Civil Rights

Resurgence of White Supremacy and Its Relationship to Teaparty Movement

On January 26, 2010, in Civil Rights, Human Rights, Immigration, Racism, Tea Party, by RSR
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A powerful film by Big Noise Films, “White Power USA”. Learned about it from Jeremy Scahill on Twitter. The film makers write:

The inauguration of President Barack Obama was hailed as a turning point in US race relations. The country was said to be entering a new era of post-racial politics. But while crowds flocked to Washington to witness the swearing in, others were refusing to join the party. Racially motivated threats against Obama rose to new heights in the first months of his presidency, with the US seeing nine high-profile race killings in 2009. Meanwhile white supremacist and neo-Nazi groups claim their membership is growing and that visits to their websites are increasing. Is the racial undercurrent that has long structured US politics reasserting itself?

This is some scary fucking shit. I don’t for a minute believe that these nut cases reflect the ideas and values of the mainstream GOP. But I do think that there is ample reason for caution to that party for some of their rhetoric that fans these flames.

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Peter Roskam Owes an Apology to ACORN, SEIU, and the 6th District

On December 23, 2009, in Civil Rights, Economic Justice, Organized Labor, Peter Roskam, Wingnuts, by RSR
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Service Employees International Union
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Association of Community Organizations for Ref...
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For the last few months, Peter Roskam, together with Mark Kirk and other Republicans in Congress, has been engaged in a smear campaign against the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). Roskam’s baseless attacks, focused on SEIU/ACORN participation in the upcoming census, are part of a long-time Republican strategy to seek political advantage by disenfranchising poor and minority voters and attempting to underrepresent them in census counts. The GOP has engaged in such tactics because its legislative program, which has worked against the interests of low-income and minority voters, has left the party unable to attract voters from these groups by legitimate means. By engaging in this behavior, Roskam has not only unfairly disparaged two fine organizations but has abused and debased the office that has been entrusted to him. He owes an apology to all concerned, including all voters in the 6th Congressional District.

On Tuesday this week, the non-partisan Congressional Research Service (CRS) released a report, requested by Representative John Conyers of Michigan, that found no evidence that ACORN had broken any laws over the past 5 years, that no voters improperly registered by ACORN had attempted to cast ballots in an election, and that ACORN had used funds received from the federal government for housing programs in accordance with funding guidelines.

A previous investigation, by former Massachusetts Attorney General Scott Harshbarger, also found no evidence of illegal activity by employees depicted in widely-publicized highly-edited videos produced by a conservative film maker as part of an effort to discredit ACORN. CRS found that, in fact, the film maker may have violated state laws.

Using a news conference and media appearances, Peter Roskam, has attempted to perpetuate the myth of a criminal conspiracy on the behalf of ACORN without offering any real evidence and has tried to spread that taint to SEIU with no basis whatsover. Here you can hear him at work on WLS-AM’s vile Don Wade & Roma Show:

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Roskam’s conduct is reprehensible and unbecoming a member of Congress.

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Peter Roskam’s Appalling Record on Gay Rights

On October 14, 2009, in Civil Rights, Gay Rights, Human Rights, Peter Roskam, by RSR
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In light of this past week’s events – the march on Washington, the President’s speech to the Human Rights Campaign, the vote on federal hate crimes legislation – it seems appropriate to review our own Congressman Peter Roskam’s record on issues of importance to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered community. It is not a pretty picture.

The Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest civil rights organization, labors to achieve full equality for LGBT people. For each Congress, HRC produces a scorecard detailing each representative’s votes and co-sponsorships on issues of key importance to the community. Roskam was first scored for the 110th Congress which ended last year, Roskam’s first term in office.

Roskam scored a zero. That mean’s that Roskam opposed LGBT rights 100% of the time, a distinguished record of legislative homophobia:

  • The Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act (H.R. 1592) would expand federal jurisdiction to reach serious, violent hate crimes perpetrated because of the victim’s race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or disability. The House passed the bill on May 3, 2007, by a vote of 237-180 (Roll Call Vote No. 299, 1st Session, 110th Congress). Democrats — 212 yes, 14 no,6 not voting; Republicans — 25 yes, 166 no, 10 not voting. HRC supported the bill. Peter Roskam voted NO.
  • Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas) offered a motion to recommit promptly the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act (H.R. 1592). The motion would amend the bill to add the categories of senior citizens and members of the armed forces to the legislation, but also wouldrefer the bill back to committee, effectively killing the bill. The motion was defeated on May 3, 2007, by a vote of 189-227 (Roll Call Vote No. 298, 1st Session, 110th Congress). Democrats — 9 yes, 216 no, 7 not voting; Republicans — 180 yes, 11 no, 10 not voting. HRC opposed the motion to recommit. Peter Roskam voted to kill the bill.
  • The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (H.R. 3685) would prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. The House passed the bill on Nov. 7, 2007, by a vote of 235-184 (Roll Call Vote No. 1057, 1st Session, 110th Congress). Democrats — 200 yes, 25 no, 8 not voting; Republicans — 35 yes, 159 no, 6 not voting. HRC supported the bill. Peter Roskam voted against the ban on discrimination.
  • Rep. Randy Forbes (R-Va.) offered a motion to recommit promptly the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (H.R. 3685). The motion stated that the bill would have no impact on state or federal definitions of marriage as being between one man and one woman, but also would refer the bill back to committee, effectively killing the bill. The motion was defeated on Nov. 7, 2007, by a vote of 198-222 (Roll Call Vote No. 1056, 1st Session, 110th Congress). Democrats — 14 yes, 214 no, 5 not voting; Republicans — 184 yes, 8 no, 8 not voting. HRC opposed the motion to recommit. Peter Roskam voted to kill the bill.
  • Members of Congress were asked to co-sponsor legislation, introduced on April 24, 2007, that would prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. As of Oct. 3, 2008, the measure had 185 co-sponsors: Democrats 179; Republicans 6. Peter Roskam refused to co-sponsor the legislation.
  • Members of Congress were asked to co-sponsor legislation, introduced on Feb. 28, 2007, that would repeal the discriminatory “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” military policy that denies lesbian, gay and bisexual soldiers the right to serve their country openly. As of Oct. 3, 2008, the measure had 149 co-sponsors: Democrats 146; Republicans 3. Peter Roskam refused to help end discrimination against LGBT soldiers.
  • Members of Congress were asked to co-sponsor legislation, introduced on March 29, 2007, that would equalize tax treatment for employer-provided health coverage for domestic partners and other non-spouse, non-dependent beneficiaries. As of Oct. 3, 2008, the measurehad 120 co-sponsors: Democrats 116; Republicans 4. Peter Roskam refused to work for equality.
  • Members of Congress were asked to co-sponsor legislation, introduced on May 8, 2007, that would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide same-sex partners of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents the same immigration benefits that legal spouses of U.S. permanent residents enjoy. As of Oct. 3, 2008, the measure had 119 co-sponsors: Democrats 118; Republicans 1. Peter Roskam refused to help LGBT immigrants.

These coupled with Roskam’s vote last week to defund the military rather than approve federal hate crimes legislation paint a picture of a legislator who is agressively anti-gay. LGBT residents of the 6th District need to pressure Roskam to stop voting against equality.

In case you haven’t seen it, here is President Obama’s speech to the HRC last week. Obama vows to sign the hate crimes legislation and to end “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”. I don’t doubt his sincerity of intent. But I sincerely hope that he will take action sooner rather than later. It is growing harder to rationalize support for a party that has so often disappointed when it comes to LGBT rights.

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Peter Roskam Votes to Defund Troops to Satisfy Homophobic Christian Base

On October 11, 2009, in Civil Rights, Gay Rights, Human Rights, Peter Roskam, Veterans, by RSR
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On Thursday, October 8th, Peter Roskam voted against passage of a $680 billion defense authorization bill that provides funding to our military for fiscal year 2010.  In doing so, Roskam voted against, among many other provisions:

  • A 3.4 percent pay raise for members of the armed services
  • A $6.7 billion allocation for mine-resistant armored vehicles (MRAPs) designed to protect soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
  • Procurement of body armor for those same soldiers
  • Aid for soldiers with catastrophic combat-related conditions to obtain personal care assistance during the period before retirement or disability becomes effective
  • A skill incentive bonus for members of the reserves
  • Bonuses for military linguists serving long-term in Afghanistan
  • Ensuring that servicemen on duty overseas have the opportunity to have their absentee votes counted
  • Funding research on tissue repair and transplantation for combat injuries

Why would Peter Roskam vote to defund the military? Because the bill also helps gay people.

Specifically, the bill extends the federal hate crimes legislation, passed in 1968 in the wake of the assasination of Rev. Martin Luther King, making violent crimes committed against people on the basis of sexual orientation federal offenses.

The legislation is important because it allows the federal government to intervene and prosecute such crimes in jurisdictions where local and state authorities prove unwilling to do so. While there is much work left to do, the bill is a big step toward ensuring that LBGT people are ensured equal status under the constitution and can enjoy the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness proclaimed in the Declaration of Independence.

Roskam and other House Republicans voted against the bill because of opposition by Christian hate groups such as the Family Research Council that claim that their free speech rights will be violated by preventing them from demonizing gay people from pulpits lest one of their misguided followers commit a violent crime. The bill, however, contains no prohibitions on speech, though hopefully it will encourage more responsible speech on the part of some pastors. Their argument is a fallacy. Protection against crimes committed against persons on the basis of religion in the original 1968 legislation has in no way impaired the free speech rights of those who are critical of religion. But it has, appropriately, enabled federal involvement in investigation of crimes against Christians such as church burnings.

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Proponents of Gay Rights Must Boycott Democratic Candidates

On June 17, 2009, in Barack Obama, Civil Rights, Gay Rights, Peter Roskam, by RSR
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Sometimes you have to give your friends a kick in the butt. Now is one such time. It is time for equal rights. No more excuses.

I solemnly vow that I will not cast another vote for or give another dollar to a Democratic candidate for office until the Democratic leadership brings to the floor for a vote, with the endorsement and full support of President Obama, legislation to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and to repeal the “Don’t Ask – Don’t Tell” rule. I encourage all others who share the belief that LBGT persons deserve all of the benefits of citizenship to do the same. No equal rights, no votes.

I have great respect for our Democratic leadership and for President Obama. But I believe their timidity on this issue is inexcusable. The administration’s defense of DOMA in a court brief was the last straw. This action was in direct contradiction to President Obama’s stated intent to repeal DOMA. It seems clear to me that witholding votes and financial support is the only way to move leadership to action. It would be great to see Senator Durbin put his weight behind this.

Our anti-equality Congressman, Peter Roskam, should derive no comfort from this. He has consistently refused to support LBGT rights and is certainly undeserving of our votes as well.

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A Reply to Tony Perkins and the Persecuting Church

On May 28, 2009, in Civil Rights, Gay Rights, Human Rights, Peter Roskam, by RSR
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I receive daily messages from Tony Perkins’ Family Research Council, a Christian group “dedicated to the promotion of marriage and family and the sanctity of human life in national policy”. Or in my interpretation a Republican front group designed to distract the gullible with fear of  gay marriage and the like so that they will vote against their own economic interests and support the Republican pro-corporate agenda. Usually these days they are ranting about how gay marriage and the Obama Administration are destroying the world. I subscribe to the newsletter because it helps me keep track of the mischief of the wingnuts. Today’s issue was particularly mean-spirited:

Immigration Law: Leahy’s Passport to Same-Sex ‘Marriage’
Under its cheery name, The Uniting American Families Act, lies yet another attack on marriage at the expense of U.S. taxpayers. As part of the movement to give same-sex partners special privileges, Sen. Pat Leahy (D-Vt.) introduced a bill, S. 424, to allow any gay or lesbian foreigner who is currently dating an American to immigrate to the U.S. on the same basis as foreign spouses. Like a married couple, these homosexuals would be eligible for “permanent resident status” under the current immigration law.

Although Leahy frames the policy as an anti-discrimination measure, the truth is, this weakens our federal law and chips away at the unique status of marriage. For the federal government to recognize homosexual pairs in any way, shape, or form is a violation of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). If the liberal leadership wants to repeal DOMA, then they should do so with a recorded vote of Congress–not let it just die of a thousand cuts.

“Homosexual pairs”? These are human beings you ass.

This is just plain inhuman. Telling people that they can’t marry then telling them they can’t be together because they’re not married. Tony Perkins is just plain evil.

And of course we can’t expect any help from our own Congressman Roskam. Roskam has already shown himself to be an opponent of equality for LGBT people. Don’t expect his vote if S.424 makes it to the House.

So, Tony Perkins, this video is for you (Hat tip to Turning Left and to the video’s creators. It is really cute).

Fuck you, Tony. And Fuck you, Peter for your votes on ENDA and hate crimes.

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