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We've Got Answers...from Jennifer Beals and Tobias Wolff
March 3, 2008 - 10:39am — editor
A message from Jennifer Beals:
Last week I asked you, the OurChart community, to post questions for Professor Tobias Wolff, chair of the National LGBT Policy Committee for the Barack Obama campaign. And did you ever deliver! Your overwhelming response to my blog made it the most trafficked post in OurChart history. Fortunately, Professor Wolff was more than game and we spent an entire evening (3 1/2 hours) discussing, conversing and debating the inquiries and issues you all raised so poignantly here on the site.
Professor Wolff covered so much ground that we decided to organize the material for you into several segments. I'm excited to share this first piece with you now, which you'll see touches on many of the big-picture questions and concerns you had, from Don't Ask, Don't Tell and gay marriage to adoption and immigration rights. In the coming days we'll post more in-depth discussions on many of these topics and others (hate crimes, healthcare, women's issues)--so please stay tuned!
In case you don't have time to watch the full video right now, you can find Senator Obama's open letter to LGBT Americans right here.
Thank you,
Jennifer
Read the text of this interview here.
Watch part two of the interview here.
Last week I asked you, the OurChart community, to post questions for Professor Tobias Wolff, chair of the National LGBT Policy Committee for the Barack Obama campaign. And did you ever deliver! Your overwhelming response to my blog made it the most trafficked post in OurChart history. Fortunately, Professor Wolff was more than game and we spent an entire evening (3 1/2 hours) discussing, conversing and debating the inquiries and issues you all raised so poignantly here on the site.
Professor Wolff covered so much ground that we decided to organize the material for you into several segments. I'm excited to share this first piece with you now, which you'll see touches on many of the big-picture questions and concerns you had, from Don't Ask, Don't Tell and gay marriage to adoption and immigration rights. In the coming days we'll post more in-depth discussions on many of these topics and others (hate crimes, healthcare, women's issues)--so please stay tuned!
In case you don't have time to watch the full video right now, you can find Senator Obama's open letter to LGBT Americans right here.
Thank you,
Jennifer
Read the text of this interview here.
Watch part two of the interview here.
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375 Comments
thank you jennifer
thank you for your engagement and for taking your time. it means a lot. I think these questions are really important, not only in this election or for the usa and the u.s citizens but for the rest of the world as well. what goes on in the usa and the political climate there affects the rest of the world, whether we like it or not. if you americans choose an lgbt friendly president that will probably not only change the situation for gay people in the u.s but for gay people all over the world. so thank you for caring!
Video
Thank you, Jennifer.
good questions - vague answers
I think that Jennifer is doing an outstanding job - even though we know she is biased, she did hold TW's comments to the fire when he didn't know the answer. HOWEVER....one question was just quickly set aside that I think deserves a better answer as it is the most crucial question to his campaign - experience. Jennifer asked what the laws in Illinois were as it relates to GLBT issues and TW did not have an answer. Since we have only a short period of history to show whether he is a man of his word or not, this question should have been followed up. All we know of Barrak are his two years in the senate and his time in Illinois. So what can he show us that he has actually done, when he's been in a position of power. One of the biggest mistakes we made with Bill Clinton was that we trusted his word and then in the middle of the night twice we were betrayed with DOMA and Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Just because someone "goes on record" saying they will or will not support us, has in the past been of no meaning. We should know exactly what he's done when he's had the chance. The same question should be asked of Hillary. I think this is vitally important.
Betrayal is a limited view of the reality
I had been discharged honorably during the Gulf War. Yet, I did know some women who had been discharged dishonorably while I was still on duty. From my experience with other veterans, the military justice system is its own system that is outside of the civilian justice system.
Case in point:
I know a woman was an officer who was raped by her superior officer, a commander in the air force. Her gynecologist left the door wide open while she was being examined for the rape. Every part of her case was mishandled. Her training was in law in the military and she fought her case up the chain of command. After she got to the threshold, she discovered that no laws were applied. After leaving the air force, she founded a non-profit to help other victims of rape. I can tell you that she has had children as young as three year olds gang raped, men raped by other men, and then of course women. She discovered that there is a cover up of rape and she had gone as far as the Pentagon. She repeatedly hits the same wall.
Hillary did explain her history and logic about her choices on the Logo Debate, from the transcript:
And for people who don't know Staff Sergeant Alba's history, he was the first Marine wounded in Iraq, recipient of a Purple Heart, and 15 years ago he
could have both been refused the opportunity to serve, but if he had gotten into the military under the rules that existed at the time and the attitudes that were prevalent, he could have been court-martialed or even accused and threatened with criminal action if he didn't reveal names of those with whom he might have had relationships who were serving in the military.
I think we have moved a long way on this and other issues, but I think it's important to recall how much of an advance "Don't ask; don't tell" was at the time.
However, it was not implemented appropriately. It was still used to discharge a lot of patriotic men and women who were serving our country, often at great cost in the middle of a war where people were being told, "We don't need your services anymore," including linguists and translators and other specialty services. (see outfordemocracy.org).
At that time, we were coming out of the Gulf War. If you compare the Post Traumatic Syndrome Disorders and the case loads now to then, you might figure out that the military may have used Ask Don't Tell to thin out the potential of paying veterans benefits like they are doing now.
ADT may not be right: it is not of course. Yet it was a step toward the military giving any leeway. We are now at a stage when we can move forward into another stage of acceptance.
I grew up during the San Francisco assassinations of Supervisor Harvey Milk and Mayor Moscone. You know Dan White was not charged with premeditated murder but voluntary manslaughter because he ate the volotile twinkies with cola. Suffice to say, homosexuality has also been referred to as a mental disorder by the psychiatric community of yesteryear. Most of my mother's extended family are Republican, voted for Bush. My mother's family are descended from the Mayflower voyage. I am very aware of real homophobia. My cousin died of AIDs and no one told me that he was gay until years after he died because no one wanted me to think I was normal.
When I came out in the eighties, in the S.F. Bay Area, I heard so many stories of people being kicked out of their families. It was tragic to hear those stories. Twenty five plus years later, we are still battling for equality. But make no mistake: we have come a long way.
Intelligence Operative 99
Thanks, Jennifer.
Thank You.
OH MY!
THANK YOU MEFFLE & LATANE_BLU
I would like to say that I can't believe some of the things that I've read here recently, but I really can. This is why race in this country will always be AN ISSUE.
But, I must say that I try not to get offended (I am multi-racial, but identify as a Black American) because I think it is important that people make candid comments like the ones seen here so that we can have an open dialogue about racial matters. Ignorance thrives in darkness. When we are able to have a discussion, views can be exchanged and we can hopefully learn a few things about each other. We can even broaden our views from time to time instead of making gross generalizations, stereotyping, and/or casting forth unsubstantiated assertions. Meffle, your comments have certainly not been wasted on me and I definitely appreciate your highly intelligent explanations regarding the distinctions between discrimination, biasness, and racism. I couldn't have explained it better. Keep fighting the good fight. Latane_Blu, likewise. I'm so grateful to you for your insightful responses regarding terminology. I believe in dialogue, but every once and a while I get weary. I'm elated to hear your thunderous voices.
Lastly, I part with this...
"Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her."
Proverbs 3:13-15
Peace to all.
Yes, Meffle's comments are
Yes, Meffle's comments are making me want to check out this book that keeps getting plugged.
I arrived a few days late to the debate but wanted to add a few comments.
One problem with discussions of race in the United States is that they don't take into account the fact that the most predominant system of racism is white supremacy. There are certainly racial tensions between many 'non-white' groups but the overlying power structure is essentially white domination of everyone else. I'm not saying other groups of people can't be racist, we all remember Japan's WWII shit, but when we talk about the United States this is a context of whites in power along with the tokens they allow.
Dictionary definitions of racism do not do justice to the North American situation because they pretend that the hypothetical Chinese restaurant not hiring a white person has the same impact and the same context as a white landlord refusing to rent an apartment to a Native or Black or Arab person. In the abstract theories that accompany the liberalism of the enlightenment that our dictionaries depend on, the white person is deemed to be at the same disadvantage as the Black person when someone is biased against them based on race. [There is no mention of the fact that sometimes people of color resent white people and don't trust them based on years of oppressive experience, or that Chinese restaurants might only hire within their own community for reasons other than the hatred that stems whites refusing to hire people of color.] We know this isn't the case. There is no long history of Chinese people oppressing white people based on race. Its an unpleasant incident for a white person at most to be derided by people of color. [racism between different groups of people of color is a whole other post...]
When I see those posters that say 'racism, its everyone's responsibility' I am reminded of why liberal abstract definitions don't work. Racism is tied to white privilege and that's not everyone's responsibility, its white people's.
There is no such thing as orientationism but imagine there was. Imagine that no one was willing to name the context of the groups involved so that it seemed like some straight guy getting made fun of by some rude queers was tantamount to homophobic abuse. It might not be polite but it isn't on par. Racialized groups are defined by power dynamics that our dictionaries do not reflect on, making it a dangerous thing to look only to them.
Racism is tied to white
Racism is tied to white privilege only because racism was abused in the most extreme way, and there for is used constantly as a scenario basis. Since race is used to divide people - it is laden with racism, because racism is the use of race to divide - and there fore it is everyone's responsibility.
People are people, and when race is the reason of any selection for any one thing - it is racism - I don't care who it is, or who does it - it is racial discrimination.
rovermom :)
Life is a 3D puzzle and everyone has a piece!
NEW! OurChart Photo Assignment and My Blog
Oh Jennifer.............
Thanks for your time. You can tell that you are all about love. It shows. I just like listening to you talk.
And..............
I heard one of your speeches and one thing that has stayed with me that you said was There is no corner of the universe where love does not abide. I beleive that. Love covers a multitude of sins. Just think how the world could be if the flood waters of love showered us, and the strong surge of power it would have.
transcription pt 4 Beals/Wolff interview 1
JB: TEXASCHART would like to know if you think there has been any legitimate, measurable legal success toward the dissolution of the Don't Ask Don't Tell policy.
TW: The landscape for Don't Ask Don't Tell is so different from what it looked like in 1993. Every NATO ally, with the exception of Turkey- South Africa, Israel, Canada have all gotten rid of their antigay policies in the last fifteen years, with no impact upon military performance or readiness whatsoever, and the United States is now the outlyer. So one of the major changes in the legal landscape is that the argument that somehow a military needs an antigay policy to do their job has been shown false again and again and again by every other military and political ally that we work with and depend upon around the world.
JB: MELINDA6499 writes "I've been with my wife, as I like to call her, for almost nine years. When she goes away with the army, it hurts like hell to leave me behind, yet she has to internalize all of her feelings, because she can't tell anyone she misses her lover who is of the same sex. It shouldn't be like this. She is a great soldier and an asset to the military. So what are you going to do for her?"
I'm sure MELINDA6499 means, what will Senator Obama do for her as President?
TW: Well, Barack Obama has made what I think is unequivocally the strongest and the most fully thought out statement about how we are going to not just repeal Don't Ask Don't Tell and replace it with a policy of nondiscrimination in the Military Readiness Enhancement Act, but also to implement the on-the-ground details of that shift in policy with the Senate Armed Services Committee and the House, uh, Committee with military leaders, to figure out all the ways in which gay and lesbian service members and their partners are currently being treated unequally, and to fix them. That is partly about spousal support services, it's about benefits, it's about the types of pensions and health benefits that our soldiers get, it's about getting gay and lesbian servicemembers who have been kicked out under that old policy, to be able to re-access into the military, to come back, if they otherwise have clean records and it was just this discriminatory policy that booted them out. That's what repealing Don't Ask Don't Tell is about. It's not about just getting rid of that one statute. It's about identifying all the ways in which gay and lesbian couples are treated unequally.
JB: Why wouldn't you go after Don't Ask Don't Tell under the First Amendment?
TW: Well, you're asking the right person! I have been beating that drum for a long time. People have been discharged for talking about their sexuality to their chaplains. People have been discharged for talking about their sexuality to psychotherapists, doctors, writing in their diaries. It is an outrage. I believe very strongly that if the First Amendment doesn't prohibit that, then the First Amendment doesn't prohibit anything in the military.
JB: And would you recommend to Obama to go after Don't Ask Don't Tell in that manner?
TW: The way that we are going to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell is not just by ordering that it happen or not just by proclaiming that it is a priority, but by getting people on board understanding why this policy is bad for national security, and unjust, and doesn't make any sense, and I think the First Amendment arguments, the observations about how this is how this impacts upon people's speech, these are the sorts of things people are being discharged for, really helps us in that education process, both with members of Congress, with members of the military and with members of the public.
JB: So going after it Constitutionally might be sort of the broad sword to the..not..it's more important to change people's mind set and have everybody on board so that the law will be followed.
TW: Even the most precious rights under our Constitution are not going to be as strong as they should be if the people aren't invested in them, and if people are not ready to recognize the principles that underlie Constitutional rulings by courts. I'll tell you that one of the things that I find so exciting about this year and about Barack Obama's campaign is that he's getting people excited about principles.
JB: As a followup, REBELZZ asked what rights would be given to the partners of gay and lesbian soldiers who die in action?
TW: Well the simple answer, REBELZZ, is, the same rights that are given to the partners of straight soldiers who die in action. I mean, you know, this is the principle that Barack has articulated so clearly, is that we need to get rid of this discriminatory differential treatment, period.
JB: So many of our questions seem to be about gay families and partnerships, because, really, that's the center of anyone's life, I think.
To OurChart: I don't mean to be presumptuous, but love is a big thing in my life.
To TW: With that in mind, THE ROUTE66 wonders, "What is Obama's strategy for insuring that gays and lesbians are able to adopt in every state?"
TW: Mmm. More and more states are holding that the fact that a parent is gay is simply not relevant to the question of whether they are allowed to adopt or the question of whether they should get custody of the kids after a divorce, whatever the case may be. Barack has been strongly on record saying that just not relationship rights in terms of the couple, but adoption rights and custodial rights for kids should be completely equal for gay and straight alike.
JB: And what's on the books now in Illinois?
TW: Illinois. Gosh, that's a good question.
JB: Because I'm just thinking, if he was a senator, I wanted to know...
TW:Sure
JB: Did he do anything about it and was there any need to do anything about it.
TW: Sure. My guess is no. Illinois has been one of the states that has been, partly because of the leadership of people like Barack Obama, has been very good about getting rid of the old discriminatory laws and rulings of the past. So my guess is that the court decision situation is as good as the legislative situation which is to say that they've gotten to the right place. But I'll admit that I don't know in detail.
JB: Okay, we've covered alot of ground here, specifically on gay marriage, Don't Ask Don't Tell, anti discrimination legislation, but before we wrap it up, I think our viewers would like to know what an Obama administration would look like. RSTIPATI "believes political campaigns are all about symbolism and projecting an image to voters. I found a picture of Obama walking in a St. Patrick's Day parade and in a Columbus Day parade. I want to know if he's ever marched in a Gay Pride parade?"
TW: Absolutely yes. In fact he marched in a Gay Pride parade in Chicago when he was a candidate for the United States Senate.
JB: DARLINGGRAY0112 asks " Who's on Obama's short list? The administration that will help him acquire, facilitate and respond to policies, issues and crises? That's just as important to me as who the leader is."
TW: Sure. What Barack has always said, when he gets questions about appointments, and I think it's the right answer, is that "first let's see who the nominee is,and then maybe it will be time to start talking about potential appointments." Having said that, um, Barack's campaign is full of LGBT folks in positions of great influence and responsibility. His deputy manager, the man who's responsible for running the states of Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina in the early part of the process and who is now one of the principal decision makers in every single one of the key primaries is a gay man.
JB: And his name is...
TW: His name is Steve Hildebrand.
JB: Mmm hmm.
TW: The two chief fundraisers, the fundraisers who are in charge of the entire Western district of the United States are this fantastic Los Angeles couple, who are gay.
JB: Who led me to you...
TW: Who led you to me. That's exactly right. There are folks midlevel, there are folks at the grassroots level, and that has always been true for Barack's entire career. That array of expertise is I think a beautiful sort of preview of the kind of administration that Barack Obama is going to put together as President of the United States.
JB: I think for me what's interesting about this campaign is that it's so clearly a grassroots campaign...
TW: Absolutely.
JB: And that the psychology of politics has changed, that the pronoun is we...
TW: Yes
JB:That someone can lead, but they also expect to be led, by the people, and that it is a symbiotic relationship. There is a call to the politics of hope, not as a pie in the sky kind of idealogy, or you know, Messianic kind of mantra, it is a call to be all that YOU can be. I feel like he makes a promise that he will try to be all that he can be, and listen to all sides, and not everyone will hear what they want to hear all the time, but that he will try to bring everybody to the table as best he can. But it's also incumbent upon us to be the best that we can be, because he cannot get it done by himself, and that's one of the things that's so moving to me.
TW: You know, I'll tell you, I completely agree and I will tell you what, among the many inspiring things about this campaign and about this man, what I find most inspiring is his constant willingness to challenge America and to challenge the people he is speaking to, and to say to an audience, "I'm here to tell you what you can be and to encourage you to start stepping up to the plate, and being the change that we have been waiting for, and to become active and engaged citizens, and to take responsibility for figuring out what kind of America you want to live in."
JB: Thank you so much for being here.
TW: Thank you, Jennifer, it was a pleasure.
JB: To TW: It was really, really a pleasure.
To OurChart: And thank you, again, for all of your questions, and being part of this process, and I can only hope that no matter who the candidate is, that you continue your enthusiasm and you continue your passion and your energy for the betterment of all of us.
Thank you
Your transcribing of the interview is much appreciated - you're the best - thanks!
Nothing but love
Tex
Oh politics XD
SO much drama, I only stopped by to watch Jennifer :).. Cute!! <3
There you go
There you go - at this point in the day - this woman has the right idea! I think I'll watch the segment again myself!
Nothing but love
Tex
Off topic
Ok this is off topic, but does anyone agree that Jennifer Beals looks hot possessed in the Grudge 2, or is that just me being weird???
(My apologies for being off topic, but since where on the subject of how cute JB is I thought I'd ask)
Off topic, but a great subject
She looks hot in everything she's done and does. I'm with TexasChart; I think I'll watch it again too. :)
Bwahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!
I thought this was rather cute and amusing....just something to lighten the mood in here....smile, its cute, nothing political, just funny:
see more loldogs are funny dog pictures!
lol
Love it!!!!
Extremely nice respite!
Hey, Ansacht! Love the pic - extremely nice respite! Do hope things are going well with you!
Nothing but love
Tex
politics -
are not a laughing matter. Didn't you get the memo? haha! thanks for the smile :-)
You wanna' keep going? ;)
You wanna' keep going? ;)
Hmm...
I guess I did miss the memo huh?
XD I love you guys, you're all so much fun.....
Although some of our debates sound like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqOHquOkpaU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3tVcVcMXr4&
:D I'm just here to bring the fun...cause i'm fun-gay!!
Yeah, its politics, its serious but that doesn't mean it can't be funny. Laugh, it makes everyone feel better even if it solves nothing. XD
Oh, I was just askin'. In
Oh, I was just askin'. In her response seemed there was a lil' left over hostility there. So, ya know... thought I'd ask. *smiles*
transcribing
I will go on with it from there. I am glad you did the part on immigration rights, Melanie, it is too close to home for me.
Freedom?
Watch the series if you have the time. Both with the late, great Hollywood producer, Aaron Russo:
warning: beginning 2:34 very hard to watch
2. Reality vs. Media - The Smoking Gun (part 2 of 5)
America: Freedom to Fascism (1-11)
The Rolling Transcript Part 3 8:39 - 10:18
JB: Many of our users are concerned about immigration rights for gay couples ...
TW: Sure.
JB: ... PARADOXALPOISED is French and has an American girlfriend of three years. She writes: "The situation is hard and insulting when you know an American guy in the States can order a girl on a catalog, have her come over on a marriage visa, and then marry her on American soil and get her a Green Card. I am not a girl in a catalog -- I see my lover twice a year -- we spend hours on phone and webcam, and we always have to say goodbye. So my question is: Will Senator Obama make it possible for bi-national LGBT couples to have immigration solutions just like any straight person would? And when? Because I'm not sure my couple will make it another three years."
TW: Senator Obama has been on record for a long time as a very strong supporter of equal immigration rights for gay and lesbian couples. There's a bill in Congress right now called "The Uniting American Families Act", and he is working on that bill to get it where it needs to be so that it will both treat gay and lesbian couples equally in terms of our rights and standards that apply to us, and also define which couples are going to get to take advantage of that law, so that we don't have misuse of the law by couples who aren't real couples. The worst thing that could happen, I think, is to pass the law, and then have the story be that it's somehow serving as some kind of vehicle for immigration fraud.
JB: Mmmhmm
TW: And the law is a very good law and needs to be improved a little bit, and then Senator Obama will then co-sponsor it as a senator and sign it as president.
/////
That takes us up to 10:18. (I got the part of the video that makes your heart blow out of your chest, huh?)
Okay, take it away DAE1 or ... who?
The Racial Thing
It's not right to sweep the racial thing under the rug, nor compete on what group of people (women or blacks) are the bigger victims in our country. All it takes is having a relationship with a black woman, going in a store and watching security follow her around while ignoring me (I'm multi-ethnic, but look white). All it takes is going into a "sundown" town and having her ask if I'd go in to get the motel room so that she doesn't have to face the disdain and perhaps the "we have no vacancies" line. Or, maybe, walk into a restaurant in the same town and have chills go up your spine because of the glares. She did NOT play the victim. She just used her gut to assess what situations were safer than others. As lesbians, we probably do that quite a bit. In the town where I live, I do.
It IS a big deal to have both these candidates running, especially when you're old enough to remember the March on Washington in 1963 and how things were before then or having your grandmother tell you about women getting the right to vote.
But, hey, this thing about who to vote for based upon one of those factors just doesn't fly. It's the red herring that keeps us from deciding who should be nominated based upon their stances, differences in policy or our individual assessments on who would be more competent in leading our country.
Lezbeth
Ron Paul Rising
I forgot to include this vid which is a bit cheesy (esp the end) but still fun to watch. Shows the power of Ron Paul before the censorship began:
Ron Paul Rising
Bi Racial Comments.........
First of all, it really gets "under my skin " when I hear comments concerning ones skin color and how it affects anothers opinion concerning that individual.I am a Gay, White Female...and I can proudly stand up and say that I am not a racist and am not prejudiced....after all....How can I be prejudiced against another, when I know others are being prejudiced against me, due to my life style ?
Secondly, Mrs. Beals choose to recognize Obama as a " Man of Color "...Bravo !!! A wonderful choice of expression concerning his idenity. Kudos to Mrs. Beals !
Lastly, Thank you Mrs. Beals ! Thank you for your time and thank you for caring....I too am a person of color....White,French,Jewish,American Indian.........
Thanks..............................
I can't believe
I can't believe that in this day and age we are still dealing with, not only issues of race, but with issues of color as well. As far as I'm concerned, we are all multi-cultural, especially those of us on the North American Continent.
I cringe everytime I recall that my wife's mother, upon learning that we were dating seriously, asked her, "Well how black is she?" I cringe further when I realize my wife actually entertained the question.
JB is a beautiful, intelligent woman. I'm proud to claim her as a black woman, just as I'm sure others are proud to claim her as a white woman. But the most important thing is that she claim herself. I think she's a role model of others who may not have settled the issue of racial heritage as well.
I would be remiss if I did not mention my book, Abmelanomia, here. Someone suggested that this would be a good time for me to re-energize my promotion efforts as the book deals with the change in the balance of power along racial lines. JB, did you read it yet? I sent it to you two years ago.
Just remember: There's a thin line between black and white
I Agree
I think you are right. What's most important is that she claims herself. I acknowledge all my racial heritages, but I self-identify as Black because of my specific experiences (i.e. how I was raised, the communities I grew up in, various commonalities I share (as far as a myriad of personal views and perspectives), etc.). All-in-all, I identify most with Black people (and my African American heritage). I do not reject the other parts of my identity because I am proud of my multi-racial heritage, but I feel most like a Black woman.
I respect a person's right to identify as they so desire, but we do live in a country that will probably put you in a box based on how you appear outwardly. So, I think bi-racial and multi-racial children need to understand this at an early stage in life. Too often whole communities reject their own because they do not "look" the part closely enough, but then these same communities get upset if they perceive that a bi-racial or multi-racial person is rejecting the part of themselves that most reflects them. The issue of race can be such a complex matter. It doesn't have to be, but so often it is.
I would be glad to do more
I would be glad to do more of the transcribing if anyone wants me to. I have time today. Just holler!
Ron Paul: Expert on Economics
Ron Paul is an outspoken critic of blowback, empire building, and the destruction of our constitutional rights. He's received more campaign donations from people in our armed services than all of the other candidates combined. He's a presidential candidate, but you won't see him on TV or even on major network websites, all united in denying his candidacy and the legitimacy of his words.
Even on the business channel he's referred to as Congressman Ron Paul rather than presidential candidate Ron Paul, but at least they give him airtime:
Ron Paul Interview on FOX Business Channel 02/28/2008
Who is Ron Paul?
No, seriously... we don't even know who or what he is here in Texas - at least outside of Austin. A colleague of mine was in Austin last weekend and she said Ron Paul supporters were EVERYWHERE! But, "who is he?" followed by laughter. If you aren't one of the majors you aren't anyone. I did some work for the Green Party in 2002/2003 for a really great candidate who got zero airtime on the public radio. I complained and they said they didn't have time for minor players, only the majors they said.
Ron Paul is from Texas, right??
Senator Ron Paul is a MAJOR CANDIDATE
Ron Paul is a MAJOR CANDIDATE (republican) who broke all records of raising the most campaign money in a single day EVER (over 6 million). He did this entirely through internet "money bomb" donations, average donation $60. He was included in the TV debates early on until his popularity and outspokenness against our government's corruption, foreign policy, manifold violations of the constitution, financial irresponsibility, illegal taxation of earnings (income tax - it's actually illegal!), etc. got him ousted up fast by those who profit from all of the aforementioned. Early on Giuliani also mentioned that "Ron Paul supporters are everywhere". Shortly afterwards RP was completely, purposefully ignored by the media. His fans are mobilized all over the web and they scare the hell out of the "established powers that be". Censorship of Ron Paul has also purportedly occurred on myspace, youtube and other online venues.
Comb through the other OC (including this one, the Hillary blog and others) polit blogs for more info on Ron Paul. There are many interesting links to be found... Youtube search: Ron Paul, Ron Paul Blimp, Ron Paul Debate, Ron Paul censorship, Ron Paul foreign policy, freedom to fascism and check out the many vids those searches/links lead you to. This should get you started:
Ron Paul Austin Interview
Ron Paul 2008 official site
Censorship of Ron Paul, Part 1
CNBC Ron Paul Smacks Bernanke,Traders Cheer 2-27-08 I had this linked to a vid that showed Chicago Board of Trade Traders cheering Ron Paul 3 times in 2 months!! for his criticism of Bernanke, but - haha weep - youtube pulled it due to "terms of use violation". utube search: Ron Paul Bernanke
ron paul on homosexuality
Ron Paul On Gay Marriage
GayWired Media Republican Endorsement: Ron Paul
Gays & Lesbians for Ron Paul 2008
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just in case
you didn't know... i was joking - only partially. He is from Texas, but he doesn't even get press in Texas. Same thing with Bush - we all know he sucks, but you'd never know it watching the news in Dallas. When Bush was governor before president - we never even knew we HAD a governor in Texas until he ran for president - THEN we had a governor. There is a media black out in Texas - fo reals y'all.
No Press in Texas
He must be known somewhere in Texas to be reelected for eleven terms - 14th District in Texas, a district larger than Massachusetts, with 675 miles of Gulf of Mexico coastline between Houston and Corpus Christi, covering some 22 counties. The 14th congressional district of Texas stretches from the Gulf Coast in Galveston and Chambers counties almost to Corpus Christi; north through Victoria; and east through Jackson and Wharton counties toward Houston. It includes parts of Fort Bend county, then slopes south through Brazoria county, which includes petrochemical companies and rice farmers along the coast, to ranchers and cotton growers inland, from small businesses to oil producers, the district represents not only a cross-section of Texas' economy, and is said to be vital to the nation. I could be wrong... I've never been to Texas, but... that sounds like a pretty big stretch. Maybe you just need to step out of Austin once in a while? Or just get more informed about your state?
you don't quit
get a grip. truly - he is where he is in texas - but texas is a pretty fucking big state and people really don't know what is happening all over it. unless there is a refinery explosion - Houston never makes the Dallas news - Austin never makes the Dallas news. Amarillo, San Antonio, El Paso, Abilene - Lubbock - West Texas and usually East Texas never make the Dallas news. I live in Dallas. Ron Paul got 1% of the vote or so on Tuesday - probably the majority from his constituents. Huckabee got more support from Texans on Tuesday than he did from any other primary he was in. This is the climate - I didn't make it the way it is. Get a grip.
No, I don't quit. Sounds
No, I don't quit.
Sounds like you need to get a grip. You're the only one here getting upset.
*cringes*
That's a scary thought...not to know who is representing you and who you're voting for....for reals, get some tvs or radios or something.....
No. Don't get some tvs. Seek
No. Don't get some tvs. Seek alternative news outlets. Internet connection will do just fine.
Y'all sheep over there?
So what do y'all do over there? Just accept it? Do you protest? Do you publish stuff on your own? Do you do anything to fight the blackout? Or do you just joke about it?
Hope someone else can use the links!
yeah
we are all sheep.
Sheep
Herded sheep being led to the slaughter...
texas
hello - this is why I replied to the optimistic post from a cali resident... don't be so optimistic about texas. I'm telling you all like it is here - get a grip - and don't kill the messenger. it's bad enough being a liberal in a conservative state, and then getting skewered on ourchart for letting you all know... fuck me!
You're telling like it is?
You're telling like it is? I'm supposed to take your word for it when you said yourself you don't even know who's representing your state?
Yeah, uh huh.
And don't play the victim. You think because I said "sheep being led to the slaughter" it only applies to you, or Texas? No, hardly.
We all are. Ok? Only some of us are just a bit more aware of it.
haha
What is your problem? I didn't say I don't know who is representing me. I said a colleague of mine doesn't know and neither did 3 other people at the table at lunch yesterday. Get over yourself. That you have to fight me for my opinion about the state I live in is really pathetic.
Re: Haha
No problem here. Seems you're getting your panties twisted, though.
Going back and reading your comments, it sure read like you did say that. Oh... you were you joking, right?
What's pathetic is you post saying you haven't a clue (media blackout or not, joking or not), then you get upset at me for responding with answers. That's pathetic. What's even more pathetic is people who are fully aware they live in an area where there's media censorship, but do nothing about it.
Okay, okay!
First - picture a mom like figure, five foot nothing, a hundred and nothing standing between the two of you with out stretched arms - holding each of you back - NOW - that better?
Come on ladies - and Rossi - step back, Hon! Really, you've been getting pretty harsh lately. Remember, we're all in this together - find a way to constructively kick or better yet, don't kick at all. We've got a lot of passionate people here - and to me, that's the most important part - they're here! Again, step back, breathe, relax - and later on, since you've never been to Texas, you come on down to Austin. I'll take you for some of the best barbeque, beer, and live music you've ever experienced!
Nothing but love
Tex
Hey Tex, Can I come along
Hey Tex,
Can I come along for the barbeque, beer and live music if I promise to lighten up and not be so serious in the political rooms too?? ;-)