Archive for Democrat

RNC Florida Hispanic Director is Now a Democrat

Aerial

This should be top story tomorrow, not all the kvetching about made up scandals. THIS is a true blue disintegration. How Rubio & Cruz justify their membership is beyond me. h/t Taegan.

It doesn’t take much to see the culture of intolerance surrounding the Republican Party today. I have wondered before about the seemingly harsh undertones about immigrants and others. Look no further; a well-known organization recently confirms the intolerance of that which seems different or strange to them.

(snip)

Although the organization distanced themselves from those assertions, other immigration-related research is still padded with the same racist and eugenics-based innuendo. Some Republican leaders have blandly (if at all) denied and distanced themselves from this but it doesn’t take away from the culture within the ranks of intolerance. The pseudo-apologies appear to be a quick fix to deep-rooted issues in the Republican Party in hopes that it will soon pass and be forgotten.

The complete disregard of those who are in disadvantage is also palpable. We are not looking at an isolated incident of rhetoric or research. Others subscribe to motivating people to action by stating, “In California, a majority of all Hispanic births are illegitimate. That’s a lot of Democratic voters coming.” The discourse that moves the Republican Party is filled with this anti-immigrant movement and overall radicalization that is far removed from reality. Another quick example beyond the immigration debate happened during CPAC this year when a supporter shouted ““For giving him shelter and food for all those years?” while a moderator explained how Frederick Douglass had written a letter to his slave master saying that he forgave him for “all the things you did to me.” I think you get the idea.

Here’s an idea, Republicans…

ic factor democrat party

Today on MSNBC, Alex Witt interviewed Republican freshman class president Rep. Luke Messer who hails from Indiana’s 6th district. She was questioning him about the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad GOP dissension-slash-implosion, and he pretended to care.

How do I know he was only pretending? He dropped a few hints. One was his feigned concern about said growing division among his fellowGOPers. Or maybe he meant that, but considering the same old right wing talking points coming out of his own mouth, and his record, how sincere could he have been?

Another was when he rejected common sense gun safety law proposals while insisting that he “would listen” to any suggestions as he clearly sided with the radical NRA CEO, Wayne LaPierre (the NRA has given him a 100% rating). But hey, he’s a great listener!

However, the obvious giveaway that exposed him to be the partisan hack that he is was when, as he claimed to support working across the aisle with the new “bipartisan” House members, he repeatedly used the word “Democrat” as an adjective. That’s a well-known GOP slur, or as the New Yorker referred to such language, “The ‘Ic’ Factor“:

To wit:

The Democrat Party has a clear record when it comes to taxes.

And:

Nothing threatens our hard-won reforms and economic prosperity more than a Democrat victory this November.

And:

The difference is clear: if you want the government in your pocket, vote Democrat.

Memo to Messer (and all Republicans): It’s called the Democratic Party.

There’s no great mystery about the motives behind this deliberate misnaming. “Democrat Party” is a slur, or intended to be—a handy way to express contempt. Aesthetic judgments are subjective, of course, but “Democrat Party” is jarring verging on ugly. It fairly screams “rat.” [...]

In the conservative media, the phenomenon feeds more voraciously the closer you get to the mucky, sludgy bottom. “Democrat Party” is standard jargon on right-wing talk radio and common on winger Web sites

So here’s an idea, Republicans: If you want to maintain even a shred of credibility, stop insulting the very party you claim to want to work with so badly. Unless you want us to start calling you “Rushpublics.”

Democrats Re-Establish Lead in Party Affiliation

galid

But EVERYONE says we’re a center right country!! Could the pundits be wrong?

PRINCETON, NJ — An average of 47% of Americans identified as Democrats or said they were independents who leaned Democratic in 2012, compared with 42% who identified as or leaned Republican. That re-establishes a Democratic edge in party affiliation after the two parties were essentially tied in 2010 and 2011.

(snip)

Gallup has measured party identification and leaning consistently since 1991. During that time, Democrats have usually held an advantage, including the high margin of 12 points in 2008, the year President Barack Obama was elected. Republicans have held an advantage in only one year — 1991, when President George H.W. Bush enjoyed record-high approval ratings after the Persian Gulf War. The two parties were essentially tied in 1994-1995, 2001-2003, and 2010-2011.

In 2012, 31% of Americans identified as Democrats, with an additional 16% initially saying they were independent but when asked if they leaned toward either party, they said Democratic. Meanwhile, 28% of Americans identified as Republicans, with another 14% leaning toward the GOP.

Quickie- Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) First Congressperson To Describe Religion as ‘None’

elex az congress 0544102412rs

Progress comes in small increments sometimes. Makes me very happy.

When the 113th Congress is sworn in today, its new members will include the first Hindu member of Congress and the first Buddhist to serve as senator. Also for the first time, Congress will welcome a member who describes her religion as “none.”

Democratic Arizona Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, who was raised a Mormon, is religiously unaffiliated but does not describe herself as an atheist. Her campaign was unavailable for comment to Whispers due to the swearing in, but spokesman Justin Unga told the Religion News Service in November that Sinema favors a “secular approach.” He told the New York Times the same month that Sinema “believes the terms ‘nontheist,’ ‘atheist’ or ‘nonbeliever’ are not befitting of her life’s work or personal character.”

Hawaii Lt. Gov. Schatz Appointed to Fill Inouye’s US Senate Vacancy

brianshatz

Well this sucks. Another white guy, totally ignoring Inouye’s last wishes. Sounds promising, but still not a woman.

Lieutenant Governor Brian Schatz was selected today to fill the US Senate vacancy created by the recent passing of US Senator Daniel Inouye.

The announcement was made by Governor Neil Abercrombie during a press conference this afternoon.

(snip)

Lieutenant Governor Brian Schatz was inaugurated to his current post on Dec. 6, 2010. In addition to his responsibilities as deputy to Governor Neil Abercrombie, Schatz is also currently tasked with helping to lead the state’s clean energy efforts and Asia-Pacific relations.

Schatz is credited with launching the Hawai’i Fair Share Initiative, which seeks more private and public investment in Hawai’i.

Before being elected lieutenant governor, he served for eight years as the CEO of Helping Hands Hawai’i, one of Hawaii’s largest non-profit community social services organizations.

Joe Kennedy III wins Massachusetts congressional primary

Really not sure how I feel about this whole Dynasty thing. (And yes, I meant to capitalize it.)

BOSTON – Joseph Kennedy III, the first of his famous political family’s generation to seek elective office, defeated two little-known Democrats in Thursday’s primary in Massachusetts’ 4th Congressional District.

Kennedy, 31, will face the winner of a three-way Republican primary in the November election for the seat currently held by longtime liberal Democratic Rep. Barney Frank.

Kennedy is the son of Joseph P. Kennedy II, who represented the state’s 8th Congressional District for six terms from 1987-1999, and the grandson of the late Robert F. Kennedy. A graduate of Stanford University and Harvard Law School, the younger Kennedy served in the Peace Corps, worked as a prosecutor in Massachusetts and in 2006 co-managed with his twin brother Matt the final campaign of their great-uncle, Sen. Edward Kennedy, who died of cancer in 2009.

Unofficial early returns from Thursday’s primary gave Kennedy around 90 percent of the vote. He was facing Herb Robinson, a software engineer and Rachel Brown, a follower of perennial presidential candidate Lyndon LaRouche.

Video- Newark Mayor Cory Booker Kicks Platform Address at DNC

I’ve heard mixed things about Mr Booker from my NJ friends, but this is a good speech.