Jack Donaghy's take on same sex marriage

Ok, well maybe not fictional conservative character Jack Donaghy, but real life liberal Alec Baldwin makes a great argument.

I don't know what the best perspective is on the gay marriage issue. I don't know what to say to people to convince them that the issue of individual rights alone is enough to grant gay couples the right to marry. We live in a time when the idea of individual rights has been relegated to a quaint afterthought during the realignment of American values resulting from the current brawl between capitalism and democracy.

One perspective, however, keeps coming back at me. Fundamentalists believe that marriage is between a man and a woman and for the purpose of creating a family. A gay couple is incapable of having their own children, they assert, so they do not qualify to be married. But what of heterosexual couples who marry with no intention of having children. Beyond any issues of infertility or illness, there are men and women who are married in the eyes of the state, enjoying all of the legal benefits, who have no intention of having children. They seek only companionship and all of the entitlements that come with marriage. Sex, joy, partnership, caring. All of that is theirs, even though they will never bear children and willfully so. If the state says they are free to do that, why aren't gay couples, as well.

This country denies gay couples that right only by asserting that gay Americans do not have the exact same rights as those deliberately childless straight couples. And that is to say that homosexuality itself is illegal. Opponents would have to say that they do not want gay couples to enjoy the same lifestyle as straight couples who refuse to have children because gay Americans are not entitled to have the sex, joy, partnership and caring that their straight counterparts have. They would, therefore, have to outlaw homosexuality itself. Either that or outlaw every single marriage wherein that couple refuses to raise a family. One or the other. That's it. No other choice.

Do you think this society is prepared to outlaw homosexuality? Even with all the fear and hatred of homosexuals that some groups promulgate today? Think about that. Think about the effort and cost involved to argue that case. To write and manifest those laws. To prosecute them and punish the "transgressors." Will our society similarly outlaw childless heterosexual marriage? Of course not. That is ridiculous in the extreme. Ridiculous and wrong.

Once you embrace this basic idea, the rest of the argument falls into place. Gay couples are free not only to marry, but to create families in every way that heterosexual couples who cannot bear their own children do. Adoption, surrogacy, etc.

One does not have to possess one molecule of identification with the gay cultural or political experience in this country to believe that gay Americans have the right to marry. Such a stance is not similar to saying, "I always wanted to play the piano so I favor government scholarships for music study." You do not need to have one ounce of affinity for gay people in our society whatsoever to recognize that they are being shamefully wronged every day we allow this to continue.

Ellen gives "common cement" speech at Tulane University

Ellen is awesome. That sentence sums it up. Check out the video below with her commencement speech at Tulane University in her hometown of New Orleans.
Thanks Antonio

Fired soldier pleads with Obama and congress to change outdated policy

The following is a letter addressed to President Obama and congress from Lt. Daniel Choi who was discharged from the military after revealing his homosexuality. He is a graduate of West Point and a founding member of "Knights Out", an organization for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender West Point Alumni.

By Lt. Daniel Choi

Open Letter to President Obama and Every Member of Congress:

I have learned many lessons in the ten years since I first raised my right hand at the United States Military Academy at West Point and committed to fighting for my country. The lessons of courage, integrity, honesty and selfless service are some of the most important.

At West Point, I recited the Cadet Prayer every Sunday. It taught us to “choose the harder right over the easier wrong” and to “never be content with a half truth when the whole can be won.” The Cadet Honor Code demanded truthfulness and honesty. It imposed a zero-tolerance policy against deception, or hiding behind comfort.

Following the Honor Code never bowed to comfortable timing or popularity. Honor and integrity are 24-hour values. That is why I refuse to lie about my identity.

I have personally served for a decade under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell: an immoral law and policy that forces American soldiers to deceive and lie about their sexual orientation. Worse, it forces others to tolerate deception and lying. These values are completely opposed to anything I learned at West Point. Deception and lies poison a unit and cripple a fighting force.

As an infantry officer, an Iraq combat veteran and a West Point graduate with a degree in Arabic, I refuse to lie to my commanders. I refuse to lie to my peers. I refuse to lie to my subordinates. I demand honesty and courage from my soldiers. They should demand the same from me.

I am committed to applying the leadership lessons I learned at West Point. With 60 other LGBT West Point graduates, I helped form our organization, Knights Out, to fight for the repeal of this discriminatory law and educate cadets and soldiers after the repeal occurs. When I receive emails from deployed soldiers and veterans who feel isolated, alone, and even suicidal because the torment of rejection and discrimination, I remember my leadership training: soldiers cannot feel alone, especially in combat. Leaders must reach out. They can never diminish the fighting spirit of a soldier by tolerating discrimination and isolation. Leaders respect the honor of service. Respecting each soldier’s service is my personal promise.

The Department of the Army sent a letter discharging me on April 23rd. I will not lie to you; the letter is a slap in the face. It is a slap in the face to me. It is a slap in the face to my soldiers, peers and leaders who have demonstrated that an infantry unit can be professional enough to accept diversity, to accept capable leaders, to accept skilled soldiers.

My subordinates know I’m gay. They don’t care. They are professional.

Further, they are respectable infantrymen who work as a team. Many told me that they respect me even more because I trusted them enough to let them know the truth. Trust is the foundation of unit cohesion.

After I publicly announced that I am gay, I reported for training and led rifle marksmanship. I ordered hundreds of soldiers to fire live rounds and qualify on their weapons. I qualified on my own weapon. I showered after training and slept in an open bay with 40 other infantrymen. I cannot understand the claim that I “negatively affected good order and discipline in the New York Army National Guard.” I refuse to accept this statement as true.

As an infantry officer, I am not accustomed to begging. But I beg you today: Do not fire me. Do not fire me because my soldiers are more than a unit or a fighting force – we are a family and we support each other. We should not learn that honesty and courage leads to punishment and insult. Their professionalism should not be rewarded with losing their leader. I understand if you must fire me, but please do not discredit and insult my soldiers for their professionalism.

When I was commissioned I was told that I serve at the pleasure of the President. I hope I have not displeased anyone by my honesty. I love my job. I want to deploy and continue to serve with the unit I respect and admire. I want to continue to serve our country because of everything it stands for.

Please do not wait to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Please do not fire me.

Very Respectfully,

Daniel W. Choi
1LT, IN
New York Army National Guard

Wanda Sykes "too much?"

That's the question Wanda asked of the audience at the White House Correspondence Dinner this weekend. This is always an entertaining event where politics, the media, and A list celebs collide. The President was very amusing but Wanda made the biggest news. Take a look and let us know if you think she went too far. You probably know what I think...

Elisabeth H sitting a little less comfortably to the right on "The View"

I like Elisabeth Hasselbeck. I have for a long time. I have said before on this blog that, although I agree with little that she says, I admire her for standing up and saying it. She has her beliefs and she is proud of them but she never tries to disregard anyone elses. She has admittedly broadened her "View" (pardon the pun) and opened her mind in recent years. This is an excellent example of that.

Remember that douchebag "Joe the Plumber" who's name isn't Joe and isn't even a plumber? Yeah, the bald guy that looks like he keeps a chew spit cup wedged between his 1984 Chevy Silverado bench seat and truck door. You know the one, with the gun rack on the back and the "W" sticker hastily stuck over the "Dole/Kemp 96" sticker. Well, he opened his mouth (which probably reaks of Copenhagen and Coors Light) to the "news" paper "Christianity Today" and lovingly referred to gays as queers and spoke about how he would never let his children near them.

The little Conservative powerhouse Elisabeth spoke up against him on the View today and said that as a repub, she wants no part of him. Good for you Elisabeth! (Since it's spelled with an 'S', can we say good job Lis?...anyway) I can't believe this guy's 15 minutes are still going strong. He played such an intregal part in the demise of the McCain/Palin campaign, you would think the repubs would have cast him aside and disowned him like the gay son they (think they) never had. Maybe him and Ms. Loser U.S.A. should get together and ride that Silverado into the sunset together. Careful Miss Cal, don't get your veil caught in the gunrack.

Oprah interviews Elizabeth AND John Edwards

Awkward! Oprah brings up the affair, cancer, the election. I haven't watched it in its entirety yet but here is a piece. Set your Tivos!!!

Maine becomes 5th state to allow same sex marriage

In a 21-13 vote, the Maine Senate voted to pass a same sex marriage law, becoming the 5th state in the Union to allow gay couples to marry. Governor John Baldacci, a democrat, had not indicated whether or not he would sign such a bill if presented with it but, today, he did. The governor had opposed gay marriage in the past but supported civil unions. So did the rest of the country, but things are changing. Way to go Governor Baldacci!!

New Hampshire has a same sex marriage bill on their Senate floor right now. Stay tuned. We may be announcing a sixth state!

"Outrage" opens this week!

If you haven't heard of this documentary, you will. It is getting quite the buzz. Not only does it discuss the very contraversial subject of homosexuality in politics, but it NAMES NAMES. Yes, rumored homosexual politicians are "outed" in this documentary...and guess what, they aren't the liberal "homo-loving" lions like Gavin Newsom and David Patterson, they are the hypocritical "anti-gay" conservatives of Washington. Tap, tap, tap...remember him? He's just the tip of the iceberg. Pun intended. Here's the trailer, enjoy!

Nite-nite: Jack Kemp 1935-2009

Jack Kemp, the 1996 Republican VP candidate alongside Bob Dole, died Saturday after a relatively short battle with Cancer. Kemp was a fiscal conservative but took both right and left views on social subjects. He was an avid apponent to Roe v. Wade and abortion but took a more liberal stance on immigration and immigrants rights.

Kemp also enjoyed a level of success as an NFL quarterback for the Detroit Lions. Then, he joined the taxi squads of the New York Giants and the San Francisco 49ers.

Rest in Peace Jack Kemp

California's "top cop" gets his tires jacked

Jerry Brown, the Attorney General for California came home from the California State Democratic Convention to find his Government-issued Toyota Camry Hybrid on blocks Thursday. The AG, who is also the states former (and possible future) governor had his two passenger-side tires stolen right in front of his Oakland Hills home.

The former Oakland mayor and former Democratic Party Chair (geez, how many jobs has this guy had?!) had a good sense of humor about it. On his facebook page he wrote "Even though I am California's 'top cop,' 2 of my tires were stolen. No matter. I got 2 new ones and I'm rolling again!"

Has anyone asked about the whereabouts of Gavin Newsom that night? ;)

Steamed Rice

An intern asked some tough questions of Former Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice at Stanford University about Abu Ghraib prison, Guantanamo Bay, and torture. I originally titled this article "Condescending Rice" because the clip I saw on TV showed her getting attitude with the intern and making comments such as "do your homework" and "no dear, you're wrong" but after watching the video in its entirety, I see that Secretary Rice was both patient and courteous to the students. Even to the point where an aide tries to get Secretary Rice out of the situation, she says "no, let him finish". An interesting, candid view of her in my opinion. What do you all think?