WH aide: Obama doesn't support marriage equality

One more cross-posted Prop. 8 post because we got the answer to the question of whether the President supports the Prop. 8 decision. Not really.

Earlier today, a White House spokesperson provided a tepid statement earlier today to Kerry Eleveld:

“The President has spoken out in opposition to Proposition 8 because it is divisive and discriminatory. He will continue to promote equality for LGBT Americans.”

Clearly, we have different definitions of what LGBT equality means. For LGBT Americans, it means full equality. For Obama, it means separate, but equal:

Nevertheless, Obama has also publicly opposed same-sex marriage, and a White House aide said the president’s position has not changed.

“He supports civil unions, doesn’t personally support gay marriage though he supports repealing the Defense of Marriage Act, and has opposed divisive and discriminatory initiatives like Prop. 8 in other states,” said the official, who asked not to be named.

That might have worked in 2008. It won't work in 2012.

And, this "White House aide" spoke anonymously. Can some reporter, maybe at the briefing, get this on-the-record?

If Obama wants to "promote equality for LGBT Americans," he can support full equality, not "separate, but equal" civil unions. That's so 2008. And, it has to change.

Please sign our open letter to President Obama asking him to come out in support of full marriage equality. It's time for Obama to get on the right side of history. And, we have to let him know that's where he needs to be. Read More......

Woman called 911 repeatedly looking for a date

I hadn't heard about this story. Consider this your very weird break from politics. Read More......

Follow-up to Target and MN Forward story

As a follow-up our earlier piece about Target and MN Backward MN Forward using the Citizens United decision to fund hard-right Minnesotan Tom Emmer in the governer's race, we have these updates.

1. From Steve Perry at Politics in Minnesota, an item from their most recent subscription newsletter, Politics in Minnesota: The Weekly Report (no link, emphasis mine):

Boom times for MN Forward: The new corporate campaign spending vehicle raised about $460,000 by the July 6 preliminary report deadline. Since then it has more than doubled its receipts, which now total $1.1 million. And according to 24-hour reports filed with the Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board (CFPD), $320,000 of that sum has come in since Monday of last week. . . . So far, MN Forward has spent $195,000 on TV ads backing Republican Tom Emmer. . . .

Target blowback: Target Corp. has taken heat from employees and consumers since the public disclosure of its role as a founding funder of MN Forward. But so far the negative publicity hasn't extended any further. Another prominent Minnesota retailer, Best Buy, has drawn little public attention.

The Best Buy info is new. Elsewhere in the report we learn that Emmer seems to be getting a ton of hidden help:

Republican Tom Emmer has yet to spend his first dime on TV, yet by mid-July he had been the subject of about $900,000 worth of television spots by third-party groups.

2. About the TPM report that MN Backward MN Forward was going to give to Dems as well, I'm not sure this will happen, though Target execs might have done so. A public show of atonement, says my corporate-cynical self; must control appearances — can't lose sales.

3. About "pharmacy conscience" as one of Emmer's "beliefs" — it seems Target has similar corporate views. Here's Wikipedia, sourced from the Minneapolis Star Tribune, November 11, 2005:

In 2005, Planned Parenthood protested Target policy involving a conscience clause that allows pharmacists to refuse to dispense the emergency contraceptive, Plan B Levonorgestrel, based on religious beliefs, as long as the employee ensures that the prescription is filled by another pharmacist in a timely manner. . . . [C]ritics feel this policy fails to uphold the pharmacist's duty of care.

Anti-woman as well. Our thanks to an alert Minnesota reader for the tip.

Bottom line — it seems there are three entwined issues here, all of which are easily acted on:

Tom Emmer. A real throwback, and the Republican candidate for governor. His defeat is doable, but progressives need to put shoulder to wheel in an off-year election. In 2002, Repub Pawlenty defeated DFL Roger Moe 44%–36%, with former Dem Tim Penny taking 16% as a third-party candidate. In 2006, Pawlenty won again, but by less than 1% in another race with a spoiler third-party candidate.

This time, both DFL primary candidates lead Emmer by 5%. Not a walkaway, but not razor-thin. With effort, he can be beaten.

Target. They're singing their corporate song: "Please love us, Mr and Ms Gay Person, we've always loved you, and that Emmer stuff, well, someone goofed, is all. Please?" Next will come the commercials with real humans pretending to be caring Target faces, along with an MN Forward–induced PR campaign about (gasp) jobs, and the march is on to "forgive" them.

But remember — there's a history here. Anti-woman in 2005, anti-gay today, and implicitly pro–faux-religion (or whatever you call it when well-funded revenge freaks claim to speak for God). Don't let the repair-ads and implied threat of job-loss throw you. Join and support the boycotts.

MN Forward. This case remains a major test of the Citizens United waters, with Target and Best Buy (don't forget them) major early testees; and it's not over. I guarantee that nationally, RW corps are using Minnesota to figure out how to make Citizens United work without triggering a back-lash. My suggestion: lash back, hard and now.

By the way, the Politics in Minnesota website is a great place to start if you want to get info about Minnesota elections and campaign financing.

Sorry for the length, but this is both important and not simple, so I wanted to bottom-line it as well as give the data.

GP Read More......

Married three times, Newt doesn't like the Prop. 8 decision

It would be hysterical if it weren't so hypocritical. I posted his statement here. And, mocked it there, too. Newt thinks marriage should be the union of one man and three consecutive women. Read More......

Army probing McChrystal staff over Rolling Stone interview

Some good news from McClatchy. Read More......

Reactions to the historic Prop. 8 decision (updated)

First, the most important reaction we won't hear is from President Obama. That has to change. Please sign our open letter to President Obama asking him to come out in support of full marriage equality. It's time.

[UPDATE, via Kerry Eleveld, the White House did put out a statement:

“The President has spoken out in opposition to Proposition 8 because it is divisive and discriminatory. He will continue to promote equality for LGBT Americans.”

Note to White House: Obama can truly promote LGBT equality by supporting marriage and by ending the defense of DOMA and DADT in courts.

NOTE FROM JOHN: Wow, really? Did the White House just say that they agreed with the federal court's reasoning that "no rational basis in singling out gay men and lesbians for denial of a marriage license." Really? I doubt it. I think the White House just tried to have its cake and eat it too - sound supportive, but not dare embrace the decision itself. But now that they've weighed in, and tried to make it look like they're on our side in this case - they are such great self-proclaimed champions of LGBT equality, they'd have you remember - it's time for the White House to answer the question, do they agree with the ruling or not? Maybe you should sign our open letter to the President and ask him.]

And, it's a big day so we're cross-posting on both sites.

We're getting a ton of statements via email. Here's a sampling. We'll keep adding to it. Also, the decision has been stayed until August 6th, via Lisa Keen.

Ted Olson:

"We came to court to seek for Kris, Sandy, Paul and Jeff the same right to marry that all other Americans enjoy, and to ensure that they receive equal protection under the law as guaranteed to every American by the Constitution. Through its decision today, the court has acted in the best traditions of a legal system established to uphold the Constitution and the principles of equality upon which this nation was founded. On no less than 14 occasions, the Supreme Court has held that marriage is a fundamental right. This decision recognizes that Proposition 8 denied the plaintiffs, and tens-of-thousands of other Californians, that fundamental constitutional right and treated them unequally."

David Boies:

“The Supreme Court has long held that marriage is a fundamental right. Equal protection under the law is guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, and this ruling affirms that universal right of every American. Depriving the fundamental right to marry causes grievous harm to millions of Americans and their children.”

Governor Schwarzenegger, who is the defendant in the case, but didn't defend it. (Meaning we need to make sure that Jerry Brown is elected Governor. GOPer Meg Whitman supported Prop. 8):

"For the hundreds of thousands of Californians in gay and lesbian households who are managing their day-to-day lives, this decision affirms the full legal protections and safeguards I believe everyone deserves. At the same time, it provides an opportunity for all Californians to consider our history of leading the way to the future, and our growing reputation of treating all people and their relationships with equal respect and dignity.

"Today's decision is by no means California's first milestone, nor our last, on America's road to equality and freedom for all people.'

Congressman Paul Hodes (also a candidate for Senate in New Hampshire):

The U.S. District Court of Northern California's decision to strike down Proposition 8 is a huge win in our ongoing fight for equality.

There is much work still to be done, and many more battles to face – but the march toward universal marriage equality continues. It's time that the Defense of Marriage Act was repealed once and for all. When I get to the US Senate, I will lead the charge to repeal DOMA and ensure equal rights and protections for every citizen in this country.

I am thrilled with today’s ruling, and more determined than ever to repeal DOMA and help achieve universal marriage equality for all Americans.

Activist Charlene Strong:

“Today’s ruling is very good news. LGBT rights are not special rights. These are human rights. Anyone who says otherwise, that all citizens are not entitled full equality in our country is speaking from their own personal bias and nothing more. This has nothing to do with sexuality and everything to do with who you love.... I am an American and I am proud of that. I am not fighting for my rights alone -- I am standing up and fighting for every gay and lesbian couple who pay their taxes, contribute to society and who want the same protections every other American is afforded if and when they choose to marry."

Rick Jacobs from the Courage Campaign:

"This ruling is an historic milestone for millions of loving families, for all who have fought to realize the dream of equality under the law, and for our nation as a whole. While today concludes the first step in a legal process that could take up to two years, Judge Walker's ruling is a landmark victory in America's centuries long war against discrimination, and the result of months of extraordinary work by the American Foundation for Equal Rights, Attorneys David Boies and Ted Olson, and courageous plaintiffs Kris Perry, Sandy Stier, Paul Katami and Jeff Zarrillo."

Former White House Chief of Staff, now President of the Center for American Progress (CAP) John Podesta:

"Judge Walker’s decision reaffirms the Constitution’s command that all Americans must receive ‘equal protection of the laws.’ Prop 8 is incompatible with our Constitution and a long line of precedent rejecting laws that single out a certain class of Americans for disfavored legal status. Today’s decision does nothing more than restore the Constitution’s promise to millions of American couples. Because Constitutional precedent so clearly rejects Prop 8, I have every confidence that this decision will be upheld on appeal."

Evan Wolfson, Freedom to Marry:

"Today's federal ruling strikes down a cruel and unfair constitutional amendment that should never have become law and affirms that the freedom to marry belongs to every American. As the first court to strike down race restrictions on marriage said in 1948, "the essence of the right to marry is freedom to join in marriage with the person of one's choice." There is no gay exception in the Constitution to personal choice and the right to marry, and there is no good reason to continue excluding same-sex couples from marriage.

Judge Walker's decision will be appealed and litigation will continue, but what we witnessed in the clear light of his courtroom cannot be erased.

Judy Shepard:

After Matt came out to me, he once asked me if I thought gay couples would ever be allowed to get married. I told him I didn't think it would happen in my lifetime, but it probably would in his. It's so sad, and ironic, that it turned out the other way. But this case warms my heart, to think that his dream is still coming true.

Rep. Jerrold Nadler (who, though straight, is the best LGBT member of Congress):

“Today’s court ruling on Proposition 8 is a powerful declaration for those of us who believe in equal protection for all Americans. This affirmation of marriage equality in our nation’s most populous state shows, once again, that laws preventing same-sex couples from marrying serve no legitimate purpose, and that efforts to deprive gay men and lesbians of fundamental rights and to single them out for discrimination are anathema to our constitutional system. As Judge Walker recognized, like opposite-sex couples, ‘same-sex couples have happy, satisfying relationships and form deep emotional bonds and strong commitments to their partners . . . . love [does] not differ depending on whether a couple is same-sex or opposite-sex.’ I join Californians in celebrating this victory, and urge passage of my legislation, the Respect for Marriage Act, in order to provide all legally married Americans and their families the full measure of protections and obligations of federal law.”

DNC Chair Tim Kaine:

I applaud the U.S. District Court’s ruling today striking down Proposition 8 in California. The Democratic Party opposes attempts to discriminatorily limit rights granted to Americans, and Proposition 8 was just such an attempt. Discrimination against same-sex couples should not be added to constitutions – which are documents meant fundamentally to protect citizens against discrimination. As a former civil rights attorney, it pleases me to see this principle upheld and to see America take another step in the march towards greater equality.

Statements from the Task Force is here. HRC's is here. Read More......

BREAKING: Prop. 8 is unconstitutional

(Please sign our open letter to President Obama asking him to come out in support of full marriage equality.)

A victory for equality today.

More details as they unfold. We'll be updating regularly at AMERICAblog Gay and here.

We know one thing for sure: We're heading to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court.

UPDATE: Here's Judge Walker's conclusion:

Proposition 8 fails to advance any rational basis in singling out gay men and lesbians for denial of a marriage license. Indeed, the evidence shows Proposition 8 does nothing more than enshrine in the California Constitution the notion that opposite-sex couples are superior to same-sex couples. Because California has no interest in discriminating against gay men and lesbians, and because Proposition 8 prevents California from fulfilling its constitutional obligation to provide marriages on an equal basis, the court concludes that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional.

Read More......

Can Immigration Reform Save Democrats in November?

The Internets today have two excellent articles that, put together, point to why Democrats must prioritize comprehensive immigration reform if they want to save themselves in November. Over at Political Wire, Tom Jensen of Public Policy Polling points out the crucial difference between 2006 and 2010. In 2006, Republican voters defected and voted Democratic. In 2010, Democrats are staying home - but you don't see them liking the GOP.

The reason Democrats won [in 2006] even though the electorate disproportionately consisted of Bush voters was that 15% of those Bush voters cast their ballots for a Democrat, a pretty large amount of crossover. There aren't nearly that many Obama voters leaning toward the Republicans this year.

Meanwhile, at Alternet, NYU Professor Greg Grandin nicely lays out nine reasons why Democrats should prioritize immigration reform this year:

1. Immigration reform ends the Southern strategy ... 2. It wins back the Catholic Church to social justice ... 3. It slows the inclusion of Latino evangelicals into the religious right ... 4. It is lose-lose for Republicans ... 5. It splits the conservative coalition in other ways ... 6. It revitalizes the union movement ... 7. It dilutes the power of Florida Cubans. ... 8. It helps America's cities ... 9. It is the morally right thing to do.

Memo to Democrats: Want to avoid a bloodbath in November? Mobilize your base. Wanna mobilize your base? Pass immigration reform. I honestly don't see another way at this point to keep our Democratic majority. Read More......

74% of BP oil spill cleaned up; remaining 26% is still 4x larger than Exxon Valdez

As always, good news if true.

The government is expected to announce on Wednesday that three-quarters of the oil from the Deepwater Horizon leak has already evaporated, dispersed, been captured or otherwise eliminated — and that much of the rest is so diluted that it does not seem to pose much additional risk of harm.

A government report finds that about 26 percent of the oil released from BP’s runaway well is still in the water or onshore in a form that could, in principle, cause new problems. But most is light sheen at the ocean surface or in a dispersed form below the surface, and federal scientists believe that it is breaking down rapidly in both places.

The Guardian makes a good point about that remaining 24%:

The volume of the remaining oil, however, is still more than four times larger than the amount lost from the Exxon Valdez tanker in 1989.

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Huffington Post investigative report on HAMP: 'It's not working'

Last week, Gaius did a post on the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP), based on coverage from Chris Hayes. He described it as "painful."

Housing foreclosures have been one of the biggest problems facing many Americans in the wake of the economic crisis. The Obama administration's HAMP was supposed to be a solution. But, there's more painful coverage today. According to an extensive report by Huffington Post's Shahien Nasiripour and Arthur Delaney, it's not working:

President Barack Obama's signature plan to combat the housing crisis has fallen short of its goals -- rather than significantly and permanently reducing home foreclosures, it is only delaying them.

The administration unveiled its Making Home Affordable plan in February 2009. Obama vowed in front of an audience gathered at Dobson High School in Mesa, Ariz., that MHA's signature effort, the Home Affordable Modification Program, would "enable as many as three to four million homeowners to modify the terms of their mortgages to avoid foreclosure."

The $75 billion initiative -- $50 billion from the bank bailout, $25 billion from government-owned mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac -- was designed to induce lenders, servicers and investors to modify distressed mortgages through a series of cash incentives.

It's not working.

This was supposed to be a signature program for Team Obama. Read the full report. It's worth it. And, this quote isn't what anyone would have expected from HAMP:

"They told us we were a great candidate, so we went for it," [Bea Garwood] says. "And as a result we're losing our home."

Read More......

VIDEO: Bristol and Sarah have a heart-to-heart

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Steele confuses Republicans by courting foreign ambassadors

They can't vote and they donate money, so there's really no reason for the head of the Republican party to be wasting his time courting foreign embassies only three months before a key election. Perhaps he's seeking political asylum. Read More......

UPDATED: Snowe and Collins will decide whether to fire Maine teachers, police and fire fighters today

UPDATE @ 11:05 A.M.: The Senate just voted by a margin of 61 - 38 to end the filibuster of the underlying bill. Snowe and Collins voted with all 59 Democrats to end the filibuster.
---------------
At around 11:00 a.m this morning, the U.S. Senate will vote to end the GOP filibuster of the bill to provide funding Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) aid to states and teacher funding. The Democrats are voting as a bloc so need one vote to get to 60.

This one falls squarely on the shoulders of Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe. Maine will be severely impacted if this legislation doesn't pass. And, from what I'm told, all of Snowe's demands have been met. Americans United is on the air in Maine:

This is as good as it gets for Snowe and Collins. Unless the Democrats come back in 2011 with 59 Senators, these two are never going to be the center of the political universe again. They could have wielded enormous power over the past year and a half. They could have done so much for Maine. Instead, the duo has been mostly under the thumb of Mitch McConnell. They've chosen fealty to the obstructionist GOP over their constituents.

Today, we'll see whose side their on. It's a choice between Maine teachers and Mitch McConnell. And, it's a choice between Maine students and Mitch McConnell.

My money is on McConnell. They're too weak to stand by their constituents. Read More......

Wednesday Morning Open Thread

Good morning.

Today, between 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM Pacific time, Federal District Court Judge Vaughn Walker will issue his ruling in the case challenging the constitutionality of Prop. 8. This could be a historic day -- if Walker finds Prop. 8 unconstitutional. And, let's hope he finds that a higher standard of scrutiny is warranted for laws that are aimed at LGBT Americans. Rex Wockner reports that rallies are already being planned in cities across the country. We'll be monitoring, of course.

Today is the birthday of President Obama. He's 49. And, it's also Robin Carnahan's birthday. Yesterday, she won the Democratic primary for Senate in Missouri. Her opponent will be long-time GOP Congressman Roy Blunt. 30% of Missouri GOPers did not vote for Blunt yesterday. The hard core base doesn't like him. He's a real DC insider. So much so that he considers the swanky Georgetown Safeway his local grocery story. That and his close ties to lobbyists, especially Jack Abramoff, are going to be trouble for Blunt. There is a right wing third-party candidate in the race, too.

Also, today, the Senate will take a vote to end the GOP filibuster of Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) aid to states and teacher funding. It's been paid for, so if Republicans vote to continue the filibuster, they're going to be firing teachers across the country. More on this later.

So, should be a busy day. Let's hope it is historic.... Read More......

Robert Reich: 'You have the right ... to be my b+tch!'

Hilarious, and very nicely done. Robert Reich on Conan O'Brien:



An addendum: Did that NAFTA reference catch your ear? It did mine. Reich has been one of the good guys during this economic crisis, but not so much during his time as Secretary of Labor. He was indeed a big NAFTA guy.

Click here for Gerald McEntee's 2008 take on Reich and NAFTA. McEntee is President of AFSCME, the huge government employee's union.

The best I can find in Reich's NAFTA defense is this exchange from Democracy Now on June 18 of this year (my emphasis):

JUAN GONZALEZ: I’d like to bring back Robert Reich, and we’ve only got a couple of minutes before your feed goes down there, but I’d like to ask you about another issue: NAFTA. Many years ago, back in the early '90s, when you and other members of the Clinton administration were going around trying to convince the editorial boards of newspapers to back NAFTA, we had a spirited debate at the Daily News editorial board meeting over the issue. I'm wondering your assessment. Did Mexico benefit from NAFTA that the Clinton administration pushed? And in retrospect, what do you think was good or bad about the deal?

ROBERT REICH: Juan, in retrospect, I think both sides, those who were very concerned about loss of jobs due to NAFTA in the United States and also those in Mexico and also in the United States, such as the Clinton administration, who thought that NAFTA was the best thing since sliced bread, both of those sides were proven wrong. Those jobs didn’t go to Mexico. They went to China. But the one winner in NAFTA, and a big winner, was Mexico in terms of the peso crisis. I think that peso crisis, you may remember, in 1998, would have been much worse, were it not for NAFTA.

Small comfort; we both got screwed. He's a free trader, so take him with a grain of salt. Great sense of humor though.

GP Read More......

George Carlin: 'They want your Social Security money, and they'll get it'

The late great George Carlin, so NSFW. From the video "Life Is Worth Losing" circa 2005. Let's pretend this is a comedy routine about some imagined mangled world, shall we? (h/t Griffon in the comments to this post.)



Note the reference to Social Security. In that year, it was Bush going after your retirement. Now it's Team Change.

Like Nixon to China . . .

GP Read More......

BP oil from the crab holes of LA's barrier islands

The oil is hiding, but it's everywhere. It could be more than a generation before any fisherman or farmer can sell anything that grows where it's found.

In this video, the oil comes up through crab holes, when you press down next to them with your foot. From Fox8 local news (h/t Digby):

BP's Oil on Louisiana's Barrier Islands - FOX8 Story @ Yahoo! Video

Note, by the way, that's a Fox local news channel. According to this Countdown report, they may not be doing these kinds of reports in the future:

Aug. 2: Rupert Murdoch and Dennis Swanson, president for stations operations for Fox, have been sending memoranda and e-mails to local Fox news directors urging them to make their broadcast stations look and sound like the Fox News Channel.

Owned and operated indeed.

GP Read More......