I’m so glad we have the likes of Keith Olberman, Jon Stewart and Dan Savage to comment on stories like Bush Jr’s recently self-outed campaign manager, Ken Mehlman’s admission of the obvious fact that the GoP is the party of the scapegoat.
August 26, Mehlman revealed that he is gay. Prior to this revelation, rumors about Mehlman’s sexual orientation had circulated since at least 2004. In May 2006, Mehlman denied that he was gay, telling the New York Daily News, “I’m not gay, but those stories did a number on my dating life for six months.”
On November 8, 2006, comedian Bill Maher made an appearance on CNN’s Larry King Live, during which he referred to Mehlman as a closeted gay man. The incident became controversial because CNN edited out Maher’s comments in later taped editions and removed the reference to Mehlman’s sexual orientation from the transcript of the show. The day after Maher’s comments, Mehlman announced he would step down as chairman of the RNC.
So NOW he comes out in The Atlantic and wants to become “an advocate for gay marriage” in his private life. I’m sorry. Way too little and too damn late.
From one election to the next the party’s leadership has shown a distinct pattern of using sentiment against a party or group to rally supporters to their side. Under Ken Melhman’s watchful eye they did just that by waving the gay marriage issue like a red flag to the easily baitable bull that is the religious right. While they’ve backed off the gays a bit, it’s only to put pressure on illegal immigrants and Muslims. It is such a shame that the American populace is so easily led by such an obvious and heinous tactic.
I think the gay GoPers who tow the evil line are worse than the assholes who stand in front preaching to the bigots fanning the flames. These are educated people who should know better but somehow manage to delude themselves into believing that it’s OK to engender persecution and hatred of their own peers in order to win an election. Either they do so by so convincing themselves (and therefore their co-workers and constituents) that they aren’t one of us (as Melman seems to have done) or they simply have no soul and care not that they work against the cause. Whichever excuse he leans towards, Ken Mehlman should be ashamed of himself.
Posted in Politics, SFW on 03/05/2010 05:07 pm by fanboi
Seriously? I pass that intersection fairly often in midafternoon (when going to Molly Stones or Noah’s Bagels) and these assholes are there WAY too often. They always have their hateful Obama is Hitler posters that just make me mad enough to spit. I managed to restrain myself, but couldn’t resist firing off a FUCK YOU when they had the nerve to try to talk to me. Then Popapathy made me feel bad so I reiterated Sorry, I don’t mean YOU, I meant FUCK THAT and pointed at the poster, took Popapathy’s hand and turned to leave. Upon which the asshole said something along the usual ignorant lines of a homophobe response to FUCK YOU… “I’d bet you’d like to” or some other shit. The woman with him said Oh Gross when we held hands. We kept walking and Popapathy didn’t really hear them but was livid when I told him. This is our city and our neighborhood. What I don’t get is why do they keep coming back? And How do we get rid of them?
I don’t have an answer to the first question, but as an attempt to see if I can help with the second, I’ve created a Twitter account called NoHateFlashMob (PLEASE FRIEND AND SHARE THE LINK!!!!) that I’d like to see anyone in the area join and keep informed if they show up so we might mobilize some kind of equal opportunity situation. If every time they show up someone sets up a table next to them manned by marriage equability supporters, colorful drag queens and anyone else who would get a kick out of being a thorn in their side, they might show up less.
I like it. Its sweet and totally speaks to the part of me that grew up on Schoolhouse Rock. Music is a very effective tool for communicating a message to the masses. And not only is this video political, adorable and catchy, but it is also true. Why else would the state be in such a hurry to keep Perry vs. Schwarzenegger (the landmark civil rights/marriage equality case against Proposition 8 currently underway) from being forever immortalized on YouTube? They don’t want the world AND history to see California as ignorant. But its too late in the information age to keep that sort of thing from happening.
The latest douchebag to end up in JoeCartoon’s blender is the sixth and current President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (link is to his blog THOSE OF YOU BRAVE ENOUGH TO CYBER BULLY A DANGEROUS LUNATIC WITH A COUTRY”S ASSETS AT HIS DISPOSAL, PLEASE FEEL FREE!).
In case you have been under a rock… He told a Columbia University audience “We don’t have homosexuals like in your country. We don’t have that in our country. We don’t have this phenomenon; I don’t know who’s told you we have it.” The only reason he thinks that is because he has them wiped out if they show their face.
Having these two stories in the same news cycle really is a great example of the “one step forward and two steps back” problem that has been dogging the Marriage Equality movement.
Why is it that the anti-gay bigots and their evil minions that comprise the anti marriage equality forces ALWAYS go to the incest and bestiality argument? REALLY! SERIOUSLY? Is that really all theses nutjobs have got?
I mean unless they are talking about extremely attractive gay twins, the incest thing isn’t very likely. I wish we could ACTUALLY compare the numbers of gay couples who want to get married to the number of wackjob rednecks who want to wed their favorite sheep or cousin to make them cut this bullshit the hell out.
Wanda Sykes (who came out last year amid a wealth of Prop 8 rallies) offered a well-balanced comedy routine at the 2009 White House Correspondents Dinner. Although her topics included: President Obama, VP Joe Biden, the current and some unnamed previous First Ladies, Education, Taxes , and the First Puppy – Bo, her best material was saved for the likes of Sarah Palin, Republican candidate John McCain, self-appointed savior of the Republican party – radio blowhard Rush Limbaugh (who was the target of quite a well-deserved and righteous skewering), Sean Hannity (who is still unwaterboarded) and of course Emperor Palpatine himself… Dick Cheney.
The audience was considerably more agreeable than Stephen Colbert’s audience in 2006. But then at THAT dinner his best material was pointed directly at Dubya.
In case you missed that unforgettable 2006 performance… I couldn’t resist including it – so click to continue if you want to Colbert roasting the hell out of Dubya and company in front of an audience that is generally NOT amused. No worries, I laughed enough for the whole damn group.
The Times of Harvey Milk (1984) is a skillful and emotionally compelling Oscar-winning documentary film from filmmakers Rob Epstein and Richard Schmiechen charting the political rise and brutal slaying of the first openly gay city official in the United States. It was at the top of my YouTube page when I logged in and thought it worth sharing…
Articulate and heartfelt interviews with people whose life he touched, extensive newsreel coverage, and personal film shot at certain events paint a clear picture of the political and social landscape in which these events took place and express the amazing impact that Milk had upon this historical moment.
I love the fact that we live in the YouTube generation. Not only are messages like this are so easy to share, but also it is reaffirming to know that there are others out there who are capable of seeing the world through the eyes of others.
All the hate (anti-LGBT hate speech in particular) on the internet inspired YouTuber Stevie Bee Bishop to organize this video featuring 23 YouTubers lip-syncing to Lily Allen’s song GWB (Fuck You Very Much).
It may have been a 4/20 special – I don’t think I usually get the G4 channel (to my chagrin) but as I was channel surfing late last night I happened upon The Onion Movie. For those unfamiliar, The Onion is a fake news organization featuring satirical articles reporting on international, national, and local news, and this movie is their first foray into a genre virtually ignored for decades – I don’t count Date Movie, Scary Movie etc and part of the genre – instead of being a collection of unrelated skits – they attempt to consolidate a bunch of funny moments to one story and it is forced at best – downright unfunny at worst. Hail to the Onion, the new king of parody!
Not since Amazon Women on the Moon (my favorite silly movie of all time) and The Kentucky Fried Movie (a close second) have comedic filmmakers created a collection of unrelated short sketches loosely tied together by some flimsy premise that managed to simultaneously make me laugh my ass off AND make sardonic yet brutally truthful judgments about society as we know it. I don’t care how you do it… but watch and laugh.
I only wish there had been more gay content. There was ONE gay cruise sketch – but was followed by an offended redneck saying that is so wrong – (but that also became a running gag as he reacted much the same to a number of segments).
there was alot more to it, but here are some clips I found…
Unsurprisingly, the elected asshole left ignorance, hatred and bigotry off the list of forces affecting peoples decision making on this issue. During a press conference Wednesday, Vermont Governor Jim Douglas announced that he will veto the marriage equality bill even if makes it all the way through the state legislature (it passed the state senate and it’s currently in the House) to his desk.
Vermont Freedom to Marry is calling for a rally tomorrow morning at the Vermont statehouse beginning at 8:45 am. They write: “We need to thank the Legislators for their leadership and to URGE Gov. Douglas to change his mind. The Governor has a Legislative Open Door from 9am-9:30am.”
Douglas’ phone information is Ph:802 828-3333 (toll-free in VT only: 800 649-6825). For a list of Vermont House Judiciary Committee members, go to Vermont Freedom to Marry.
I’ve seen this show a few times. The show usually depicts interesting yet disturbing scenarios where you really hope the people there do the right thing yet they often let you and the victims whose pain they witness. The reactions of this random crowd in a New Jersey sports bar to a real-life gay couple (also actors paid to be themselves in a potentially unpleasant setting) made me tear up a bit. Check this out…
Happy tears! Thanks to each and every person out there who can understand AND empathize DESPITE not actually being gay. God bless you all! (tell all your coolest straight friends we love them in a totally non threatening platonic way -and if you don’t have any – make some – they exist – HONEST)
I am so proud that the new generation of gay youth is outspoken and unafraid to confront authority. I cannot imagine the courage it takes to stand up and do what he did at that age.
In Mid-March, during hearings prior to Monday’s Vermont Senate vote which passed the same-sex marriage bill 26-4, 17-year-old James Neiley from Charlotte, Vermont, told it like it is. You Go James!
Personally I am a BIG fan of sarcasm. Sad thing is the people being made fun of probably aren’t smart enough to get the joke (but are they watching Jimmy Kimmel anyweay – well maybe, his is not an audience of rocket scientists). Or does that just make it funnier?
I happened upon this on Towleroad and you have to hear it. It is amazing to think how far this country has come to have a forward thinking man like Barack Obama as President. I did not care much for Nixon likening the morality of gays to street prostitutes.
Here’s a fascinating excerpt of a Richard Nixon tape (via Daily Dish) in which Nixon discusses homosexuality with his Chief of Staff H. R. Haldeman and Chief Domestic Advisor John Ehrlichman. What spurred the conversation was Nixon’s discussion of an episode of the then new TV show All in the Family which dealt with gay subject matter.
In the tape, Nixon tells the aides, “But the point is, I do not mind the homosexuality. I understand it.” There is then a 14-second beep. A commenter on the YouTube site says that during the 14-second beep Nixon was discussing J. Edgar Hoover and his “live-in companion.” Nixon goes on to say: “But nevertheless, the point that I make is that Goddamn it, I do not think that you glorify on public television homosexuality.”
If you blog, PLEASE repost the phone numbers below!!!!!
The ever vigilant bigots at the homophobic hate mongering American Family Association had already announced an anti-gay a boycott of Pepsi for its support of LGBT causes but the recent UK airing of this commercial has them stepping it up a notch.
REALLY? Are we THAT threatening to the fabric of society? Is it THAT horrible if occasionally we get to see ourselves included if not fully represented in a television commercial? REALLY?!!
The AFA was kind enough to provide a number for Pepsi Customer Relations in order for outraged bible-bangers to call and lodge their bigoted “christian” judgment. But I used it to call and lodge my support AGAINST the AFA boycott and to thank them and ask them to keep up the good work. The customer relations person was SOOOO glad to hear from me. Please call and do the same and then tell a friend and have them tell 2 friends – and so on, and so on.
PLEASE CALL PEPSI TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR SUPPORT: 1-800-433-2652
YOU CAN ALSO CALL AND THANK PEPSI SUBSIDIARIES… (AFA targeted them for harassing phone calls too so give em a break and call to say thanks)
the AFA’s letter to Pepsi and Pepsi’s response… (I believe this is before the ad aired)
AFA Letter to PepsiCo Chairman Indra K. Nooyi from Donald E. Wildmon (October 14, 2008):
Recently we noticed that PepsiCo gave a $500,000 donation to Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. We were indeed surprised by PepsiCo’s support of the homosexual group. It would appear to us that PepsiCo would not involve itself in a political and culture war, especially supporting an organization seeking to redefine marriage and family.
We ask PepsiCo to remain neutral in this culture war, neither supporting nor opposing the homosexual agenda.
We would like to discuss this matter with PepsiCo. Would you have a representative of PepsiCo contact us?
Response from Paul Boykas, director, public policy to Donald E. Wildmon (November 18, 2008):
I’m responding to your letter to our Chairman. In 2008, the PepsiCo Foundation awarded a grant to Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays to support a national program specifically designed for workplace environments.
The initiative seeks to promote further understanding and equality in the places where people spend much of their time at work.
Among the values promoted by the PepsiCo Foundation is ensuring a work environment that is respectful and where associates are valued for their contributions. I hope this helps clarify this grant by the PepsiCo Foundation.
I love her – she does Gods work.
