Michigan and Ohio Democratic Parties file joint SCOTUS brief in support of marriage equality

From Ye Olde Presse Shoppe:

“Here in Michigan, far too many families have been denied liberty and justice for too long, because of the out of touch actions of Republicans Bill Schuette and Rick Snyder,” said Lon Johnson, Michigan Democratic Party Chair.

"Thousands of taxpayer dollars have been wasted on frivolous, fringe arguments, which have only served to embarrass our state. This effort to deny equal rights to parents and children, based on nothing more than a desire to score cheap partisan points with the far right wing of the Republican party, is just wrong,” added Johnson.

Mark Totten, one of the attorneys who wrote the brief, said "for two years now the State of Michigan has argued that the children at issue in the Michigan case would be better off as orphans then have two gay parents. That's wrong. The rights of these kids - so many of whom are special needs – to have two loving parents should not be decided at the ballot box."

Here's the brief.

10 reasons Mitt Romney isn't running

1. His poll numbers weren’t the right height.
2. Not sure he can get binders full of votes.
3. 47% of corporations are dependent on the government for corporate subsidies. He’s not going to get their votes.
4. Jeb Bush promised him he’d be ambassador to the Cayman Islands.
5. Speaking of which, Chris Christie threatened traffic problems in the Cayman Islands if he ran.
6. He lost a $10,000 bet, so the poor guy is down to his last $250 million.
7. Big Bird advised against it.
8. Training to beat Paul Ryan’s marathon time.
9. Rather than Mitt himself running, he’s getting Bain Capital to run instead. They’re people, my friend!
10. Wants to spend more quality time with his money.

Hoadley, Moss Victories Prove LGBT Democrats Can Win Everywhere

There's a fear in some Democratic circles that LGBT candidates can't win swing seats.

There are many possible reasons for this. Some of it may be attributed to the fact that, until recently, some swing voters (and even a few Democrats) opposed marriage equality.

It may also have to do with a couple of losses by LGBT candidates in state House races a few years back. In 2008, Garnet Lewis lost to Jim Stamas (son of the area's then-state senator) in the Midland-based 98th District seat. Two years later, Toni Sessoms lost to Kevin Cotter in the Mt. Pleasant-based 99th District seat - a seat held by Republicans for as long as anyone can remember.

Yet this year saw the election of two young gay Democrats to the Michigan Legislature - Jeremy Moss and Jon Hoadley. While they ran (and were elected) in solidly Democratic districts, the performance of both Hoadley and Moss should assuage Democrats' fears about the electability of LGBT candidates in less blue districts.

Young + Gay = Success

If there was any merit to concerns about the electorate's views of LGBT candidates, we would've seen evidence of that in the seats where Hoadley and Moss were elected. There was no question that Hoadley and Moss were going to win these blue districts. However, it's in the margins of their victories - particularly compared to other Democratic candidates - that we'd detect any evidence of apprehension toward LGBT candidates. (And make no mistake: both Hoadley and Moss are openly gay, so their orientation isn't exactly a state secret.)

Since down-ticket races* don't get much attention, the number of votes cast for various down-ticket races and candidates will usually be lower than for the top of the ticket (in this case, Schauer and Brown).

Despite that, Hoadley and Moss outperformed a number of "up-ticket" candidates in their districts, including Schauer and Attorney General nominee Mark Totten.

Here are the results for the races for Governor, Attorney General, and State Representative in the 60th House District (the City of Kalamazoo plus most of Kalamazoo Township):

Think about this for a second. Totten has run for office in the area a couple times before; he ran for State Senate in 2010 before being elected to the School Board in 2011. Schauer has been elected many times by voters in neighboring Battle Creek. By contrast, Hoadley is young, gay, and a first-time candidate.

Yet he still got 1,199 more votes than Totten and 912 more votes than Schauer.

Moss racked up even more impressive margins in the 35th District, which includes Southfield, Southfield Township, and Lathrup Village:

That's a 2,224-vote difference between Moss and Schauer and a 2,276-vote difference with Totten.

It should be noted that, unlike Hoadley, Moss ran for office before. He was elected to the Southfield City Council in 2011 (in and of itself, that's impressive for a young, gay candidate, especially given that in his Council run he didn't have the advantage of being listed as a Democrat).

But their general-election showings aren't the only thing that show how strong LGBT candidates can be. In these blue districts, the real action happened in the August primaries. Moss was one of four candidates running to succeed Rudy Hobbs, while Hoadley faced two local elected officials for the right to take Sean McCann's House seat.

Hoadley and Moss didn't just win their primaries, however. They got majorities. 59% for Hoadley, 51% for Moss.

Not bad for young LGBT candidates who, between the two of them, had run exactly once before.

A Swing Seat Letdown

If Hoadley and Moss can do well, then surely someone like Garnet Lewis - seasoned campaigner, accomplished professional, community servant, and 2014 State Senate candidate - could do well in a general election in a swing seat, right?

We'll never know.

Most of the 32nd Senate District is in Democratic-leaning Saginaw County, so Democrats needed to win the seat in order to make inroads in a Republican-dominated Senate. In the spring of 2013, Lewis began a quest to win the seat vacated by term-limited Sen. Roger Khan (R). Financially, her efforts paid off. In 2013 alone, she raised nearly $56,000 - all of it from individuals.

But that wasn't enough for some insiders. Never mind the work Lewis had put in - work that must be done in order to win an election. Never mind that Lewis eagerly wanted the seat** - a must for any candidate in a close election. Never mind that other districts went without recruited candidates until just days before the filing deadline. She was still a lesbian - or, as it was often whispered, "she can't win" - and they needed to find someone else.

Finally, in 2014 - a year after Lewis started her campaign and just months before the filing deadline - they got a candidate. As soon as Rep. Stacy Erwin Oakes got into the race, the establishment got behind her. Boy, did they ever get behind her. Bankers. Lawyers. Lobbyists. Healthcare companies. Matty Moroun. PACs. All funded Erwin Oakes's primary campaign. And it paid off in the primary.

But Erwin Oakes lost the general election, 55-45%. She even lost Saginaw County by a 53-47% margin.

How bad is it that she lost Saginaw County? Not only did Saginaw go for Schauer, but even Godfrey Dillard beat Ruth Johnson there. In fact, in this Republican year, 11 of the 13 Democratic nominees who were on the ballot in all of Saginaw County*** finished ahead of their Republican opponents in the county. Only Totten and Erwin Oakes underperformed Republican opponents in Saginaw County.

Why did Erwin Oakes lose? Besides the obvious (that it was a Republican year), I can't tell. Why did she underperform the rest of the Democratic slate? I don't know. Had Lewis been the nominee, would she have won the seat? We'll never know. One thing's for sure, though: had Lewis been nominated, the worst that would've happened is that we would've lost the general.

We lost anyway.

Lessons to Learn

Every election has its share of lessons to teach us. This year, we learned a lot of lessons the hard way. But our victories have plenty to teach us as well.

By their strong showing relative to other Democrats in their districts, Hoadley and Moss have shown us that Democrats need not worry about a candidate's sexual orientation affecting their chances at victory.

Being gay didn't hurt Hoadley or Moss in either the primary or the general.

And it won't hurt future LGBT candidates.

Be not afraid, fellow Democrats. Be not afraid.

--------------------

*After the straight ticket option, the #1 race on the ballot was Governor/LG. Attorney General was #3 (after Secretary of State), while State Representative was #7.

**The same could not be said of certain other swing seats, in some of which nobody seemed willing to take on the immense task of running a competitive campaign.

***The 13 are Peters, Schauer/Brown (counted as one here), Dillard, Totten, Erwin Oakes, and the statewide education board candidates.

A Higher Calling

What follows is a speech that I gave this morning at Central Michigan University's Martin Luther King, Jr., CommUNITY Peace Brunch.

Good morning, everybody! What a powerful testament to the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., that each of you are willing to come out here on this day off from school or work to celebrate and share in that legacy! Though we are not in class today, I hope you will learn a lot from me and from others who speak this morning. Pay good attention; there will be a quiz on this stuff later!

All kidding aside, as we gather here this morning, we remind ourselves that the legacy of Dr. King does not just focus on one person. We are not merely celebrating the birth of one of our nation’s greatest champions for justice. Rather, today is a call to all of us to bring his character and dedication to bear on our own lives. It is a reminder to dedicate our lives to a higher calling, just as Dr. King did. It is a calling to live a life of responsibility to our fellow humans, to sacrifice for the greater good, and to dedicate ourselves to justice for all.

First and foremost, we are called to responsibility. I’m willing to bet that most of you here today know a thing or two about responsibility. After all, many of us here are leaders in the CMU and Mt. Pleasant communities. Still, all of us need reminders about the importance of responsible citizenship. Indeed, our leadership roles make it even more important that we lead responsible lives; can we expect that those we lead will not take their cues from us?

We are called to foster in ourselves a sense of responsibility – responsibility toward ourselves and toward all of society. Being involved in our communities, lending out that helping hand to someone who needs it, voting, and maintaining proper decorum at all times – these are certainly just a few of the many ways in which each of us can live a life of responsibility. Beyond that, we must also be responsible by ensuring that our minds are open to beautiful new ideas which, if we let them, can change the world.

That sense of responsibility is woven together with another calling. We are called to a sense of sacrifice. This means both that we must recall the sacrifices of others, and that we must make some sacrifices ourselves.

Here in America, when we commemorate such days as Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and September 11 – Patriot Day – we are reminded to pause and reflect on the enormous sacrifice of those who have died in the service of our nation. Today, on Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, we recall another life that was cut short all too soon. We would also do well to remember that many civil rights leaders of Dr. King’s era were beaten constantly, while others faced the intensity of fire hoses just because they stood up for people whose skin color did not match those of others.

Each of these should be sobering reminders that the quality of life we enjoy today was not gained for easily. May we always be vigilant to maintain this quality of life!

Fortunately, most of us will not suffer beatings or be forced to give up our lives for the sake of something great. Still, we must all sacrifice to a certain measure. As Gandhi said, "Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed." A simple sacrifice of time, talent, and treasure is a great place to begin. Maybe you will share a few cans or boxes of food, an article of clothing that you’ve outgrown, or part of your most recent paycheck. Maybe you will give blood or plasma, or join a bone marrow donor registry. Maybe you’ll go on an Alternative Break. Perhaps you might take a few minutes to put together a care package for someone in uniform who is willing to pay the ultimate sacrifice for our nation, or to personally thank a veteran for their service. Whatever your sacrifice may be, know that others have made far greater sacrifices than you, and that your sacrifice is very much needed.

And finally, we are called to justice. What does that mean? Let me put it to you this way: Is there a human being alive today who is inherently better than any other, or whose decency is founded in the color of their skin, their gender, their physical or mental abilities, or their sexual orientation? Recall, for a moment, this famous line from our Declaration of Independence: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

And yet, we who are gathered here this morning know that the land in which we live is not one where justice for all reigns supreme. "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere," warned Dr. King in his Letter from Birmingham Jail. Threats remain to justice throughout our land and throughout the world. Yet what also remains is the power that lies within each of us to bring about a just society for all people. When I say we have a calling to justice, I mean that it is up to each of us to do our part to bring about a more fair, just society. You do not need to be a dean, a manager, or an elected official to change our society. We already have all we need to make that change; it is inside of us. We just need to put it to use.

So on this day off from school or work, we gather together to remind ourselves of lessons that cannot easily be taught in the confines of buildings named Anspach, Grawn, or Brooks. These are the lessons of character, commitment, and selflessness. On this day, let us dedicate our lives to, as Gandhi would put it, being "the change [we] want to see in the world." Let us press toward the mark of the higher calling of our lives – a calling to a life of responsibility, of sacrifice, and of justice. In doing so, let us make every day of our lives a lasting tribute to Dr. King.

Thank you, and enjoy this wonderful day!

Bits of Tid: January 5, 2010

• Merry 12th Day of Christmas! I don't have 12 drummers drumming for you (or any of the rest, for that matter), but I do have this:
  
  
• You know that stimulus most of the Republicans opposed and complained about? It looks like it has saved more than 30 million people from extreme poverty. I wonder what right-wingers who call themselves Christians would have to say?
• Even the Washington Post is condemning the attacks on Obama's handling of the attempted plane bombing.
• Please take just a few minutes to share with Organizing for America your thoughts on where they should take OFA in 2010.
  
• From @OMGFacts on Twitter:

  If you put a drop of liquor on a scorpion, it will instantly go mad and sting itself to death.

  Insert your own joke here.
• From the inaugural remarks of Houston Mayor Annise Parker, who leads more people than any other openly GLBT mayor in American history:

  "Do not fear to dream big dreams. Bring your whole self to everything you do. Face the world with dignity and integrity. I promise you, the pain is worth the reward."

• $100 says the Lions don't lose another regular-season game until September.

Bits of Tid: November 19, 2009

• Today is World Toilet Day, Use Less Stuff Day, and Have A Bad Day Day. If you are anywhere near me, please only celebrate Use Less Stuff Day. Maybe World Toilet Day, depending on how you commemorate it.
  
• Is marriage itself illegal in Texas? I'm not just talking about gay marriage. I'm talking about marriage in general.
  
• Someone made this comment on one of my earlier posts:
  

  How do you like your change now? Idiot.

  First of all, I do like my change. It's kind of nice to live in a country that is admired on the world stage and whose President cares about the average working person as much as he cares about anyone else. And for you to call me an idiot? Well, for a conservative to say that to me, is such a high compliment!
  
• "Unfriend" has been named the 2009 Word of the Year by the Oxford Dictionary.
  
• Speaking of which, it's almost "that time of year again" - time for the Lake Superior State University Banished Words List! If you have a word or phrase you'd like to see banished, now's your chance to nominate it!
  
• Not to make any of you jealous, but I get to see Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., AND Jennifer Granholm at CMU today!

Election Recap

Nationwide
On a scale of one to ten, this election ranks about a 3. There were plenty of disappointments, but some victories that should be highlighted.

You can guess how the media is framing this: as a big election for Republicans. But let's dig deeper.

I'm not surprised that the Republicans won the New Jersey and Virginia races. Dems had held those governorships for some time now, and neither Jon Corzine nor Creigh Deeds were all that progressive - in other words, they didn't exactly stand up for Democratic values.

Meanwhile, in New York's 23rd Congressional District, President Obama's cunning political strategy of appointing a moderate Republican from a not-so-Republican district to an administration post to get another Dem vote in Congress has paid off. Bill Owens (D) has defeated Conservative Doug Hoffman by a small margin after even the Republican nominee endorsed Owens.



Locally

I was disappointed to see Commissioner Jim Jendrasiak lose in Grand Rapids. He is a perennial target for some people, and it's sad to see that they were able to knock him off this time. Next time, Jim!

Speaking of next time, congratulations also are due Ben Barker, the 21-year-old CMU student who came in fifth out of seven candidates. Not bad, considering that (a) this was his first race; (b) he's a student; (c) he ran against the three incumbents, all of whom won; and (d) he outpolled two others. His future is bright! Congratulations also to Bruce Kilmer, an involved Mt. Pleasant Democrat and incumbent Commissioner who won.

And what about Kentwood? The city saw its first contested race for City Commission since 2003, and Mayor Rick Root was unopposed for a third term. (Kentwood has not seen a contested race for mayor since 1997.) The contest was in the second ward. Incumbent Frank Raha III's day job is with Republican State Rep. Dave Hildenbrand, so hearing that he lost to Ray Verwys might not seem all that bad - except for the fact that VerWys is a 'tea party' activist. Only 1,033 votes were cast between those two, as only 6% of those in the 2nd ward showed up.

Southern Michigan played home to both the biggest pleasant surprise (the approval of a gay-rights referendum) and disappointment (Mike Nofs's election to the State Senate) of the night.

What does this all mean?

There are plenty of ways to look at these results.

For one thing, the typically low turnout that we often see in "off-year" elections was seen once again this year. Many people don't realize that the decisions their local leaders make can be even more important than some of those made by the President, Congress, and the like. Our votes for city commission, mayor, etc., are much more important than our votes for American Idol or Dancing with the Stars. (Okay, I will admit to having voted a couple times on Idol).

Furthermore, this election is a good excuse for progressives to intensify their efforts to bring change to our communities and our nation. Gay-rights advocates saw mixed results; the Maine vote was particularly disheartening, but its closeness reminds us that the fight cannot end now!

In closing, I leave you with two quotes:

"Dr. King once said that the arc of the moral universe is long but it bends towards justice. It bends towards justice, but here is the thing: it does not bend on its own. It bends because each of us in our own ways put our hand on that arc and we bend it in the direction of justice." - Barack Obama

"The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die." - Ted Kennedy

Bits of Tid: July 28, 2009

• The US Senate Armed Services Committee will be holding hearings on repealing the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy!
• Be sure to sign the petition at citizensforapublicoption.com!
• Shock-ing:
  

NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

EVERYBODY TAKE COVER! WARN YOUR FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS, AND FAMILIES! CRANK UP THIS VIDEO TO FULL BLAST! THE SANCTITY OF MARRIAGE IS UNDER ATTACK AND LIBRULZ ARE MAKING OUR NATION SOCIALIST!!!!!

The Kalamazoo City Commission has unanimously passed a nondiscrimination ordinance for sexual orientation:

It will prohibit discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people when it comes to hiring, housing and other accommodations. The ordinance goes into effect in July.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!! THEY ARE OUT TO GET US AND DESTROY OUR WAY OF LIFE! NOW MY PARENTS' MARRIAGE OF 35 YEARS IS IN JEOPARDY BECAUSE MEMBERS OF THE K'ZOO COMMISSION HAVE DECIDED TO PUSH THE BALL FORWARD ON EQUALITY RATHER THAN DOING THE RIGHT THING AND CHEATING ON THEIR SPOUSES!!!

RUN FOR YOUR WIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!

But that's not all. From The Atlantic:

Have you heard that the United States is headed toward socialism? Jonah Goldberg says it is. Alabama Senator Richard Shelby says it is. Phyllis Schlafly says it is. Richard Viguerie says it is. The Republican National Committee says it is. We must be getting pretty close.

How close? This is what socialism looks like:

0.21%!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!! WE'RE BECOMING SOCIALIST THANKS TO B. HUSSEIN OSAMA!!

WILL WE EVER WAKE UP AND LEARN THAT LIBRULZ ARE ATTACKING OUR RIGHT TO HATE OTHERS AND MAKING AMERICA SOCIALIST?! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(End sarcasm)

I Believe

I Believe that Barack Obama is a pretty damn good President. I'm glad we once again have a President who uses his brain!

I Believe that Barack Obama is an imperfect human being and that we should all expect him to make mistakes and disagree with us.

I Believe that when my grandfathers served my country in World War II and Dad in the Army Reserves, they did so in defense of freedom - for all people.

I Believe that as much as I like Obama, I'd like him even more if he would back up his talk on GLBT freedom with more action (and not having his administration defend DOMA in the courts). Oh, and highlight his dedication to open government by releasing those torture photos. If there's no reason to hide them, then why hide them?

I Believe that the effort being expended to stop the release of those photos and to protect DOMA could be better spent on other important matters.

I Believe that there are very few people on DKos who blindly support Obama, and there are also very few who look for any opportunity whatsoever to bash him. Most think he's a great President, but far from perfect. I am in that camp.

I Believe that change takes time. We would be mistaken if we expected Obama to do everything we want him to do in less than five months. Or, for that matter, less than four years. Even so...

I Believe in accountability. Speaking out and holding our elected officials accountable is not merely a right - it is our civic duty. We can say what we want to each other on DU, but there's a greater chance it would have an impact if our elected officials knew our opinions. How can we expect elected officials to do what we want if we don't tell them what we want?

I Believe - no, I Know - that the Capitol Switchboard is at 1-877-762-8762 (1-877-SOB-U-SOB). The White House's comment line is at 1-202-456-1111. I have programmed the numbers for the White House and my members of Congress into my cell phone so I don't have to look them up every time.

I Believe that it's much more productive to share your views with your elected officials than to be silent.

I Believe that the Red Wings are going to dominate tonight!

Equal Pay Day: April 28, 2009

The average woman would have to work from January 1, 2008, to today, April 28, 2009, to make as much money as the average man made in all of 2008.

More data from the National Committee on Pay Equity:

Census statistics released on Women's Equality Day--August 26, 2008--show that the gap between men's and women's earnings changed by less than one percent from 2006 to 2007, narrowing only slightly from 76.9 to 77.8 percent. Based on the median earnings of full-time, year-round workers, women's earnings were $35,102, and men's earnings were $45,113. Median earnings for women of color are generally even lower, and all showed percentage drops in the last year. In 2007, the earnings for African American women were $31,009, 68.7 percent of men's earnings, a drop of more than 3 percent; Asian American women's earnings were $40,374, 89.5 percent of men's earnings, a drop of 3.5 percent; and Latinas earnings were $26,612, 59 percent of men's, a drop of .6 percent.

Today, President Obama proclaimed today to be Equal Pay Day in the United States:

If we wish to honor our Nation's highest ideals, we must end wage discrimination. The Founders established a timeless framework of rights for the American people. Generation after generation has worked and sacrificed so that this framework might be applied equally to all Americans. To honor these Americans and stay true to our founding ideals, we must carry forward this tradition and breathe life into these principles by supporting equal pay for men and women.

Wage discrimination has a tangible and negative impact on women and families. When women receive less than their deserved compensation, they take home less for themselves and their loved ones. Utilities and groceries are more difficult to afford. Mortgages and rent bills are harder to pay. Children's higher education is less financially feasible. In later years of life, the retirement that many women have worked so hard for—and have earned—is not possible. This problem is particularly dire for women who are single and the sole supporters of their families. Women should not and need not endure these consequences.

My Administration is working to advance pay equity in the United States. The first bill I signed into law as President, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, allows more women to challenge pay discrimination by extending the timeline within which complaints can be filed. This law advances the struggle for equal pay, but it is only an initial step. To continue this progress, I issued an Executive Order establishing the White House Council on Women and Girls. This high-level body, composed of Cabinet members and heads of sub-Cabinet agencies, is charged with advancing the rights and needs of women, including equal pay.

Still, Government can only advance this issue so far. The collective action of businesses, community organizations, and individuals is necessary to ensure that every woman receives just treatment and compensation. We Americans must come together to ensure equal pay for both women and men by reminding ourselves of the basic principles that underlie our Nation's strength and unity, understanding the unnecessary sacrifices that pay inequity causes, and recalling the countless women leaders who have proven what women can achieve.

Who Said It?

Match the quote with the person who said it! It's more fun if you guess before you click the links!

• "I didn't come here to debate the past -- I came here to deal with future"
• "As Americans get to know gay couples and or have gay family members, or work associates ... they come to understand that these relationships are deep and worth being respect and being protected."
  
• "If my Senate Republican colleagues want to figure out a way to cut state spending and limit our budget shortfall, they should take up this legislation next week."
  
• "You don't pull out a gun if everybody in the room knows it's not loaded."
  
• "Imagine boarding a train in the center of a city. No racing to an airport and across a terminal, no delays, no sitting on the tarmac, no lost luggage, no taking off your shoes. (Laughter.) Imagine whisking through towns at speeds over 100 miles an hour, walking only a few steps to public transportation, and ending up just blocks from your destination."
  
• "This is coming out today: Rush Limbaugh’s dog says he hopes Obama’s dog fails." 
  

Who Said It?

1. David Letterman
2. McCain advisor Steve Schmidt
3. Joe Biden
4. Fmr. Sen. Rick Santorum, R-PA
5. Barack Obama
6. State Sen. Gretchen Whitmer, D-Lansing
   

Day of Silence

...

Bits of Tid: April 8, 2009

• Tomorrow is Holy/Maundy Thursday, which commemorates the Last Supper. Today, meanwhile, is Holy Wednesday or Spy Wednesday.

  In Western Christianity, the Wednesday before Easter is sometimes known as 'Spy Wednesday', indicating that it is the day that Judas Iscariot first conspired with the Sanhedrin to betray Jesus for thirty silver coins.

• Did you hear who visited Baghdad?
• What does one newspaper giant blame for the economic crisis? Tax cuts. Which paper is it? The Wall Street Journal.
• By now you may have heard that gay marriage is legal in Iowa and Vermont. As it turns out, DC may be next.
• By a couple of estimates, upwards of 200 people peacefully protested Gary Glenn here at CMU. I'll have more on this at MichLib later, but in the meantime, check out David Shuster's tweets on gay marriage.
• They're still the Party of No.
• How do you know you're on a strong team? Gallup Management Journal has five signs. Notice that "playing for the Detroit Tigers" is not one of them.

Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved that Scott Is Attractive

Yesterday's Kent County Democratic Convention served as a prelim to the Michigan Democratic Party Convention in two weeks. At this and other county Democratic Conventions across Michigan, precinct delegates elected delegates and alternates to sit on the State Convention Committees on Rules, Credentials, and Resolutions, while also introducing resolutions for adoption by the county Party and possibly the State Party.

Having been re-elected Precinct Delegate by one vote last summer, I felt compelled to do more than merely attend this convention and second the motion to approve the Credentials Committee report (which I actually did at the August Convention!).

So I introduced two resolutions for delegates to consider. Here they are, as slightly modified by the County Convention Rules Committee and adopted by the convention as a whole.

Resolution Opposing Orientation-Based Discrimination Regarding Blood Donation

WHEREAS, the Kent County Democratic Party is committed to equal rights and the health and safety of all people, while valuing community service;

WHEREAS, donating blood is widely recognized as a great way to give back to the community;

WHEREAS, blood centers often experience shortages of blood, particularly during the winter and summer months. Should blood supplies be depleted, a considerable number of lives would be in jeopardy;

WHEREAS, homosexual men in the United States are prohibited from donating blood if they have had contact with another male at any time since 1977, even if neither man has ever been tested positive for HIV. Neither homosexual women nore heterosexuals are subject to this restriction;

WHEREAS, currently all blood is tested for HIV/AIDS and other diseases after it is donated, meaning that it is unnecessary to prohibit anyone from donating blood based on their gender and sexual orientation;

WHEREAS, the Food and Drug Administration has estimated that if this restriction were to be lifted, more than 112,000 more Americans would be eligible to donate blood. While not all of these 112,000 would actually give blood, blood supplies would be greatly increased if even a small proportion were to donate.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Michigan Democratic Party opposes restrictions on blood donations based on a person's gender and sexual orientation; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Michigan Democratic Party urges the Obama Administration to direct the Food and Drug Administration to end this form of discrimination against homosexual men.

Resolution Declaring College Affordability a Critical Component of Economic Health and Social Equality

WHEREAS, the Democratic Party has always led the way when it comes to strengthening our economy and promoting opportunity for all;

WHEREAS, a college degree is no longer seen as an option, but rather as an essential part of a person’s success in the global economy;

WHEREAS, a large, highly skilled workforce is essential to the economic health of our state and nation;

WHEREAS, our state and national economies are experiencing the most severe challenges since the Great Depression;

WHEREAS, according to the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education, tuition and fees at American colleges and universities rose 439 percent from 1982 through 2007, while median family income increased by only 147 percent during the same period;

WHEREAS, even after accounting for financial aid, low- and middle-income families are forced to pay a far greater share of family income for college expenses than more affluent families. Thus, the cost of college is an obstacle to the achievement of our Party’s vision of equal opportunity for all;

WHEREAS, according to the College Board, the average college student graduates with roughly $20,000 of debt;

WHEREAS, it is estimated that 200,000 young people per year opt not to go to college due to cost. This not only hurts that person's ability to succeed, it also impairs our nation’s efforts to compete in the 21st century global economy while further exacerbating the economic inequalities that persist to this day.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Michigan Democratic Party recognizes college affordability as a critical component of both overall economic health and social equality for all; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that Michigan Democratic Party calls upon President Obama, Governor Granholm, and all other Democratic elected officials to place college affordability as a top priority when it comes to ensuring equal opportunity and a healthy economy for Michigan and the United States.

Here's a list of the resolutions we adopted at the 2007 State Convention. As I recall, all of the ones we adopted at the 2007 County Convention were adopted at the state level, too.

The fruits of our campaign labor

Want to know why I'm a Democrat? Want to know why I made hundreds of calls and entered goodness-knows-how-much data into VoteBuilder in addition to coordinating our presence in the July 4 Parade? Maybe this will give you an idea.

Barack Obama today signed the first bill of his presidency, a piece of legislation known as the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act that makes it easier for workers to sue after discovering what they believe to be pay discrimination. 

In signing the bill, Mr. Obama said that it sends the message "that there are no second class citizens in our workplaces, and that it’s not just unfair and illegal, it's bad for business to pay someone less because of their gender or their age or their race or their ethnicity, religion or disability."

Such is the crux of my support for the Party of Jefferson and Jackson. For as long as I can remember, the Democratic Party has stood for fairness and equality for everyone, regardless of race, gender, physical or mental handicap, etc. We are all human beings, and it's the Democrats who have led the efforts to truly bring about 'liberty and justice for all' in this country. It means so much to see that our new Democratic President and Congress are doing their part to advance the cause of equality for all Americans.

We all know that this does not mean women will automatically get paid the same wage as men for doing the same thing as men. True equality amongst all people has not been achieved and will not be achieved for a long time, if it ever is.

HOWEVER, the inauguration of Barack Obama as our 44th President - and today's signing of the Ledbetter Act - are both great milestones in the right direction, and we can be proud of both. So, let us commit to keeping that momentum going!

Inspiration

Today we commemorate the 80th birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (which was actually last week), one day before we witness the inauguration of our 44th President. The ties between King's birthday and Obama's inauguration are so significant that it is almost impossible to ignore them. I have compiled a variety of videos from YouTube to help celebrate both.

Let us start with Dr. King's most famous speech.


Like Dr. King and the many others who fought to expand and protect freedom in this beloved country, Obama and his supporters were motivated by a belief that things did not have to be the way they were - that we could do better. More than a mere slogan, Yes We Can has become a mantra for people well beyond the campaign.


And of course, that hard work paid off.


Oh, the excitement that generated! This was near Grant Park in Chicago, and though the melody wasn't entirely correct, he still did a great job conveying the excitement!


Our 44th President addressed the nation whose mantle of leadership he is now prepared to accept. He has constantly stressed that he will not merely be the leader of those who supported him, but of everyone in this land.


Both of my grandfathers served in World War II, Grandma was an Army nurse, and Dad was in the Reserves. My family and I vote in every election we can, from President to School Board. We love this beautiful nation and cherish the renewal of its promise.


It's out with the old and in with the new! On Friday the Late Show with David Letterman aired the finale of Great Moments in Presidential Speeches, looking back at some of the many verbal flip-ups of the outgoing Bumbler-in-Chief!


On a less funny but more uplifting note, let's celebrate the dawning of a new day for our country with It's a New Day by will.i.am, followed by You Are the New Day, sung by the King's Singers. My high school's choir sang the latter at my graduation in 2005.



Never officially our national anthem, Hail Columbia was widely regarded as such for many years. Today it serves as the Vice President's March.


Obama comes into the White House as the 44th member of the most exclusive club in the world (with apologies to the US Senate). This video notes his place in the line and has a wonderful ending!


It is my hope that kids everywhere will be able to look up to our new President as a superb role model.


And may he be an inspiration to us all, raising us up to new heights as a nation.

Cherry: Restoring our economy is important in helping to fulfill King's dream

Barack Obama's election as President signals that America has come a long way from the deep racial tensions that plagued our past. Still, in order to continue moving toward racial equality, we must ensure that our economy is restored.

I had the privilege of interviewing Lt. Gov. John Cherry by phone this morning, who conveyed that message and others from DC, where he will be attending tomorrow's inauguration. Cherry, who arrived there Saturday, says there is a growing sense of excitement and anticipation in the nation's capital.

The incoming President has announced a major stimulus package that focuses on job creation through infrastructure improvements. Being from the Great Lakes Region, Obama is also aware that the Great Lakes are an important economic as well as environmental asset. He has pledged to invest $300 million in protection and restoration of the Lakes.

Cherry says he would like our new President to make it clear in his inaugural address that we as a nation are united and that we are closer than ever to living up to our ideals of freedom and democracy. Cherry also emphasized that we must understand that solving our challenges will require commitment from alll of us.

Special thanks to Lieutenant Governor Cherry for offering his time and for Graham for helping set up the interview.

Racism at Texas Republican Convention

Seen at last weekend's Texas Republican Convention:
Disgusting, obviously. However, I am not surprised.

You see, they want power. With their party in serious danger of losing the White House, the GOP is desperate to hold on to the office and the power that comes with it.

The problem for them is, they feel they can't attack the content of Obama's character, so they attack him for the color of his skin. They feel that they cannot attack him on policy issues such as the economy and Iraq, so they go after him for not looking like him, for not having an 'American' name.

They can't play to the issues, because they know they would lose. So they play to people's fears and prejudices. What does it tell you that they feel this will actually help them win.

Which is not to say the entire Texas Republican Party or the McCain campaign is officially behind it. These kinds of buttons are sold by private groups, vendors, etc., all the time at Republican and Democratic conventions, meetings, and the like. For instance, I have a button from the Isabella County Dems that says 'pollution is a moral issue.'

Even so, I hope the DNC and Obama campaign call on McCain and other Republicans to denounce this. For them not to do so would signal complicity.