Rehberg Invites Rumsfeld

…presumably relying on Montanans’ short memories. From the Montana Democrats:

Image via Wikipedia

Failed Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is scheduled to be in Montana later this month to stump for multimillionaire Congressman Dennis Rehberg–a move that highlights Rehberg’s strong support of the failed policies of former President George W. Bush.

Rumsfeld, who resigned from office the day Jon Tester won his Senate seat, is known as the architect of one of the greatest misunderstandings of military intelligence in American history. Rumsfeld was also a key supporter the controversial Patriot Act, which Congressman Rehberg has supported repeatedly.

“Donald Rumsfeld is almost as out-of-touch as Congressman Dennis Rehberg when it comes to reckless decisions about our freedoms,” said Ted Dick, Executive Director of the Montana Democratic Party.

Rumsfeld is holding a February 25 fundraiser near Bozeman for Rehberg, who recently got caught hiding tens of thousands of dollars he’s taken from out-of-state lobbyists.

“Donald Rumsfeld was a key figure in an administration known for its secrecy and lack of facts and transparency,” Dick said. “After Congressman Rehberg tried to hide his lobbyist cash, it’s no surprise he’s now embracing Secretary Rumsfeld’s support.”

Yeah- a no-brainer.

Rehberg’s “Year Of Disaster” (dgsma.wordpress.com)
“Where Are You?” (dgsma.wordpress.com)
A Rehberg Tax Reminder (dgsma.wordpress.com)

The Nail On The Head

Feb13 by D Gregory Smith

He’s talking about the contraception dustup, but he really clarifies something beautifully. Andrew Sullivan in Newsweek:

Debate between Catholics and Oriental Christia...

Image via Wikipedia

“There was a time not so long ago when Catholics and other Christians weighed various moral claims to find a balance. Sometimes, the lesser of two evils was preferable. For centuries, for example, Catholic theologians, including the greatest, Thomas Aquinas, argued that human life begins not at conception but at some point in the second trimester. For centuries the Catholic Church allowed married priests. For centuries Catholics believed that extending the end of life by extreme measures like feeding tubes was a violation of natural death, which Christians of all people should not be afraid of. But this ancient, moderate, pragmatic reasoning has been rejected by the last two popes, who have increasingly become rigid, fundamentalist, and hostile to prudential balancing acts in the real, modern world we live in. Their radical fundamentalism—so alien to the spirit of the Second Vatican Council and to so many lay Catholics—has discredited the core priorities of Christianity, failed to persuade their own flock, and led to increasing politicization. And the obsession among Catholic and evangelical leaders with an issue like contraception stands in stark contrast to their indifference to, for example, the torture in which the last administration engaged, the growing social inequality fostered by unfettered capitalism, the Christian moral imperative of universal health care, and the unjust use of the death penalty. That’s why younger evangelicals are also alienated. They want to refocus on issues of the poor, prison rape, human trafficking, and the kind of injustices Jesus emphasized, rather than on these sexual sideshows the older generation seems so obsessed with.”

How did American Catholics get ourselves in this predicament? We did it with the best of intentions. But we did not stop to think… (ricochet.com)
Catholics Defend The President (dgsma.wordpress.com)
Contraception and the Cost of Culture Wars (themoderatevoice.com)
Never Waste a Good Crisis (challies.com)

Prop 8 Ruling: Now What?

Feb7 by D Gregory Smith

You’ve probably heard about the decision by the Ninth Circuit invalidating Proposition 8. But if you’re hungry for more information, I want to simplify your search a bit.

I’ve read a lot of articles today about the decision, and I think Phil Reese of the Washington Blade has the best broad, yet in-depth analysis. And he does it without getting too wonky. Excerpt:

Image via Wikipedia

In a two-to-one decision, a panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional in a federal case challenging California’s marriage ban.

The opinion, authored by Judge Stephen Reinhardt, affirms Judge Vaughn Walker’s 2010 ruling that the law passed by California voters at the ballot violates the Equal Protection clause of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution because it “serves no purpose, and has no effect, other than to lessen the status and human dignity of gays and lesbians in California, and to officially reclassify their relationships and families as inferior to those of opposite-sex couples.”

The court also rejected the argument that Judge Walker should have recused himself from the case because of his sexual orientation and relationship status.

Legal experts began to weigh in on the meaning of the decision immediately.

“I think the biggest story is how narrow [the majority decision] really is,” Douglas NeJaime, associate professor at Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, told the Blade Tuesday. “Which in some ways I think that might disappoint some folks who were hoping it would expand to more states, but I think in terms of setting it up for a Supreme Court review — either the Supreme Court not taking it, or approving it — for supporters of same-sex marriage, this is actually the most strategically sound way for the case to proceed.”

Legal experts agree that the decision represents a big win for same-sex couples in California, even though it was a narrow decision limited to California. The Ninth Circuit encompasses multiple Western states and some Prop 8 opponents had hoped the court’s decision would impact a wider swath of the country.

He also goes in to the likely next steps, which I find an excellent resource for those of us who wonder what kind of impact this will have across the country.

Read the full article here.

Ninth Circuit Court Of Appeals Rules Prop 8 Unconstitutional (lezgetreal.com)
Celebs Tweet Their Support for Prop 8 Ruling! (ecorazzi.com)

Waiting For Equality

Feb3 by D Gregory Smith

From Pride Foundation’s Blog:

By Amy White on Wednesday, February 1st, 2012 at 9:00 pm

The Big Vote: Pride Foundation's Kris Hermanns and Doug Exworthy surrounded by marriage equality supporters

Hundreds of marriage equality supporters, some driving for hours to get to Olympia, filled the Washington State Senate Gallery Wednesday night to witness the critical Senate vote that brings Washington closer to marriage equality. Supporters were not disappointed. The bill passed in the Senate 28-21.

“This is a huge win and historic day for all Washingtonians,” said Kris Hermanns, Pride Foundation’s Executive Director. “This has been a long-time coming and reflects decades of hard work and courageous leadership. Yet, we know that this is just the first step towards recognizing the full equality, humanity, and dignity of LGBTQ people and families in our state. We have much more work in the coming months to ensure that today’s vote creates permanent equality. ”

Though the bill is expected to pass in the House, and Governor Gregoire has committed to signing the bill, opponents of marriage equality – supported heavily by out of state organizations – are expected to collect enough signatures to force an anti-equality initiative for the November ballot that would seek to reverse the Marriage Equality bill.

Your support will be needed to ensure that Washington becomes the 7th state to allow loving and committed same-sex couples can marry. In the coming months, there will be lots of opportunities to get involved.

Right now, you can make sure you and your friends are following Pride Foundation page on Facebook and Twitter. You can sign-up to the Washington United for Marriage Campaign to share your story on why you support marriage equality. You can also join us for Lobby Day on February 16 in Olympia. Lobby Day will be the chance to thank legislators for their ongoing support and to gain further allies for the equality movement. Contact Christina at christina@pridefoundation.org to get involved today.

Making Change: (L-R) Kris Hermanns, Rep. Jamie Pedersen, Sen. Ed Murray, Doug Exworthy

Together we make make marriage equality magic!

Gay Senator Ed Murray Speaks and Washington Senate Votes to Pass Marriage Equality Bill: VIDEO (towleroad.com)
BREAKING: Washington State Senate Passes Marriage Equality (thinkprogress.org)
N.Y. Times Reports Incorrectly on Catholic Opposition to Marriage Equality (newwaysministryblog.wordpress.com)
Marriage Equality: Way To Go Washington State! (fishandbicycles.com)

Rick Hill: Destroyer Of Montana’s Fabulous Business Climate?

Feb3 by D Gregory Smith

According to The Montana Democrats (fact-checked of course):

Image via Wikipedia

A study recently released by the Tax Foundation found that Montana has the eighth-best business tax climate in the nation. That top 10 status is due in large part to Montana’s lack of a sales tax, according to leading in-state business organization that bills itself as “the driving force in promoting a favorable business climate.

The eighth-best ranking is one that the Montana Chamber of Commerce says is something they’ll “promote the heck out of” when attracting companies to do business here, but that ranking that would be lost if Montana instituted former Congressman Rick Hill’s sales tax.

According to a story in Lee Newspapers, Webb Brown, President of the Montana Chamber of Commerce, said the Tax Foundation gives a lot of credit in its rankings to states that don’t have certain major taxes, such as general sales taxes or individual income taxes.

“Not only would Congressman Hill’s tax-hike take money from the wallets of middle-class Montanans, it would make it harder to create jobs, allow Montana businesses to expand and attract businesses to invest here,” Montana Democratic Party Executive Director Ted Dick said.

As one of the leading contenders for the GOP nomination for Governor, insurance-executive Hill has been a strong supporter of a sales tax. Hill was the lead lobbyist in the 1993 Montana Legislative Session to put a $400 million tax increase on the ballot – which is over $620 million in today’s dollars. More recently, Congressman Hill has advocated for a sales tax as a candidate for Governor.

Governor Schweitzer sees Montana’s standing as one of America’s best business tax climates only getting better, telling reporters that the several states ahead of Montana in the rankings may be looking to raise taxes because they lack the financial stability we enjoy. Moreover, Montana has cut taxes, like the business equipment tax, this year – which will also play into future rankings.

That may all be lost if Hill is able to ram through his sales tax.

###

Hill Lobbied for $400 Million Sales Tax, $72 Million Income Tax
During the 1993 legislative session, Hill lobbied to pass two measures that would drastically increase taxes on Montanans. The first measure was a bill to place a $400 million sales tax measure on the ballot. It was rejected by the voters 75% to 25%. Hill also lobbied on behalf of a bill that would have increased income taxes by $72 million, but was again rejected by voters. [Billings Gazette State Bureau, 5/23/1996]

Hill Still Supports a Sales Tax
INTERVIEWER: You would support a sales tax as a substitute tax, you would be open to that?

HILL: I would be open to it as a substitute tax. [Voices of Montana, 8/18/2011]

“A lot of people have advocated in Montana for a long time that we need three stools to our tax structure; got to have the income tax, the property tax, and the sales tax. I have often been an advocate for sales tax as a substitute.” [Hometown Helena, 6/2/2011]

Hill + Sonju = More Taxes (dgsma.wordpress.com)
Best, Worst States for Business, Tax-wise (abcnews.go.com)
Rehberg: Local Governments Richer Than The Feds (dgsma.wordpress.com)
The 20 States With The Most Unfriendly Tax Codes (businessinsider.com)

A Tale Of Two Polls

Jan30 by D Gregory Smith

…from The Montana Democrats:

Image via Wikipedia

Dennis Rehberg’s supporters tonight are pushing a new GOP poll about Montana’s 2012 Senate race. But a second poll released today—conducted by the same GOP polling firm—tells a much different story.

The first poll, conducted by the firm Public Opinion Strategies for Karl Rove’s secretive organization American Crossroads, shows questionable and uncharacteristic results for the race between Jon Tester and Congressman Dennis Rehberg.

The second poll released today, also conducted by Public Opinion Strategies, has much different results. It shows the race much closer—well within the margin of error.

“Montanans don’t trust Crossroads or Dennis Rehberg, so why would they believe numbers from a firm that can’t even decide which numbers are accurate,” said Ted Dick, executive director of the Montana Democratic Party. “Congressman Rehberg believes secrecy and unlimited corporate spending belong in Montana’s elections, and he and his allies will stop at nothing to try to influence the people of our state.”

Fascinating.

A Rehberg Tax Reminder (dgsma.wordpress.com)
Rehberg Says Congress Is Just As Functional As Lindsay Lohan (dgsma.wordpress.com)
MT Democrats: Rehberg’s Standing Against Jobs And Tax Relief (dgsma.wordpress.com)

ADAP Waiting List 1/26/12

Jan30 by D Gregory Smith

Tester vs Rehberg: Who Works Harder?

Jan27 by D Gregory Smith

While the question may seem inflammatory and derisive, it’s totally fair. And The Montana Democrats have done their homework:

Image via Wikipedia

How did Jon Tester and Congressman Dennis Rehberg spend the month of January? The difference couldn’t be more obvious.

Jon Tester traveled thousands of miles across the Treasure State, holding dozens of meetings and public events attended by more than 1,000 Montanans from across the political spectrum—discussing everything from online safety to consumer protection to job creation in Montana.

As for Dennis Rehberg? Not counting plenty of interviews with newspapers, TV and radio stations, Rehberg’s only public event was a political news conference announcing his Senate bid—surrounded Republican legislators known for comparing women to cattle and birther bills.

“Unlike Jon Tester, Congressman Dennis Rehberg thought January was vacation time,” said Ted Dick, Executive Director of the Montana Democratic Party. “After 35 years in politics, Congressman Rehberg has he’s lost touch with Montana, and his decisions are so irresponsible he apparently doesn’t want to face the music at home.”

Not including press interviews, political events, or “work” in Washington, here’s what Congressman Dennis Rehberg did in January:

January 12

Addressed Sentinel Kiwanis Club (Missoula)
(Rehberg also held political press conference in Helena during which he filed for U.S. Senate surrounded by Montana lawmakers)

January 19

Addressed Montana Chamber of Commerce (Helena)

Not including press interviews, political events, or work in Washington, here’s what Jon Tester did in January:

January 2:

Visited U.S. Government class at Harlem High School (Harlem)
Hosted Economic Development Roundtable (Harlem)
Met with Fort Belknap Tribal Council (Fort Belknap)
Visited U.S. Government class at Rocky Boy High School (Box Elder)
Held Veterans Roundtable (Box Elder)

January 4:

Visited Black Coffee Roasters (Missoula)
Met with local realtors (Missoula)
Met with Ravalli and Missoula Counties Suicide Task Force (Missoula)
Held roundtable with Missoula Head Start (Missoula)
Visited U.S. Government class at Sentinel High School (Missoula)
Met with Lance Corporal Tomy Parker, U.S. Marine Corps (Ronan)

January 5:

Addressed Daybreak Rotary (Kalispell)
Met with Mayor John Muhlfeld and City Council (Whitefish)
Toured Whitefish Care and Rehabilitation Center (Whitefish)
Met with Sheriff Chuck Curry (Kalispell)
Hosted online safety forum with Facebook (Kalispell)
Hosted online safety forum with Facebook (Billings)

January 6:

Visited Social Studies class at Skyview High School (Billings)
Met with Rocky Mountain College President Michael Mace and Greg Kohn (Billings)
Met with regional tribal leaders to discuss Indian health care (Billings)
Hosted roundtable discussion with Billings Chamber of Commerce on energy (Billings)
Met with Central Labor Council (Billings)

January 9

Met with the School Administrators of Montana (Helena)
Met with the Montana Rural Education Association (Helena)
Met with the Montana School Board Association (Helena)
Met with the Independent Insurance Agents of Montana (Helena)

January 10

Met with the National Federation of Independent Businesses (Helena)
Met with the Montana Bankers Association (Helena)
Met with the Montana Realtors Association (Helena)

January 11

Hosted roundtable discussion with Holly Petraeus Helena community leaders (Helena)
Visited Montana Department of Labor training session (Helena)
Hosted roundtable discussion with Holly Petraeus and National Guard members (Helena)
Hosted Roundtable discussion with Holly Petraeus and Great Falls community leaders (Great Falls)
Hosted roundtable discussion with Holly Petraeus and officers at Malmstrom Air Force Base (Great Falls)
Hosted town hall meeting with Holly Petraeus and airmen at Malmstrom Air Force Base (Great Falls)

January 12

Addressed the Montana Contractors’ Association (Big Sky)
Visited Bozeman Head Start (Bozeman)

January 13

Visited seniors at Lame Deer High School (Lame Deer)
Hosted veterans listening session (Lame Deer)
Toured Little Big Horn College (Crow Agency)
Hosted veterans listening session (Crow Agency)

January 20

Addressed Montana Chamber of Commerce (Helena)
Visited Helena Middle School (Helena)
Met with SeaCast Montana (Butte)
Met with Montana State Sheet Metal Workers (Butte)

Hmmm. Looks like Tester wins this round. If you count being industrious, that is.

A Rehberg Tax Reminder (dgsma.wordpress.com)
“25 Things Montana Voters (And Media) Need To Know About Dennis Rehberg” (dgsma.wordpress.com)

Racism, Unleashed

Jan23 by D Gregory Smith

Because we have an African American in the White House, and a chequered American past as far as racial equality (and inequality for that matter) are concerned, it was only a matter of time.

To play the (Aryan) race card.

Little Green Footballs is reporting that Fox Nation has posted a video that has resulted in hundreds of racist, offensive comments:

Image via Wikipedia

As we’ve noted at LGF many times, Fox Nation, official discussion forum of Fox News, has become utterly indistinguishable from a neo-Nazi hate site like Stormfront. And here’s another graphic, disgusting demonstration.

Yesterday, whatever race-baiting goon runs that site posted a video of Sheila Jackson Lee, criticizing Newt Gingrich’s racist code words:

Sheila Jackson Lee: Newt Using ‘Codewords’ to be Racist – Newt Gingrich – Fox Nation

Of course, they knew exactly what would happen; that’s why they posted the video. Fox Nation commenters responded with a torrent of outraged whining and denials: “Democrats are the real racists,” “Sheila Jackson Lee is the real racist,” “There’s no racism in America,” “I’m sick of being accused of racism,” etc. etc. etc.

And there were real, disgustingly racist and hateful comments posted throughout the site- which they’ve taken down. Comments are now closed. But if you want to see what they said, you can go to Little Green Footballs site, linked above. I won’t reprint them here.

This is nothing new- it started the second Obama started to gain traction in the primaries. You remember the jokes, the pictures, the sneers. But there are arguments, like Lee’s, that the Republican challenger’s rhetoric is inflammatorily “coded” to incite fear and disgust in his audience without actually sounding the alarm- especially as a white Southerner familiar with the race-baiting fear tactics so popular (and effective) in the 60’s.

Do I believe the President can handle this rhetoric? I do. He will do it with his characteristic intelligence and grace.

What bothers me is this: A significant part of the American Public too easily fall into this unenlightened position of racial ridiculousness. And Fox News just seems to be fanning those flames- “out of concern for America,” mind you.

Watch closely, America. It’s out there.

The Persona of the Pot Calling the Kettle Black (AGAIN), Sheila Jackson Lee accuses Newt Gingrich of Using Code Words (gds44.wordpress.com)
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee: Newt Uses “Codewords” To Be Racist (alan.com)
Is Newt ‘Subtly Racist’? (theroot.com)

Sound Familiar?

Jan21 by D Gregory Smith

To Montana LGBT folks it does.

The New York Times is reporting that despite being unenforceable, irrelevant and ridiculously out of date, Kansas sodomy laws are being kept on the books by Governor Sam Brownback. Excerpt:

Image via Wikipedia

Gov. Sam Brownback created the Office of the Repealer to recommend the elimination of out-of-date, unreasonable and burdensome state laws that build up in any bureaucracy over time.

For gay men and lesbians, there seemed one particularly obvious candidate: Kansas Statute 21-3505.

That would be the “criminal sodomy” statute, which prohibits same-sex couples from engaging in oral or anal sex. The law was rendered unenforceable nearly a decade ago by a United States Supreme Court ruling, but it remains enshrined in the state’s legal code.

But on Friday, when Mr. Brownback, a conservative Republican, released a list of 51 laws to recommend to the Legislature for repeal, the sodomy statute was not among them.

The decision, despite public and private lobbying, has angered gay leaders here. “We were pretty much the first in line with our request to have this unconstitutional ban on gay and lesbian relations repealed,” said Thomas Witt, chairman of the Kansas Equality Coalition.

“This isn’t just some archaic law that’s sitting on the books and isn’t bothering anyone,” Mr. Witt continued. “It’s used as justification to harass and discriminate against people, and it needs to go.”

Mr. Brownback, who is a vocal opponent of same-sex marriage on religious grounds, declined to comment, and his spokeswoman would not say whether he would support repealing the law against same-sex sodomy, a misdemeanor that officially carries a prison sentence of up to six months.

This is familiar, because the Montana Legislature did the exact same thing last session, refusing to remove an anachronistic, irrelevant law from the books– ostensibly to shame and vilify LGBT persons.

It’s simple hate, bigotry and discrimination. As I’ve said before, these Christianist conservatives don’t give a shit about human rights, they don’t give a shit about science and they don’t give a shit about gay people.

The only cool thing about this is that the tide of public opinion is steadily going against actions like these– making the case that these bigots are out of touch with the common sense of the American people, and will soon be anachronistic and irrelevant themselves.

Full NYT story here.