links for 2008-11-22

"Although we strongly opposed Proposition 8, its passage does not justify the defacement and destruction of property. We urge Californians to channel their frustration and disappointment in productive and responsible ways to work towards full equality for all Americans. To place anyone in fear of threat to their houses of worship or their personal security because they have expressed deeply held religious views is contrary to everything this nation represents. Our Constitution's First Amendment protects freedom of speech, freedom of assembly and freedom of religion for all of us."

These materials may be helpful to the news media, bloggers, Church members and the general public in gaining a broader view of the aftermath of the Proposition 8 vote. All people of faith have cause for concern when others try to remove their legitimate voice from the public square.

Republicans and Republican-leaning independents are most interested in seeing Sarah Palin, Mitt Romney, and Mike Huckabee run for the party's presidential nomination in 2012. Those three received the highest scores among the 10 possible candidates evaluated in a recent Gallup Panel survey.
+++++++
Members of the 2008 Republican field each sought to establish himself as the "true conservative" candidate in an attempt to appeal to the vast majority of the party's voters. For the 2012 campaign, Palin would seem to have a slight edge over the rest of the possible candidates in establishing an early foothold among the party's base.

Seventy-three percent of Republicans who describe their political views as "conservative" would like to see Palin run in 2012, significantly more than any other candidate. Liberal and moderate Republicans, in turn, are somewhat cool to a 2012 Palin bid. This group tends to favor Romney over any of the other potential candidates.

Why is this unfortunate? This only bothers vegan weenies. Where do they think the turkeys come from on Thanksgiving anyway? Jeez…They, the libs, just can’t get enough of Sarah Palin.
+++++
Weenies indeed…..

eHarmony founder Neil Clark Warren says the company has declined to serve the gay market because the compatibility research on which it relies to match people was done with heterosexuals and may not be applicable to same-sex couples. But even if he decided to focus on heterosexuals because he disapproves of homosexuality, that should be his right in a free society. Potential customers excluded or offended by that choice then would have a right to go elsewhere, instead of forcibly imposing their preferences. Likewise, competitors would be free to take advantage of eHarmony's perceived shortcomings, as they've been trying to do. Speaking of competitors, wouldn't the principle that justifies forcing eHarmony to match gay singles also require gay dating services to match heterosexuals and Jewish dating services to match Christians?
+++++++
No you have NO choice iun the matter. You must bow down to the gay.
How stupid.

In March 2005, a man named Eric McKinley filed a complaint against eHarmony and Dr. Neil Clark Warren with the State of New Jersey. The complaint alleged Discrimination against gays and lesbians.

In November 2008, the case was settled and as a result, the complaint against eHarmony and Dr. Neil Clark Warren was dismissed.

Here are the terms of the settlement (Company refers to eHarmony.com. Complainant refers to Eric McKinley who filed the complaint):

A California Superior Court judge has certified a class action lawsuit against eHarmony.com for discrimination against gays and lesbians in California. The news comes one day after eHarmony settled a case in the State of New Jersey where a gay man accused the company of discrimination. In that settlement, eHarmony agreed to open up a service that matches gays and lesbians.

That announcement had no affect in the California case, which is moving forward.

“We are encouraged that after years of discrimination, eHarmony finally appears to be recognizing that it must open its services to everyone in the general public, regardless of sexual orientation," says Joshua Konecky of Schneider Wallace Cottrell Brayton Konecky, LLP, who is representing the plaintiffs. " However, words are not enough; the next step is to ensure that eHarmony’s commitment is effectively implemented and enforceable by the Court.”

Officials with President-elect Barack Obama’s transition team this week named at least seven openly gay people to transition panels assigned to review federal departments and agencies.

Three of the seven gays named to the transition panels — businessman Fred P. Hochberg, former San Francisco Supervisor Roberta Achtenberg, and labor attorney Elaine Kaplan — held high-level positions in the Clinton administration.
+++++++
Yet, Obama will not immediately repeal Don't Ask Don't Tell in the military. He will wait until 2010.

Hard to believe that these Lesbian parents did not know how the Catholic Church feels about thier non-traditional family.

Earlier this year, Eric Holder–along with Janet Reno and several other former officials from the Clinton Department of Justice–co-signed an amicus brief in District of Columbia v. Heller. The brief was filed in support of DC's ban on all handguns, and ban on the use of any firearm for self-defense in the home.
++++++
Gun grabber indeed

Barack Obama borrowed more from the immigrant labor movement than just a slogan.

Just as Latinos historically had marched for worker rights to the chants of "Yes, we can," ("Si, se puede"), they organized and stumped by the thousands this year to help elect Obama.

Although they initially leaned more toward Hillary Rodham Clinton, Latinos gave Obama 67 percent of their votes nationwide, increasing their turnout, delivering several key states and gaining clout in the Democratic Party.

They say they earned a seat at Obama's table and plan to remind him that he promised to revive and enact a proposal many favor: a comprehensive immigration overhaul, including a legalization program.
++++++++
Will Obma deliver?

Tension is growing in the African American community over Proposition 8, with the leader of the San Francisco branch of the NAACP saying he expects some black ministers to boycott the group's annual fundraiser tonight because he supports same-sex marriage.

Reporting from Sacramento — State lawmakers began moving toward a deal this week to close California's deficit with the help of steeper car fees that would cost many drivers hundreds of dollars annually, according to people involved in budget talks.

Under the plan, GOP lawmakers — most of whom have signed anti-tax pledges — would vote to triple the vehicle license fee that owners pay when they register their cars every year in exchange for a ballot measure that would impose rigid limits on future state spending. Motorists' annual license fees would rise from 0.65% of the value of their vehicles to 2%. For a car or truck valued at $25,000, the increase would be $336.
++++++
Is the GOP Caucus out of their minds? Raise taxes in this recession.

President-Elect Barack Obama‘s transition team is exploring a swift, prepackaged bankruptcy for automakers as a possible solution to the industry’s financial crisis, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Obama’s team has already contacted at least one bankruptcy- law firm to say that Daniel Tarullo, a professor at Georgetown University’s law school who heads Obama’s economic policy working group, would call to discuss the workings of a so-called prepack, according to this person.
+++++++
Obama is proposing an actual plan of action?

President-elect Barack Obama will not move for months, and perhaps not until 2010, to ask Congress to end the military's decades-old ban on open homosexuals in the ranks, two people who have advised the Obama transition team on this issue say.

Repealing the ban was an Obama campaign promise. However, Mr. Obama first wants to confer with the Joint Chiefs of Staff and his new political appointees at the Pentagon to reach a consensus and then present legislation to Congress, the advisers said.
+++++++++
Obama is milking this issue to obtain gay campaign contributions for the 2010 election cycle.