http://www.pamshouseblend.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=4

In which I receive an email...

August 27, 2008 by PamsHouseBlend

...from my very good friend Mario. He is a kick a*s guy, did all the photography for my NYC cabaret last year, is right with me in supporting everything about Radical Russ's favorite platform, and a progressive's progressive. We met four years ago right around this time, when I was blogging on Julien's List. After last night's coverage he sent me this:

Great speech by Hillary tonight...the Dems are 2-2 this convention..can't wait to see what the Cleanup hitter (Obama ) will do.

My friend and I came up w/ the perfect Obama campaign slogan today:

OBAMA:

ONE WIFE
ONE HOUSE
ONE NATION

UPDATE: Was informed in the comments that this slogan is already thought of and selling on T-shirts! Great idea!

Love it!

Where Is Our Hubert Humphrey?

August 27, 2008 by PamsHouseBlend

Sixty years ago, Hubert Humphrey "urged the Democratic Party to 'get out of the shadow of states' rights and walk forthrightly into the bright sunshine of human rights'" (wikipedia).

Humphrey's minority plank was contentious, and the walkout by Southern states (who nominated Strom Thurmond for president as part of the States Rights party) nearly cost Harry Truman the re-election.

In 1948, there was little risk in allowing states to continue to marginalize people of color. No one was going to lose an election because the "coloreds" weren't being treated as fully human. Yet Humphrey saw an issue that didn't necessarily translate into political power, and decided it was important anyway.

Today, there are quite a few human rights issues being discussed - mostly around gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and other people. And what the Democratic party seems to have learned is "be timid".

We hear Democratic Party leaders talking about what's "expedient". Even an openly gay representative buys into this timidity.

We have few bold leaders. Instead, we have people who bow to the tyranny of the majority so they can keep or gain their own positions of power.

Video break: Alexander Robinson of the National Black Justice Coalition

August 27, 2008 by PamsHouseBlend

I was able to nab a few moments with the National Black Justice Coalition's  Executive Director & CEO, H. Alexander Robinson, who shared great insights on the possibilities presented by an Obama administration for LGBT rights, and the contrast of what the election of John McCain promises.

Also, you must read Robinson's powerful essay on CNN's non-coverage of black gay men in its recent segment on HIV/AIDS aired in its documentary Black in America. He outlined why the series was a missed opportunity to present a segment of the community that is also vibrant, positive and has ties to accepting faith communities. It's clear CNN producers went out of their way to avoid public discussion of what it is like to be black and gay in America and what challenges there are within the community to adequately reconcile the spread of HIV and silence within minority communities about sexual health.

The program of the Republican National Convention

August 27, 2008 by PamsHouseBlend

Please, please, put any drinks down on the table, stop munching on breakfast and keep the keyboard safe as you peruse the program of the Republican National Convention.

The press release just hit my inbox and it's a laugh-fest.

Day Two: A stroll down the 16th Street Mall

August 26, 2008 by PamsHouseBlend

Another fun day at the Convention.  I dropped Pam off at the Big Tent and grabbed one of the free bikes to ride uptown to pick up our Tuesday Hall Pass (Terrance is right; without credentials you are nobody and you belong nowhere.)  We got all the other passes for all four days, but the Hall pass (2nd only to Floor pass) must be picked up daily.

The free bike thing is pretty cool.  They're set up all over the downtown area.  Once you're registered in their system with your ID and credit card, they just scan you in and hand you a bike.

On my way back to the Big Tent, I decided to ride backdown the 16th Street Mall (walk, actually, since they won't let you ride through the mall).  This mall is just a pedestrian-only shopping zone that runs the length of 16th, with hybrid-electric free buses that give rides from end to end.

As I get just two blocks into the stroll, I see a crowd of people gathered around the front of a restaurant.  "What's going on?" I ask.  "Some celebrities in there, I think," was the answer.