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Friday News Wrap Up, July 4
July 4, 2008 - 4:29pm — Kelly McCartney
One of the most important stories to the LGBT community this week was Senator Barack Obama officially coming out against the California ballot initiative seeking to define marriage as solely between a man and a woman. Obama had previously stated his opinion as supporting civil unions but believing marriage should be limited to heterosexuals. Senator John McCain, on the other hand, supports the amendment. Digging through their positions and how they court our constituency is always great fodder. One thing is certain, the issue is a galvanizing one that is bringing in loads of cash on both sides.
In trans news this week, Congress held it's first-ever hearing on transgender matters and probably got a lot more than it bargained for – humanity – by listening to stories of discrimination and humiliation from members of the trans community. Thomas Beatie, a trans man who knows those issues first hand, gave birth to a baby girl on Thursday. As for the case of Rodney Whitaker, the trans woman who was killed in a Memphis jail, police are still investigating.
Wildfires continue to burn out of control in northern California. As of Friday afternoon, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger had ordered 200 more National Guard troops to assist. On Thursday, some 1,800 fires were burning up over 600,000 acres and the entire town of Big Sur had to be evacuated due to out of control blazes. Flames were even beginning to make their way down into Santa Barbara County on Friday.
Hostage Ingrid Betancourt upon rescue in Colombia.
In Colombia this week, a daring and flawless rescue effort managed to free 15 hostages including politician Ingrid Betancourt held for six years by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). The Columbian government went so far as to release video footage of the mission. Harrowing details of the hostages' captivity began emerging including executions and sadism. According to the Guardian, “Betancourt said she was often chained to a tree and haunted by thoughts of killing herself during her six-year ordeal. 'Death is a hostage's most faithful companion. We lived with death ... and the seduction of suicide was always with us.'”
In a ruling on a $1 billion copyright case of Viacom against Google, YouTube.com was ordered to release user data, including viewing habits, in order to prove that pirated material is more popular than viewer-created content.
In trans news this week, Congress held it's first-ever hearing on transgender matters and probably got a lot more than it bargained for – humanity – by listening to stories of discrimination and humiliation from members of the trans community. Thomas Beatie, a trans man who knows those issues first hand, gave birth to a baby girl on Thursday. As for the case of Rodney Whitaker, the trans woman who was killed in a Memphis jail, police are still investigating.
Hostage Ingrid Betancourt upon rescue in Colombia.
In a ruling on a $1 billion copyright case of Viacom against Google, YouTube.com was ordered to release user data, including viewing habits, in order to prove that pirated material is more popular than viewer-created content.
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Recent comments
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109 Comments
I would suggest more objective sources
-------
The thing is
he would really be called on that if it were a lie. Sure, they can fudge policy etc - but lying about jobs he has held and education would lead to the easiest smackdown ever.
So in this case, I'm wiling to believe the source.
He Has been called on
-----
Just keep listening to what's repeated to you, over and over...
"I believe in him is becase after graduating from law school, instead of taking a soul-sucking, high paying job, he went and did community-building and worked to improve civil rights."
So, basically, you believe in "him" because you believe the story Axelrod has sold the public. If you had followed the links I've left, you'd know that "story" is tantamount to the method with which Axelrod sells his clients and ideas.
"you are determined to smear and denegrate the guy. I can't help but get the sense that you'd do this to anybody who won the nomination over Hillary."
Absolute bs. I was originally more interested in Ron Paul, but US media totally blacklisted him. Ever wonder why? After that I turned to both Hillary and Obama with an open mind.
"Smearing" is perpetrating untruths. I almost always leave sources and otherwise am entitled to my opinion. Now that Rossi has abandoned this site, there are few critical thinkers who aggressively pursue the truth. Believe me, just "going along" requires a lot less energy.
Be glad there's someone here who is willing to provide a bit of contra. Wish more had done that when Bush was so popular!! (and even now the dems don't have the guts to impeach the crook!)
“If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it."
- Joseph Goebbels, Nazi propagandist
Describe what aggressively pursuing the truth looks like
Hi Minnie --
Would you take a sec and describe your methodology for aggressively pursuing the truth? Do you see truth-seeking in those with whom you disagree? How were you able to make the transition from Rom Paul Libertarianism to Hillary Clinton Democratic ideology?
Yes Julia
MZ has every right to come here and say Y she(we)don't like Obama just as you have been coming here saying just how much you do and as far as anybody EVER making Obama look good to me Julia the only person that can make Obama look good to me is himself and Obams's supporters really make me not want to vote for him more every day,his supporters can be so rude sometimes it's almost gotten to the point that if you don't put down your rod and follow The Great one your doomed.
Minnie zlata
Do you feel that sometimes we are getting beat up and hung out to dry because we are not supporters .O well my mother always told me "O girl just stand up for yourself because I am not always going to be around to do it for you"
Mom you are right as ALWAYS
Who cares what Obi's stance is –
He has a record of lying that grows longer by the week!
(or haven't y'all learned your lessons with George Bush??)
Obama - The Content of My Character!
2 more quick questions
Hi Minnie --
1. Do you think calling Obama "Obi" enhances or detracts from your argument?
2. How do you think the Clinton political machine fares on the integrity front? Have you counted Hillary's primary lies? Does she get extra bonus points for whoppers like Bosnia?
agree!
Whatever he says he believes today will be CHANGED tomorrow!
Are you saying
that with more information, thought time and a littel distance you don't ever change your mind? If that's the case, that's a scay though.
I'd be concerned if Obama didn't show an ability to learn and grow and change his stance when someone has presented contrary facts.
learn and grow!! Obama is a panderer.
His new stances are not coming from inside himself. They're coming from polling and calculation. We haven't a clue as to who this man really is. And I'm quite sure he doesn't know himself.
All politicians are
All politicians are panderers. As for who he is? He has to be silent, if he is to be our representative - because that is what we demand from the politicians. Anytime we hold up a person to be our representative and our voice - we hold them so tight, and the moment they speak one word different from our voice, we take second look at their ability to represent our voice...forcing those people to stay quiet.
If he is flip flopping on issues, it really means he is really trying to find our voice, as a people...and apparently our voice is flip flopping on him.
Politicians have to pander to the people's voice, if they intend to be our representative.
McCain is not flip flopping. And in my opinion, is very stand stillish - his pandering isn't for the people's voice - it's a paid by the corporate voice.
rovermom :)
Life is a 3D puzzle and everyone has a piece!
NEW! OurChart Photo Assignment and My Blog
So your problem is
his opinions happen to represent the people he is hoping to get elected by - and this is a bad thing?
Interesting.
Personally I would like more politians to represent what the people want, rather then their own wants - but that's just me...
McCain's statement AGAINST California Marriage Equality
GOP presidential candidate John McCain has endorsed the November ballot measure to ban same-sex marriage in California.
The endorsement, announced Thursday night on ProtectMarriage.com, the Web site of the Protect Marriage campaign, was not a surprise. The Arizona senator previously said he was happy Californians would be voting on the measure, which the secretary of state's office designated Friday as Proposition 8.
"I support the efforts of the people of California to recognize marriage as a unique institution between a man and a woman, just as we did in my home state of Arizona," McCain said in a statement released by the Protect Marriage campaign. "I do not believe judges should be making these decisions."
So we have a presidential candidate who doesn't think
"judges should be making these decisions?" He sounds like the perfect person to be selecting the next Supreme Court justices. He obviously has an excellent grasp on the function of the checks and balances system of our government, which is designed - at least in part - to eliminate tyranny by the masses.
Do any of these people even understand the underlying principles of the founding fathers, or are they too busy pasting flags on their cars? The founders of this country were all too aware of the potential for oppression of the minority interests, which is why legislative and executive actions are subject to review by the Supreme Court. I'm sure there's a country somewhere looking for a dictator, but I'd prefer it not be the United States.
Things like this just make me glad I never had children -- what a Country we're handing off to them.
Obama's statement this last week on LGBT rights
Good morning everyone and thank you, Kelly, for this excellent blog.
The news is confusing about Obama's statement on California LGBT Marriage because he came out against an amendment that is against gay marriage. So it's a double negative and if you read it quickly, it can look like he came out against marriage equality.
The exact opposite is true - he took a public, soulful stand for upholding the California Supreme Court decision to allow LGBT marriage. He could have hidden behind the "states rights" argument and said it's not in his purview to opine about it because it's not a national issue. But he did the brave right thing and stood up not only for the California Supreme Court decision but also for repealing "Don't Ask Don't Tell" and fully repealing DOMA.
McCain, on the other hand, came out FOR the amendment to stop LGBT marriage in California.
Here is Obama's entire statement(thanks to Rusty.) It is worth a read because it is a groundbreaking position for a Democratic nominee to take ...
/////
Dear Friends,
Thank you for the opportunity to welcome everyone to the Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club's Pride Breakfast and to congratulate you on continuing a legacy of success, stretching back thirty-six years. As one of the oldest and most influential LGBT organizations in the country, you have continually rallied to support Democratic candidates and causes, and have fought tirelessly to secure equal rights and opportunities for LGBT Americans in California and throughout the country.
As the Democratic nominee for President, I am proud to join with and support the LGBT community in an effort to set our nation on a course that recognizes LGBT Americans with full equality under the law. That is why I support extending fully equal rights and benefits to same sex couples under both state and federal law. That is why I support repealing the Defense of Marriage Act and the "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy, and the passage of laws to protect LGBT Americans from hate crimes and employment discrimination. And that is why I oppose the divisive and discriminatory efforts to amend the California Constitution, and similar efforts to amend the U.S. Constitution or those of other states.
For too long issues of LGBT rights have been exploited by those seeking to divide us. It's time to move beyond polarization and live up to our founding promise of equality by treating all our citizens with dignity and respect. This is no less than a core issue about who we are as Democrats and as Americans.
Finally, I want to congratulate all of you who have shown your love for each other by getting married these last few weeks. My thanks again to the Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club for allowing me to be a part of today's celebration. I look forward to working with you in the coming months and years, and I wish you all continued success.
Sincerely,
Barack Obama
His WORDS....
oh...oh, OH!! his WORDS!
Aren't they just wonderful?!
Don't they make your heart go pitter-patter?!
Don't they scream out He is The One?!
LET'S READ THEM AGAIN...AND BEGIN THE CHANT...
CHANGE...CHANGE...CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN!!
Obama endorsed Rezko for Housing Funds Stolen in Obama's
Obama's Modern Times
2 more quick questions ...
Hi Minnie --
1. Are you suggesting I'm a deluded cult member without the facility for rational thought?
2. Is the minority opinion necessarily correct? For instance, when George Wallace ran for President, were his supporters smarter, more rational, less cult-like than those in the majority who opposed him?
What does Rezko
Have to do with Cabrini Green or any other public housing project in Chicago? Your pics show blighted areas of Chicago. The pic of the people pressing against the gate is a picture of public housing, which is managed by the Chicago Housing Authority and HUD. I don't get the Rezko connection. Can you explain?
OMG -
Obama is knee deep in personal, political and financial ties to Rezko. Obama aided Rezko in getting big $$. Rezko has financially backed Obama from the start. The 2 purchased land together, making it possible for Obama to secure a mansion at far cheaper than the original price. Those are just a few of the many facts that tie the 2 men together. Rezko is one of the most corrupt men in Chicago. He's doing time in jail right now.
Watch this:
Obama's forgotten people
and go here:
rezkowatch
therealbarackobama
The question was...
What does Rezko have to do with public housing in Chicago? The video clip that you referenced showed a group of people from a public housing complex standing behind a gate. It also showed neighborhoods in decline. Are those neighborhoods owned by Rezko? I know all about Rezko. The question I have is, does the video show evidence of Rezko's bad business or Obama's gain from Rezko's bad business? It's your reference, I'm just asking you to explain it. Youtube clips made by random people are not facts, they're Youtube clips made by random people. There are a whole lists of reason to not vote for Obama-but that's not the point I'm making. I'm asking you to explain the connection between Chicago public housing, Obama and Rezko.
Soony I can't write you a book
I just left you the links that explain it all. Check them out. Do some reading. It's all there.
re: Minnie has no idea
what Rezko and Obama have to do with public housing in Chicago. Nuff said.
Minnie has a life outside of OC...
and can't always summarize stories into bytes for the convenience of OC bloggers unwilling to read longer articles.
(hey if you really work in the Chicago Public Library you should be able to read longer articles AND be informed about Chicago politicians' antics!)
Reaction to "Obama is no different" posting
I can't say that I disagree with what you are saying, however what confuses me is how voting for anyone else be any better? This man will be the best thing this country has seen after the past 8 (hellish) years of the Bush administration. Please don't let his stance on gay marriage fool you into thinking he isn't the best candiate...
Gay Marriage Stance
Are you all misreading the news? Obama is AGAINST the November amendment to ban gay marriage, and he SUPPORTS the California Supreme Court's ruling. That's a turnaround position for him that is in our favor.
Sorry
I don't think he is the right candiate ,never have ever will NOBODY on this site can say or do anything that will ever get me to vote for him (so I would not even try posters)just know that I am one of the Dems who's vote he will never get.I think at the end of his first 4 years(hopefully he will not be in office for more then 4)some voters will rule the day they ever put this man(Obama) in office.And I will be one of the few that will say "Hey my vote don't put him in office because he don't get it"So in 4 years we will see?
"I think at the end of his
"I think at the end of his first 4 years(hopefully he will not be in
office for more then 4)some voters will rule the day they ever put this
man(Obama) in office."
May I ask why you think this? I ask as one of his supporters, but I'm genuinely interested in what makes you think that people will regret putting him in office.
(And please don't let the "Editor" tag dissuade you from replying honestly and fully. I'm merely a Julia in Editor's Clothing for the sake of convenience.)
OC IS SO IN THE TANK FOR OBAMA!
Shameful!
Actually...
OC was very much in the tank for Clinton. When I came on board in February, I was the only blogger who supported Obama. Moon, Cage, Gloria... everyone else was for Hillary. Now that she's out, who else do you think we, as a community, should be supporting? Your candidate lost, but she has the class and respect and dedication to step up and support Obama, as well. There's no shame in any of it except for the divisive comments and actions that will put McCain in office.
broken OC promises
Then why didn't we get an interview with Hillary or a Hill representative as promised but instead only endless fawning over JB and her – over weeks – trickled out interview with TW?
And now yet another interview (Advocate) all about Obama...and not even Gloria supporting Hill anymore.
Hillary has not yet "lost" - Obama is the PRESUMPTIVE nominee. But it seems like OC can't WAIT to hand him the sceptor...despite his lies, his flip-flops, his discrimination against women, his constant dissing the gay community, his sexist racist pastor buddies, his own sexism, his cutthroat Chicago politics, his unethical media manager Axelrod who he's planning on taking with him to the White House, his gaffes, his ill-fitting because empty suit (ever notice how much shoulder padding is in there?), etc...
Not to mention the DNC's disgusting role in all of this.
I would expect a site like this to present more views than one.
"Let me be perfectly clear. Barack Obama did not win the Democratic Primary, he stole it. Hillary Clinton and the women of this country have been minimized, marginalized, and abused by the DNC, the main stream media and the male patriarchy. You do not surrender to abuse. You do not go back home thinking it will be different next time. It will not be different. You cannot go back home. You can never go home. You have to create a new home. Power comes from saying NO, not from reconciliation.
- Lynette Long
Please explain ...
How did Obama steal the nomination?
Also, it wasn't OurChart who handed Obama the sceptor, it was Hillary Clinton. She conceded, remember?
Motaterz...
I had been giving you credit for having some smarts up till now.
She SUSPENDED her campaign, she did not concede.
Here's what she said, verbatim ...
"Today, as I suspend my campaign, I congratulate him on the victory he has won and the extraordinary race he has run. I endorse him and throw my full support behind him."
She conceded the race, she suspended her campaign so (as Kelly said) she can pay down her debt. And I encourage everyone to help her do that.
Love and Light,
melanie
'Suspending' her campaign
was the technical term used so that she can continue to raise money and pay off her debts. It's a legal requirement rather than officially ending the campaign organization and leaving $10M worth of debt in her wake. Nothing more, nothing less. And, she conceded the race.
Suspending (as opposed to conceding)...
...leaves the door open for the supers to change their mind.
The DNC knows this and is afraid of this. If official procedures are followed, there will be a roll call and a vote at the convention in Denver where the nomination will be finalized.
Of course, as the DNC has already demonstrated, "normal procedures" don't apply if the candidate is female and incredibly popular. There are currently many factors conspiring to try and keep Senator Clinton's name off the ballot altogether.
Let us not forget how Pelosi introduced Obama as "our next president" in NOVEMBER 2007. This is a DNC rigged primary.
"No self respecting woman should wish or work for the success of a party that ignores her."
Susan B Anthony 1872
My guess would be
My guess would be that no one from the Clinton committee or staff made themselve available to this site.
All this sour grapes is wearing thin, especially in the face of the fact that we have much BIGGER issues confronting us and we need to come together as a party and as a nation to battle the outright assholes who are determined to destroy this nation and this planet just to add a little green to their already bloated bank accounts.
I have tried to keep an open mind, so I have faithfully followed links and pop-ups that are anti-Obama in case these folks have a point. In EVERY SINGLE CASE, I have found only twisted half-truths, peripheral evidence (ex. Obama's childhood baby sitter later married a man whose family may or may not have ties to Nazi Germany 3 generations ago. Or something of this nature.)
If you cannot get past your own prejudice, sexism, sore loser, single issue, lesbian agenda or whatever the heck it is that keeps folks talking about Hillary as though she's still a player, then at least consider that over 50000 mothers/fathers/sisters/brothers/sons/daughters have needless cried ove a flagged draped casket since Bush took office and McCain promises to continue policies that will doubtless lead to 10,000 more. Let's get the monsters out of the white house before we start talking about which democrat was better qualified.
There's a thin line...
that should have been 5000
not 50,000
There's a thin line...
No point in "guessing" (since you don't work for OC)
"If you cannot get past your own prejudice, sexism, sore loser, single issue, lesbian agenda..."
Pure bs and insulting. You have read none of my posts. I spend loads of time doing research.
As for Iraq: Obama just backpedaled and in effect stated an open-ended timeline for troop withdrawal. I guess you didn't read that either.
Voters had RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEIR FACE Bush's economic ineptitude and voted for him anyway: TWICE. That got us into the war and economic disaster in the first place. This year voters are being warned about the many Obama lies & about-faces; many will vote for him anyway also.
Do so at your own peril.
I am one voter who holds my (previous) party accountable.
Quick question
Do you hold Hillary Clinton accountable for her war vote?
If yes, please explain how that manifested itself in the primary.
I'm sorry you feel insulted by my words
That said, I just calls 'em likes I sees 'em. Yes, I've read your other posts and seen your "research" but I've deemed it inaccurate and/or inadequate. The other day I read on this page with disbelief someone cite the internet as a wondeful source for truth. WHAT?!! The internet is a wonderful source for information, the validity of which must then be verified.
Look, Imma try not to get sucked back into this. It's just that no matter what Obama says, no matter what the evidence of his competency, good works, success, intelligence, or whatever, the nay-sayers put a negative spin on it. This happened with Bill Clinton as well. Now, Bill had his share of issues, but he was still the most intelligent president, possibly of the century. During his administration all the numbers were good -- low unemployment, crime and war; high economy, and education. Still to this day his distractors are talking about Monica Lewinski. I wonder how long after an Obama administration they'll be talking about Rev Wright. It's silly and distracting.
I'm not suggesting that Obama is perfect -- not by any means. But these FoxNews like attacks are really just weakenin any argument that he is unsuited for the job.
P.S. It would pretty much take a miracle for Hillary to get the nomination now. Oh, I believe in miracles, but I saving mine for when I really need 'em.
P.P.S. You don't know who I work for, so don't assume.
There's a thin line...
do you work for oc?
do you work for oc? If so just come out and say so!
That, my friend...
...is entirely beside the point. The point is you cannot assume things about people, then base your opinion upon your own assumptions. That's circular reasoning, typical in this campaign, but flawed never the less.
For the record, no, I do not work for or have any official affiliation with OC. I'm but a simple poster in this place.
There's a thin line...
bizarre "logic"
You make an assumption, or "guess" about OC's actions, but I am not supposed to make an educated guess about whether you work for OC?
go figure...
Huge difference
There's a huge difference between a guess and an assumption:
guess
–verb (used with object) 1. to arrive at or commit oneself to an opinion about (something) without having sufficient evidence to support the opinion fully: to guess a person's weight.
2. to estimate or conjecture about correctly: to guess what a word means.
3. to think, believe, or suppose: I guess I can get there in time.
–verb (used without object) 4. to form an estimate or conjecture (often fol. by at or about): We guessed at the weight of the package.
5. to estimate or conjecture correctly.
–noun
6. an opinion that one reaches or to which one commits oneself on the basis of probability alone or in the absence of any evidence whatever.
7. the act of forming such an opinion: to take a guess at someone's weight.
—Idiom8. by guess and by gosh, Northern U.S. using a combination of guesswork and reliance on luck; hit or miss. Also, by guess and by golly.
—Synonyms 1. hazard. 1, 2, 4. Guess, guess at, conjecture, surmise imply attempting to form an opinion as to the probable. To guess is to risk an opinion regarding something one does not know about, or, wholly or partly by chance, to arrive at the correct answer to a question: to guess the outcome of a game. Guess at implies more haphazard or random guessing: to guess at the solution of a crime. To conjecture is to make inferences in the absence of sufficient evidence to establish certainty: to conjecture the circumstances of the crime. Surmise implies making an intuitive conjecture that may or may not be correct: to surmise the motives that led to it. 3. fancy, imagine. 6. supposition.
as·sump·tion Audio Help /əˈsʌmpʃən/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[uh-suhmp-shuhn] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun 1. something taken for granted; a supposition: a correct assumption.
2. the act of taking for granted or supposing.
3. the act of taking to or upon oneself.
4. the act of taking possession of something: the assumption of power.
5. arrogance; presumption.
—Synonyms 1, 2. presupposition. 1. hypothesis, conjecture, guess, postulate, theory. 3. presumption. 5. effrontery, forwardness.
There's a thin line...
MINNIE ZLATA
Girl you are soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo RIGHT.
I agree. I just can't stand
I agree. I just can't stand some of the things I've read up on McCain. He discriminates against women in a number of ways. He isn't supporting equal pay for women. He doesn't want insurance coverage for birth control.
McCain just seems like a frightening choice.
Definitely going for Obama on this one.
Umm, Hello?
Draperyfalls & Surflike... you are overlooking the fact that Obama is all talk and flippety-flops depending on audience. How many Janus-like turn-arounds have we observed just in the past few weeks?
- FISA (he doesn't give a damn about our right to privacy, in fact Obama just trounced on it),
- bringing the troops home within a year (a now open-ended endeavor),
- campaign funding (flippety-flopped),
- Jerusalem (um, understanding of foreign policy? sentiment?),
- Iran (sometimes small and non-threatening, sometimes the greatest danger out there! depends on audience),
- death penalty (now ok),
- now supports "faith-based programs" just like Bush (steering federal social service dollars to religious groups, i.e. no separation of church & state)
good Gawd what will it be next?!
At least on equal pay McCain is walkin' the walk, while Obi – as usual – just moves his mouth:
Obama's for Equal Pay, Yet Pays Female Staffers Less Than Males (McCain does the opposite)
So Obama seems better to you today. Will he tomorrow?
How can you trust this man?
Obama IS NO DIFFERENT
Then any other man that wants the White House,O he was soooooo going to help Gay ppl but he wants to make it very plan to all the heterosexuals that he dose not believe in gay marriage(Thank God I am not voting for this man)