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| Via Politico |
Political leaders respond to SCOTUS Hobby Lobby ruling
Maine Sen. Susan Collins becomes fourth Republican Senator to endorse same-sex marriage
Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine has become the fourth GOP senator to endorse same-sex marriage.
Sen. Collins said in a statement: “A number of states, including my home state of Maine, have now legalized same-sex marriage, and I agree with that decision.”
The Human Rights Campaign responded by endorsing Collins for reelection:
“Senator Susan Collins has played a pivotal role in advancing support for LGBT equality — from her dogged support for the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” to her critical vote for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act last year, to her proud support for marriage equality,” said Chad Griffin, president of the Human Rights Campaign. “HRC is proud to stand with Senator Collins, and with allies on both sides of the aisle like her, because she firmly believes that every American should be evaluated based on their abilities, and not who they love.”
“I am grateful for the support that I continue to receive from the Human Rights Campaign for my work in the Senate to end discrimination and achieve LGBT equality,” said Senator Collins. “HRC fully understands the need to have allies in both the Republican and Democratic caucuses, and I am proud of the reputation that I have established for working with my Senate colleagues of both parties in a bipartisan spirit for fairness and equality. I look forward to our continued work together to bring people together and remove barriers that divide us.”
While The Randy Report clearly leans left, I’ve always said I appreciate the moderates on both sides of the aisle in government. Susan Collins has consistently been open to finding common ground on a multitude of issues, including those of particular importance to the LGBT community.
I agree with the HRC in their endorsement.
Collins joins three other Republican senators who have publicly stated their support for same-sex marriage: Illinois’ Mark Kirk, Alaska’s Lisa Murkowski and Ohio’s Rob Portman.
FOX News’ Neil Cavuto shuts down Michele Bachmann on GOP House lawsuit against President Obama
Interviewing Michele Bachmann on Wednesday, FOX News’ Neil Cavuto referred to John Boehner and House Republicans’ lawsuit against President Obama for using executive power on issues that they have blocked in Congress as a “waste of time.”
The clip below begins with Bachmann saying “Very clearly the American people are absolutely outraged…” What she doesn’t seem to grasp is that the American people are outraged at a do-nothing Congress. And if it takes President Obama using executive orders (which are within his legal bounds) to get SOMETHING done for the American people, better that than nothing at all.
I should note that Barack Obama issued 182 executive orders between 2009 and 2014. President George W. Bush issued 291 executive orders between 2001 and 2009. So, clearly Obama is not doing anything unusual here.
Cavuto became more impatient with Bachmann as the discussion went on:
“Where was your rage when Democrats were going after President Bush on the same use of executive orders, because I think you knew then that that was a waste of time, and I think you know in your heart of hearts this is a waste of time now.”
“Crazy-eyes” Bachmann just continued on with her pre-printed talking points as if it all made sense.
Cavuto finally cuts unexpectedly to a commercial break.
(via ThinkProgress)
If President Obama were to find a cure for cancer…
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If President Obama were to announce a cure for cancer, imagine the response from the GOP…
Hillary meets GOP squirrel and gives him copy of her new book
Hillary Clinton, currently touring the country in support of her newly released book Hard Choices, shows she still has a wicked sense of humor.
Following Hillary on her book tour is a giant squirrel GOP mascot who is handing out bumper stickers that read, “Another Clinton In The White House Is Nuts.”
Yesterday, Hillary decided to say “hello” to the squirrel, and handed him a signed copy of her book.
The squirrel thanked her on Twitter.
I love Hillary 🙂
Anderson Cooper calls out Texas GOP lawmaker on “ex-gay” therapy lies
I recently reported on the latest plank added to the Texas Republican Party platform endorsing “ex-gay” therapy for gays and lesbians who are “seeking healing and wholeness from their homosexual lifestyle.” The same therapy has been denounced and called harmful by the American Psychological Association.
Anderson Cooper spoke to Texas state Rep. Bryan Hughes about the party’s decision to endorse the therapy, and the fact that all major medical organizations denounce the practice. Hughes tries to introduce the “there are opinions on both sides” argument and Cooper stops him in his tracks:
“It’s really just not accurate to say that doctors are evenly divided. I could give you a list: the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Counseling Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychological Association, the American School Counselors’ Association, the National Association of School Psychologists, National Association of Social Workers. They represent half a million mental health professionals, they all say this is not a mental disorder. It’s not something that needs to be cured….Does it concern you, again, that your party is now backing a form of therapy which basically every major medical organization says doesn’t work, can be harmful, and which many of the people who have been through it say it doesn’t work and is bad for kids?”
Hughes tried to soften his rhetoric a bit:
“No one is saying that God doesn’t love people as they are. There’s nothiing in the platform about that. No one is trying to take that position. Every one of us makes mistakes, makes decisions we’re not proud of. God loves each one of us, and he offers us a way for us to deal with sin and bad choices. But I do strongly disagree with what he said about God not loving people.”
Anderson pushed back again:
“The fact that you view being gay, or you characterize it as a ‘mistake,’ or something that should be changed really kind of maybe says more about your position than what your words actually say.”
You can watch the interview below. Good for Anderson for having facts at hand and calling out the lies by Hughes.
(via Towleroad)
Let’s Be Honest
Hypocrisy of the day: Oliver North
In 1986 Oliver North admitted to lying to Congress [felony], obstructing justice [felony], taking bribes [felony], breaking the Boland Amendment [felony].
All as a part of hostage and guns and cash exchanges [also money laundering drug cartels].
In 2014, Oliver North attacks President Obama for legally exchanging 5 prisoners for 1 prisoner of war.
Rep. Jason Chaffetz and GOP Benghazi Hypocrisy
Utah Congressman Jason Chaffetz says the current Benghazi scandal doesn’t smell right and that the GOP-controlled House is going to keep searching until they find answers.
Perhaps – just perhaps – they themselves are the “smoking gun.”
If you want to know why there wasn’t more security in Benghazi for our ambassador, why not ask Chaffetz himself? HE proudly voted to cut embassy security funding.
High By Republican Design
Truth.
Unemployment is high by Republican design. Don’t be fooled. Since the day Pres. Obama was sworn in Republicans have conspired to keep unemployment high and wages low by blocking every single jobs bill and deliberately sabotaging the economy by way of manufactured crises.