Arkansas Blog

Republicans are NOT against anything homosexual. Homosexuals are free to do what they want in the privacy of their homes. Just don't ask for public recognition of it.

President Bush attempted to set up private social security accounts that could have gone to any partner - including a gay one.

So are gay foster parents allowed in another states? If so, which ones? I think its prudent to let the liberal states experiment with their children first. Research studies are of limited value given the extra controls in place. Did the research studies distinguish between male couples and lesbian couples? Were the studies large enough to have adequate power to tell if there was a difference? How long were the studies and what exactly did they measure? How were the couples selected to participate in the studies?

There is a publication bias in which politically incorrect results are suppressed in favor of studies that show certain results.

Bill Halter was pretty clear in his comments. If a law is constitutional and makes sense for the kids then he'll support a law banning gay foster parents.

Do the Republicans want us to have another law that is found to be constitutional?

Regardless of the merits of the Republican's position, they are going to kill Beebe et al over this issue. How stupid are our candidates - to meet together with a pollster the day after the ruling is crazy. It makes them look like they are staking out their positions just based on the polls.

If they are going to be swayed by public opinion, surely they don't need a poll to tell them that gay adoption would be a hot button issue.

What about those damned sodomites being allowed to claim the Homestead Exemption? Why is this being permitted? Why doesn't the Republican Party support the protection of traditional heterosexual homeownerhip by denying this privilege to those loathesome degenerates? Quick, Mr. Beebe and Mr. Halter, here's your chance to jump out front in the get-the-queers contest!!!

"if it makes sense for the kids" Well that is the question. Does Bill Halter think it makes sense for the kids.

That's like responding to a question about abortion by saying " I will support abortion if it is the right thing to do"

duh - so what do YOU think. YOU are running for office.

"Homosexuals are free to do what they want in the privacy of their homes. Just don't ask for public recognition of it. "

George, in this issue, who exactly is wanting recognition of homosexuality? It appears as though the opponents to gay foster parents are actually the people who want someone else's homosexuality recognized. Then they want to discriminate based on this recognition.

Besides that it sounds like your concerns are the same as Halter's.

Sorry George, but generally speaking, Republicans discriminate against gays.

Your party has been highjacked by the extreme ultra conservative evangelicals...you sold your soul by electing the hypocrite-in-chief-potty-mouthed-monkeyboy.

"Putting vulnerable children in the unstable environment of unmarried homosexual couples is not in the best interest of the children..."

What?! Unstable?! What in the hell is a "stable" environment? One mom and one dad? What about the single mom and the single dad? Do you consider that to be stable? Clint Reed, A$A, Jesus Jim's Family Bed, and the entire RPA are bigots...PERIOD...

The Constitutional question is a cop out for both Beebe and Halter. The court's ruling, and the litigation itself were never seriously questioning the constitutionality of this issue.

The Court ruled that the agengy did not have the authority to make the regulation without legislative approval through a statutory change.

Anyone know how McDaniel voted on this when Bob Adams (D) and Jim Holt (R) proposed a bipartisan bill to do this very thing last year? I know the bill passed the House and Luker, Madison, and Salmon killed it in Senate Committee.

Against gays
Against science
Against blacks
Against women
Against ending slavery
Against living wage
Against the environment
Against education

All of these are proven winning strategies in Arkansas.

Shades of November 2004 -- the specter of gay marriage. Add to that the disaster, disaster, I say, waiting to happen if you dare expose little foster kiddies to homosexuality. Why, they'll all become little homos or lezzies and that'll be the end of the human race. No one will have grandchildren to spoil.

I'm curious though. How many people, horrified at the possibility of a homosexual raising a child, are willing to foster (or adopt) child or two? And remember, these kiddies come not only in the blonde hair, blue eyed variety. There are little kids, big kids, black kids, brown kids, some with straight hair and some with curly hair and quite a few in between. There are even TEENAGERS! HORRORS!

Maybe we should be concerned that so many of our state's youngsters are being shunted time after time from place to place with no family to call their own. Or is that the stable environment everybody is talking about?

Oh silly me. I got sidetracked again. I do that. We were talking about winning a political race weren't we?

You democrats sure sound whiney today.

There is no data showing the impact of homosexual parents on children and the Republicans know that. So in the absence of facts, let's create some. Sounds like a Bush-League party.

Pass the law. Lose in court at the state's expense. Dobson, the darling of the ultra right, has his list of single parent studies that they have tried to label as the 10,000 reason why there must be two parents in the household (they were actually waving it around like it was a list of homosexual parent studies).

If you want a law, then you better frame it as no single parent to foster children or you will be in court and you will lose. As I have said before-if it must be a man and a woman, then the state must also agree if one parent dies unexpectedly, from an accident or on purpose (Bush's war), then the children should be taken from the surviving parent. How about that for kicking someone when they are down.

The state can't win and unless the state is willing to pay for a third part study of homosexual parenting vs heterosexual parenting, then the Republicans are looking for another case where the state pays the court costs and if I was on the otherside, I would have a rather large bill for the court to rule on immediately.

I guess the Republican position is that foster kids belong in group care with no parenting-that's one hell of a position for a group that likes to pretend they are pro-family. Perhaps a study trip to China to learn how to run large group foster homes is in order.

If you think that your children would be better off being raised by Tom DeLay, Rush or Pat Robertson than your average homosexual couple, you're crazy.

Maybe once Iraq becomes a self-functioning democratic society, they can invade the U.S. and transform our government into one that provides freedom to all citizens.

Yeah, let's further reduce the pool of people willing to adopt foster children. Sounds like a FANTASTIC idea.

While we're talking about homosexual foster parents, let's take a hard look at how well some children fare raised by heterosexual couples.

It's not the sexuality of the parents; it's their quality as human beings.

Against God:

Strategy of the democrats.

Why don't democrats come out and say they're for homsexuality if they are?

Why don't they say they not for it if they're not?

Why try to have it both ways dishonestly??

Isn't it too bad we can't make decisions based on the individual abilities of those willing to be foster parents. I know of heterosexual couples who have abused children and the system as foster parents. Group condemnation in the name of Jesus is somehow oxymoronic. Oh well, I recall slaverya and segregation were also justified by some religionists. Our society grew out of it. Hopefully this too will pass and be recognized for the unreasoned bigotry that it is.

It has never been proven that children raised by a gay couple are harmed. Those who would rather see children placed with people who only foster them for the money need to rethink this.

It's about time the Dems and Repubs focus on issues that matter, not just looking to get votes.

Why don't democrats come out and say they're for homsexuality if they are?

Why don't they say they not for it if they're not?

Why try to have it both ways dishonestly??

Posted by: Anonymous | August 9, 2006 03:39 PM
--------------------
Exactly how can one be "for" or "against" homosexuality?

Are you "for" or "against" naturally blonde hair?
Are you "for" or "against" near-sightedness?
Are you "for" or "against" right-handedness?
Are you "for" or "against" schizophrenia?

This kind of thinking serves no productive purpose.

"Against God:

Strategy of the democrats."

I admit that I am a little sick and tired of the entire Democratic agenda being eaten up by the "gay issues" but to say that Democrats are "against God is just a little too much. Even conceding that homosexuality is a sin, please reconcile the following passage with your Republican dogma of condemnation:

John 8
1Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.

2And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.

3And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,

4They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.

5Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?

6This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.

7So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

8And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.

9And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

10When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?

11She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

Nice post about redemption.

However, the last phrase finishes with "go, and sin no more."

What part of that is not understandable?

While I'm seriously considering voting for Jim Lendell over some of this crap, the Republicans make my skin crawl with their obnoxiously hate-driven rhetoric.

Why is the issue about gay foster parents not focused on the child that ended up in a situation where he or she needs foster parents? Most sane folks, which excludes hate-mongering Republican politicos, are more concerned about kids not having a home. Why aren't the Democrats talking about how they want solutions to make sure those kids have good homes, as a first priority. Then following that up with reference to the fact that their is no scientific or moral basis for denying wealthy, educated, homosexuals from providing a good home to kids in need.

I bet a child growing up in Kathy Webb's home would have a much better life than a child growing up in any foster home in Arkansas County.

Statiscally - 1 in 10 are gay.

That mean's that in the Duggar and Holt spawn, there is at least one gay lurking in the "family".

Let me ask, when God forbid a gay reveals himself/herself to the GOP "family" - do they do the Christian thing - or are they condoning stoning even one of their's.

Well, OK, I'd throw a rock at Melman - but not to kill. And being the little cowards that Thugs are, they never come out - if they are in the political arena, they hide because they know that their fellow breathren would shun them.

We got 1/3 of our schools failing.
We got a crumbling road system
We got 440,000 uninsured
We are number 49 on just about everything

and the GOP sends our a press release...

The GOP hates gay (and yes, that is exactly what you are saying)....

Way to go GOP - hate v substance. These people have no shame...and it ain't gonna get any better as we get closer to the election.

Next power GOP ploy - we hate anything with brown skin that moves.

However, the last phrase finishes with "go, and sin no more."

What part of that is not understandable?

The part that says that ONLY JESUS gets to make judgments. The PHARISEES and the ACCUSERS "being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last:"

You see the problem with your particluar form of arrogance is that it is a sin as well. When you begin to see yourself as having the same rights and powers of judgment that God has you are guilty of the sin of pride - you know - the same sin that the most beautiful angel in heaven, Lucifer, was guilty of committing right before he was cast into hell.

"Judgment is mine saith the Lord" therefore it is not yours Mr. Republican and the words of Jesus and the story taught should be instructive in your life - that is unless you are "free from sin" and be careful with that one, because it also says in the bible that none of us are free from sin - surely a good Christian such as yourself remembers that we all carry the burden of original sin from our forefather Cain.

Now, Mr. Republican, "go, and sin no more."

Matthew 7:1

Judge not, that ye be not judged.

Shall I continue?

"There is no data showing the impact of homosexual parents on children"
Posted by: Fed Up To Here

Actually, there is. The link is to an American Psychological Association policy and research summary.

http://www.apa.org/pi/lgbc/policy/parentschildren.pdf

Try this one out with the Republican platform:

Luke 6:

20And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.

21Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.

22Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.

23Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.

24But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.

25Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.

26Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.

27But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,

28Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.

29And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also.

30Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.

31And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.

32For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.

33And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.

34And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.

35But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

36Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

37Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:

38Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

-------Pay particluar attention to this part Mr. Republican:

"and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake."

Anyone feeling a little self righteous yet?

"You see the problem with your particluar form of arrogance is that it is a sin as well."

Looks like you're a little guilty of that yourself, but that is okay since you're a lib, right?

Yes I am guilty of sin - and I admit it. I don't want to judge you, I want to point out to you that you must admit your guilt as well - and repent.

Recall the temptations put before Jesus and consider that "Homosexuals" may be your test. Will you approach your test with the love of God or with condemnation and judgement?

I am going home now.

"Let's talk about sex" should be the theme for the christian right ( I used lower case to emphasize that these people are neither Christian nor correct) because they are obsessed with it. With all the problems in the state of Arkansas, all the so called conservatives want to talk about is gay sex and the harm it does to them and to children. We have not one but two wars that we are in the process of losing, I paid $3.60 for diesel the other day, Arkansas is hemorrhaging good jobs, Real dollar salaries are at a 50 year low for the state, we are at or near the bottom in most measurable education standards, civil liberties are fast becoming a thing of the past, we have a congress that does nothing for real working people and a president that can't even spell work, yet all these fearmongers want to talk about is how gay couples adopting unwanted children is threatening the very fabric of our society! Who really cares about this issue? Except maybe the unwanted kids that are going to be screwed once again by the religious zealots. If these people really cared about these kids, they would be lined up right now trying to adopt several of them.

My question- how is the GOP any different than what we have heard out of our state Democratic candidates? Beebe, McDaniel and Halter all have the same views. At least the GOP doesn't talk out of both sides of their mouths depending on who they are talking to.

I had a disagreement with someone recently about the current slate of Democratic candidates, specifically Dustin McDaniel.. The only reason this person could give to vote for him was that he wasn't Gunner Delay. I'm not sure he is much better.

It's getting to the point where gays and lesbians have become a persecuted class in the United States. You already have an Apartheid system vis-a-vis homosexuals and sooner rather than later the world community may have to sit up and take notice.

This still sounds like schoolyard taunts. This argument is as olde as the hills. The Christians have making it ever since they began sacrificing Jews in the Coliseum, but they weren't the first. The litany is a long one, I won"t bore you.
The question is; are Republican politicians who act sanctimonious different from Democratic politicians who act progressive. Assuming it is an act, deception is deception. Let the believers split hairs, their vitriolic comments are self-deceptive.

"Beware of altruism. It is based on self-deception, the root of all evil."
Excerpt from the notebooks of Lazarus Long, from Robert Heinlein's "Time Enough for Love"

If they are for it why don't they just say they are!
Why hide ? If they truely had the courage of their convictions they would.
Instead they feel the need to hide the way they feel. Liberals are spineless.

I know this much: Recent U.S. History has shown that when Southern Baptist take up a hateful cause (segregation, anti-feminism as examples) they always lose.

The right-wing has already lost this battle...just give it up. To paraphrase Albert Pike: stop tying the corpse of the past mouth to mouth with the body of the present. It serves no purpose.

Why is Arkansas 49th and 50th? Because of its leadership, and it's reliance upon it's past for inspiration. Your kids can't read, your jobs suck and pay nothing, your health is awful, your laws are unjust, your roadways are in awful shape, and green living? Ha!

But, hey Republicans? Why not take the time to beat up on Homosexuals? I mean, it's not too easy to do that to blacks anymore. Or women (well I could be wrong here), or the elderly. Go for the Gays and Lesbians! Why, what you need is a good queer lynching!! Then set their bodies on fire! Some of you know you'd like that...And then you'd strut about in your Reverend John Hagee suits and body types praising God and Jesus. Sick.

The world will force you to pay for your beliefs: your kids still won't read, your roadways will be awful, your teeth will fall out and you will die of heart disease in legion.

For Democrats the answer is simple: Do as the legislature says and follow the state laws. But simply state that you refuse to take part in any discussion that involves hate mongering of ANY Arkansan, gay or straight. Then finish up by saying "Love the sinner but hate the sin!"

As a person who has struggled with Homosexuality for some time now, I sincerely believe it is in the best interest of the child NOT to be put in the home of an Homosexual. Each Homosexual man is devious in his sexual desires and cannot be trusted with children. I say this as a stuggling homosexual, praying that Arkansas will not let Homosexuals be foster parents. Christians, please pray for me!

Dear Gay "Struggler",

Or should I call you Karl Rove? It's really sad to watch the Republican Party have their operatives post drivel like that. And if you are 'legit', (which I really doubt), get professional help.

Here's an idea......don't let foster children live with people who hate themselves and project their hatred on others. Gay Struggler, I'm praying for you indeed, you need help brother.

Struggler -

You are a lying piece of ..... you understand? Our family has a gay man in the immediate family. He is loving, kind, genorous, hard working and I trust him with our grandson's. Whereas, I wouldn't trust someone who wrote these self-serving, Republican hate points with my dead dog. You sir are a scoundrel and if you are a Christian, you need to get down on your knees and thank the good Lord you were not smitted the minute you hit post.

That being said, you are a paid staffer or a Kool-Aide kid, who no doubt got great preverse pleasure in typing your hate - now for that deviant behaviour, I'll offer up a prayer for your soul.

"The Christians have making it ever since they began sacrificing Jews in the Coliseum,"

UMMM - dude the Christians were not in charge of the colliseauym - they were eaten by the lions there. The Romans worshiped pagan gods nd the Jews and Christians were sects.

One more thing....

You're not struggling with Homosexuality - you are a pedophile.

Actually, Roland, Republicans helped to end slavery. Guess you missed out in your American History classes. Wait, that's pretty indicative of Arkansas education....

If you are referring the Republcian Party of Lincoln - what we have today is a deadly mutation of that once Grand Ole Party.

Hell, Lincoln helped end slavery, today, your modern day Republican Party can't even give the "slaves" who scratch out a meger exsistance at $5.15 and hour a raise. And you've keep those slaves at these wages for over a decade.

I don't think the Lincoln you claim would be very proud of the mutation of the current Republican Party

The hatred in that press release makes my blood boil on the one hand, and makes me incredibly sad on the other. As an Arkansan and a lesbian, I find myself torn between wanting to rage against the hatred and wanting to just leave the state. This, after a week's reprieve from the foster care issue while on vacation. Not spent at a gay resort or gay hot spot, but with my five wonderful great nieces and nephews, ages 3-8. Playing with Barbie, reading Blue's Clues, riding bicycles, swinging, playing catch, and visiting Six Flags-one of the best vacations I've ever had! Yet, if something happened, God forbid, to my nieces or nephews, some want to say that I wouldn't be suitable to care for these children. We gay and lesbian citizens are human beings, with love for our families, our friends' families, our own children and for the children we teach in our schools, treat in our hospitals, and serve in many other ways. I am not a second class person, I am not less worthy and I refuse to bow to the hatred and prejudice espoused by the Arkansas GOP.

To the previous writer concerning the Christians persecution of the Jews,

While you're correct that the Christians didn't feed Jews to the lions in the colliseum, when the Empire did switch to Christianity (Emperor Constantine, 313 Common Era, CE), persecution of the Jews INCREASED. The all new Christian Roman Empire began to strip Jews of their citizenship and also forbade marriage between Christians and Jews, just for starters. Treatment of the Jews (and anyone the Church doesn't like) actually gets much worse over time particularly during the Middle Ages all the way through to the Holocaust. BUT, not to bore anyone with a history lesson, if you're interested, Google "the laws of Constantius".

Either you're a bigot, or you're not...there is no middle ground.

Cute comments don't do anything for the "righteous."

LOVE...is that a terrible word or something?

"The Constitutional question is a cop out for both Beebe and Halter. The court's ruling, and the litigation itself were never seriously questioning the constitutionality of this issue.

The Court ruled that the agengy did not have the authority to make the regulation without legislative approval through a statutory change.

Anyone know how McDaniel voted on this when Bob Adams (D) and Jim Holt (R) proposed a bipartisan bill to do this very thing last year? I know the bill passed the House and Luker, Madison, and Salmon killed it in Senate Committee."

No response to the real issues?

Right on, Rosso! I know a lesbian couple with four adopted kids -- two boys, two girls. Best adjusted kids I've ever seen. A loved child does not care about the sexual orientation of his/her parent(s). Love says it all.

Republicans Aren't the 'Good Christians' They Say They Are.

by Dan Merica

http://www.opednews.com

Click Here for the Related Cartoon

With eighty-five percent of Americans identifying themselves as Christian, today's Republican Party has found it politically advantages to portray itself as the 'party of Christian values'. Republicans attributed their 2004 victory to voters favoring them for their self-proclaimed religious principles over the Democrats, which they have labeled as secular, loose-living liberals.

But, hold on here, there's a big contradiction between the teachings of Jesus Christ and the actions of the Republican controlled US government engaged in slaughter and torture in a pre-emptive war brought on with lies. Jesus taught us to love our neighbors, love our enemies, and not to punish and retaliate. Jesus was nonviolent; he healed people and raised them from the dead rather than engage in maiming and killing as the 'Christian' Republicans have done in the Middle East. So, who's lying, Jesus Christ or the Republicans? What are we to do, throw out our Bibles or vote out the Republicans?

The Republican Party procured its 'Christian' tag by currying favor from groups of religious/political extremists collectively known as the Religious Right. Republican politicians scrapped the separation of church and state and supported the inclusion of religious symbols and practices where they didn't belong. Public praying in schools, displaying the Ten Commandments on government sites and preserving the phrase 'in God we trust' as part of the pledge have become political and not religious causes. Republican politicians cherry-picked Biblical edicts and twisted them into their own negative versions. The Bible rebuked homosexuality, so Republican politicians treated gays with hatred and bigotry. The Bible says 'thou shall not kill', so they scuttled vital stem cell research and criminalized abortion while cutting aid to raise children. And, they conveniently left unmentioned Biblical edicts decidedly un-Republican such as Christ's admonishment for hoarding wealth and decree to give to the poor.

The 'party of Christian values' has come off as the 'party of hypocrites' when their very visible spokespersons were not banished for publicly flaunting aberrant personal behavior. Rush Limbaugh, an Oxycoten addict charged with prescription fraud, was recently caught possessing Viagra obtained with an irregular prescription. What's a divorced man doing with Viagra? And, Bill O' Reilly of Fox News paid millions to squash a sexual harassment suit while the good Reverend Pat Robertson on his TV show called for the assignation of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

It's shocking, but there has been quite a bit of deviant behavior prevailing throughout the rank and file of today's Republican politicians. They have taken on the holier-than-thou stance of the Religious Right and preached about their superior morals while personally engaging in corrupt, immoral and illegal activities. For example, a Republican judge was sentenced to 10-years probation for fondling a 10-year old girl. A Republican Party leader was arrested for having sex with a 5-year old boy. A Republican Mayor is serving 37-year sentence in federal prison for sexually abusing 8- and 10-year old girls. (To see an extensive list, go to www.armchairsubversive.com.)

It wasn't always this way. During the latter half of the 19th century, the Republican Party did good things and supported high ideals. For example, Congressional Republicans passed the Thirteenth, Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments, which outlawed slavery, guaranteed equal protection under the law and secured voting rights for African-Americans. In the past, the Republican Party's core principles included good things such as fiscal responsibility, small government, keeping the government out of people's private lives, traditional family values and government serving the people and not the reverse. Furthermore, today's Republican politicians try to claim it's still true today. But, in truth, by the 1980's there had been a full-face reversal, not just a gradual evolution, of these ideals as the Republican Party detached itself from most of its own history and moved away from its traditional supporters. This dramatic change occurred when ruthless, self -serving politicians of a lower character took over. Corrupted, mean-spirited and hate-spewing opportunists now run the Republican Party. They revolve to and from the big-money corporate world with no goals beyond being elected and re-elected to grab the power and wealth it brings. (Haley Barbour, former RNC chairman turned tobacco lobbyist)

It is clear that today's Republican Party is definitely not what it says it is. So, we need to examine some honest-to-God real values that Republican politicians hold dear.

The Care and Feeding of the Super Wealthy:

The Republican Party has had one overriding goal: promoting the interests of wealthy Americans even if it hurts working folks and bankrupts the nation. Republicans have shown their preference for wealth over work, inheritance over initiative, and privilege over productivity. The latest Republican budget cut $50 billion from the sick and poor and added $106 billion in tax cuts for the rich (Reverse Robin Hood). They even cut funding for benefits for military families and veterans including health care and disability compensation for the sake of the tax cuts. It is no surprise that the income gap between the top 1% and the bottom 2/5ths has continued to grow.

Right Wing Extremism:

Republican conservatism has morphed into right wing extremism. Extremists now control the Republican Party and have redefined it as a bigoted, hateful and intolerant party. The Religious Right faction wants to scuttle the Constitution and transform America into a theocracy. The corporate faction wants to scuttle the Constitution and set up a fascist corporate dictatorship. Individuality and dissent have become intolerable. Bush says, "It's my way or no way." Cindy Sheehan is manhandled out of the Congress and arrested for wearing a peace T-shirt.

Dividing Americans:

Republican operatives have become tremendously skilled at using emotionally charged 'wedge issues' such as abortion, gay marriage and flag burning to polarize Americans into opposing camps. Certain issues seem to naturally initiate emotional, knee-jerk reactions and bypass reasonable thoughtful discussion. Republican leaders could care less about the meanings of these issues, but love them dearly because of their power to distract voters from hurtful Republican pursuits such as making the wealthy wealthier, increasing our national debt, dismantling the Constitution, and taking away government social services.

Deficit Spending and Trickle Down Economics:

Republicans have long claimed that they were the party of fiscal responsibility and routinely charged their rivals as being 'tax and spend Democrats' in order to discredit their welfare programs. In truth, however, recent Republican presidents have been the really big spenders topped by George W. Bush with his rubberstamp Republican Congress. He followed Clinton's almost zero debt growth, raising it by 7% and increasing the deficit to an astronomical eight trillion. Bush has embraced the Republican's 'trickle down' theory with his tax cuts for the rich. However, history has repeatedly shown that the theory doesn't work; the rich get richer and the poor get poorer as does the economy. On the other hand, Democrats follow 'growth economics' in which wealth 'bubbles up' from all Americans as it did during the Clinton boom years.

Racism:

Republican leaders have employed racism as the means to elevate the Republican Party to the status of the majority party. Although their tactics were naturally unspoken, white America quickly picked up on them. Republican politicians have been successful in alluring both wealthy and working Americans. The white rich have perceived people of color as cutting into their lavish life styles through taxes for Democratic social service programs. And, the white working classes have blamed minorities for their frustration of not being able to get ahead. (Solid Republican South)

Ignorance and Lies:

The Bush administration has taken Nazi leader Josef Goebbels' 'Big Lie' technique to new heights. They have created 'Truth' by repeatedly alleging notions until accepted as gospel. "Jesus loves you, and shares your hatred of homosexuals." "Saddam was a good guy when Reagan armed him, a bad guy when Bush's daddy made war on him, a good guy when Cheney did business with him and a bad guy when Bush wanted Iraq for a place to build a permanent base in the oil-rich Middle East." Most notably, the Bush administration campaigned the American people and Congress for an illegal, preemptive war against Iraq with fabricated bogus intelligence of Saddam's WMDs and connection to 9/11.

Warfare:

The Iraq War was in the works as far back as 1998. At that time, the current Vice President, Sec. of Defense and other Bush 'neo-con' aides as well as brother Jeb lobbied Congress and President Clinton for a more aggressive foreign policy in which an already weakened Iraq would be conquered and colonized to become a sphere of U.S. military dominance with four U.S. bases in the oil-rich Middle East. The war was discussed during Bush's first days in office at which time Rumsfield declared that a Pearl Harbor was needed to sell it to the American people. Then, just by eerie coincidence, the World Trade Center was struck by planes and subsequently felled by somebody so that terrorism could become the subterfuge for the long sought-after war. Now, Bush is risking setting afire all of the Middle East by his passive toleration of the Israeli/Hizballah conflict.

Corruption:

Corporate corruption has spilled over into the Republican Party. Corporate campaign financing has put ruthless politicians in control of the government, so corporations could control the government and not the other way around. Examples include House leader Tom Delay's garnering Illegal contributions and Senate leader Bill Frist being accused of insider stock trading. There were the no-bid contacts to war profiteer Halliburton formally headed by V.P. Cheney. Under his leadership, the company was accused of accounting irregularities, violations to UN embargoes by trading with Saddam and hundreds of millions in bribes to Nigerian officials. Bush covered for the intentionally created California electric energy crisis and the Enron frauds. There occurred Republican Party election fraud in Florida, Ohio and elsewhere that stole two elections for Bush. Our lack of universal health care, the Iraq War, the faulty election processes, etc. were all caused by excessive corporate control of American politics.

Corporate Profiteering and Globalization:

A major mission of the Bush administration and Republican controlled Congress has been to deregulate and increase profits of the corporate sector, and in this pursuit they have undercut working Americans. They have accomplished a whole litany of items on the corporate wish list. For example, they eliminated the 40-hour workweek with overtime protection for many Americans, killed job safety regulations and lowered pollution standards. They have forsaken democracy, sovereignty and the future of the U.S. by giving tax breaks to companies for off-shoring good American jobs. Recently, Bush took globalization to a new level by signing an agreement to form the 'North American Union'. This 'New World Order' scheme would mesh together Canada, the United States and Mexico into a super-regional political and economic entity. In this agreement, boundaries would be redefined, low-risk traffic across the borders would be streamlined, a super-regional governance board would be formed by 2010 and the Dollar would be replaced with the Amero.

The election this November is extremely critical. This year, we cannot treat it like a common sporting event in which we pick a team to cheer. Instead, we will be engaged in the crucial matter of determining our future fortunes. The corrupt politicians controlling the Republican Party are anti-American, global-corporatists that are moving our country towards disaster. We must vote them out of power!

www.cartoons-political.com

Dan Merica is a political cartoonist and opinion writer battling the right wing scourge now devastating our country. His work is posted on his website, www.cartoons-political.com.
Also, checkout his news blog,
cartoons-politicalnews.blogspot.com.

The GOP is now running elections and fouling a free vote with yet another ploy for stealing elections.

Both Georgia and Missouri reports that Democratic candidates names were omitted from selected districts ballots.

Very American values huh....................or is that double speek for a crooked party?

Rosso,

I recommend you see the recent film "Crash" and you might rethink your statement: "Either you're a bigot, or you're not...there is no middle ground."

I guess this means the vice president's daughter won't be visiting on behalf of Asa.

Subject: homophobia

We are the couple who had the realtor hang up on us when she found
out we wanted to rent a one-bedroom for two men.

I am the person who never knows which bathroom I should use if I
want to avoid getting the management called on me.

I am the mother who is not allowed to even visit the children I
bore, nursed, and raised. The court says I am an unfit mother
because I now live with another woman.

I am the domestic-violence survivor who found the support system
grow suddenly cold and distant when they found out my abusive
partner is also a woman.

I am the domestic-violence survivor who has no support system to
turn to because I am male.

I am the father who has never hugged his son because I grew up
afraid to show affection to other men.

I am the boy who never finished high school, because I got called a
fag everyday
I am the girl kicked out of her home because I confided in my mother
that I am a lesbian.

I am the prostitute working the streets because nobody will hire a
transsexual woman.

I am the sister who holds her gay brother tight through the painful,
tear-filled nights.

We are the parents who buried our daughter long before her time.

I am the man who died alone in the hospital because they would not
let my partner of twenty-seven years into the room.

I am the foster child who wakes up with nightmares of being taken
away from the two fathers who are the only loving family I have ever
had. I wish they could adopt me.

I am not one of the lucky ones. I killed myself just weeks before
graduating high school.

I am the woman who died when the EMTs stopped treating me as soon as
they realized I was transsexual.

I am the person who feels guilty because I think I could be a much
better person if I didnt have to always deal with society hating me.

I am the man who stopped attending church, not because I don't
believe, but because they closed their doors to my kind.

I am the person who has to hide what this world needs most, love.

I am the person ashamed to tell my own friends im a lesbian, because
they constantly make fun of them.

I am the boy tied to a fence, beaten to a bloody pulp and left to
die because two straight men wanted to "teach me a lesson"

---IF YOU BELIEVE THAT HOMOPHOBIA IS WRONG... Please forward to Family, Friends, Groups etc.

--
Together, We Can Change The World, One Mind At A Time!
Have a great day,

--
Treat each other as we would like to be treated.

IF YOU PLAY - PLAY SAFE!

LETS ALL PLAY SAFE NOW !!!!!!!!!!

Gary Struggler,

I have prayed for you and will continue to.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 10, 2006

Contact: Wayne Besen,
Phone: 917-691-5118
E-Mail: wbesen@TruthWinsOut.org
Website: http://www.truthwinsout.org/

TRUTH WINS OUT TO COUNTER ANTI-GAY COALITION'S 'SUBVERSION OF SCIENCE' AT AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION'S CONVENTION

Religion-Based Bigots Cloak Scripture in the Guise of Science, Says TWO

WHAT: Truth Wins Out will hold a press conference to counter a right wing attempt to bully the American Psychological Association into re-labeling homosexuality a mental illness. The anti-gay coalition is staging a politically-motivated "protest" at the New Orleans convention center on Friday. These groups believe that homosexuality is sinful, and therefore they are attempting to pressure the APA into twisting science so it will correspond to the coalition's fundamentalist beliefs. The main tactic the coalition is using to manipulate the APA is the exploitation of so-called "ex-gays," which are recloseted homosexuals who say they have prayed away the gay.

"This is the subversion of science and a religious racket designed to con Americans into believing that homosexuality is a mental illness," said Truth Wins Out Executive Director Wayne Besen. "This coalition is trying to kill the APA messenger because they don't like their science-based message. These ex-gay groups keep no statistics, they produce no peer reviewed studies, most of their top leaders have reverted back to homosexuality and they conveniently disregard scientific evidence that does not conform to their political agenda."

WHO: Wayne Besen, Executive Director, Truth Wins Out
Other Speakers TBA

WHERE: Outside the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center
Friday, August 11
(11 a.m.)

BACKGROUND: In 1974, the American Psychological Association deleted homosexuality from its list of mental disorders. It did so, because it was determined that prejudice instead of proof was responsible for the original diagnosis. There was no evidence to support the notion that gay people were psychologically different from anyone else in society.

Unfortunately, the right wing has launched an unethical and scientifically bankrupt campaign to politically pressure the APA into overruling its respected research. Ironically, the groups that are criticizing the APA use bizarre techniques to "cure" homosexuals. Some of their methods include exorcisms, repossessing a client's Calvin Klein underwear because it is deemed "too gay," taking Prozac and drinking Gatorade in an effort to make men more masculine.

"If the quack science is examined, it is clear that conversion therapy is a cruel hoax that is destroying lives and shattering families," said Besen. "The goal of this right wing coalition is to fool voters into thinking homosexuality is mutable, because polls show that when Americans believe people are born gay, they are more likely to vote in favor of equality."

Truth Wins OUT is a non-profit think tank and educational organization that counters right wing disinformation campaigns, debunks the ex-gay myth, and provides accurate information about the lives of GLBT people. Wayne Besen, the groups Executive Director, is the author of Anything But Straight: Unmasking The Scandals and Lies Behind the Ex-Gay Myth.

"Statiscally - 1 in 10 are gay."

Are you out of your mind???

"We got a crumbling road system"

Do you live in a box? In the last 5 years the interstate system in Arkansas has been rebuilt. There is road work everywhere.

This is why there will always be strife within the Demo party. It seems that the loudest voice of the party is far left idiots with bad stats.

Homosexuality is a sin. But you have the God given right to choose that life syle. It is called "free will", but you will stand tall for your actions in the end. That said a home with a father and a mother is the best place to raise a child. Abuse aside (the reason kids are taken away from ther parents) kids need security and stability that they can get from a father and a mother. It is the States job to replicate that situation to the best of their ability. That is not a homosexual home, not now, not ever.

"Do you live in a box? In the last 5 years the interstate system in Arkansas has been rebuilt. There is road work everywhere."

You must be living in another box than I am. I got crumbling roads and grid lock - you must be one of the lucky ones.

"That said a home with a father and a mother is the best place to raise a child. Abuse aside (the reason kids are taken away from ther parents) kids need security and stability that they can get from a father and a mother. It is the States job to replicate that situation to the best of their ability."

Well, if that's your feeling, I suggest that you get the "State" to abolish all divorces, period. Just a little insight, and I know it will not satisfy your narrow view, but Divorce has been the overwhelming defining factor in the decline of the "family". Or is stability defined by only your narrow views? Maybe we should have single parenting also abolished, since it's not a stable?

I'd much rather see a child in a home that welcomed them and loved them, then to institutionalize them. Having been foster parents, the most compelling needs for these kids are security, love and acceptence. And since there is a great shortage of foster home, maybe those who are sounding the trumpets against a group who wish to fill a desperate need, needs to step up and become foster parents too. I'll not hold my breath.

In response to Friday's picket of the American Psychological Association's annual convention by the conversion therapy group NARTH, the APA today released the following statement obtained by Truth Wins Out:
"For over three decades the consensus of the mental health community has been that homosexuality is not an illness and therefore not in need of a cure. The APA's concern about the positions espoused by NARTH and so-called conversation therapy is that they are not supported by the science. There is simply no sufficiently scientifically sound evidence that sexual orientation can be changed. Our further concern is that the positions espoused by NARTH and Focus on the Family create an environment in which prejudice and discrimination can flourish."
"Truth Wins Out applauds the APA for taking a strong stand against quack science and not buckling to a transparent PR campaign designed to politically pressure the APA into abandoning sound science," said TWO's Executive Director Wayne Besen.