The Progressive Puppy

Bill Donohue Defends Pope, Blames Gays for Church Sex Scandals

Sometimes I think God made a mistake and put Bill Donohue's ass where his mouth should be ...

The first bark goes to Andy Towle on Towelroad:  Bill Donohue of the Catholic League, an organization Kathy Griffin once described as one man in a room with a computer, has taken out a quarter-page ad in the New York Times defending Pope Benedict and the Catholic Church from allegations of sexual abuse of children by Catholic clergy.  In recent weeks the paper has published well-researched articles documenting the abuse, including, 200 deaf boys at a school in Wisconsin, hundreds of cases in the German church (so many that the Vatican can't handle the workload), the abuse of altar boys on video by Brazilian priests.  And just today, some new allegations out of Miami regarding a Cuban priest. The Vatican tried to cover up this case as well.  Donohue attempts to deflect blame on the church by, among other things, once again bringing up the disproven canard that it's somehow the fault of gays.  (No matter what the situation, this is the only stone Bill throws.)

One section of the Times' advertisement reads: "The Times continues to editorialize about the 'pedophilia crisis,' when all along it's been a homosexual crisis. Eighty percent of the victims of priestly sexual abuse are male and most of them are post-pubescent. While homosexuality does not cause predatory behavior, and most gay priests are not molesters, most of the molesters have been gay." 

Psychotherapist Joe Kort explains pedophilia on Psychology Today:  Rarely does a pedophile experience sexual desire for adults of either gender. They usually don't identify as homosexual - the majority identify as heterosexual, even those who abuse children of the same gender.  They are sexually aroused by youth, not by gender. In contrast, child molesters often exert power and control over children in an effort to dominate them... (They) molest children episodically, for reasons apart from sexual desire, much as rapists enjoy power, violence and controlling their humiliated victims... To call child molestation of a boy by a man "homosexual" or of a girl by a man "heterosexual" is to misunderstand pedophilia.  No true pedophile is attracted to adults.

The Catholic League's ad continues: "The Times has teamed up with Jeffrey Anderson, a radical lawyer who has made millions suing the Church and greasing professional victims' groups like SNAP so they can weaken its moral authority. Why? Because of issues like abortion, gay marriage, and women's ordination. That's what's really driving them mad and that's why they are on the hunt."

"Greasing professional victims' groups like SNAP?" Is Donohue fucking kidding?  So much for Christian compassion. Or taking responsibility for the Vatican's systematic cover-up of these crimes against children. To Bill Donohue and other Church apologists (including the Holy See itself), the only thing "professional victims' groups" really care about is bilking money from the misunderstood (and completely blameless!) dioceses where the offenses occurred.  That, and advancing progressive causes like same-sex marriage.  (How he can make that bizarre connection is anybody's guess.)

To make matters worse, much worse, Bill Donohue appeared on CNN's Larry King Live last night and insisted that many of these abuse cases don't actually classify as pedophilia because "most of the victims were post-pubescent," twelve or thirteen years old.  According to Mr. Donohue, boys of that age should not be characterized as innocent children.  

John Amato writes on Crook and Liars:  Unbelievable. Bill Donohue is so desperate to bash gays and defend the Catholic Church that's he's willing to pretend that people who are attracted to thirteen-year-old boys aren't really child predators. They're just gay. And King let him say it unchallenged as though it was no big deal.  (C&L has video of King's drowsy non-response to Donohue's outrageous assertions, along with a transcript of the segment.)

"It's not whether you win or lose, it's how you place the blame."  - Oscar Wilde

Once Again, Obama's Justice Department Defends DADT in Court

So just how determined is the Obama Administration to keeping "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" firmly in place? Very determined, it appears.  Despite swearing that he wants to repeal the ban on gays serving openly in the military and even promising during his State of the Union Address to overturn the policy this year, our "fierce advocate" prez and his puppet master Rham Emanual (who experiences panic attacks over any social issue that might negatively impact future elections) are once again defending the gay military ban in federal court.  (I'm getting that deja vu feeling because I've typed out these words so many times before.) Obama's own Department of Justice, on orders from the White House, is still using its attack-dog lawyers to invent reasons why DADT is right for the country. 

Joe Sudbay writes:  The latest example is a case brought by Log Cabin Republicans...  DOJ asked for summary judgment, in order to throw the case out. It's strongest argument is a challenge to the standing of LCR. But, as in the DOMA brief (that invoked incest and pedophilia as a reason the court shouldn't overturn DOMA), DOJ had to go the extra mile to show just how valid the DADT law is...  They only right-wing talking point they left out is the "we're in two wars" argument.  You'd think by now the Obama administration would have figured out a way to finesse its legal arguments on issues like this. In fact, you'd think the President would be using his Dept of Justice to fight the constitutionality of DOMA and other legislation that impinged on the civil rights of our citizens.  There is actually a section in the brief that starts with this: "Because Congress Could Rationally Have Concluded That The DADT Policy Is Necessary To Maintain Unit Cohesion, Accommodate Personal Privacy, and Reduce Sexual Tension For Military Effectiveness, LCR’s Facial Due Process Challenge Fails."

Yeah, that's gonna play well with the President's LGBT allies.  By all means bring up the "sexual tension" bugaboo - since everybody knows gay troops are incapable of controlling their "urges," like heterosexual servicemembers do. (Sigh.) The legal brief also used an oudated quote from Colin Powell, who now supports repeal, to bolster their arguments in favor of the ban.  (Rachel Maddow dealt with that on her TV show last night.)

Richard Socarides, a former top aide to President Clinton, last year explained that the DOJ is not required to defend unjust laws, and certainly not this vigorously.  "The president’s relationship with the Justice Department (works) like this: The president makes a policy decision first and then the very talented DOJ lawyers figure out how to apply it to actual cases. If the lawyers cannot figure out how to defend a statute and stay consistent with the president’s policy decision, the policy decision should always win out.  Thus, the general rule that the DOJ must defend laws against attack is relative - like everything in Washington. And even when the DOJ does defend a law against constitutional attack, it does not have to advance every conceivable argument in doing so." 

AmericaBlog cites four different cases in which past administrations - helmed by Reagan, Clinton, and both Bushes - chose not to use the Justice Department to defend laws that the President opposed.

I used to wonder - naively, I suppose - if our Commander-in-chief was obstructing repeal behind the scenes because he wanted to take sole credit for getting rid of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."  And let's face it, if the federal courts ruled the policy was unconstitutional, he wouldn't be able to do that.  But the President has let pass too many opportunities to push this legislation through Congress.  Rather than looking for "more humane" ways to fire gay soldiers, he should have grabbed the ball and led Team Equality to victory.  Instead, judging from his actions, he's been standing on the sidelines all along, flirting with cheerleaders from the other team.

Maggie's Tongue

For brevity's sake, I sometimes refer to "our two labs" when I'm writing about the dogs.  But the fact is, Maggie Moose, our old blond girl, is a lab-mix.  The most obvious giveaway is her ears.  They're smooth as velvet, but they're small. On pure bred Labrador retrievers, you can stretch out their ears with your thumb and index finger (gently), and then when you pull them together they'll cover the eyes.  The second tell-tale sign is Maggie's tongue.  Most labs' tongues are solid pink. Maggie's tongue looks like she's been chewing on ink.  I really don't care about its appearance, though - because she gives the sweetest kisses. Little Brother does, too. (Yeah, I know. I'll find any excuse to post photos of the furkids.)

Right-Wing Christian Terrorists Plan Murder, Anarchy

Trust me, this is only the beginning ...

In Michigan a group of right-wing Christian terrorists have been plotting to murder police officers in an attempt to incite a populist uprising, according to the FBI. Nine members of the radical group Hutaree have been arrested.  They face weapons and sedition charges in connection to what Attorney General Eric Holder is calling an "insidious plan."  David and Tina Stone, who hatched this terror scheme, make no secret of the fact that they are a God-fearing "militia family" whose belief in an impending Apocalypse spurred their actions.  In a prophetic scenario from the Book of Revelations, "upstanding Christian warriors" (like themselves, presumably) will be called upon to vanquish the legendary "Antichrist."  (A recent poll showed that nearly one in four self-identified Republicans think President Obama is the "Beast" described in some scriptural passages.)  From the New York Times:  The court filing said the group, which called itself the Hutaree, planned to kill an unidentified law enforcement officer and then bomb the funeral caravan using improvised explosive devices based on designs used against American troops by insurgents in Iraq.  "This is an example of radical and extremist fringe groups which can be found throughout our society," Andrew Arena, the FBI special agent in charge in Detroit, said in a statement. "The FBI takes such extremist groups seriously, especially those who would target innocent citizens and the law enforcement officers who protect the citizens of the United States."  The Hutaree - a word Mr. Stone apparently made up to mean Christian warriors - saw the local police as "foot soldiers" for the federal government, which the group viewed as its enemy, along with other participants in what the group’s members deemed to be a "New World Order" working on behalf of the Antichrist, the indictment said.

From Detroit News:  If convicted, the suspects could face up to life in prison, the maximum penalty on the attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction. The seditious conspiracy charge carries a maximum prison term of 20 years, as does the teaching the use of explosives charge. The possession of a firearm charge carries a minimum penalty of five years in prison.  According to federal authorities, the group had identified a Michigan law enforcement officer as a potential target. Their idea was to kill that officer and when law enforcement officials from around the country came to the area for the funeral, they would attack the procession with improvised explosive devices and "explosively formed projectiles." They hoped the attack would serve as a "catalyst for a more wide-spread uprising against the government."  A scouting mission was planned for April and, if someone had stumbled upon the mission, the Hutaree decided they would be killed, according to the indictment.  It was this mission that prompted the raids, said Barbara McQuade, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan.

Right-wing hysteria has been sweeping the country, which only emboldens these home-grown terrorists. I try to refrain from making predictions on this blog - but I honestly believe there will be another major attack on U.S soil within the next two years, not from foreign enemies but by one of these militia groups whose members are convinced that they're doing the Lord's work. (In reality, they're no different from Islamic terrorists who purport to follow "Allah's will.")

Since Barack Obama was elected president, we have seen the seeds of open revolution sown by predominantly white Tea Party activists with their threatening signs ("We came unarmed, this time!"), malevolent anti-government slogans and hateful anti-progressive rhetoric. We have observed ultraconservative politicians ennoble these fringe organizations by referring to them as "true American patriots."  Republican officials curry favor with their extremist leaders.  Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity spit venom for the entertainment of millions of Fox News viewers, giving legitimacy to any conspiracy theory du jour.  And thanks to the Internet, people who thrive on hate are always able to connect those who share their nihilistic views.  Combine all these things, and you have a recipe for lawlessness which will eventually lead to another national tragedy. (That much-ballyhooed "Tree of Liberty" can't flourish without bloodshed, dontcha know.) 

I personally would like to see fewer tax dollars squandered on the Afghanistan quagmire and more funds spent recruiting FBI agents to investigate domestic terrorism. But of course that won't happen, not until there's another Oklahoma City bombing.  Only then will average citizens wake up and start pushing back against the right-wing hate machine.

Really, what sort of mayhem (and how many deaths) would have to occur before the GOP and its fundamentalist Christian base tone down their constant "call to arms?" 

Below is a video of Hutaree's "Christian soldiers" running around in paramilitary attire and engaging in "maneuvers."  You'll see them burning a United Nations banner and replacing it, not with an American flag - but with a Jesus flag.

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Sugar's Rainbow: LGBT Roundup (with sides of Steele and Hannity)

A new survey released this morning shows that 50% of Americans said they could support an openly gay President of the United States. 44% were opposed to the idea. Just as surprisingly, 55% said they would be comfortable with a gay Supreme Court justice, with 40% voicing opposition. (And there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.)

Greg Sargent at Plum Line reports that the Republican National Committee has undertaken an investigation in the wake of news that nearly $2,000 in party funds was spent at a bondage-themed club that features topless female dancers imitating lesbian sex.  (Family values pols love that girl-on-girl action. Open your Bibles to Ruth and Naomi.)  It's also being reported that RNC Chair Michael Steele wanted to use GOP donations to purchase a private jet for his personal use. There are calls for Steele to step down from his post.  Sam Stein writes on Huffington Post:  While several GOP strategists are willing to grant Steele a pass - under the rubric that one has to spend lavishly to raise lavish amounts of money - several big donors and party officials are completely baffled.  "For those donors who truly believe in conservative values (the serial adulterers with their stretch limos and svelte trophy wives) this latest news about Steele has to be very disturbing," said Doug MacKinnon, former press secretary to Majority Leader Robert Dole. "(Y)ou should have no doubts that it is going to be spent as advertised and not to provide a spoiled, egocentric, out-of-touch chairman with frivolous luxuries which are out of reach of the vast majority of the American people.  Michael Steele needs to resign and let the RNC vote in a man or woman who understands that his or her needs do not come before the needs of the nation or the party."  (Commence hurling now.)

An Italian Bishop says that gays and lesbians should not be given funerals.  From PinkPaper.com:  In an interview published last Friday on pontifex.roma.it, a website created to 'prove and defend Christianity,' Bishop Francesco Nolè declared that 'irregulars' such as criminals and homosexuals should not be given communions or funerals. This, he said, is not to be seen as discrimination, but rather as 'healthy medicine' for those close to the person: "Our behavior, which could be perceived as mean or cruel, in the long-run often heals and evangelizes."  (Snort.)

From Lez Get Real:  The Hartford County Public School District in northeast Maryland has stopped filtering student access to LGBT-related web sites, after it was challenged by the American Civil Liberties Union on the issue.  The schools systems filter system had prevented students from accessing many well-known state and national LGBT groups, including the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network, as well as a variety of religious organizations that support gay rights, but had allowed access to sites that condemn homosexuality.

For the second time in four years, retired Presbyterian minister Reverend Jane Spahr faces prosecution by her church for officiating in the marriages of same-sex couples.  From the Press-Democrat:  But there is a new twist to the case. The sixteen marriages that allegedly violate Presbyterian church law were conducted during the five-month period in 2008 when same-sex marriage was legal in California.  Spahr's defender in the case, Scott Clark, said that the church is "trying to sanction a minister for performing legal marriages. This is unprecedented."

Hide the chilluns!  An openly gay man named Todd Giroux is campaigning to be the next governor of Rhode Island.  The 39-year old Bristol resident will be running as an Independent, natch.  From Edge Boston:  Giroux has no reservations about being open about his sexuality, and he does not feel his sexual orientation will prove a barrier to his campaign. (He would get my vote because of his optimism alone.)  "You have to be honest with yourself," Giroux explained. "I wanted to control my message so it’s on my terms."  Giroux said he is the only candidate willing to address the economic concerns of the voters.  The state currently has the third highest unemployment rate in the country. (Just watch. Giroux will have the Catholic Church snapping at his ass every step of the way.)

According to a Washington-based advocacy group, Sean Hannity's charity Freedom Works has "engaged in deceptive and illegal marketing practices by suggesting that all concert ticket sale revenue goes directly to scholarships for children of killed and wounded service members"  (And of course that's not happening.)  The ongoing scandal has drawn the interest of both the IRS and the Federal Trade Commission.  Even right-wing blogger Debbie Schlussel is calling Hannity's foundation a "big scam."  But hey, the Fox News blowhard isn't worried.  His new book "Conservative Victory" is being released this week, which I'm sure will make a big splash with Christianists and the Tea Party Posse.

Pop singer Ricky Martin has finally come out of the closet.  (You'll recall that Barbara Walters recently expressed regret over once asking Martin about his sexual orientation, claiming that it hurt his career.)  From the Latin crooner's website:  "This is just what I need especially now that I am the father of two beautiful boys that are so full of light and who with their outlook teach me new things every day. To keep living as I did up until today would be to indirectly diminish the glow that my kids where born with. Enough is enough. This has to change...  What will happen from now on? It doesn't matter. I can only focus on what's happening to me in this moment. The word "happiness" takes on a new meaning for me as of today. It has been a very intense process. Every word that I write in this letter is born out of love, acceptance, detachment and real contentment. Writing this is a solid step towards my inner peace and vital part of my evolution. I am proud to say that I am a fortunate homosexual man. I am very blessed to be who I am."

Representatives Tammy Baldwin and Barney Frank are insisting that there is going to be a vote on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act when Congress reconvenes in mid-April.  From Metro Weekly:  Efforts at moving forward ENDA, the legislation that would prohibit discrimination in employment based on sexual orientation or gender identity, have recently been more low profile than the prominent efforts to repeal the '"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. President Barack Obama, who mentioned the repeal of the military policy in his State of the Union speech, did not even mention ENDA - despite a significant portion of the speech focusing on job and the economy. (We can only wait and hope, although I wouldn't recommend holding our breaths just yet.)

You remember the Georgia high-schooler who asked to bring his boyfriend to the prom and when his parents found out about it they kicked him out of the house?  Now the entire community is turning against him.

20 Years For Galveston Anti-Gay Hate Crime

Robert’s Lafitte is one of the oldest gay clubs in Texas.  It's not much to look like on the outside, and when my partner and I used to visit the tavern it was even less attractive on the inside.  When we heard last year that Lafitte was the second bar to reopen after Hurricane Ike devastated the island, I thought, well, it always looked like tropical storm had swept through the place anyway so there couldn't have been that much cleanup to do.  Nevertheless, Lafitte was always a festive little watering hole with a garrulous staff and friendly patrons.  Art and I always had a good time when we went there.

In March 2009, Robert’s Lafitte was the scene of hate crime.  On a quiet Sunday night, three young men were walking toward the bar planning to "hurt some homos."  One of the men propped open the main door while two others hurled large chunks of concrete at patrons.  Fifty-seven year old Marc Bosaw, a U.S. Navy veteran, was struck in the back of the head, an injury requiring over a dozen staples to close the gaping hole. His longtime companion was hit in the jaw by the flying concrete and bled profusely. The attackers were promptly apprehended by police.  (Pictured below: Bosaw and the bashers)

On Friday, Alejandro Sam Gray, 18, pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon with a hate crime enhancement.  He was then sentenced to twenty years, to be served concurrently. Now the family and friends of the youngest attacker are angry at the court, saying that the punishment is excessive.  From Galveston Daily News:  Philip Lipnick testified on Gray’s behalf and left the courtroom before judgment was handed down, expecting the teenager he had mentored for more than five years to receive deferred adjudication.  (If this is the result of Lipnick's "mentoring," I think he should consider another line of work.)  Lipnick disagreed with Gray’s sentence, especially since District Attorney Kurt Sistrunk recommended the teenager receive five years in prison.  "More harm than good will be done by this," Lipnick said. "(Gray) has never had a criminal record before this. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I don’t know what kind of message the judge is trying to send."  ...Gray’s mother, Carmen White, said the sentence was unfair.  White said Gray was adamant about graduating high school and wanted to be a video game designer, artist and dance choreographer, White said.  "I’m not saying he shouldn’t pay for the crime he committed, but 20 years is shocking," White said. "He wasn’t perfect, but he isn’t a bad kid." 

Judge Susan Criss of the 212th District Court saw things differently:  "It has been suggested that the actions by (Gray) were done because of his youth, because of his immaturity and because he was following the wrong crowd, and I am not buying any of that. He made a decision to commit a crime of violence and a crime of hate."

Galveston Daily News readers were whipped into a frenzy. Many of the locals blamed the victim.  A comment left by someone calling himself "General Halftrak" was particularly vile: "Twelve stitches! What a weenie. He should not have been attacked, but what a gigantic wuss to think that someone should go away for 20 years for twelve stitches.  Why should anyone be 'tolerant' of clowns like this who think they are way more important than others who are not big 'kitties'? What a pathetic whining excuse for a human being." 

It's worth noting that Marc Bosaw did NOT request this stiff sentence and was himself surprised by Judge Criss's decision.  Bosaw said, "I was shocked when Gray was given 20 years.  I don’t want this to ruin their lives, but people have been telling me my life was ruined also."  Since the attack, Mr. Barstow has had trouble speaking and maintaining his balance.  He recently fell due to a lack of equilibrium and was hospitalized with a broken shoulder.

It should also be noted that Gray will not actually serve two decades behind bars. With good behavior, he can be out on probation in six.