Last week I had the honor to speak at a No on Proposition 8 event in West Hollywood.  Thirty people joined together share their passion for equal rights, donate their money and learn how they can help defeat the discriminatory measure to eliminate the right of marriage for gays and lesbians in California. 

This was the third such event I had attended in 2 weeks, but this one was different. This event was to raise money to support Republicans Against 8, a PAC created to mobilize republicans to vote no on proposition 8.

In the weeks preceding the event, I invited dozens friends and acquaintances to attend, but only one joined.  Friends know I am a proud democrat and I was repeatedly asked why I was involved with an event supporting republicans.  Many used the conversation as an opportunity to put down our LGBT brothers and sisters who are affiliated with the GOP.

At first I wasn't bothered by their reactions or shunning of our Republican counterparts because it has become so commonplace, but as the conversation repeated itself again and again I found myself increasingly agitated.

For years, organizations like The National Gay and Lesbian Taskforce and Equality California have demonstrated that community organizing is the backbone of the LGBT rights movement.  However, to win we need to organize the masses, leaving no ally on the side lines.  So, my friends, how can you be so quick to leave anyone behind who agrees with us on defending the right of same-sex couples to marry?  Are we really willing to alienate our Republican LGBT brothers and sisters at the detriment of our civil rights movement? 

Republicans across the State of California, gay and straight alike, are willing and ready to vote No on Proposition 8.  LGBT Republicans through Log Cabin Republicans and Republicans Against 8 were at the California Republican Convention working to educate fellow Republicans why voting No on Prop 8 is important.  And, LGBT republicans want and deserve all the same rights and privileges as LGBT Democrats, Independents, Green Party members, etc., and we can't afford to leave them out of our civil rights fight.

All across California, openly LGBT Republicans are fighting for equal rights as they change hearts and minds by educating members of their party.  They are helping to defeat Prop 8 and ensure a win for equality in CA.

This is about people.  This is about legal equality.  This is NOT about party politics.

Embrace ALL of our allies and brace for the celebration of victory in defeating Proposition 8 on November 4th.

For the last seven years, today is usually a day I spend alone or with close friends reflecting on the horrific occurrences 7 years ago.

As a 9/11 survivor, it's deeply personal. I usually call the people I worked with that day, who I evacuated with that day, who I feared I would never see my loved ones again with that day.

Today, seven years later, I simply emailed them. Instead of being able to reflect and mourn what once was, I find myself furious as the Republican party continues to exploit this National tragedy for political gain.

McPalin says they are very different Republicans who will change Washington. What's so different? The rhetoric is all the same and it is as simple as..

1. Make people relive and relive and relive 9/11 with repeated comments and visuals to create fear
2. Talk about their national security prowess
3. Claim that Dems will make us more vulnerable
4. Count their millions of moderate votes

Enough already! Last I checked, the Republicans, not the Democrats were running this country when we were attacked. The Republicans, not the Democrats, haven't found Bin Laden. The Republicans, not the Democrats brought us into a needless war crippling our economy.

Not that any Republicans read this site, but to the GOP, "Stop exploiting a National tragedy for political and professional gain!".

I'm a 9/11 survivor. I am and always have been against the war in Iraq. I support our troops. I CONSISTENTLY VOTE FOR PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS WITH GREAT PRIDE.

To our progressive electeds...take the GOP on head-to-head on their exploitation and show them the Democratic party is better for national security and don't need to scare the public into voting for us!

A new political advocacy group, California Forward has been established to further the pie in the sky notion of governing from the center. Its websitesays its charting a new path to more effective state governance and helping the state overcome political gridlock and improve government performance. All of this is counter to 158 years of state history.   Read More »

Placer County is renowned for its stunning physical beauty. Stretching from the suburbs of Northeastern Sacramento to the shores of Lake Tahoe, we enjoy a bounty of natural resource. But the leadership in this county is severely lacking, and we risk losing that bounty to over-development and suburban sprawl. With an increasing middle-class squeeze, an out-of-control housing crisis & the ever-looming threat of the Auburn Dam putting this region in real peril, it seems like now is the best time to step in and do my part to help keep Placer County the Jewel of California.   Read More »

It's interesting to know how folks overseas view our political leaders. The Telegraph, a U.K. newspaper has gone through the thoughtful process of ranking the 100 most influential liberals and conservatives the U.S. has to offer. I have issue with their top choice for donkey.   Read More »

Why is it that when Democrats didn't vote for cloture on bills in the US Senate that it was called a "filibuster" by the media, but now that the Republicans are in the minority and won't vote for cloture the bills are "blocked" because they "didn't receive the votes" to clear a "procedural hurdle?"

Of course I already know the answer to my own question. The media reports what politicians say and not what they do. Mitch McConnell says the Democrats are filibustering and the media reports that Democrats are filibustering. Harry Reid says they failed to get the votes for cloture, and the media reports that a procedural hurdle wasn't cleared.

Don't get me wrong, I like Harry Reid. But he's lousy at spinning the media, and these days that's all the coverage we get. In a perfect world I'd prefer Harry Reid's accuracy over the buzz-words and sound bites of the Republicans, but this is not a perfect world. The Republicans, from their place in the minority, are still great at spin-- and as a result the coverage still paints them in a better light than they deserve.