!

Rachel Maddow Slams Scarborough on McCain

Watch Air America's Rachel Maddow put Joe Scarborough in his place! Rachel Maddows should have her own TV show!

And since the Democratic candidates are still fighting amongst themselves instead of targeting John McCain, here are some things you should read about John McCain:

The Top Ten Craziest Things John McCain Has Said

McCain's "Maverick" Myth his the Media's Creation

The Clinton Firewall: the "Race Chasm"

David Sirota has written an interesting analysis on how the Clinton campaign has benefited from, and sometimes uses, racism against Barack Obama (e.g., using Jeremiah Wright and other black boogey-men to scare white voters).

Read his In These Times article for an explanation of "the race Chasm"

See also: Is Wright Right About Racism?

I've noticed an alarming correlation between right-wing racist attacks on Barack Obama and CLINTON supporters, like this email I received from a Clintonite:

"If that chamaeleon gets the Democatic nomination, I'm voting for McCain. It will be my first time to cast a vote for a Republican for President. This is a man who bought a home with the help of an indicted Syrian who was financed by an indicted Iraqi with ties to Saddam Hussein. This is a man whose preacher is anti-American and anti-Israeli. This is a man who socialized with domestic terrorists who are proud of the crimes they committed."

Hillary Deathwatch

Slate is hosting a Hillary Deathwatch (Her odds of winning are under 10%)

Meanwhile, Several Polls show Obama is closing the gap with Clinton in PA

More Rasmussen Polls show that Obama does better than Hillary Clinton against McCain in key Democratic/swing states (Michigan, New Jersey). Clinton has the lowest favorable rating, while McCain and Obama each are viewed favorable by more than 50%.

While the Clinton campaign is trying to use the Jeremiah Wright issue to scare voters and superdelegates away from Obama, it looks like Hillary Clinton's blatant LIES about her trips to Bosnia have hurt her even more. Her lies should disqualify her from being president.