News: Meningitis, Jack Welch, California Gas, SpaceX

The CDC now says the 90 people are infected with meningitis in a contaminated steroid pain treatment.

Big Bird doesn't want to "ruffle any feathers" on SNL's Weekend Update.

Asked to explain why Rep. Paul Broun, a doctor who sits on the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, would call evolution "lies from the pits of hell," the Republican's spokesperson said, "Dr. Broun was speaking off the record to a large church group about his personal beliefs regarding religious issues."

Liam Neeson's Taken 2 topped at the box office with about $50 million nationwide.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague and financial chancellor George Osborne both said they will back a marriage equality law when given the opportunity to vote on it in Parliament.

In other, less pressing British activism news, there's a campaign to preserve that country's version of Fraggle Rock.

Voting for a losing candidate has been shown to lower testosterone levels in men. "Is it possible voting makes male voters too vulnerable? Could the unpleasant feelings male voters experience when their candidates lose discourage them from revisiting the polls? No wonder they stop voting. It hurts too much."

This is David Beckham's work attire.

Check out stills of Jessica Biel and Scarlett Johansson channeling Vera Miles and Janet Leigh, respectively, for Hitchcock.

Failed president candidate Newt Gingrich says that former GE CEO Jack Welch's theory that the latest job numbers were fabricated to benefit the president "rings true". Obama adviser Robert Gibbs described that assertion as "absolutely crazy" and says Welch "embarrassed himself."

David Axelrod says that President Obama was surprised by Mitt Romney's "brazenness" during the first presidential debate.

From a New York Times article called "Helping a Child to Come Out": "In our family, we knew that Joseph was probably gay, and we saw in problems he was having at school that he was under psychological pressure... But we were reluctant to force him out of his closet. We asked our gay friends what they would have wanted at Joe’s age. They confirmed: don’t push, unless Joe seemed to be in real distress. It’s his secret to reveal, they said." That echoes what Sally Field said at HRC's dinner last night.

Patrick Abner on his recent marriage to MSNBC's Thomas Roberts: "I never imagined in a million years that I would be on a stage kissing my male partner, spouse — husband, Thomas is saying — in front of my father. I never thought that would be the case. And to be able to do that and have not just my father but my whole family be proud of me, that’s something special."

Gas prices in California have hit a record-high average of $4.6140.

Journalist Mark Oppenheimer has penned an e-book about LGBT activist and fellow journalist Dan Savage. "Never before have we glimpsed Savage’s whole life, from his Catholic-school days, raised by a Chicago cop and a housewife, to his current role as a unique American character," reads the Amazon description.

SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket will launch its Dragon supply unit into the stars and toward the international space station tonight, marking a potentially seismic step forward for extraterrestrial travel.

Richard Tisei, the openly gay Republican congressional candidate from Massachusetts, dismissed incumbent John Tierney comparisons between his politics and the Tea Party's. "I’m the only gay, pro-choice Republican who wouldn’t sign the [Grover] Norquist pledge" he told the Washington Blade. "I don’t think [Tierny] realized how much he’s damaged his own credibility. Rather than talking about what he’s done over a 16-year period. Trying to paint me as some type of Right Wing extremist is just so off-the-wall that it damages his own credibility."

Barney Frank Sees No Good Coming From Richard Tisei Win: VIDEO

Republican Richard Tisei desperately needs to win over some Democrats if he wants to represent Massachusetts' 6th District in the U.S. House next year. And winning over those Democrats will require proving to voters that he's not like the national Republicans who lean ever-more to the right.

That ideological break was made even more clear today when Tisei, who is openly gay, asked his state's GOP to reject the national party's homophobic platform.

The platform "espouses beliefs that exclude many in our party, includ­ing myself," Tisei wrote to state Republican chairman Robert A. Maginn Jr. "As a ‘live-and-let-live’ ­Republican, my philosophy is that the government should get off our backs, out of our wallets, and away from the bedroom." 

MassGOP told The Boston Globe that they're all about "big ideas, and there is no shortage of opinions within the party," but "ultimately, we all share one goal, which is electing more Republicans in ­November."

Meanwhile, Barney Frank, the retiring U.S. Representative from Massachusetts, weighed in on Tisei and said that no matter how LGBT-friendly he may be, his election would maintain GOP control in the House and therefore hurt LGBT people, which is why voters should support Democratic incumbent John Tierney, the straight man in the middle.

"John Tierney’s election as opposed to Rich Tisei’s is better for the advancement of the legal equality we are seeking because if Republicans gain contain control of the House, no bills advancing our rights will come up,” said Frank.

Tisei got the last word, though, telling The Daily Item, "I think I will be able to carve out an identity for myself that’s separate from the party and that most people support me on." Unfortunately such identities are often assimilated or undermined upon arrival in Washington.

On a related note, Tierney yesterday released his first political ad in which he aligns Tisei with the Tea Party. Check it out AFTER THE JUMP.

U.S. Could Get First Openly Gay Lieutenant Governor

Massachusetts State Senator Richard Tisei, the running mate for that state's Republican candidate Charlie Baker, could become the first openly gay lieutenant governor.

GOP Politics evaluates the Tisei and Baker: "The GOP ticket is led by Charlie Baker, a fiscal conservative who supports marriage equality, and State Senate Minority Leader Richard Tisei, an openly gay candidate for lieutenant governor.  Not only is the GOP ticket in Massachusetts the most LGBT-friendly the Republican Party has ever fielded, but in this liberal bastion they’ve provided the Republican Governor’s Association (RGA) with a real pick-up opportunity."

Also, the Victory Fund has stated their support for the state senator: "Tisei has earned the respect of his colleagues and stands an excellent chance of becoming the party’s nominee for Lieutenant Governor if he can beat back the forces of intolerance on the extreme right wing of his party.  A group has emerged that’s urging Republican voters to reject Tisei because of his strong support for marriage equality, his support of teachers and because of his pro-choice stand."

Tisei himself noted that he has the potential to make history when speaking to the Martha's Vineyard Times last month: "People judge you on your performance," and not completely hiding his pride, added, "To tell you the truth, if I'm elected, I'll be the first gay office holder statewide, and the highest ranking in the country —unusual for a Republican."

You may remember that while Baker supports gay marriage, he and Tisei disagree on a Massachusetts transgender anti-discrimination bill.

Massachusetts GOP Picks Pro-Gay, Anti-Trans Gubernatorial Candidate with Openly Gay Running Mate

The Massachusetts GOP picked Charles Baker as their gubernatorial candidate on Saturday, defeating convenience store magnate Christy Mihos in the primary. Baker is for marriage equality and has an openly gay running mate — state senator Richard Tisei. 

One point of contention between the GOP's team is Tisei's sponsorship of a transgender anti-discrimination bill, which Baker addressed after getting the endorsement:

"At an awkward press conference after Baker won the convention’s endorsement, he stood next to Tisei and said he opposed his running mate’s legislation and was not concerned about labeling it 'the bathroom bill' — a term used by opponents of gay rights. Baker, who supports gay marriage and abortion rights, denied that he was trying to court social conservatives. 'I think a guy who supports gay marriage and is pro-choice and has been pretty clear on those and picked a gay fella as his running mate is pretty much not pandering to much of anybody,' Baker said, putting a hand on Tisei’s shoulder. Tisei has, in the past, strongly rejected the phrase “bathroom bill,’’ saying critics use it to misrepresent the goal of equal rights for transgender people. 'I think they’re trying to scare people into opposing the bill and I don’t think it’s really an issue,' he told his local paper last summer. 'I know it’s been dubbed the ‘bathroom bill,’ but this is really a bill to treat people equally and fairly under the law.'"

You may recall that Tisei came out publicly in November after anticipating the scrutiny that would come as Baker's running mate.

MA GOP Gubernatorial Candidate Charlie Baker Chooses Openly Gay Senator Richard Tisei as Running Mate

Some interesting developments in the Massachusetts race for governor.

The Victory Fund reports: "Charlie Baker, a moderate Republican running to become the governor of Massachusetts, has chosen State Sen. Richard Tisei, who is openly gay, as his running mate.  Baker issued the following on his Twitter account this morning:  'Want you to be the first to know: I’ve chosen State Senator Richard Tisei as my running mate. Excited about this team.'  Tisei is the Senate Minority Leader, and played a key role in the fight to retain marriage equality in Massachusetts."

Tisei publicly discosed to the Boston Globe last week that he is gay:

"Tisei was first elected to the House at age 22 and moved to the Senate in 1991. His sexual orientation has been an open secret on Beacon Hill, and he disclosed it publicly yesterday in an interview with the Globe, anticipating the scrutiny that would accompany a statewide candidacy. 'It is not exactly a news flash,' he said . 'I don’t think people really care these days.'"

The Boston Herald reports: "Baker and the Senate minority leader will take on convenience store magnate Christy Mihos in the Republican primary. The winner is set to face off against state Treasurer Timothy Cahill and incumbent Gov. Deval Patrick in a three-way contest in 2010."