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Trump On Campaign Manager’s Battery Charges: “I Don’t Know What ‘Touch’ Means”

Another Donald Trump moment from last night’s Republican Presidential Town Hall on CNN:

Anderson Cooper brought up the recent battery charges brought against Trump’s campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, by a former Breitbart reporter.

The Trump campaign originally denied the incident ever happened at all. Now, security camera video shows Lewandowski grabbing the reporter during a campaign stop.

Trump responded with a dramatic reading of the reporter’s statement.

From Mediaite:

Cooper asked Trump about Lewandowski blatantly lying about touching Fields before being charged with battery over it today. Trump said, “I don’t know what ‘touch’ means.”

He proceeded to read off her claims of how she was yanked by his campaign manager and almost fell, peppered with mocking little comments like “Give me a break” and “She didn’t even have any expression” and “She had no trouble with her balance.”

Trump went on to say the reporter’s pen could have been “a little bomb.” Seriously.

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HIllary Clinton Takes Aim At Donald Trump In “New York” Campaign Ad

Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton slaps at Donald Trump in a new campaign ad airing in New York.

The ad juxtaposes the state’s wide-ranging diversity with Trump’s rhetoric on Muslims, Hispanics and others, while including images of New York firefighters and rebuilding the World Trade Center.

The ad never mentions Trump by name, but does include an image of a banner saying “Trump: Coming in 2016.”

Here’s the text of the spot, narrated by Hillary Clinton:

“New York. Twenty million people strong.

“No, we don’t all look the same. We don’t all sound the same, either.

“But when we pull together, we do the biggest things in the world.

“So when some say we can solve America’s problems by building walls, banning people based on their religion, and turning against each other… Well, this is New York. And we know better.”

New York’s Democratic primary is April 19th and has 247 delegates up for grabs.

Three of this year’s candidates – Clinton, Trump and Sen. Bernie Sanders (of Vermont) call New York home.

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Anderson Cooper To Trump: “That’s The Argument Of A Five-Year-Old”

At last night’s CNN Republican Presidential Town Hall, Donald Trump attempted to explain the feud between himself and Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas which has included photos and tweets of their wives.

Cooper brought up Trump’s decision to share an image comparing the appearance of his wife to Cruz’s. The tweet used an unflattering photo of Heidi Cruz.

After trying to obfuscate the issue by talking about GQ Magazine covers and great photographers, Trump resorted to “I didn’t start it.”

This is how the conversation went.

Cooper: You’re running for president of the United States.

Trump: Excuse me, I didn’t start It. I didn’t start it.

Cooper: But, sir, with all due respect, that the argument of a 5 year old.

Trump: No, it’s not.

Cooper: The argument of a 5 year old is “he started it.”

Trump: You would say that. That’s the problem with our country.

Cooper: Every parent knows a kid who says “he started it.”

Trump: Excuse me. No, no. That’s the problem. Exactly that thinking is the problem this country has.

Here’s the whole exchange:

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Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker Endores Ted Cruz

Sen. Ted Cruz (L), Gov. Scott Walker (R)

Gov. Scott Walker called into WTMJ Radio in Milwaukee to announce his endorsement of Ted Cruz. Walker called Cruz a “principled, common sense conservative.”

Not sure if endorsements actually do anything in this wild campaign season, though. South Carolina’s Gov. Nikki Haley didn’t seem to do much for Marco Rubio.

But we shall see. The Wisconsin primary is one week away.

The Ted Cruz campaign is thrilled with the news! From the Cruz campaign via press release:

We wanted to share some very exciting news with you: Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker has just endorsed Ted Cruz for President. This is a HUGE deal. Scott Walker has enacted big, bold conservative reforms in Wisconsin. His endorsement confirms what we have been saying for months, Conservatives are uniting behind Ted Cruz.

Will you join Scott Walker in standing with Ted Cruz today? Over the last year we have been campaigning from coast to coast to elect Ted Cruz as President. We have accomplished a great deal, but there is still a lot left to do. Next week Wisconsin votes. We must send a strong message that we are all behind Ted Cruz.

Scott Walker’s endorsement proves that Ted Cruz has what it takes to win everywhere, including swing states like Wisconsin. The only thing left is your support today. Please join Scott Walker and conservatives across America by contributing to the Wisconsin Victory fund. Your contribution could make the difference between victory and defeat!

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North Carolina Attorney General Won’t Defend Anti-LGBT H.B. 2

NC Attorney General Roy Cooper
Photo credit: U.S. Air Force Photo by Airman 1st Class Mindy Bloem

From The Washington Blade:

North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper announced on Tuesday he won’t defend in court the recently enacted measure in his state that’s considered the worst anti-LGBT law in the nation.

Cooper, a Democrat who’s running to become the state’s governor, declared he won’t defend House Bill 2 in court at an 11 am news conference at his office in Raleigh.

“Over the last 15 years, our office has defended the state, its officials and agencies when they’ve been sued,” Cooper said. “Our office will continue to do that, except it will not defend the constitutionality of the discrimination in House Bill 2.”

House Bill 2, signed into law last week by Gov. Pat McCrory after an emergency session of the state legislature, undos all pro-LGBT city ordinances in North Carolina, including the recently approved measure in Charlotte, and prohibits transgender people from using public restrooms consistent with their gender identity in schools and government buildings.

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Out Music: Eli Lieb & Steve Grand “Look Away”

New music video from out musicians Eli Lieb and Steve Grand – “Look Away.”

Said Steve Grand of the collaboration:

“Eli is a real pro. It was a true pleasure working with someone who knows what they want creatively. Eli kept the process streamlined.Though we are in a similar line of work, our personalities are very different, which I think we really got to see throughout the day we shot the video. I’m an irreverent goofball and Eli is a more serious guy just really focused on his craft. I think it makes for an interesting collaboration.”

It’s interesting that Grand notes their different approaches. I was struck throughout the video by Lieb’s connection to the camera, eyes and heart open to the viewer. Grand, on the other hand, largely avoids directly looking into the camera, choosing to look away or down. The differences lead the viewer to a much for connected experience with Lieb.

The emotional break-up song is sparse on production which feels appropriate, but the powerful lyrics and Lieb’s devastatingly open relationship with the viewer makes for a winning combination.

It was only after I had watched the video that I found this statement from Lieb which underlines the connectedness of his performance:

“We filmed this the day after my boyfriend and I broke up, and the footage is so real and raw, that I struggled if I even felt comfortable putting it out. I wasn’t sure I wanted everyone to see the pain I was in. But then I realized that this pain came from love and is a part of life most people experience at some point – we’ve all been there. I hope it helps remind people that pain and love are so closely related to not forget how powerful love is.”

I’ve previously written about Eli Lieb here, here, here, here, and here.

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Tennessee: Same-Sex Marriage Plaintiffs Awarded $2 Million In Legal Fees

The state of Tennessee has been ordered by a federal judge in Nashville to pay the legal fees of the three couples whose lawsuit brought about marriage equality in the state.

From the Knoxville News Sentinel:

Judge Aleta Trauger awarded $1.98 million in attorneys’ fees and $59,916 in expenses to the plaintiffs, which include Knoxville veterinarians Valeria Tanco and Sophy Jesty. The award, allowed under federal law, is 15 percent less than the $2.33 million the plaintiffs sought.

“The results obtained in this case were superb and far-reaching,” Trauger wrote in her memo. “As the prevailing party, the plaintiffs will, therefore, be rewarded a significant portion of their requested reasonable attorney’s fees and expenses under Section 1988.”

A spokesman for Tennessee Attorney General Hebert H. Slatery’s office said his office was still reviewing the order Monday afternoon and did not have a comment. In court documents filed in January and unsealed on March 7, Slatery’s office argued the plaintiffs’ attorneys were overcharging for their services, and insisted they should be paid $1.1 million instead.

According to JoeMyGod, same-sex marriage plaintiffs nationwide have been awarded a total of $17,090,388.61 in legal fees and court costs, thus far.

I hope the haters who pushed the issue so far feel every single dime was worth losing.

#Forward

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Public Unions Win SCOTUS Case With 4-4 Ruling

With Scalia’s seat open, plus the Republicans blocking any nomination, public union workers just got a big win in the U.S. Supreme Court.

#KarmaForTheRepubs

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News Round-Up: March 28, 2016

Some news stories you may have missed:

• Don’t be sad Ben Affleck, with a $170 million opening weekend,  Batman v. Superman won’t become the next Gigli.

• The Atlanta man who threw boiling water on two sleeping gay men has been indicted and could face 80 years in prison.

• Speaking of Georgia, after the state’s governor announced he will be vetoing the anti-LGBT bill House Bill 757, state Republicans are already calling for an override vote of Gov. Deal’s veto. We saw that coming, didn’t we?

• Gwen Stefani, who’s new album just debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200, says she would “be blessed” to have a gay son.

• New York City Mayor De Blasio has instituted a “non-essential” ban on city employee travel to North Carolina due to the anti-LGBT H.B. 2 recently passed. Seattle Mayor Ed Murray has done the same.  Good going, North Carolina!

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Trailer: Sally Field “Hello, My Name Is Doris”

Well, this looks absolutely charming.

Sally Field stars as a 60-something woman who’s grown used to the idea that she’s invisible to most of the world. Until, that is, a younger co-worker pays attention to her. And in that revelatory moment, she suddenly “sees” herself.

The movie gives truth to the idea that we’re never too old for friendship, romance, or a bit of adventure. Or, to discover we all have a tribe out there somewhere – we just may not know it yet.

Anyone ever find they’ve developed a bit of an obsession with a younger person? Raise your hands, please… 🙂