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The recent suicides of several gay teenagers have made national headlines. Yet this is the moment – of all moments – that a top Mormon leader decides to broadcast a verbal rampage against gays to millions of viewers. I couldn’t believe it either. Boyd K. Packer, the second-highest leader in the Mormon Church, said in a sermon broadcast to millions yesterday that same-sex attraction is “impure and unnatural” and can be overcome, and that same-sex unions are morally wrong. Do we need more proof than the suicides of teens as young as 13 that words like these can do unimaginable damage? We cannot stay silent. By speaking out together, we can show the Mormon Church hierarchy that it has literally risked the lives of children by inciting their tormentors. And we can ensure that the young people who heard this sermon know that it is scientifically wrong and profoundly misguided. Speaking before 20,000 people and broadcasting to millions more, Packer said same-sex unions are morally wrong and “against God’s law and nature” – and that the church hierarchy would continue to support marriage bans like Proposition 8 (which was funded largely by Mormons). It makes me physically sick to think how many young lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender kids had to sit in those pews and listen to that venom. Comments like these are exactly what makes young LGBT kids think there’s no way out but suicide – that their parents will reject them, that their communities will shun them, and that living openly will bring pain or violence – that even God looks on their very identity as a sin to be “overcome.” And these lies fuel the bullying, harassment, and violence that plague our schools. Packer’s lies have been disproven over and over again by science and by the spiritual experience of Americans who know their LGBT neighbors and care about them. We know sexual orientation cannot and should not be changed and that two people falling in love is beautiful, not evil. But unless we refute these lies whenever groups like the anti-LGBT National Organization for Marriage (NOM) and the Mormon Church repeat them – whether through letters like this or projects like HRC‘s www.NOMexposed.com – we risk another young person hearing them and believing that LGBT people are “defective.” And that belief contributes to violence and suicide. Americans are sick of the Mormon hierarchy trying to dictate what they should believe. They know commitment and love when they see it. That’s why they are turning away in droves from limitations on their friends’ and neighbors’ freedom to marry. Thank you for helping take a stand for the truth. Sincerely,
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Daily Archives: 10/04/2010
Never underestimate the big money
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Earlier this year, I realized that a powerful coalition of right-wing organizations would target me in the upcoming election. Now this has become a reality.
My opponent, a virtual unknown in Massachusetts, has suddenly been heavily promoted by a national coalition of right-wing forces. He raised four hundred thousand dollars last month alone and he says that he is expecting a wave of independent expenditures from outside organizations — despite election rules against collaborating with them.
I need your help to oppose these powerful forces.
Last summer at a town hall meeting, I stood up to right-wing activists who outrageously compared President Obama to Adolf Hitler. The Right has never forgiven me for this, and they are now mounting a coordinated attack against me in order to put fear in the heart of anyone show dares stand up to them. I have been named me one of the top “Tea Party Targets” in the country.
The Right desperately wants to defeat me not only because I am outspoken, but because I am effective. Recently, I led successful efforts to pass what the Washington Post called “the most sweeping reform of Wall Street since the Great Depression.” The bill creates strong consumer protections and establishes a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau which will be headed by Elizabeth Warren. We passed this law over the opposition of almost every Republican in Congress and of some of the most powerful institutions in the country.
Now these forces want me to pay for that success. You can help stop them.
We should not underestimate the power of a movement that is fueled by and is the servant of big money. It will use the immense power of negative advertising to convince good and decent Americans that I and other Democrats are actually the cause of many problems that are the product of right-wing engineering. If we do nothing, their lies will take hold.
This election will mark a turning point in our lives. Let us not regret that we did not go to the mat and give all we can for the things we believe.
I will be grateful for your generous support.
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Our biggest campaign
This past weekend I had the great honor to speak at the One Nation Rally in Washington DC. More than 200,000 people had turned out to work for a more united country — one with good jobs and equal justice.
When I stepped up to speak and I saw just how many people were there, I had to ask myself — Where’s that enthusiasm gap I keep hearing about?
For months, talking heads in the media have been telling us that Democrats are doomed. But DFA members never stopped working. We doubled down, knocking on more doors and making more calls than ever before. Now, our hard work is paying off. Polls are turning around for DFA-endorsed candidates Sen. Barbara Boxer in California, Joe Garcia in Florida and many, many more.
Now, we need to double down again to put our progressive heroes over the top. We’re running the biggest Get Out The Vote program in DFA history — call centers, phone bombs, and staff on the ground in more than 30 key races.
If we raise $50,000 by the end of the week, we won’t have to hold anything back. Every dollar raised will go directly to fuel DFA’s progressive Get-Out-The-Vote campaign and deliver victory in November. It’s time to put our progressive heroes over the top. Please contribute today.
Contribute $10 right now to fuel the biggest Get Out The Vote program in DFA history.
Earlier this year, DFA members told us they wanted to see DFA staff on the ground in races across the country, so we’re sending our entire Field Team on campaign leave and we hired five Dean Corps organizers specifically to help recruit volunteers and Get Out The Vote.
With our friends at the PCCC, we’ve opened a full-time campaign call center and recruited hundreds of volunteers for our Call Out The Vote actions. Working together, we’ll generate over 500,000 calls by Election Day.
Combined with the work DFA members are doing on the ground across the country, we’ll generate over 250,000 volunteer hours for DFA-endorsed candidates before Election Day.
It’s your support that helped more than two-thirds of DFA-endorsed candidates win tough primaries this year. Contribute now to help us win again in November.
DFA is the boots on the ground winning elections across the country — contribute to fuel the campaign for progressive victories.
Working together, we can lead progressives to victory and beat the Tea Party once and for all.
Thank you for everything you do.
-Jim
Jim Dean, Chair
Democracy for America
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mindful Monday &some News …VOTE DEMS Nov.2nd
President Obama will be holding meetings with the economic recovery board today.
I would like to encourage all those people who have not Registered to Vote to do so before the end of the day because 10-4-10 is the last for anyone living in Washington State. The need to get out the vote in big numbers on Nov.2nd is not just because tea party members are ahead in quite a few races but we are also competing with Corporate $$ and the decision made by The Supreme Court; specifically Justice Roberts has made it possible for interest groups or Corporations are out spending our Party 7 to 1… incredible and offensive.
This is a pivotal moment, the midterm elections are usually important on the local level but what happens in this years mid-term elections will affect all of our futures in the Democratic Party. We need to get what I call true democrats on the floor of Congress if we are going to achieve that change 53% voted for in 2008. It is my hope that people who are on the fence or those who are frustrated with the Republican Tea Party become educated with what the Democratic party offers and what The Republican Tea Party is doing to us not for us. If you listen to the media rhetoric the message that democrats have to offer gets lost with conservative talking points and poll numbers that clearly are subject to a plus/minus. I watched a political program this weekend and the host stated he had Republicans last week so they would now have the other side’s view, which was fine until he brought on a completely new panel of conservatives to rehash last week and to bash what his democratic guests had to say. The program controlled every aspect of a true political program; where both sides are able to ask questions show their depth of knowledge and allow the other, side to rebut… of course the host did not want that happening right? Anyway, these shows are all too frequent for me and should give anyone pause. It should confirm the idea that most of these candidates on the right cannot perform if or when challenged by a democrat and they play it safe by refusing to talk because as we all know you could be caught saying, doing and acting out in ways that might ruin your campaign. I would say all you have to do is ask Meg Whitman and Christine O’Donnell, obviously two women who need to just step down and out of running for office because they are not qualified for public office of any kind. The near collapse of our economy and the effect it has had on all Americans should be considered non-partisan issues and worked on as Americans yet the Republican Tea Party chooses to offer no cooperation while using Americans as pawns to get just enough done in Congress to make their constituents happy. If you are concerned about the lack of work being done by the Republican Tea Party or the fact that they have made the choice to block, stall, and Voted No to everything that would have improved the state of our economy. If you voted to bring Americans into the 21st Century but Republicans are against issues like: a woman’s right to choose, 18 years old and definitely our future leader, eligible for military service, believes in better education, better health care for all Americans, wants better policies regarding human rights, believes in equal rights for women and minorities, and making a solid effort to change the way the last administration ruled then make sure you and your family get their ballots in the mail or caravan to the voting booths early.
Please help Rock the Vote by going on-line to register to vote and find out what issues you will be voting on in your specific area that will affect you and your family.
im just sayin
Other News …
**Going to Europe? go to: Travel.state.gov for info
**Bernanke Town Hall 3pmET today
**London underground rails workers are on strike …
**The worth of Iraq oil hikes
**Supreme Court is mtg …Violence in Video games …etc
**A runoff in Brazil for President…possibly first female President
**Travel alert London/France
**interview with ron paul states we need to raise retirement age
**11 charged in corruption federal case–allegations are far and wide
Wisconsin DA resigns governor says
CSPAN …
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Pres. Obama Meeting with Economic Advisory Board
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No Regrets
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I don’t have a crystal ball to predict the future.
I can’t tell you exactly how many seats will be won or lost on Election day. But I can tell you that — with your help — I am confident that Democrats will retain our Majority in Congress. The actions we take this week will make a big difference in the ultimate outcome. That is because, as of today, early voting has started in more than half the states. The next 4 days are essential to our success.
Last week, Republican Leader Boehner pledged $1 million to go after House Democrats in tight races. We must match that million before Friday’s deadline to wire money for next week’s ad buys. We can’t afford to fall behind now.
With so many races being called “toss-ups”, every dollar you give will make a difference. Nobody wants to wake up the day after the election regretting that we didn’t do more. It’s getting down to the wire and we have to pull out all the stops to win.
With just 29 days to go until Election Day, we are making the critical, final decisions about where to deploy our field staff and volunteers, provide air cover for our candidates and invest every last dollar in the closing days of the campaign.
We need to make sure we get our message out and get all our voters to the polls.
Onward to Victory,
Chris Van Hollen
DCCC Chairman
P.S. This is one of the most expensive mid-term campaigns in history. I need your immediate support to fully fund our campaigns. Contribute to the Early Voter Rapid Response Fund and help us raise $1 Million to support our courageous candidates. This is so critical that if your contribution is received by Midnight Friday it will be matched dollar-for-dollar by a group of committed Democrats.
Be a Seed for Change 