Cebull Resignation Petitions Pepper The Internet- And They Should

Photo from The Missoulian

So far, I’ve found five petitions circulating the internet asking Federal Judge Richard Cebull to resign for his poor judgment in circulating a racially charged email about Barack Obama, his mother- and a bestiality party. Three on Change.org alone. I signed them all.

Why am I still harping on this? Well, to quote The Boston Globe,

Should a single joke, even a deeply, shockingly insensitive one, doom an entire career? Even if it’s merely forwarded on a computer, rather than spoken aloud? A good answer is: only if biases expressed in the joke are reflected in a broader assessment of the joke-teller. That’s why Congress should investigate Chief US District Judge Richard Cebull of Montana, who admitted to passing along a joke whose punchline suggested President Obama was fathered by a dog. Criminal defendants, victims, and litigants need to know that they are being viewed fairly, as individuals, when they come before this judge.

And to buttress, The New York Times:

His dislike of the president is so strong, apparently, he could not resist the urge to violate his ethical duty to avoid intemperate conduct that suggests racial and political bias and an appearance, at least, of impropriety. Although Judge Cebull did not intend for his e-mail to become public, his use of a government computer and an official e-mail account to spread the hateful message removes any claim that his action was purely private.

At Judge Cebull’s request, the Judicial Council of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals will now consider whether and to what degree to discipline him. It has the power, if it chooses, to reprimand him and temporarily suspend him from hearing cases.

It should not be necessary for the appeals court to do that. Judge Cebull has forfeited the trust Americans need to have in the impartiality and judgment of members of the federal bench. He should resign.

And finally, to quote reader Sara Walsh in The Great Falls Tribune’s comment thread on the story,

Cebull doesn’t get many opportunities to show his racism in Montana, which is 89.4 percent Caucasian, with only 0.4 percent of the non-Caucasians being black. But when you ridicule someone for who they are based on their lineage, which they have no control over, rather than for their actions, that’s racism/discrimination.

That’s why.

Just in case you haven’t had a chance to sign these petitions- and lest the fire die down- I thought I’d list them all here for your convenience.

You’re welcome.

A Judge Forwarded What? (The Boston Globe)
MT Federal Judge Admits Racist Obama Email (dgsma.wordpress.com)
Judge Admits Sending Racist, Bestiality-Baiting Obama Email (bilerico.com)
Judge unlikely to face removal for racist message about Obama (cnn.com)
Judge Richard Cebull apologizes to Obama – Politico (politico.com)
Editorial: Judge Richard Cebull’s Racist ‘Joke’ (nytimes.com)

Rehberg: The Anti-Hunter?

Mar6 by D Gregory Smith

For the second time in as many weeks, Congressman Dennis Rehberg’s support for endangering the Montana world-famous hunting and fishing heritage is under fire.

Montana hunters have been clear in their opposition to Rehberg’s Roadless Area Release Act (H.R. 1581), cosponsored by Rehberg. The Montana Wildlife Federation and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation are among 26 Montana hunting and fishing organizations that oppose Rehberg’s bill.

The bill would open up millions of roadless acres putting some of Montana’s richest big game country at risk. The legislation has been called “short-sighted, top-down legislation” by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation who pulled their support for the legislation at the request of Montana hunters in August. [RMEF, Website]

The Montana Wildlife Federation is running an independent TV ad expressing the need to protect Montana’s outdoor legacy by opposing the legislation:

“It’s amazing that Dennis Rehberg is ignoring the voices of Montana hunters saying that legislation threatening Montana’s big game is ‘common sense,’” said Montana Democratic Party Executive Director Ted Dick. “Montana hunters have been loud and clear, standing with Jon Tester against Dennis Rehberg’s out-of-touch, anti-hunting agenda—no matter what Montanans say.”

This is the second ad from the Montana Wildlife Federation which began running an ad last Sunday criticizing Rehberg’s legislation.

“Aspirin” Billionaire To Bankroll Rehberg (dgsma.wordpress.com)
Tester Meets with Constituents, Rehberg Continues Invisibility Plan (dgsma.wordpress.com)

Tester Stands Up

Mar1 by D Gregory Smith

Senator Jon Tester’s office released the following today:

Image via Wikipedia

Senator Jon Tester today released the following statement after voting against a controversial amendment by Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., that would have allowed employers to deny health insurance coverage, including contraception, for any employee based on “moral convictions”:

“This is a reckless attempt to undermine individual freedom and restrict access to health care for women. This measure is unprecedented and out-of-touch with Montana, and it would have prevented women from making their own healthcare decisions.”

The amendment did not define “moral convictions,” meaning an employer could have denied insurance coverage for anything from blood transfusions and diabetes screenings to HPV vaccinations and treatment of HIV.

The measure failed by a vote of 51-48, failing to reach the 60 votes needed for approval.

It sounds like it would have given employers the right to discriminate for insurance coverage.

I’m especially glad the release specifically mentioned HIV- we have hundreds of Montanans living with HIV who are enrolled in health insurance through their employers….

Rehberg Defends Controversial Bill (dgsma.wordpress.com)
Tester Meets with Constituents, Rehberg Continues Invisibility Plan (dgsma.wordpress.com)
Romney reverses on Roy Blunt’s health care amendment A few… (shortformblog.tumblr.com)
GOP Sen. Roy Blunt to introduce bill allowing employers to deny coverage for any health service (dailykos.com)

The Call For Cebull To Step Down Gets Louder- Petition Edition

Mar1 by D Gregory Smith

Thanks to the folks at the Montana Human Rights Network, there’s now a petition. From The Great Falls Tribune:

Seal of the United States Court of Appeals for...

Image via Wikipedia

Travis McAdam, executive director of the Montana Human Rights Network, said citizens from throughout Montana and across the country are flooding the organization’s phone lines and email inbox with angry calls for Cebull to be removed from his post as the state’s top federal judge.

“People are really angry and motivated and wanting to do something,” McAdam said Thursday.

The Montana Human Rights Network and other groups are now circulating online petitions calling for Cebull to resign.

“On February 20, the chief federal judge in Montana, Richard Cebull, forwarded an email to six individuals that included racist and misogynistic content. The content of this email dehumanizes people of color and women. People of color and women appearing before Judge Cebull will have valid concerns about his ability to treat them fairly,” the network petition reads in part.

“From the time story broke online (Wednesday) to this morning we had gotten dozens of emails through our website, and phone calls from people who are really wanting some way to register their real displeasure with the email the judge sent around and also really talking about ‘how can we lend our names to something to try to get the judge to resign?’” McAdams said.

The network also plans to file a formal ethics complaint with the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

The MHRN petition is here.

UPDATE: CONGRESSIONAL TRI-CAUCUS CONDEMNS MONTANA JUDGE’S RACISM TOWARD OBAMA

MT Federal Judge Admits Racist Obama Email (dgsma.wordpress.com)

Rehberg Defends Controversial Bill

Mar1 by D Gregory Smith

From The Montana Democrats:

Already under heat from Montana sportsmen for supporting an anti-hunting bill, mutimillionaire Congressman Dennis Rehberg today doubled down on his defense of H.R. 1505, his unpopular federal land grab bill.

H.R. 1505 allows the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to override at least 36 existing laws and seize public land within 100 miles of Montana northern border in order to gain “operational control.” The legislation has been panned by critics on the right and the left. Montana sportsmen also criticized the bill because it gives the Department of Homeland Security “complete control over millions of acres of Montana public lands.”

But Rehberg defied Montana’s opposition to the bill on KECI-TV this morning:

“It has nothing to do with any kind of a land grab. It’s federal properties only and it’s just saying ‘let the border patrol and the customs agents have access to federal property you shouldn’t lock them out’.”

Rehberg is wrong. H.R. 1505 gives unprecedented authority to the federal government lock up land in Montana, and to lock Montanans out.

“Congressman Rehberg’s 35-year political career is defined by irresponsible decisions like his Homeland Security land grab and his votes for the Patriot Act and REAL ID,” said Montana Democratic Party Executive Director Ted Dick . “If Congressman Rehberg still thinks Montanans will stand for his attacks on our rights and freedoms, then he’s clearly lost touch with Montana values. And he refuses to admit when he’s wrong.”

Earlier this week, Montana hunters began running TV ads in Montana questioning Rehberg’s support of the Roadless Release Act. Rehberg’s bill (H.R. 1581) would open up millions of acres of land in Montana to roads and development, impacting some of Montana’s most prized hunting habitat. The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the Montana Wildilfe Federation oppose Rehberg’s bill.

HOMELAND SECURITY LAND GRAB: Congressman Rehberg is sponsoring a bill that “would give the secretary of homeland security total operational authority over all federal lands within 100 miles of the U.S. international and maritime borders” [Great Falls Tribune,9/21/11]. Critics said the bill was “exactly the kind of big government Montanans don’t tolerate” [Missoulian, 9/28/11].

REAL ID: In 2005 Congressman Rehberg praised a plan to force all Montanans to get government ID cards saying, “something states should have been doing all along” [Rehberg Press Release, 5/6/05].

PATRIOT ACT: Congressman Rehberg has voted over and over again to re-authorize the controversial Patriot Act, something Jon Tester has consistently opposed [HR 2975, Vote 386, 10/12/01; HR 3162, Vote 398, 10/24/01; HR 3199, Vote 414, 07/21/05; HR 3199, Vote 627, 12/14/05; S 2271, Vote 20, 03/07/06, HR 514, House Roll Call Vote 29, 2/10/11].

Rehberg Invites Rumsfeld (dgsma.wordpress.com)
Tester Meets with Constituents, Rehberg Continues Invisibility Plan (dgsma.wordpress.com)

MT Federal Judge Admits Racist Obama Email

Feb29 by D Gregory Smith

Richard Cebull, Chief U.S. District Judge for the State of Montana has admitted he sent racially charged emails about the President to “a few close buddies” from his chambers. From USA Today:

Image from Wikipedia

Cebull, of Billings, was nominated by former president George W. Bush and received his commission in 2001 and has served as chief judge for the District of Montana since 2008.

The subject line of the e-mail, which Cebull sent from his official courthouse e-mail address on Feb. 20 at 3:42 p.m., reads: “A MOM’S MEMORY.”

The forwarded text reads as follow:

“Normally I don’t send or forward a lot of these, but even by my standards, it was a bit touching. I want all of my friends to feel what I felt when I read this. Hope it touches your heart like it did mine.

“A little boy said to his mother; ‘Mommy, how come I’m black and you’re white?’ ” the e-mail joke reads. “His mother replied, ‘Don’t even go there Barack! From what I can remember about that party, you’re lucky you don’t bark!’ ”

Cebull admitted Wednesday to sending the e-mail to seven recipients, including his personal e-mail address. The judge acknowledged that the content of the e-mail was racist, but said he does not consider himself racist. He said the e-mail was intended to be a private communication.

“It was not intended by me in any way to become public,” Cebull said. “I apologize to anybody who is offended by it and I can obviously understand why people would be offended.”

Cebull said his brother initially sent him the e-mail, which he forwarded to six of his “old buddies” and acquaintances.

“The only reason I can explain it to you is I am not a fan of our president, but this goes beyond not being a fan,” Cebull said. “I didn’t send it as racist, although that’s what it is. I sent it out because it’s anti-Obama.”

Travis McAdam, executive director for the Montana Human Rights Network, said the e-mail is highly racist rhetoric unbecoming of a federal judge.

“It’s one thing if the judge is not a fan of President Barack Obama, but you would think someone in his position would articulate that in a way that criticizes his policy decisions or his position on issues,” McAdam said. “We have a hard time believing that a legitimate criticism of the president involves distributing a joke that basically compares African Americans with animals.”

Cebull said he does not consider himself prejudiced against people of other races or ethnic backgrounds, and that his actions in his courtroom have demonstrated that.

“This is a private thing that was, to say the least, very poor judgment on my part,” Cebull said. “I did not forward it because of the racist nature of it. Although it is racist, I’m not that way, never have been.”

The White House declined to comment Wednesday on the incident.

My two cents: Cebull’s statements don’t seem to indicate any remorse or regret- it’s simply an expression of the depth of prejudice that can’t distinguish between racism and partisanship. I think this needs to be a big deal- and he needs to go.

It’s disgusting.

Update The Bozeman Chronicle’s lead-in: Montana’s chief federal judge said Wednesday that he forwarded an email that contained a joke involving bestiality and President Barack Obama’s mother, but he did so because he dislikes the president and not because he’s racist.

Call For Cebull To Step Down Gets Louder- Petition Edition (dgsma.wordpress.com)

Pride Foundation Is Number One

Feb29 by D Gregory Smith

From The Puget Sound Business Journal:

Seattle’s Pride Foundation has been ranked the nation’s No. 1 public and community foundation serving the gay community between 1970 and 2010, according to a report by Funders for LGBTQ Issues.

Pride Foundation awarded more than $22.5 million in the 40-year span the report covered in the report. The organization made more than 1,800 grants supporting LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay Bisexual, Transgendered, Queer) issues and HIV/AIDS prevention.

Pride was ranked No. 7 in the more general category of top 10 grantmakers for the same period, although it should be noted that the category of “anonymous funders” – including many anonymous donors lumped together – ranked first with $90 million in spending.

The Seattle-based Pride Foundation has historically received support from prominent individuals in the business community.

The most notable contribution was from Ric Weiland in 2008. One of Microsoft ’s first five employees, Weiland died in 2006, ultimately leaving $65 million to the Pride Foundation.

“Ric’s gift was a game changer for us,” said Philip Wong, a spokesman for the foundation. “It had a huge impact.”

In fact, it was the largest single gift ever given to an organization dedicated to gay rights. Weiland had been a Pride board member and longtime volunteer.

The Pride Foundation was ranked ninth for its support of LGBTQ youth, spending $4.5 million between 1970 and 2010.

Founded in 1985, the Pride Foundation serves Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington.

Pride Foundation’s Executive Director Kris Hermanns told supporters today:

Thank you for being a part of the Pride Foundation family as we work together to envision a world where full equality reaches every corner of the Northwest. Your gifts of time, support, and money have created a legacy of LGBTQ philanthropy that will endure for generations to come. We share our number one title with you.

Pride Foundation’s origins are rooted in the community response to the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s. From our humble beginnings, donors and volunteers have guided Pride Foundation to support local nonprofit projects that are addressing existing and emerging issues that affect the health and well-being of our community. Pride Foundation’s scholarship program has grown into one of the largest LGBTQ-focused scholarship programs in the U.S. Our Shareholder Advocacy program was instrumental in encouraging companies like Wal-Mart and McDonald’s to add “sexual orientation” to company anti-discrimination policies—and we continue to work with companies to include “gender identity” to those policies.

These are all significant achievements that Pride Foundation could not have reached without your support. Though we may never be able to thank you enough, we will try.

You know I love and support Pride Foundation (see below)- this is just the icing on the cake…

Pride Foundation: Big Plans for Montana (dgsma.wordpress.com)
Red Lodge Ski Event to Raise Money for Scholarship (dgsma.wordpress.com)
Montana’s Last Best Chance (dgsma.wordpress.com)

Montana Gay-Friendly Health and Mental Health Providers

Feb27 by D Gregory Smith

Looking for a doctor who isn’t freaked out by your sexuality? Or a dentist that will work with you if you have HIV? Or a therapist that has experience with gay couple’s therapy?

The Montana Gay Men’s Task Force has a list of gay-friendly healthcare providers for the State of Montana which they have compiled through a referral and questionnaire network. The providers listed have also given their assent to be on the list.

Check it out here.

Oh, and if you have a fabulous healthcare professional who isn’t listed- you can help them get on the list here.

Advocates: More gay-friendly senior housing needed (mysanantonio.com)
Red Lodge Ski Event to Raise Money for Scholarship (dgsma.wordpress.com)

Red Lodge Ski Event to Raise Money for Scholarship

Feb27 by D Gregory Smith

Billings Group Hopes to Establish LGBTQ Scholarship for Montana

RED LODGE, MT — The Billings-based group TAP 365 will bring Slide 4 Pride to the Beartooth Recreational Nordic Center on Saturday, March 17, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. This family-friendly cross-country ski event aims to raise money to start a scholarship fund for a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or straight-allied Montana student, and will also accept donations for the Beartooth Recreational Trails Association.

“Gay students are more likely to lose family support and even face homelessness after they come out,” explained Suzie Eades, a volunteer with TAP 365 and Pride Foundation who is planning the ski event after two successful 4 Pride fundraisers earlier this year in Billings. “It’s important that our community step up and show these students that we believe in them and know they can succeed in college.”

TAP 365 is a new nonprofit aimed at raising awareness about LGBTQ issues east of the Continental Divide and to build bridges with heterosexual allies. TAP 365 hopes the 4 Pride events will raise enough money to endow a scholarship fund, which will be managed by Pride Foundation and perpetually support a Montana LGBTQ student who is pursuing a degree or post-secondary certification in Montana.

“We are thrilled to partner once again with TAP 365 and the 4 Pride Event Series,” said Caitlin Copple, Montana’s Regional Development Organizer for Pride Foundation. “It’s great to see the energy and enthusiasm coming out of the Billings community for LGBTQ equality, thanks to the work of these volunteers.”

Slide 4 Pride is a free event featuring beginning cross-country ski instruction, food, and music under a heated tent. All donations are tax deductible, and sponsorships from the Pride Foundation, Jason Webinger of Farmers Insurance in Billings and Café Regis of Red Lodge helped underwrite event costs.

Pride Foundation provides grants and scholarships to strengthen the LGBTQ equality movement across the Northwest states of Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana. It is the single largest provider of scholarships for LGBTQ students in the nation, and will give away $380,000 in community scholarships this year. To learn more, visit www.pridefoundation.org or email Caitlin@pridefoundation.org or call 406.546.7017.

Pride Foundation: Big Plans for Montana (dgsma.wordpress.com)
Montana’s Last Best Chance (dgsma.wordpress.com)
Couple’s Love Inspires A More Equal Montana (dgsma.wordpress.com)
Harrisburg University awarded $1 million scholarship endowment (pennlive.com)

Tester Meets with Constituents, Rehberg Continues Invisibility Plan

Feb25 by D Gregory Smith

From The Montana Democrats:

While multimillionaire Congressman Dennis Rehberg continues to hide from the public (see ‘Related Articles’ below), Jon Tester hosted his 10th public small business workshop, following months of meetings with Montanans across the state.

Denny Rehberg - Caricature (Photo credit: DonkeyHotey)

As for Congressman Rehberg? He cancelled his latest scheduled appearance–at a Republican Party fundraiser he was supposed to headline Sunday in Havre. And Congressman Rehberg has held virtually no public meetings with Montanans since November.

“After 35 years in politics, Congressman Rehberg no longer thinks he’s accountable to Montana,” said Ted Dick, executive director of the Montana Democratic Party. “Congressman Rehberg gave himself five pay raises in Congress, but he votes to cut funding for our public schools, cut Pell grants, and cut health care for our veterans. His 35-year career in politics is marked by irresponsible decisions like tax breaks for fellow millionaires and corporations that ship jobs overseas—at the expense of Montana families, education, Medicare and Social Security.”

Congressman Rehberg has avoided accountability for the last year, hiding the donations he takes from lobbyists, refusing to meet with Montanans, and giving his full endorsement to the Citizens United ruling that allows big corporations to spend unlimited money on dishonest political attack ads. Here’s more:

Hiding Campaign Cash from Lobbyists: An investigation by the Associated Press found Congressman Rehberg refused to disclose the identities of 189 lobbyists on his financial disclosure reports. Rehberg hid more than $20,000 he took from Washington lobbyists.

Dodging Public Meetings with Constituents: Congressman Rehberg went 6 months without holding a public townhall meeting, and when he finally scheduled one, he watched a Sheriff removed someone from the meeting.

Siding with Anonymous Corporate Cash in Elections: Following his endorsement by Citizens United, Congressman Rehberg gave his full endorsement to the secretive organization’s Supreme Court Ruling, which allows big corporations to spend unlimited to buy elections.