Open thread

Have at it. Read the rest of this post...

CNN defends host's use of the word "faggot" - network slammed by lead gay anti-defamation group

Apparently, no one at CNN has heard of Isaiah Washington, and what happens to TV networks that think the word "faggot" is nothing more than a "naughty name."

So CNN is now defending its host, Glenn Beck, and his use of the word "faggot" on the air, AND his suggestion that the word isn't very derogatory. Way to step in it even further, CNN. Faggot is the n-word to gays, and you think it's appropriate? Does CNN permit the n-word on the air? And would they permit their hosts to suggest that it's simply a "naughty name"? CNN has a host who is a loose cannon and who has already slurred Muslims, gays, and more. (Though, interestingly, I doubt CNN would let a host slur blacks or Jews, so apparently free speech has its limits even at CNN.) But rather than apologize, CNN defends their host who thinks the word "faggot" is appropriate for CNN, and who thinks the word "faggot" is simply a "naughty name."

I think CNN is about to see just how the gay community feels about TV networks who think the bigoted slurs are no big deal. Why? Because now GLAAD is involved. They're the gay community's largest anti-defamation group. That elevates the CNN controversy to a whole new level. And the fact that CNN is defending their host's use of the word "faggot," and his attempt to belittle the damage the word causes, is not going to sit well with the non-FOX-news crowd that usually watches CNN.

More from GLAAD:

"Beck's obnoxious repetition of the slur -- and his flip dismissal of it as simply a 'naughty name' – speaks volumes about his appalling ignorance of its impact," Giuliano said. "Beck added nothing to the audience's understanding of the issue, except perhaps to demonstrate his juvenile belief that repeating an anti-gay slur makes him an 'adult.'”

On Tuesday, GLAAD reached out to CNN's standards and practices department to discuss the matter. On Wednesday, a CNN spokesperson told GLAAD that Beck wasn't using the word himself, that Beck's show is an “opinion show” and not a news program, and that Beck was expressing an opinion about The New York Times’ decision to not use the word.

"The ugliness of Glenn Beck's word choice and his ignorance of its impact really speak for themselves," Giuliano said. "Other CNN personalities have discussed derogatory slurs as part of this story without debasing that discussion. CNN has a responsibility to address Beck's crudeness and require that he adhere to basic standards of respect."

Let Best Buy and Office Depot know that you're not a big fan of companies who sponsor bigots. Read the rest of this post...

Associated Press, you can do better

UPDATE: AP changed the story. Good.

From AP:

Democrats' promise of a quick increase in the minimum wage ran aground Wednesday in the Senate, where lawmakers are insisting it include new tax breaks for restaurants and other businesses that rely on low-pay workers.

On a 54-43 vote, Democrats lost an effort to advance a House-passed bill that would lift the pay floor from $5.15 to $7.25 an hour without any accompanying tax cut. Opponents of the tax cut needed 60 votes to prevail.

The vote sent a message to House Democrats and liberals in the Senate that only a hybrid tax and minimum wage package could succeed in the Senate. But any tax breaks in the bill would put the Senate on a collision course with the House, which is required by the Constitution to initiate tax measures.

Liberals in the Senate? Every Democrat voted to stop the Republican filibuster, and five Republicans joined them in that vote. So where does the "liberals" line come from? It's completely inappropriate and false. But it does add a nice Republican spin to the story to try to knock the Democrats as out of touch with the American people.

It seems the spirit of John Solomon continues to live at the Associated Press. Read the rest of this post...

McCain fell asleep during the State of the Union

Not very presidential. Read the rest of this post...

Cheney flips out on CNN over his lesbian daughter Mary

It appears the Cheneys are still trying to cram their pregnant lesbian daughter Mary back into the closet. Now the former gay activist, former head of Cheney's re-election campaign, former openly-gay gay-liaison for a major American corporation, is no longer so gay. Now her homosexuality is a no-no, a thing not to be discussed, even when the top allies of the vice president, allies that he outright wooed for six years, attacks his former head of his campaign, and his future grandkid.

From CNN's transcript of today's interview:

Q We're out of time, but a couple of issues I want to raise with you. Your daughter Mary, she's pregnant. All of us are happy. She's going to have a baby. You're going to have another grandchild. Some of the -- some critics, though, are suggesting, for example, a statement from someone representing Focus on the Family:

"Mary Cheney's pregnancy raises the question of what's best for children. Just because it's possible to conceive a child outside of the relationship of a married mother and father, doesn't mean it's best for the child."

Do you want to respond to that?

THE VICE PRESIDENT: No, I don't.

Q She's obviously a good daughter --

THE VICE PRESIDENT: I'm delighted -- I'm delighted I'm about to have a sixth grandchild, Wolf, and obviously think the world of both of my daughters and all of my grandchildren. And I think, frankly, you're out of line with that question.

Q I think all of us appreciate --

THE VICE PRESIDENT: I think you're out of -- I think you're out of line with that question.

Q -- your daughter. We like your daughters. Believe me, I'm very, very sympathetic to Liz and to Mary. I like them both. That was just a question that's come up and it's a responsible, fair question.

THE VICE PRESIDENT: I just fundamentally disagree with your perspective.

Ironically, Cheney hasn't said anything that I've seen to defend his daughter, or his future grandchild, against the incredibly vicious attacks from his own supporters. But when CNN asks about the controversy, suddenly CNN is out of line for bringing the issue up. So, it's okay for Cheney's religious right buddies to openly attack his daughter and grandkid, but it's not okay for the media to ask about the controversy.

What a sad screwed up family. Read the rest of this post...

Brutal(ly honest) assessment of SOTU in today's Wash Post

It's rare that we praise the Washington Post of late, but reporter Glenn Kessler probably ought to start looking for another job if he plans to continue writing stories like he did today. Kessler obviously didn't get the memo that the new Washington Post, epitomized by new-hire John Solomon, frowns on real journalism (and real journalists) - all the more when the target of the truth is George Bush.

In a piece entitled "President's Portrayal of 'The Enemy' Often Flawed," Kessler, in excruciating detail, listed the number of lies Bush told the American people last night. It isn't pretty.

In his State of the Union address last night, President Bush presented an arguably misleading and often flawed description of "the enemy" that the United States faces overseas, lumping together disparate groups with opposing ideologies to suggest that they have a single-minded focus in attacking the United States.

The article goes on to list lie after lie after lie. (Though in all fairness to Bush, in order to "lie" you have to be aware of the truth.)

In an age when far too many reporters can't be bothered to assess the validity of a claim from a politician, let alone to put the statements in the any broader historical context (i.e., comparing them to what the same politician said only last week), Kessler is clearly an anomaly. Poor guy, we're gonna miss him. Read the rest of this post...

Our take on the State of the Union

In addition to our reaction the Democratic response in the post below, we also did a video of our overall reaction to the State of the Union. Our friends at Politics TV produced it for us.

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Kerry reportedly to announce that he is NOT running for president in '08

I think this is a very good move, if true. As CNN just said, he just doesn't have the groundswell of support that he'd like. Having said that, he didn't have a very great groundswell last time during the primaries, but he won. But this time he's up against Hillary, and that's going to be tough. I think this is good news, if true, and it shows some major maturity on Kerry's part. Read the rest of this post...

Thank God the Rapture will make this moot

5 billions years away, yet still oddly troubling. Read the rest of this post...

Our take on Webb's Democratic response

And here is Webb's response, in case you missed it, or in case you want to see what a future president looks like.

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Webb overshadowed Bush

Newsweek's Jonathan Alter recounts how Jim Webb cleaned Bush's clock:

For the first time ever, the response to the State of the Union Message overshadowed the president's big speech. Virginia Sen. James Webb, in office only three weeks, managed to convey a muscular liberalism—with personal touches—that left President Bush's ordinary address in the dust. In the past, the Democratic response has been anemic—remember Washington Gov. Gary Locke? This time it pointed the way to a revival for national Democrats.

Webb is seen as a moderate or even conservative Democrat, but this was a populist speech that quoted Andrew Jackson, founder of the Democratic Party and champion of the common man. The speech represented a return to the tough-minded liberalism of Scoop Jackson and Hubert Humphrey, but by quoting Republicans Teddy Roosevelt (on "improper corporate influence") and Dwight D. Eisenhower (on ending the Korean War), he reinforced the argument that President Bush had taken the GOP away from its roots.

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Wednesday Morning Open Thread

Well, the morning after another major Bush speech that was going to sway the nation. Another speech that was a total flop. Seriously. There is nothing there. Bush was pathetic. The GOP is flailing. The Republicans stood by their man for years -- never questioned him, never challenged him. Bush and his party are bad for America.

And, we all know George Allen's macaca moment was significant. But, one more time, we see just how important it was. Jim Webb's eight-minute speech said more than all of the major speeches Bush has given for the past couple years.

Start the threading... Read the rest of this post...

"There is no war on terror"

The UK's top prosecutor understands what democracy is all about. Too bad so many others opt for fear, consolidation of power and walking away from our system of government.

The director of public prosecutions, Ken Macdonald, warned Wednesday of a "fear-driven and inappropriate response" to the new threat that could lead to the abandonment of respect for fair trials and due legal process.

In a speech to the Criminal Bar Association, reported by the Guardian newspaper, Macdonald rejected the assertion that a "war on terror" was being played out in Britain.

"On the streets of London, there is no such thing as a 'war on terror', just as there can be no such thing as a 'war on drugs', said Macdonald, who heads the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

"The fight against terrorism on the streets of Britain is not a war. It is the prevention of crime, the enforcement of our laws and the winning of justice for those damaged by the infringement."

Why are so many so willing to abandon democracy when the going gets tough? We need more people like Macdonald. Read the rest of this post...

Blair(s) at center of gay adoption battle in UK

What is an Equality Act without heaping on a pile of bigotry for good measure?

The Equality Act, due to come into effect in England, Wales and Scotland in April, outlaws discrimination in the provision of goods, facilities and services on the basis of sexual orientation.

Ruth Kelly, the Communities Secretary, a committed Catholic, was accused of seeking to gain an opt-out for the Church. But Ms Kelly and the Education Secretary, Alan Johnson, have privately told MPs the pressure for an exemption has come from the Prime Minister.

"They said Tony is the one who has been asking for this exemption, not Ruth, who is pretty annoyed at the way she has been presented in the media," said a senior Labour MP. "Another cabinet minister told me it's all coming from Cherie."

Mrs Blair is also a committed Catholic and there has been speculation that Mr Blair will convert to Catholicism when he leaves office. He and his wife had a private audience with Pope John Paul II and Mr Blair met Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican last June. The Prime Minister went to Catholic Mass in Miami over the New Year break.

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NYT: "a tepid menu of ideas that would change little"

NYT editorial:

At times, Mr. Bush sounded almost as if he’d gotten the message of the 2006 elections. “Our citizens don’t much care which side of the aisle we sit on — as long as we are willing to cross that aisle when there is work to be done,” he said.

But we’ve heard that from Mr. Bush before. In early 2001, he promised to bring Americans together and instead embarked on his irresponsible tax cuts, a divisive right-wing social agenda and a neo-conservative foreign policy that tore up international treaties and alienated even America’s closest allies. In the wake of 9/11, Mr. Bush had a second chance to rally the nation — and the world — only to squander it on a pointless, catastrophic war in Iraq. Mr. Bush promised bipartisanship after his re-election in 2004, and again after Hurricane Katrina. Always, he failed to deliver. He did not even mention New Orleans last night.

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