Proposition 8 mistake

I know I’m kind of behind on commenting about the passing of Proposition 8 in California.  That’s because there is just so much to say and I’ve been trying to sort through all my thoughts on the subject.  To put them all in one post would be overwhelming.  So there will probably be a few posts on the subject.

 

The passing of Proposition 8 is a tough blow to the movement for equality in this country.  A blow a lot of people didn’t think would happen.  I think a lot of people got caught up in thinking that if people voted for Obama they would automatically vote against Proposition 8.  Ultimately that kind of thinking lead to people falling asleep on the job.  Luckily people didn’t fall asleep on the job in bringing change to Washington and a great statement about how far we have come as a country was made.

 

Unfortunately an equally big statement was made about how far we still must go.  It’s as if people forgot that same-sex marriage was previously voted against in California.  It was Proposition 22 that was overturned by the states Supreme Court earlier this year.  I don’t know if people thought that the state had moved forward or if they just figured people would never take away rights that had been granted to anyone.  Could you imagine what would happen if somewhere people managed to vote to take away the right of opposite-sex couples to marry?

 

Whatever people’s thinking was they just dropped the ball.  Mainly I’m talking about the big people here.  I’m not talking about the little people who were giving until they couldn’t give anymore.  Or the ones that were out pounding the pavement.  I have a close friend who was out there on election night fighting against this.  I’m talking about the celebrities, I’m talking about the current and former politicians, I’m talking about anyone with a national platform.

 

Sure a lot of these people are out there now speaking against this and screaming about the injustice.  But, where were they in the months leading up to the election.  So many of them could be heard and read supporting Obama but, where were their voices against Prop. 8?  I don’t live in California so maybe they were loud there but, they weren’t loud everywhere else.  They forgot that the religious organizations were preaching every Sunday (and perhaps on other days) to all their followers in every state across the country to send money to help pass Proposition 8, to get in touch with people in California and get them to vote for Proposition 8.

 

I’ve seen all kinds of celebrities on all kinds of shows since the election speaking out against this.  Not just gay celebrities but, straight ones as well.  But, again I ask why weren’t they on Bill Mahr and Larry King before the election?  Why weren’t they re-directing the conversations on Leno and Letterman to talk against Proposition 8?  I faithfully watch Countdown with Keith Olbermann and The Rachel Maddow show every night but, they weren’t saying anything leading up to the election.

 

Sure those two shows are kind of preaching to the converted but, you know it would have ended up on You Tube and people could have passed it around to gain support.  I know that would have happened because Keith did a special comment following the passage of Proposition 8 and that’s exactly what happened with it.  His special comment was fantastic.  He drove right at the heart of the matter but, where was that before hand?

 

Yes, there was a lot of hate and fear that drove this loss.  But, that could have been countered if big name people had gotten out there and made impassioned statements on the side of love and hope, on the side of equality.  New polls show that all the protests and cries of injustice have caused people to change their view.  People would actually vote differently now after seeing the reaction and hearing the arguments for equality.  Some of that you know is seeing big name people out their commenting on this.  Just think what could have been if they had spoken up sooner.

Can You Say Un-American?

I just read an article over a lawsuit in Pennsylvania about dress codes at the voting booth. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081004/ap_on_el_pr/what_voters_wear;_ylt=At5VdcR89a5xkbH5bct25UFsnwcF

Apparently you aren’t allowed to wear anything political when you go voting.  The article says there are a view other states with this law as well.  The Democrats are for them not following the dress code and the Republicans want it enforced.

Makes sense considering the Republicans are always talking about the ideals of this country and the Constitution and then doing everything they can to trample all over it.  At least the Democrats actually believe in it, they don’t just talk about it.

This notion that it is electioneering is just absurd.  When it comes election day and you are standing in line you generally know who you are voting for at that point and what you are voting yes or no on.  We have secret ballots for a reason and it’s so people aren’t harassed or attacked for how they vote.  If someone wants to be brave enough and wear something that says how they will be voting more power to them.  If some how that gets someone else to change their vote then fine.

Telling people they can’t wear a political shirt, button, sticker, hat, whatever, is extremely Un-American to me.  I mean come on first off voting is like one of the most patriotic things you can do and if you want to tell the world who you are voting for so be it.  Not only do you have a Constitutional right to vote you have a Constitutional right to free speech and that speech doesn’t always have to be spoken.  Telling someone they can’t vote until they stop using their 1st Amendment right violates a whole lot of stuff this country was founded on.

Anyone for this kind of law needs to take a good hard look at themselves in the mirror.  And then they need to ask themselves exactly what it is they think this country stands for and if they believe in those principals and the document that spells them out.

What’s next, ticketing cars with political stickers that park within a certain distance of the polls?

I Want A Damn Debate

When I first got on-line this morning headlines were still saying the debate was questionable and just a couple minutes ago I saw that it will go on.  Well it’s a damn good thing.  And honestly everyone knows that this had nothing to do with McCain wanting to save the country and everything to do with him trying to save his slipping campaign.

I think everyone knows there’s a good chance this debate will have a lot of questions about the economy and he’s scared to talk about it.  Obama is much more versed on the subject and has had a plan to hopefully turn it around since the beginning of his run for the White House.  McCain has no idea what he’s going to do and he didn’t want to go toe to toe with someone who did.

I think he was still hoping that he’d be able to get the debate cancelled.  And I wouldn’t be surprised if he was behind that lame stunt the GOP pulled last night.  The bailout was very close to being worked out and then suddenly they decide they want a new plan and they aren’t going to negotiate on it.  Seriously that just seems desperate.  Like if a plan goes through then he has to debate but, if they are still working on it he can continue to try and get out of it.

Lets be real here folks unless he is actually in the room working on the plan he isn’t needed there until the vote.  If there’s people holding out and making a stink he has a phone and can call them to discuss it.  McCain was hoping Obama would cave but, he didn’t and he was right not to.

Not that I really cared if Bush spoke the other night but, he did in an attempt to calm the nation and say we will get this back on track.  Did he do that affectively?  I don’t know.  And at this time we do need to see the people who could be our next leader talking about what they think should be done and what could be done to continue fixing things down the road.  If you can’t step up to the plate now, how can we count on you to do it when you are running the country?

So the debate at this moment will go on.  Mainly because Obama didn’t back down and pretty much forced McCain’s hand.  I’ll be watching with great interest and it’ll be interesting to see comments from people afterwards.

Follow Hillary

Tonight was the night everyone had been waiting for.  The night Hillary Clinton the former presidential candidacy hopeful would speak.  The night she could help or hurt the party.  The night she could make it about her and her historic run or about Barack Obama and his historic run that still continues.  I think a lot of people thought she would make it about her.  Well, they thought wrong.

Tonight Hillary Clinton was everything those of us who believe in her, know her to be.  Tonight she was not Hillary Clinton presidential hopeful, she was not Hillary Clinton the sore loser, she was not Hillary Clinton the spiteful bitch.  She was, Hillary Clinton the former first lady who knows what it takes to win.  She was, Hillary Clinton the Senator who knows what she and the party have fought for.  She was, Hillary Clinton the woman who inspired so many women to get out and vote.  She was Hillary Clinton the one person who could sway her supporters back to Barack Obama.  She was Hillary Clinton the Democrat.

I’ve made no secret of my support for Hillary during the primaries.  I was pulling for her state after state and supporting her decision to not throw in the towel when she was only down a couple hundred delegates.  And tonight she proved to be everything I supported.  I’ve known from the beginning that if she lost she would rally behind our nominee and the party.  I had no fears on that.  And tonight she made it very clear why we must elect Barack Obama.

I think one of the most important parts of her speech was reminding people what it was she has fought for and what she would fight for had she become President.  And then reminding people that those things are what all Democrats want for this country and that the only hope of getting them is with a Democrat in the White House.  Sure he’s going to need help from the Congress and the Senate but, I don’t think that will be an issue in the first few years.

Tonight Hillary made it clear to all her supporters that you need to support Obama.  Maybe you can’t get out and support him as visibly and vocally as you did Hillary.  That is okay because when he needs your support most is 2 months from now when you mark your ballot.  That is when he and this country need your support.

She was right to ask if oursupport was only for her or if it was for change?  If it was for our future, our childrens future, if it was for our health, or was it just for a woman President.  As for me it was and is about the future.  It is about hope and change.  I wanted Hillary because as I’ve said before I am a woman and I want a woman president.  I’ve always believed either of them would to a great job as President.

So now it is time for all other Hillary supporters to join with me, join with Hillary, join with those who already support Barack Obama, and show that you want change.  Say you will give your vote to the Obama/Biden ticket because you want your children to have the hopes and dreams you had as a child and the belief that those hopes and dreams can come true.

The Inspiration Lives

There is a truly great family in American politics and that is the Kennedy’s.  In one way or another they have influenced the course of this country for decades.  Unfortunately we can only look back and wonder how great things could have been had John and Robert not been assassinated.

I just finished watching Senator Kennedy give his speech at the Democratic Convention and the inspiration and idealism of that family still lives.  When a Kennedy speaks I think everyone listens.  Even Caroline Kennedy was inspiring in the way only her family can be.  If only this country could find their way back to the idealism of the days of John Kennedy.

At 30 the Kennedy I have always known is Edward but, I know my history and I’ve seen some of John’s speaches and I’ve always wondered when we would have another John.  Honestly I believed someday it would be John Jr.  That someday he would give and realize his destiny and enter the political arena in earnest.  My hopes and some of my dreams were crushed the day his plane went down.

When Obama gave that speech in 2004 I felt the inspiration and hope I thought would never happen in politics again.  I have only felt flashes of that during his campaign and it is my great hope that, that feeling will come through Thursday night when he accepts his nomination.  I am inspired by the change he can bring.  I hope he can live up to it and can see it through.  History is not kind to the true change bringers in the world.

I will throw my support behind him and try to encourage any undecided person I know to vote for him.  If anyone who is undecided out there that is older and knows the power of change that has always come with the Kennedy’s I hope they will listen to Senator Kennedy and vote for Obama.

It’s important to note that even with the loss of John and Bobby we still owe a great debt of gratitude to them for this moment in history.  All three brothers were instrumental in the civil rights movement.  Without them and their bravery and their support back then we probably wouldn’t be witnessing this now.  This moment in history could be years if not decades off if not for the Kennedy’s support back then.

I know they are not solely responsible for that change.  But, they were people of power who were willing to stand up and fight for what they felt was right.  They stood up and fought for an equality that people were willing to kill to stop.  They lent their power and voices to an equality they knew was right and would make this country stronger.  And they and everyone they fought with for that equality are being rewarded and proven right.  Now it is up to the next generation of Kennedy’s to take that torch and support the next great battle for equality in this country.  It is time for them to stand along side those being denied equality and lend their power and voices to the fight.  It is time for us all to take the inspiration and get loud and fight for everything we have been promised as Americans.

Campaign Stupidity

There really hasn’t been a lot to write about so far but, lately the Obama campaigns lack of campaigning in Colorado is getting on my nerves.  When it comes to wanting to win Colorado it seems they’ve been a lot of talk and very little action.  For weeks it seemed the other side was coming out with at least one new ad a week and they were on during everything I watched.  Yet there was pretty much nothing from Obama and there aren’t really any other groups going after McCain here at the moment.

I don’t really mind that there isn’t anything coming from other groups yet.  What bothers me is that Obama is losing ground here because they totally dropped the ball.  The McCain campaign has been attacking both Obama the person and his basic platform.  Still nothing from Obama.  And now that they have finally gotten off their butts and released a new ad it’s one ad and it’s about his energy policy.  Which is fine since a big focus of the McCain campaign is to make it out like Obama’s ideas are the reason for high gas prices.  The problem is it’s not enough considering how much the other side is coming after him and trying to steal votes here.  I don’t want to see some down and dirty campaign but, they do need to go after McCain the way he’s coming after them.

If they want Colorado’s electoral votes they better start playing like they want them.

And in other stupidity…What is this crap of Obama possibly picking a Republican for his VP?  That is completely unacceptable.  I don’t know how real the possibility of that is but, the fact that it has even been considered is just wrong.  He’s already having some issues winning over the die hard Clinton supporters and he (and the people around him) think a Republican would be a good idea for VP.  Why don’t you just hand the Presidency to them for a third straight term.  I am very dismayed by the fact that it seems the idea of a female VP is completely gone so hearing this kind of talk is even more disheartening.

I would probably still vote for Obama however, I would not be happy about it.  I would still vote for him one because I know that he signs or vetoes things not the VP and two not voting for him would make me a hypocrite.  I would however, not actively support him though.  I don’t think anything could be more of a slap in the face to all his supporters than picking someone from the Republican party.  If you want to go outside the party find an independent candidate.  I think that would be a great step.

It’s time for the Obama Campaign to stop the stupidity and play to win.

Why Decry The Truth

So we have another “controversy” over statements made by a big wig in one of the Democratic presidential candidates campaigns. (Please note that I have not seen the video so I don’t know how it actually game off and have only seen edited quotes so I do acknowledge that sometimes things don’t come out as well as they seemed when we formed the thought in our head.) This time it’s Geraldine Ferraro saying that Obama’s race is partially responsible for him being in this position. And him and his campaign have flipped out about it. My question is: Why is everyone so afraid of the truth? And why are they acting like it’s a bad thing to acknowledge it?

Considering the fact that in South Carolina Obama spent a good chunk of time playing to the more religious part of the African-American community (not the overall Democratic religious community at large [at least that's how all the media showed it]) it’s a little disingenuous and less than honest of him to now be all offended at the notion that his race has anything to do with the tightness of this primary run. The fact that when people look at both him and Hillary they see something vastly different than what we’ve had before is a huge part of this years nomination. It’s why people who haven’t participated before are getting out there and voting. It’s why the youth of American are excited about this years potential candidates.

America is suppose to be a country where our differences are celebrated. Where those differences are what makes a strong and great nation. At least that’s what we are taught when we’re young. And that is what the idealists among us believe about this country. It is the uniting of all our differences that is a big part of Obama’s platform. Denying the differences doesn’t help bring us together. So why is he acting like his race has nothing to do with his success in this process? No one is saying it is the only reason he is where he is, whether it be in the Senate or as the current leader for the nomination. You must be able to acknowledge the differences to accept them.

Until now when people have looked at the front runners for either party during the nominating process all they’ve seen are generally old (with a few exceptions) white men. And they are normally very well off white men. (Let’s face it no poor or lower middle class person would stand a chance at the moment.) But, this year we have a white woman and an African-American man duking it out for the Democratic nomination. So lets all just accept and admit the truth, things are this tight because of gender and race.

I really don’t know how things would be if this was Edwards and Obama or Edwards and Hillary. I doubt it would be as tight with either of those two versions of nominees but, I honestly don’t know which one would be ahead in either version.

However, if you took the three of them and made them into the same thing. Whether that be making them all women or all men of one race, you’d be looking at a primary where I believe Edwards would be ahead. The reason I say that is that his age would be younger than that of Hillary while his experience would be more than Obama.

Obama said that Hillary would be offended if someone said she’s where she is because of her gender. If they said that, that was the only reason she was where she is yes she might be offended. But, I highly doubt she’d deny that her gender plays some part in her success. So lets just be honest for a minute. If Obama was white his speech at the convention in 2004 probably wouldn’t have been as powerful. And people would just see another white guy saying the same things now.

I for one am extremely proud as an American, as a Democrat, and as a woman that this year we have two very viable candidates that are not white men. I am proud that we are showing the country and the world that the American dream of being anything you want is actually true. That neither your race nor your gender will keep you from having a real chance at being President. I do not think we should in anyway deny the truth. We should embrace the truth because once you do, that is when it truly becomes a non factor.

An Open Letter To The Democratic Party

To the Democratic Party:

Shame on you. I love you and what you stand and fight for most of the time. I know we are in desperate need of change in this country but, I still must say shame on you.

The reason I say this is because of you acting like big babies stripping Michigan and Florida of their delegates. Just because they moved their primaries up is no reason to act like brats. The states should be allowed to have their primaries whenever they want from January 1st of and election year until the convention.

It is sad the hypocracy we are showing in the party over this. In 2002 thousands of voters were left out in the cold in Florida. Their votes didn’t count or counted for the wrong person because of an old voting system that didn’t line up right. The cry went out from our party that all votes must count. That no voter should be disinfranchised in the process. Unfortuantely we couldn’t stop that from happening then.

In 2004 one of our big things was again all votes counting and no one being disinfranchised. We got more people out to the polls to make sure people knew how the machines worked. As well as making sure there was no other funny business going on. This was a good thing. Unfortunately we again lost that election but, I felt we made a good showing to the American people that we were the party that really believed in getting every vote to count. Making sure everyone who wanted to vote and was eligible to vote did in fact get to vote.

And now much to my dismay here we are in 2008 not counting votes and disinfranchising voters during the nominating process. I fear this may damage our turnout number come November in those states. Their voices weren’t heard the first time around this year why should they waste their time in voting come November? So what if they moved up their primaries…get over it.

And why are they the only states being punished? California moved up it’s primary but, you didn’t take away their delegates. It’s not to hard to figure out that you would never do that. Even if California had moved their primary up to be at the same time as the Iowa cacus you wouldn’t strip them of their delegates. And the simple reason you wouldn’t do that is because they have so many delegates.

Colorado moved up their cacus and you didn’t strip them of their delegates. Again not hard to figure out why. One the national convention is in Denver. We couldn’t slight the host state by taking away their delegates. Two we wouldn’t want to do anything that would assure us of losing Colorado come November. Sure they may only have a handful of electoral votes but, this election could come down to the small states. And with a major battle for both a Congressional and Senate seat looming they are a major player for the Democrats hopes of winning back the White House.

So I beg of you to reconsider this stupid decision to strip Florida and Michigan of their delegates. Give them back and divide them up between Hillary and Barack. Since she did stay on the ticket in Michigan give Hillary one or two more delegates there and then in Florida give them the delegates however they would normally be split. And either let John Edwards give his delegates to one of them or divide his delegates up evenly.

Please change this decision and go back to being the party that wants every vote to count.

Down To 2

So the Democratic candidates are down to just two. I have to say I was a bit surprised John Edwards didn’t hang in there through Super Tuesday. The upside of him dropping out is that Hillary and Barack are more focused on establishing stronger stances on the issues rather than attacking each other.

I have to say previously I wasn’t real confident in Obama because it seemed like all the sound bites I was hearing were his standards or attacks on Hillary. After watching some of the debate last night I feel much more positive about him since I got a clearer picture of his issues and ideas for change. However, I’m still a Hillary supporter. Some of that is because I know the influence she had on her husbands Presidency so I know that with a lot of the same views there’s a lot of good she can bring about. Some of it is also that I am a woman and I feel there’s a lot of things (espeically in health care) that are overlooked for woman. I feel in those area’s Hillary can greatly impact for the better the future for the woman of this country both yound and old.

That doesn’t mean that I think Barack wouldn’t advance certain things for woman I just think Hillary would fight harder for it. And at the sametime there are things that Barack would probably fight harder for. That’s just how it is with politics. Who you are and where you come from will always influence the level you will fight at for different things.

Whether it’s a Clinton/Obama ticket or Obama/Clinton ticket I still think the Democrats offer the best chance for real change. This is because you’re getting a vastly different view than what the Republicans offer. All the Republicans ever have to offer are older rich white men. We are most likely going to over a ticket of a woman and a racial minority. Yes she is an older woman but, a woman none the less.

I think if America is serious about change they have to look at the difference in the views automatically brought to the table by the Democratic ticket. A Republican ticket that will be made up of people who clearly have no desire to break from the Bush Administration policies will only bring about more hardship for this country and it’s citizens. Perhaps what they have to offer will become more clear when it gets down to just two candidates for them and it certainly will become more clear once the candidate is chosen. However, I don’t really see them offering any real change or anything that will actually help fix things in America.

Third Party Candidates Good or Bad?

The answer is that third party candidates are both good and bad.

They are good because they bring different topics to the table. Just like in big party primaries when you have people who don’t have a chance of winning but, they have a topic they are more versed in and push for that the rest of the candidates are forced to talk about. That is why third party candidates are good for the political process. And there are some places where they have managed to win seats in their state governments and even at the federal level. I am all for third parties in certain instances. And hopefully someday there will be a truely strong Independent party that is a threat to the Democrats and Republicans and then there might really be such a thing as bi-partisanship in government.

However, they are bad because of the people who think voting for them makes a statement and will somehow cause change. This is not true nor is it a good idea if you really want things to change in our governement. See the only real way to get change is to get rid of your incumbent and get someone new in there. If you have 3000 people voting for someone who won’t win there will never be change. I get voting for the people that you think most represent the things you believe in. However, sometimes you really need to vote for someone who will win.

If you can get that incumbent out of office who has been there for 4 or 5 terms then the next time around you have a better chance of maybe seeing that 3rd party candidate get elected. It may be a small chance but, it’s a better chance than while there is still a multi-term incumbent in office. Now you might think that doesn’t make since. But, think about it. If someone has only been in office one term their hold isn’t as strong. The next election is rather open. This gives the 3rd party candidate a bigger appeal. It gives them more room to have their voices heard. Even if they don’t win that time around they may pull more votes which gets more attention and eventually they will win a seat. And if you really really believe in 3rd party candidates the best thing to do is work to get them into your state government and then move up to the federal level.

The other problem with 3rd party candidates is that a lot of times they are big party losers. What I mean by that is they are a former Democrat or Republican who couldn’t win the primary or even get the support of their party. So instead of staying in the party and trying again later they throw a fit like a little kid and go play by themselves. They take their views that are mostly like one of the big parties and then make a platform of the things that differ from their old party. They aren’t truly independent because if elected they would side with which ever party they came from. They of course end up not getting elected and often hurt the person who has the best chance at offering change by winning. And so just like the little kid on the playground they are left by themselves with no one to play with and everyone is worse off.

Eventually Independents will have a big impact on our government it’s just a matter of if the country can survive until then not getting enough new voices in from certain areas. And I know what I’m talking about because it has happened the last two elections in my district. Especially the last time. If people hadn’t voted for the 3rd party candidate we would have gotten rid of our evil incumbent representative. I’d seriously consider voting for a 3rd party candidate but, right now I know they wouldn’t beat her and my focus is on getting her out of office.