The Christian Civic League of Maine's Mike Hein calls Pam's House Blend: "a leading source of radical homosexual propaganda, anti-Christian bigotry, and radical transgender advocacy."
He is "praying that Pam Spaulding will "turn away from her wicked and sinful promotion of homosexual behavior."
(CCLM's web site, 10/15/07)
Ex-gay "Christian" activist James Hartline on Pam:
"I have been mocked over and over again by ungodly and unprincipled anti-christian lesbians."
(from "Six Years In Sodom: From The Journal Of James Hartline," 9/4/2006, written from the "homosexual stronghold" of Hillcrest in San Diego).
"Pam is a 'twisted lesbian sister' and an 'embittered lesbian' of the 'self-imposed gutteral experiences of the gay ghetto.'" -- 9/5/2008
Peter LaBarbera of Americans for Truth Against Homosexuality heartily endorses the Blend, calling Pam:
A "vicious anti-Christian lesbian activist." (Concerned Women for America's radio show [9:15], 1/25/07)
"A nutty lesbian blogger." (MassResistance radio show [16:25], 2/3/07)
Pam's House Blend always seems to find these sick f*cks. The area of the country she is in? The home state of her wife? I know, they are everywhere. Pam just does such a great job of bringing them out into the light.
--Impeach Bush
who monitors yours Bevis ?? Just thought I would drop you a line,so the rest of your life is not wasted.
The U.S. Department of State, under Secretary Hillary Clinton, has implemented benefits for partners of foreign service employees. The Blend has obtained the cable sent to employees by the Secretary of State confirming that the implementation this past Friday.
The interim changes to the Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM) referenced below were also forwarded to the Blend and can be read by clicking this link or the image at right. These changes will be added to section 3 FAM 1610 of the manual. Below is the cable of the announcement containing the requirements to obtain the benefits.
R 262320Z JUN 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO ALL DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR POSTS COLLECTIVE
AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI
UNCLAS STATE 066740
FROM U/S KENNEDY
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AMGT, APER
SUBJECT: Implementing Benefits for Same-Sex Domestic Partners of Foreign Service Employees Serving Abroad
Ref: State 063819
1. Last Thursday, the Secretary announced that the Department is extending the full range of legally available benefits to same-sex domestic partners of members of the Foreign Service sent to serve abroad. I am pleased to advise that the implementing changes to the Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM) will be effective for the Department of State on June 26, 2009. If other agencies decide to implement these changes as well, they may choose the same date or any subsequent date.
2. The interim changes to the FAM are available on line at http://hrweb.hr.state.gov/prd/... tic_partners.cfm. We expect them to be published in final within 30 days, following interagency review. We encourage you to review them to gain a fuller understanding of the benefits extended in reftel.
3. To obtain benefits for their same-sex domestic partners, employees must: (1) file an affidavit of eligibility for benefits and obligations (also available at http://hrweb.hr.state.gov/prd/... tic_partners.cfm) and, (2) update their OF-126 (Residency and Dependency Report, see para 6). Please read and consider the affidavit carefully before signing.
4. Domestic partners must also comply with the same security requirements and undergo the same background review as spouses. Domestic partners must also have a valid medical clearance for the post of assignment. Those already at post should follow the procedures for a newly acquired dependent - they will be given access to the overseas health unit for up to 90 days pending completion of their medical clearance. It is important to note that domestic partners must have health insurance as the Department acts only as a secondary payer in event of overseas hospitalization.
5. As per the FAM regulations, the affidavit must affirm, among other things, that the employee and his/her domestic partner:
(a) are each other's sole domestic partner and intend to remain committed to one another indefinitely;
(b) have a common residence, and intend to continue the arrangement;
(c) are at least 18 years of age and mentally competent to consent to contract;
(d) share responsibility for a significant measure of each other's common welfare and financial obligations; (e) are not married to, joined in civil union with, or domestic partners with anyone else; and
(f) are same-sex domestic partners, and not related in a way that would prohibit legal marriage in the State in which we reside.
6. For State employees, both documents should be directed to your Assignment Technician in HR/EX. The OF-126 must be filed electronically. An updated version is available to each employee through his/her GEMS account on HR Online. The signed affidavit can be e-mailed to your assignment technician at "HR-EX-ASU" on the Global Address List or faxed to 202-663-0449. You may file these forms immediately.
7. Employees of other foreign affairs agencies should consult their Human Resources Office for filing instructions. We offer that the OF-0126, available on the Department of State's intranet, might be amended with a pen-and-ink change to add "domestic partner" in the box requesting "relationship".
8. Additional instructions and guidance will be issued in the coming days on specific benefits. In addition, while we are willing to offer diplomatic and official passports to eligible US citizen domestic partners, diplomatic visas and work eligibility for them depends upon host governments. In this regard, bilateral work agreements may have to be renegotiated.
9. As we proceed to implement this important initiative, we welcome any suggestions you may have for improvement.
Just hit my inbox...still nada from the White House, but I'm sure a statement is right on the way.
Secretary's Remarks: In Recognition of Gay and Lesbian Pride Month 2009
In Recognition of Gay and Lesbian Pride Month 2009
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
June 1, 2009
Forty years ago this month, the gay rights movement began with the Stonewall riots in New York City, as gays and lesbians demanded an end to the persecution they had long endured. Now, after decades of hard work, the fight has grown into a global movement to achieve a world in which all people live free from violence and fear, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
In honor of Gay and Lesbian Pride Month and on behalf of the State Department, I extend our appreciation to the global LGBT community for its courage and determination during the past 40 years, and I offer our support for the significant work that still lies ahead.
At the State Department and throughout the Administration, we are grateful for our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees in Washington and around the world. They and their families make many sacrifices to serve our nation. Their contributions are vital to our efforts to establish stability, prosperity and peace worldwide.
Human rights are at the heart of those efforts. Gays and lesbians in many parts of the world live under constant threat of arrest, violence, even torture. The persecution of gays and lesbians is a violation of human rights and an affront to human decency, and it must end. As Secretary of State, I will advance a comprehensive human rights agenda that includes the elimination of violence and discrimination against people based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
Though the road to full equality for LGBT Americans is long, the example set by those fighting for equal rights in the United States gives hope to men and women around the world who yearn for a better future for themselves and their loved ones.
This June, let us recommit ourselves to achieving a world in which all people can live in safety and freedom, no matter who they are or whom they love.
Last week I brought you a scoop about the letter sent to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton by Gays and Lesbians in Foreign Affairs Agencies (GLIFAA), requesting action to work for full recognition of same-sex partners. Over 2,200 GLIFAA members, allies and fellow State Department workers signed the letter.
Tonight I have the release and full letter to Clinton from Rep. Tammy Baldwin, who also calls for the elimination of discriminatory practices against partners of foreign service workers, many of whom place themselves in harm's way serving the U.S. abroad, without many of the rights that opposite-sex partners take for granted. From Baldwin's statement:
Baldwin Calls on Clinton to Change State Dept. LGBT Policies
Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) has asked Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to address inequities in employment practices concerning gay and lesbian State Department employees and to take remedial action.
Former U.S. Ambassador to Romania Michael Guest, a distinguished diplomat, resigned last year from the State Department because of inequitable employment practices. Such disparities "should not be the reason why highly qualified employees leave the State Department at a time when their service is needed more than ever," Baldwin wrote. More than 2,200 government employees, members of the group Gays and Lesbians in Foreign Affairs Agencies (GLIFAA), also sent a letter to Clinton expressing their concerns on this issue.
Citing Secretary Clinton's pledge during her confirmation hearing to examine current policies relating to lesbian and gay employees at the State Department, Baldwin and her colleagues wrote: "As you work to advance America's national security and exemplify this great country's values around the world, we hope you will follow through on this pledge and also work to fully support your diverse workforce."
More below the fold, including an exclusive -- the entire letter from Rep. Baldwin to Sec. Clinton.
It's a new administration and the chance to forge ahead on equality issues that are long overdue. For same-sex partners of diplomats and other foreign service workers who often are stationed in countries where they are in harm's way while representing the United States, they haven't the same rights as opposite couples in the same situation.
Gays and Lesbians in Foreign Affairs Agencies (GLIFAA) has delivered a letter to the new Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, a request to support and work for full recognition of same-sex partners. The president of the organization, J Michelle Schohn, gathered the signatures of nearly 2,200 colleagues and friends across the State Department and foreign affairs agencies in support of the request by GLIFAA. Here is the letter that was delivered to Sec. Clinton today.
The Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton, Secretary of State
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20520
cc: The Honorable Barack Obama, President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Madam Secretary:
We congratulate you on your Senate confirmation, and we look forward to working with you in promoting America's interests and strengthening our national security in this rapidly changing world. Whether assigned stateside or overseas, Civil Service or Foreign Service, active or retired, we are all proud to be serving our nation.
We, the undersigned and representing the diversity of the foreign affairs agencies, would like to bring to your attention a matter that concerns us all. All of us are troubled that our families are not all treated equally and with the same respect. We are concerned that access to the federal health care insurance program is denied to same-sex partners of employees serving in Third World countries with substandard medical care. We question the logic of leaving same-sex partners to fend for themselves during an emergency evacuation of a high danger post. We are embarrassed when the Department will reimburse a variety of moving expenses, including the cost of transporting a pet, when an employee is assigned overseas, but will not do the same for a same-sex partner. We are saddened that individual and community safety are put at risk because full language instruction is not available to same-sex partners. We are uncomfortable that same-sex partners receive less compensation and fewer benefits for performing exactly the same job inside the mission as an opposite-sex spouse, that is, when same-sex partners are given a chance to work.
An order from your office designating same-sex partners as Eligible Family Members (EFMs) could remedy many of the inequalities that these families face. Other remedies will require coordination between the Executive and Legislative branches.
Madam Secretary, we believe that no colleague of ours is a second-class colleague, and no colleague's family is a second-class family. Given your commitment to protecting the safety and promoting the welfare of all Foreign Service families, we ask for your full consideration of our concerns and we hope that a dialogue aimed at ending this unequal treatment can be started.
Your loyal staff
The missive was also sent to those heading up the U.S. Agency for International Development, U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Peace Corps and Millennium Challenge Corporation.
What do you think the response will be from Sec. Clinton's office, and is she ready to speak out for equality now that the rubber meets the road? The host of issues raised in the above letter clearly shows the impact of irrational and illogical institutionalized discriminatory practices that affect the our country's diplomatic effectiveness abroad. Beginning the process of removing these barriers for same-sex couples representing our nation, given the host of other LGBT issues on the table, seems a relatively non-controversial and proactive way to open the dialogue on the Hill, where we know the resistance and spinelessness often lie.
Who did he pick? According to WPIX in New York, it's...
PIX NEWS is being told that Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand is the reported choice of Governor David Paterson to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Hillary Clinton. Two Congressional sources say members of the New York delegation have been invited to join Governor Paterson for the announcement in Albany at noon tomorrow.
Two members of that delegation, agreeing to speak without attribution, confirmed to reporter Marvin Scott that the Governor has telephoned New York's Democratic members of Congress for their views after Caroline Kennedy withdrew herself from consideration. One of the contenders, longterm Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney canceled a scheduled appearance on "PIX News Closeup" tomorrow because of a "conflict," which she did not disclose. She too will be in Albany. According to the sources, Gillibrand, now in her second congressional term, was favored by Secretary of State Clinton herself. Paterson has been under pressure to select a woman.
Kirsten Gillibrand represents New York's 20th Congressional district (upstate counties of Saratoga, Dutchess, Columbia, Rensselaer, Washington, Warren, Delaware, Greene, Essex and Otsego). Upstate representation, as well as pressure to name a woman to the seat, were factors discussed in the media.
There is expected to be a webcast of the event, so stay tuned and check the Governor's web site. If I learn more I'll post it.
How is Gillibrand on LGBT issues? Her web site doesn't say anything about it. She's pro-gun, pro-family farm and wants health care reform. Looking at this site, it's a mixed bag. She supported non-inclusive ENDA.
* Voted YES on prohibiting job discrimination based on sexual orientation. (Nov 2007)
* Re-introduce the Equal Rights Amendment. (Mar 2007)
* Voted YES on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines. (Jan 2007)
* Ensure access to and funding for contraception. (Feb 2007)
* She's a member of the "Blue Dog" Coalition of conservative Democrats. (Nov 2007)
UPDATE: If you look at the HRC scorecard, she scored 80 out of 100. And...
According to the Human Rights Campaign, she voted against the repealing of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" legislation, opposed legislation that would grant equal tax treatment for employer-provided health coverage for domestic partners, opposed legislation to grant same-sex partners of U.S. citizens and permanent residents the same immigration benefits of married couples and opposed legislation to permit state Medicaid programs to cover low-income, HIV-positive Americans before they develop AIDS.
Fail. We can't have an unreliable Dem vote in the U.S. Senate, but that's what the Empire State has now.
This would be a quick way to increase the number of openly LGBT U.S. Senators by 100%.
NY State Assemblyman Daniel O'Donnell was interviewed by friend of the Blend Governor David Paterson yesterday, one of several pols being considered for the Empire State U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Hillary Clinton.
Assemblyman Daniel J. O'Donnell, a Democrat who represents the Upper West Side. Mr. O'Donnell met with Mr. Paterson for about 45 minutes on Monday afternoon in the governor's Midtown office for what Mr. O'Donnell said was his formal interview for the Senate seat.
To say Mr. O'Donnell, known for his active support of gay rights issues, including same-sex marriage, was overly optimistic about his chances would be a stretch. He put his odds of getting the seat at about one in 10, or "about the same as the population of gay people in the world." But Mr. O'Donnell did offer that he believes the governor has yet to settle on a final choice.
"I didn't get the impression that a decision was coming anytime soon," Mr. O'Donnell said. "I have the sense that he was really weighing what people were saying. I can tell when people are listening to me and actually listening, and listening to me just because they're supposed to listen. He seemed to be very intent on focusing on and absorbing what I think my strengths might be."
BTW, I met Assemblyman O'Donnell at the International Gay & Lesbian Leadership Conference in 2007 and he said that visits the Blend whenever he has the chance (I'm sure he doesn't exactly have a lot of time on his hands!). I don't know what O'Donnell's chances are, or what Gov. Paterson is weighing as critical for this seat since the occupant will have to run for the office once the Clinton term is up. Will he go for the historic pick? A sure-fire fundraiser (Kennedy)? It will be interesting to see what the governor chooses to do.
Clinton may be the bad cop to Obama's good cop. Because she is trusted by Pentagon-hugging national security conservatives, she may legitimize his desire to respond to this pivot point in American history with bold strokes rather than incremental ones.
Since this is Pam's House Blend, we will be rating coffee at events -- so let me begin by saying the Starbucks coffee provided for the reporters at the California Delegate Caucus Breakfast of August 25, 2008, was particularly bitter. Perhaps there was a little bit of irony to that, found in the topic of the majority Speaker Pelosi's speech to the Caucus.
The scheduled speakers were Speaker Pelosi and Senator Clinton. So, on one hand it really felt like we were scheduled to listen to "yesterday's news." The rise of Pelosi to Speaker Of The House was two years ago, and, well...Sen. Clinton turned into an also ran this year in her run for president.
Speaker Pelosi talked about the disappointment of some delegates without saying the words "Hillary" or "Clinton" (that's where the bitter irony of the coffee came into play). Speaker Pelosi then stressed confidence and unity, about fairness and opportunity, and then asked us to think about what direction our country is going.
At that point she kind of spun off into a tangent about "dangerous foreign oil," and saying California won't approve new drilling off California's coast, and about how big oil companies want subsidies to drill for oil in the U.S. while they're making record profits. I'm not sure how that will play this year, as the polls I've seen have two-thirds of Americans wanting off-shore drilling.
Then, she spun back to other Democratic issues, stating that if one cared about social security, jobs, healthcare, protecting the environment, education, ending the wars of Iraq and Afghanistan, and national security, and that voting for Sen. John McCain in the wake of disappointment of one's candidate not being the Democratic Party's nominee would be a wrong choice.
Next she talked about Sen. Obama's intelligence and his charisma, and about how California has historically led the way in supporting Democratic change. Finally, in her conclusion, she emphasized how Sen. Obama was the correct candidate for Democratic values.
After her conclusion, as an afterthought to her speech, she mentioned support for marriage equality.
And here's the funny part. The spot in her speech where she mentioned marriage equality was the only part of her speech where she received any applause at all -- where she appeared to have the full attention of the caucus. I think that says something about how the freedom to marry has turned into such an important, Democratic issue for at least the state of California.
After that, Congressman Mike Honda, Vice-Chair of California's Democratic Party spoke -- apparently as one of the replacement speakers for Hillary Clinton. Hey, even if you consider Sen. Clinton an also ran, her first replacement speaker was a pretty poor substitute as a speaker. Sen. Clinton is relevant to America's future, and she can hold a crowd's attention.
So following Congressman Honda was a series of speakers, none of whom really grabbed the attention of the crowd. Leaving the event became an option for many, both in the audience, and in the press corps.
Pam and I stayed until we were pretty close to being the last folk in the room, at which time I discovered the decaf wasn't so bitter. Any symbolic meaning in that? Who knows. :P I certainly don't feel bitter.
I believe Speaker Pelosi hit the right message, and did it with the right tone -- but hey, it just wasn't very exciting to watch. Drama is exciting, but it isn't always desirable.
With a boatload of debt to retire, the news that Hillary Clinton has more than $2 million in the hole with consultant and campaign-destroyer Mark Penn is a serious sore point. To make matters worse, consultant Penn is now praising John McCain. Why should anyone pay off a dime of anything that might end up in this snake's pocket?
It's not just his old campaign memos shooting across the Web, courtesy of anti-Penn leakers, but a new op-ed praising McCain's attack ads as effective, memorable and attention-grabbing. When such ads are fair, he adds, they "serve a legitimate role." You go into the general election with the Democratic strategists you have, not the ones you want, obviously. Penn's transgressions are not only rhetorical. He is still working for a host of anti-Democratic clients, and he has ties to major Republicans -- including a senior aide to Sen. John McCain.
Normally these insider antics have no consequences, but Clinton's situation changes the leverage. Donors and activists could stipulate that any money they raise for Clinton be spent only on debts other than Penn's consulting fees. Better yet, sympathetic Clinton donors could pool their money in online pledges, which will only be released when Penn forgives Clinton for his remaining bills.
NOTE: This is the guest post I have up on Open Left today. I was invited by front-pager Jon Pincus to participate in a mutual guest-blogging series to bring more diverse perspectives to that progressive blog. The subject selected was the treatment of Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama by the mainstream media. Please join in or read the comments over there to see the views and reactions of that reader base. As part of the series, I plan to be active in the comments of my post at Open Left to respond to folks there.
In looking back at the MSM treatment of Hillary Clinton over the course of the primary season, there was an expected eruption of misogyny -- from Chris Matthews Greatest Hits and The Tweety Effect, to the infamous Hillary nutcracker -- yet what I found most interesting was the handwringing over the whole matter. Similarly, there was desperation by some on the left (and right) to declare 2008 a "post-racial" election; they saw their hopes dashed as the bloody chum was tossed out to the hungry media sharks by Clinton surrogates and the usual GOP shills, rife with allusions, counter-charges and just plain old race-baiting idiocy (see Geraldine Ferraro, Andrew Cuomo, Bob Johnson).
Bill Clinton is a jackass -- he continues to crap on his own legacy and reputation. The MSM has speculating about when and how the former president will come around and openly campaign for Obama -- apparently he's telling friends that he wants Obama to bow and scrape before him. Uh, fat chance, Bubba.
[Clinton's] lingering fury has shocked his friends. The Democrat told the Telegraph: "He's been angry for a while. But everyone thought he would get over it. He hasn't. I've spoken to a couple of people who he's been in contact with and he is mad as hell.
"He's saying he's not going to reach out, that Obama has to come to him. One person told me that Bill said Obama would have to quote kiss my ass close quote, if he wants his support.
"You can't talk like that about Obama - he's the nominee of your party, not some house boy you can order around.
"Hillary's just getting on with it and so should Bill."
Hillary Clinton, the actual candidate who ran, understands the importance of party unity to get to the finish line. Mr. Clinton is showing his ass -- and his visions of grandeur and sense of entitlement that he should be the one about moving (back) into the White House.
Barack Obama asked his finance committee this afternoon to help Senator Hillary Clinton retire her debt. On a conference call that lasted about 45 minutes Obama made a personal plea to his top donors, telling them he considered it a personal imperative now that Democrats are all "one big family," a donor who was on the call recounted to TIME. The Illinois senator praised the historic campaign run by Clinton. "You could tell these two folks have come together because, quite frankly, they are the only two people who knew what it was like," the donor said. No amount was mentioned on the call, though Clinton has an estimated $11.4 million in personal debts to the campaign and more than $10 million in outstanding vendor debts.*
Obama was not asked to retire her personal debt; that tops $11 million.
Join John McCain aboard the Straight Talk Express! Be the lucky supporter to ride with John McCain on the Straight Talk Express on an upcoming bus tour. Everyone who donates between now and June 30th is eligible. To donate before the deadline on June 30th, please make your donation online today.
In the Official Rules and Restrictions, the estimated "value" of the prize ride on the bus is $1000 "although the actual value will vary depending upon the winner's particular travel arrangements, which shall be determined at the sole discretion of the Committee" and "Making a contribution will not improve your chances of winning."
Hillary Clinton will deliver a speech at the National Building Museum in DC shortly (noon on Sat). She will formally declare the suspension of her landmark campaign and endorse Barack Obama.
She has a tough job ahead of her; this will be an important party unity message to deliver that will carry great weight and immediately be dissected, given the tensions that have developed between supporters of both candidates during the primary season. That is certain, particularly after her defiant speech on Tuesday. Many of her staunch supporting superdelegates and political allies, expecting the unity message at that time, were taken aback.
Even some of her own supporters suggested that Clinton may have hurt the reconciliation process when she did not immediately concede the race to Obama after he won the 2,118 delegates needed to capture the party's nomination Tuesday night.
In a conference call Wednesday, members of her home congressional delegation pushed her to quickly endorse her former rival. Rep. Charles Rangel, D-New York, said, "The New York congressional delegation are with her to the end, and we thought the end was the end."
But the Clinton camp resisted the move so it could gauge what her supporters wanted and allow Clinton to bow out of the race on her own terms. Tensions between the two camps may have also increased when some of Clinton's most prominent supporters launched a campaign Wednesday to get her on the Democratic ticket as the vice presidential nominee, arguing that it would help unify the party.
The "unity ticket" concept has been swirling around the Intertubes for some time now, including an official movement Jim Neal backed earlier this week. There's been some rethinking on his part. That's below the fold.
It was a difficult day on The Michelangelo Signorile Show yesterday, as Mike spoke with several callers who are ready to vote for John McCain before casting a ballot for Barack Obama.
In the clip below, the caller cites a few reasons I've seen out there, including: 1) we know McCain, we don't know Obama; 2) There's just something about him (Obama) I don't like. Watch it:
This whole call needs to be transcribed and circulated because we seriously need to have a discussion about the underlying issues here that are hitting on the third rail. Mike challenges the caller to explain these positions, given the huge political gulf between McCain and Obama on nearly every issue. The caller ends up admitting that his decision to vote for McCain is not based on logic.
Caller: My arguments aren't logical...this is what my gut is telling me; I don't consider myself a racist or bigoted...there's just something about the man I don't like and I'm not going to vote for him."
Mike: It's funny that you say your gut is telling you this and then you go on to say that you're not a racist, funny how that works, right? Because maybe your gut is telling you something that you're not wanting to admit...but listen, but you should be voting based on logic, based on rationality. What Republicans want is for you to vote on emotion. And you are a perfect example of how they get votes from people who are voting against their own self interest.
Obama's and Clinton's positions are far closer than Obama vs. McCain -- it doesn't make any sense to vote for McCain. For some, not all - there really is a deep-seated fear out there about being led by a black man, so much so that they'd vote for McCain. They think electing Barack Obama is somehow going to erase white privilege -- as if it was possible -- and then exact some sort of revenge for past wrongs perpetrated on minorities. Jesse and I blogged about this jokingly the other day, but this aspect of the rejection of Obama is not being honestly articulated -- the caller in this case went out of his way to bring up how he's not racist -- when race had not come up in the conversation at all up until that point.
Another caller provided a comment on Mike's blog. Read it below the fold.
That says a lot coming from Hilary Rosen, one of the power brokers in DC and the LGBT community, who was all over the airwaves as a tireless, staunch supporter of Hillary Clinton. Rosen's column on Huff Post (where she is the new political editor) is a very strong signal from a Washington insider that a sad line has been crossed. Last night the senator from New York had an opportunity to seize the moment by bowing out with class and grace, acknowledging both her own success and Barack Obama's. It would have begun the reconciliation that is now hard to visualize.
The life's work of Bill and Hillary Clinton in partnering with so many African Americans uniting our purpose and promoting our mutual issues is as responsible for Barack Obama's success as our first African American nominee as anyone. And yet, that joy is being denied for them by themselves. It is so sad.
So, I am also so very disappointed at how she has handled this last week. I know she is exhausted and she had pledged to finish the primaries and let every state vote before any final action. But by the time she got on that podium last night, she knew it was over and that she had lost. I am sure I was not alone in privately urging the campaign over the last two weeks to use the moment to take her due, pass the torch and cement her grace. She had an opportunity to soar and unite. She had a chance to surprise her party and the nation after the day-long denials about expecting any concession and send Obama off on the campaign trail of the general election with the best possible platform. I wrote before how she had a chance for her "Al Gore moment." And if she had done so, the whole country ALL would be talking today about how great she is and give her her due.
Instead she left her supporters empty, Obama's angry and party leaders trashing her. She said she was stepping back to think about her options. She is waiting to figure out how she would "use" her 18 million voters.
But not my vote. I will enthusiastically support Barack Obama's campaign. Because I am not a bargaining chip. I am a Democrat.
Even in her belief that Hillary Clinton would make a fine president -- the whole column is worth the read -- Hilary Rosen is willing to point out, diplomatically, that the sense of entitlement that engulfed the campaign, along with the crippling denial as the losses mounted, resulted in an inability to pass that torch. Clinton obviously heard from Rosen and other trusted supporters about the impact and importance of the tone of the senator's exit from the stage. How she handles it will also be part of her legacy -- one wonders why the concerns and advice fell on deaf ears. Given the historic nature of this landmark campaign (that succeeded on so many levels, with the ardent support of so many), it is unfortunate -- and perhaps quite revealing -- that the bubble of Hillaryland was that impermeable.
***
And it is hard to wind down a campaign if some surrogates are continuing to operate in full campaign mode. See the role one big-dollar donor, Black Entertainment Television founder Bob Johnson, is playing today. It's below the fold.
(NOTE: CNN is reporting that Hillary will concede tonight. UPDATE: LOL. No surprise -- Camp Clinton says CNN/AP is wrong: "Senator Clinton will not concede the nomination this evening.")
I'm a huge fan of former U.S. Senate candidate Jim Neal fan, as Blenders know, but I can't get behind a "reconciliation ticket." Jim endorsed Obama, but he believes this is the pairing that will ensure success in November. He makes his case at Daily Kos and BlueNC. We report, you decide. A snippet.
Now that the Presidential primary season is winding down after months and millions of votes cast, it's now time to set our focus on November and winning back the Presidency.
Both Senator Clinton and Senator Obama have energized millions of new voters, and all of them are committed to seeing a Democrat in the White House in January.
Certainly, there has been a great deal of back-and-forth bickering between Sen. Obama and Sen. Clinton's campaigns - and each candidate has millions of passionate supporters. But now it's time for unity - and I believe the best way to unite the party is to unite the two strongest candidates our party has ever seen.
That's why I support an Obama-Clinton ticket.
I hope you'll join me by adding your voice to those calling for an Obama-Clinton ticket. You can add your signature at DraftObamaClinton.com.
The DraftObamaClinton.com web site gives regular citizens a way to weigh in on the VP selection process. Senator Obama has said he will have to make his vice presidential choice quickly after the primaries end this week.
Citizen involvement and grassroots organization is a cornerstone of Senator Obama's campaign, and frankly, a foundation of our democracy. We've seen millions of new voters involved this campaign season. Their voices make a difference, and that's what DraftObamaClinton.com is all about.
Hillary Clinton has summoned top donors and backers to attend her speech tomorrow night in an unusual move that is being widely interpreted to mean she plans to suspend her campaign and endorse Barack Obama. Obama and Clinton spoke Sunday night and agreed that their staffs should begin negotiations over post-primary activities. In addition to help raising money to pay off some $20 million-plus in debts, Clinton is known to want Obama to help out black officials who endorsed her and are now taking constituent heat, including, in some cases, primary challenges from pro-Obama politicians.
"This has never happened before," one donor said, referring to the personalized request by email to attend the event in New York Tuesday night.
Of course, suspending the campaign does not mean folding the tent and packing it up. Anything could happen if negotiations don't work out between the two camps.
Ken Vogel reports from the Clinton bubble a Clinton spokesman is pushing back on the notion of a concession soon, something even many of her aides and top supporters now expect.
Hillary Clinton will not drop out of the presidential race Tuesday or in several days that follow, the spokesman,Mo Elleithee, said Monday afternoon.
"It's pretty clear that she's not conceding," Elleithee told reporters on Clinton's campaign plane en route from Rapid City, S.D. to Sioux City, Iowa.
Instead, Elleithee said Clinton would be "aggressively courting" superdelegates and "putting together the next phase of the campaign," which he said could include campaign events around the country.
So does this mean, despite the spin that the nomination brawl will go all the way to the convention, the Clinton tent plans to fold after tomorrow's primaries? (The Politico):
Members of Hillary Clinton's advance staff received calls and emails this evening from headquarters summoning them to New York City Tuesday night, and telling them their roles on the campaign are ending, two Clinton staffers tell my colleague Amie Parnes.
The advance staffers -- most of them now in Puerto Rico, South Dakota, and Montana -- are being given the options of going to New York for a final day Tuesday, or going home, the aides said. The move is a sign that the campaign is beginning to shed -- at least -- some of its staff. The advance staff is responsible for arranging the candidate's events around the country.
What can you say -- we've all seen Bill Clinton piss away his reputation this primary season engaging in "strategy" designed to help the Senator from New York obtain the nomination of her party. Now Vanity Fair explores Bubba in a Todd Purdum feature called The Comeback Id. The Clinton campaign is on fire over this.
This winter, as Clinton moved with seeming abandon to stain his wife's presidential campaign in the name of saving it, as disclosures about his dubious associates piled up, as his refusal to disclose the names of donors to his presidential library and foundation and his and his wife's reluctance to release their income-tax returns created crippling and completely avoidable distractions for Hillary Clinton's own long-suffering ambition, I found myself asking again and again, What's the matter with him?
As I sought to answer that question for myself, in conversations with dozens of current and onetime Clinton aides, many of whom I have known all these years (Clinton himself declined to be interviewed), I realized just how much about the former president is not known, and not knowable, at the moment, mostly because of his unapologetic stonewalling. Virtually no one, except Ron Burkle, knows just what Clinton put into Burkle's investment business, or just what he has done since to earn millions of dollars, with the prospect of reaping millions more. Most of the names of the donors who have contributed some $500 million to Clinton's library and foundation over the past decade are not known, either. Virtually no one, except his doctors and family, knows the precise state of Clinton's health. Virtually no one really knows what strategic role he has played in his wife's campaign.
Ron Burkle, by the way, is a fast-living California supermarket billionaire who jet sets all over with Clinton in a Boeing 757 referred to by Burkle aides as "Air Fuck One." Anyway, leaving zipper issues behind (that's what the GOP loves salivating over), observations about the former president's role in the campaign -- are far more interesting, as are the questionable business relationships. The parsing of words, the belief that he can skate by on charm and avoid truth telling is a familiar pattern. See a snippet below the fold.
The Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton, Secretary of State
This would be a quick way to increase the number of openly LGBT U.S. Senators by 100%. 
The scheduled speakers were Speaker Pelosi and Senator Clinton. So, on one hand it really felt like we were scheduled to listen to "yesterday's news." The rise of Pelosi to Speaker Of The House was two years ago, and, well...Sen. Clinton turned into an also ran this year in her run for president.
At that point she kind of spun off into a tangent about "dangerous foreign oil," and saying California won't approve new drilling off California's coast, and about how big oil companies want subsidies to drill for oil in the U.S. while they're making record profits. I'm not sure how that will play this year, as the polls I've seen have two-thirds of Americans wanting off-shore drilling.
