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Why Rick Warren is a disgrace

By Scott - Dec 18th, 2008 at 3:44 pm EST

Also listed in: 5 groups

First of all, I'm a gay man and I gave Obama more money than I've given any candidate. More importantly I worked hard on the ground for him. I campaigned in three states (NY, PA & FL). In the weeks before the election, I took two weeks of vacation to work on his GOTV campaign in Florida. Markos Moulitsas' words rang in my ears those weeks, "leave it all on the road." I was exhausted and elated when he won.

And my initial, visceral reaction to the news of Rick Warren's great moment of honor, was to feel sick to my stomach. Didn't we beat Sarah Palin? I was shocked, bewildered. I thought we were done with the Christian Taliban calling the shots?

Excuses, excuses
I've heard many people describe Obama's endorsement of Warren as a "reaching out." Newsflash people, "we" won! We aren't obliged to reach out to the far-right, they are obliged to reach out to us. Do you apologists all have Stockholm Syndrome? Is this the change we asked for?

Let's see: the far-right gets their way, the left hands it to them on a silver platter and both side agree to call it a compromise. This is feeling very, very familiar and not like much of a change at all. Did Bush pick a progressive minister to deliver his invocation to heal that ugly divide in 2000? Did he "compromise?" Has any conservative? Read More »

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Should Brooklynites Protest the BROOKLYN firm doing the robocalls?

By Scott - Oct 18th, 2008 at 12:08 pm EDT

Also listed in: 7 groups

I was absolutely HORRIFIED to read in the Huffington Post that the slanderous robocalls that accuse Barack Obama of working closely with terrorists that kill Americans are coming from Brooklyn.

This past week, Shoff, a Freeborn, Minnesota Democratic County Commissioner, received the Hollywood call while at work. Because state law dictates that any such calls be made by an actual human, Shoff demanded that he be connected to the supervisor. That official, who worked at the robocall shop King TeleServices in (Red Hook) Brooklyn, New York, said that they had been contracted out by FLS-Connect.

Officials with King TeleServices did not respond to messages seeking comment.

Asked about the connection to King TeleServices, a receptionist for FLS relayed a message from her supervisors that implicitly acknowledged that they have been working on behalf of the Arizona Republican: "If it is having to do with the McCain campaign or the RNC, you will have to direct your question to them."

Believe me, I know there's lots of other fronts, and important positive action to be taken. I have canvassed in PA, donate too much of my budget to Obama, and will soon be traveling to FL (after voting absentee) to get out the vote in that state. But hear me out.

We're in a blue state, and feel at times we're impotent to affect this election. What we can do is utilize our easy access to the media, and our sheer volume of numbers to make a point.

We could seize this as a chance to REINFORCE the message I'm gratefully hearing more and more; that McCain is running a slanderous and dishonorable campaign. Also that his negative and untrue attacks are backfiring, and offending reasonable people who want to discuss the issues and elevate the level of political discourse. I think we should. I think we should send out a message that "Brooklyn don't go for that! If you wanna tear the American electorate apart with your lies and racism, I do not want you to do it in my backyard!"

Post your interest, ideas, suggested date, time, here, or email me at clarknt67ATnycDOTrrDOTcom

Scott Wooledge

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GOP Pundits mock Palin

By Scott - Sep 1st, 2008 at 11:41 pm EDT

Also listed in: 8 groups

This is an excerpt from my DailyKos Diary. I'm gonna use this to feed traffic there, please. My aim is to keep it recommended, so as many people see it as possible and also so the embedded video goes viral. It is essentially Joe Scarborough and Pat Buchanon, openly mocking Sarah Palin's qualifications for VP saying, "That... will... not... work." They are just laughing at her.

Problem, just moments later, Palin is announced and within hours, Buchanon is making the rounds of the talking heads show to crow about what a "brilliant" pick this is. It's a blatant look at the GOP message machine, how quickly they change their tunes.

This is perfect antithesis to the GOP talking points that have obviously made the rounds in the last few days.

I would recommend you forward this to everyone. If they are right-leaning, trying being a little stealthy, use a subject line like "Buchanon (or Scarborough) on Palin" since they're likely to watch it then.

Please click on my Kos blog and recommend if you have a sign in. Please click the "Digg" link too.

The video is here

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Donate $47 today

By Scott - Aug 4th, 2008 at 4:33 pm EDT

Also listed in: 8 groups

Happy Birthday Barack, I donated $47 dollars today in honor of your birthyday. And have encouraged everyone I know to do the same.

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McCain's Vulnerability on Vet Issues

By Scott - Jul 10th, 2008 at 9:29 am EDT

Also listed in: 8 groups

I'm so glad Rachel Maddow is fact checking McCain's claim to being a favorite of Veteran's groups. She spoke last night on MSNBC's Countdown with Paul Rieckhoff of the Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans Of America to discuss John McCain's exchange with a veteran at his recent rally about his voting record on veterans benefits and issues (exchange included): Paul is obviously no fan of McCain.

Watch it here. Read More »

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Dispatches from the Double-Talk Express

By Scott - Jul 1st, 2008 at 1:43 pm EDT

Also listed in: 7 groups

I'm so glad this made the Countdown. I hate how McCain's getting a pass on his complete transformation on so many positions in the last year. Keith Olbermannn lists a dizzying array of McFlipFlops sundry positions: Read More »

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Why is everyone so bitter?

By Scott - Jun 16th, 2008 at 8:12 am EDT

Also listed in: 7 groups

Hillary: Stole my nomination
Bill: No do-over

Obama: Pretend to be a Christian for 20 years--and for what?
Michelle: Whitey's keeping me down.

John McCain: Cancelled "Murder she wrote"
Cindy McCain: Who's bitter? I'm filthy fuckin' rich!

Rudy Guilani: 9/11!
Judy Guilani: Rudy stopped answering my calls.

Fred Thompson: Still can't get back on nap schedule
Jeri Thompson: Prenup: stuck with old geezer, who's not even going to be President!

John Edwards: Reduced to $300 haircuts
Elizabeth Edwards: Catfights with Hillary highlight of her year.

Mitt Romney: Underwear not so magic.
Ann Romney: Five sons, all gay.

Mike Huckabee: AIDS patients still walk free, feminists still aborting babies.
Janet Huckabee: Husband porking out again

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Gitmo ruling makes Obama the clear choice

By Scott - Jun 15th, 2008 at 12:20 pm EDT

Also listed in: 7 groups

It underscores the importance of electing Barack in November.

The idea of habeas corpus was essentially first cemented into the collective wisdom of law and Constitutional Government in the Magna Carta in 1215. Civilization remained sold on the idea for almost 800 years. We thought it was a good idea that, if a government wanted to imprison and execute people, defendents should get a chance to defend themselves.

Bush, McCain and the GOP, however want to put the idea back on the table for debate. McCain calls it "One of the Worst Decisions in the History of This Country."

No wonder citizens--by up to 80%-- think the country is going in the WRONG DIRECTION!

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This gay's for Obama

By Scott - Jun 14th, 2008 at 11:06 am EDT

Also listed in: 7 groups

Ok, I was unimpressed with Obama's handling of the McClurkin incident in South Carolina. I really felt it was awful.

But I'm urging us, the GBLT community not to overstate the importance of that unfortunate moment, in light of all that is at stake in the election. Sadly, we gays--at this point in history--when it comes to politics, particularly national and Presidential, we occasionally find ourselves thrown under the bus by well meaning, but pragmatic politicians.

No doubt, it could have, and should have been handled better.

But, the time is now to get past soundbytes and petty hurt feelings, the truth is he does have the courage to come out swinging on important issues that concern the GBLT community.

Sure, I'd like to see him express more support for GBLT immigration rights, including becoming a signatory on the
Uniting American Families Act which he expressed general support for but thus far has declined to co-sponsor in the Senate.

But no candidate is perfect, and Barack certainly appears to be "reachable" on issues that concern us.

To that end, I've clipped from his website his position on GLBT positions:

Expand Hate Crimes Statutes In 2004, crimes against LGBT Americans constituted the third-highest category of hate crime reported. Obama co-sponsored legislation to expand federal hate crimes law to include crimes perpetrated because of sexual orientation or gender identity.
Fight Workplace Discrimination and Promote Rights Obama believes the Employment Non-Discrimination Act should be expanded to include sexual orientation and gender identity. Obama sponsored legislation in the Illinois State Senate that would ban employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
Support Full Civil Unions and Federal Rights for LGBT Couples Barack Obama supports full civil unions that give same-sex couples equal legal rights and privileges as married couples, including the right to assist their loved ones in times of emergency as well as equal health insurance, employment benefits, and property and adoption rights. Obama also believes we need to fully repeal the Defense of Marriage Act and enact legislation that would ensure that the 1,100+ federal legal rights and benefits currently provided on the basis of marital status are extended to same-sex couples in civil unions and other legally-recognized unions.
Oppose a Constitutional Ban on Same-Sex Marriage Obama voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment, which would have defined marriage as between a man and a woman and prevented judicial extension of marriage-like rights to same-sex or other unmarried couples.
Repeal Don't Ask-Don't Tell Obama believes we need to repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" policy. The key test for military service should be patriotism, a sense of duty, and a willingness to serve. Obama will work with military leaders to repeal the current policy and ensure we accomplish our national defense goals.
Fight AIDS Worldwide Obama has been a global leader in the fight against AIDS. He traveled to Kenya and took a public HIV test to encourage testing and reduce the stigma of the disease. Obama worked to reauthorize the Ryan White CARE Act, one of the largest sources of federal funds for primary health care and support services for HIV/AIDS patients.

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Obama is "exotic"

By Scott - Jun 13th, 2008 at 10:24 am EDT

Also listed in: 7 groups

This is the adjective Pat Buchanan and Republican strategist Brad Blakeman used repeatedly to describe Obama on Dan Abram's MSNBC show "The Verdict" last night.

It got me thinking about the nature of that word: EXOTIC and I looked up its formal definition:

1. of foreign origin or character; not native; introduced from abroad, but not fully naturalized or acclimatized

And though I don't think most of us think about this word in such precise detail, I do see how it dovetails perfectly into the most scurrilous accusations the GOP make about Obama, "He's a secret muslim terrorist! What's with the fist pumping? Why no flag on his lapel? Michelle is his 'baby mamma!' not his wife."

See the point Buchanon and Blakeman are trying to make?

He's not a real American. Real Americans aren't brown! Real Americans don't come from Hawaii or broken homes! Real Americans don't fist pump! It's all very strange and foreign and scary. Be afraid, be very afraid. Don't think too much and just vote for the white guy.

I would be offended by their xenophobia if I didn't find it so amusing and honestly believe, in the end, it will backfire on them.

These people are old, white and out of touch. They don't realize that Obama is only exotic to Buchanan and McCain's contemporaries (so, essentially, the 70+ crowd).

Most of America now has more in common with Obama than McSame (my pet name for Johnny as he is indistinguishable policy-wise from Bush).

Our generation, as often as not, is also from broken homes and know the upheaval and discomfort of moving around in childhood as Obama did. If we're not of color--and so many more of our generation are--we at least shared dorm rooms and ate with people of color in our cafeterias. Fist pumping doesn't frighten us.

Americans are smarter than the GOP gives them credit for. For that I'm grateful and will relish seeing them go down in November.

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