Sen. Franken's Staff Dresses As Rainbow To Fight Anti-Gay Amendment

Minnesota Senator Al Franken's staff dressed up en masse as a rainbow for Halloween as an effort to urge voters to vote "no" on a constitutional amendment defining marriage as one man and one woman.

[Via BuzzFeed]

Towleroad Guide to the Tube #1051

BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY: Richie Castellano's version rocks you.

DUSSELDORF: Amazing crosswind landings during a storm.

AL FRANKEN: An American for Marriage Equality.

DAWNED ON ME: Wilco's new video features the first hand-drawn Popeye cartoon in more than 30 years.

For recent Guides to the Tube, click HERE.

Al Franken Rips 'Focus on the Family' Witness at DOMA Hearing: VIDEO

At today's DOMA hearing, Senator Al Franken took Thomas Minnery, Senior Vice President for Public Policy, Focus on the Family, to task for misusing an HHS study in his argument that children are better off with a mother and a father.

Said Franken: "I frankly really don't know how we can trust the rest of your testimony."

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

The DOMA hearing continues, LIVE, HERE.

FCC to Pass (Fake) Net Neutrality Measure

A measure that some, like Al Franken, are calling "fake net neutrality" is poised for a vote today by the FCC:

Net neutrality — which broadly speaking is an effort to ensure open access to Web sites and online services — is on the agenda of an F.C.C. meeting Tuesday in Washington. The F.C.C.’s chairman, Julius Genachowski, outlined a framework for net neutrality earlier this month, touching off a debate about the role of the government in regulating Internet access.

As it stands now, the order would prohibit the blocking of any Web sites, applications or devices by fixed-line broadband Internet providers like Comcast and EarthLink, essentially forbidding the providers from picking winners and losers on behalf of consumers, F.C.C. officials said Monday.

The F.C.C. officials also said that the order would broaden the government’s enforcement powers over broadband. They spoke only on condition of anonymity ahead of Tuesday’s meeting on the matter. The F.C.C. order has not been made public.

Said Franken:

“Maybe you like Google Maps. Well, tough. If the F.C.C. passes this weak rule, Verizon will be able to cut off access to the Google Maps app on your phone and force you to use their own mapping program, Verizon Navigator, even if it is not as good. And even if they charge money, when Google Maps is free...If corporations are allowed to prioritize content on the Internet, or they are allowed to block applications you access on your iPhone, there is nothing to prevent those same corporations from censoring political speech."

Watch: Al Franken Gets Choked Up Over 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

Al Franken spoke out after yesterday's vote, about the impact gay and lesbian soldiers serving in our military have had on him.

Watch, AFTER  THE JUMP...

Watch: Al Franken Warns of Corporate Control of the Internet

Al Franken spoke on the topic of Net Neutrality at this year's Netroot Nation.

"I believe that Net Neutrality is the First Amendment of our time...If no one stops them, how long do you think it will take before four or five mega-corporations effectively control the flow of information in America not only on television but online? ... How long do you think it will take for the FOX News website to load five times faster than DailyKos? ... It's almost too late to stop this from happening but not quite...You have to help me fight this."

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...