Political Quick Hits: September 23rd Edition

Here’s your weekly quick look at few developing stories in the political arena:

• On Monday, President Obama outlined his $3 trillion debt reduction plan, which includes taxing the wealthy. The plan was immediately criticized by top Republicans. Meanwhile, Obama’s jobs bill, which he announced two weeks ago, is still awaiting action in the Senate. Senate Democrats have not decided when they will take up the bill and if they will try to vote on the bill in its entirety or add their own ideas to it. (CNN)

• It finally happened – the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell became effective officially on Tuesday, ending an almost 18-year-old policy that barred gay, lesbian or bisexual individuals from openly serving in the military. (CNN)

Posted by:

Justin Burkhardt

Political Quick Hits: September 16th Edition

Here’s your weekly quick look at few developing stories in the political arena:

• Special Election 1: Republican Bob Turner won the special election held in New York’s heavily democratic 9th congressional district Tuesday. With 54 percent of the vote, Turner beat Democrat David Weprin in the special election, which was the result of Anthony Weiner’s resignation during his #Weinergate scandal. The election result was a bit of a surprise as the district has a 3-1 Democrat to Republican ratio. However, former NYC mayor Democrat Ed Koch crossed party lines and endorsed the Republican Turner. Koch, who is Jewish, hoped his support would send a message to the Obama Administration that many Jewish Americans are dissatisfied with Obama’s policies on Israel. Many believe the Jewish vote is important for Obama’s re-election chances in 2012. (CNN)

Posted by:

Justin Burkhardt

Political Quick Hits: July 8th Edition

Here’s your weekly quick look at few developing stories in the political arena:

• A special election will be held in New York on Sept. 13 to fill the seat that Rep. Anthony Weiner resigned from on June 16th after his #Weinergate scandal. Whoever wins might not have a job for long since the state of New York is going through a redistricting plan that will be finalized  in 2013. Due to a population loss, the ninth district in New York could be pushed out.  (NY Daily News)

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Justin Burkhardt

Pentagon Gives OK On Gay Military Applicants

It’s been a long time coming, sort of.

The Pentagon is finally giving the OK for military recruiters to accept openly gay and lesbian applicants, BUT!

(There’s always a but)

Potential recruits will be informed that the ban on “don’t ask, don’t tell” can be lifted at anytime. Because of that, the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, an advocacy group representing men and women who are currently in the military, have been cautioning gays from applying at this time.

There has been a ban on gays serving openly in the military for 17 years, so this comes as a milestone in the progression of equal rights.

Posted by:

krysten

When Martin Luther King Jr. said he had a Dream, did it exclude Gay People?

With the recent developments within the Gay Rights legislation, repealing the military’s long-time “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy and the breaking news scandal of homosexuality involving Bishop Eddie Long, I found one particular reoccurring video clip on CNN very disturbing. The clips depict Bishop Eddie Long’s crusade against homosexuality where he walked hand and hand with Elder Bernice King who is the daughter of famed civil rights leader, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The question that comes to mind is that when Martin Luther King Jr. said he had a dream of people of all color living peacefully and in unity, did that not encompass gay people too?

Having a brother who serves in the United State Army, I personally know of the tolls it takes for a loved one to make the commitment to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces, not knowing if they would ever come home alive again. I found it grossly appalling and disgusting that the United State of America would even dare adopt a policy filled with such hatred as one that would discriminate against any man or woman who was brave enough to suit up in our military’s finest uniforms and fight for the protection of our nation because of their sexual orientation.

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Adner Marcelin