For all those who said, "I live in a red state so my vote for Obama won't count," I have four words for you:

Indiana.

North Carolina.

Virginia.

Indiana hadn't voted for a Democrat since Lyndon Johnson, people.

And then there are the red states that McCain narrowly won...

North Dakota (by 8%  Bush won it by almost 30% in 2004)

South Dakota (by about 10%. Bush won it by 21% in 2004)

Texas (by 11%. Bush won it by 23% in 2004)

West Virginia (by 7%. Bush won it by 7% in 2004)

Montana (by 3%. Bush won it by 20% in 2004) Edited: Thanks to anonymous commentor who corrected me. I guess I did the math and saw a 17% difference between 04 and 08 and...yeah. No more blogging without coffee.

Now take a look at these states, especially with very low populations -- Obama lost North Dakota by less than 30,000 votes -- and tell me that people turning out to the polls and giving a damn about the value of their votes doesn't make a difference.

We can turn these states blue next time, people.

The whiny "My vote doesn't count" excuse doesn't wash anymore.

Just ask the Democrats in Viriginia, North Carolina, and Indiana.

Boyd Reed, blogging on why he "didn't vote for Barack Obama today"

My sent me a quote that's been making the rounds of the intarwebs...doubtless you've seen it before...

Rosa sat so Martin could march.
Martin marched so Obama could run.
Obama is running so our children can fly.

Do not miss this article examining the last in (predominantly Republican) dirty tricks to supress voters. Among their latest?

-- Telling Virginia voters that "fear of large turnout" had led state officials to split the election over two days. Republicans are to vote Tuesday, Democrats Wednesday.

-- Misleading fliers saying Obama is linked to the Holocaust

-- Sending PIs to the homes of minority voters to question their citizenship status and demand paperwork proving the person can vote

-- Erroneously telling people in a predominantly African American neighborhood that they would be arrested at the polls if they had any outstanding parking tickets or other violations.

DO NOT BE FOOLED BY THE LAST ACTS OF A DESPERATE CAMPAIGN.

Go to vote as early in the day as your schedule allows. If you are turned away from the polls or experience any difficulties, report them at No More Stolen Elections, or you can report them at NPR's website. You can also call the campaign of your candidate, or your Secretary of State. Please report any and all problems,  irregularities, or difficulties.

We must preserve this process. We' ve had the last two elections stolen out from under us, America. And I think we can all agree it's been to our detriment.

I've lived to see not one but two elections stolen from the American people in my 33 years on this planet, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried about it happening again. The McPalin campaign is desperate, and have proven that they have zero ethical qualms about doing what it takes to win.

If you are determined never to see another American election stolen, visit No More Stolen Elections

Also, know your rights at the polls, and if you either experience difficulties or witness questionable behavior, please contact your Secretary of State or your candidate's campaign. I know the Obama people in particular are on the lookout for supression and fraud. I'm tempted to say the McPalin campaign would want tips on how to accomplish same.

Debbie Ford and her shadow work are often a little new-agey for me, but I got this and it really moved me.

It also made me think about the women I know who are McPalin supporters, something that plainly mystfies me. And I realized how many of them I know that have little to no self-esteem, who are with men who try to make them feel lucky to have somone who loves them, who are emotionally distant, and more. And it makes sense that women who have let the partners in their lives break them down -- not caring for them when they are hurt, putting them down for their weight/looks/other imagined failings -- would also be attracted to an abusive "partner" in their candidates. Because anyone who tells you have no control over your body and are less of a person, is an abuser. If you're content to live with one, why wouldn't you be content to have them in control of the country?

( Cut to save your Flist )

The McCain supporter who claimed she was mugged and had a "B" carved into her face by a deranged Obama supporter has admitted she made the story up.

Way to go, Sleazebag. Of course, if her candidates hadn't been running a sleazy, racially charged campaign, she may not have thought she could get away with it.

And of course she's from Texas. They always are.

Seriously.

Very inspiring.

( <object width= )

This has been floating around for a while, but it still makes me tear up.

( Yes, We Can )

Egads! Something political and lighthearted here! No, it's true.

( Spew Warning in Effect )

So a week ago, I was waiting for my morning train out of Irving, Texas into Dallas. I commute the rails every morning, but this morning I was running late and was catching a train I don't normally catch. I'm drinking my coffee and minding my own, when I hear someone say, "So I noticed your buttons."

(I wear three buttons on my backpack -- an Obama Pride button, a Farmers for Obama button, and one that says War is Not Pro-Life, which I bought from a local Democratic group.)

I turn to see what Texans call a "church lady" -- mid to late 50s, carefully coiffed short curly hair, flower print business attire, and sensible shoes. Likely an administrator in the local hospital or something, based on the demographic of the folks who catch the train from that station.

In my head I go, "Oh, hell," because "I noticed your buttons" is not typically followed by something good.

"I really like the one that says 'War Is Not Pro-Life,'" she says. "I wish these people would see that, no matter what,there will always be abortions. We need to keep it safe and legal."                                                                  

I pick my jaw up off the platform and say, "I know! I wish people would see that you can be against abortion and for life. I'm excited about helping women take charge of their health and learn how to prevent unplanned pregnancies. Most women of my generation who work for reproductive rights, that's what we want."

"I know," she says. "I'm still friends with my girlfriends from college -- they're my age so they're still girls -- and one of them is supporting McCain. I always knew she was the dumb one of us. She thinks of herself as upper middle class but she's barely getting by."

So we talk about economic policy, and then she says,

"I walked in on one, you know. A back-alley abortion. In a bathtub. I'll never forget the blood, blood all over the walls. And the thought of another woman -- another child -- having to go through that....that's why I'm prochoice. I hope I never have to see that again."

I was stunned.

We talked a few more moments, then the train came in, and I lost her in the crowd of people trying to get to our seats.

I don't know why she felt the need to tell me her story, but I'm honored that she did. Who knows for how long she'd been carrying that memory, before she shared it with me on a random train platform in Texas? She inspired me to keep fighting for a better world, through November 4 and far beyond..

First, check out the video (below the cut) from Women Against McCain Palin It's truly heartwrenching.

( Video behind the cut )

Then, courtesy of John McCain's own words, to the late Tim Russert, on 1/30/00:

John McCain on NBC’s, Meet the Press, 1/30/00:

Mr. Russert: “A Constitutional Amendment to ban all abortions?”
McCain: “Yes Sir.”
Mr. Russert: “But, Senator, women across the country would say, prior to Roe v. Wade, hundreds of thousands of women a year went to back alleys to have abortions.”
McCain: “I understand that.”
Mr. Russert: “Many died.”
McCain: “I understand that.”

And finally, from last night's debate, McCain dismissing concerns about "the mother's health" as just another leftwing whine:

OBAMA: We can find some common ground, because nobody's pro-abortion. I think it's always a tragic situation. We should try to reduce these circumstances.

SCHIEFFER: Let's give Sen. McCain a short response...

McCAIN: Just again...

SCHIEFFER: ... and then...

McCAIN: Just again, the example of the eloquence of Sen. Obama. He's "health for the mother." You know, that's been stretched by the pro-abortion movement in America to mean almost anything. That's the extreme pro-abortion position, quote, "health."

This is a really interesting, cogent read. I am curious to see what happens in tonight's debate -- to see if McCain really does punch it up a notch, and to see if Obama can continue looking presidential.

Got this from flickgoddess and had to share:

Subject: What if things were switched around.....think about it.
Would the country's collective point of view be different?

Could racism be the culprit?

What if the Obamas had paraded five children across the stage, including a three month old infant and an unwed, pregnant teenage daughter?

What if John McCain was a former president of the Harvard Law Review?

What if Barack Obama finished fifth from the bottom of his graduating class?

What if McCain had only married once, and Obama was a divorcee?

What if Obama was the candidate who left his first wife after a severe
disfiguring car accident, when she no longer measured up to his standards?

What if Obama had met his second wife in a bar and had a long affair while he was still married?

What if Michelle Obama was the wife who not only became addicted to pain killers but also acquired them illegally through her charitable organization?

What if Cindy McCain graduated from Harvard?

What if Obama had been a member of the Keating Five?
(The Keating Five were five United States Senators accused of corruption in 1989, igniting a major political scandal as part of the larger Savings and Loan crisis of the late 1980s and early 1990s.)

What if McCain was a charismatic, eloquent speaker?

What if Obama couldn't read from a teleprompter?

What if Obama was the one who had military experience that included discipline problems and a record of crashing seven planes?

What if Obama was the one who was known to display publicly, on many occasions, a serious anger management problem?

What if Michelle Obama's family had made their money from beer distribution?

What if the Obamas had adopted a white child?

You could easily add to this list.  If these questions reflected reality,
do you really believe the election numbers would be as close as they are?

This is what racism does. It covers up, rationalizes and minimizes
positive qualities in one candidate and emphasizes negative qualities in another when there is a color difference.

Educational Background:

Barack Obama:
Columbia University - B.A. Political Science with a Specialization in
International Relations.
Harvard - Juris Doctor (J.D.) Magna Cum Laude

Joseph Biden:
University of Delaware - B.A. in History and B.A. in Political Science.
Syracuse University College of Law - Juris Doctor (J.D.)

vs.

John McCain:
United States Naval Academy - Class rank: 894 of 899

Sarah Palin:
Hawaii Pacific University - 1 semester
North Idaho College - 2 semesters - general study
University of Idaho - 2 semesters - journalism
Matanuska-Susitna College - 1 semester
University of Idaho - 3 semesters - B.A. in Journalism

Education isn't everything, but this is about the two highest offices in
the land as well as our standing in th e world.  You make the call.

There has to be a reason that, in spite of the above, we are where we are today. Racism is the Key!  Of course, there is a generous dosage of country-wide stupidity too.

This is a really amazing video. The part that gets me is the Navy wife who says she has switched her support from McCain to Obama because "I don't want to be a widow at 23."

Sound is very low on this one, but worth the effort.

Which is not, actually, as uncommon or sinful as many on the right would have you believe :)

Check out the homepage of the Matthew 25 Project for more.

ganked from yonihamagid 



I'm voting for "That One"

This issue is kind of my passion right now. I'm astounded that there are Americans, especially queer Americans, who are ignorant enough to think that Obama and McCain have the same stance on GLBT rights. Really? I'm as concerned as anyone that Obama/Biden won't come out directly for gay marriage, but not as concerned as I am about a candidate who is "proud" of leading the charge to ban same-sex marriages and unions in Arizons and his running mate and her "pray the gay away" religious beliefs.

Michelle Obama contributed this article on why an Obama administration would lead the way to a better nation for GLBT Americans.  

In the same issue, you'll find this article dealing with Palin's stance and experience on gay rights. I wish she had contributed her own article, as Michelle Obama did, but something tells me that she wouldn't be writing for The Advocate.

The comments on both articles are intriguing and somewhat alarming at times.

...I get a clip that skewers Wal*mart and John McCain at the same time. It gives me a little bit of feminist happiness to know I can raise awareness about both issues at once.

Tell John McCain to support equal pay for equal work. (And yes, in 2008 it is still not federal law that men and women have to be paid the same. Seriously. Marvel for a moment, then watch the vid behind the cut.

( Read more... )

For those who will still contend that Obama and McCain have "the same position on gay rights,"  I offer the following...

From Obama's website:

“While we have come a long way since the Stonewall riots in 1969, we still have a lot of work to do. Too often, the issue of LGBT rights is exploited by those seeking to divide us. But at its core, this issue is about who we are as Americans. It’s about whether this nation is going to live up to its founding promise of equality by treating all its citizens with dignity and respect.”

PDF comparing their records

Highlights:

Obama supports repealing the Defense of Marriage Act and voted against constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.

McCain supports the Defense of Marriage Act and has said he is "proud" to have led the effort to ban same-sex marriage and same-sex civil unions in Arizona.


From McCain's website:

Protecting Marriage

As president, John McCain would nominate judges who understand that the role of the Court is not to subvert the rights of the people by legislating from the bench. Critical to Constitutional balance is ensuring that, where state and local governments do act to preserve the traditional family, the Courts must not overstep their authority and thwart the Constitutional right of the people to decide this question.

The family represents the foundation of Western Civilization and civil society and John McCain believes the institution of marriage is a union between one man and one woman. It is only this definition that sufficiently recognizes the vital and unique role played by mothers and fathers in the raising of children, and the role of the family in shaping, stabilizing, and strengthening communities and our nation.

As with most issues vital to the preservation and health of civil society, the basic responsibility for preserving and strengthening the family should reside at the level of government closest to the people. In their wisdom, the Founding Fathers reserved for the States the authority and responsibility to protect and strengthen the vital institutions of our civil society. They did so to ensure that the voices of America's families could not be ignored by an indifferent national government or suffocated through filibusters and clever legislative maneuvering in Congress.

So, now can someone explain to me how they have the "exact same position" on gay rights? Where I'm standing, and based on the words out of their own mouths, they seem to be pretty different. And the choice seems to be pretty clear.

An articulate response to those who say Obama and McCain have the "same position" on gay marriage, from someone who's disillusioned with them both.

And another great story, a few years old, on the broader issue. "Tolerance" = acceptance, and voting as though they are synonymous will hurt us all.

And finally my sister's personal take on the issue, which is much like my own:

I have a couple of friends who lived through the 1980's in NYC and saw AIDS kill friend after friend after friend.  They talk about how the people who died owned businesses and property with their partners who then had to battle with (often hostile) family members to buy back the share in the business or property that automatically went to those family members due to inheritance laws.  The worst stories are those about people not being able to say goodbye to their partners, before or after their death. 
 
It's not all that different now.  I have a client, who recently married his partner in NJ.  They own a weekend house on the PA side of the PA/NJ border.  He recently became seriously ill while they were at the house, and an ambulance had to be called.  Luckily he was conscious, and was able to insist on being taken to a hospital on the NJ side of the border.  He knew that if he were unable to make medical decisions for himself, his partner would be able to make them on his behalf.
 
This is why it isn't about whether a candidate is willing to call it "marriage" or not.  It's about whether or not the candidate (and the party platform!) show a fundamental belief in equal rights for everyone.  Someone who will "tolerate" you and someone who will ensure that you are recognized by the government as deserving of having your rights protected do not have "the same view."

Come on, America, gay straight or inbetween....seriously, if you cannot see the difference between McCain and Obama's stance on this issue, how do you make the really hard decisions -- like deciding whether to wash your hair with Aveda or battery acid, or whether it's a better call to eat a burger or some dogfood...cuz it's all the same, right?