Capitol Hill 'Roll Call' Wonders If LGBT Inclusion Will Kill Immigration Reform

 

 

In Roll Call, journalist Alexander Bolton writes about the fears on Capitol Hill that including LGBT Americans in the proposed immigration reform will kill the legislation. Republicans are vowing to kill it in the House of Representatives if an amendment by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) is included which would add LGBT Americans to the bill.

Of course, House Republicans have already indicated that they are likely to kill immigration reform if it includes a path to citizenship! Guess they are just looking for a good scapegoat!

Bolton reports:

A proposal to expand gay rights is threatening to splinter a fragile, bipartisan agreement on immigration reform and kill a pillar of President Obama’s second-term agenda.

The Senate Gang of Eight, which crafted the immigration legislation, pledged to fight off “poison pill” amendments that would derail the bill. But one controversial proposal has already divided the group.

An amendment sponsored by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) would allow U.S. citizens in long-term same-sex relationships to sponsor foreign partners for green cards.

It is potentially the most troublesome amendment of the more than 300 proposed changes that have been filed by members of the Judiciary panel.

Republican members of the Gang of Eight have stated bluntly to their Democratic partners that this will sink the bill if adopted during the committee’s deliberations.

The markup begins on Thursday, which is the one-year anniversary of Obama’s decision to embrace same-sex marriage.

“If that’s in the bill, that will kill the bill,” said Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), a member of the gang. “This bill has got to get broad support to have a chance in the House, and with that provision it will not have broad support. A lot of the coalitions that are behind it will go away, and so I think that’s pretty much understood.”

Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (Ill.), a Democratic member of the group, declared Tuesday he is a strong supporter of the amendment but stopped short of saying how he would vote if it comes up in committee. “I support it and hope we can find a way to resolve it. It’s a fair thing to do,” Durbin said.

Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), a Reid lieutenant and another member of group, is a co-sponsor of legislation that served as the template for the amendment, the Uniting American Families Act.

Durbin and Schumer are members of the Judiciary Committee and either one could strike down Leahy’s amendment by voting with Republicans against it.

Democrats control 10 seats on the panel to the Republicans’ eight. The other Democratic members of the panel are expected to back the Leahy measure.

Leahy also filed an amendment exempting the immigration status of same-sex couples from restrictions established by the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) if a state or another country recognizes their unions.

Durbin and Schumer are leading contenders to someday replace Sen. Harry Reid (Nev.) as Democratic leader. They have come under pressure from prominent Democratic fundraisers and gay-rights advocates to support the Leahy legislation.

“It will be interesting how Durbin and Schumer vote because they have huge [lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender] constituencies and citizens in their states, and I can’t imagine them not supporting the Leahy amendment,” said David Mixner, a prominent Democratic fundraiser and political strategist. “Since when do we separate a whole group of American citizens and say, ‘These rights apply to everyone, but not LGBT citizens.’”

Mixner said it would be a “moral outrage” if the Senate passed immigration legislation that discriminated against same-sex couples.

Leahy is one of the biggest allies of gay-rights advocates, who do not want him to succumb to colleagues who would prefer the amendment not come up for a vote.

READ ENTIRE COLUMN HERE........

Tales of Two Cities? LGBT Mayors In Seattle and Tel Aviv?

 

 

While the races for mayor by openly LGBT candidates both in New York City and Minneopolis have gotten some attention, there are two more exciting races for mayor for the LGBT community. There are openly LGBT candidates running to head the cities of Seattle and Tel Aviv.

In Seattle, legendary state legislator Ed Murray (photograph above), after serving over twenty-five years is now running to head the Northwest's largest city - Seattle. Murray who was one of the first openly LGBT persons to serve in the Washington legislature has vast experience in finance, education and transportation. He was one of the key players in making marriage equality the law in Washington. It would be hard put to find a more qualified candidate. You can support Ed by clicking here.

Across the ocean in Israel, Nitzan Horawitz (photograph below) is an openly gay member of the Israeli Parliament - The Knesset. The elections are this October. If elected, he will be the first openly LGBT mayor in the history of Israel. His main issues are transportation, urban plight and cost of living. (H/T: Queerty.com).

Imagine by this November we could have openly LGBT mayors in Berlin, Paris, Tel Aviv, New York City, Seattle, Minneapolis and Houston. Who would ever thought that would be possible just ten years ago?

Massachusetts United States Senate Race Is Toss-Up

 

 

 

As if the Democrats didn't have enough worries for 2014 with so many of their seats up in red states, now Massachusetts is becoming a close call. The seat was vacated by Senator John Kerry when he accepted the President's offer to become Secretary of State. Few worried that it could fall into Republican hands after former Senator Scott Brown decided that New Hampshire might be more friendly toward him!

Congressman Ed Markey easily won the Democratic nomination.

However an attractive 'moderate' Republican Gabriel Gomez won the Republican nomination. The Hispanic former Navy Seal is the kind of Republican that gives Democrats big headaches in Massachusetts.  In fact he might be the new face of the Republican Party.  He is born of Columbian immigrents, hispanic, supports marriage equality and young. 

Markey leads by only 4%!

If Democrats fail to keep this seat, this could spell trouble for the Party to keep the Senate in 2014.

Public Policy Polling recently completed a poll and reported.

PPP's first poll of the general election in the Massachusetts Senate special finds a close race, with Ed Markey leading Gabriel Gomez by a 44-40 margin.

Gomez is starting out as a pretty popular candidate, with 41% of voters rating him favorably to 27% with an unfavorable opinion. Beyond having good numbers with Republicans he's at 42/24 with independents, and actually seen narrowly positively even by Democrats at 33/32. Voters meanwhile are more divided on Markey, with 44% holding a positive view of him to 41% with a negative one. He's at 31/50 with independents.

For a Republican to be competitive in Massachusetts they need to win independents by a hefty margin and get a fair amount of crossover support from Democrats, and right now Gomez is doing both of those things. He's up 47/31 with independents and winning over 21% of Democratic voters. Both those numbers suggest that some folks who supported Stephen Lynch in the primary are being a little reticent about supporting Markey in the general.

Darling Of Hollywood Conservatives Is Notorious Fraud And Holocaust Revisionist

 

 

 

Republicans and conservatives in Hollywood embraced 'David Stein' with a rare enthusiasm. He was Jewish, intellectual and conservative who hosted great events. Around his table you would find politicians, entertainers and conservative intellectuals.

There was one problem, he was a fraud. 'David Stein' was in fact a David Cole who had spent most of his intellectual career challenging history of the holocaust.

The Guardian reports:

To those who knew him, or thought they knew him, he was a cerebral, fun-loving gadfly who hosted boozy gatherings for Hollywood's political conservatives. David Stein brought right-wing congressmen, celebrities, writers and entertainment industry figures together for shindigs, closed to outsiders, where they could scorn liberals and proclaim their true beliefs.

Over the past five years Stein's organisation, Republican Party Animals, drew hundreds to regular events in and around Los Angeles, making him a darling of conservative blogs and talkshows. That he made respected documentaries on the Holocaust added intellectual cachet and Jewish support to Stein's cocktail of politics, irreverence and rock and roll.

There was just one problem. Stein was not who he claimed. His real name can be revealed for the first time publicly – a close circle of confidants only found out the truth recently – as David Cole. And under that name he was once a reviled Holocaust revisionist who questioned the existence of Nazi gas chambers. He changed identities in January 1998.

"That was when David Cole officially expired," he told the Guardian in an interview this week. "That was the end of Cole. Or so I thought. That was when David Stein was brought into this world.

For 15 years I have been David Stein. Now the genie is out of the bottle. I'm done. I'm finished. I'm not going to try to remain as David Stein.

Cole's brazen reinvention as a social networker and political pundit deceived a roll-call of conservative politicians, filmmakers, journalists and broadcasters who had no clue about his past. A falling out with a friend led to his unmasking in his social circle two weeks ago, when a group of former supporters was shown YouTube clips of Cole's incendiary – and until then forgotten – television appearances in the early 1990s.

As a combative twentysomething with tousled black hair, he was a vilified guest on chat shows hosted by Phil Donahue, Montel Williams and Morton Downey, among others, and was depicted as a neo-Nazi on news shows such as 60 Minutes and 48 Hours.

"My friends are horrified," said Cole, now aged 44 and with greying hair. "They rang and emailed to ask if it really was me. The Hollywood types are the ones hurting the most right now because they could be harmed by this. I'm feeling a certain amount of guilt."

The unmasking shocked and angered the small, tight-knit community of Hollywood conservatives, setting their Facebook groups ablaze and prompting emergency meetings.

YOU CAN READ ENTIRE ARTICLE HERE>>>>

Robert Shrum: Nancy Pelosi Would Be The Perfect Speaker of the House!

 

 

Commentator and author Robert Shrum writing for The Daily Beast says if the Democrats take back the House that Nancy Pelosi would be one of the best Speakers of the House ever. He writes that, despite her unfavorable ratings from relentless attacks from Republicans, she has the politics to gather the Democratic Party and push through progressive legislation for the President to sign. No wonder the Republicans are so worried about her.

Shrum writes:

Even before she was elected Democratic leader in 2003, she was a pioneering architect of legislation to combat HIV/AIDS. She voted against the Defense of Marriage Act—and against the resolution authorizing George W. Bush to go to war in Iraq. And after she became leader, she marshaled near unanimous Democratic opposition to Bush’s scheme to privatize Social Security, and the intimidated the GOP majority didn’t even dare bring it to a vote.

As speaker in 2007, she pushed through an increase in the minimum wage—and a once resistant Bush signed it as part of the bill for Hurricane Katrina relief and supplemental funding for U.S. military forces in Iraq. A year later, she pungently described Bush as “a total failure, losing all credibility…on the economy, on the war, on energy, you name the subject”—an assessment that’s worth remembering during this week’s exquisitely polite rituals at the dedication of the Bush presidential library.

A masterful inside politician, a Democrat’s Democrat, she nonetheless transcended partisanship when the economic crisis hit during the twilight of the Bush administration. After Republicans first defeated the bank bailout bill in the House—and the Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged 777 points in one day—she persuaded 33 Democrats to switch their votes, and the bill passed despite the opposition of a majority of GOP members. The bailout wasn’t popular, but it was an essential first step back from the brink of a second Great Depression, and then, as now, Pelosi knew that popularity counts in politics, but it isn’t the only standard of public service.

Her chance to change America as well as his came with Barack Obama’s inauguration. The following two years saw what the political scientist Norman Ornstein called “the best Congress you’ll ever hate.” The unrelenting GOP opposition, the distortions and the demagoguery, would cost House Democrats their majority in 2010, but in the meantime they did what had to be done and wrote a new chapter in our national life.

The president, Pelosi, and her leadership team secured a second economy-saving measure, the $800 billion stimulus package, without a single Republican vote in the House. The legislation not only included one of the biggest middle-class tax cuts in history but also pumped resources into broadband and wireless Internet, clean energy, a modern electricity grid, education, transportation, and infrastructure. It responded to “the fierce urgency” of the moment—and it advanced a futuristic vision of America. The investment could have been greater, but it was the most that could be squeezed through a polarized Congress. Or as Michael Grunwald of Time put it in his book The New New Deal, the stimulus was “stocked” with “game-changers” that will strengthen the economy for decades to come.

READ THE ENTIRE COLUMN BY CLICKING HERE.....

American Unity Fund Mobilizes Republicans For Marriage Equality

 

 

 

 

 

In a New York Times Article By Nicholas Confessore, plans were reported of the Republican Unity Fund's efforts to pass marriage equality across America. They were instrumental in lining up all five Republican State Senators in Rhode Island and now focusing on Delaware and Illinois. The journalist reported:

When the Rhode Island State Senate tallied up the votes against a same-sex marriage bill passed there on Wednesday, something was missing: Republicans.

All five of the chamber’s Republican lawmakers had voted for the bill, stunning opponents and sending the measure to the governor’s desk and almost-certain victory next week.

The vote reflected not only the rapidly shifting tides of public opinion on same-sex marriage, but also the influence of a new Republican advocacy group called the American Unity Fund, which spent weeks helping the state’s gay rights organization cultivate Republican senators.

Now the group is preparing a major push in Washington and in state capitals intended to reshape the Republican Party, by building support for same-sex marriage and bolstering its acceptance among candidates and party activists around the country.

Founded and financed by some of the country’s leading Republican fund-raisers and strategists, the fund expects to raise up to $7 million this year, officials said. The fund’s organizers include Paul E. Singer and Clifford S. Asness, libertarian-leaning New York investors; David Herro, a prominent Chicago money manager; and Seth Klarman, a billionaire Boston philanthropist and hedge fund manager.

“The concept of gay unions fits very well within our framework of individual liberty and our belief that strong families make for a stronger society,” Mr. Singer said in an e-mail. “The institution of marriage is in very bad shape in this country, yet gay and lesbian couples want very much to be a part of it, to live as committed husbands and wives with their children in traditional family units. This should be what we want as conservatives, for people to cherish and respect this model and to want it for themselves.”

The fund is one of several advocacy organizations backed by wealthy Republicans and business leaders to shift their party’s stance in recent months on issues like immigration and same-sex marriage. And the new effort traces a rift between Republican elites and grass-roots voters over a handful of hot-button social issues that one group views as handcuffing the party and the other sees as essential to its identity.

“We were fighting for years on the life issue, with the same group of people,” said Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, referring to abortion rights. Mr. Perkins attended the Republican National Convention last year as a delegate and wrote the party’s marriage plank, which states that “the union of one man and one woman must be upheld as the national standard.”

Mr. Perkins added: “They have money, but they’re small in number. It’s still a tension between those who care about social issues and those who would rather not deal with them.”

Those involved with the American Unity Fund said its initial efforts would be focused on more socially liberal states, like Illinois and Delaware, where a handful of Republican votes could enable advocates to win passage of same-sex marriage legislation in the coming months. The group has already set up shop in Minnesota, where the Legislature may vote as early as next week on a same-sex marriage bill that advocates do not yet have enough votes to pass.

But the group is also beginning a long-term push in more conservative states like West Virginia and Utah, seeking to build conservative support for nondiscrimination laws that could help pave the way for same-sex marriage in coming years. A critical part of the effort, fund strategists said, is building lists of Republican supporters of same-sex marriage around the country that could be used to pressure lawmakers in Washington and elsewhere. That could prove critical at the state level, where Republicans now control majorities or supermajorities in more than half the state capitols.

READ ALL OF IT HERE.....

First New Hampshire Poll For 2016 Presidential Race

 

Alright, I know, it is way too early to be talking about 2016 but these polls are fun. Besides they give us great dinner table conversation. Public Policy Polling has done its first poll for the New Hampshire primary for the Republicans and Democrats.

The polls shows good news, of course, for Hillary Clinton and surprising news for Senator Rand Paul. Interestingly Chris Christie drops from first to third place among Republicans. Poor Paul Ryan, even after running nationwide last year, can only muster 7%!

Here are the results with Clinton in the race: :

Hillary Clinton: 68%
Joe Biden: 12%
Elizabeth Warren: 5%
Andrew Cuomo: 3%
Deval Patrick: 2%

If Hillary doesn't run then here are the results:

Joe Biden: 44%
Elizabeth Warren: 12%
Deval Patrick: 9%
Andrew Cuomo: 9%

If both Hillary and Biden don't run here are the results.

Don't Know: 30%
Andrew Cuomo: 23%
Elizabeth Warren: 22%
Deval Patrick: 17%
Kirsten Gillibrand: 4%
Martin O'Malley: 2%
Brian Schweitzer: 1%
Mark Warner: 1%

Here are the results from the Republican side:

Rand Paul: 28%
Marco Rubio: 25%
Chris Christie: 14%
Jeb Bush: 7%
Paul Ryan: 7%
Rick Santorum: 4%
Susana Martinez: 3%
Rick Perry: 1%
Bobby Jindal: 1%

Democrats Could Be Sitting Pretty In 2014 Governor Races!

 

 

Governor Rick Scott of Florida

The Republicans have the advantage in the United States Senate elections in 2014 with a large number of Democratic incumbents or open seats. Many of those seats are in red states or red-leaning states.

However that is not the case in the race for Governorships in 2014!

There is one vulnerable Independent seat with Governor Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island. The weakest Democratic seat is in Illinois with Governor Pat Quinn.

The Republicans have ten seats that are possible with the right money, organization and candidate the Democrats could take them. Especially rewarding is the fact that most of these seats are held by anti-labor, right-wing, anti-LGBT Governors.

Here are the most vulnerable Republican seats who all have high disapproval ratings.

1. Rick Scott (Florida)

2. Sam Brownback (Kansas)

3. Tom Corbett (Pennsylvania)

4. Paul LePage (Maine)

5. Rick Snyder (Michigan)

6. Nathan Deal (Georgia)

7. Nikki Haley (South Carolina)

8. Rick Perry (Texas)

9. Sean Parnell ( Alaska)

10. Scott Walker (Wisconsin)

Chart Prepared by Nate Silver of New York Times

VIDEO: James Carville and Stan Greenberg On How Democrats Can Win Back The House

 

 

 

In their latest installment of The Carville-Greenberg Memo, the dynamic political duo talk about how the Democrats can retake the House of Representatives. They were right on target in the last election. This is an interesting few minutes.

New York Mayor's Race: Conduct Unbecoming - Just Bash Chris!

 

 

 

"Members of the audience called her a “liar,” an opponent relentlessly attacked her, and the moderator at one point had to beg the scornful crowd to let her speak."

-New York Times (April 21, 2013)

Little did New Yorkers realize that Speaker Christine Quinn was such an evil person.

Forget her stellar record as Speaker of the New York City Council. Ignore the fact that she presented seven balance budgets on time. Put aside that she has fought for the rights of others even when it wasn't politically popular. Don't remember the times when she travel to poor neighborhoods and stood with the mothers of gun victims often without press and sometimes only seven or eight people standing with her. And, for God sakes, don't remember how day in and day out she was there and is still there for the victims of Hurricane Sandy.

Quinn's male opponents have crossed the line in their conduct with personality attacks, distorting her record and whipping up their supporters in a frenzy of 'hate Chris'. The well known mild mannered Alex Baldwin launch a vicious attack on her as he is supporting Public Advocate Bill de Blasio. Really, Alex, of all the evil in the world Christine Quinn deserves that kind of tirade?

They, with delight, proclaim that she is tough, cusses and plays a hard games of politics. In fact, if they described a male candidate with those attributes he would be call a decisive leader. Let's face it. These guys are having a hard time dealing with the fact that they might lose to open lesbian who would be the first woman Mayor of New York City.

Christine Quinn is an unapologetic tough daughter of Ireland who gets things done. She is tough. She does cuss. She doesn't put up with nonsense. She doesn't like delays when Hurricane Sandy victims aren't being helped. She has no patience for homophobia from anyone. She is a feminist who wears that badge with pride.

Christine Quinn is a strong powerful leader and is the perfect person to take over the City of New York.

Public Advocate Bill de Blasio and her Democratic opponents are good men. They have stood for good things. This kind of conduct is beneath them and they know better. It is simply conduct unbecoming.

More important, while these candidates are strong supporters of LGBT rights, these kind of angry attacks gives permission to the homophobic and misogynist crazies out there. Of course you have every right to challenge her on the issues. Quinn can handle it. She needs to handle it.

Hopefully you can stand for more then you are not Christine Quinn!  However don't tolerate the increasing anger, disruption and hatred that is taking place. Speak out against it. Tell Mr. Baldwin and others that their anger is misdirected.

For those of us fortunate enough to attend the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund brunch this past Sunday, we heard speaker after speaker talk about the difference having one of our own in office makes in protecting the right of LGBT Americans really struck home. Congressman Sean Maloney gave an eloquent speech how it has affected his colleagues on the floor of the House.

When it came Quinn's turn she was powerful, moving and a leader. She talked about young LGBT Americans and our obligations to them. She talked about her vision for the city. All I could think of as she was speaking was what an excellent tough and visionary Mayor she would make for the Big Apple.

Go get them Christine