02/15/2006
Moby's upstate New York sky palace for sale. (details at queerty)
Ghost spotted on the NYC subway.
Cameroon papers being sued after publishing names of alleged homosexuals including tennis player Yannick Noah.
The Winter Olym-Pecs (via pink)
The reign of Dean: Annual DNC grassroots report omits any reference to GLBT Americans. In contrast to the work done by Terry McAuliffe: "Under the leadership of Chairman McAuliffe, the DNC in partnership with the Kerry campaign, embarked upon the most comprehensive GLBT pride outreach program in the history of a national political party and presidential campaign. During this election year, the DNC manned tables and marched in more than 75 gay pride events in 22 states, taking the DNC's message of equality and fairness to more than four million GLBT and allied voters. This year's DNC Convention was a historic one for the GLBT community, with a record number of GLBT delegates, standing committee members, DNC members, and staff." (via blogactive)
Posted 1:15 PM EST by Andy Towle in Elsewhere | Permalink
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Let's see how the ‘Uncle Toms’ of the DNC spin this one!!! Thanks Howard! I really needed that laugh. Revenge is the best tonic.
Posted by: Matthew Schooler | Feb 15, 2006 1:31:46 PM
This surprises folks? The DNC, wanting to court over the GOP Christain Terrorist base has to do something. "Don't talk gay" will surely earn points in the 2006 mid-terms.
Posted by: Rad | Feb 15, 2006 1:43:04 PM
Dean was the worst choice ever. God that was a bleak day when the party chose this loser.
Posted by: Donald | Feb 15, 2006 1:53:36 PM
IT was a great day when HD was given the post!! Love ya 'Uncle Don'
Posted by: Matthew Schooler | Feb 15, 2006 2:05:05 PM
Dean is playing the game the way it's always been played. If the DNC wants a shot at the presidency, the party platform can't be too strong on supporting issues like Gay marriage, Gays in the military, abortion, or a ban on guns. those issues are too divisive within the party. If the party is divided, it cannot win election for it's candidate.
The presidency is probably going to go to a moderate, of either party, who won't refuse to debate the issues, and yet, doesn't ever get around to scheduling those debates. He can talk about changing attitudes, but not about changing the laws. It's all about empty campaign promises. The candidate will have to encourage people to vote, by giving them hope that their views will be heard. Let the people at least have the illusion that you might see things their way, and you can win their vote. Tell them you support their enemy, and you lose.
The President has a lot less power than a Congressional Majority. If you want change, that's the place to start.
Posted by: Jay Croce | Feb 15, 2006 2:22:23 PM
Sirius radio's Alex Bennett just broke a rumor that the delay in reporting the news that Cheney shot an old man in the heart was due to an effort to hide or spin Cheney's female companion.
Pamela Willeford, ambassador to Switzerland and -- yes -- Liechtenstein, was part of the hunting excursion with Cheney and Whittington. And according to Willeford's account, Cheney and the ambassador were side-by-side when the shooting of Whittington took place.
The vice president's Secret Service detail had to decide what to do with Willeford by way of perhaps covering up her relationship with Cheney, and thus the delay in reporting the news.
The rumor goes that Lynn Cheney isn't happy with Cheney's close relationship with Willeford.
Again, just a rumor.
Posted by: BRIAN NYC | Feb 15, 2006 2:35:30 PM
>>Sirius radio
Howard Stern must be in control of their news department. How clever.
Posted by: Jay Croce | Feb 15, 2006 2:52:53 PM
God, glad to see Moby's not against aesthetic-materialism. I WANT THAT HOUSE!
I'm just 3-million short at the moment.
Posted by: Ted B. (Charging Rhino) | Feb 15, 2006 2:55:03 PM
gee, the dems are taking the glbt vote for granted. what a fucking surprise.
Posted by: Dean | Feb 15, 2006 3:32:27 PM
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't see any reference to any special interest group or minority in the report. My understanding is that Dean is trying to unify the Democrats behind some core values and objectives. I think it is a good thing.
Posted by: Shaun | Feb 15, 2006 3:34:15 PM
I live in a NJ town with a large gay and lesbian population. I've met and spoken to Dr Dean twice in my hometown, surrounded by "family", and I can state candidly that Dr. Dean is not anti-gay.
Posted by: Liam | Feb 15, 2006 3:50:58 PM
M S. I am sure it was a good day for you. Why am I Uncle Don?
Posted by: Donald | Feb 15, 2006 4:06:17 PM
Because I imagine you an ardent supporter of the DNC. It makes you an UNCLE TOM so I just changed it to UNCLE DON. It was stupid. I was in a hurry. It was a reference to the many times I have been called an uncle tom on this very same site.
Posted by: Matthew Schooler | Feb 15, 2006 4:12:29 PM
That's what I thought. I never agreed with the names people call you, though sometimes I think you really just like to stir the pot.
I consider myself to be a good and loyal Democrat but not a blind or stupid one. I am not so loyal as to think a party headed by Howard Dean is a good thing. In fact on Sunday morning chat shows I spent as much time telling him (via the TV) to shut the fuck up as I do Orin Hatch, Bill Frist. Whereas I cannot imagine myself voting for a Repub for National office, I have voted Repub in statewide and local races. Maybe if Olympia Snow or Susan Collins ran against a weak Democrat I would consider crossing over and then right back to defeat little Ricky in the Senate race.
Posted by: Donald | Feb 15, 2006 4:28:00 PM
I like our Senator Feinstein. I do not like Senator Boxer. I like Lieberman. I like the moderates such as Collins and Snow.
I agree Howard Dean was a terrible choice to lead the DNC.
Posted by: Matthew Schooler | Feb 15, 2006 5:10:52 PM
See there you go only Andy Towle could bring us together. If Feinstein were a little younger she would be an awesome candidate.
Posted by: Donald | Feb 15, 2006 5:17:09 PM
I, on the other hand, like Chairman Dean. I think he's nutters, but he's amusing as hell. When Senator Kerry was the Democrats' candidate, I almost considered not voting. Senator Clinton frightens the hell out of me. Senator Lieberman ought to switch his party affiliation and admit to being a Republican. Chairman Dean is the only person other than Congressman Kusinich (sp?) and the late Senator Wellstone whom I can recall being an out-of-the-closet liberal. (Senator Kennedy is disqualified since he supported NCLB which is raping our nations' schools).
I'd vote for McCain (R), Feingold (D), Snow (R), Powell (?), Specter (R), Richardson (D).
I'm not sure that we're ever going to get a truly pro-gay political party. Maybe the best we can hope for is what we got...the Dems didn't mention us, unlike the Repubs who seem to feel that we are destroying all that is good and sacred in this great land that Jesus gave the white man to use and abuse until He comes again in glory to shower riches on us all (if we're straight, white and rich).
Posted by: JT | Feb 15, 2006 5:17:18 PM
Talk about much ado about nothing. Shaun, you're correct, the report doesn't list any specific group but rather lists core values.
The quote regarding McAuliffe is part of the report here:
http://www.gwu.edu/~action/2004/parties/dnc05facts.html
So apparently the DNC has abandoned not only GLBT voters, but also African Americans, Hispanics, Asian Pacific Islanders, the Disabled, and America's Youth. Somebody is just trying to stir up trouble...
Posted by: Jeff in PA | Feb 15, 2006 6:10:31 PM
Chairman Dean?
You mean, the world's LARGEST EGO? I mean, he can't even let anyone else talk in the same room much less be in the same room.
~
Why wd anyone want to do anything physical with Dick Cheney?? Much less his 78-year-old friend??? Yyyyuckkk!
Posted by: Gilli | Feb 15, 2006 9:43:08 PM
While many gay Blogs are calling this treason, I don't think we should be so quick to judge this omission. Bush was able to win the Presidency during the last election by making the proposed gay marriage amendment a campaign priorty. In the process, his campaign was effective at mobilizing the religious right and evangelicals to turn-out to the voting booths in (sometimes bus-driven) droves, which is undeniably how he succeeded winning the election despite having the lowest public approval ratings in American History! The Dems have got to play it smart this time and take a "middle of the road" stance on all issues to play the political game the Republicans have succeeded thus far at: manipulating Democratic stances as liberal and outside of the mainstream. My advice to fellow GLBT Dems: Just go with the flow for now--I think the DNC is playing its cards the right way right now. My advice for Gay Republicans: See a Psychiatrist to work out your issues of internalized homophobia.
Posted by: Dr. Christopher Blackwell | Feb 16, 2006 12:04:22 AM
Shaun has it straight (yuk, yuk). I looked at the document and kept trying to find "the document". I'm a little slow because of the steel plate in my head, but I finally realized that was THE document. I think it's wonderful. Rather than take a shotgun approach and pander to ever special interest, subgroup and demographic in the country, the strategy is concise, smart and inclusive.
Posted by: JT | Feb 16, 2006 9:51:40 AM
Dr. Chris, would that also be your advice to Gay Catholics, Gay Muslims, Gay office workers, and all other Gay people who find that being Gay is incompatible with certain other parts of their lives?
Being Gay is only a part of my life. Being a Jew is only part of my life. Being a man is only part of my life. I do things that are not typically masculine, all the time. But I'd never renounce being a man. I do things all the time that are forbidden by Jewish law, but I'm not anti-semitic. I don't ever deny being Gay, no matter who asks, but that doesn't mean it is the center of my life. If a Democrat has a good idea, I really don't care if he's pro-Gay or not, I'll support him.
I am not having issues of internalized homophobia, just because I can get along with people who are not like me. I can even get along with people who don't like me. Does that mean I have internalized self-hatred, or does it just mean I have good social skills?
Thank you for being concerned about my mental health, but I don't have a problem being a White man who supports Black causes, just like I can be a man who supports women's causes, or a Republican who supports Gay causes.
Posted by: Jay Croce | Feb 16, 2006 9:22:24 PM
Oh good lord. Do we really need the DNC to stroke our egos with PR-type "outreach" to the LGBT community?
The DNC party has much bigger things on their plate right now than making token actions towards all the interest groups that are normally associated with the Democratic Party.
And give me a break. Terry McAuliffe and Kerry's supposed outreach to the gay community had absolutely nothing to do with their belief and strong support of gay rights, it was pure election year politics. Bottom line. It was also damage control because Kerry refused to support gay marriage and only would support domestic partnerships. There was not a single speech that Kerry gave where LGBT rights were a major part of his message.
The fact is that Dean is building a healthier Democratic party on the local and state levels...the exact reason why the DNC elected him to the position in the first place. You can't say the guy hasn't worked for gay rights before (Vermont domestic partnerships) and you can't say that he hasn't spoken about it. It was a part of his stump speech in his Presidential bid.
And lets see... go to http://www.dnc.org
Under communities: "GLBT". That's has been a permanent part of the DNC's website since Dean became party chairman. It wasn't before.
Who gives a crap if it was mentioned in some report that they published. As an earlier poster pointed out, no interest group is mentioned in the report.
And lets not forget that the only thing keeping discrimination against gays from being codified in the Constitution of the United States are the Democrats in Congress.
Posted by: Marc | Feb 18, 2006 6:56:16 PM
http://www.democrats.org/a/2006/02/a_year_of_progr.php
Under Dean's leadership, the DNC has dramatically expanded and improved its outreach to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities across America. Today, Dean issued the following statement on the progress of those efforts:
"In the past year, the DNC has made tremendous progress in expanding and improving outreach to our friends and family in the LGBT community. I am proud to say that, because of the organizational reforms implemented when I became Chairman, we have dramatically increased the resources brought to bear in our LGBT messaging, organizing, and outreach efforts. Under the leadership of the American Majority Partnership, our Party is moving into a new era in reaching out to our closest allies.
"The Democratic Party has never been more committed to protecting equal rights for the LGBT community. We are standing strong with the community, fighting the Republican Party's repugnant efforts to exploit the politics of fear and division and scapegoat LGBT families for electoral gain. I am proud to lead a Party that will never resort to such shameful tactics. As long as I am chairman, this Party will always help provide the LGBT community every opportunity to live the American Dream."
The document then proceeds to outline all the things the DNC is doing to engage the LGBT community. It's about 18 paragraphs longer than Mr. McAuliffe's summary.
Posted by: Marc | Feb 18, 2006 7:02:59 PM
Totally agree with these comments--I laugh at the sentiments written above analogizing being true to yourself with the political strategy of the Democratic Party. To answer back to the comments, if the viability of the greater number of people meant not fully embracing my personal identity (whether it be religion, gender, sexual orientation, etc.) for a short period of time, then HELL YES! I would be more than willing to put my own self dignity to the side while the powers at be maneuver the best way possible to benefit my community the most.
Posted by: Dr. Christopher Blackwell | Feb 19, 2006 12:13:00 AM