Top Bachmann Donor Asks School Board To Maintain Pro-Bullying "Neutrality" Policy

With a veritable bullying suicide epidemic in schools in Michele Bachmann's home district, one would think that Bachmann and her fellow hate merchants would try to keep a somewhat lower profile in their anti-gay jihad. But such is not the case. Leading the charge to keep LGBT students targets for anti-gay bullying is Barb Anderson, a top Bachmann donor, who was instrumental in advocating for the Anoka-Hennepin School District's "neutrality" policy which bars any discussion of homosexuality and any support for LGBT students. As Think Progress reports, Anderson and her husband, George Anderson of Crown Iron Works, have donated $13,400 and $9,200, respectively, and Crown Iron Works ranked as Bachmann’s 12th largest donor over her political career with $26,850 in total contributions. Here's more from Think Progress on the effort to continue to give anti-gay bullies free rein in the Anoka-Hennepin school division:

Andy Birkey reports that the Parents Action League (PAL) — a group that advocates for ex-gay reparative therapy — is now “circulating a petition to the Anoka-Hennepin School Board asking it to maintain a policy that limits discussions of LGBT issues in the classroom.” The Minnesota school district has some of the highest suicide rates in the country and is currently involved in a lawsuit alleging that its policy of not discussing homosexuality has contributed to severe bullying against LGBT students. “PAL’s petition asserts that LGBT people suffer ‘life-threatening health risks’ and a flier by the group warns of a ‘radical homosexual agenda,” Birkey writes. Below is the text of the petition:

Whereas homosexual behavior exposes participants to many life-threatening health risks; and whereas the classroom environment needs to be solely focused on academics; Therefore, we the undersigned citizens of Anoka-Hennepin School District No. 11 do whole heartedly support and desire that the School Board adhere to the following statement in the AH District 11 Sexual Orientation Curriculum Policy: ‘Teaching about sexual orientation is not a part of the District adopted curriculum; rather, such matters are best addressed within individual family homes, churches, or community organizations. Anoka-Hennepin staff, in the course of their professional duties, shall remain neutral on matters regarding sexual orientation including but not limited to student led discussions.’

PAL spokeswoman and representative Barb Anderson has previously blamed gay groups for the bullying encountered by LGBT students. “They are creating an environment where these children that are sexually confused suddenly become affirmed as a homosexual or that they are born that way, and then these kids are locked into a lifestyle with their choices limited, and many times this can be disastrous to them as they get into the behavior which leads to disease and death in some cases.” She added, “So, it’s really… They are the ones that are contributing to an atmosphere that can even increase bullying as more kids get into this kind of a lifestyle.”

I sincerely believe that if there is a God, it's Bachmann, Anderson and haters like them, not LGBT individuals, who will find they have reserved seats in Hell for all the horrors they have helped create and perpetuate.

Chamber of Commerce Groups Leaving the U. S. Chamber of Commerce

Given the U. S. Chamber of Commerce's activism in opposing progressive legislation and support for far right politicians (not to mention its apparent illegal use of foreign funds in U.S. campaigns), a growing number of local and regional chambers are dropping the affiliations with the national group. Think Progress has a story on this growing trend which includes the coverage of the Charlottesville Chamber of Commerce's unhappiness with the national organization. Locally, the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce leaves much to be desired - it seems to be over populated with the old guard and backed Taliban Bob McDonnell for governor last year. And in terms of diversity, based on its leadership it apparently doesn't grasp that LGBT businesses exist and/or ought to be promoted. Here are highlights from Think Progress an the growing defections from the national organization:
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The Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce in southern Connecticut is currently in discussions about whether to break from the ‘U.S.’ Chamber over disagreements about the national Chamber’s involvement in politics. Chamber Executive Director Tricia Cunningham said her organization, which currently pays dues to the national Chamber, has disagreements over the U.S. Chamber’s use of millions of corporate dollars this election season to lobby and advertise on national issues.
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Tony Sheridan, president and chief executive officer of the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut, said his organization broke off its relationship with the U.S. Chamber last year. Sheridan said plainly, “My issue with the national chamber is their willingness to take a very narrow slice of a piece of complicated legislation – and it’s generally the most negative spin they’re taking, like health care, when we all know that the health-care system is broken – and claim that the sky is falling, instead of using the money to educate people.
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Last week, the Greater Hudson Chamber of Commerce in New Hampshire announced it is leaving the U.S. Chamber because it does not want to be associated with the national Chamber’s political ads in favor of Republican candidates. And in Virginia, the local Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce has refused to endorse the political attack ads that the national Chamber is running in its area to defeat Rep. Tom Perriello (D-VA).
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The U.S. Chamber also attempts to present itself as an organization the represents mom and pop local businesses. In reality, as the New York Times noted this week, it is funded mostly by a small number of large multi-national corporations. . . . in 2008, the Chamber received the bulk of its donations from only 45 companies, including firms like Goldman Sachs, Edward Jones, Alpha Technologies, Chevron Texaco and Aegon.
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According to the New York Times, other big donors include Dow Chemical ($1.7 million), Prudential Financial ($2 million), News Corporation ($1 million).

Actions of Clarence Thomas' Wife Raise Judicial Ethics Issues

Maybe I am biased, but from my experience with judges, the worse ones for abiding by ethical mandates are the social conservatives. In my own divorce case and in a number of others, judges have ignored the Canons of Judicial Conduct and allowed gay bashing in their courts and have punished gay litigants because we offend their religious sensibilities. With a growing spot light on the activities of the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, one can see where these bigoted judges may see they are getting a green light to throw the concepts of judicial impartiality, avoidance of conflicts of interest, and other judicial ethics constraints out the window. As I have noted frequently, the social conservatives feel that they are above the rules and want special rights that they would deny to everyone else. Their motto should be "It's all about me." The New York Times has a story on the increasingly brazen behavior of Virginia Thomas which suggests to me that either she needs to cease her activities or Clarence Thomas should perhaps start considering stepping down from the Supreme Court. In truth, in my opinion, given his frequently displayed religious based prejudice against those not living in accordance with his own religious beliefs, his departure would be a benefit to the entire country. Oh, and I do have two former law partners who are federal judges, so I AM familiar with who judges - and justices - and their spouses typically conduct themselves. Here are highlights from the Times:
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[T]o some people who study judicial ethics, Mrs. Thomas’s activism is raising knotty questions, in particular about her acceptance of large, unidentified contributions for Liberty Central. She began the group in late 2009 with two gifts of $500,000 and $50,000, and because it is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit group, named for the applicable section of the federal tax code, she does not have to publicly disclose any contributors. Such tax-exempt groups are supposed to make sure that less than half of their activities are political.
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Mrs. Thomas, known as Ginni, declined through a spokeswoman to be interviewed without an agreement not to discuss her husband. In written responses to questions, Sarah Field, Liberty Central’s chief operating officer and general counsel, said that Mrs. Thomas is paid by Liberty Central, with the compensation set by the group’s board, and that the group has “internal reviews and protections to ensure that no donor causes a conflict of interest for either Ginni or her husband.”
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A federal law requires justices to recuse themselves in a number of circumstances where real or perceived conflicts of interest could arise, including in cases where their spouses could have a financial interest. But the decision to step aside is up to each justice; there is no appeal from the nation’s highest court.
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“It’s shocking that you would have a Supreme Court justice sitting on a case that might implicate in a very fundamental way the interests of someone who might have contributed to his wife’s organization,” said Deborah L. Rhode, a law professor and director of the Stanford University Center on the Legal Profession.

“The fact that we can’t find that out is the first problem,” she said, adding, “And how can the public form a judgment about propriety if it doesn’t have the basic underlying facts?”

Target Feels Backlash From Its Shareholders

It is remarkable how dumb some corporate leaders can be. Target and the current controversy that it finds itself embroiled in is a case in point. The $150,000 contribution to what turns out to have been an anti-gay organization obviously should have been better investigated BEFORE the contribution was made. But someone from the outset should have realized that the same forces that are always describe themselves as "pro-business" are the same ones who typically wrap themselves in the flag of homophobia to pander to Neanderthal Christianists voters. Even someone casually familiar with politics and the GOP platform in general should have been able to connect the dots and figured out that this might backfire and bite Target in the ass. Did they think Teh Gays wouldn't find out? In any event, now Target, which has carefully worked to provide same sex partner benefits, non-discrimination policies for LGBT employees, etc., has found all of that effort shot to Hell. Worse yet, it now faces calls for boycotts and is receiving all kinds of negative news coverage. And deservedly so in my view. Now adding to the mix is the backlash from shareholders who are none too happy at the controversy which could have been so easily avoided by simply remaining neutral. Having once been in-house counsel for a Fortune 50 corporation, I never cease to be amazed how ego maniacal senior management forgets that it is the shareholders - not management - that own the corporation. The Los Angeles Times looks at the self-inflicted damage being experienced by Target. Here are some highlights:
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After weeks of public protest over its financial support of an organization that backed a GOP gubernatorial candidate opposed to gay rights, Target Corp. now faces a new form of pressure: demands from institutional shareholders that it revamp its donation process to avoid the chance of additional backfires.
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Imprudent donations can potentially have a major negative impact on company reputations and business if they don't carefully and fully assess a candidate's positions," said Tim Smith, a senior vice president at Walden Asset Management, one of three asset management firms that this week filed a resolution asking the retail giant to overhaul its campaign donation policies. He cautioned that funding ballot initiatives, as many corporations have done, "can similarly backfire."
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The three management firms sponsoring the resolution — Calvert Asset Management, Trillium Asset Management and Walden — together hold $57.5 million of Target stock. Other institutional investors, including the giant New York state pension fund and union investment managers, are considering co-signing the resolution, which calls on Target's independent directors to review the criteria and risks in making donations to organizations active in political campaigns.
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"Target should have carefully considered the implications that direct political contributions can have toward shareholder value," said Ola Fadahunsi, spokesman for New York Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, the pension fund's sole trustee. "It's troubling to think that they can fund controversial candidates without properly assessing the risks and rewards involved." The New York state pension fund currently holds 3.8 million shares in Target, with a market value of $283 million.
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Target said it made a $150,000 donation to MN Forward because the group promised to back candidates promoting a better business climate. "The intent of our political contribution to MN Forward was to support economic growth and job creation," Steinhafel said in an e-mail to employees.
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The first advertisement aired by MN Forward touted Emmer, who favors lower taxes and other pro-business positions but also has a strong record of opposition to gay rights legislation.
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Besides seeking a review of political contributions, the institutional shareholders also are asking the retailers to consider how contributions will affect the company's public image, business sales and profitability, and whether a candidate espouses policies that conflict with the company's values.
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Bill de Blasio, a board member of another large pension fund, the New York City Employee Retirement System, said Thursday that he would ask other members of his board to support the resolution. The retirement board holds nearly 1 million Target shares.
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"A good corporate political contribution policy should prevent the kind of debacle Target and Best Buy walked into. . . . "We expect companies to evaluate candidates based upon the range of their positions — not simply one area — and assess whether they are in alignment with their core values. But these companies' policies are clearly lacking that," Alpern said.
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In a news release announcing the resolution, Trillium also disclosed that one client with a relatively small holding in Target had asked that its ownership of the stock be immediately liquidated. Officials from the Equity Foundation of Portland, Ore., said they were divesting because they were "troubled" by Target's political contribution.
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Target also is facing calls for a boycott from MoveOn.org and has received stinging criticism from gay rights advocates, who once lauded the company for its approach to gay and lesbian issues.

Successful Equality Virginia PAC Fundraiser

The last few days have been a round of fundraisers given that Virginia has off year elections for all state offices. The last one was one the boyfriend and I helped host for Equality Virginia PAC - he contributes the money and I am the sweat equity contributor since every penny I spend is watched by the ex-wife and her homophobic attorney. This evening's event was in the presidential suite on the top floor of the Sheraton Waterside in Norfolk, Virginia. The room - where Barack Obama stayed twice last year during the presidential campaign (with secret service members in rooms up and down the hall) - was previously donated by the Sheraton to HRBOR as a raffle prize and the winner donated the room to Equality Virginia as a venue for today's event. The photo above is out across the Elizabeth River towards the old Naval Hospital in Portsmouth.

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Proceeds from tonight will help EV PAC make contributions in contested election where extreme anti-gay incumbents have a good chance of being defeated, as well as in races where well funded anti-gay candidates are challenging pro-gay incumbents. Between our involvement in HRBOR, the Legends Gala committee and other community organizations, we knew the majority of the attendees.

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For those coming out later in life, I truly encourage you to get involved in your state and local LGBT advocacy organizations. It is a wonderful way to rebuild your social circle if you lose many of your "friends" when you come out as I did. Plus, it is a great way to help make a difference. No one is going to just hand LGBT citizens full equality under the civil laws and all of us need to work towards that goal. Sitting at home whining and complaining will not bring the change we need. Get out and get active.

The Other Iraq Surge

Here's an interesting story (http://www.capitaleye.org/inside.asp?ID=300) that suggests that the military is beginning to run out of patience with Chimperator Bush and his regime - they are voting with the wallets so to speak and shifting political contributions from the GOP to the Democrats. Hopefully the trend described continues to grow:

[T]he presence of U.S. troops in Iraq appears to be causing a surge of another sort—and one that's not positive for President Bush or the Republican Party. Since the start of the Iraq war in 2003, members of the U.S. military have dramatically increased their political contributions to Democrats, marching sharply away from the party they've long supported. In the 2002 election cycle, the last full cycle before the war began, Democrats received a mere 23 percent of military members' contributions.* So far this year, 40 percent of military money has gone to Democrats for Congress and president, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics. Anti-war presidential candidates Barack Obama and Ron Paul are the top recipients of military money.

"People are saying now enough is enough," said Lt. Col. Joyce Griggs, an intelligence officer who said she spent two months in Baghdad earlier this year, speaking for herself and not the Army. "If you're a soldier, you're going to do your job, do what you're commanded to do. But that sentiment is wide and deep." Griggs, who voted for George H.W. Bush but not his son the current president, contributed to Obama's presidential campaign this year, she said. Among the military forces, she's not alone in her support for the Democratic senator from Illinois.

Civil servants in defense-related positions are also increasing their donations to Democrats. "My breath is taken away by the disregard of constitutional rights by this administration," the defense official said. "I decided that I would still not do any political things at work. I don't even have political discussions when I'm at the office. But I decided I needed to do more. We can't have people not doing what needs to be done."