Paperwork Answered before the Prayers Were

 photo courtesy of http://thinkprogress.org/green

Why Throw Tax-payer Money at a Tax-payer Problem 

When You Can Pray for Free?

 
(OKLAHOMA CITY)  Some of you may remember that Gov. Mary Fallin-Christensen  of Oklahoma got in a huff when her administration requested disaster relief from the Feds a few months ago and it was denied.  Naturally, she played it as a personal affront from Obama himself.

The US Dept. of Agriculture just announced 33 states will be receiving (guess?) disaster relief money.
Among the list are red, blue, and purple states that  had agricultural difficulties during 2011 due to severe weather conditions.
http://www.news-leader.com/article/20120118/NEWS11/301180094/-1/RSS


Oklahoma will get a bit over $5 million.
http://www.theolympian.com/2012/01/18/1953457/list-of-states-getting-usda-disaster.html

Perhaps the marked weather change that's beyond the heretofore normal variation has been brought on by global warming, in turn brought on by excessive use of fossil fuel exported, in part, from Oklahoma?  But, no, this can't be because Oklahoma's senior Senator, Jim Mountain Inhofe, has said global warming is a myth.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-roberts/inhofes-speech-and-right-_b_30242.html

In addition, Mrs. Fallin-Christensen pleaded with sky-god believing Oklahomans to pray for rain for three days to "move" the heart of their god, as if this god's heart might be as dessicated as the landscape was during the summer of 2011 and needed the sweat of farmers, the tears of widows and orphans to soften it. http://thinkprogress.org/green/2011/07/18/271658/climate-denying-oklahoma-governor-tells-residents-to-pray-for-rain/

But it would seem the USDA answered her paperwork before her god could get around to answering her commanded prayers.

Oh, but silly me, that's just the Democrats throwing money at a problem just like they always do.  So shouldn't Gov. Fallin-Christensen refuse this 5 million dollars just like she refused 54 million dollars to begin a health insurance exchange for her state residents?
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0411/53216.html

Why throw taxpayer money at a tax-payer problem when you can pray for free?

Presidential Wannabes and Gay/Lesbian Civil Equality

(OKLAHOMA CITY)   I'm not singling out the campaign of Ron Paul for its homo-hatred.  Of  the current GOPer candidates, some are even more vehemently opposed to gay/lesbian civil equality than Rep. Paul.

Now that we gays are the prime target for homo-hatred and assorted flat-earthers for this election cycle, why does it seem to me we're not more actively engaged in protest?

These political goons mean business, they're not kidding, we really ARE hated, it's not just a trick to get attention.

I go occasionally to some of the church services in Oklahoma City and the suburbs to hear in person what the congregations hear from their paid leaders.  The vitriol and responsive amens is astounding even as my gaydar battery is running low from all the near-by signals its picking up.

Our gay-supportive religious friends won't help us as much as we'd like as that would mean calling out the homo-haters as wrong.  Both our homo-friends as well as the homo-haters believe in the SAME supernatural force so their religious blood alignment will be respected to our civil rights detriment.

No gay man or woman I know or read about is advocating the diminution of anyone's religious freedom no matter how repugnantly it's presented.   However, the advocacy of the homo-haters who intend to impose their religious viewpoints into CIVIL law by which ALL citizens must live--gay or straight, religious or atheist/agnostic--must be opposed.

This quote from James Madison sums it up: 

"Who does not see that the same authority which can establish Christianity in exclusion of all other religions may establish, with the same ease, any particular sect of Christians in exclusion of all other sects? That the same authority which can force a citizen to contribute threepence only of his property for the support of any one establishment may force him to conform to any other establishment in all cases whatsoever?"

Death Penalty For Gays: Ron Paul Courts The Religious Fringe In Iowa

http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/12/ron-paul-hired-anti-gay-activist-to-run-iowa-campaign.php?ref=fpblg


Ron Paul Campaign Scrubs Radical Anti-Gay Pastor From Website

http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/12/ron-paul-campaign-scrubs-radical-anti-gay-pastor-from-website.php


Ron Paul's Iowa Campaign Director Mike Heath Board Chair Of Anti-Gay Group

http://www.ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=10485&MediaType=1&Category=26

Paul Courting the Fringe: Touted Endorser Wants Death Penalty For Gays
http://talkingpointsmemo.com

Gay/Lesbian Opponent Announces Run for Oklahoma Senate

(OKLAHOMA CITY) In this morning's sermon--a sermon filled with early American history, filtered though the prism of the Bible, God's inerrant word--Pastor Paul K. Blair of Edmond's Fairview Baptist Church, announced to his enthusiastic congregation that he intends to file for Oklahoma State Senate District 41.

In his public sermon, Blair recounted a meeting he went to earlier this year where his friend Tony Perkins, of the Family Research Council--who he has known for seven years, the last two being described as a "close friendship'--was "discouraged" by the inability to attract a sufficient number of godly men to run for public office and return America to its Christian founding.

Blair has answered this call and told his congregation he will continue at Fairview and will be a "citizen-servant-legislator."

Continuing after the standing ovation Blair remarked that some Oklahoma Democrats and Republican legislators claim adherence to God's word during election but then forget their promises and work not for God, but for themselves by creating comfortable retirement opportunities or move on to higher offices in government.

Seemingly trying out some campaign slogans Blair told his flock that, "The godly must rule God's people", "Faith is an endurance race", "We're on active duty."

The incumbent in SD 41 is Senator Clark Jolley who is in his second term.

Prior to his announcement Blair referred to the Oklahoma City Council meeting on November 15 that approved by a vote of 7-2 a resolution that includes sexual orientation protection in the hiring/retention policies of Oklahoma City government.

Blair mocked the invocation of Rev. Jeff Hamilton who opened his remarks with a reference to the "god of many names." Blair maintains there is only one god. The resolution was introduced by Ward 2 Councilman Ed Shadid, who Blair termed "godless" and disagrees with Shadid's council remarks comparing gay and lesbian inequality in America to the Nazi era WW II Germany.

Blair was the first public citizen to also address the November 15 meeting stating there was no need to protect "homosexuals" as the current law already protected everyone. Blair has promoted himself frequently as an opponent to gay/lesbian civil equality associating himself with Republican Rep. Sally Kern and her husband, Dr. Steve Kern of Olivett Baptist Church in Oklahoma City.

Homo-haters Rallying Around the Flag

Progressive colleagues,

I've received this email from a very reliable source and thought you might want to see it. In addition, there is a robo-call that I have listened to from Paul Blair saying much the same thing as in his email posted below.

As we know, the homo-haters will "lose" no rights that they didn't have before Tuesday's OKC Council vote. Gay and lesbian citizens who pay the same taxes and bear the same responsibilities as the homo-haters will, however, gain the recognition that is inherent in our birthright as citizens.

Homo-haters have never had the right to impose religious values in the law books, be it federal, state, or municipal codes.

The mis-leading information from Paul Blair that all citizens are protected by the Constitution needs closer examination. If gays and lesbians really were protected we wouldn't be having this contretemps would we? I don't think gay and lesbian citizens want anything that isn't already inherently ours, or diminishes the rights of others.

Civil rights can not be rationed nor raffled to the highest bidder at the ballot box.

You can use the SAME contact information below to contact the OKC city council to make your views known.

James Nimmo
Oklahoma City

========================================================


From: scottesk@juno.com
Sent: 11/14/2011 12:34:29 P.M. Central Standard Time
Subj: EXTREMELY URGENT - ACTION NEEDED

Howdy, Fellow Inhabitants of the Sovereign Sooner State!
Even if you don't live anywhere near Oklahoma City, you have a right to call the Mayor and the city council members, because a decision to give sodomites special rights affects you very directly, because it would further spread a harmful trend in Oklahoma, where other cities might start pushing for such abominations. I'm told that the city council has already received many phone calls, and I haven't heard that any have been for this. Keep up the pressure. This looks very winnable :-) ---Sooner Scott---


Scott Esk
10109 S Douglas Ave
Oklahoma City, OK 73139
Phone: 405 237 0242

Please note: forwarded message attached

From: Jenni White <jlwplusdmw@gmail.com>
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Subject: EXTREMELY URGENT - ACTION NEEDED
Date: Mon, 14 Nov 2011 09:39:47 -0600


____________________________________________________________
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-----Original Message-----
Date: Mon, 14 Nov 2011 09:39:47 -0600
Subject: EXTREMELY URGENT - ACTION NEEDED
From: Jenni White
To: undisclosed-recipients:;


Please, drop whatever you are doing and phone or email each OKC City Council Member and ask them NOT to include consideration for Gender Orientation. Christians will begin losing even more of our rights should homosexuals become a protected class. Once they do, Christians become even more the 'enemy'. Thanks for your time!

From: Reclaiming America For Christ

Sent: Saturday, November 12, 2011 10:15 PM

Subject: Oklahoma City Council Meeting 8:30 am, Tuesday November 15

	The OKC Council will consider adding "Gender Orientation" as a special protected class within city government on Tuesday morning. I invite you to call and/or e-mail the Mayor and every Councilman and express your disapproval of this act. Forward this email to all of your friends and family who live in the area and wish to protect Biblical morality. Mayor Mick Cornett (405) 297-2424 mayor@okc.gov Ward 1 Gary Marrs (405) 297-2404 Ward1@okc.gov Ward 2 Ed Shadid (405) 297-2402 Ward2@okc.gov Ward 3 Larry McAtee (405) 297-2404 Ward3@okc.gov Ward 4 Pete White (405) 297-2402 Ward4@okc.gov Ward 5 David Greenwell (405) 297-2569 Ward5@okc.gov Ward 6 Meg Salyer (405) 297-2402 Ward6@okc.gov Ward 7 Skip Kelly (405) 297-2569 Ward7@okc.gov Ward 8 Patrick Ryan (405) 297-2404 Ward8@okc.gov I also invite you to attend the Council meeting. Always conduct yourself with grace and respect; however, this council must know that we oppose this action. There has only been one alleged case of discrimination reported in the last 12 years. This is an effort by Councilman Ed Shadid to pay back one of his major constituent groups (homosexuals) just as Obama has done at the Federal level. As Employment Czar Chai Feldblum admits the battle between homosexual "rights" and Christian rights is a zero sum game. "Gays win, Christians lose!" All citizens have equal protection under the law according to our Constitution. We do not need to create a special protected class for the sin of sodomy. For more information, visit: www.ra4c.org Council Meeting Tuesday, November 15, 2011 8:30 AM City Hall 200 N. Walker 3rd Floor Council Chambers Free parking is available at the Sheridan/Walker Parking Garage (501 West Sheridan). Parking Tickets must be validated in the Mayor's/City Manager's reception area. Paul K. Blair Pastor, Fairview Baptist Church www.fairviewbaptistedmond.org Reclaiming America for Christ www.reclaimamericaforchrist.org Reclaiming Oklahoma for Christ www.reclaimoklahoma.org Other Sites You May Wish To Visit: mailto:info@reclaim-action.org

---

Click here to forward this email to a friend

Reclaiming America For Christ PO Box 31433 Edmond, OK 73003 US Read the VerticalResponse marketing policy.

--
Jenni White

Scurrilous Article From Tulsa Concerning Jim Roth's Recent Appointment

OKLAHOMA CITY) The Tulsa Beacon of Tulsa, Oklahoma,
( http://www.tulsabeacon.com/ ) recently printed a scurrilous op/ed concerning the appointment earlier this month of Mr. Jim Roth, formerly Oklahoma County Commissioner, elected twice; and lately State Corporation Commissioner, appointed by then-Governor Brad Henry to fill the unexpired term of a predecessor, to the State Elections Board (http://city-sentinel.com/?p=1743 )that supervises public elections in Oklahoma.

Before any reputable newspaper publishes an opinion piece I think it should check to see if its example of morality, in this case, now-Governor Mary Fallin-Christensen, is really all the writer thinks she's cracked up to be. In complaining about the appointment of Mr. Roth, the Tulsa Beacon has clearly dropped the ball.

Funny how the Beacon article linked below doesn't mention that now Governor Fallin-Christensen is a divorced woman who was having an affair with one of her state-paid bodyguards while still married to her first husband when she was lieutenant-governor. ( http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=13&articleid=19981222_Ne_a13divor&archive=yes )

That behavior doesn't sound like an example of her "genuine Christian values" in the way the writer is meaning to convey.

And Roth's opponent in the Corporation Commissioner race was shown by the Roth campaign to have forged her father-in-law's signature to a document that she in turn notarized. ( http://www.edmondsun.com/local/x519235706/Edmonds-Murphy-unseats-Roth-for-Corporation-Commission-seat )

And finally, Mr. Roth was not "soundly defeated" in his Corporation election; he lost by 4%. Yes, a margin of anything less than 50%-plus-one is a defeat, but 4% is hardly a landslide when both of the candidates were not widely known across the state.

While I'm very glad to see Mr. Roth back in public service, I think the Tulsa Beacon should have let sleeping dogs lie.

Here's the Beacon article link: http://www.tulsabeacon.com/?p=5455

American Military Used Again for Social Experiments

Just as the military was the experimental laboratory for the integration of America's Armed Forces in regards to race, skin color, and national origin in 1948, so is it again being used to experiment with integration based on sexual orientation.

Just as the racial integration of the military was good for the country, let's work towards using the undoubted success of this orientation experiment to make sure we citizens get a Congress that will pass, and a president who will sign, a bill addressing gay/lesbian discrimination that exists in employment, namely the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA).

And the next law that needs repealing is DOMA, the Defense (sic) of Marriage Act (DOMA).

The passage of ENDA and the repealing of DOMA will incorporate all of us gay and lesbian citizens fully into the fabric of American life. These accomplishments will be even more encompassing of our inherent rights of citizenship than the repeal of DADT.

Massachusetts Rep. Barney Frank recently spoke on the House floor regarding the repeal of DADT:

Mr. Speaker, we have a history in this country of prejudice being enacted; and through the efforts of many people, the policy embodying that prejudice can be overcome. And as we debate any single effort to overcome prejudice, we are told that the effect of diminishing that prejudice, the effect of repealing that rule will be chaos, will be disorder, will be social unrest; and it is never true.

Seven years ago, the State I am privileged to represent in this House established same-sex marriage; and there were predictions of doom, predictions that this would be a terribly upsetting factor. None of those predictions have come true. Not a one. As we debated last year the repeal of the unfortunate statute which said that brave and patriotic gay and lesbian and bisexual and transgender members of the armed services would have to lie about who they were, would have to hide who they were or else lose the right to serve their country, a right which some evade but for which they were prepared to fight, we once again heard predictions that this would be disruptive, that it would cause diminution of the ability of our brave men and women to serve their purposes.

Let me predict today, Mr. Speaker, that every one of those prejudices 3 and 4 years from now will be proven as wrong as the predictions that same-sex marriage would be disorganizing. We will now see gay men and lesbians serving this country openly and proudly as they have been serving this country proudly, but unfortunately not openly, for some time. I hope people are making note of the predictions that were made on the floor of this House, in the Senate, and in the country about the negative consequences of ``don't ask don't tell,'' because they will soon be shown to have been wholly false.

Text of Rep. Frank's remarks taken from the Congressional Record:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?r112:8:./temp/~r112ZRNWWH::

Oklahoma's Bigot-in-Chief has Learned Nothing in 10 years

graphic courtesy of Oklahoma Observer




As 9/11 Approaches Sally Kern Still Claims Gays More Dangerous Than Terrorists


(Oklahoma City) By her own words Oklahoma's Bigot-in-Chief, GOPer House Rep. Sally Kern, has learned nothing in ten years.Never missing an opportunity to step out from the shadows of desperation, Mrs. Kern is using the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks to sing yet again her hit-single tune, "Gays are More Dangerous than Terrorists".
http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/as-911-approaches-sally-kern-claims-gays-more-dangerous-than-terrorists/politics/2011/09/10/26730

A recent interview with her colleague, Peter LaBarbera of Americans for Truth About Homosexuality, to promote her new book, maudlinly titled, "The Stoning of Sally Kern",has her singing the same lyrics in the same key as she did in 2008. http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/kern-doubles-down-claim-homosexuality-more-dangerous-terrorist-attacks

Referencing her religion's tradition of hyperbole and myth Kern claims a victim's suffering without showing the wounds. That she would use such a description for herself when such a condemnation is still used in the world for capitol punishment, shows the lack of intelligence she's so proud to display. People who are stoned do not live to write a memoir about it. She cries the crocodile tears to drum up sympathy and campaign dollars.

Intentionally making herself a celebrity, she disingenuously feigns amazement that anyone would call her out for the lies she tells, further adding to her self-proclaimed victim-hood.Sally Kern never gives up about telling lies that represent her own twisted attempt at projecting her own fears.

If I were a fundie, preached Inquisitional nonsense, and in addition, had a possible gay/lesbian family member, I'd probably be doing the same thing she and her husband, Steve Kern, do.

Those who protest gay/lesbian diversity the loudest often turn out to have a big lock on their own closet. Why does private behavior and civil equality inflame the imagination of our worst enemies?

As the documentary Outragehttp://www.gaylesbiantimes.com/?id=14917 shows, the wrath of our civil equality enemies goes past simple jealousy and entries on a score sheet. I think genuine mental instability is on display.

Fundies don't live in the real world of diversity and change. The Bronze Age was good enough for the invention of their religion and it's good enough for them now.The tiny minority of registered Oklahoma voters who live in Kern's Legislative District #84 have kept her on the public payroll since 2004. http://www.okhouse.gov/District.aspx?District=84

I find it remarkable that despite good candidates running against her, this fearful majority in her district prevails.

What does this fact say about our efforts to elect reasonable candidates? What does it say about the power of ignorance and superstition?

Until we replace these sorely blinkered politicians through peaceful and legal means, we'll be hearing more from lawmakers such as Sally Kern.

They must be drowned out by the volume of our speech, lost in the presence of our crowds, dissected by the precision of our words.

Wolf-in-sheep's-clothing Santorum Respects "Gay Decision"

graphic from http://www.sc-bankruptcy-blog.com


(OKLAHOMA CITY) Sneaky former Senator Santorum, one of the best homo-haters currently living, has created a true straw-man argument when he says being gay is a "choice".

Read this quote from a recent story linked below: "Santorum suggested being gay is a choice when he said “I respect that decision.”
http://www.ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=9263&Category=26&MediaType=1

There has been no public announcement made by any honest gay man or woman, or any reputable gay/lesbian advocacy group, that sexual orientation is a "choice." GOPer presidential candidate Santorum claims to have gay friends with whom he disagrees "vehemently" and I claim to attend services at the Westboro Baptist Church.

A straw-man argument is one where the speaker puts words in the voice of his opponent in order to create a false argument. This style of falsity masquerading as truth puts the opponent in the defensive position.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straw_man

Santourm is pretending to "respect" gay people by implying that somehow we gay/lesbian citizens have reached a collective decision that our orientation is one of "choice."

This seeming kindness of the homo-haters is the new wolf-in-sheep's-clothing tactic aiming to lull the gullible and clueless into thinking that opposing equality for America's gay/lesbian taxpayers has nothing to do with plain prejudice.

He claims his views are about policy and his religious belief, not personal animosity. Has he read the Constitution's 14th Amendment, section 1? How about the 1st Amendment with its separation of church and state? Just like his bible, it says nothing about sexual orientation being an impediment to full enjoyment of USA citizenship.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourteenth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution

Santorum might take a few minutes to read the entire Bill of Rights instead of cherry-picking the parts he likes. But this habit is hard to break since this must be how he reads his bible as well.

AMAZING WORD GAME

Did you know that, the words "race car" spelled backwards still spells
"race car"?

And that "eat" is the only word that, if you take the first letter and
move it to the last, spells its own past tense, "ate"?

And if you rearrange the letters in "Tea Party Republicans," and add just
a few more letters, it spells: "Shut the fuck up you free-loading,
progress-blocking, benefit-grabbing, resource-sucking, violent hypocrites,
and deal with the fact that you nearly wrecked the country under Bush and
that our president is black, so get over it."

Isn't that interesting?

Kern's Secret Closet of Shame

graphic courtesy of http://www.equalityloudoun.org/


Kern: It’s ’Hateful’ to Say Gays Are Born That Way

Background story from Edge New York http://www.edgenewyork.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=politics&sc2=&sc3=&id=122884

or http://tinyurl.com/43tlk44

My take on Oklahoma GOPer Rep. Sally Kern:

I have to ask if she's fearful she might be related to a "hateful" gay or lesbian?

She has such an all-consuming interest in people who have never done her or any of her family harm.

Kern attempts to give the impression of fairness by saying she doesn't hate anyone and that people who disagree with her are entitled to use their freedom of speech. However, when someone does use their freedom of speech to oppose her by citing facts not myths, she gets all twisted and claims HER freedom is being oppressed.

When Kern paints herself into a verbal corner with her contradicting opinions and fun-house mirror denials she morphs into the victim of her own conspiracies.

The freedom she speaks of is really not about speech but the freedom she and her colleagues have used in the past to keep G/Ls oppressed, discriminated against by law, and pushed back in the closet by using the police power of the government as they are accustomed to doing. She has not learned to share as many of us were taught as young children.

I have a hunch she's eaten up to the point of insanity with the suspicion that a near family member is gay. Who that is I have no way of knowing but readers can draw their own conclusions from the facts in the article above. This is the secret in her own closet of shame.

She can't accept the fact that gays and lesbians are normal taxpayers, well-adjusted in their personalities, and contribute time and money to civic improvement.

She's highly resistant to having her flat-earth view rounded by getting to know some of us personally without the filter of her religious cataracts.