Politics: August 2012
The GOP Is Going to Flip Their Shit
Filed by Bil Browning | August 31, 2012 2:55 PM |Somewhere last night Tony Perkins, Michelle Bachmann, and Bryan Fischer's heads all exploded at the same time that David Koch endorsed full marriage equality.Read More
Charlotte Is the Place to Be for Democratic Convention [Counterpoint]
Filed by Matt Comer | August 31, 2012 1:30 PM |On Wednesday, Bil penned a short commentary explaining why he's not excited about going to the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte next week. It was well-reasoned, but, of course, I couldn't let it go by without a challenge.Read More
Trans Advocate Kylar Broadus Appointed To DNC Committee
Filed by Dr. Jillian T. Weiss | August 31, 2012 12:30 PM |Kylar Broadus is an amazing man who has had the honor of being selected for the important Rules Committee for the Democratic National Committee 2012 Convention Platform Committee. I am proud to be supporting him as he heads to Charlotte to represent all of us and our concerns.Read More
The Big Risk & Hope of the 2012 Election: Regardless of Who Wins
Filed by Guest Blogger | August 30, 2012 1:30 PM |What if Americans, in these fractious electoral times, could decide that we love what unites us more than we hate what divides us?Read More
Watch: The (Racist) Republican Southern Strategy
Filed by Karen Ocamb | August 30, 2012 11:00 AM |Opinion writer Harold Meyerson wrote a piece in the Washington Post Monday that addresses what a lot of uncomfortable political pundits have been hinting at - the Republican Party seems to be encouraging racism to get out the white vote. Read More
Why I'm Not Excited About Going to the Dem Convention
Filed by Bil Browning | August 29, 2012 5:30 PM |Back in 2008 I was so incredibly excited to go to Denver to cover the Democrat convention it was ridiculous. Now it's 2012 and I'm just not excited at all about this year's convention in Charlotte, North Carolina.Read More
GOP Convention Shows the Danger of a Weak Romney
Filed by Waymon Hudson | August 29, 2012 12:30 PM |Elevating once fringe figures with extreme views highlights what the Republican Party of 2012 has truly become - a party taken over by far-right zealots who distract with tax and deficit talk as they seek to legislate their own narrow definition of "morality."Read More
UPDATED: GOP Convention Attendees Ejected for Racist Attack
Filed by Bil Browning | August 29, 2012 11:30 AM |Here's your WTF moment of the day - although I'm sure it's not going to come as a big surprise.Read More
The Republican Split Screen
Filed by Karen Ocamb | August 28, 2012 4:30 PM |Disenfranchised Ron Paul delegates are not the only ones causing headaches for the Republican National Convention organizers hoping to catapult Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan into the White House. Read More
Watch: Log Cabin Republicans at GOP Convention
Filed by Karen Ocamb | August 28, 2012 2:00 PM |Day One of the Republican National Convention was cancelled because of Tropical Storm Isaac, but many delegates and attendees are trying to make the most of it, including Log Cabin Republicans.Read More
GOP Adds 3 More Anti-Sexuality Planks to Platform
Filed by Bil Browning | August 28, 2012 12:00 PM |Just when you thought the GOP couldn't possibly get any more prudish and anti-gay in their platform, they turn around and prove you wrong.Read More
Bill Koch Antoinette?
Filed by Terrance Heath | August 27, 2012 3:00 PM |What do Marie Antoinette and one Bill Koch have in common? If you'd asked me that a few days ago, I'd have answered "Not much." That is, until I read this about Bill Koch.Read More
Pence Admits Social Issues a Priority in IN Gov Race
Filed by Bil Browning | August 27, 2012 12:00 PM |Back home in Indiana, the gubernatorial race is heating up. While conservative Republican Congressman Mike Pence is still on track to beat conservative Democrat John Gregg, the Gregg campaign has come out swinging on Pence's far-right agenda around social issues.Read More
Why Do Women Vote Republican [Comment of the Week]
Filed by Bil Browning | August 26, 2012 7:00 PM |Today's Comment of the Week is pretty simple and direct. It was left on Mark Segal's post, "What the Rape Debate Hits Home."Read More
1% Supremacy at the National Review Online
Filed by Terrance Heath | August 24, 2012 11:00 AM |Move over John Derbyshire. Make room for National Review Online columnist Kevin D. Williamson, the latest conservative to astound those of us who naively thought there was little the right-wing could do anymore that would leave us staring in open-mouthed disbelief.Read More
When the Rape Debate Hits Home
Filed by Mark Segal | August 23, 2012 5:30 PM |My friend Jan was raped. The trauma was so great that she ended up taking her own life. This week I've watched the "debate" about rape unfold in the news thanks to a mindless, ignorant, ideological congressman from Missouri.Read More
The New Welfare Queens
Filed by Terrance Heath | August 23, 2012 1:00 PM |The Romney/Ryan campaign has resurrected Reagan's "Welfare Queen." It would be laughable, if they weren't serious, if the stakes weren't so high, and if there weren't so likely to get away with it.Read More
Do Republicans Care About Anything Besides Money?
Filed by Kergan Edwards-Stout | August 22, 2012 1:30 PM |The Republican Party offers politicians and platforms which are anti-women, anti-gay, anti-poor, anti-earth, anti-people of color, anti-arts, anti-jobs creation (unless it comes from the top down). So why do so many continue to vote for them?Read More
A Tale of Two Political Platforms
Filed by Waymon Hudson | August 22, 2012 11:00 AM |While not everyone in a political party agrees with every plank in a party platform, the political manifestos do shed important light on the stark differences in the two major parties of today.Read More
Continuing the Anti-Romney Funny Video Theme of the Day
Filed by Bil Browning | August 21, 2012 3:00 PM |While we had cute guys in swimsuits singing about Romney's taxes this morning, this afternoon we've got a rapper impersonating Romney and taking on his immense wealth, his record as Governor, and even his anti-gay bullying episode.Read More
The Most Awesomest Thing You'll See Today
Filed by Bil Browning | August 21, 2012 11:00 AM |This One Direction spoof by a handful of incredibly half naked handsome fellows takes the old lipdub video in a completely new direction. "Wrong Direction" has rewritten the hit song "What Makes You Beautiful" as a takedown of Romney's refusal to disclose his taxes.Read More
Akin's 'Legitimate Rape' Remark Causes Rift Among GOP
Filed by Karen Ocamb | August 20, 2012 5:00 PM |Missouri Republican Rep. Todd Akin's comments about abortion Sunday have caused a rift among Republicans a week before GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney and running mate Paul Ryan even step on the convention stage in Tampa, Florida next week. Read More
Pittsburgh Editorial Cartoon Sums Up FRC's Hateful Offense
Filed by Sue Kerr | August 20, 2012 12:30 PM |Pittsburgh Post-Gazette columnist Rob Rogers posted a phenomenal cartoon yesterday morning, neatly summarizing the weak cries of the Family Research Council about being "unfairly" labeled a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.Read More
The Paul Ryan Jokes [Comment of the Week]
Filed by Bil Browning | August 19, 2012 5:30 PM |After a shirtless photo of Paul Ryan took the intertubes by storm last week, several Projectors couldn't resist cracking jokes about the veep wannabe. And the majority were really funny (which is more than I can say for my posts!).Read More
Joe Biden Was Right
Filed by Terrance Heath | August 19, 2012 2:30 PM |Well, Vice President Joe Biden rolled up his rhetorical newspaper and whacked the GOP ticket squarely upon its hindquarters. And boy, did they holler.Read More
The Photo Voters Need to See Before Deciding
Filed by Bil Browning | August 17, 2012 1:00 PM |You've been waiting for it with bated breath, I'm sure. Vice President hopeful Paul Ryan's six years old vacation photos have been leaked, once again proving that Ryan is obviously ready to sit in the Big Boy seat.Read More
Why Marriage Needs to Take a Backseat to Workplace Rights
Filed by Rebecca Juro | August 16, 2012 3:15 PM |In order to really make progress on the marriage rights front, the first thing that needs to be accomplished is leveling the economic playing field.Read More
The GOP Still Wants to Gut Medicaid
Filed by Terrance Heath | August 16, 2012 12:00 PM |Sometimes there no joy in being right. Sometimes it's just no fun to say "I told ya so." This is one of those times.Read More
Romney's VP Pick & Its Effect on Tammy Baldwin
Filed by Mark Segal | August 15, 2012 5:00 PM |When I think about Wisconsin, I think Representative Tammy Baldwin - not the presumptive Republican candidate for V.P. Paul Ryan, but rather what effect he'll have on Baldwin's chances of becoming the first out U.S. senator.Read More
After Aurora: The Shooting I Remember [Part 4]
Filed by Terrance Heath | August 15, 2012 1:00 PM |I don't want to write about the Wisconsin shooting, the Aurora shooting, or any other shooting right now. I want to write about the one I was present for - the moment I looked down the barrel of a gun. Read More
Gay Candidates Sweep Florida & Wisconsin Primaries
Filed by Bil Browning | August 15, 2012 12:00 PM |Four candidates won their primary races in Florida while two picked up victories in Wisconsin. A Florida man is running unopposed in the general election and Marc Pocan is poised to become the next openly gay Congressman.Read More
Paul Ryan: Poster Boy of Today's Extreme GOP
Filed by Waymon Hudson | August 15, 2012 11:00 AM |Despite the odd praise coming from conservative gay groups like Log Cabin Republicans and GoProud, Paul Ryan's record on LGBT rights is abysmal and far out of step with mainstream Americans. Read More
For Wall Street, a Fair Trial & a Fine Hanging?
Filed by Terrance Heath | August 14, 2012 2:30 PM |I'm probably going to take this just a couple of steps too far. But it's too hard to resist, and I think its a valid point.Read More
Keep Calm & Marry On
Filed by Joseph Gentile | August 14, 2012 1:00 PM |Gay rights activists from four different states (Maine, Maryland, Minnesota and Washington) are taking to the pitch in support of marriage equality this November. But, they'll be the first to admit that it's not going to be pretty. Read More
Indy Passes Domestic Partner Benefits with Bipartisan Support
Filed by Bil Browning | August 14, 2012 11:00 AM |The Indianapolis City-County Council passed a proposal to offer domestic partner benefits to gay and straight couples who aren't married. The measure passed 20-8 with overwhelming bipartisan support.Read More
The GOP's Welfare Distraction
Filed by Terrance Heath | August 13, 2012 5:30 PM |When conservatives start talking about "welfare reform" - especially when they get worked up about extolling or protecting its "success" - progressives had better sit up, pay attention, and speak up. Read More
Romney: The One-Percent Supremacist
Filed by Terrance Heath | August 13, 2012 1:00 PM |Mitt Romney's policies show that he's an extremist for the privileged. His words suggest the basis of his extremism, and reveal Romney as a one-percent supremacist. Read More
Game Changer? Romney Picks Ryan as VP
Filed by Karen Ocamb | August 13, 2012 11:00 AM |Breaking into NBC's Olympic coverage Friday night, Chuck Todd reported that his good sources say that Republican Presidential nominee Mitt Romney will choose Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan for his vice-presidential running mate. Is it a game changer?Read More
Telling the Whole Story [Comment of the Week]
Filed by Bil Browning | August 12, 2012 6:30 PM |A commenter stopped by my post, "Best Chick-fil-A Infographic Yet," that highlighted the states where it would be legal for the homophobic chicken chain to fire gay or lesbian employees for their sexual orientation. He points out one glaring omission: right to work states.Read More
Black Pastors Bought by Anti-Gay Groups
Filed by Viktor Kerney | August 12, 2012 3:30 PM |It's been very interesting to watch these so-called godly men interact with these type of organizations. It's also interesting to see how easily they can be bought and sold into a hate-filled game.Read More
Transgender People Ejected in Jacksonville
Filed by Mercedes Allen | August 12, 2012 11:30 AM |A nondiscrimination ordinance in Jacksonville, Florida, is expected to be voted on in the coming week. As some have expected, transsexual and transgender people were bartered away when "gender identity or expression" was dropped from the bill.Read More
Indy Mayor Reverses Support for Domestic Partner Benefits?
Filed by Bil Browning | August 10, 2012 1:00 PM |Mayor Ballard has previously been mostly supportive of the LGBT community. He testified against a proposed statewide constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriages and civil unions. So why the sudden cold feet on a no-brainer?Read More
Gay Chicago TV Talks with IL Couple Suing for Marriage Equality
Filed by Waymon Hudson | August 08, 2012 12:00 PM |Marriage equality has been making headlines across the country - from support for the right to marry being added to Democratic Party platform to the Chick-fil-A controversy over corporate funding of anti-gay hate groups and opposition to marriage rights for same-sex couples.Read More
'Ex-Gay' Bill Goes to CA Assembly Appropriations Committee
Filed by Karen Ocamb | August 08, 2012 11:00 AM |California State Sen. Ted Lieu's "ex-gay" therapy bill is expected to be heard in the Assembly Appropriations Committee today. It would make California the first state in the nation to end unethical treatments that promise to change a minor's sexual orientation.Read More
White House Social Sec Jeremy Bernard Pops Home Briefly [Photos]
Filed by Karen Ocamb | August 07, 2012 5:30 PM |Everything that was said by anyone at the party Courage Campaign founder Rick Jacobs and his documentary filmmaker husband Shaun Kadiec threw for Jeremy as he returned home to LA for a few days this weekend was off the record!Read More
Best Chick-fil-A Infographic Yet
Filed by Bil Browning | August 07, 2012 4:00 PM |Why? Because it puts the focus back where it deserves to be instead of meandering around same-sex marriage, free speech rights, or the Muppets.Read More
The 'Kiss-In': Affection as Activism?
Filed by Waymon Hudson | August 07, 2012 1:30 PM |Beyond just hate chicken and marriage equality, one aspect of the ongoing Chick-fil-A story struck me as odd. My strongest reaction was to the "kiss-in" protests at the fast food chain that was seen as the LGBT community's response.Read More
Rosa Parks & the Leathermen: A Quest for Equality
Filed by Patrick J Hamilton | August 05, 2012 1:00 PM |Beau and Major set out to get a marriage license. The journey ended in jail for both men. That's a hell of a way to get to the altar.Read More
Trevor Thomas Faces Anti-Choice Dem in Michigan Primary
Filed by Karen Ocamb | August 02, 2012 6:00 PM |Openly gay Michigan congressional candidate Trevor Thomas has been racking up a slew of endorsements in his Aug. 7 primary fight against conservative, anti-choice Democrat Steve Pestka in Michigan's 3rd District. Read More
Voter Suppression, the Latino Vote, & Why It Matters to All of Us
Filed by James Holmes | August 01, 2012 4:30 PM |Last night Rachel Maddow sat down with Lou Dubose, editor of "The Spectator" to discuss the possibility that the Lone Star State may soon develop into a purple battleground, the cause, and why the GOP is fighting it. Read More
Bell Ringers & Chicken Slingers: When 'Christian' Companies Go Too Far
Filed by Patrick J Hamilton | August 01, 2012 3:30 PM |Chick-fil-A and the Salvation Army have finally and fully dragged their crosses too far across the line, each in their own way, but both changing the game and ending my patience. Time to say Hell No. Read More
More Voters Care About the Economy Than Gay Marriage
Filed by Karen Ocamb | August 01, 2012 2:30 PM |News Monday night of the Democratic Party Platform committee's decision to include a plank supporting marriage equality was historic. But for gays interview in West Hollywood: the announcement was welcomed but unexciting. Read More
Letting Us Die: GOP Governors Are the New 'Death Panel'
Filed by Terrance Heath | August 01, 2012 1:30 PM |As the White House works to make African American and Latino voters aware of preventative care benefits and how to access them, the newest "Death Panel" to enter the seemingly interminable health care reform debate is out to stop them. Read More
