Did Fox News Just Freeze Over?

Below: Sean Hannity prior to last night's broadcast












As previously blogged about, Faux News was caught by one of Jon Stewart's prolific writers of using different footage to hype up the numbers of a protest at the U.S. Capitol building last week.

"And although it pains me to say this, Jon Stewart, Comedy Central, he was right. Now on his program last night, he mentioned that we had played some incorrect video on this program last week while talking about the Republican health care rally on Capitol Hill. He was correct, we screwed up. we aired some video of a rally in September along with a video from the actual event. It was an inadvertent mistake, but a mistake none the less. So, Mr. Stewart, you were right. We apologize. But by the way, we wanna thank you and all your writers for watching."

Cough. Cough. Splutter. Splutter. Faux news admitting they were wrong? That's like the Bush Administration admitting they screwed up the economy, or tortured people illegally, or wiretapped grandma just for the fun of it, or leaked names of covert agents to seek personal vendettas, or....

Nah, that's too easy.

In related news, several pigs were seen flying over the Republican National Headquarters ... although none of them were reported wearing lipstick.

This Ain't No News

So, Faux News is at it again.

It appears that in order for the protests in Washington, featuring right wing nut job Michele Bachmann (a frequent target on the Lincolnian Liberal), to appear larger, Fox News decided to pepper its coverage with protests from earlier this year at the supposed "Tea Party" coverage.

Sean Hannity and Bachmann rant and rave about the huge size of the crowds, and the video moves from this month to a couple of months ago, without a mention of the change. Fox claims that Hannity will address the discrepancy this evening (although I'm not a watcher of such things).

Watch below:



So what's the beef? When it can't back up its conservative talking points, Faux News simply makes things up for appearance sake. Is it because Fox doesn't trust its viewers? Does it think it needs to pander to their fears? Perhaps.

I can hear the rightwingers now .. "MSNBC does the same thing! MSNBC is a left wing ranting place. MSNBC, blah, blah, blah." But MSNBC doesn't advertise itself ...

Rhode Island: No Burial Rights for Gay Couples

Some of the regular readers of the Lincolnian Liberal have noticed a slight name change in the blog. We still go by the LL, but the main graphic has been changed to one of my favorite sayings. This story is case in point:

Rhode Island Governor Donald Carcieri has crossed the crazy line in the smallest state in the union. He's vetoed a bill passed by the legislature, granting burial rights to domestic partners.

No, I'm not kidding.

The Republican head of the executive branch believes that gay couples should not have the right to make burial decisions for each other.The bigot said in his veto message:

"This bill represents a disturbing trend over the past few years of the incremental erosion of the principles surrounding traditional marriage, which is not the preferred way to approach this issue."

So, going back to my original snarky point, Britney Spears, who married Jason Allen Alexander for 55 hours, had more rights and privileges than my eight year relationship (as of next month).

It gets better. The vetoed bill defined a partnership existing over a year's time, along with other age and financial requirements. Nope, that wasn't acceptable to Carcieri.

He also said...

"As written, he said the bill would allow the decisions of a "partner'' of a year to take precedence over "traditional family members,'' and he believes a "one year time period is not a sufficient duration to establish a serious bond between two individuals...[relative to] sensitive personal traditions and issues regarding funeral arrangements, burial rights and disposal of human remains.''

I wonder if he also applies that same restriction to heterosexual couples? Does he deny equality to straight couples if they have gotten married after only dating three months? Of course he wouldn't.

A couple weeks ago, just prior to the No on 1 campaign in Maine, a good friend of mine who lives there posted on her Facebook page her belief in equality for all. Someone whom I don't know posted that he didn't support that stance because "I'm tired of everyone else getting new/more rights. Everyone already has equality. They are allowed to be the way they are and I'm fine with that. But don't fight for more rights when you don't really need them."

That last sentence is right. I don't need to have my partner, who knows me the best, see to it that my final wishes are carried out.

I don't need to make sure that my partner has rights of inheritance over the things that I'm going to leave behind.

I don't need to have the right to access to my partner should he be hospitalized with a serious condition.

Nah, I don't need anything of those things. No gays and lesbians in committed same-sex partnerships do.

And what we don't need the most of all is a Republican governor in Rhode Island vetoing our right to have whomever we wish carry out our final decisions at the end of our lives.

Whistle a Happy Tune

Huff Post recently posted a collection of songs, graphed out and recorded as data. The results are pretty funny! See if you can name the songs. I've posted my favorites.







Can you name the songs?

Fort Hood Shooting and Racism

Yesterday, a horrible event happened in Texas. An Army psychiatrist, Nidal Malik Hasan, went on a rampage for reasons currently unknown and shot up some of our brave soldiers, including some that may have been just about to be deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, two of Bush's unfinished "wars". Unlike most shootings, the killer remains alive and maybe will provide an insight for people who learn about such things to prevent them from ever happening again.

One of the things that chilled me when I was learning of the incident is the immediate reaction of the Muslim community in America after learning about the killing spree. Once Hasan's name was released, several Muslim groups denounced the act, fearing that they would be subject to the wanton violence they suffered just after 9/11.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations issued a statement condemning the acts as cowardly and unjustified. Part of that statement reads as follows:

""Unfortunately, based on past experience, we also urge American Muslims, and
those who may be perceived to be Muslim, to take appropriate precautions to
protect themselves, their families and their religious institutions from
possible backlash."

It is sad and unfortunately not surprising, that in America today we have groups that have to fear the retaliatory actions of small-minded lunatics who feel they need to seek revenge for crimes such as these. Because of this man's last name and religious clothing, our Islamic citizens now must be warned to protect themselves.

My question is, is it just the name and the clothes, or is there something more deep going on?

Case in point. Irish Catholic Timothy McVeigh killed 168 people in the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, including several small children. Did the Catholic church issue a statement telling its members to "take approrpriate precautions" for fear of retribution? No.

Why not? I'll give you one guess, and it has nothing to do with the Pope. Yup, skin color.

Church of Christ member Jeffrey Dahmer killed 19 boys over a span of years. Did this religion, which is Bible based, feel compelled to tell its member to hide out for awhile in case roving bands of bigots were seeking justice?

Nope.

The fact is, the skin color of Hasan makes anyone that looks like him a potential target. In America. That simply isn't right.

Back after 9/11, I remember hearing a story that still stays with me today. An uncle of a pair of Indian students from a school I used to teach at was viciously killed in an act of retaliation. The uncle was Hindu, not even Muslim, but had similar appearance. The killers just simply picked someone out who had the same hair color and same eye color as some of the hijackers, and got their revenge.

We may never protect ourselves from small-minded bigots, but we certainly, as a country, still have a lot of work to do on racism and the judgments we make based on an immutable trait.

No on 1 Defeated in Maine

I really wanted this wool pea coat. For a couple of years now, I've had my eye on it. I guess I like the navy feel to it, the color, the length. And it's time for me to purchase a new winter coat (although my old standby, with the shredded lining is still hanging in there!).

But I won't. Why? Because the aforementioned pictured coat, above, is being sold by L. L. Bean. A wonderful company that is based in Maine. And last night, Maine rejected equal civil rights for its gay and lesbian citizens by voting to repeal their gay marriage act. An act voted on by their legislators and signed into effect by their Governor John Baldacci.

I'm not a Mainer. I lived in New Hampshire for two years, and loved going into Maine, to shop, to eat the delicious lobster, to attend events in Portland. One of my old friends lives there and practices medicine there. And I absolutely believe in the citizenry of Maine to enact law they feel are in their best interest (although I must wonder if putting any groups civil rights up for a public vote is conscionable).

However, as a consumer, I have a right to select which companies I opt to do business with. L. L. Bean, based out of Freeport, Maine, is one company that I loved. I would get their catalogue and pour over their selection of homsey, comfortable clothes. I've been purchasing their backpacks now for years, and find they are the most durable things on the planet. But I simply will not allow my hard earned dollars to support a company now that is based in a state that doesn't value my relationship.

I have no delusions of grandeur. I am one person (two if you count my partner, but he doesn't shop at L. L. Bean). I am sending a letter to the company, expressing my disapproval of last night's actions. But I doubt my one letter will make a bit of difference in the company, or in the state. I'm doing it for me.

In addition, I believe that one way we can promote change is through economic pressure. If enough people sent enough letters, the company would begin to notice. Maine may not care about its gay and lesbian citizens (well, at this point, 52% of people in the state don't), but they will care if their economic situation worsens because of it.

I so remember when I was living in Arizona, and the state voted down honoring Martin Luther King in the mid 90's, painting the state as a racist bastion of intolerance. Suddenly, large conventions began to cancel. We lost the Super Bowl. And guess what? Arizona votes for it in the following election. Surprise? Hardly.

My one, small part is to write to L. L. Bean, and Stenhouse Publishers, to express my decision to be removed from their mailing list. Then I need to find a suitable replacement. One, hopefully in a state, that values all of its citizens and not just ones that fit a societal defintion of acceptable.

Maybe there is a company in Iowa that sells nice wool pea coats?

Support Homofaith Marriage!

This coming Tuesday, two states, Maine and Washington, have the equal rights of their citizens up for a public vote. Both states have referendums on the equal rights of gay couples subject to the opinions of the masses, despite having gone through the legislative process in the states.

While I absolutely support voting, and believe truly in the power of the people, I have to ask if it's a good idea to put fundamental rights in the hands of citizens? Currently, it's the last bastion of the conservative right to fight any progress on my equality. Enough bigotry still exists in the country to deny a group of people the right to establish, maintain, and have recognized, a relationship with their same sex partner.

Well, instead of fighting this trend logically, I have an idea. Let's put up other people's equal rights up for a vote to give them the experience and see how they like it.

Here's one idea: Adultery is a crime!

Just think: cheating on your spouse a criminal act. And since the Religious Right is so concerned with the "sanctity of life", well, until you pass through the birth canal, then lets subject adultery to the Death Penalty. And, just like it happened in San Francisco with the marriage, let's make it retroactive. Anyone with the last twenty five years with admissions of cheating, DEATH!

That would take out most of the Republican members of Congress. (We wouldn't have the same penalty for Democrat cheaters. Why? Because they don't walk around espousing moral platitudes like "family values", so let's just lock them up for twenty years.)

Oh, I have one more idea, and this one is bloody brilliant.

The idea: Ban Heterofaith marriage! Support Homofaith Marriage!

This is a stellar idea. After all, if you ban Heterofaith marriages, it is not an attack on a citizen's civil rights. Why? Because they simply can choose someone of their same faith. You aren't denying their rights if they just pick someone that society votes as acceptable. Just go to a singles night at your local synagogue: they are teeming with single Jews looking for a mate! (Just don't pick one if you aren't Jewish yourself!).

And let's think of the children! The children in the family won't be "confused" with dual ethical and religious teachings. No menorahs next to Christmas trees! No hijabs in the family Easter photo! Homofaith marriage creates the most supportive, loving environment for the kids. Every Mormon child deserves the right to have two Mormon parents, right? Only two Quakers can create a "correct" family for a Quaker child.

Also, If you "choose" to engage in a Heterofaith marriage, then you're choosing not to have rights that Homofaith marriages will have: hospital visitation, inheritance, tax benefits, heck, let's even deny them the right to vote and get driver's licenses! We can force those Heterofaith marriages to go to their attorney, spend thousands of their own dollars, to draw up papers to have a smidgen of rights that Homofaith marriages get upon the second "I do." That's totally fair!

Protect Marriage Now! Support Homofaith Marriage in 2010!

Where is the noose?

Pat Robertson is heading into obscurity quickly, so I often don't spend any time contemplating his outdated, outmoded conservative fear-based politicizing. However, this story caught my eye. Pat Robertson "fears" that the new hate crime law "The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Bill" signed Wednesday by President Obama will have a chilling effect on "muzzling pastors in church".

Now, the Religious Right has nothing but fear to promote its agenda of hate and intolerance. Voted out of the legislative and executive branch, it must rely on its old standby "let's make everyone afraid" because then, they don't think clearly and act reactively out of self-defense.

By making this ridiculous claim, Pat Robertson seems to suggest that Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson were acting out of religious conviction when pummeling Matthew to one inch of his life that cold October evening. Does he honestly think that the two of them went to church, heard a "fire and brimstone" sermon of hate, and then went out gay hunting? Did the two of them repeat the rosary while slugging Matthew? Did they pontification about baptism, the Holy Spirit, or even the crucifixion when they tied his hands to together?

I think not. Here's my advice for the minister.

Mr. Robertson, you just need to come out and say the truth. This isn't about putting a noose on a pastor, or an attack on religious freedom (hello, first amendment, hello?).

This is simply about you not liking gay people.

This is about you not wanting to protect people based on an immutable trait.

This is about you not wanting the federal government to protect its citizens.

This is about your fear, your bigotry, your homophobia, your intolerance.

If you "came out" on the television, and simply just admitted it, then I would have a sliver of respect for you.

The Tree of Liberty just grew another ring...

Yesterday, President Obama signed historic legislation, the "Hate Crimes Prevention Act", finally, finally, finally, offering federal protection against gays and lesbians who are victims of hate crimes. Local communities, who are left to investigate and prosecute these crimes, now can access federal money to help with the expense of these heinous acts.

After more than a decade of opposition and delay, we've passed inclusive hate crimes legislation to help protect our citizens from violence based on what they look like, who they love, how they pray, or who they are.

This act doesn't stop the violence, or change people's bigoted attitudes, or will address the travesty of putting people's equal rights up for votes (Maine and Washington). But this act sends a strong message, that in order to build tolerance and acceptance in this country, we must be intolerant of certain acts that the send messages of fear and hate into specific communities. For once, the community I live in is a bit safer this morning.

The tree of liberty just grew another ring. Thank you, President Obama.

Yeah, Portland!

I knew there was a reason that I moved here. Portland, Oregon has been deemed the third most safest city to live in, according to Forbes Magazine. The magazine took into account crime rates, traffic fatalities, and natural disaster risk.

The top of the list? My old hometown of Minneapples. Portland had the lowest crime rate of the cities as well.

Good ol' Northwest!

Colbert on Gay Marriage

Just watch. Enjoy. Giggle. This is one of his best.

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
The Word - Don't Ask Don't Tell
www.colbertnation.com
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Favorite quote: "I don't believe it is a choice, I believe you're born thinking gays don't have the right to get married or even be joined in union. And folks, the gays have no right to out those people."


Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/27/colbert-eviscerates-gay-m_n_335076.html

Thanks Colbert, for being you.

(And Shane, if you watch this, don't get mad at the JC Penny joke!!)

"What do you think I fought for on Omaha Beach?"

The fight for equal rights is happening in the corners of our country. Both Washington and Maine. In both states, citizens civil rights are being put up for a public vote, which is unconscionable in our country that deigns to promise "liberty and justice for all." It should be "liberty and justice for all*" -- *some restrictions apply.

Here is an AMAZING video of a veteran speaking in Maine last April.



Hannity, Beck, Limbaugh, argue with that, why dontcha?

"And liberty and justice ... for some."

Today, thousands of LGBT people and their supporters descended on the hallowed land of our nation's capital, demanding that the promise we learned at the end of Pledge of Allegiance is finally, eventually fulfilled. After having lived near Washington DC for two years, my heart and my spirits was with those people. even though I physically couldn't be.

The weekend started off with President Obama, making a historical speech at the Human Rights Campaign dinner Saturday night. Video of the speech is below, which is about 20 minutes long. Knowing that regular visitors of the Liberal are very busy people. and don't always have time to watch the speech (although it's a barn burner!), I've posted some of my favorite parts below the video clip:

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For despite the real gains that we've made, there's still laws to change and there's still hearts to open. There are still fellow citizens, perhaps neighbors, even loved ones -- good and decent people -- who hold fast to outworn arguments and old attitudes; who fail to see your families like their families; who would deny you the rights most Americans take for granted. And that's painful and it's heartbreaking. And yet you continue, leading by the force of the arguments you make, and by the power of the example that you set in your own lives -- as parents and friends, as PTA members and church members, as advocates and leaders in your communities. And you're making a difference.

Now, I've said this before, I'll repeat it again -- it's not for me to tell you to be patient, any more than it was for others to counsel patience to African Americans petitioning for equal rights half a century ago.

My expectation is that when you look back on these years, you will see a time in which we put a stop to discrimination against gays and lesbians -- whether in the office or on the battlefield.

You will see a time in which we as a nation finally recognize relationships between two men or two women as just as real and admirable as relationships between a man and a woman.

You will see a nation that's valuing and cherishing these families as we build a more perfect union -- a union in which gay Americans are an important part. I am committed to these goals. And my administration will continue fighting to achieve them.

And there's no more poignant or painful reminder of how important it is that we do so than the loss experienced by Dennis and Judy Shepard, whose son Matthew was stolen in a terrible act of violence 11 years ago. In May, I met with Judy -- who's here tonight with her husband -- I met her in the Oval Office, and I promised her that we were going to pass an inclusive hate crimes bill -- a bill named for her son.

Nobody in America should be fired because they're gay, despite doing a great job and meeting their responsibilities. It's not fair. It's not right. We're going to put a stop to it. (Applause.) And it's for this reason that if any of my nominees are attacked not for what they believe but for who they are, I will not waver in my support, because I will not waver in my commitment to ending discrimination in all its forms.

Are we a nation that can transcend old attitudes and worn divides? Can we embrace our differences and look to the hopes and dreams that we share? Will we uphold the ideals on which this nation was founded: that all of us are equal, that all of us deserve the same opportunity to live our lives freely and pursue our chance at happiness? I believe we can; I believe we will.

And that is why -- that's why I support ensuring that committed gay couples have the same rights and responsibilities afforded to any married couple in this country.

I believe strongly in stopping laws designed to take rights away and passing laws that extend equal rights to gay couples. I've required all agencies in the federal government to extend as many federal benefits as possible to LGBT families as the current law allows. And I've called on Congress to repeal the so-called Defense of Marriage Act and to pass the Domestic Partners Benefits and Obligations Act.

That's the story of America: of ordinary citizens organizing, agitating and advocating for change; of hope stronger than hate; of love more powerful than any insult or injury; of Americans fighting to build for themselves and their families a nation in which no one is a second-class citizen, in which no one is denied their basic rights, in which all of us are free to live and love as we see fit.

Mr. Obama certainly can say all of the right things, and has been commended for his forward thinking and promises made in speeches. What's lacking in his speech is any timetable for ensuring such promises are kept. Certainly, with the big, and much needed push, to reform health care coming down the pike, his political capital must be spent ensuring passage of a bill that gives Americans decent, affordable care. I only hope that the promises he made in his speech, are truly fulfilled.

Anne Frank on Video

I've been a long time admirer of Anne Frank. I've taught her diary to some of my more advanced fourth grade students (as part of a kickin' "tolerance" reading unit). I've read both her "Diary of a Young Girl" as well as the definitive version (with most of the cut out bits put back in). I own a couple of Anne Frank movies, as well as have quite the collection of Anne Frank information, children's books, and teaching materials in a box in my garage. I'm currently reading a new book about Anne, which fills in much of the information around what we already know about her diary.

One of my goals is to visit the Anne Frank Musem in Amsterdam, where she and her family hid for twenty five months. While I've seen the Secret Annex in video and picture, there will be no experience like walking through the rooms that protected them for so long.

Recently, the Museum set up a "You Tube" channel page that posts videos relating to her. They've posted a video that I saw last year, but it bears repeating, especially here on the Liberal. It's the only discovered video of Anne Frank herself. It's ten seconds long.

Apparently, a neighbor of Anne's had recently gotten married, and she popped her head out from her apartment window to catch a glimpse of the happy couple. A friend filming them leaving the building did a quick scan up the building to catch people watching them, and unknowingly, caught Anne.



Posted on Wednesday, the video already has over 1.5 million hits. It's a testament to Anne's popularity, to her insight as an author, and to how many of us have adopted this teenage girl in our hearts as a symbol of hope, resistance, and acceptance.

While I didn't want to get political with this posting, I can't help but think how casually some conservative demonstrators have tossed around images of President Obama as Hitler (most of whom wouldn't have a thing to worry about had they been living in Nazi Germany). It's a disgrace to the 6 million victims, one of them being this promising author, who suffered under his realm of hate.

A Democrat with Cojones

Republican Health Care Plans presented by Office Depot.

Heard about Florida Representative Alan Grayson? You should. He's the congressperson who, on the floor of the House of Representatives, called out the Republican-Obstruction Party for their delaying tactics on health care reform. In case you haven't seen it, I don't want to spoil the delicious surprise, but one of my favorite parts is his discovery of the "Republican Health Care Plan" shown being waved during President Obama's speech turning out to be a blank sheet of paper. Kinda poetic, don'tcha think?

Anyway, watch:



What did the Republicans do? Demand an immediate apology. Yes, the same people who declare that I cannot have equal rights to most other citizens; the same people who claimed the health care plan had "death panels"; the same people who line their pockets with health insurance lobby money have their feelings hurt by a Democrat actually giving it back to them with the truth!.

Does Representative Grayson give them what they want? Watch below.



We lose 44,000 people every year because they cannot afford health insurance. Rep. Grayson is right.

We need to continue to care about people even AFTER they leave the womb.