Wednesday Word of the Week, September 14: Veracity

Useful equipment for candidate speeches.

This week’s word is: VERACITY

conforming to the truth or fact; accuracy – Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary

Lately this seems to be not just a problem for some of our nation’s political figures, but an intentional option. Why bother with facts or the truth if you can just adjust your comments on the fly?

The most blatant example is Senator Jon Kyl (R – AZ), who attacked Planned Parenthood in April. Kyl said on the Senate floor that 90% of Planned Parenthood’s business was providing abortions, an error of 3000%. When he was caught in this lie, he responded through a spokesperson that the comment

was not intended to be a factual statement.

What? He makes a specific claim clearly intended to affect public policy that was never meant to be true? I suppose that we should, somewhat ironically, appreciate his transparency about the comment, but why did he make it? What possible purpose did he have in lying to his colleagues and the American people other than to promote his personal agenda over provable reality?

Sadly, this kind of dodge has grown more artful as the Republican presidential hopefuls have begun their campaigning in earnest. There are many examples, but two stand out, especially since they come from the winner of the Ames Straw Poll (Bachmann) and the current front-runner in the pre-primary polls (Perry).

Michele Bachmann took advantage of natural disasters, displaying her typical crass lack of sympathy with the American people, to maintain that Hurricane Irene and the east coast earthquake were signs of God’s wrath.

I don’t know how much God has to do to get the attention of the politicians. We’ve had an earthquake; we’ve had a hurricane. He said, ‘Are you going to start listening to me here?’

Apparently, God was angry at the size of the U.S. budget deficit (a nice change from His more typical wrath at the gay community à la Pat Robertson). When called out on her gross insensitivity, Bachmann took a Kyl and said that her words were simply a METAPHOR

a word or phrase that means one thing and is used for referring to another thing in order to emphasize their similar qualities – Macmillan Dictionary Online

Let’s be generous for a moment and assume that Bachmann actually knows what a metaphor is. In that case, she meant to say that lethal devastation was similar to God’s wrath, not the real thing. How does that differ in principle? She’s still saying that innocent people should suffer because the Congress of which she is a member can’t balance a budget. Culpability, insult, and ignorance all in one backpedal, that’s pretty amazing. Of course, we could skip the metaphor excuse and go with her other, contradictory explanation, that she was simply being HUMOROUS

full of or characterized by humor; funny – Macmillan Dictionary Online

Which is it, Michele? A bad analogy or a tasteless joke? Do you know the difference?

Just when the separation of truth and state seemed to reach its peak, enter Rick Perry. Perry has famously maintained that Social Security is unconstitutional, not just in speeches but in his book, Fed Up. During his first debate performance, he referred to this vital program as a “Ponzi scheme” and a “monstrous lie.” When (surprise, surprise) such comments polled very badly with most Americans, Perry took a Kyl as well.

Suddenly, he issued statements maintaining that anyone currently on Social Security should not fear for its viability, nor should anyone about to enter eligibility. What does that mean, Rick? That those people should be comfortable living a monstrous lie? That your presidency would do nothing to end an unconstitutional practice? That you support bankrupting future generations with a scheme you loathe just to get a few more votes?

Mitt Romney is famous for his flip-flops, trying to hide from his past by reinventing his positions. As venal and manipulative as he may be, Bachmann and Perry have lowered the game to a whole new level. What a travesty when Romney rises to the top of the ethical heap.

Americans must pay attention. In this cynical age, most people have come to expect their political leaders to delivery carefully crafted messages to each demographic, to make promises that garner votes regardless of their political viability. What an horrific shift if we let people vying for our highest office simply retract or recast their statements. Candidates, stand by your policies and we will vote accordingly. You’re only human, you’re allowed to make mistakes; when you do, say “I was wrong.” If that doesn’t happen very often you’ll gain credibility and we’ll know where you stand. Own your words. That’s

the quality of behaving according to the rules and standards of your job or profession – Macmillan Dictionary Online

INTEGRITY, a principle of leadership.

Correlation Between Bachmann’s Homophobia and LGBT Suicides

Ramifications of Bachmann's Homophobia

Thank you to friend and ally Jennifer Lockett for inspiring me to write this story.  For those that follow TSM, you will remember the article about the increase in violence against the LGBT community.   TSM also published an article about the correlation between bullying of LGBT youth and suicide, so it should come as no surprise that there have been nine reported suicides of youth that were either gay or perceived as gay, due to bullying, in Michele Bachmann’s district.

Of course, there is going to be bullying of LGBT youth and gender non-conforming youth in Bachmann’s district. Parents and students in her district are very aware of the homophobia and damage done by the Bachmann family.  Fortunately, the Department of Justice and the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights are investigating the schools in Bachmann’s district.

I worry about all of the kids that see the lack of leadership from Bachmann and how her bigoted views work to deny the civil rights of other humans.  I worry even more that her bigoted views inspire others to bully an already targeted group of kids.  We clearly have not learned how dangerous bigotry can be.

Singing A Different Tune: Republican Candidates’ Campaign Hypocrisy

Mine...All Mine!

What is it with Republican Presidential campaigns and the theft of intellectual property? It seems that once a GOP candidate starts running for the highest office, (s)he rises above the law and says, “Oh, I like that, I think I’ll take it!”

The latest offender is serial hypocrite and history buff Michele Bachmann. Since announcing her official candidacy (ironically after appearing in a candidates’ debate), Bachmann has taken to using Tom Petty’s song American Girl at her campaign stops. Petty, a staunch supporter of artists’ creative control rights, issued a cease-and-desist letter, which Bachmann has so far ignored. In fact, her campaign started using another song without permission, Katrina and the Waves hit Walking On Sunshine. Lead vocalist Katrina Leskanich immediately laid into Bachmann:

As the singer of ‘Walking on Sunshine’ I don’t endorse its use by Michele Bachmann’s presidential campaign.  I’ve performed ‘Walking on Sunshine’ for so many years in so many different countries that it’s become the one constant in my life and the one thing I can count on to bring happiness to myself and others. The song is used in commercials and movies as a vehicle for a feel good moment or empowerment but if I disagree with the policies, opinions or platforms for its use, I’ve no choice but to try and defend the song and prevent its misuse.

Sadly, Bachmann is far from alone. Here are just a few other examples:

• Saint Ronald, whose politics were frighteningly far to the left of this current crop of loonies, started the trend when he practiced the unwitting irony of name-checking Bruce Springsteen and referencing Born In the U.S.A. during his re-election campaign. At least Ronnie didn’t actually steal the song.
• Mike Huckabee got into hot water with Boston’s Tom Scholz for appropriating More Than A Feeling.
• George W. Bush borrowed at least two songs without permission. He got into trouble with Orleans leader and NY Congressman John Hall for misuse of the 70s hit Still the One. He also practiced Petty theft with the rocker’s I Won’t Back Down. Petty did not, and Bush was forced to drop the song.
• Former half-governor Sarah Palin stole Heart’s Barracuda during her Vice-Presidential campaign disaster, prompting an angry cease-and-desist from Ann and Nancy Wilson. Ironically, this song was about the music industry mistreating women.
• Palin’s top of ticket man, John McCain, is the champ in this category. He most famously misused two John Mellencamp songs, Pink Houses and Our Country. The very Democratic Mellencamp sued. McCain also borrowed Survivor’s Eye of the Tiger and hits by the Foo Fighters and Van Halen, as well as playing a Bon Jovi song for appearances with Palin.

Other Republicans have behaved similarly. Senate wannabe Chuck DeVore stole two Don Henley songs during his failed bid to unseat Barbara Boxer. Florida’s Charlie Crist couldn’t decide which party to run with during his failed Senate bid, but he did steal Road to Nowhere from David Byrne and was forced to air a public service announcement apology. Here’s a great overview of these and other thefts.

The great irony, of course, is that Republican candidates are so aggressively “pro-business” in their politics. They argue for tax cuts, business incentives, deregulation, and protecting the rights of businesses over workers at every turn. If the business in question happens to be music, however, they turn a blind eye and a deaf ear. Ignoring the actual messages of the songs, the political wishes of the performers, and the property rights of the writers, they lift the soundbite they want with a grotesque sense of entitlement. Clearly, Bachmann et al. send the message that they are above the law. What does that promise for how they would lead this country?

Wednesday Word of the Week, June 29

Not a variable concept.

This week’s word is: EQUALITY

the state of being equal, especially in having the same rights, status, and opportunities – Macmillan Dictionary Online

Last week, we saw a major development in the name of equality for Americans when New York passed a marriage equality bill. With this move, the Empire State joins Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, New Hampshire, and the District of Columbia in offering these rights. Because of New York’s population, this is a significant development. Before last week, only 5% of Americans lived in a place that offered full equality; now over 35 million citizens, 11.2% of the country, have access to that right.

I do not want to diminish this wonderful moment in history, but I feel compelled to point out the irony. In a nation founded on the principle that all [people] are created equal, celebrating the incremental equality of one group of Americans is a sad state of affairs.

In fact, the very language around this issue points to the long road ahead of us in terms of true equality. Most major news outlets, including the hypothetically liberal enclave of NPR, referred to the issue as one of “same-sex marriage” rather than one of marriage equality. That allows the opponents of full rights for LGBTQ Americans to brand this as a “special right” rather than admitting that their opposition is flat out bigotry. Language matters, and this is an issue of equal rights, plain and simple. Journalists should be responsible enough to communicate it as such.

How far do we have to go?

• Nearly 89% of Americans do not have access to marriage equality; a significant number of these citizens have equality actively denied them by their state’s constitution.
• The hypocritically named Defense of Marriage Act ensures that even people with locally-based marriage equality are denied over 1,100 Federal rights and privileges. This can lead to nightmarish complications when state and federal policies and laws overlap; an excellent example is taxation and filing status.
• While it is heartening that President Obama has instructed the Justice Department not to defend DOMA in Federal court, the immediate reaction from the right should terrify and galvanize anyone interested in equality. The fact that professional homophobe Michele Bachmann catapulted to the top of this pack of potential losers-in-chief is equally frightening.

Moreover, this just addresses one issue. While job protections are more prevalent that marriage equality, people all over the country still risk being fired for their sexual orientation or gender identity. Protection from discrimination in housing and public accommodation is also piecemeal.

In the end, we can only reach true equality by changing attitudes. Legal measures are critical, but as long as

• Broadcasters treat same-sex couples and their affection with a double-standard;
• Newspapers fail to cover rallies in support of LGBTQ Americans;
• Social media practice confusing and apparently conflicting standards around LGBTQ issues and participants;
• Video game companies are bashed by customers for including the simple option of an LGBTQ player; and
• Commenters on public media blogs and news sites feel comfortable attacking LGBTQ Americans for their “lifestyle”

we have a long way to go.

Many of the signs are good. In several of the cases listed above, the company, state, or organization took the right stand for equality. Polls show that overall support for marriage equality is at an all-time high and growing. If the supporters of equality are not vigilant, forceful, and consistent, however, the risks are great.

Let us celebrate New York’s move and dedicate ourselves as a nation to equality that is truly equal.

Let Bigotry Reign Supreme: New Republican Motto

Ship of Fools

Thank you to my friend Jim for sharing the youtube video of the Republican debate last night. I’m afraid I was not able to stomach watching the entire thing last night.  Talk abut a group of people that can really make me feel ashamed of being an American.  What rock did these people crawl out from under?  I feel horrible for all the foster children Bachmann had influence over.  As a gay man, I found it disgusting and horribly bigoted that not one of the Republican candidates is for marriage equality or will support the repeal of DADT.  They are supposed to protect the citizens of the country, not discriminate against us!   If you are a gay Republican, shame on you!  Click here to see the video.

Wednesday Word of the Week, June 8

I did WHAT?

This week’s word is: HISTORY

• the study of the events of the past
• the whole of time before the present, and all things that happened in that time
• an account of the events that happened during a particular period of the past

During the past week, former fractional Governor and failed Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin put her foot in her mouth once again. (Sadly the foot did not penetrate far enough to nudge her brain facsimile.)

In off-the-cuff remarks about Paul Revere, hero of the American Revolution, Palin totally misrepresented Revere’s actions. With at best a gross distortion and at worst a complete fabrication, she invented a mission for Revere in which he taunted the British with a message of braggadocio embroidered with the Colonists’ hypothetical, pre-Constitution (in fact, pre-Independence!) right to bear arms.

As has happened too many times in the past (thank you Katie Couric), the media have corrected Palin and pointed out her departure from established reality. Of course, the pundits of Teabagistan have rallied to her defense, also ignoring history. As reported on NPR, using Revere’s own words, Palin clearly misrepresented Revere’s primary mission. Some right-wing commentators have used a single incident (actions Revere took when briefly captured during one mission) to support Palin. This flimsy and inaccurate view is nicely analyzed on another blog. In the final analysis, can Palin and her supporters claim that she has presented a moment of history? Let’s dissect that definition and find out.

Given that Palin can’t name a single major newspaper nor identify even a “favorite” American Founder, we can safely dismiss the concept of STUDY

the process of learning about a problem or subject using scientific methods

from her use of history.

Since the events Palin recounts did not actually HAPPEN

come into being; become reality

we can throw out the second definition as well.

If we choose to be generous, we can give Ms. Palin some credit for creating an ACCOUNT

a written or spoken report about something

since she did speak about something, however inaccurately. In most cases, however, I think we would prefer that our history be based on fact, not whim, sloppy interpretation, or political agenda.

Despite our best intentions to create an accurate record, the aphorism attributed to Alex Haley has merit:

History is written by the winners.

Just ask significant figures like Victoria Woodhull or Bayard Rustin, who were obscured in or nearly eliminated from the historical record because their contributions were problematic to the narrative a certain population wanted to create. Conversely, ask Presidents Grant or Wilson, both of whom have rosier histories than they merit based on very specific accomplishments that some narrators wish to emphasize.

Revere’s story is problematic because it is mostly known to us from Longfellow’s poem, which takes great artistic license with the history. Much of our childhood history comes from art like this or fables like Washington and the cherry tree or Betsy Ross and the flag. It is helpful to children to have simple stories to whet their appetite for history; we must not, however allow art, fables, agendas, or outright lies to be spun into the web of real history. When we become lazy about our understanding of the events that precede us, like Michele Bachmann repeatedly does, we either revel in dangerous ignorance or allow others to craft the narrative of our lives for us.

George Santayana famously said

Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.

which is often paraphrased with a  reference to the word history. This is very true. How much more perilous must it be, then, when we opt to remember a past that meets our needs and not the truth?

(All definitions courtesy of Macmillan Dictionary Online)

Wednesday Word of the Week, May 18

The More You Look, The Less You Like.

This week’s word is: CANDIDATE

one of the people competing in an election

Despite the Presidential Primary season being months away, many Republican hopefuls have declared their candidacy, officially and not so much so. Who are these people, anyway?

Herman CAIN

Cain and Abel were the first children of Adam and Eve born after the Fall of Man; Cain killed Abel out of jealousy and was exiled by God

Oops. Not too auspicious there, Herman. Given his low profile, exile seems pretty likely after a primary or two.

NEWT Gingrich

a small animal similar to a lizard that mostly lives in water

At the risk of offending the lizards, small and slimy seems like a good description. He’s also wriggly, given how many times he’s decided not to decide about running.

Mike Huckabee, whose affable demeanor hides the heart of a HUCKSTER

someone who sells things dishonestly or illegally

Ron Paul, whose election would cast a PALL

a sudden numbing dread

on the whole country.

Tim Pawlenty may not be well-know by most Americans, but there are PLENTY

a large amount of something, or a large number of things

of reasons to dislike him.

Mitt ROMNEY

one of an English breed of hardy sheep, having coarse, long wool

He’s certainly hardy, as his constantly resurging candidacy attests; his demeanor is slickly robotic, but his methods are coarse and woolly.

Rick Santorum, a man whose views are so loathsome that his last name was rather vulgarly redefined in a contest.

Donald TRUMP

the suit that players decide will be worth the most in a card game

Heavy on the suit, light on the “worth the most” especially now that it looks like he’s out of the running again. We’ll see what he decides next week…

We also have a quartet of nearly complete unknowns, the DARK HORSE

a political candidate who is not well known but could win unexpectedly

Republicans, with an emphasis on “unexpectedly” for Fred Karger, Gary Johnson, Tom Miller, and Vern Wuensche. Their best chances of winning rest on the fact that their competition is so well known for their odiousness. If they are anything like the rest of the pack, consider them to be the four darkhorsemen of the Apocalypse.

Last but not least, a pair of undecideds, Sarah Palin and Michele Bachmann, whose candidacies would lend a certain festival air to the election but in the end an utterly maddening one. Perhaps they will run together so we can go into Bachmann Palin Overdrive…

Looking at this probable competition, it is easy to see why President Obama’s favorables are rising. We must be vigilant, however, as the last election demonstrated just how absurd and unpredictable the actions of the electorate can be.

All of this week’s definitions courtesy of Macmillan Dictionary Online.

Bachmann’s “Final Solution”

Frau Bachmann's "Final Solution"

A few days ago, Michele (Proud I’ve never read a book) Bachmann gave a speech to the National Rifle Association (NRA).  In that speech, Bachmann said:

The right to keep and bear arms has to be protected because the Second Amendment is the final guarantor of all our constitutional rights.

I would like to know what Frau Bachmann means by “final guarantor”? Does she have any idea of the implications of that language? Is she encouraging Tea Baggers to start shooting those of us that disagree with the racist, illiterate, and violent Tea Party movement?  Is anyone else thinking about Gabrielle Giffords right now and the lessons we could be learning from that tragedy? Bachmann went on to say:

I trust that you’re locked and loaded, and I’m really sorry that I can’t be with you in Pittsburgh to soak up all the energy from you.

Really? This is the type of language coming from a Presidential candidate.  One can only imagine the nightmare for the world should Bachmann hold the position of President; she makes Qaddafi look sane and even jovial. Minnesota, what on earth were you thinking?  When do we finally evolve from the primitive philosophy of “might is right”?  Click here to read the full article.

Women’s History: April 9

Honoring Marian Anderson

Although Marian Anderson was one of the best known contraltos in the 20th Century, she did not have an easy time securing venues for her amazingly beautiful instrument. All during Anderson’s career and lifetime, America was a very race torn and divided country, not like today, cough cough cough!  In 1939, the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) refused permission for Anderson to sing to an integrated audience.  I can just see Michele Bachmann again saying, ” we need to remember that all of us came here to be free,” and Marian Anderson looking at her saying, “Excuse me?”

With the help of President and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, Marian Anderson performed her critically acclaimed open-air concert on Easter Sunday, in 1939 on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Anderson would spend the rest of her life breaking down barriers for both women and blacks.

While Antonin Scalia and Rand Paul will hate the introductory comments from President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, they are certainly germane right now.  I hope you enjoy the video of the recording of Marian Anderson. Click here to hear FDR’s introduction and Anderson’s performance.

You Gotta Love Keith Olbermann

Thankful for Olbermann

With all the craziness with the Tea Party sinking and trying to shut down the federal government, and cutting funding for NPR and Planned Parenthood, it is a relief to hear the reasonable and intelligent voice of Keith Olbermann injecting some levity while simultaneously drawing attention to the hypocrites putting in their bids for President of the United States. Please let us hope that the bigoted Herman Cain had no real traction. Click here to see the full video and why Susan Burns should be the GOP nominee.