Politics: October 2012
California's Prop 32 Explained in Pictures & Video
Filed by Karen Ocamb | October 31, 2012 5:15 PM |Once upon a time, rich men owned everything, holding sway over laws and commerce - leaving individuals to fend for themselves and accept whatever work they could find under often appalling, unsafe conditions.Read More
Tired of Bronco Bamma & Mitt Romney [Video]
Filed by James Holmes | October 31, 2012 3:30 PM |This little girl expresses the feelings of many Americans, and after being trapped inside watching 24 hour news thanks to Hurricane Sandy and living close enough to Virginia to see every ad imaginable, I am too honey. I am too. Read More
SCOTUS to Consider Whether to Hear Prop 8, DOMA Cases on Nov 20
Filed by Karen Ocamb | October 31, 2012 2:30 PM |The US Supreme Court is expected to discuss whether to hear the Prop 8 case and the DOMA cases for the upcoming session when they conference on Nov. 20. Read More
Equality Florida PAC: Bogdanoff Threw LGBT Students Under the Bus
Filed by Michael Emanuel Rajner | October 31, 2012 12:30 PM |Equality Florida PAC has come out swinging over state senate candidate Ellyn Bogdanoff's anti-gay past.Read More
Keeping The Lights On
Filed by Terrance Heath | October 31, 2012 11:30 AM |After reading warnings that the worst of Sandy's winds would hit our area between 8:00 pm and 2:00 am, I watched and waited to join the growing number of people in our area without power.Read More
Conservatism's Disastrous Disaster Relief Model
Filed by Terrance Heath | October 30, 2012 5:30 PM |There's an even bigger disaster looming behind this hurricane. It's not a natural disaster, but an ideological disaster that could strike the whole country, and promises to cost more in terms of human misery and human life than any natural disaster we've faced so far.Read More
Anti-Marriage Ads Are All the Same - Literally
Filed by James Holmes | October 30, 2012 4:50 PM |The ads are the same, and so are the lies. Read More
Tammy Baldwin's Final Campaign Ad
Filed by Bil Browning | October 30, 2012 3:30 PM |Representative Tammy Baldwin's final campaign ad of the election has hit the airwaves in Wisconsin and it's a damn good one featuring former President Bill Clinton.Read More
This Election It's About Taxes & Jobs for LGBT Community
Filed by Mark Segal | October 30, 2012 12:30 PM |If you are voting for tax equality, there is only one candidate. If you are voting for public security, there is only one candidate. If you want to vote with your head held high and with pride, there's only one vote: President Barack Obama.Read More
Are You an Undecided Voter?
Filed by Michael Emanuel Rajner | October 29, 2012 4:00 PM |This election is a defining moment for LGBT people. As LGBT people, there should be no reason to be undecided this November 6th.Read More
Chas Asks Women to Wake Up [Comment of the Week]
Filed by Bil Browning | October 28, 2012 7:00 PM |Do you have any women like this in your life? Have you been able to help any see that voting for Romney isn't in their own best interests? If so, how did you do it?Read More
If Mitt Romney Told the Truth About Jobs
Filed by Terrance Heath | October 28, 2012 5:00 PM |Having entered the "closing argument" phase of the campaign, President Obama has pivoted to jobs. Romney's jobs plan is based on bogus math, just as bad as his tax plan. (And his tax math was so bad even Fox didn't buy it.)Read More
HBO Star Lena Dunham on Her 'First Time'
Filed by Karen Ocamb | October 28, 2012 3:00 PM |Wow - just how puritanical has America become? I prefer Lena's approach.Read More
Outsourcing: One More Reason Tom Reed's a Big Zero
Filed by Terrance Heath | October 28, 2012 1:00 PM |It turns out that Mitt Romney and Tom Reed (R, NY-23) have more in common than mere party affiliation.Read More
Ellyn Bogdanoff Doesn't Care About LGBT Kids (or Voters)
Filed by Michael Emanuel Rajner | October 28, 2012 11:00 AM |Why did Florida Republican STate Senator Ellyn Bogdanoff only engage with voters she assumed were heterosexual? Could it because she won't even defend her gay child in the legislature?Read More
President Obama Endorses Marriage Ballot Measures
Filed by Joe Mirabella | October 26, 2012 9:45 AM |The President announced his support for marriage equality in Maine, Maryland, and Washington state yesterday. He also formally opposed Minnesota's proposed constitutional amendment to ban marriage and civil unions.Read More
Romney Refused to Offer Accurate Birth Certificates to Children of Same-Sex Couples
Filed by John M. Becker | October 25, 2012 4:30 PM |Then-Governor Mitt Romney, an outspoken opponent of marriage equality who also opposed child-rearing by gay and lesbian couples, conveyed his disdain for same-sex parents by making the process of obtaining accurate birth certificates for their children as difficult and cumbersome as possible.Read More
No Cash Needed: Tammy Baldwin Requires Assistance
Filed by Bil Browning | October 25, 2012 3:30 PM |Representative Tammy Baldwin's Senate campaign needs your help - and it won't cost you a dime or require any travel. So how can you still make a difference?Read More
Chris Kluwe's 'Lustful Cockmonster' Radio Ad for MN Marriage Battle
Filed by Bil Browning | October 25, 2012 12:00 PM |In a marked change for the usual stuffy "look at these two grandmas talking about their lesbian daughters" ads our side seems to embrace, Kluwe continues his legacy of blunt, acerbic, and humorous language to push his point.Read More
Mourdock, Donnelly, Abortion, & the Wrath of Gods
Filed by Yasmin Nair | October 25, 2012 10:30 AM |There is one aspect of this controversy that no one has paid attention to: the views held by Mourdock's Democratic opponent. Donnelly's position on abortion is exactly the same as that of Mourdock. The only difference appears to be in the relative benevolence of their gods.Read More
The Debate In My Head
Filed by Steven Cheslik-DeMeyer | October 24, 2012 5:30 PM |I didn't watch the last debate. I just didn't want to. When you start talking about foreign policy, you land smack-dab in the middle of everything about Obama's administration that makes me want to vote for the Green Party.Read More
IN Repub Senate Candidate: Rape Is a Gift from God
Filed by Bil Browning | October 24, 2012 12:00 PM |Republican Richard Mourdock (best known as a rabid Teabagger who won an upset victory over longtime moderate Senator Richard Lugar) let his mouth get away from him again during last night's debate between Hoosier senatorial candidates and potentially sunk his campaign.Read More
Boston Globe Endorses Gay Republican
Filed by Bil Browning | October 23, 2012 5:30 PM |While I think that we need to grow the number of openly LGBT elected officials, it makes me squirmy to know that Tisei would vote to make sure a homophobe is Speaker of the House - whether that's John Boehner or any of the other GOP leaders.Read More
The Big 'Zero' Who Fell Through a Crack & Landed on the Middle Class
Filed by Terrance Heath | October 23, 2012 4:00 PM |Tom Reed (R, NY-29) is one of "worst of the worst," who never sided with the middle class on a single important vote in this congress. Reed came down on the side of the 1% every time.Read More
Romney Mocks Gays in Yearbook Photo
Filed by Bil Browning | October 23, 2012 3:00 PM |No, seriously you guys, Mitt Romney respects us. All that anti-gay stuff he said back in the day (and for the last decade or so), isn't real. That's not how he acts around his friends. Oh.Read More
Log Cabin Issues Two Starkly Different Romney Endorsements
Filed by Bil Browning | October 23, 2012 1:30 PM |The gay Republican group has posted two differing copies of their endorsement of Mitt Romney. One calls it a "qualified endorsement" and suggests they won't actively work for the campaign while the blast sent to the press removes that language.Read More
Trans Voters: Know Your Rights
Filed by Karen Ocamb | October 23, 2012 11:30 AM |The Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law put out this graphic to help trans voters fight back against intimidation tactics. Most importantly, they have a hotline if you have any problems or questions.Read More
Senator George McGovern's Role in the History of Gay Rights
Filed by Karen Ocamb | October 22, 2012 5:00 PM |In the remembrances of McGovern, many might note that McGovern's Democratic Convention featured the first ever gay speaker. They may not, however, note that he was the first major political figure putting gay rights within the broader context of civil rights.Read More
Changing Minds with 'Marry Them' [Video]
Filed by James Holmes | October 22, 2012 12:30 PM |In this new video by musician and filmmaker, Sean Chapin, he uses his original song, "Marry Them," to hopefully change some minds in real life in the four states voting on marriage equality this November.Read More
Clash of the Neoliberals: Obama's Shell Game
Filed by Yasmin Nair | October 21, 2012 4:00 PM |In the end, the public confrontations between the two men amount to little more than a Clash of Neoliberals. We are persuaded that a gamble is actually a choice, and that may be the biggest shell game of all.Read More
The Backstory of Former Senator Arlen Specter's LGBT Legacy
Filed by Mark Segal | October 21, 2012 11:30 AM |Let me tell you about how I met former Senator Arlen Specter.Read More
Clinton/Vaid Household Conspiracy Theory #1422
Filed by Kate Clinton | October 21, 2012 10:00 AM |One woman's conspiracy theory is another man's history.Read More
Federal Appeals Court Rules DOMA is Unconstitutional (Again)
Filed by Karen Ocamb | October 19, 2012 3:00 PM |A Republican judge wrote the Second Circuit Court of Appeals opinion in Windsor v. USA - ruling that Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional. Read More
The First Lady Debate
Filed by Bil Browning | October 19, 2012 11:30 AM |Jimmy Kimmel asked people what they thought of "last night's First Lady debate" between Michelle Obama and Ann Romney. Of course, several people swore they'd watched the whole thing and declared a winner. Read More
Gay LA County Assessor Arrested for Corruption, Bribery
Filed by Karen Ocamb | October 18, 2012 4:30 PM |LA County Assessor John Noguez was arrested Wednesday as were his friend Ramin Salari, a prominent property tax consultant, and Mark McNeil, a top executive in the assessor's office, on 24 felony charges include conspiracy and misappropriation of public funds. Read More
Bindr: An App for Republicans Looking to Hire
Filed by James Holmes | October 18, 2012 3:30 PM |I really love all the Mitt Romney "binders of women" jokes going viral since Tuesday night's debate, but this may be my favorite. Read More
Rosie Perez Laughingly Sets Mitt Romney Straight
Filed by Karen Ocamb | October 18, 2012 1:30 PM |Terrific actress Rosie Perez responds to Mitt Romney joking with his 1% audience about how easy it would be for him to win the election if he was Latino.Read More
FL House Candidate Randall Terry Calls Samuel L. Jackson 'The New Uncle Tom'
Filed by Karen Ocamb | October 17, 2012 4:00 PM |LGBT civil rights activists and Pro-Choice women have long been familiar with the publicity-seeking antics of Operation Rescue extremist Randall Terry.Read More
The One Percent's Titanic Self-Delusion
Filed by Terrance Heath | October 17, 2012 11:30 AM |The one percent are the first-class passengers on the RMS Titanic -- standing on deck in their life-jackets, sipping cocktails as the ship goes down, oblivious to the fates of those in steerage, and asking "Will the lifeboats be seated by class?"Read More
Second Presidential Debate Edition [What You Need To Know]
Filed by E. Winter Tashlin | October 17, 2012 10:00 AM |Summarizing the presidential debate, DOMA's defense has used up its budget, Howard Stern takes on Victoria Jackson, homophobia in women's sports, and more. Plus, LGBT celebrities tell their stories in support of President Obama's reelection. Read More
If I Could Talk to the President
Filed by Rebecca Juro | October 16, 2012 4:30 PM |Chances are, someone like me isn't going to get a chance to personally tell President Obama what she thinks. I can't afford to attend one of those thirty-five-thousand-dollar-a-plate dinners where President Obama discusses his agenda on LGBT rights.Read More
It's the Supreme Court, Stupid!
Filed by Guest Blogger | October 16, 2012 11:30 AM |No community has more at stake in this presidential election than the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. Now go vote as if your life depends on it. In many ways, it does.Read More
Is Your Voting Booth Owned by Bain Capital?
Filed by Bil Browning | October 15, 2012 5:30 PM |I suppose by now I shouldn't be surprised in the least at the sheer amount of corruption and shadiness that runs rampant in the American political system. Occasionally, however, even I'm shocked at some of the outrageous conflicts of interest that arise.Read More
What If Churches Paid Their Taxes?
Filed by James Holmes | October 15, 2012 2:00 PM |In the US, religious organizations receive income tax-exemptions as long as they remain non-partisan. But what if that changed? Would the money be worth the shift in politics? Or would it actually change anything? Read More
Elizabeth Emken: The Making of an Anti-Equality Politician
Filed by Kergan Edwards-Stout | October 14, 2012 4:00 PM |Despite a long history of privately supporting her LGBT friends, Elizabeth Emken now runs on an anti-marriage equality platform in an attempt to unseat California Senator Dianne Feinstein. Read More
The BFD of the VP Debate
Filed by Terrance Heath | October 14, 2012 2:00 PM |Vice President Joe Biden certainly looked like he was having a good time. In fact, Republicans' biggest complain seems to be that Biden was having too much fun. He laughed too much. So, why was Joe Biden smiling and laughing?Read More
Florida Paper & Gay Republican Group Stand By Offensive Ad
Filed by Bil Browning | October 12, 2012 5:15 PM |A Florida LGBT newspaper is doubling down on their decision to publish an "obscene" political attack ad that features a photo of slain American ambassador Chris Stevens. The group that placed the ad is also digging in their heels in the face of nationwide criticism.Read More
The Importance of Thursday Night's VP Debate
Filed by Karen Ocamb | October 12, 2012 3:00 PM |Toward the end of the debate, moderator Martha Raddatz of ABC News asked the two Catholic candidates about their views on religion and abortion - critical because the next president will no doubt have to replace one or two Supreme Court Justices.Read More
What If the Presidential Election Is a Tie?
Filed by Bil Browning | October 12, 2012 1:00 PM |Ever wondered what happens if one of the presidential candidates doesn't get enough votes in the Electoral College to seal the deal? It's happened before.Read More
Rep Adam Schiff & NOH8 Campaign Produce Capitol Hill Photos
Filed by Karen Ocamb | October 12, 2012 11:30 AM |Last month, California Representative Adam Schiff organized a photo shoot with the NOH8 Campaign - "NOH8 on The Hill" - during which 26 Members of Congress posed to show support of the NOH8 Campaign and LGBT rights. Read More
FL Log Cabin Chapter's Attack Ad Features Body of Slain American Ambassador
Filed by Bil Browning | October 11, 2012 8:20 PM |The Florida Agenda, an LGBT newspaper in southern Florida has published a political attack ad paid for by the Broward County chapter of Log Cabin Republicans that features the body of slain American ambassador Chris Stevens.Read More
Make Paul Ryan Own His Budget & It's Consequences
Filed by Terrance Heath | October 11, 2012 5:00 PM |No pair of issues throw as much light on the cold, dark, heart of the of the GOP agenda -- the budget crafted by Ryan, endorsed by Republicans, and embraced by Mitt Romney -- as Medicare and Medicaid.Read More
'Take Down Lungren' House Race in the National Spotlight
Filed by Karen Ocamb | October 11, 2012 1:30 PM |Republicans really want Tea Party fawn Rep. Dan Lungren to beat his Democratic opponent, Dr. Ami Bera, in November. The re-districted 7th District congressional race in California's central valley has now drawn more national attention and money than any other House race.Read More
Asian Pacific Islanders Could Play Key Role in Elections
Filed by Karen Ocamb | October 10, 2012 4:00 PM |As openly gay actor George Takei notes in recounting his family's internment in Japanese camps during World War II, that it is critical that API voters grasp their importance of their participation in the November elections.Read More
Obama Dedicates Cesar Chavez Monument Amidst Latino Rumblings
Filed by Karen Ocamb | October 10, 2012 12:30 PM |President Obama made modern history Monday by announcing the creation of a monument to honor the late labor and civil rights activist Cesar Chavez. The monument is the first honoring a Latino born later than the 1700s.Read More
Dear Abby Has Marriage Advice for Minnesota
Filed by Bil Browning | October 09, 2012 5:00 PM |It's not often that I'll simply reprint a blast e-mail from one of the many marriage campaigns happening this year, but this one is too good not to share.Read More
Rosendahl Not Seeking Re-Election to Focus on Fighting Cancer
Filed by Karen Ocamb | October 09, 2012 4:00 PM |After being diagnosed in August, Rosendahl started treatment immediately and began doing better. So it was surprising to receive news late Monday night that he would not be seeking re-election to a third term, something he had vowed to do.Read More
Hampton, VA Mayor Signs Freedom to Marry Pledge
Filed by Michael Hamar | October 07, 2012 4:00 PM |Increasingly progressive businesses will opt to avoid cities and localities that do not oppose discrimination against LGBT citizens and employees. Sadly, this reality is largely lost on most political leaders in Virginia, but things are changing - even in Virginia.Read More
Why Conservatives Have Lost 'The Real Referendum'
Filed by Terrance Heath | October 05, 2012 12:30 PM |If Obama wins, that means conservatives will have lost the "real referendum." They've been losing it for a long time -- and it's worth considering why that's the case.Read More
The Paul Ryan Girls
Filed by Bil Browning | October 04, 2012 2:30 PM |First there was the Obama girl and then Obama boy. The president may swing both ways with his crushees, but Paul Ryan has three Ryan girls, thank you very much. Who says Republicans can't understand math?Read More
How Will Last Night's Debate Shape the Election?
Filed by Bil Browning | October 04, 2012 11:30 AM |The pundit class has declared last night's presidential debate a complete and total win for Mitt Romney. So what do you think? What effect with this have on the election? Any?Read More
Must Watch: Great Video on Maine's Marriage Initiative
Filed by Karen Ocamb | October 03, 2012 5:15 PM |The short, entitled Marriage for All Families: Stories from Maine, tells the stories of two real-life gay and lesbian families, and a straight volunteer working for marriage equality in Maine.Read More
Now This Is an Attack Ad
Filed by Bil Browning | October 03, 2012 4:15 PM |We're all aware just how slimy and disgusting Florida's Republican Representative Allen West is. The guy is ranks right up there with Michelle Bachmann on the sleaze-o-meter.Read More
The Gay Soccer Dad and Lesbian Costco Mom Vote
Filed by Guest Blogger | October 03, 2012 12:30 PM |Over the past few decades great progress has been made in the fight for LGBT legal equality but I'm guessing many straight Americans would be surprised to learn just how much is left to be done.Read More
Holy Guacamole: Romney Goes to Chipotle [Caption This]
Filed by Bil Browning | October 03, 2012 11:30 AM |If there's one thing that Republican presidential candidates are absolutely fantastic at creating, it's giving the internet meme possibilities. They have a knack for getting their photo taken at really inopportune moments.Read More
Obama Mashes It Up with MC Hammer
Filed by Bil Browning | October 02, 2012 4:30 PM |This is too good not to share. Hugh Atkin's Obama-style remix of "You Can't Touch This" will have you giggling all the way through.Read More
Sen. Lieu & NCLR's Minter Ready for Challenges Against SB 1172
Filed by Karen Ocamb | October 02, 2012 11:30 AM |Sen. Lieu - a lawyer by training and a former prosecutor - said he is unconcerned by threats from Liberty Counsel and NARTH (National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality) to mount a legal challenge to SB 1172.Read More
Nancy Pelosi Is a Zombie in New Political Attack Ad
Filed by Bil Browning | October 01, 2012 2:30 PM |Good taste and judgment are always the first thing to fly out the window while politicians parade around announcing that they have the good judgment needed to run our country. Read More
Voter ID Laws & Trans Voter Suppression
Filed by James Holmes | October 01, 2012 1:15 PM |Most of the talk concerning voter suppression in this election cycle has focused on the elderly, lower income voters, people of color, and young people. However, one group that I haven seen barely mentioned is the trans community. Read More
