The Persistent Pant-a-Loon Pearson

If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Of course, this maxim wasn't necessarily meant to apply as a litigation strategy, but apparently Roy Pearson didn't quite make the connection.

Pearson was an ALJ in DC, who first sued his dry cleaners over a lost pair of pants, then sued over the job he lost because he sued over the pair of pants. I've followed his saga for some time, gleefully chronicling his tale of legal woes. See Never Can Say Goodbye.

As Lowering the Bar explains the latest loss, in Judge Who Lost Pants Loses Another Suit:

It seems that our old friend Roy L. Pearson, Jr., he of the $65 million pants, has recovered sufficiently from losing that case to get on with losing another one. This one was a wrongful-termination lawsuit against the District of Columbia, his former boss (Chief Administrative Law Judge Tyrone Butler), and other alleged miscreants.

As the Boston Globe reports, Judge who sued over lost pants loses bid to keep job:

A federal judge has thrown out a lawsuit brought by Roy L. Pearson Jr., the former District of Columbia judge whose previous $54 million lawsuit against a dry-cleaning business generated international headlines.

Pearson filed the later suit in May 2008, alleging that the District of Columbia government broke the law in refusing to reappoint him to a 10-year term as an administrative law judge. The decision came after news reports about Pearson’s lawsuit against Custom Cleaners, which he said had misplaced a pair of his pants.

The district’s Commission on Selection and Tenure of Administrative Law Judges cited Pearson’s temperament and prudence on the bench in not giving him the job.

Once again, Pearson was left holding his pants. The Court rejected his retaliation claim:

In a 37-page opinion issued last Thursday, US District Judge Ellen S. Huvelle rejected all of Pearson’s arguments. She called Pearson’s lawsuit against Custom Cleaners a “personal vendetta.’’

No wrongful termination here, said the Judge, The Pants Lawsuit: Still Not Over:

But the federal court was not buying it. Retaliation claims are only viable where an employee has been disciplined or fired for so-called "protected speech." To succeed in his case, Pearson would have to show that his speech (the pants lawsuit) involved a matter of public concern. The fact that he sued in part to compel enforcement of D.C.'s consumer-protection laws (going so far as to characterize himself as a "private attorney general" for doing so) did not impress the judge.

Looks like we won't have Pearson around to mock for much longer. But there's always someone new to fill the spot.

Speaking of lawyers behaving badly, a receptionist has sued her former law firm -- an employment law firm -- claiming that they wouldn't let her take a potty break. Her revenge: she wants to relieve the firm of some money for not letting her relieve herself. Claiming that she was fired for complaining about the lack of breaks, she's asking for $1.59M in damages, no less.

As the Washington Business Journal reports, Former receptionist sues Littler Mendelson over bathroom breaks:

Enter Rebecca Landrith, the now-former receptionist in the McLean office of employment law giant Littler Mendelson PC.

According to the July 27 lawsuit the receptionist filed — with no help from a lawyer — Littler provided no substitute receptionist, and “had no consistent policy or procedure as to when or how Landrith could take a restroom break.”

Need we go on? Oh, if we must. “Impromptu requests” for cover by employees — like attorneys — elicited mostly resentment and condescension, she alleges.

On two separate occasions, Landrith claims, she had to “wet her pants” at the desk because nobody would, well, relieve her.

The incidents caused Landrith depression, stress, anxiety and helplessness — ergo, her claim for $1.59 million for intentional infliction of emotional distress.

I think the best comment about the case came from Above the Law:

Littler is one of the leading employment law defense firms in the country. It's really not surprising that a firm well-known for 'defend[ing] many of the world's leading corporations' told this lady to leave before she dripped anything on the stationery.

I think this one may be known as the case of the Potty Potty.

The Truth Behind the Madness

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Reform Madness - White Minority
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Spinal Tap Performance

The other day, I wrote about my concerns about the Mad Mob that has appeared on the political scene, with its vitriolic, violent tirades, see Mob Rule. The Daily Show's Larry Wilmore provides some insight into its origins and puts it all in perspective.

Or, as Atrios put it:

Nobody could've predicted that electing a black man president would drive this country completely fucking insane.

Says it all.

The Reason Why

If you looked like this, is it any wonder that you'd try to find a way to feel that you are better than someone else?

Meet Gary Frago, California Councilman, Sent Racist Anti-Obama Jokes To Staff.

As was reported in the Merced Sun-Star:

In the past several months Atwater City Councilman Gary Frago has sent at least a half-dozen e-mails to city staff and other prominent community members containing racist jokes aimed at President Barack Obama, his wife and black people in general.

Frago's response?

"I don't see where there's a story, I'm not the only one that does it," he said.

* * * *
When asked again if he had any regrets about sending the e-mails, he said: "No, because I didn't see any harm in them."

Translation: I'm ugly as sin, inside & out. I only feel better when I'm putting someone else down.

The Belly Flop

While it may be true that what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, yet if it happens in Philly, it makes the news in Vegas.

One night in Vegas, my husband & I were listening to the news when we heard a report about Philly. Not another murder spree, we thought. No. Instead we heard a story about that post-racial America we keep hearing about, which solved all of our bigotry problems, now that we have a black President.

Of course, I'm talking about the brouhaha over the Valley Swim Club which kicked out a group of minority day camp kids who joined the private swim club for a weekly pool time. As the Inky reported, Phila. camp alleges racism at Montco swim club:

A Huntington Valley swim club is facing accusations of racial discrimination after 65 children from a Northeast Philadelphia day camp claim they heard prejudicial remarks by club members and later had their club membership rescinded.

* * * *

Repeated attempts to reach club President John Duesler and other club officers were unsuccessful. . . . NBC 10 reported today that Duesler made the following statement: "There was concern that alot of kids would change the complexion .....and the atmosphere of the club."

Several days after the incident, Wright said the camp's $1,950 check in membership fees to the swim club was refunded, meaning the children no longer had access to the pool. She said Duesler did not provide a reason for the refund.

See also, AttyTood, We SHALL overcome some day...but apparently that day isn't 2009.

What?? In turning the campers away, the Club President didn't really say that the kids using the pool would "change the complexion" of the place, did he?? I actually winced when I heard that comment. Of course, one of the ironies of life is that Caucasians go to the pool to get a tan, but don't want to bathe next to someone whose tan is natural.

When I first heard the news, I thought that it must have happened at one of the country clubs in Huntington Valley. After all, according to Steve Reynolds of All Spin Zone, "If you know anything about Philly, you know that Huntingdon Valley is one of those suburbs populated by refugees of the “white flight” of the 60’s and 70’s." Racism in Philadelphia. As Leonard Zeskind wrote at TPM Cafe, White Residential Enclaves, White Nationalism and the Re-articulation of Racism in the 21st Century, explained:

Huntington Valley is an upper-middle class overwhelmingly white community with a total population of 20,917. Of those numbers, 158 are black, another 242 are Hispanic and 804 are Asian-American. There are many such residential enclaves in the United States of America. And they form the hard pit of reality inside the white nationalist phantasmagoria.

Although the swim club is technically located in Huntington Valley, it actually borders the city line in the Northeast. I'm not originally from Philly and, although I've lived here over 20 years, there are still the nuances of the city that I don't quite comprehend. I live in Mount Airy, an integrated enclave that doesn't have the same issues that I know exist in many other sections of the city (such as the "Great Northeast"). So, once I got my bearings, I wasn't shocked to hear the news. After all, as Philebrity observed, Surprise! Northeast Philly Is Still Racist!:

Sure, ejecting 60 kids from a paid membership at a swim club because they’re, uh, black seems a bit much, but maybe you haven’t been to Northeast Philly lately. Remember what it was like there when you were a kid? Well, imagine that same sort of put-upon White Man’s Burden/Fightin’ Irish bullshit that was au courant in the 1980s and just update it with an outside world that has a black president. Translation: It’s probably worse, because everyone who used to live there and just try, in their own meek way, to just live with this bullshit and get through their days has already picked up and moved to Center City already.

Likewise, Adam B writes at Daily Kos:

I grew up in the Somerton section of Northeast Philadelphia, a mile and a half from the just-over-the-county-border Valley Swim Club, so this is a community I know intimately well. And I am not surprised. Huntingdon Valley is an exceedingly white and wealthy suburb . . . . Just over that border line is Philmont Heights, a Philadelphia neighborhood of brick duplexes increasingly inhabited by Philadelphia's growing Russian immigrant population, and itself predominately Jewish.

Also, I want you to set your class bearings a little: it's a swim club, not a country club -- i.e., swimming pool, snack bar, playground, but not a golf course, banquet hall or any of the amenities one would associate with the latter. That's why full membership was only $395 for the summer. So think more working class to upper middle class than Judge Smalls and the Underhills."

As has been reported, the comments and treatment of the campers by some of the Club's members were disgusting. However, after reading about the story when I got home, I have to say that the Club President, John Duesler, may be getting a bad rap about the incident. Duesler was an Obama supporter and Chairman of Peace Action - Philadelphia, so he's not exactly the epitamy of a redneck. In fact, it sounds like he was in favor of the campers joining the swim club, but the Board who approved their joinder got overruled by a membership vote. As President of the Club, Duesler was left to "explain" what happened. Not knowing how to justify the inexcuable actions of the Club's members, he then made the incredibly stupid "change the complexion" remark, which further fueled the racism charges.

This matter was mishandled from beginning to end. As the Reid Report notes, ‘Complexion’-conscious swim club wants Campers back (sort of):

The first rule of public relations: never allow a crisis to become a calamity. By initially defending its decision to expel the Creative Steps summer camp and its 65 Black and Hispanic kids from their pool, the Valley Club in Montgomery County, PA screwed up, especially when its board president, John Duesler, told a TV station his members and board feared the kids’ presence would “change the ‘complexion’ and the atmosphere” of his club. Well … after two more tries; in a lame statement on their website (which is now down) and another in front of television cameras for 14 minutes, Duesler is trying for his fourth bite at a pretty rotten apple: belatedly inviting Creative Steps to come back.

Yes, after the Club's actions caused a groundswell of outrage, We can't always tip toe around it, the Valley Swim Club has recinded its recinded membership to the camp kids. After a hastily called emergency meeting earlier today, the Club was humilated enough to do the right thing -- reopen the pool to the kids. The Philly Daily News reports, Publicity parts the waters at swim club:

Members of the Montgomery County swim club that has endured a torrent of bad publicity after it ejected a group of black and Hispanic children in late June decided at a hastily called meeting yesterday to try to work out an agreement for the youngsters' return.

Amy Goldman, a member of the Valley Club, said the members voted unanimously in support of reinstating the swimming rights of the Creative Steps day camp and two other camps as long as safety issues, times and terms can be agreed.

The club will seek to meet with camp directors to discuss the issue, Goldman said.

Of course, who knows if they will return. However, at least they now have the satisfaction of saying we don't want to swim with your kind.

For more on this, see Phawker, JIM CROW SWIMS HERE: Valley Swim Club Discrimination Becomes National Embarrassment.

The Intolerance Institute

Thankfully, I left the Catholic Church many years ago, so I don't have to witness first hand the sadness that is emanating from the destruction of the Church wroth by the likes of Bishop Martino of Scranton.

Having been born & raised in Scranton (accompanied by a Catholic School education from Kindergarten through Law School), I did think that there was one major advantage to my education. The benefit of spending grade school with the sisters would permit me to tell funny stories of having been taught by the nuns -- and Lord knows, there are many of those to tell. No More Patent Leather Shoes. In fact, my colleagues in the LLWL Gang, who are religiously diverse, got to hear the Catholic girls explain Pagan Babies at lunch the other day.

Yet, the Church of today, ruled by scolding dictators with vanity, intolerance and charity for none has superseded those fond memories, leaving a vile taste behind.

Once again, the Bishop of Scranton, Joseph Martino, has reared his ugly head to cause dissension, anger & pain among his flock. I have written of him many times of late, chronicling his dastardly deeds "in God's name." One of those dealt with his displeasure with a local Catholic University who permitted a civil rights activist, who happens to be gay, to speak at it's annual Black History event. See Sinful in Scranton. As the Scranton Times reports, Bishop Martino targets Misericordia University Diversity Institute:

Bishop Joseph F. Martino is calling on Misericordia University to “seriously consider discontinuing its Diversity Institute,” which hosted a gay-rights speaker earlier this month.

The bishop has publicly criticized the appearance of Keith Boykin, a best-selling author, television commentator and founder of the National Black Justice Coalition. Now Bishop Martino wants to ensure other speakers like Mr. Boykin do not receive a platform at Misericordia again.

Boykin, who is black as well as gay, was there as part of the school's Black History Month celebration and his focus was on black history, not on gay rights.

Lest there be any misunderstanding about Martino's intention, he wants it to be clear that he does not believe in diversity, if it does not comport with his view of the Church's teachings:

In a statement released by the Diocese of Scranton on Tuesday, the bishop conveyed that students should learn respect for all races and cultures, but viewpoints in opposition to Catholic teaching should not be presented “under the guise of ‘diversity.’ ”

“Doing so within a formal structure sanctioned by the institution gives the impression that these viewpoints are acceptable, or that all morality is relative,” the statement read.

The bishop is “asking Misericordia to seriously consider discontinuing its Diversity Institute” and also wants the school to prove its efforts in teaching Catholic morality regarding sexuality and homosexuality — including naming courses, content and catalog numbers.

Let the Inquisition begin! Martino also chose to issue his edict to the school by means of a press release, rather than by notifying the college first:

In a statement released by Misericordia on Tuesday afternoon, the university said it has “been committed deeply to its Catholic mission and the teachings of the Catholic Church for 85 years” and that it “welcomes the opportunity to discuss these matters with the bishop and his delegates at their convenience.” No further public comment was made.

Misericordia, located in Dallas, is a Catholic-affiliated school founded in 1924 by the Religious Sisters of Mercy. It is funded independently and not run by the diocese.

I have it on good authority (unlike me, I come from a religious family) that Martino never discussed any of his concerns with Misericordia or the Institute before he issued his attack through the media. Not a meeting. Not a letter. Not a call. No need, since Martino doesn't believe in discussion. He speaks, others obey.

And what about this radical Institute that obviously needs to be reigned in, according to the Bishop? What incendiary things has this organization done in the past? The Wilkes Barre paper describes the mission, Institute has long track record of promoting diversity:

Since 1993, the Diversity Institute at Misericordia University has provided programming and seminars for institutions in Northeastern Pennsylvania to encourage people in the region to be educated about diversity issues.

Its director, Linda Trompetter, Ph.D., had no comment Tuesday about the Diversity Institute at Misericordia University or Bishop Joseph F. Martino’s call to shut down the program. Through the years, though, the Diversity Institute has spurred larger initiatives that have addressed diversity issues throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania.

The Diversity Institute has presented at area businesses, government agencies, schools, universities and hospitals on issues ranging from sexual harassment, prejudice reduction and culture competence.

They’ve also presented programs on gender, religion, sexual orientation and class.

Each summer, the Diversity Institute hosts a multicultural summer camp for kids who live in and out of the area. The camp always ends with a picnic co-sponsored by the Wilkes-Barre chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

I have mentioned before that my hometown, and the surrounding area, was not exactly a beacon for harmonious racial relations. See, e.g., Oh, Dear Me and Can't Be Topped. So, one would think that an Institute that works to overcome those sentiments might be just what the region could use.

Yet Martino wants to do away with it? I guess his credo is a faith based upon Intolerance. Which Commandment was that?

The Conversation

I don't think this was exactly what Eric Holder meant when he suggested that a conversation about race needed to happen more often. See The Cowardly Nation.

According to the Madison County Record, Visiting utility workers harassed:

A group of out-of-state electric company workers helping restore power to Madison County residents were subjected to racial epithets and other forms of harassment while in the area on Saturday.

* * * *

According to Madison County Sheriff Phillip Morgan, the Pennsylvania crew, which had split into about three groups, had between 30 or 40 African-American workers included in the 100.

"Some kids were driving around them, waving Rebel flags and mouthing to them," Morgan said. "They showed some weapons and were supposedly intoxicated.
"That's just not right for those people to treat them that way. Those people came down here from Pennsylvania to help us get electricity back on, leaving their families behind, and this is how they are treated. That's just wrong."

An editorial in The Arkansas Leader also chides the rugged mountain county, Icy reception for repairmen:

Some 100 workers from Pennsylvania, about a third of them African Americans, came down to help the local electric cooperative restore power after the devastating ice storm last month took down just about every power pole in the county. They worked tirelessly clearing trees and putting up poles and lines in the ice and freezing rain to try to speed power to people.

For their trouble, they were harassed and threatened by roving groups of young men shouting racial epithets and pointing guns at them. The county sheriff said the young men would drive around the work teams waving Rebel flags and cursing the blacks. The workers were frightened enough to contact the sheriff’s office in nearby Washington County.

Madison County is all white.

The last time Madison County made national news was the day after the general election in which Sen. Barack Obama was elected president by a landslide. The owners of the Faubus Motel at Huntsville, named after the Arkansas governor who sent the National Guard to Little Rock Central High School to block nine black children from attending classes in 1957, took down the American flag the morning after the election and put up a Confederate flag. The proprietor said the voters of the United States had abandoned the principles of the nation’s founders in electing Obama.

These people will remain in the dark even when the lights are turned back on.

The Cowardly Nation

AG Eric Holder addressed his new colleagues in the Justice Department during a celebration of Black History month, remarking that we are "essentially a nation of cowards" with respect to things racial. It certainly captured everyone's attention, Holder: US a "Nation of Cowards" on Race Discussions:

In a blunt assessment of race relations in the United States, Attorney General Eric Holder Wednesday called the American people "essentially a nation of cowards" in failing to openly discuss the issue of race.

In his first major speech since being confirmed, the nation's first black attorney general told an overflow crowd celebrating Black History Month at the Justice Department the nation remains "voluntarily socially segregated."

"Though this nation has proudly thought of itself as an ethnic melting pot, in things racial we have always been and continue to be, in too many ways, essentially a nation of cowards," Holder declared.

* * * *

The attorney general said employees across the country "have done a pretty good job in melding the races in the workplace," but he noted that "certain subjects are off limits and that to explore them risks at best embarrassment and at worst the questioning of one's character."

"On Saturdays and Sundays, America in the year 2009 does not, in some ways, differ significantly from the country that existed some 50 years ago. This is truly sad," Holder said.

I guess he didn't get the memo that black is in. He obviously needs to check his in-box more often.

My first reaction was that this was quite a change from the office previously held by John Ashcroft, who preferred to cover up statutes, and Alberto Gonzales, who preferred to cover up illegal deeds, rather than address uncomfortable truths, as Holder is doing. Whatever else we may be, we are surely a nation that hates hearing the truth about ourselves.

Of course, many people have interpreted Holder's comments to mean that he believes that white people have a problem with race. See e.g., Holder 'nation of cowards' remarks blasted, praised and Defining 'Nation of Cowards' Down. I guess for these people, "the nation" still only belongs to whites.

However, I don't believe that Holder was talking about those, on either side of the great race divide, who are closed to the conversation, since they would only hear their own words anyway. The monologuers never allow for an opportunity to listen and learn any other point of view. Without that, nothing will change, which is Holder's point. A prime example is the very Hardball show discussing the issue of Holder's speech, with Pat Buchanan & Michael Eric Dyson. Lots of words exchanged, but no discussion there. They each engaged in a strident monologue, yelling past each other. Although, as FN said, you have no doubt where Buchanan stands on issues of race. To the extent that there is a problem with race, for him -- it's all black people's fault. As for Dyson, he spent a lot of time pontificating, without actually saying a whole lot.

Nor was Holder speaking about racists, since many of those individuals have removed the white sheets & are fairly open about expressing their bigoted views (you know, 1st Amendment rights & all). There's really no changing those entrenched views.

Instead, as he said, he was talking about "average Americans" who hold no great animus towards those of another race, but are reluctant to discuss racial issues and concerns out of a fear of being misunderstood (and labeled racist), or even worse, being lectured about the other's point of view (along the lines of we're now post-racial, so give us a break, or the man has kept us down for years, so give us a break).

It's unfortunate that the media focus always has to look for & create a "stir the pot" controversy, even when there isn't really a pot there. As rikyrah of Jack & Jill Politics said, Holder's speech "was thoughtful, smart, historical, honest and contemplative."

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News

See also, Jack & Jill Politics for a transcript of the speech.

I remember when I was younger being taught the old Maxim -- you should never talk about politics or religion (as well as sex or money) in polite company. I don't know that we, as a society, have ever gotten much beyond that. You can also add race to that list, as well as issues dealing with the Middle East, especially Israel and Palestine (which I suppose could fall under the category of politics and/or religion).

I realize that my world is very different that that of most people. I live in a very racially, ethnically & religiously (& let's not forget sexually) diverse environment. My weeks (and week-ends) are integrated on many levels & I do engage in discussions on those issues on a regular basis (and live to tell the tale). I live in Mount Airy after all -- the liberal, hippie, Birkenstock haven of the world & I know my experience does not equate with other parts of the City -- or country. Yet, I also do know that the conversation can happen -- even with some humor on occasion, as Lewis Black notes about Politics & Religion:




Apply that philosophy to race & voila, as Gawker said: "Problem: solved!"

Have a Heart

"Fidelity" from Courage Campaign.

Valentine's Day. The celebration of love. Couples.

Truth is, no matter how much we may "have," there's one thing that we all want more than anything -- love. Anyone who possesses a heart knows that.

That applies to us all.

And for a few more words on this issue, I think Mary Shaw expresses the sentiment at Love is love. Period. Deal with it..

For more information, see Courage Campaign.

The Invisible Invocation

From Christianity Today, the video of Gene Robinson, who began the inaugural kick-off at Lincoln Memorial, Gay Bishop Kicks off Celebrity-filled Event. Unfortunately, the invocation was missing from the HBO broadcast of the event.

As the Huffington Post reports, Gay Bishop Gene Robinson Left Out Of HBO Concert Coverage:

Sunday's big Lincoln Memorial show was billed as the "We Are One" concert, intended to celebrate the inauguration of Barack Obama with a spirit of unity. But for those of us watching at home, one participant was excluded -- Gene Robinson, the "first openly gay, non-celibate priest to be ordained a bishop in a major Christian denomination." Robinson was on hand to deliver an opening prayer to the event, but this prayer went unseen by anyone watching on HBO, who provided and sponsored the coverage.

Although originally it appeared that HBO omitted Robinson, as the day wore on, both HBO and the Inaugural Committee have been blaming each other for the omission. I'm not sure we'll ever find out who was really responsible, but I have to wonder: if HBO had nothing to do with keeping Robinson off the show, then why did they neglect to identify the Gay Men's Chorus. Yet, they managed to name all of the other groups. Who could have prevented HBO from figuring out the name of the chorus?

And apparently, HBO is acting like the big bully, preventing any on-line videos of the performances at the Lincoln Memorial, claiming they have exclusive rights to the broadcast. Nice -- a public event celebrating the inauguration of our nation's new president belongs to some cable company? See Very Poor Choice.

In any event, here's the Prayer:

“O God of our many understandings, we pray that you will bless us with tears – tears for a world in which over a billion people exist on less than a dollar a day, where young women in many lands are beaten and raped for wanting an education, and thousands die daily from malnutrition, malaria, and AIDS.

Bless this nation with anger – anger at discrimination, at home and abroad, against refugees and immigrants, women, people of color, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people.

Bless us with discomfort at the easy, simplistic answers we’ve preferred to hear from our politicians, instead of the truth about ourselves and our world, which we need to face if we are going to rise to the challenges of the future.

Bless us with patience and the knowledge that none of what ails us will be fixed anytime soon, and the understanding that our new president is a human being, not a messiah.

Bless us with humility, open to understanding that our own needs as a nation must always be balanced with those of the world.

Bless us with freedom from mere tolerance, replacing it with a genuine respect and warm embrace of our differences.

Bless us with compassion and generosity, remembering that every religion’s God judges us by the way we care for the most vulnerable.

And God, we give you thanks for your child, Barack, as he assumes the office of President of the United States.

Give him wisdom beyond his years, inspire him with President Lincoln’s reconciling leadership style, President Kennedy’s ability to enlist our best efforts, and Dr. King’s dream of a nation for all people.

Give him a quiet heart, for our ship of state needs a steady, calm captain.

Give him stirring words; We will need to be inspired and motivated to make the personal and common sacrifices necessary to facing the challenges ahead.

Make him color-blind, reminding him of his own words that under his leadership, there will be neither red nor blue states, but the United States.

Help him remember his own oppression as a minority, drawing on that experience of discrimination, that he might seek to change the lives of those who are still its victims.

Give him strength to find family time and privacy, and help him remember that even though he is president, a father only gets one shot at his daughters’ childhoods.

And please, God, keep him safe. We know we ask too much of our presidents, and we’re asking far too much of this one. We implore you, O good and great God, to keep him safe. Hold him in the palm of your hand, that he might do the work we have called him to do, that he might find joy in this impossible calling, and that in the end, he might lead us as a nation to a place of integrity, prosperity, and peace. Amen."

Finally, Gene Robinson spoke about his invocation at NPR.

This is for my peeps, the LLWL Gang.

(A final note. HBO says that the prayer will be included in future showings of the event).

The Miffed Contest

What's made up of five women, four African-Americans, three Latinos, [no Jews and one Maronite Lebanese], two Republicans and two Asians, including a Nobel Prize winner?

The answer: President-elect Barack Obama's Cabinet.

So says CNN, in Why some women's groups are miffed at Obama. Not wanting the gays to have the exclusive on Obama Anger, Disappointment & Dissillusionment, along with Liberals who are upset over the number of moderate picks, women's groups have voiced their ADD over the paltry number of Cabinet positions given to women by the Obama Administration. As CNN reports:

Obama is taking the big-tent approach to governing and wanted a Cabinet that stretches the tent wide.

"I think people will feel that we followed through on our commitment to make sure that this is not only an administration that is diverse ethnically, but it's also diverse politically and it's diverse in terms of people's life experience," Obama said December 16.

It might be diverse, but not everyone is happy. Some women's groups are disappointed. Among Obama's strongest backers during the election, they now say they don't have enough seats at the table.

That's because of Obama's 20 announced Cabinet-level posts, five went to women: Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano as homeland security secretary, Sen. Hillary Clinton as secretary of state, Rep. Hilda Solis as labor secretary, Susan Rice as United Nations ambassador and Lisa Jackson as Environmental Protection Agency chief.

Sounds impressive. So what's to complain about?

Amy Siskind, co-founder of the nonpartisan group New Agenda, accuses Obama of taking "shocking steps backward" and said "this constituency does not matter to the president-elect."

Obama has said he's picking people for their skills and not pandering to special interests.

"In this case, we have seen Obama emphasize credentials," said Anne Kornblut of The Washington Post. "I think they obviously knew they would get a lot of bang for their buck, so to speak, in appointing Clinton, but at the end of the day, the numbers really aren't any more impressive than any previous president."

Oh, how could he! So, they'd rather a female Sarah Palin rather than a well-qualified male of any race or creed? He may be post-racial, but we don't want any of that post-sexual stuff, now do we? But, it's not just women who are moaning and groaning, as CNN observes:

But it's not just women who are angry with Obama's choices. Other factions in the Democratic Party are, too.

Many gay and lesbian supporters are irate over Obama choosing Pastor Rick Warren to lead the invocation at the historic January 20 inauguration.

Warren, one of the most influential religious leaders in the nation, has championed issues such as a reducing global poverty, promoting human rights and fighting the AIDS epidemic.

But the founder of the Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California, has also adhered to socially conservative stances -- including his opposition to gay marriage and abortion rights -- that put him at odds with many in the Democratic Party, especially the party's most liberal wing.

* * * *

Some progressives, meanwhile, are also disappointed that Obama has tapped moderates for key positions.

I have complained many times about Republicans, calling them the Stepford Party because they do not brook dissent of any kind. I certainly wouldn't suggest that the Democrats adopt such a philosophy (not that they would/could anyway), but sometimes it seems that all Democrats do is complain and disagree -- with Republicans and Democrats alike. Liberals apparently never learned how to pick their battles or prioritize. Unfortunately, the constant naysaying merely serves to diminish the influence of left, which also reduces the ability to garner support over the important issues that matter. That, of course, causes more complaining by the left -- about being ignored.

And the reaction of Obama to all this kvetching?

Obama's team privately says wait and see. They feel it's too early to criticize his choices before they've even had a chance to be sworn in.

Good luck with that!

____________________

"Two years from now, I want the American people to be able to say, "Government's not perfect; there are some things Obama does that get on my nerves. But you know what? I feel like the government's working for me. I feel like it's accountable. I feel like it's transparent. I feel that I am well informed about what government actions are being taken. I feel that this is a President and an Administration that admits when it makes mistakes and adapts itself to new information, that believes in making decisions based on facts and on science as opposed to what is politically expedient." Those are some of the intangibles that I hope people two years from now can claim,"

- Barack Obama, president-elect.

(Via Andrew Sullivan)

What's The Right Thing?

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Mike Huckabee Pt. 2

And the media wonders why it is on the verge of failure. Perhaps journalists and reporters should watch Jon Stewart as he interviews Mike Huckabee on the issue of gay rights and gay marriage to see how it's done.

No twisted pretzels trying to cover both sides of the issue, even when the facts show there's only one side. No gotcha journalism. No sensationalism. Just sincere, piercing questions, asked in a respectful manner, with an admitted point of view on the issue.

Some transcript snippets from Pam's House Blend:

"You write that marriage is the bedrock of society...Why would you not want more couples to buy into the stability of marriage. Why would you want to precluded for an entire [group] of people."

Huckabee responded with a series of standard points, including "Marriage still means one man, one woman, life relationship. I think people have a right to live any way they want to, but even anatomically -- let's face it -- the only way that we can create the next generation is through a male/female relationship."

In a point that Stewart would press him on later by suggesting that his history is a bit skewed, Huckabee asserted, "For 5000 years of recorded human history that's what marriage has meant."

Huckabee: "30 states have had it on the ballot, and in all 30 states, it's passed -- even in states like California, that nobody would suggest are social conservatives..."

Stewart: "30 states had Mike Huckabee on the ballot and they voted for John McCain. You can't trust those voters. The voters don't know."

My favorite line:

Stewart: You write in your book that all people are created equal and yet for gay people you believe that it is corrosive to society to allow them to have the privileges that all humans enjoy.

The interview is a must see.

See also Crooks and Liars.

Secretarial Help

Word is that Obama may choose Mary Beth Maxwell to be Labor Secretary in his Cabinet. Quoting the WSJ, the Huffington Post reports on the "possible pick for Labor Secretary, Mary Beth Maxwell: For the rainbow cabinet of the nation's first African American president, Mary Beth Maxwell is the perfect labor secretary you've probably never heard of: a gay woman, community organizer and labor leader with an adopted African American son. And this founding executive director of American Rights at Work is about to get the full-court press." Mary Beth Maxwell, Labor Secretary?

I suppose this is another variation on the theme expressed, in his inimitable way, by Chris Matthews, commenting on the makeup of the Obama Cabinet, Obama's Diverse Cabinet Like "Many Faces Of Benetton," "Clearly Representative Of America":

Matthews said that Obama "is very aware of the picture he's offering as well as the words" and that his picture Monday morning — three women, three African Americans, one Republican (and someone who has worked with Republicans, in Gen. Jones) — sends a clear message.

"Clearly it has the picture we're looking for, many faces of Benetton or whatever you want to call it," Matthews said, "but clearly representative of America more than previous administrations."

See also, President-Elect's Picks Prove Diversity Is More Than Skin-Deep.

The fact that she's gay may be the main focus for some, as part of the overall diversity of the Cabinet. That may be all well and good, but I have to say that this direction by Obama gives me pause. I never subscribed to the claims that were raised by some during the primary (especially supporters of Hillary Clinton) that Obama engaged in sexist behavior.

However, I may have to rethink that position in light of his recent behavior.

Is there a reason that he's named so many women to positions of Cabinet Secretary? Think about it:

Secretary of State -- Hillary Clinton

Homeland Security -- Janet Napolitano

U.N. Ambassador -- Susan Rice

Domestic Policy Council -- Melody Barnes

And in similar positions:

Counsel of Economic Advisers -- Christina Romer

White House Senior Advisor -- Valerie Jarrett

What is it about women always being delegated to positions such as secretaries? Can we ever get past that? Is he going to expect these Secretaries to pour the coffee at Cabinet meetings? Is that what this is all about? I just have to wonder!

Ding Dong the Witch is Dead

Today's Philadelphia Inquirer carries an editorial that may have been written to the tune of "Ding, dong the witch is dead" while proclaiming the end of racism in America. Written by Tom Atkins, publisher of something called commonconservative.com (emphasis on the word common), White guilt? Done; over; history, who shrilly declares:

The Era of White Guilt is over.

This seemingly impossible event occurred because the vast majority of white Americans didn't give a fluff about skin color and enthusiastically pulled the voting lever for a black man. Not just any black man. A very liberal black man who spent his early career race-hustling banks, praying in a racist church for 20 years, and actively working with America-hating domestic terrorists. Yet white Americans made Barack Obama their leader. Therefore, as of Nov. 4, 2008, white guilt is dead.

So today, I'm feeling a little "uppity," if you will. For more than a century, the millstone of white guilt hung around our necks, retribution for slave-owning predecessors. In the 1960s, American liberals began yanking that millstone while sticking a fork in the eye of black Americans, exacerbating the racial divide to extort a socialist solution to the country's problems. But if a black man can become president, exactly what significant barrier is left? The election of Barack Obama destroys the validation of liberal white guilt. The dragon is hereby slain.

So today, I'm feeling a little "uppity," if you will. From this day forward, my tolerance level for having my skin color hustled is exactly ZERO. No more Rev. Jeremiah Wright's "God Damn America," Al Sharpton's Church of Perpetual Victimization, or Jesse Jackson's rainbow racism. Cornel West? You're a fraud. All those "black studies" programs must now teach kids to thank Whitey. And I want that on the final.

* * * *

No more quotas. No more handouts. No more complaining that "the man" is keeping you down. "The man" is now black.

Gee, this man definitely has serious issues, as they say. He sure sounds like some sarcastic sad sack, with a few anger issues thrown in. He may believe that white guilt is over, but he proves that extreme ugly is not. Perhaps he might be someone down on his luck -- a realtor in a bad market, perhaps?

Of course, while he was busily penning his rant, I don't suppose that Atkins happened to read the rest of the Inky lately -- such as the parts describing the racist acts that recently occurred recently at St. Joseph's University and La Salle University here in Philly? At La Salle, several black students said they were assaulted and subjected to racial slurs that after the presidential election. There was also a drawing of a stick figure in a noose that was found in a classroom at St. Joe's. See 2 universities probe racial incidents. See also, Hate crimes up on campuses, group says. But hey, maybe those guys just didn't get the message yet.

Of course, I guess he also missed those articles reporting that the election has caused a significant increase in race-related incidents? Obama election spurs race threats, crimes. As the Christian Science Monitor reports, After Obama's win, white backlash festers in US:

The election of America's first black president has triggered more than 200 hate-related incidents, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center – a record in modern presidential elections. Moreover, the white nationalist movement, bemoaning an election that confirmed voters' comfort with a multiracial demography, expects Mr. Obama's election to be a potent recruiting tool – one that watchdog groups warn could give new impetus to a mostly defanged fringe element.

Most election-related threats have so far been little more than juvenile pranks. But the political marginalization of certain Southern whites, economic distress in rural areas, and a White House occupant who symbolizes a multiethnic United States could combine to produce a backlash against what some have heralded as the dawn of a postracial America. In some parts of the South, there's even talk of secession.

"Most of this movement is not violent, but there is a substantive underbelly that is violent and does try to make a bridge to people who feel disenfranchised," says Brian Levin of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino. "The question is: Will this swirl become a tornado or just an ill wind? We're not there yet, but there's dust on the horizon, a swirling of wind, and the atmospherics are getting put together for [conflict]."

And that newly constructed black church that burned down on election eve? A Time of Hope, Marred by an Act of Horror. I suppose that's one way to eliminate those segregated churches.

Thankfully racism is a thing of the past. If that's the case, the only thing we need to rid ourselves of are conservative haters, like Atkins. Without the vile, angry, hate-filled whining of conservatives, life would be good.

(Via Crooks and Liars, since I no longer read the opinion page of the Inquirer).

God Is Not Gay

The marriage of Church & State is nowhere more evident than the concerted attempt by the Mormon, Catholic and evangelical Churches to outlaw gay marriage in California.

Rather than staying true to their mission of faith, and spreading god's word, these churches have bastardized Christianity, making religion a mockery of the fundamentals of faith. I somehow don't think God is too happy -- or gay -- about how he has been co-opted in this way.

I wrote about this issue earlier this week, see Wedding Bell Blues. However, it appears that the passage of the same sex amendment in California and elsewhere has worked to galvanize opponents of the ban.

Rallies support the repeal of Prop 8 are being held in cities across the country today, including here in Philly at City Hall across from Love Park. See Taking It To The Streets. See also, Join the Impact for information on rallies across the country.

The intensity of the effort which the Mormon & Catholic Churches put forward is astounding, by contributing time and money to ensure that the ban was passed. The NYTimes describes it, in Mormons Tipped Scale in Ban on Gay Marriage:

As proponents of same-sex marriage across the country planned protests on Saturday against the ban, interviews with the main forces behind the ballot measure showed how close its backers believe it came to defeat — and the extraordinary role Mormons played in helping to pass it with money, institutional support and dedicated volunteers.

“We’ve spoken out on other issues, we’ve spoken out on abortion, we’ve spoken out on those other kinds of things,” said Michael R. Otterson, the managing director of public affairs for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as the Mormons are formally called, in Salt Lake City. “But we don’t get involved to the degree we did on this.”

The California measure, Proposition 8, was to many Mormons a kind of firewall to be held at all costs.

“California is a huge state, often seen as a bellwether — this was seen as a very, very important test,” Mr. Otterson said.

First approached by the Roman Catholic archbishop of San Francisco a few weeks after the California Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in May, the Mormons were the last major religious group to join the campaign, and the final spice in an unusual stew that included Catholics, evangelical Christians, conservative black and Latino pastors, and myriad smaller ethnic groups with strong religious ties.

The Catholic Church has long been a haven for haters, starting with the clergy. Apparently, forced celibacy has many downsides besides the obvious -- it certainly doesn't help foster love and kindness. A few years ago, the Catholic church in Boston decided to stop adoptions as part of its Catholic Charities mission, rather than place kids with gays. See Jesus Weeps. And since the election, the Church is penalizing members who supported Obama. SC's Father Newman says whoever voted for Obama shouldn't receive Holy Communion. See also, U.S. Bishops Urged to Challenge Obama. As I mentioned the other day, the Mormon Church also has a long history of bigotry. And apparently, it has secretly been involved for many years with the Catholic Church to try to oppose gay unions. Prop 8: DEVASTATING internal memo from the LDS Church. Perhaps that's why the Catholic Church is experiencing such a loss of members and why "unaffiliated" or no religious preference is gaining in this country, according to a recent Pew study on faith. See Swing Shift.

Along with the rallies scheduled for today, there have been numerous protests and boycotts of business that supported the ban. It apparently took many of the Mormon and other business who contributed to the cause by surprise that there would be repercussions for their actions. The Economic Learning Curve For Businesspeople Who Supported Prop 8. See also, Marriott or Sarah Palin? You decide.

I say this is The Way. Change occurs through the pocketbook much more than any appeal to fairness, justice or morality. The protests to open private clubs like the all-male Union League in the 80's never got anywhere until women got smart and started boycotting such discriminatory venues. As I said in another context, sometimes an ecomonics lesson is needed:

Way back when, when the private clubs still excluded women from membership, what got the clubs to change was not the protests or complaining by women about discrimination. These were conservative men who felt totally justified with their exclusionary policies. They sat in their female-free lounges, drinking hot toddies while discussing freedom of association. No, what finally worked was the boycott of the clubs. Women convinced their employers and colleagues not to hold events or frequent places that banned women. They ended up changing the policies because of the economics of it all -- it hurt business -- rather than because it was the right thing.

Finally, perhaps in an attempt to distract from the underlying religious support, there has been an attempt to suggest that the huge black turnout in favor of Obama is responsible for the passage of the Prop 8 ban. For example, Andrew Sullivan of The Atlantic's Daily Dish made this argument, see New Obama Voters And Prop 8. However, Nate Silver of FiveThirtyEight.com, the go-to guy for election projections, reviews the statistics on black turnout & finds that the result was age, not race. As he said in Prop 8 Myths:

At the end of the day, Prop 8's passage was more a generational matter than a racial one. If nobody over the age of 65 had voted, Prop 8 would have failed by a point or two. It appears that the generational splits may be larger within minority communities than among whites, although the data on this is sketchy.

The good news for supporters of marriage equity is that -- and there's no polite way to put this -- the older voters aren't going to be around for all that much longer, and they'll gradually be cycled out and replaced by younger voters who grew up in a more tolerant era. Everyone knew going in that Prop 8 was going to be a photo finish -- California might be just progressive enough and 2008 might be just soon enough for the voters to affirm marriage equity. Or, it might fall just short, which is what happened. But two or four or six or eight years from now, it will get across the finish line.

Of course, the last word on this issue is best presented by Stephen Colbert, in an interview with Dan Savage:

The Pennsylvania Shuffle

Many years ago, James Carville famously said that Pennsylvania was made up of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh with Alabama in between, which has long been part of the lore of the state's politics, with the two larger cities seen as more progressive, with the mix of suburbs, rural communities and small cities and towns that lean more Republican and offer far less racial diversity.

The PA GOP is apparently trying to change that image. That is, they don't want Pittsburgh or Philly excluded.

First, there was the McCain volunteer who falsely claimed to be attacked & mugged by a black male, who was provoked by the sight of a McCain bumper sticker on her car. See McCain volunteer admits to hoax. Despite denials by the party, the hoax, with its racial overtones, was pushed by the McCain campaign in the media. Time for Answers.

Then, Philadelphia decided to get in on the act, by sending an email to 75,000 Jewish voters in the state, warning that electing Obama could lead to a second Holocaust. As noted by the Caucus, Pennsylvania Republicans Send False Anti-Obama E-mail:

A new e-mail making the rounds among Jewish voters in Pennsylvania this week falsely alleged that Mr. Obama “taught members of Acorn to commit voter registration fraud,’’ and equated a vote for Senator Barack Obama with the “tragic mistake” of their Jewish ancestors, who “ignored the warning signs in the 1930’s and 1940’s.”

At first blush, it was typical of the sorts of e-mails floating around with false, unsubstantiated and incendiary claims this year.

But where most of the attack e-mails against Mr. Obama have been mostly either anonymous or from people outside of mainstream politics, this one had an unusually official provenance: It was sponsored by the Pennsylvania Republican Party’s “Victory 2008” committee.

And it was signed by several prominent McCain supporters in the state: Mitchell L. Morgan, a top fund-raiser; Hon. Sandra Schwartz Newman, a [former PA Supreme Court judge &] member of Mr. McCain’s national task-force monitoring Election Day voting, and I. Michael Coslov, a steel industry executive.

Of course, the PA GOP is trying to distance itself from the email once it was exposed. However, McCain's Pennsylvania communications director, Peter Feldman, is the man at the center of both incidents, see Feldman Speaks -- But Not About Hoax.

It's apparently all part of McCain's new strategy to carry the Keystone state: Racism & Anti-semitism. The GOP's idea of uniting the Commonwealth.

Hold On

Via The Quaker Agitator, is news of the latest decision to hold off putting Troy Davis to death, yet again.

I've written about the case of Troy Davis before, The Quality of Mercy, the Georgia man who has been on death row for 17 years for the murder of a police officer. With compelling questions raised about his guilt or innocence, shortly before he was scheduled to be executed, the US Supreme Court issued a stay, Death is Final.

As noted by SCOTUSblog, Davis’ lawyers urged the Supreme Court to issue a definitive ruling that the Eighth Amendment creates a right of an innocent person not to be executed. The appeal also sought a new hearing to present the new evidence in an effort to spare his life. However, last week the Court declined to take up the appeal, Court clears way for Davis execution, and he was again scheduled for execution this Monday.

A new round of appeals was filed, asserting that the constitution mandates that his claims of innocence be heard before he is put to death, Lawyers launch new appeal effort. For the third time, Davis has successfully put off his date with death.

The Court of Appeals issued the stay on Thursday, Court issues stay of execution for Troy Davis:

On Wednesday, Davis asked the 11th Circuit for permission to pursue a new federal habeas corpus petition — in which an inmate claims he is unlawfully incarcerated. The Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 requires a federal appeals court to approve such a request before such a new lawsuit can be filed.

“Upon our thorough review of the record, we conclude that Davis has met the burden for a stay of execution,” the court said in an order issued by Judges Joel Dubina, Rosemary Barkett and Stanley Marcus.

The judges called the stay “conditional” and said they want to hear more from Davis’ lawyers and state attorneys.

Davis must clear two difficult legal hurdles to win a new round of appeals.

First, he must show that his lawyers could not have previously found the new evidence supporting his innocence no matter how diligently they looked for it. And he must show that the new testimony, viewed in light of all the evidence, is enough to prove “by clear and convincing evidence that…no reasonable fact finder would have found [him] guilty.”

The 11th Circuit added a twist. It asked the parties to address whether Davis can still be executed if he can establish innocence under the second standard but cannot satisfy his burden under the first, due-diligence question.

Unfortunately, despite this news, the remaining hurdles that Troy Davis still faces are still overwhelming. Although there is much evidence that brings his conviction into question, even getting approval to hold a hearing where such testimony would be considered is difficult. The legal standard that must be met before a hearing would be permitted is exceedingly stringent.

Barry Scheck, co-Director (and founder) of the Innocence Project, explains, Troubling Questions Surround Troy Davis Execution Set for Monday, the legal conundrum that imperils Davis' ability even to be heard:

What most people don't know is why Davis can't get a full hearing on the new . . . post-conviction evidence of innocence.

The recantation of a witness alone does not and should not automatically result in a conviction being vacated -- recantation evidence is treated with caution by courts because, after all, the witness is saying he or she once lied under oath, so how can one be so sure they are not just lying again? Nonetheless, many wrongful convictions have been overturned because a recanting witness, testifying in person and under oath before a judge, is found to be credible and the reason for the recantation - often a claim that the original trial testimony was coerced - is found to be persuasive. But in Georgia the recanting witnesses don't get to testify because the state's courts have created an extraordinary Catch-22 rule -- the "purest fabrication" doctrine - that arbitrarily denies evidentiary hearings even when extremely persuasive recantation affidavits have been submitted.

The "purest fabrication" doctrine means that post-conviction hearings don't have to be held to evaluate the credibility of recanting witnesses unless the defendant can show, by extrinsic proof before the hearing is held, that the original testimony was absolutely false.

NPR also recently discussed the issues and hurdles involved in the Troy Davis case.

As a lawyer -- someone who parses words for a living -- I can tell you that the standard required by the term "purest fabrication" is nearly impossible to meet from a legal perspective. I've spent plenty of time negotiating the use of "best" vs. "reasonable" efforts language in corporate agreements, so I can attest that word usage in the law can be significant. What may seem to be a simple statement to a non-lawyer is often laden with meaning in a legal setting.

And yet, when a life is at stake, it is unconscionable to impose a standard that impairs the ability to get at the truth. I am somewhat heartened by the fact that the Court of Appeals requested that the parties address the question whether a person who may be able to establish innocence may nonetheless be denied an opportunity to establish his innocence because of a procedural requirement.

In other words, are we as a society willing to permit an innocent man to die merely to satisfy some legal rule that may prevent the truth from ever being discovered? And if so, what does that say about us?

The Voter Gauntlet

I have been angered and saddened by the level of bigotry and hatred that has been encouraged and incited by the McCain/Palin campaign which, despite token protestations by McCain, shows no signs of dissipating as we get closer to November 4th.

Increasing the level of divisiveness certainly does not promote "Country First," since the next President (whoever it may be) will have a difficult time uniting the country after the election in this great time of need. However, the intensity of partisanship and hatred has soared to the point where there have been incidents of violence, which will no doubt increase as election day draws near. John McCain should be ashamed by his conduct and despite his attempts to disparage John Lewis' remarks about the campaign tactics being akin to those of George Wallace, he knows he's right.

The sickness of some McCain supporters is poignantly in evidence by the actions of the vile individuals who shot a bear in the head and dumped it on the Western Carolina University campus, draped with a pair of Obama campaign signs.

However, the real despair that I feel for the future of our country was the jarring sight the protesters lined up like a gauntlet, harassing and heckling those who were guilty of nothing more than trying to exercise their right to vote in North Carolina. And, of course, the southern sheriff monitoring the protest was not bothered by the mob. McCain supporters heckle early voters.

In an excellent piece on this issue, Steve Benen of the Washington Monthly describes the scene (with video) and what it portends, at Heckling Voters:

I've seen comedians get heckled at comedy clubs. I've seen athletes get heckled at sporting events. I've never even heard of voters getting heckled. And yet, McCain/Palin supporters keep finding new and creative ways to undermine democratic norms.

The Washington Times, a self-described conservative paper, reported today on a polling site in North Carolina where "a group of loud and angry protesters ... shouted and mocked the voters as they walked in." The voters were mostly black, and the "angry protesters" were "nearly all were white."

Stop and think about that for a second. In the United States, in the 21st century, we have Republican activists protesting a presidential election. McCain/Palin supporters have taken to heckling, mocking, and shouting at people who want to participate in the democratic process. Literally.

And when they're not trying to intimate voters at polling places, Republican activists are slashing voters' tires, kicking journalists to the ground, attacking middle-aged women going door to door on Obama's behalf, and vandalizing ACORN offices. And, of course, the unabashed racism is common.

The mind reels.

The mind does reel. McCain is definitely channeling George -- and not just George Bush. There's more than a hint of George Wallace in him.

The Real October Surprise?

As I (and many others) have observed recently, see Hatefest, McCain's campaign has unleashed a wave of racial hatred that is despicable. In a last desperate attempt to save himself from possible resounding defeat, McCain has responded as Hillary did at the end of the Democratic primary. Made the race about race.

Despite the vicious virulence shown by his supporters, he and Sarah Palin have, intentionally in my opinion, incited racial and ethnic hatred. His feeble protestations have been woefully inadequate in light of the level of venom that has been exhibited (see poster above for example). They are fully responsible for the conduct that they have incited and encouraged. No plausible deniability allowed, in my opinion.

And yet, despite this, I have begun to wonder if McCain is really trying to throw the race. When I'm wearing my conspiracy theory beret, I wonder whether he is intentionally trying to lose.

I recall reading a conservative commentator some time ago, who said that true conservatives are better as outsiders, exposing the excesses of the party in power. This is especially true now, when whoever assumes the mantle of the Presidency is going to be confronted with some of the most difficult issues we have faced, with painful options being the only options. With our short memory span, the problems will soon be the fault of the Democrats, with the fact that they began during the Bush years soon forgotten.

For some time now, the Bush Administration has been trying to kick the can on a number of disastrous messes it has created.

The Iraq War is a tremendous quagmire that will have to be untangled by whomever occupies the White House in January. As has been suggested by liberal bloggers since it first began, the surge was a stop gap measure to push the day of reckoning to a new Administration. The six month surge has continued for close to 2 years. No matter who is in charge when we pull out, it won't be pretty. Better to be on the outside, criticizing how's its handled, than the party in charge being blamed for what happens.

And, of course, the crisis in the economy is the latest disaster to befall us. A solid majority of the country thinks we're headed for a depression and I'm not sure I disagree. The various bailout measures, I fear, are yet again intended to kick the can forward until the election, so that the new President receives the gift that keeps giving far into the future. And now that it has spread to a world-wide crisis, no one knows where it will lead.

Every once in a while, during the course of his campaign, John McCain has said or done something that has made me wonder, is he really trying to lose this thing?

He can't just say, I quit, after all. So, he carries on, half-heartedly, throwing out little malapropisms to make people wonder if he's losing it. He acts like a grouchy old man, which isn't hard to do at this point, which also gives people pause. He vilifies the press, which has always been his base.

And then, when the poll numbers aren't sufficiently down for him, he does something truly outrageous. He picks Palin. Palin certainly has energized the conservative base. But in the end, the right wing extremists were going to vote for McCain anyway. Like those on the liberal left, they could not envision the other party in power, so they would reluctantly go with the flow. On the other hand, moderates and independents would be expected to reject someone so extreme. And, even without much vetting, McCain had to be aware of her Troopergate investigation. The investigation that was expected to issue it's report shortly before the election. And, not surprisingly, it found Sarah guilty as charged.

During the last Obama/McCain debate, he said something that again made me pause. He said that there would have to be cuts to medicare and social security. Even if true, no politician who wants to be elected would ever suggest that these favored social programs be tinkered with. A few years ago, George Bush almost got run out of town several times when he did his jaunt across the country pushing privatization of social security. And now, with the market in the toilet, no one wants to be reminded of the folly of that plan.

So, when I read that McCain's latest re-tooled speech was "we've got them just where we want them," I chuckled. My first thought was that that was the first honest thing he's said during the campaign. He's losing -- and that's just where he wants to be.

UPDATE (10/15): In yet another move to support my theory, McCain put aside his guilt by association meme between Bill Ayers and Obama to appoint the head of his transition team, William Timmons. As was reported by Murray Waas at the Huffington Post:

William Timmons, the Washington lobbyist who John McCain has named to head his presidential transition team, aided an influence effort on behalf of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein to ease international sanctions against his regime.

The two lobbyists who Timmons worked closely with over a five year period on the lobbying campaign later either pleaded guilty to or were convicted of federal criminal charges that they had acted as unregistered agents of Saddam Hussein's government.

What a pal, eh?

(The above poster, via My Left Wing, is from a website called Political Byline. Despite claims that he would not remove it, the poster has been deleted from the site. See Obama Noose Poster New Low In Citizen Propaganda)

Hatefest

When John McCain & Sarah Palin started praising Ronald Reagan, it should have been seen as a prelude for what was coming. In other words, when the going gets tough, the GOP brings forth the Good Old Southern Strategy -- racism. Reagan's presidential campaign was coda for the appeal to bigots as a political tactic. In fact, it was two years ago that the op-ed page of the NYTimes engaged in the "Great Debate" over Reagan's racist legacy. See here, here, and here.

And so, it's a case of here we go again.

Sarah Palin is the chief cheerleader of the strategy, Unleashed, Palin Makes a Pit Bull Look Tame:

"For me, the heels are on, the gloves are off," she announced at high noon Monday to a group of Republican donors at the Naples Beach Club.

You betcha.

As the donors sipped their bloody marys and mimosas, she added, in a conspiratorial stage whisper, "I'm sending the message back to John McCain also: Tomorrow night in his debate, might as well take the gloves off."

Darn right.

Of course, it's not only gloves and heels; headgear has a role, too. "Okay, so, Florida, you know that you're going to have to hang on to your hats," she said at a morning rally in Clearwater, "because from now until Election Day, it may get kind of rough."

Say it ain't so, Sarah!

Sen. Lindsey Graham, a McCain confidant, told The Post's David Broder that the campaign would "go down in history as stupid if they don't unleash" Palin. Well, the self-identified pit bull has been unleashed -- if not unhinged.

* * * *

Worse, Palin's routine attacks on the media have begun to spill into ugliness. In Clearwater, arriving reporters were greeted with shouts and taunts by the crowd of about 3,000. Palin then went on to blame Katie Couric's questions for her "less-than-successful interview with kinda mainstream media." At that, Palin supporters turned on reporters in the press area, waving thunder sticks and shouting abuse. Others hurled obscenities at a camera crew. One Palin supporter shouted a racial epithet at an African American sound man for a network and told him, "Sit down, boy."

As noted by the Washington Post, the rally to rally the racists has brought out the uglies in full force. Josh Marshall of TPM observes, Who They Are, What They're About:

So we have McCain today getting his crowd riled up asking who Barack Obama is and then apparently giving a wink and a nod when one member of the crowd screams out "terrorist."

And later we have Sarah Palin with the same mob racket, getting members of the crowd to yell out "kill him", though it's not clear whether the call for murder was for Bill Ayers or Barack Obama. It didn't seem to matter.

These are dangerous and sick people, McCain and Palin. Whatever it takes. Stop at nothing.

As I said before, it's the GOP way. Before Rove was Reagan. Republicans perfected the code words to appeal to racists as a policy to sway voters long before a real life black democratic presidential candidate was ever considered to be viable. If it worked against white liberals, why not expect that it would succeed against the real deal?

And of course, Sarah Palin is the perfect foil to roil the haters. After all, she comes from the land of rural radicals and white supremacists, Intolerance thrives in Palin's Pacific Northwest:

Despite her efforts to portray herself as an average, small-town, 'folksy' American, Sarah Palin's political views - ardently pro-gun, pro-censorship, antichoice and antigay - make John McCain's conservative credentials pale in comparison. What few observers have said, however, is these beliefs are not just extreme - they are radical, and even bear a comparison with some of the most notorious 'rural radicals' of our time.

It has been years since groups such as the Montana Militia, the Posse Comitatus and the Sagebrush Rebels, and individuals such as Terry Nichols and Ted Kaczynski have made us wonder why so many 'angry white men' populated our rural regions. Many of us have forgotten the threat once posed by domestic terrorists and instead have turned our attention to foreign terrorists. But we should never forget that in the late 20th century, ultra-Christian, antistatist and white-supremacist groups flourished in the states of the Pacific Northwest - called by many the 'Great White Northwest' - the very region that Sarah Palin and her family call home.

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But the region also must be defined by its history of intolerance, resentment, antistatism and violence. Appearing in the region in the 1980s and 1990s were some of the most notorious "hate radicals" of our time: militia groups, survivalists, Identity Christians, secessionists, white supremacists and others.

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There is no evidence that Palin was ever affiliated with white-supremacist groups during her years in Idaho or at home in Alaska. On the other hand, the beliefs of ultraconservative, evangelical churches like her family's come dangerously close to those of the Christian Identity movement of those years. Likewise, Palin's husband was a member of a political party whose members favored secession for Alaska, suggesting an affiliation with radical antistatism.

Jonathan Valencia also has a round up of racist rant at PALIN LAND: The Gloves And The Hoods Are Off.

Some have argued that Palin/McCain should not be held responsible for the nasty conduct of those in attendance at campaign rallies. See, e.g., Palin McCain Thuggism Pt.2. I would ordinarily agree with that view, except in the case where, as here, the campaign intentionally promotes such a reaction based upon the subliminal messages sent by the candidates. After the gloves are removed, the blood is on their hands. Shaun Mullen suggests the same, saying:

[It] is incumbent on McCain and Palin to state unequivocally that hateful outbursts will not be tolerated and do not reflect their views.

We're waiting.

See John & Sarah: We're Waiting.

In the latest racist eruption, where McCain's campaign co-chair referred to Obama as a "man of the street," Josh Marshall queried, How Long Till The N-Word?.

My guess is that one's already a been there, done that moment.

(Cartoon via Pat Bagley, The Salt Lake Tribune)