Ruth: Proof Positive the Republicans are OUT of Touch

Ruth replied to our post on Dick Riordan - since we are an Angeleno, and were there under the Riordan administration, we’d like to respond to her rant.

Dick Riordan. Seriously, Dick Riordan? He was a RINO at best and is probably worse than Arnold in reputation. His endorsement means nothing to most people, even Californians.

Obama is not interested in the kind of change that our free-market, capitalist government was created to uphold. He wants more government, more taxes and feels the need to pretend like he is able to end global poverty with his personal policies and bills that he has sponsored, like S.2433.
He wants to take 7% of our GNP and give it to the U.N. (who has proven they cannot run a lemonade stand) and this 7% tax can be increased at the descretion of the U.N. this is brilliant and given to the same corrupt leaders of impoverished nations that we already provide money to. We should be giving these nations airdrops of food along with teaching them to farm and irrigate (oh and giving them books on rebellion) so that they might have a desire to rise up against the govt. that rapes, tortures and murders them. Give a man a loaf of bread, he’ll have a meal. Teach a man to fish and he’ll never go hungry….

John McCain may be unliked or unpopular, but he is a patriot, a war hero and has courage. He does not hang out with America Haters and his wife has done more to fight global poverty than any senate bill or money given to corrupt leaders ever will.

NOW, if you want to feel somewhat vindicated over this non-sense rant, read the reply at evilbtch.com.

GA Editorial: Time to Get Up and Do Something

We don’t always have to activist. We don’t always have to make our sexual orientation an issue. We don’t always have to be role models for those who haven’t come out yet. We don’t always have to be model citizens with hope of dispelling the horrendous stereotypes that go along with being GLBT. That’s right, we really don’t have to do a damn thing. Like our friend, Lauren Meece says, being GLBT is not what other people need to know about us. So, I have a great idea. Let’s all just stay in the closet and not disclose our sexual orientation, and never gain the rights that all other citizens have in this country…our country.

Studies show the GLBT community has been the least affected by the trying economic times, which means not only are we supporting the economy of our nation, but we are paying taxes to support all the straight people too.

We pay taxes to send children to school. Children we cannot legally adopt or provide homes for. We pay taxes as single people (we pay more) even though we live with our partners, because in most states, it’s not legal for us to marry. And of course, our tax money also provides benefits for many of those who want to make sure we never have the right to marry, nor gain all the other rights our heterosexual counterparts take for granted.

Let’s face it, we are less than illegal immigrants. We are less than our heterosexual counterparts, in fact, we are less than human, and according to the religious right, we are abominations that deserve to die and burn in the deepest firey depths of hell. You think I’m exaggerating? Read what I do everyday.

Now, I don’t want anyone reading this to think for one moment I have become cynical. With the exception of the occasional dig I get in towards people like Lauren Meece, whom I’m convinced is just bitter she didn’t bring a medal home from the Olympics, I am actually a very positive person. I am a happy person who does not believe in relying on others for my happiness. I honestly believe every 10 seconds we spend unhappy is 10 seconds of happiness we’ll never get back. I also believe to let those who add to my happiness into my life, and I just as quickly will dismiss those who subtract from my happiness, again not cynical, just smart.

So, what is it, other than my partner, friends, family and the occasional really good glass of wine that adds happiness to my life? Knowing that progress is being made. Hoping that one day, others will not be able to be fired from a job for being gay, as I once was. Hope that one day, we will not have to worry about our health and well being because of who we love. Hoping the acceptance of the GLBT community will continue to grow, and not just because we make great hair dressers, stylist, florist or ballet dancers, but because we are more and more recognized as normal human beings who contribute just as greatly (if not more so) than our straight counterparts.

So, when it gets down to it. Do you know what you can do to make a change? Start with something simple, make sure you are registered to vote, and use that vote to help put Obama into the White House.

John McCain on LGBT Rights and Issues

According to a post on lesbianlife.about.com.

John McCain is a senator from Arizona since 1987. Before he became a Senator, he was a member of the House of Representatives from 1983-1987. He ran for the Republican nomination in 2000, but was defeated by George Bush.

Read the rest here.

Sarah Palin? Are You Kidding Me?

The following article was written and submitted by Ruth Schneider.

I have to admit, I was somewhat surprised by Sen. John McCain’s choice to select Gov. Sarah Palin as the vice presidential nominee.

I mean, I like to think of myself as a bit of a news junkie, and nowhere did I see any mention of her name in speculation articles on who McCain might pick.

Names being tossed around included Sen. Joe Lieberman and Pennsylvania’s Gov. Tom Ridge. Even former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romnny was a consideration. But Sarah Palin?

Even from a conservative standpoint, I have to ask: What was McCain thinking? This is a woman whose laundry list of disclosures this week, puts McCain’s entire vetting process in question.

* She has hired a private attorney to aid her in a legislative ethics investigation into whether she abused her power in firing Alaska’s public safety commissioner.

* Her husband was a member of the Alaska Independence Party, which sought to
bring the state’s secession to a vote.

* Her 17-year-old, unmarried daughter is pregnant.

But the interesting question that has erupted in the blogosphere in the past week or so is: Is Palin anti-gay? The Republican spin machine jumps into action. And depending on who you ask, the answer varies.

Log Cabin Republicans — supporters of the Republican Party who advocate for gay and lesbian rights — hailed the selection of Palin and offered this statement on their Web site last week:

“Alaska Governor Sarah Palin can help Sen. McCain win this election by
appealing to independent and young voters. She’s a mainstream Republican who
will unite the Party and serve John McCain well as Vice President. Gov.
Palin is an inclusive Republican who will help Sen. McCain appeal to gay and
lesbian voters.”

An inclusive Republican?

It’s an odd description of the woman who favored a ban on same-sex marriage
that defined marriage as only that between a man and a woman in Alaska in
1998.

Interestingly, she did veto — the only veto in her time as state governor —
legislation in 2006 that would have banned the state from giving same-sex
partner benefits to state workers.

The move at the time was lauded by many.  But it fails to recognize one fact: She vetoed the bill because it was unconstitutional — not because she supported offering same-sex benefits to partners of state workers. She told the Anchorage Daily News in 2006 that she can’t defy the court when it comes to how rights are applied. Not that she didn’t try.

In April 2007, she spent between $750,000 and 1.2 million on a ballot measure that would repeal her own veto, according to equalitygiving.com, a site that seeks to extend legal protections to the GLBT community. She said at the time;

“I believe that honoring the family structure is important.”

While Palin readily admits she has gay friends, it’s clear she does not support treating them equally.  In fact, her state has very few laws that prevent discrimination against the
gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community.

* Alaska does not provide hate crime protection for GLBT people.
* Alaska does not protect members of the GLBT community from discrimination
in employment, housing or extension of credit.
* Alaska does not have any anti-bullying protections for GLBT youth.

That’s a record that even a Log Cabin Republican should have a hard time standing behind.
Despite numerous attempt to contact Log Cabin Republicans, none responded to defend their position.
Scott Tucker, communications director for the Log Cabin Republicans, sent this statement:

“Gov. Palin’s record on gay and lesbian issues is largely unclear. Some news
reports have shown encouraging signs, but it’s too soon to tell. The top of
the ticket is the one that matters and Sen. John McCain is an inclusive
Republican who stood with us on the most important issue gay and lesbian
Americans faced in the last decade —the federal marriage amendment. He took
a political risk by bucking his own party and the president on that issue
and twice voting against it.”

Is that really enough?

Ruth Schneider is somewhat appalled she shares a gender with Sarah Palin.
Contact her at rschneider@theolympian.com or call 360-704-6873.

You can also read more from Ruth Schneider at theolympian.com.

What a Sad Day for Gay Repblicans

According to an article on blogs.tnr.com;

Social conservatives are firmly in control of the Republican convention. Some of the groups that had dissented in the past–such as Ann Stone’s Republicans for Choice–are not visible at this convention. The only vestige of the Republicans’ more tolerant past is the Log Cabin Republicans, the organization of gay Republicans. But instead of actively dissenting from the Republican platform–which backs state laws against gay marriage, and opposes gay adoption and the participation (in any form) of gays in the military–and pressuring John McCain to repudiate it, the Log Cabin Republicans have closed ranks behind the nominee and the party.

Read the rest here.

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