Category: 2020 election

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Buttigieg To Limbaugh: My Marriage Has Never Involved “Hush Money” To Porn Stars

During last night’s CNN Town Hall event, Pete Buttigieg’s response to recent comments by conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh about his sexual orientation earned him the biggest applause of the night. Last week, Limbaugh asked his listeners if they could imagine Donald Trump “having fun” with the idea of Buttigieg kissing his husband, Chasten, after a debate. He added that “America’s still not ready to elect a gay guy kissing his husband on the debate stage.” Rushbo’s stance seemed to be that Democrats were uncomfortable with the idea of Pete and Chasten exchanging PDAs. Note – it’s very common for candidates to hug/kiss their spouses after a debate event. Why a hug between the Buttigiegs would be ‘too much’ isn’t quite clear. Limbaugh also wondered aloud how parents would “explain” Buttigieg kissing his husband to their children. This point became an instant meme with folks referencing Donald Trump’s infamous Access Hollywood statement: “How do you explain ‘Grab’em by the p*ssy’ to your children?” The next day, Fox News personality Geraldo Rivera asked Trump about Limbaugh’s comments. Trump said that he could see Americans voting for an openly gay candidate. “There would be a group that probably wouldn’t, but you or I wouldn’t be in that group.” On Sunday, during an appearance on CNN’s State of the Union, Dana Bash asked Buttigieg to respond to Limbaugh’s remarks. “Well, I love my husband. I’m faithful to my husband. Onstage, we usually just go for a hug, but I love him very much,” Buttigieg said. “And I’m not going to take lectures on family values from the likes of Rush Limbaugh.”

Fast forward to last night’s event on CNN, Erin Burnett asked Buttigieg about the comments from Limbaugh (who’s been married four times) and Trump (who’s been married three times): “Publicly, Trump says he would not have a problem supporting a gay candidate? Do you take him at his word?” “Not if he’s sending out his supporters to talk in this way,” answered Buttigieg. “The idea of the likes of Rush Limbaugh or Donald Trump lecturing anybody on family values?” “I’m sorry, but one thing about my marriage is it’s never involved me having to send hush money to a porn star after cheating on my spouse.” #BOOM #HugeApplause “So if they want to debate family values, let’s debate family values, I’m ready,” added the former mayor.

Six of the Democratic candidates, including Buttigieg, will take to the debate stage tonight in Las Vegas in advance of Saturday’s Nevada caucuses. The debate will be broadcast live on NBC News, MSNBC and Universo (in Spanish) beginning at 9 p.m. ET.

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Joe Biden ‘Welcomes’ Mike Bloomberg To Dem Debates

L-R Joe Biden, Mike Bloomberg
Mike Bloomberg’s social media folks have made a bit of a name for themselves by throwing a sassy bit of shade here and there with a wink and a smile. Former Vice President Joe Biden’s team takes on a bit of that same flavor as Bloomberg joins the gang of Democratic hopefuls tonight at the NBC-hosted debate in Las Vegas. Check out the new video from the Biden campaign below. The debate will be broadcast live on NBC News, MSNBC and Universo (in Spanish) beginning at 9 p.m. ET.

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Cher Endorses Joe Biden For President

The one and only Cher endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden for president on Monday tweeting, “Good luck today and everyday Joe Biden. What a good, wise, kind man you are. But I won’t turn my back on you now that you’re struggling. Many times in my life people said, ‘she’s untalented, too old for movies, music, the stage.’ Don’t give up Joe. ‘Your head is bloodied, but unbowed.’” The Oscar winner returned with a follow-up tweet: “This will Most Likely Be Unpopular, but last Nite I Asked Myself ‘Who would I be if I denied a man I know & respect 4 a shiny, new, tech savvy BILLIONAIRE.’ Joe’s made mistakes, like all of us, but I believe he would Be honest, smart, ‘civil’ Pres who doesn’t have 2 learn on the job.”

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Politico: Bernie Sanders Is Becoming Harder To Stop

Sen. Bernie Sanders solid base is serving him well as the more centrist Democrats splinter the rest of the race. Reporting from Nevada, Politico writes that Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT)  is becoming harder to stop and “his opponents are starting to realize it.”

Advisers to three rival campaigns privately conceded over the weekend that the best anyone else could hope for here is second or third.

While few expect that Sanders can carry more than a third of the vote in Nevada, nearly everyone believes that will be enough to win in a field where the moderate vote remains splintered. It is becoming a source of celebration for Sanders’ supporters and an urgent problem for those who want to prevent him from claiming the nomination.

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Sanders Passes Biden In Average Of National Polls

L-R Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders
With the latest round of national polling, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) has taken the lead from former Vice President Joe Biden in the RealClearPolitics average of polls. Over the past 30 days, with dismal showings in Iowa and New Hampshire, Biden’s polling numbers have cratered while Sanders has seen a four-point increase in his standing. Sanders currently leads Biden by 4.4 points in the RCP poll average with 23.6 percent support versus Biden’s 19.2 percent support. Former New York City mayor Mike Bloomberg has quickly rocketed into 3rd place with 14.2 percent support and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), like Biden, has seen her fortunes fall following disappointing results in Iowa and New Hampshire. Former South Bend mayor Pete Buttigieg garners 10.6 percent support and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) is at 4.6 percent support.

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Houston Chronicle Endorses ‘Electable’ and ‘Pragmatic’ Amy Klobuchar

The editorial board of the Houston Chronicle endorses Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) in the upcoming March 3 Democratic primary in Texas:

From supporting a $15 federal minimum wage to her very personal pledge to invest in research, prevention and treatment of addiction and mental illness, Klobuchar seems driven to improve Americans’ daily lives.

She eschews “Medicare for All” for a pragmatic public option. She has a strong record on combatting gun violence, and has prioritized universal background checks, funding research and closing the ‘boyfriend loophole’ — all commonsense reforms that she says won’t hurt responsible gun owners such as the oft-mentioned “Uncle Dick in his deer stand.”

She supports California-style mileage standards and opposes a fracking ban, instead seeing natural gas as a “transition fuel,” but her goals on climate change are aggressive: 45 percent reduction of carbon emissions by 2030 and carbon neutral by 2050.

Above all, Klobuchar has the secret sauce many Democrats prize most: electability.

A candidate whose presidential election would make history, her crossover appeal in and of itself packs a powerful punch. Democrats need someone who can stare down a bully while keeping an eye out for the little guy, someone who can grow the ranks, not divide them. Klobuchar is the woman for the job.

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Buttigieg: ‘I’m Not Going To Be Lectured On Family Values From The Likes Of Rush Limbaugh’

During appearances on Sunday morning talk shows, Democratic White House hopeful Pete Buttigieg was asked about comments made this week by conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh. Limbaugh asked listeners if they could see Donald Trump having homophobic “fun” with Buttigieg kissing his husband on stage. He also wondered aloud how parents would explain Buttigieg kissing his husband to their children. Buttigieg responded to Chris Wallace on FOX News Sunday: “I’m in a faithful, loving, committed marriage. I’m proud of my marriage. I’m proud of my husband. I’m not going to be lectured on family values from the likes of Rush Limbaugh or anybody who supports Donald J. Trump as the moral as well as political leader of the United States. America has moved on and we should have politics of belonging that welcomes everybody. That’s what the American people are for. I’m saddened for what the GOP has become if they embrace that kind of homophobic rhetoric.”

The former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, expressed similar sentiments when speaking to CNN’s Dana Bash on State of the Nation: “I love my husband, I am faithful to my husband. On stage, we usually just go for a hug, but I love him very much. And I am not going to take lectures on family values from the likes of Rush Limbaugh.”

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Long Lines Of Patient Dems On Day One Of Nevada Caucus

I’ve been a bit slow to post today as I took part in the early caucusing here in Las Vegas. I thought, since it was an early day, it would be a quick ‘in and out’ kind of thing. Boy, was I wrong. The line was out the door of my local YMCA where I caucused. It eventually took nearly two hours to cast my vote. Speaking to a volunteer, the process that had been planned for months was scrapped after the Iowa caucus debacle. So, folks in charge were scrambling a bit to come up with a workable solution. Adding to that were the longer than anticipated lines. There’s definitely enthusiasm on the ground here in Nevada. Once I finally got up to the front, I was given my ballot and told I was required to list my top three choices in order, just in case my top choice didn’t get enough votes come caucus day. You had the option of listing your top five if you felt like it. As you passed people calmly standing in line, you heard the same thing over and over again: ‘Just as long as HE’s not in the White House after this election.’ Standing in line, I can say the conversations I had with the friendly folks around me tended to lean to Biden and Buttigieg. The latest poll by the Las Vegas Review-Journal shows Sen. Bernie Sanders in the lead with 25 percent support followed by former Vice President Joe Biden at 18 percent support. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts pulled 13 percent support, businessman Tom Steyer drew 11 percent, former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg got 10 percent support and Sen. Amy Klobuchar garnered 10 percent support.

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News Round-Up: February 14, 2020

Chasten and Pete Buttigieg on the campaign trail
Some news items you might have missed: • Instagram: Pete Buttigieg, on the campaign trail, posts the above photo with hubby Chasten, with the caption “Happy Valentine’s Day to the one I love.” #swoon • Advocate: Two gay men were shot this week in a drive-by attack in Miami, leaving one in critical condition, and they believe it happened because they were kissing — and a lesbian nearby was also injured. • Atlanta Journal-Constitution: A new poll released Thursday showed the former vice president Joe Biden with 32% of support in Georgia. Sen. Bernie Sanders and former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg were both at 14%. The poll pegs Pete Buttigieg at just 5% of Georgia’s vote and U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren at 4%. U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar trails at 3%. Georgia’s primary is on March 24. • Apple TV: Don’t forget the five-part docuseries Visible: Out on Television is now available on Apple’s streaming service. The series investigates the importance of TV as a medium that helped shaped the American conscience, and how the LGBTQ movement has shaped television.

• Bloomberg Law: Michael Avenatti, who became famous representing porn star Stormy Daniels, was convicted of trying to extort millions of dollars from Nike Inc. and defrauding a client in the process. Jurors in Manhattan found Avenatti guilty of all three criminal counts. The verdict on Friday, following a two-week trial, could lead to a long prison sentence for the lawyer. • CBS News: Donald Trump says he’s considering ending the standard protocol of having top administration officials listen to his calls with foreign leaders, following his conversation with Ukraine’s president, a call that culminated in his impeachment. • KIT212: Kenneth rounds up the what’s what in gay rags this week including forever-hottie Robbie Williams covering this month’s Attitude Magazine (below). • Boston 25 News: Drug Enforcement Agency officials raided the home of Dr. Keith Ablow, the embattled former celebrity psychiatrist caught in a series of sexual assault lawsuits. The famously anti-LGBTQ Ablow saw his medical license revoked last year after he was accused of engaging in inappropriate sexual activity with several patients and illegally distributing prescriptions to employees. • Mediaite: Mike Bloomberg’s campaign openly mocked Donald Trump again over his comments on the coronavirus in which POTUS said, “Now the virus that we are talking about having to do, you know, lotta people think that goes away in April, with the heat,” by basically just splicing it with that famous Billy Madison “What you have just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things…” scene. #BloombergAintPlaying

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Final NH Poll Shows Sanders Leading Buttigieg 7+

L-R Sen. Bernie Sanders, Mayor Pete Buttigieg
CNN’s final tracking poll for the upcoming New Hampshire Democratic primary tomorrow shows Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) holding steady with a solid lead. Conducted by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center, the results show Sanders with 29 percent support, former Mayor Pete Buttigieg with 22 percent support, former Vice President Joe Biden ranks a fairly distant 3rd place with 11 percent, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) with 10 percent. Those results mirror the RealClearPolitics average of polls showing Sanders with 29 percent and Mayor Pete at 22 percent with the rest of the pack fairly far behind. It’s worth noting that in 2016, Sanders beat former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the New Hampshire primary by nearly 22 points. I’m not thinking Sanders win this time will be quite so large. While nearly half say they haven’t fully made up their minds, when asked who voters in New Hampshire believe will win the primary, 59 percent said Sanders versus only 10 percent naming Buttigieg.