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After suicides, Mormon leader rants against gays


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Human Rights Campaign

 


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 last Sunday 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,

Joe Solmonese
Joe Solmonese
President

~ my 2cents ...

TGIF ….&some News


My rant …sorry for the mis info this morn … the 60million dollar issue is addressed in an article on the blog …read it

Today we are not just talking about class war but the Republican Tea party has been able to stir up public dissent and obviously if given the opportunity will:  put Corporations ahead of the people  ,continue race baiting, using fear and hate to make points to win in November and it is starting to get under my skin. I know that this same crap happened when folks were debating how competent Palin was and if you were watching “the Media” played her as the spoiler ready to go. It was upsetting that so many had that same tingle going up their leg but with all the noise coming from so many places common sense prevailed. The question is will people come to their senses before making their final decision on Nov.2nd or will we get played and succumb to repeal, replace, and an elimination of what America is. Will someone tell me what happened to our democracy that people would much rather vote for a looney tunes then those who truly have the people, the country in mind before profits and purity ideology….

When will Republican constituents finally get tired of do as we say not as we do mentally?

This morning while on the bus, I  picked up on a possible shady move by Republican Governor Christie that should show all of us one of several reasons  why we should not trust Republicans and why our economy has yet to improve. The money already spent and jobs lost from possibly killing the Hudson Tunnel project is an act that is reprehensible. The actions from  Governor Christie plus major Corporations who seemingly are the ones who create jobs …are clearly holding out, outsourcing and refusing to be apart of the economic solution.  They have quickly become an even bigger problem now that we are 2weeks away from the mid-term elections and if there is such a thing as fair and balanced all those who have dumped, solicited and took foreign money will be found out and be subjected to the rule of law. The Supreme Court, specifically Justice Roberts and the law he helped to enact which put Corporations on the same playing field as an individual seriously needs vetting.  To continue …Since we only have a couple of weeks left before the mid-term elections the rants probably will be about the crap being said done or the videos being made by the Republican Tea Party that are questionable at best silly though not funny and offensive and racially moved. When i registered to vote it was to be a democrat, there was no question because my parents made it clear exactly which side of the aisle Republicans stand and why. It was clear then and now it has become  even more apparent in this year of 2010 it is an American duty to vote for politicians that work for the greater good…People need to ask themselves what qualities are needed to do the peoples business not just a select few but for All Americans. The vote on November 2nd will be a vote for a Congress that will do more research before forcing a pre-emptive strike and going into war. someone open to new science…like stem-cell research, admitting that there are enough gays in congress and other parts of the political arena that the laws need to be changed, someone willing to say that women and men should be paid the same and change it, admit that minorities are not represented on all levels and change it , who have not lost  compassion for others and are willing to stand up and speak out for the middle and lower class. The things we are going through are all non-partisan realities… we are living in a different world…one that requires us to come together and decide as a human race, not as democrats or republicans; at least that is what the American public use to think but after losing power to the Democratic Party in 2008 and having the first African-American President the Republican Tea Party has decided to go not just extreme but use discrimination as a threat to all those who are non-white i guess because I personally cannot think of anything else they can use. The mid-term elections were called the year of the woman, Republican Tea Party crazy women that is and got to say as a woman they not only offend me just exactly how Sarah Palin did back in 2008 with strange comments. It is offensive and apparently folks on the right of center would rather have the crazies in power and while the comments are outlandish and those of us with common sense say wow that is crazy but feel, no one could take this stuff too crazy. The fact is something ugly is going on out there and it is stirring up people to vote for a different party right in the middle of a recession just because the corrections have not happened yet. It is sad that folks think for even one moment that years of financial deregulation, Wall Street bets, and outsourcing would only take 2yrs to fix but when people actually start to believe that the Republican Party has more knowledge or trust to get us back on track we all have to wonder if people have lost their minds. I have to say -WTF because the house of Bush took office with a surplus and the end of his 2nd term he gave up his power with America just about ready to fall of the edge of a ditch. It is clear that folks just do not get that it will take time to fix our economy and right now if you are even paying attention the trickle down that Republicans talk about just ain’t happenin it didn’t then and it isn’t now … people need to understand that Corporations are holding back their funds until they get their way and who is suffering because of this -All Americans not just the democratic side of the issues. I cannot tell anyone how upsetting that states continue to lay off Teachers,firefighters, emts and the police …

What information do constituents of the Republican Tea party need …what will happen if they shut down the govt- what will happen to your family if they do repeal everything and more importantly what will your neighborhood look like when the chaos reaches your town.
im just sayin

“It is important to bear in mind that political campaigns are designed by the same people who sell toothpaste and cars.” — Noam Chomsky.

Other News …

**A NJ Gov killed the Hudson Tunnel project…after a visit from sec of transportation and has stated he will reconsider

**Gov Charlie Christie axes 60million dollars in projects

**a 6.4 earthquake in AK with several large aftershocks

**Cnn’s ed rollins says the hicky ad was an independent expenditure-the viewer/voter does not know, care or understand how that is suppose to explain away that stupid ad

**Paris decides to permanently ban burqa’s

**Tweetforpeace

**James Jones will step down as Nat’l sec adviser Donilon likely to replace him

**Facts: …95thousand govt jobs were lost -64thousand Private Sector jobs gained …unemployment is 9.6 for most …question is why are stocks doing so well, banks won’t lend, corporations outsourcing not being considered part of the problem

**Extortion …Cali Police have told JerryBrown that they have decided to hold their votes or will give their votes to Meg Whitman unless he changes his policy concerning their pensions

**Tennessee – Titanic Museum

**BankofAmerica and PNC have decided to put a moratorium on home foreclosures

**Tonite NYC Emmy Awards

**Cali…Knottsberry Farm -RollerCoaster accident

**Judge upholds President Obama’s HCR law

**Hurricane Otto forms in the Atlantic

CSPAN …

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~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Reality need not apply


Media Matters for America

Reality need not apply: Fox continues to deny aid to poor is stimulative

http://mediamatters.org/research/201010070027

Fox News hosts and contributors have recently dismissed estimates of food stamp programs’ stimulative effect on the economy as “some strange multiplier effect study,” “liberal math” and a “complicated economic multiplier theory.” In fact, economists agree that food stamps are one of “the most effective ways to prime the economy’s pump.”

Malkin, Gingrich and Varney all dismiss economic theory to continue attacking food stamps

Malkin falsely claims “the only thing that these programs stimulate, of course, is a bigger government.” On the October 7 edition of Fox News’ Fox & Friends, co-host Steve Doocy stated that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said of food stamps: “It is the biggest bang for the buck when you do food stamps and unemployment insurance.”  Fox News contributor Michelle Malkin replied by saying she would “like to know which economist [House Speaker Nancy Pelosi] is talking to. Of course, she’s promoting some strange multiplier effect study to argue this.” Malkin concluded by falsely claiming “the only thing that these programs stimulate, of course, is bigger government.”

Varney dismisses economic consensus regarding stimulative nature of food stamps as a “complicated economic multiplier theory.” Earlier on Fox & Friends, Fox Business Network anchor Stuart Varney dismissed Pelosi’s statement as “the complicated economic multiplier theory that they’re bringing in here.” Varney claimed “the evidence that’s before us” showing that a high proportion of the unemployed are on food stamps and unemployment is still high shows “it would seem you don’t get bigger bang for the buck.”

Varney hosts Santorum to attack food stamps and claim that “the numbers are phony.” On the October 7 edition of Fox Business Network’s Varney & Company, contributor Tracy Byrnes attributed Pelosi’s claim to “the health care calculator that they use…the keys are not working correctly if she’s thinking this is the best bang for our buck.” Fox News contributor Rick Santorum then stated of Pelosi’s claim: “So if that’s the case, why don’t we turn the whole economy over to the government have them pay out all of this money and have a great multiplier effect. It doesn’t work and in fact there have been studies done show just the opposite.” Santorum further claimed “I don’t know where she’s getting the funny numbers, the calculator is not working as Tracy said, but the numbers are phony.”

Gingrich: “I don’t understand how liberal math turns one dollar into $1.79.” On the October 6 edition of Fox News’ On the Record with Greta Van Susteren, Fox News contributor Newt Gingrich said:

I carry around a bumper sticker that says two plus two equals four, so I’d be very curious how a dollar given to somebody becomes $1.79. And I think if we could get that to work at the U.S. Treasury, so if people gave the treasury $1,000, it became $1,790, we could pay off the federal debt and never worry about spending or anything. Somehow, I don’t understand how liberal math turns one dollar into $1.79.

Economists widely acknowledge stimulative nature of food stamps

Elmendorf: “Nutrition assistance” would “have a significant impact on GDP.” In January 27, 2009, written testimony before the House Budget Committee, CBO Director Douglas Elmendorf stated that “[t]ransfers to persons (for example, unemployment insurance and nutrition assistance) would … have a significant impact on GDP.” He added: “Because a large amount of such spending can occur quickly, transfers would have a significant impact on GDP by early 2010. Transfers also include refundable tax credits, which have an impact similar to that of a temporary tax cut.”

Zandi: “[E]xtending food stamps are the most effective ways to prime the economy’s pump.” In his July 24, 2008, written testimony before the House Committee on Small Business, economist Mark Zandi, who advised John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign, stated that “extending food stamps are [sic] the most effective ways to prime the economy’s pump.” Zandi further explained: “People who receive these benefits are very hard-pressed and will spend any financial aid they receive within a few weeks. These programs are also already operating, and a benefit increase can be quickly delivered to recipients.” Zandi included with his testimony a table stating that a “Temporary Increase in Food Stamps” had the highest “Fiscal Economic Bank for the Buck” of any other potential stimulus provision he analyzed, providing a $1.73 increase in real GDP for every dollar spent.

Attack is the latest in Fox’s ongoing assault on aid to poor and unemployed

Fox regularly ignores economic consensus to attack unemployment insurance. As Media Matters has noted, Fox regularly ignores economic consensus and analysis to baselessly attack unemployment insurance. For example:

  • On February 22, Hannity falsely suggested the Federal Reserve said unemployment benefit extension increased unemployment.
  • During the May 15 edition of Fox News’ Bulls & Bears, host Brenda Buttner claimed Americans were “turning down good paying jobs to stay on unemployment. I wish I were kidding.” During the tease, the on-screen graphic said “Cut off freeloaders?”
  • On July 2, Fox & Friends guest host Alisyn Camerota didn’t understand the “logic” behind Pelosi’s claim that unemployment insurance “injects demand into the economy” and “is a job creator.” Guest co-host Clayton Morris said that “would love to know what economists say that.” Co-host Dave Briggs claimed there were a “few holes in that logic to say the least.”
  • On the July 15 edition of Fox News’ Fox & Friends, co-host Brian Kilmeade hosted Partnership Staffing Inc. CEO Bill Auchmoody, who claimed that unemployment benefits prevent unemployed workers from searching for jobs. During the segment, Kilmeade played Pelosi’s comments and asked Auchmoody to comment. Auchmoody stated: “I don’t know how an unemployment check creates jobs. You know, businesses create jobs. The economy and the government getting out of the way, in my opinion, helps create jobs.”  Kilmeade concluded the interview by telling Auchmoody that “maybe”  the elimination of “unemployment benefits will get people to sober up and take some of your offers.”
  • On the August 10 edition of Glenn Beck, Beck said “Nancy Pelosi actually made the point that unemployment payment stimulate [sic] the economy.” After playing the clip, Beck suggested Pelosi was wrong that unemployment insurance creates jobs by saying “have you ever worked for a guy who was saying ‘hang on just a second, I’m going to pay you out of my unemployment check.”
  • On the August 31 edition of Fox & Friends, Fox Business host Stuart Varney cited a Wall Street Journal op-ed by Harvard economics professor and Hoover Institute senior fellow Robert Barro to claim that, in Varney’s words, “If we had not extended unemployment benefits to 99 weeks from the standard 26 weeks, [Barro] says, unemployment would be at 6.8%, not the 9.5%.” According to Varney, Barro argued that “you extend benefits like this and it discourages people from going out to look for work especially, you know, the start of the benefit period because it’s nearly two years.”
  • On the September 16 edition of Fox News’ Fox & Friends, Stuart Varney attacked the unemployed by falsely claiming that rises in disability were due to the unemployed committing fraud. In fact, what led to the increase in claims from 2008 to 2009 was legislation that President Bush signed into law in 2008, which changed the ways that the requirements for being disabled could be interpreted. The growth in the program was expected and is the result of intentional changes to policy which make it easier to qualify.
  • During the September 29 edition of Fox & Friends, co-host Gretchen Carlson asked “when will the government turn off government spending and extend tax cuts to stimulate the private sector.” Carlson was referring to a program that “directly paid the salaries of unemployed people so they could get jobs in government, at nonprofit organizations and at many small businesses.
~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Federal Trade Commission Stops 60 Million Dollar Tax Relief Scam


 

An FTC complaint filed against a company for misrepresenting tax relief services to customers has resulted in a temporary restraining order and the organization’s assets being frozen.

Called American Tax Relief LLC, the company used TV and radio commercials, as well as Internet advertising to claim that for a fee it can settle people’s state and federal tax debts.

To trick consumers it abused the name of a real IRS program, that allows people to pay less than what they owe, but which only applies in very limited circumstances.

“The IRS is currently accepting a fraction of back taxes owed to them (sic) for those who qualify.

“The IRS is allowing the people with delinquent tax liabilities a ONE-TIME opportunity to settle the debt ONCE AND FOR ALL.

“But at the same time, the IRS does not advertise, promote or even voluntarily suggest this program,” one of the company’s ads claimed.

People were instructed to call a toll-free hotline, where after a few questions, they were told that they qualify for either the “Offer in Compromise” program or a “penalty abatement.”

The FTC says the company charged between $3,200 to $25,000 to resolve allegedly people’s tax problems, when in fact they couldn’t do it.

According to the IRS, a penalty abatement is only considered when there are very serious reasons to justify late payments, such as natural disasters, severe injury or death.

Also, the “Offer in Compromise” program is only available to people as a last resort and after extensive background checks have been performed to determine that no other payment option remains.

In April 2010, federal agents executed a criminal search warrant at the company’s Beverly Hills office and seized funds from an account, as well as a Ferrari from one its owners.

The complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, and names American Tax Relief LLC, Alexander Seung Hahn, Joo Hyun Park, and his parents Young Soon Park and Il Kon Park, as defendants.

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

CEOs Hate This Site!

 

Search Working America’s Job Tracker to find corporate traitors in your area.

Every day, more U.S. workers are told “You’re fired!” Not because they did something wrong—and not because the work they do isn’t needed anymore—but because their jobs are being shipped overseas.

So our friends at the AFL-CIO’s community affiliate Working America created Job Tracker—a website that exposes which companies are guilty of outsourcing our jobs. Just enter your ZIP code, and Job Tracker will find corporate traitors near you.

Search your area for companies that have sent jobs overseas, risked the safety and health of workers or violated their rights.

When we see the plant near us closing or mass layoffs in the next town over, it’s hard to know the disturbing scope of the problem—after all, corporations don’t want to publicize unpopular, anti-worker actions, and the government doesn’t track every job lost to outsourcing in one easily assessable place.

I was shocked to learn from Job Tracker that 13 companies right in my area are outsourcing jobs, and a shocking 6,515 companies have safety and health violations! Want to know what things are like in your community? Get the stats on greedy companies near you, and report any missing companies you know about.

By making this information public, Working America is putting greedy CEOs on the defensive. For the first time, working people have one place to see the real impact of outsourcing, bad trade deals and currency manipulation. Every corporate traitor Working America exposes—and every company you and your friends, co-workers and family add—makes a stronger case for holding corporations accountable.

So check out Job Tracker, and if any companies are missing, tell us about them. We’ll research your submissions and add them to the site when we verify the information.

In solidarity,

Manny Herrmann
Online Mobilization Coordinator, AFL-CIO

P.S. Corporations aren’t going to stop moving jobs out of America unless we force them to stop. That starts with compiling concrete information on just how much corporate greed is costing America’s workers. Check out Job Tracker, and help us take the first step by shining a light on outsourcing, safety and health violations and labor law violations.