Palin, Angle ok with gays at CPAC

Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin says she’s fine with GOProud’s presence at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC).  The gay GOP group is co-sponsoring the event, which kicked off Thursday.

Palin told Fox News:  “I don’t have a problem with the different diverse groups that are involved in political discourse and having a convention to talk about what the answers are to the problems that face America.”

Palin added that the country should focus on joblessness and conflict overseas.

“There are so many life changing, life and death issues out there in front of us,” Palin said.  “You know, we’d better be concentrating on what is really important here and not going kind of tit-for-tat as people are positioning themselves for 2012.”

Nevada Tea Party favorite Sharron Angle told The Huffington Post she also welcomed an “open forum for discussion.”

GOProud’s involvement has prompted some conservative leaders to boycott CPAC.  Ohio Representative Jim Jordan and South Carolina Senator Jim DeMint are among those who’ve decided to bow out.

Conservative groups including the National Organization for Marriage (NOM) and Concerned Women for America (CWA) are also boycotting the event.

Refudiating “Does Sarah Palin Support Gay Rights?”

by David Badash

There’s a dangerous meme making its way across the Internets: “Does Sarah Palin support gay rights?” thanks to her almost-Libertarian response to gay GOP group GOProud’s attendance at this weekend’s CPAC. The Alaska Dispatch, writing at Huffington Post, reports Palin “told the Christian Broadcasting Network that it was a ‘scheduling conflict’ that prevented her appearance, not GOProud’s presence at the convention. And she went one step further, telling CBN that conference attendees should not so quickly dismiss the opportunity to provide a full spectrum of conservatism. News website POLITICO reports Palin alluded to the controversy that GOProud’s inclusion at the conference had caused for conservatives.”

“‘Should the GOP, should conservatives not reach out to others, not participate in events and forums that… maybe we don’t personally agree with? And I say no… I look at participation in an event like CPAC or any other event in that same vein as the more information that people have the better,’ Palin told CBN.”

But then they write, “Palin has mostly left her support or opposition to gay rights ‘open to interpretation.’ Last month, Palin re-tweeted a gay conservative’s post that was critical of the GOP’s ardent opposition to the repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ calling it ‘hypocrisy.’”

And so let’s stop right here and “refudiate” yet another example of journalistic malpractice.

It’s called “Google,” people, and you can use it to do something many journalists evidently have forgotten is in their job description: research.

(Or, you can just spend all your time here at The New Civil Rights Movement, where we do the research so you don’t have to.)

After the whole Palin retweet of Tammy Bruce’s DADT comment fiasco, I did a fair amount of research and wrote, “So, Where DOES Sarah Palin Stand On Gay Rights?”

Here are a few highlights:

So, here you go. Sarah Palin’s positions on gay rights:

Sarah Palin is against same-sex marriage:

  • Palin has said, “I am pro-life and I believe that marriage should only be between and man and a woman.” (Campaign website, www.palinforgovernor.com, “Issues” Nov 7, 2006)
  • “Ms. Palin said she supported Alaska’s decision to amend its Constitution to ban same-sex marriage. But she used her first veto as governor to block a bill that would have prohibited the state from granting health benefits to same-sex partners of public employees.” (New York Times)
  • “Here’s what Sarah Palin has to say about same-sex marriage. Palin said she’s not out to judge anyone and has good friends who are gay, but that she supported the 1998 constitutional amendment.” “Elected officials can’t defy the court when it comes to how rights are applied, she said, but she would support a ballot question that would deny benefits to homosexual couples. “I believe that honoring the family structure is that important,” Palin said. She said she doesn’t know if people choose to be gay.” (Anchorage Daily News, viaOnTheIssues)

Sarah Palin is against spousal benefits for same-sex couples:

Q: Do you support the Alaska Supreme Court’s ruling that spousal benefits for state employees should be given to same-sex couples?

A: No, I believe spousal benefits are reserved for married citizens as defined in our constitution.

Q: In relationship to families, what are your top three priorities if elected governor?

A:

1. Creating an atmosphere where parents feel welcome to choose the venues of education for their children.
2. Preserving the definition of “marriage” as defined in our constitution.
3. Cracking down on the things that harm family life: gangs, drug use, and infringement of our liberties including attacks on our 2nd Amendment rights.

(Eagle Forum 2006 Gubernatorial Candidate Questionnaire Jul 31, 2006)

Sarah Palin is on the record against “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal:

For the record, Palin came out last year against repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” although she suggested her first concern about repeal was the timing — “I don’t think so right now… And I say that because there are other things to be worried about right now with the military. I think that kind of on the back burner, is sufficient for now.”

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Palin is not on the record as for or against ENDA, but given all her other positions, I would bet she’s against that, too.

Bottom line, Sarah Palin is not the blank slate the media assumes. She’s made her positions very clear. She is anti-gay, and is on the record as being so.

Hold Palin accountable for hate speech

I add my thoughts and prayers to the outpouring of sympathy for the families of those who lost their lives and for Rep. Gabrielle Giffords’ family now praying for her recovery. I share the outrage that all decent people must feel today at this heinous act of violence that left so many dead and Congresswoman Giffords severely injured.

Sarah Palin and those like her using hate-filled language and symbols of violence can no longer escape responsibility for the anger and violence their words and actions incite. The time has come for everyone, on both sides of the political spectrum, to stand up to and shut down those who don’t understand what words mean and how they can incite others to violent acts.

Whether it is hate language directed at LGBT youth, or against immigrants or hate spewed against decent people, whether they are progressives or conservatives, we must begin today to teach everyone, especially our youth, that this is not an acceptable way to carry on a debate or discussion or to share our views with each other.

Only yesterday we saw a video of young men and a young woman viciously beating a man on a D.C. Metro platform. Nobody did anything to come to the man’s aid. These young people obviously thought that this violence was an acceptable way to act or to vent some rage or anger. Clearly they haven’t been taught that this isn’t the way decent people act and when some of our politicians and leaders continue to spew the hate they do, it is no wonder young people assume that inappropriate behavior will be tolerated.

It is up to responsible adults to stand up and say enough is enough. They must agree and then demand that we will not allow people like Palin, who thinks it OK to use gun sights to target politicians for defeat on a map, to do so without being held accountable for their actions. Whether it is an arch conservative like Palin or some liberal politician or activist who uses language to incite people to a degree that can cause violence we must stand up and say to them that their words are unacceptable and that there are better ways in a decent society to handle discourse and demand that all of us use them.

The deaths today at a political event in Tucson, where Rep. Giffords was severely injured, must not be allowed to have happened in vain. The decent people in our society, and we know there are many, must speak out and say no to rhetoric that incites violence. We know that there are many unstable people out there who don’t have the sense to tell the difference between rhetoric and action. It is our responsibility to carry on our discourse in ways that will not incite them.

Those who don’t tone down their rhetoric must take responsibility and be held accountable by others for their words and the actions they incite.

ShortFormBlog: On Gabrielle Giffords, Sarah Palin, tonal problems, etc.

shortformblog:

Probably the most interesting take we’ve seen on this whole incident comes from James Fallows.

“It is legitimate,” Fallows writes, “to discuss whether there is a connection between that tone and actual outbursts of violence, whatever the motivations of this killer turn out to be.”

Bigotry Watch: Where does Sarah Palin stand on gay rights?

Sarah Palin is the spark in the media’s tinder. A word, a wink, hell, even a nod can send the media into an all-out frenzy for days. It’s no wonder Palin herself calls them the “lamestream media” — they fall for her lameness almost daily.

Take this ludicrous exercise in journalistic malpractice.

Monday night, the former Republican Vice Presidential candidate, former Governor, former chair of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, former Mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, former “Miss Congeniality,” former sportscaster, former head of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Sarah Palin retweeted lesbian conservative commentator Tammy Bruce’s tweet about Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Bruce had tweeted, “But this hypocrisy is just truly too much. Enuf already–the more someone complains about the homos the more we should look under their bed.”

Immediately, the media was all over this. Gawker, unsurprisingly, was the first, asking, “Did Sarah Palin Just Tweet Her Position on ‘Homos’?“ Soon came CNN, Huffington Post, ABC, and so on, all the way into Wednesday, when the Washington Post dipped their toes into the Palin pool of myopia.

All asked, “what does this mean?” None — and I mean, none — bothered to do any research on Palin’s stance on gay rights. I did, as I have since Palin hit the national stage two and a half years ago.

Tuesday morning I threw together a few comments I found of Palin’s to prove she was anti-gay.

Now, I offer you an even more complete list of Sarah Palin’s positions on gay rights. Suffice it to say, she’s not in our corner. Palin, whose unfavorables are at an all-time high, does NOT support the LGBTQ community, at all, in any shape, whatsoever. Those, like Tammy Bruce, who post-retweet tried to reconfigure Palin’s stance, should be ashamed of themselves. Bruce, especially, who, after the retweet heard ’round the world, wrote that Palin “is not a Culture Warrior, however. She is, which should be apparent by her Facebook postings and opinion pieces, a Policy Wonk. She is also, which is clearly evident, a charismatic leader who remains grounded by her character, faith and family.”

(Oh course, we all know millions of “policy wonks” who use Facebook as their main platform, right?)

Bruce continues, saying, “Some have suggested this ‘completely changes the 2012 election.’ Not really–perhaps for some who believed the LSM and Gay Gestapo lie that Sarah Palin was somehow a bigot or homophobe, I hope this does cause some to take a second look at Palin, away from the left’s predictable “She’s a Hater!!” meme.”

Well, Ms. Bruce, Palin is a hater. You may not see it, since your eyes are squarely focused on Sarah Palin’s coattails, but the rest of us in the reality-based world do.

So, here you go. Sarah Palin’s positions on gay rights:

Sarah Palin is against same-sex marriage:

  • Palin has said, “I am pro-life and I believe that marriage should only be between and man and a woman.” (Campaign website, www.palinforgovernor.com, “Issues” Nov 7, 2006)
  • “Ms. Palin said she supported Alaska’s decision to amend its Constitution to ban same-sex marriage. But she used her first veto as governor to block a bill that would have prohibited the state from granting health benefits to same-sex partners of public employees.” (New York Times)
  • “Here’s what Sarah Palin has to say about same-sex marriage. Palin said she’s not out to judge anyone and has good friends who are gay, but that she supported the 1998 constitutional amendment.” “Elected officials can’t defy the court when it comes to how rights are applied, she said, but she would support a ballot question that would deny benefits to homosexual couples. “I believe that honoring the family structure is that important,” Palin said. She said she doesn’t know if people choose to be gay.” (Anchorage Daily News, via OnTheIssues)

Sarah Palin is against spousal benefits for same-sex couples:

Q: Do you support the Alaska Supreme Court’s ruling that spousal benefits for state employees should be given to same-sex couples?

A: No, I believe spousal benefits are reserved for married citizens as defined in our constitution.

Q: In relationship to families, what are your top three priorities if elected governor?

A: 1. Creating an atmosphere where parents feel welcome to choose the venues of education for their children.
2. Preserving the definition of “marriage” as defined in our constitution.
3. Cracking down on the things that harm family life: gangs, drug use, and infringement of our liberties including attacks on our 2nd Amendment rights. (Eagle Forum 2006 Gubernatorial Candidate Questionnaire Jul 31, 2006)

Sarah Palin is on the record against “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal:

For the record, Palin came out last year against repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” although she suggested her first concern about repeal was the timing — “I don’t think so right now… And I say that because there are other things to be worried about right now with the military. I think that kind of on the back burner, is sufficient for now.”

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Palin is not on the record as for or against ENDA, but given all her other positions, I would bet she’s against that, too.

Bottom line, Sarah Palin is not the blank slate the media assumes. She’s made her positions very clear. She is anti-gay, and is on the record as being so. Hear that, Tammy Bruce?

David Badash is the founder and editor of The New Civil Rights Movement.

Behar Slams Willow and Bristol Palin

JOY BEHAR WILLOW PALIN X390

Joy Behar and a panel a commentators including out comedian Judy Gold and talk show host Dick Cavett discussed the antigay outburst by Bristol and Willow Palin on Twitter, suggesting the Bush twins and Chelsea Clinton would never have done such a thing.

“It’s beneath contempt,” Behar said, referring to Willow’s use of the word “fa**ot.”

One of the commentators suggests Willows words say more about Sarah Palin as a parent than they do of her daughter.

Click the link above to watch the video.

Palin Endorses Gay-Baiting Mama Grizzly

ChristineODonnellx180 (Screengrab) | Advocate.com

Sarah Palin endorsed Christine O’Donnell, a Republican candidate for senate in Delaware, who has repeatedly insinuated that her primary opponent Rep. Mike Castle is gay.

Earlier this month, a firm until recently employed by the O’Donnell campaign released a video promoting the “rumor” that Castle was cheating on his wife with a man. O’Donnell has continued to imply that her opponent is gay, in addition to standing by her opposition to masturbation and her belief that viewing pornography constitutes infidelity to one’s spouse.

As for why the former Alaska governor made the endorsement, according to Salon, “Palin did this either because O’Donnell’s campaign manager worked with former Tea Party candidate Doug Hoffman, whom Palin previously endorsed, or because of the Tea Party Express. Either way, O’Donnell will probably not win Joe Biden’s old Senate seat.”

Sarah Palin Gay-Baiting?

SARAH PALIN MICHAEL JOSEPH GROSS X390
 

Is Sarah Palin using code words to slam gay journalist Michael Joseph Gross, a frequent Advocate contributor who wrote the much-buzzed-about profile of the former vice presidential nominee in this month’s Vanity Fair?

Palin didn’t mention Gross by name while talking Thursday on Sean Hannity’s WABC radio show, but she seemed to be referring to the article — and pointedly used emasculating words that have long been used as euphemisms for homosexuality — when she called reporters who publish “rumors” about her “impotent,” “limp,” and “gutless.”

“I don’t read some of it because I know that those who are impotent and limp and gutless, and then they go on, they’re anonymous, they’re sources that are anonymous, and impotent, limp, and gutless reporters take anonymous sources and cite them as being factual references,” Palin said.

“You know, it just slays me because it’s so absolutely clear what the state of yellow journalism is today that they would take these anonymous sources as fact. So when a story especially is filled with those and we know it’s bogus, and we’re not going to read it.”

Gross defended the article on MSNBC’s Morning Joe on Thursday, saying most of his sources would only speak with him anonymously because they’re “terrified of retribution.”

“There is a string of people going all the way back in her life, all the way back in her career, who have been so abused so horrifically by her, and they’re just terrified of retribution,” Gross said. “They’ve seen her take revenge on people before, and they’re so broken, they’re so stepped on, they’re so beaten down, they don’t want to take the risk of speaking out.”

thegayaggregate: Dr. Laura Ending Radio Show One week after coming under fire for repeatedly using the n word on the air, controversial conservative talk radio host Dr. Laura Schlessinger announced she’s ending her radio show at the end of the year. Schlessinger made the announcement Tuesday night on Larry King Live,saying she decided not to renew her contract when it expires this year because she doesn’t want her opinions, however provocative, to be muzzled. “I want to regain my First Amendment rights,” she said. “I want to be able to say what’s on my mind and in my heart and what I think is helpful and useful without somebody getting angry, some special interest group deciding this is the time to silence a voice of dissent and attack affiliates, attack sponsors. I’m sort of done with that.” Schlessinger stressed she’s not retiring. She said she will continue to write books and appear for speaking engagements. The radio host apologized last week after coming under fire for using the n word 11 times on the air while talking with a black caller. “If anybody with enough melanin says it, it’s a horrible thing; but when black people say it, it’s affectionate,” she said. “It’s very confusing.” No stranger to controversy, in 2000, gay activists launched StopDrLaura.com after she referred to homosexuality as a “biological error.” Further, she said, “a huge portion of the male homosexual populace is predatory on young boys.” On Tuesday night, a headline on StopDrLaura.com read: “We Stopped Dr. Laura.” Sofia Loren Zombi: And, of course, Sarah Palin supports Dr. Laura. PerezHilton.com reports on the supportive tweets Palin directed to Dr. Laura on Wednesday: “Dr.Laura:don’t retreat…reload! (Steps aside bc her 1st Amend.rights ceased 2exist thx 2activists trying 2silence”isn’t American,not fair”) Dr.Laura=even more powerful & effective w/out the shackles, so watch out Constitutional obstructionists. And b thankful 4 her voice,America!” Have a twitter? Tweet Sarah Palin to let her know that you do not support Dr. Laura’s vitriol consisting of racism, homophobia, and her sexist ideas of ‘traditional’ families. And while you are at it, why don’t you tweet Dr. Laura too?  
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thegayaggregate:

Dr. Laura Ending Radio Show

One week after coming under fire for repeatedly using the n word on the air, controversial conservative talk radio host Dr. Laura Schlessinger announced she’s ending her radio show at the end of the year.

Schlessinger made the announcement Tuesday night on Larry King Live,saying she decided not to renew her contract when it expires this year because she doesn’t want her opinions, however provocative, to be muzzled.

“I want to regain my First Amendment rights,” she said. “I want to be able to say what’s on my mind and in my heart and what I think is helpful and useful without somebody getting angry, some special interest group deciding this is the time to silence a voice of dissent and attack affiliates, attack sponsors. I’m sort of done with that.”

Schlessinger stressed she’s not retiring. She said she will continue to write books and appear for speaking engagements.

The radio host apologized last week after coming under fire for using the n word 11 times on the air while talking with a black caller.

“If anybody with enough melanin says it, it’s a horrible thing; but when black people say it, it’s affectionate,” she said. “It’s very confusing.”

No stranger to controversy, in 2000, gay activists launched StopDrLaura.com after she referred to homosexuality as a “biological error.” Further, she said, “a huge portion of the male homosexual populace is predatory on young boys.”

On Tuesday night, a headline on StopDrLaura.com read: “We Stopped Dr. Laura.”

Sofia Loren Zombi: And, of course, Sarah Palin supports Dr. Laura.

PerezHilton.com reports on the supportive tweets Palin directed to Dr. Laura on Wednesday:

“Dr.Laura:don’t retreat…reload! (Steps aside bc her 1st Amend.rights ceased 2exist thx 2activists trying 2silence”isn’t American,not fair”)

Dr.Laura=even more powerful & effective w/out the shackles, so watch out Constitutional obstructionists. And b thankful 4 her voice,America!”

Have a twitter? Tweet Sarah Palin to let her know that you do not support Dr. Laura’s vitriol consisting of racism, homophobia, and her sexist ideas of ‘traditional’ families.

And while you are at it, why don’t you tweet Dr. Laura too?