Some of the listener survey comments that I read on the show this week, edited for space. Please take the listener survey by scrolling down on the right and clicking through if you are a listener to the show. Thanks!
Palm Springs, CA
I love your show. As soon as you are on I switch the channel to you. As long as I have known about you I have respected you and I hope you know how important you are to our community and the rest of our country. I am a prominent gay entertainer - I know the struggles of being controversial and in the public eye. You make all of us in the LGBT community proud. And thank you for holding HRC's feet to the fire (dump the Transgender community - not a problem according to HRC). I live in Palm Springs and I lost all faith in them when they endorsed Mary Bono. I've mc'd a bunch of HRC annual dinners but I would not do it now. You are the best Michael. Keep up the awesome work.
Allentown, PA
Recently I have stopped listening to your show. The reason for this is that your interviews are usually awful. If you don't agree with your guest you rarely let them complete a thought because you are constantly interrupting. Don't have the guests if you don't want to hear what they have to say. I realize that you consider yourself an activist, maybe you are, however others should be permitted to air their opinions, especially when asked in an interview.
Orlando, FL
I think Michalangelo has the best radio show on the air anywhere. second is Thom Hartmann.
Middletown, OH
On same sex marriage,even though we are fortunate to live in the US, and have the freedom to vote laws in, you’re not going to change the word of God word on marriage, even if gay marriage is voted in. This still doesnt change Gods word on marriage between a man and a woman. But theres no law on two people liveing to gether in the same house whether two man or two woman, its what you do in that home that we are judge on. now if anal sex is going on then we cross the line and we all will be judge by the Lord. And remember Gods Word does not change because laws are passed. We are All sinners, but we are forgiven thru the Blood of the Saviour Christ Jesus.Dont sin but if we sin we have an Advocate , who is the Saviour.
P.S. Love the show Mike ,you are a very smart person on alot of subjects.
Long Beach Island, NJ
I enjoy the portions of the show where you analize news events because you dissect every aspect of the topic. Thank you for putting so much effort into your show and for getting me interested in politics.
Cocoanut Creek, FL
Love to listen to your show - thought provoking and entertaining at the same time. I hated Aretha's hat.
Columbia, MD
When we got Sirius Radio my wife drove the car most and she started listening to your show. I know this because I would go to move or drive the car and that would be what was on the radio. Six months after she started listening to the show she started not letting me see her cell phone or look around on her computer. I knew something was up. Last week she announced that listening to your gay focused radio show had given her the courage to admit to herself and everyone that she was gay. She also admitted that she was having a relationship with a woman. This was so hard for me to even listen to because I have been with her 26 years. I don't mind gay people I just don't want them or their New Yawk lifestyle in my life. I want to thank you personally for using your radio show to brainwash my wife. She now thinks she is gay. She was not gay all these years. When she was young and flirtacious she was not gay. She listens to you all of a sudden now she is gay. There must be some show you got there to pull these thoughts out of normal people's heads.I hope with some counseling and attention I can cure my wife of these problems.
Middletown, CT
I simply like to listen to a show that keeps me informed and discusses gay issues at length & in depth.
Martinsburg, WV
Love the show, but you repeat yourself so often that sometimes I have to change channels to get a break.
Manhattan, KS
I love the show, but it seems like you've been gone a lot lately, but other than that i think you're doing a great job. Thanks for keeping me updated on gay news and issues. I love supporting my gay brothers and sisters!!
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Talking Back
Friday, January 30, 2009
Clips of the Week: “Homosexual Attachments”
Our Friday feature on the show, Clips of the Week: the dumb, sometimes smart -- mostly not -- things they said all week, all put to music by our producer David Guggenheim. This week: “Homosexual Attachments”
On Today's Show
At 3:30 ET: Barry Lynn of American's United for Separation of Church and State will join me to talk about President Obama's approach to faith and faith-based initiatives. Obama has apparently named Joshua DuBois, 26-year-old preacher to run the White House faith-based office. Dubois is the man who brought Donnie McKlurkin, the "ex-gay" antigay preacher into the Obama Gospel Tour during the campaign.
At 4:30 ET: Gay Journalist Rex Wockner will give us a report about the Equality Summit in Los Angeles last Saturday, a meeting of activists to discuss the No on 8 campaign's failures and strategies for the future.
Going On to XM on Monday
"The Michelangelo Signorile Show" and all of the shows on OutQ will begin airing on XM this Monday, February 2, in addition to Sirius. OutQ will air on Sirius 109 and on XM 98. Combined, we will be available to more than 19 million satellite radio subscribers.
For those who are confused: Though the two satellite radio companies merged last fall and became Sirius XM, they have remained as two separate services. Each service will continue to offer distinct channels as well as some channels which will air on both services.
OutQ, I'm happy to say, will be one of those channels aired on both services, as part of basic service, which means XM subscribers will not pay any extra charge to receive it.
So, what does this mean? When I began at Sirius Satellite Radio five years ago we had 30,000 subscribers. It's been quite an experience to see that grow to 8.3 million subscribers as of January 4, 2009. But on Monday, airing on XM in addition to Sirius, we will go to more than double that number of subscribers, to more than 19 million subscribers.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
"Heterosexual with homosexual attachments"
On the show today we played the clip of Ted Haggard saying that to Oprah in describing his sexual orientation. Now he just told Larry King the same thing: "heterosexual but with homosexual attachments."
What the hell does that mean? Is that like a Microsoft Word document attachment? Or some sort of attachment you put on? This is just pure hilarity.
On Today's Show
At 3:30 ET Peggy Pascoe, author of What Comes Naturally: Miscegenation Law and the Making of Race in America.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Melissa Etheridge on Activism, Celebrity and Rick Warren
Below is audio of the full Melissa Etheridge interview from the show today.
Regarding the "reaching out" and the ongoing dialogue that both Melissa Etheridge and Rick Warren (and his defenders) have talked about, she told me that she and Warren "email," though he has "been sick," so they haven't been able to get together. But, she says, she plans to visit his church, and that she hopes he will will visit her home.
We talked about the role of gay celebrities as well as of gay activists and the dilemmas that arise. We also talked about Warren's beliefs, most of which it doesn't seem she had known in full. Still, she discussed the "experience" of meeting with him as something powerful and important. She describes their having been booked for the same event (where she had to deal with him) as the "universe handed me something." Below are a some highlights, but I suggest, for context, you listen to the entire interview and give Melissa Etheridge a fair shake. Let me know your thoughts.
Signorile: I want to come back to what [Rick Warren] believes, and what his beliefs were and what he’s about, in a few minutes, but just staying on this idea of you taking that position and then it being so public, you[once] used this term, that you felt Bill Clinton threw us "under the bus."
Melissa Etheridge: Yes.
MS: A lot of activists, when you came out and assumed this role, because you are such a powerful figure just by virtue of who you are, they felt undermined from their message, and felt you threw them under the bus...I don’t know how we deal with this issue of, you know, we want public figures to speak out and be public, and of course when we don’t agree with them we don’t like that. So, I’m by no means saying I’m absolute [on this]...But what do you say to those who say you undermined them and threw them under the bus?
ME: I am sorry if they felt like in any way I undermined them. I truly believe everyone has their perspective and position on this. I’m glad for the activists who say this is not right to include someone who has spoke very poorly about a community that got this man elected...I also know I had this experience that I had to speak about...I think the best thing I can do for the gay community is speak my truth and say this is what happened to me.
MS: It sounds like you really didn’t get a lot of information about this...and find out what his views really were...Did you connect with the Human Rights Campaign [a group with which she has worked] and other gay groups before making your decision?
ME: No, I looked it up on the Internet. I tried to find what people were saying. I watched the beliefnet article, where he was asked about, “So gay marriage, is that like pedophilia and incest and stuff?" And I got to ask him, “So what’s that all about?” And he gave me his response. Now, again, I’m just going to take him on what he says --
MS: But can we take people on what they say when they’re working against us? Shouldn't we go by what their record is? We have seen that this man has empowered the very forces in Africa that have allowed people to become infected with HIV. He pushed abstinence-only programs, he helped to demonize gay people. There are gay people locked up in jail …because of Rick Warren...So shouldn't we go by his record?...
ME: ...Yes, absolutely we should. We should hold people accountable. Now, does that mean they are exiled from what we are trying to accomplish here, which is a united America? Or do we say, we see you now? You can’t be part of this party and hide that. I really want people to know that I’m not defending him.
MS: I think people know that, and you talked about reaching out, but I guess their feeling is, You reach out when people come halfway or three quarters of the way..The way he’s worked against gay people, would we reach out to someone who has racist views? I think Barack Obama would say, No, they’re not welcome.
ME: Right. Okay, you know, again, it’s such a fine line. And I, in my path and where I’m at, believe that we accomplish more by being present, by being out and open and saying you can no longer do this and we are all in this together. You got up and gave the invocation in front of two million people who wanted change and you are now held responsible. I think change happens when you include, not when you exclude...
MS: What do you feel Rick Warren has done though to change? You say we shouldn't’ exclude but he has excluded people...Have you spoken to him since then? Do you have an ongoing dialogue?
ME: We email. He’s actually been very sick, which says a lot to me,(laughs) because I look at heath in a lot of different ways. And he has emailed me. He emailed me a letter he wrote to his gay friends...He has asked me to his church, I have asked him to my home...
Listen to the full interview below.
On Today's Show
At 3:30 ET: Melissa Etheridge, who performed at inaugural events, will join me to talk about her controversial stand in befriending evangelical pastor Rick Warren and defending Barack Obama's decision to have Warren give the invocation at the inauguration.
At 4:30 ET, I'll speak with Alexandra Pelosi, whose film, "The Trials of Ted Haggard," airs on HBO this Thursday. It's a snapshot of Haggard's pretty sad life these days. While Haggard is promoting the film on Oprah and Larry King Live, Pelosi has done few broadcast interviews. (Our show makes a brief cameo in the film; Pelosi had shot in my studio back when I interviewed Mike Jones during his book tour.)
Listen to The Michelangelo Signorile Show weekdays live from 2-6 pm ET on Sirius Satellite Radio’ s OutQ, Channel 109. Not a subscriber? Not a problem! Listen online any time with a free three-day pass.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Mike Jones: Haggard Sex Allegations from Two Other Men
Former Denver escort Mike Jones, who blew the whistle on former New Life Church pastor Ted Haggard, came on the show today in the wake of the latest revelations from a young former church member, Grant Haas, who says that Haggard masturbated in front of him -- without his consent -- and sent him over 1000 sexually charged text messages. Haas says he stayed silent about it all for over two years because the New Life Church paid him hush money.
Jones told me he not only spoke with Haas about his experiences with Haggard about a month ago, but that there were two other men who also came to him with similar stories but who are fearful of going public. One of them, Jones says, was sexually harassed/abused by another New Life Church "elder" and Ted Haggard knew all about it. The other one had non-consensual sex with Ted Haggard himself, Jones said:
MJ: I personally have had two other men come to me with their stories , personally. It's very difficult for them to come forward. It's something I can't publicly out them on. They need to do it themselves. But --There's more in the short clip below from the interview.
MS: Were these two other men who were connected to the church, or members of the church?
MJ: Yes, in fact I know one of them, their parents still go to church, New Life Church, which makes that more difficult for 'em.
MS: Was it consensual? Was it any way similar to [Grant Haas's] story, where he says he went to Haggard for help and it turned out that Haggard was, well, abusing him. If someone is exposing themselves to you, masturbation to you, that's not exactly consensual.
MJ: That's right. The interesting thing about all of 'em is that all of 'em went to the church or Ted Haggard regarding their homosexuality, not sure how to handle it, or what to do with it. That's what all three of these have in common.
MS: Were the others consensual or non-consensual?
MJ: Non-consensual. One of them, let me just speak about one of them. One of them was not with Ted Haggard but was with a church elder. But they knew about it.
MS:So there were others in the church?
MJ: Right.
MS: And are those people who are still connected to the church?
MJ:Now, I don't know, because I don't know what the elder's name was. But their stories are very compelling and very believable. I don't see any reason for them to make it up when they came to me. In fact it was very difficult for them to even come to me. Both of them had indicated several times that they had backed away from approaching me. But they finally wanted to talk to me.
On Today's Show
At 3:30 ET Deborah Gordon, co-author of Two Billion Cars: Drive Toward Sustainability.
At 4:30 ET, Mike Jones joins me to talk about Ted Haggard, the latest chapter in the saga and his angry video.
Questions Raised by Haggard Accuser
Monday, January 26, 2009
On Today's Show
Matt Foreman, former executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, joined me today at 3:30 ET to talk about this article, which challenges a lot about we all think would have worked better to defeat Prop 8. It's an interesting and informed perspective, and it raises some uncomfortable realities. Would love to get your thoughts.
At 4:30 ET Wayne Besen of Truth Wins Out joins me to talk about the latest New Life Church/Ted Haggard scandal, and why he is calling for an criminal investigation into the New Life Church's alleged cover-up and hush money payments to a church volunteer who now says he was sexually involved with Ted Haggard.
Mike Jones Hits Hard
You may have seen the latest allegations -- that New Life Church covered up another Ted Haggard gay affair, and paid hush money -- just as a the Trials of Ted Haggard is to be aired on HBO this week.
Well, Mike Jones, the former escort who blew the whistle on Haggard, takes on Ted, the Human Rights Campaign and New Life Church. We'll get into all of this on the show and I want to hear from you.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Portland Mayor is Not Resigning
And I am so glad for that. Since this story about Portland's newly elected openly gay mayor, Sam Adams, broke last week, we discussed it quite a bit on the show, but I'd not had a chance to write about it here. I've thought about it a lot and spoke with a lot of listeners of various points of view. I can understand why many are disappointed and even lost respect for him as a person and as a gay role model. But the man did nothing illegal, nor is he charged with any crime.
He lied, they charge. But not all lies by politicians are created equal: Lying about embarrassing aspects of one's own sex life when it's not relevant and is no one's business -- and is being targeted in a political smear -- does not have any bearing on how you will govern or how effective you can be. We went through this with Bill Clinton. You'd think progressives and gays -- some of whom called for his resignation -- would have learned this. I'm happy to report, however, that much if not the majority of the Oregon LGBT community seems to be behind him, judging from the press releases being sent out and the large rally in his support outside City Hall in Portland the other night.
Sure, this incident raises questions about his responsibilities, about mentoring, about older gay men and younger gay men. Judging from the couple of interviews he gave, he seemed to be in a lot of denial and dealing with a lot of issues personally. These are all issues we need to get into as a people, and we surely will. It was stupid and ethically wrong.
But it was not anything that rises to the level of resignation and has nothing to do with how he governs and how effective he has been or will be unless people allow the media and the opponents to make that happen. The calls for him to resign, particularly from some in the LGBT community, are pretty shameful. Some of our greatest gay heroes -- like Barney Frank and Gerry Studds -- were once at the center of scandals that involved far more serious actions (prostitution and sex with an underage Congressional page, respectively) and rather than cave in to the right-wing puritans, they stayed on and fought. And it was to the benefit of all of us.
Melissa Etheridge on Wednesday
Melissa Etheridge will be joining me on the show on Wednesday at 3:30 ET to talk about Rick Warren. As you all know, she and her partner, Tammy Lynn Michaels, had spoken in support of Warren giving the invocation at the Obama inauguration. It was something we've talked a lot about on the show and you've all debated here too. I'm looking forward to an interesting and productive discussion. Please post your questions for Melissa Etheridge here. And be nice.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Listener Survey Comments
As usual on Saturdays, here are some of the listener survey comments I read on the show this week, edited for space. If you are a listener to the show and have not taken the survey, please do so by clicking through on the right. Thanks!
Tallahassee, FL
Your show is actually a shining point of my day. I live in Tallahassee, but provide mental health services in the surrounding counties- perhaps the most homophobic and racist places in the United States (Liberty, Calhoun, Madison Counties of Florida). Your show provides sanity and balance.
Norristown, PA
Your intro has gotton much more ascerbic... and you seem to interview with an agenda to disagree with your guests. I wouldn't want to be a guest - because they often can't get a word in edge-wise... I *want* to like the show, but I often have to change stations because you just go too far on your own soapbox. Oh, and someday I'm looking for some trans- or bi- content... it would be nice to see
Vancouver, BC, CANADA
This is my favourite show on OutQ. I really appreciate the thoughtful political commentary. I would love to hear a little about Canada every now and again...at least the odd time when we have an election or when our PM prorogues parliament to avoid a confidence vote...but we all follow US politics too and it's interesting listening. Keep up the great work!
New York, New York
Why is perverted sex talk so much part of the gay life style and the shows on your station. I find some of the talk nauseating. It make gays seem like the life style is all about pervertedv sex. I believed in live and let live until gays tried to push their books into the school system that my children attend. I don't want alternate life styles taught to myoung childre. No problem with age appropriated selective courses in junior high and high school.That's the parents right nnot gays to determine it. sibilty. Parents revolted and stopped the forced gay agendas. Anoither issue that just outrage blacks is comparing the black civil right movement to the gay rights movement. Blacks see it as the ultimate insult to be connected to what they see as a nasty filthy life style based on deviant sex. Black gays know where they stand in the black race, espicially gay black men. Most know they better keep their ass in the so-called closet. Coming out will never be allowed in the community and in the families. Gay marriage is never discuused in my circle of friends or family. Its so rediculous no one cares to discuss it. And yes my uncle is gay but it is never mentioned and if he wants to be part of the family he knows he better never mention anything about being gay and bring a gay so-called boy friend to a family function. He knows everyone knows he's gay. But he also knows not to bring his life style around the family.
Grand Rapids, MI
I love the content of OutQ. I'm a truck driver and listen to most all of the content from the early morning to late evening, you all get me down the road. Michael thank you for your diligence and attention to our common good. One thing I wish would happen, Can we please start referring to our people as a population instead of a community. Based on the definitions it is what gay people are.
Encino, CA
PLEASE!!! DO Not Play That LOOOONG Introduction anymore!!! I would like you to let the guests have more words sometimes without interruptions.
Shrewsbury, MA
My wife and I have been married for 42 years on April 1 and we have listened to your show for over 3 years. Living in MA we know that gay marriage has not had a negitive effect on my marriage and those Calf. need to wake up... Mike, keep up the good work and I look forward to the coming next 4 years when I hope our new president makes the changes that will give equal rights to all and he gets the economy back on track.
Canton, OH
I like your pic. I think it would be funny if you went around wearing rubber bands on your ears one day.
Buffalo, NY
i really appreciate the quality of your show, and had never listened to any sirius radio until leasing my current automobile. i have learned so much about politics and how it effects me as a gay man. your show is truely inspirational and very informative. i begin to wonder where i have been living, and the show provides a wide-open window to a world that i was totally unaware of - where have i been?? some of the other programs, aired earlier in the day are pure fluff, and non-sensical!! thank you.
Laguna Beach, CA
I am very glad the election is over. I was getting VERY tired of the fighting and lies of the 2 parties. I enjoy your insight and views of the current events. I'd like you to allow your guests to speak more and espouse their views, especially if they agree with you.
Atlanta, GA
Truly an excellent and insightful program. It has become my primary source for gay-related news and information. The only suggestion I could make would be to have podcast archives for those who can't listen live.
Clips of the Week: "I Barack Obama"
Our Friday feature on the show, Clips of the Week: the dumb, sometimes smart -- mostly not -- things they said all week, all put to music by our producer David Guggenheim. This week: “I Barack Obama”
Friday, January 23, 2009
On Today's Show
In the 3 ET hour: How do you feel about Obama's plan to make all medical records online? Some Democrats are opposed to it on privacy grounds and planning for a big fight.
At 4:30 ET: Benjamin Wittes, author of Law and the Long War: The Future of Justice in the Age of Terror.
NY's New Senator Confirms She is For "Marriage Equality"
At the press conference today at which Gov. David Paterson announced his choice of Kirstein Gillibrand the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Hillary Clinton, Gillibrand said she will fight for "marriage equality." We will play some of the clips from the press conference on the show and go over the back story of this weeks-long drama that saw the rise and fall and Caroline Kennedy and a new face suddenly pop on the scene.
Gillibrand for Marriage Equality?
It would be a big turnaround if true, but Empire State Pride Agenda is saying that Kirsten Gillibrand, the woman Governor Paterson is going to name to Hillary Clinton's senate seat, is now for marriage equality and overturning the Defense of Marriage Act and "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." From the press release:
Gillibrand Tells Pride Agenda She’s for Marriage Equality and Repeal of Federal DOMA Legislation
January 23, 2009, New York City – Last night likely Senate pick Kirsten Gillibrand spoke to Empire State Pride Agenda Executive Director Alan Van Capelle about issues important to New York’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.
“After talking to Kirsten Gillibrand, I am very happy to say that New York is poised to have its first U.S. Senator who supports marriage equality for same-sex couples,” said Van Capelle. “She also supports the full repeal of the federal DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act) law, repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (DADT) and passage of legislation outlawing discrimination against transgender people. While we had a productive discussion about a whole range of LGBT concerns, I was particularly happy to hear where she stands on these issues.”
That's quite a 180 from a woman with a 100% rating from the NRA, who was opposed to gay marriage and who appears to be a Republican at heart. From the Village Voice:
The irony is that Paterson may be swinging from the nation's most prominent Democratic family to one with strong Republican ties. Gillibrand's father, Doug Rutnik, is an Albany insider and lobbyist whose ties to former GOP powerhouses Joe Bruno, George Pataki and Al D'Amato are legendary. In fact, Gillibrand won her seat when a state police domestic violence report about the GOP incumbent, John Sweeney, was mysteriously leaked, ostensibly with the acquiescence of the Pataki administration, which had its own reasons to oppose Sweeney. Bruno is under federal investigation now, and some of the subpoenas in the case involved a real estate deal that partnered Rutnik with Bruno and another lobbyist. Rutnik dated, and eventually lived with, a top Pataki and D'Amato aide for many years, until he broke up with her in 2006 to marry a cousin of his, Gwen Lee, who'd worked in high-paying state jobs secured by the same aide. Rutnik and D'Amato have been registered lobbyists for some of the same clients.
Perhaps Paterson extracted promises from her. Or she realizes she needs to go left quickly or she'll meet a serious challenge come election time. Whatever the reason, I'm glad she's suddenly supportive of full right LGBT people if that is indeed the case.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Paterson Picks Conservative Democrat?
Huffington Post is reporting it is likely to upstate congresswoman, Kirsten Gillbrand. She's a gun-loving blue dog dem who doesn't have a great record on LGBT rights. We went from Caroline Kennedy, who is totally supportive of marriage equality, to this.
The Daily Beast, noting her 100% scorecard from the NRA, describes her as a "bizarro version of Sarah Palin."
Americablog notes that she had the lowest Human Rights Campaign score of any New York Democrat, at 80%. She didn't co-sponsor a repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell and opposed legislation to grant same-sex partners of U.S. citizens and permanent residents the same immigration benefits, in addition to a few other things. Yeah, 80% is better than many Dems across the country, but this is New York, isn't it?
No Live Show Today
I'm taking the day off from the live show. We'll be rebroadcasting some requested interviews and callers discussions. Back on the air live tomorrow.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Caroline Kennedy Drops Out
The Times is reporting she has withdrawn her bid,supposedly because of her uncle's health. I imagine though it had more do to with her media reception and the cold slap of reality of being in the public eye.
It could mean that the openly gay assemblyman Daniel O'Donnell might just have a shot. That kind of history-making is something the pro-gay Governor Paterson just might do, I think. But he also likely would want someone who will boost him in his own run in the same year, as Kennedy would have, in terms of bringing money in and bringing people out to vote. He'll probably choose Andrew Cuomo. He is apparently going to announce it on Saturday.
On Today's Show
At 3:40 ET: Joe Jervis of JoeMyGod gives us the latest of the wacky goings-on of antigay crusader Peter LaBarbera.
At 4:30 ET: Clay Risen, A Nation on Fire: America in the Wake of the King Assassination.
Bay Buchanan: Blackwell Correct About "Gay Cure"
D.L. Hughley on CNN presented Bay Buchanan with some quotes from my interview on the show with RNC chair candidate Ken Blackwell, regarding the homosexual "urge" that can be "repressed" and why he seems to know so much about it. Wingnut hilarity ensued when she of course said she had nothing but respect for Blackwell and agreed completely. (The discussion of my chat with Blackwell on the show at the RNC comes at about 2:40).
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Out With the Old
What's that about a picture -- or video frame capture --saying a thousand words? Here's Bush and House Republican Leader John Boehner, moments before Bush was relinquished of his powers, with Cheney being wheeled away in the background.
A New America
Congratulations to us all. The nightmare of eight years is over, thankfully. Lots to talk about on the show on this historic today, checking in with people in Washington who were at the inauguration, including Congressman Barney Frank and others attending many of the festivities. We'll be taking your calls, hearing from people across the country and want to know what you're thinking and feeling about the moment and about the future. Does it feel different already? What was it like to see Rick Warren giving the invocation? Did it mar the whole event, or could nothing do that? And how about Cheney being wheeled in and out? Call in today and share your thoughts.Listen to The Michelangelo Signorile Show weekdays live from 2-6 pm ET on Sirius Satellite Radio’ s OutQ, Channel 109. Not a subscriber? Not a problem! Listen online any time with a free three-day pass.
Rick Warren Booed
Was it just me or did you hear the boos -- and mild applause -- when Warren's name was announced?
Monday, January 19, 2009
Will We See Gene Robinson?
Since last night there's been lots of fingerpointing between HBO and the Obama transition team about who axed Rev. Gene Robinson from the Lincoln Memorial concert broadcast. The Obama team is now apologizing, and is reportedly going to air it tomorrow during the inaugural itself. I'll believe it when I see it.
Inauguration Day Coverage
Took off today, MLK Day, from the show and from the blog, gearing up for tomorrow's big day. We're back on the show tomorrow with all the coverage of the historic inauguration of Barack Obama. I'll be interviewing lots of people attending the ceremonies on the mall and throughout Washington, including Congressman Barney Frank, and we'll be taking your calls all through the show. So let me know what you're thinking.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Clips of Week: Some Thoughts on the Journey
Our Friday feature on the show, Clips of the Week: the dumb, sometimes smart -- mostly not -- things they said all week, all put to music by our producer David Guggenheim. This week: “Some Thoughts on the Journey”
Friday, January 16, 2009
On Today's Show
At 3:30 ET: With MLK Day coming up on Monday, and all of the events around the Lincoln Memorial -- and Rick Warren sadly speaking both at the Obama inauguration as well as at the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta on MLK Day -- a replay of my interview from 2003 with historian John D'Emilio about his biography of the gay, African-American activist Bayard Rustin.
Rustin was a chief organizer of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, including the event at the Lincoln Memorial where King made his "I Have a Dream" speech, and Rustin was a teacher and adviser to King. But Rustin, known to King as gay man, kept his sexuality hidden more publicly until later in his life, when he ultimately became a gay activist and predicted gay rights as the next civil rights movement. It's an important and fascinating biography, Lost Prophet: The Life and Times of Bayard Rustin.
At 4:30 ET: What dilemmas does Obama face in closing Guantanamo and trying many of the prisoners, now that a top Bush administration official has admitted that we tortured? I'll speak with Jamil Dakwar, Director of the ACLU Human Rights Program.
How the Mormons Broke the Law
The American News Project reveals new evidence of how the Mormon church crossed the line between church and state in promoting Prop 8 -- evidence which may help prove the case of those who say the LDS church broke California law. This is a revelatory, important video.
The Farewell Delusion
Is it just me or is it an interesting, fitting irony that George W. Bush, a man who exploited the event to his own advantage when airliners went down over New York City and caused mass death and destruction and widspread fear across the land almost 8 years ago saw his own farewell speech now overshadowed completely by another airliner going down over New York City but which ended with everyone surviving unscathed? It truly is a new era.
Oh, and the speech. This man is seriously deluded:
The outgoing president acknowledged no mistakes. He conceded suffering "setbacks," though he did not detail them, and he said that there had been a "legitimate debate" over his decisions in pursuing the struggle against terrorism.
But he said his success on that front was indisputable.
"There can be little debate about the results," he said. "America has gone more than seven years without another terrorist attack on our soil."
Bush hailed Afghanistan, where America first targeted Al Qaeda and the Taliban after the 2001 attacks, as a "young democracy that is fighting terror and encouraging girls to go to school."
He described Iraq as transformed from a "brutal dictatorship and a sworn enemy of America to an Arab democracy at the heart of the Middle East and a friend of the United States."
And Bush declared victories on the domestic front, arguing that Americans pay lower taxes and that children are learning more in school.
He took credit for his administration's response to the global financial crisis, pointing to "decisive measures" designed to "safeguard our economy."
"These are very tough times for hard-working families, but the toll would be far worse if we had not acted," he said.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
On Today's Show
At 3:30 ET: Dacher Keltner, author: BORN TO BE GOOD: The Science of a Meaningful Life
At 4:30 ET: A federal court has ruled that the state of Louisiana must recognize an adoption by a gay couple in New York of a boy they adopted in Louisiana, citing the Full Faith and Credit Clause of the Constitution. The state of Louisiana is appealing. We'll speak to one of the plaintiffs and the attorney in the case.
Max Blumenthal on CNN's Roland Martin
Journalist and video documentarian Max Blumenthal came on the show last week to discuss his piece on Rick Warren's sham AIDS work in Africa. Max, who writes for the Daily Beast, Huffington Post, the Nation and other publications, does terrific work and comes on the show often. I had not had a chance until last week, however, to speak with him about his interview at the Democratic convention last summer with CNN's Roland Martin.
Martin, a Democrat and an Obama supporter (and defender of Obama's choice of Rick Warren to give the invocation at the inauguration), has in the past expressed what was clearly support of "conversion therapy" of gay people. People can call this anything they like -- counseling, reparative therapy, the cure, or walking away from the "gay lifestyle" -- but it's all the same. Check out a column of Martin's from February 2006:
My wife, an ordained Baptist minister for 20 years, has counseled many men and women to walk away from the gay lifestyle, and to live a chaste life. She has asked heterosexual men and women to abstain from sex until marriage. For her, the obligation is to her calling as a minister of the Word, rather than bowing to societal pressures. She loves gay and lesbian church members dearly, and prays with them, talks to them, and breaks bread with them. But what she cannot do is compromise the integrity of the teachings of Christ.
In my interview with Max -- a video clip of which is below -- I played a clip from his interview with Martin (which you can find on Max's site in full) and discussed Martin's views. Note that Martin now seems to be backtracking, implying that his wife only counseled one man -- "that man" -- as Martin says. But more interesting is when Max raises a question about who "that man" may be. Many listeners wrote me about that exchange, and others wrote me who hadn't heard it but heard about it and asked me to replay the interview.
Before we replayed it, however, I wanted to give Roland Martin a chance to respond. At first he was going to come on, but after he heard the clip, he decided not to appear on the show to respond, and then wrote a statement to our producer to read on the air. That statement follows the clip below.
Statement from Roland Martin
I will not waste my time responding to this utter nonsense from a guy who is totally delusional and confused.
One, my wife didn't "convert" anyone. Max seems to be obsessed about this, but the fiction in his mind is not met with reality. What gets me is Max is focusing on word emphasis and has concluded that means something? Any real journalist who based a story on that would get fired.
Two, that man is an actual member of the church.
Three, I am not "that man" as Max Blumenthal tried to toss out. So I'm supposed to prove that I'm not something? Wow, so this is how the little game is played with guys like him.
"That man" he's speaking of taught Bible study at our church. That's why he went to my wife for guidance. I've never taught Bible study. So if I've never taught Bible study, how can I be that man?
As a journalist, we like to follow that little thing called a fact and follow it to a logical conclusion. His little game is to toss something out, which is a lie, and get me to respond.
The fact that Max Blumenthal would make such a ridiculous and shameful statement shows that he's not worthy of me responding to anything that he says and does. But Max sounds like he's in desperate need of professional help for making such a statement that is so false that's it's unbelievable.
We should all pray for Max. He's obviously a confused soul.
Max didn't state outright that Martin was "that man." Rather he seemed to be simply raising the question because Martin was appearing to speak for the man. But no matter who the man is, this kind of thinking -- that people can "walk away from the gay lifestyle" -- is homophobic and destructive. And it is completely unaacceptable. Is it any wonder that Martin defended Obama's choice of Rick Warren?
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Mapping Out the Enemy
(Via JoeMyGod) Maps of Prop 8 financial backers are now online, including this one that maps out all those in San Francisco who gave to Prop 8, including names and locations. Of course the Prop 8 backers are outraged by this and there have been calls for new campaign disclosure laws to shield people from having to give their name address publicly if they are donating to a campaign like Prop 8. What do you think of this? We'll get into it on the show today.
Marriage Equality a Vote Getter?
To those who are excusing Barack Obama for having flip-flopped on marriage by saying he couldn't get elected othewise, you might want to take a look at this study: by Freedom to Marry:
An analysis of election results is unequivocal: exhibiting leadership by voting to support thefreedom to marry helps rather than hurts politicians. For many years legislators across the country have voted on laws aimed at ending the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage. Others have been asked to vote on state constitutional amendments aimed at discriminating against same-sex couples and their children by denying them the freedom to marry.
Interesting.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
He Was For Gay Marriage Before He Was Against It
The Windy City Times unearthed a candidate survey that Barack Obama took in 1996 in which he stated, unequivocally, that he supported same-sex marriage and would fight against any laws to prohibit it:
Obama’s answer to the 1996 Outlines question was very clear: “I favor legalizing same-sex marriages, and would fight efforts to prohibit such marriages.” There was no use of “civil unions,” no compromise whatsoever.
It will be very interesting to see how he explains this in light of his position now that he just cannot, for religious reasons, support marriage equality.
On Today's Show
At 3:30 ET: David Hill became the second man fired by a Tennessee hotel this week, simply because he is gay, underscoring the reason why we need the federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act passed. We'll speak with him.
At 4:30 ET: Barack Obama has often referred to Abraham Lincoln as a president he models himself on, and certainly the media has made many references to Lincoln (the whole Team of Rivals bit) and Obama. Obama and his family went to the Lincoln Memorial the other night to pay homage, and there will be a concert there as part of the inaugural festivities at which Bishop Gene Robinson, the openly gay bishop will give the invocation. Much of the inaugural, we're told, will harken back to Lincoln.
But there is an aspect of Lincoln -- and the memorial -- that has not been focused on, and yet, in the wake of the Rick Warren controversy it's certainly relevant. Tomorrow we'll get to the memorial, but today we'll rebroadcast my interview with historian Jean Baker, who wrote the introduction the the book by the late Kinsey researcher, The Intimate World of Abraham Lincoln, the controversial book that focused on Lincoln's sexuality and his apparent love of men.
Also: What intriguing thing did Max Blumenthal say on the show last week about CNN's Roland Martin, and what is Martin's response? You'll hear it all today on the show.
Who You Callin' "Pro-Gay"?
Mike Huckabee's friendly Christian smiley-face mask slipped off when Ann Coulter called him something that he obviously felt was one of the worst insults you could be called: "pro-gay."
More From Bishop Robinson
Bishop Gene Robinson says that the Obama transition team was talking to him prior to the Warren controversy about being involved in the inaugural ceremonies,but that they clear were trying to make amends by choosing him for this Lincoln Memorial concert event. Bishop Robinson is a good friend of the show; we've him had on the show several times, from way back when he was under attack just prior to being made a bishop, and I will try to have him back on inauguration day or shortly thereafter.
The event will air on HBO for free to those with cable, and Bishop Robinson says he will not give a Christian prayer, which I think is very thoughtful and respectful of him, and in fact would be "horrified" at the thought of pushing his faith on others:
Bishop Robinson said he had been reading inaugural prayers through history and was “horrified” at how “specifically and aggressively Christian they were.”
“I am very clear,” he said, “that this will not be a Christian prayer, and I won’t be quoting Scripture or anything like that. The texts that I hold as sacred are not sacred texts for all Americans, and I want all people to feel that this is their prayer.”
Bishop Robinson said he might address the prayer to “the God of our many understandings,” language that he said he learned from the 12-step program he attended for his alcohol addiction.
Bishop Robinson said that his partner of more than 20 years, Mark Andrew, would accept the Obama team’s invitation to join him in attending several inaugural events. The two had a civil union ceremony last summer in a New Hampshire church.
Monday, January 12, 2009
He Cannot Let Go
Bush will deliver a farewell speech to the American people, as if we need to hear anything more.
Closing Gitmo
Obama will issue executive order next week to close Guantanamo. This a great start on his first day in office. It will take a up to year, however, to relocate the inhabitant detainees.
On Today's Show
At 3:30 ET Kim Phillips-Fein, author of Invisible Hands: The making of the Conservative Movement from the New Deal to Reagan.
At 4:30 ET, automotive journalist John Voelcker joins us from Detroit and the American International Auto Show to talk about the big three's new electric cars and how are bailout money is or isn't being put to good use.
LGBTHWI?
Ted Haggard now says he is not bisexual but is, rather, "heterosexual but with issues", which I guess would be called HWI. Nah, let's stick to the old-fashioned term: closet case.
Bishop Gene Robinson to Open Lincoln Memorial Event
The Human Rights Campaign is reporting that the openly gay Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson will give the invocation at the Lincoln Memorial inaugural concert, clearly a response by the Obama team to the uproar over Rick Warren. From the HRC release:
WASHINGTON – The Right Rev. V. Gene Robinson, bishop of the U.S. Episcopal Church in the diocese of New Hampshire has accepted an invitation from President-elect Barack Obama’s inaugural committee to deliver the invocation at a concert held at the Lincoln Memorial. The concert, which will be held on Sunday, January 18th, is the first inaugural event the president-elect will attend. Bishop Robinson, the first openly gay priest to be ordained bishop by a major Christian denomination, is a member of the Human Rights Campaign Religion Council.
“Bishop Robinson models what prayer should be—spiritual reflection put into action for justice,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “It is encouraging that the president-elect has chosen this spiritual hero for all Americans to lead the nation in prayer at the Lincoln Memorial inaugural concert.”
UPDATE: Politico quotes a source saying this was not a "direct response" and that Robinson was "in the plans" already. I don't really believe that, or at least what is trying to be implied. Robinson spoke out about Warren, and no one said at that time he was on the schedule. My hunch: I'm sure he'd spoken with them, but it wasn't until the Warren brouhaha that they solidified, quickly, what we would do.
RNC Chair Candidate: "Homosexuality is a compulsion that can be contained, repressed or changed."
Yes, that's what Ken Blackwell, the sketchy former Ohio Secretary of State who now has a good shot at running the Republican National Committee, told me a few months back, among some other very interesting and kooky things. It's a far cry from the days when the RNC was led by the 38-year-old "bachelor" of questionable sexual orientation, Ken Mehlman, but, according to The New York Times, Blackwell, a failed Ohio gubernatorial candidate who compared homosexuality to arson and kleptomania at the height of the campaign, may well be the RNC's next chair.
Because of the much-publicized racist eruption by one of the other six candidates over the holidays, Blackwell's supporters' efforts seem to be part of a twisted, laughable attempt to make the RNC appear "diverse" because Blackwell is African-American, even though he is a lockstep, antigay religious fundamentalist. The homos, after all, can still be publicly kicked around with glee:
[A]nother candidate, Chip Saltsman, the Tennessee party chairman, was roundly criticized for distributing a holiday CD to party members that included a parody song called “Barack the Magic Negro.”
Some Republicans argued that electing a black chairman could prove helpful as the party struggles to rebuild.
I caught up with Blackwell in all of his evangelical enthusiasm at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul back in September, where he called homosexuality a "compulsion" which can be "contained," among many things he told me in an interview. You can listen to the full 13-minute interview, which we broadcast back in September, below. Here are some choice bits:
KB: I believe that our sexuality is, that we have two orientations: you're female or you're male. A union between a male and a female produces babies. I thought that is was a mistake to start to equate the union between one man and one woman with a marriage between two men and between two women.
MS:I realize that that was on the issue of marriage, but you compared homosexuality to kleptomania--
KB: No, if you go back and you look, at what, no, at what I said--
MS: Well, here's what you said, "Homosexuality is a lifestyle. It's a choice. And that lifestyle can be changed. It's a transgression against God's law." And you compared it to arsonists and kleptomaniacs, that those things were criminal activities...a compulsion, right?
KB: No. What I said is that, in that regard, you can choose, people choose to be who they are, as they choose to break civil law and God's law...I think you can choose not to be homosexual...
MS: Did you choose to be heterosexual? Did you wake up one day and say I want to be heterosexual?
KB: The answer is that I've never had to make the choice because I've never had the urge to be other than a heterosexual, but if in fact I had the urge to be something else I could have in fact suppressed that urge.
***
MS: But you realize people were insulted when you compared [homosexuality] to arson and kleptomania. I would like you to explain that because, how does that get into this whole "choice" issue? I mean, kleptomania is a compulsion.
KB: Well, the fact is, you can choose to restrain that compulsion. And so I think in fact you don't have to give in to the compulsion to be homosexual. I think that's been proven in case after case after case...
***
KB:Where you and I disagree is that I do not think homosexuality manifested in behavior is a behavior that should in fact make us change the laws of this land.
MS: But many laws have been changed already. The Supreme Court says that homosexual behavior is not illegal. Arson is a crime. If somebody burns your house down, that's hurting you, hurting other people. The Supreme Court has said if it's in your bedroom it's not hurting anybody else.
KB: If in fact you would feel better for me to say to you that, one, I believe homosexuality is a compulsion that can be contained, repressed or changed, and that makes you feel better, then that is what I'm saying in the clearest of terms.
Listen to full interview.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
A Log Cabinite Defends Palin
One day on the show last week we went though Sarah Palin's latest attempt to portray herself as a victim of that horrible so-called liberal media, and a Log Cabin Republican called to defend her.
Rick Warren's AIDS Lies
This is a couple of minutes from my interview on the show with Max Blumenthal this week, focusing on just one aspect of his very important piece which exposes how Rick Warren's AIDS work in Africa -- in Uganda in particular -- is not only a sham; it is killing people and helping to demonize homosexuality rather than saving lives.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Is "Stonewall 2.0" Fizzling?
This is a few minute clip from my discussion on the show this week with Dan Savage, columnist and editor at Seattle's The Stranger, about his belief, with which I agree, that what some dubbed "Stonewall 2.0" is fizzling. Today was a day of yet another national actions by Join the Impact. Each time they've organized something since that first 11 days after Prop 8 passed, however, it does seem to have less and less of that impact.
Friday, January 09, 2009
Clips of The Week: “Cast off the Gloom and Doom”
Our Friday feature on the show, Clips of the Week: the dumb, sometimes smart -- mostly not -- things they said all week, all put to music by our producer David Guggenheim. This week: “Cast off the Gloom and Doom”
Opposition to Gupta
John Conyers is raising concerns about CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta as surgeon general. Apparently, his faulty and wrong "reality check" of Michael Moore's "Sicko" is part of the reason. We played the back and forth between Moore and Gupta on the show this week -- having done so back when it happened in 2007 as well -- and it's clear that Gupta got it all wrong, and knew it, but also knew that he it was easy to demonize someone like Michael Moore. You can view it below. Not good. Glad Conyers is raising this, though I'm sure Gupta will sail through.
Thursday, January 08, 2009
Down the Toilet
In honor of Larry Craig having officially dropped his further appeals to withdraw his guilty plea I thought I'd bring back my video -- which I posted during the holidays recently and which I'm sure a lot of people didn't catch --taking you where no documentarian had yet to go, inside the infamous bathroom stall at the Minneapolis airport. Enjoy.
On Today's Show
At 3:30 ET: Max Blumenthal will talk to me about his expose on Rick Warren, and his disastrous effect on AIDS prevention in Africa -- though he has been heralded by the Obama folks as someone who battled AIDS. There's a lot here -- much of it horrendous and angering -- and we'll get into it all. What does Obama think of all this, and will anyone in the media ask him about it?
At 4:30 ET: Sex columnist and editor of The Stranger, Dan Savage will join me and we'll get into his theory that the ricin threats against Seattle bars may be from a disturbed gay man. Mostly though, we're going to talk about a topic that we've been talking about quite a bit on the show: Is Stonewall 2.0 fizzling already? Dan thinks it is.
Ricin Threat to Seattle Gay Bars
Yesterday there was a lot of discussion of letters sent to Seattle gay bars by an individual threatening ricin gas attacks. Dan Savage at The Stranger also received a letter later, and he suggests that the writer, rather than some straight homophobe, may be a gay man angry at the bar scene, which is certainly a provocative but interesting theory. Andy Towle has more on this, including the revelation that the writer of the letters is a plagiarist, having lifted a poem by gay writer Mark Doty.
Dan Savage will join me on the show today at 4:30 ET to talk about this. We'll also get into "Stonewall 2.0" and his opinion that it has fizzled out.
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
On Today's Show
At 4:30 ET: Kenneth Sherrill, Co-author of the study: California’s Proposition 8: What Happened, and What Does the Future Hold? which concludes that African Americans did not vote in huge numbers for Prop 8, as was claimed by exit polls.
Burris Will Be Seated After All
What a joke. And not a surprise. Harry Reid just spoke, suddenly loving Burris. Obama indicated he has no problem with Burris either. Why then did we hand the Republicans a day of distractions and idiocy?
Rick Warren's Sham AIDS Work
Rick Warren's supporters have pointed to his supposedly battling AIDS in Africa as one way he is different from other evangelicals. But Max Blumental reveals the antigay, abstinence-only, ineffective and even dangerous programs Warran promoted. I'll be having Max on the show this week to talk about it:
However, an investigation into Warren’s involvement in Africa reveals a web of alliances with right-wing clergymen who have sidelined science-based approaches to combating AIDS in favor of abstinence-only education. More disturbingly, Warren’s allies have rolled back key elements of one of the continent’s most successful initiative, the so-called ABC program in Uganda. Stephen Lewis, the United Nations’ special envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa, told the New York Times their activism is “resulting in great damage and undoubtedly will cause significant numbers of infections which should never have occurred.”
Surgeon General Gupta
Okay, what do you all think about Obama asking CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta to be Surgeon General? It's not a position of great power, but it's influential as a bully pulpit, and has had an impact on HIV prevention. And we all remember Bush's last choice, Dr. James Holsinger -- who Democrats blocked -- who believed in conversion therapy for gays and lesbians. So, it's not an inconsequential post. Your thoughts?
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
The Burris Sideshow
This really is ridiculous. The Democrats are making fools of themselves, wasting time, distracting from important issues, and, as has been said, undermining their arguments to get Al Franken seated. Just let Roland Burris in for Pete's sake.
On Today's Show
At 3:30 ET: Pioneering psychiatrist Dr. Jack Drescher explains how the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders is being re-written, particular with regard to gender identity, and what some of the pitfalls may be.
At 4:30 ET: Robert Baer, author of
The Devil We Know: Dealing with the New Iranian Superpower.
New Advocate Column, and Some Context
I've started a new column for the Advocate, the gay newsmagazine that is now going monthly.
This first column was written shortly after my interviews with Rachel Maddow and Pam Spaulding, but before the Rick Warren controversy erupted. I stress that because Rachel did a highly commendable job on that controversy -- and I gave her kudos right here --- but the coverage wasn't indicative of her coverage on Prop 8 and LGBT issues before Pam's criticisms of her and before her appearance on my show. The column went to pres two days before the Warren controversy, and I did add a note to the online version as you will see. Just wanted to give some context to this, as I'm sure many will say, "Wait, look at what she did with Rick Warren." But again, that came after the criticisms, and I would say back to them, precisely -- an example of how powerful Rachel can be, how I hope she covers gay issues from here on, and how thankful I am that we have her.
P.S. The comments do seem to be back up, but don't count on it. And many have lost while many people are still telling me they can't post. We'll be going to Js-kit fully in few days and saying good-bye to haloscan forever.
Monday, January 05, 2009
Comments Madness
Okay, I think I am getting somewhere with the comments, and in the next few days haloscan will be replaced with the full Js-kit comments. It's a long story, in terms of what happened, and it's ultimately dull. I'll probably only tell you all the boring details if in fact it doesn't work out! Give it a couple of days and comments should be back up. In the meantime, take the listener survey, post on my facebook page (links on the right) and follow me on twitter (msignorile) in addition to calling on the show.
On Today's Show
At 3:30 ET: gay journalist Rex Wockner on the controversy summit by the Equality California to strategize against Prop 8. Apparently, press is being restricted. But that's only the half of it. We'll get into the details.
At 4:30 ET, Benoit Denizet-Lewis, author of America Anonymous: Eight Addicts in Search of a Life
Saturday, January 03, 2009
Twittering on the Show
Next week when we're back on the air I'll introduce the option for people to send in their thoughts via Twitter (not sure if I should capitalize that or not at this point). I've been using Facebook to update people on the show and also take comments sometimes during the show so this should just add to that ability. Facebook has been particularly useful during the show for people who are at work, listening in on headsets, who can't call because they'll get busted by their bosses. Twitter should help them out as well.
Facebook has also been useful for me to let listeners know something that is happening when we're not on the air, such as when I do the occasional TV appearance that comes up at the last minute, or when I just get hit with idea that I want to let you know we'll be discussing. Again, Twitter will do the same. You can follow me on Twitter at msignorile or just go here. I may also put the twitter updates on the blog, but more on that later.
Also, no listener survey comments posted this week because we obviously were off and I didn't read any on air. But we'll be back at it next week, and if you haven't already, and are a listener to the show, please take the listener survey by clicking through on the right of the page.
Friday, January 02, 2009
Caroline Kennedy, Obama and the Senate Seat
Governor Paterson apparently is still on track to appoint Caroline Kennedy to take Hillary Clinton's place in the U.S. Senate, despite her awful performance in a several interviews, with her now infamous "you knows." And I have to say, even though I've been quite critical on the show of the appointment because I don't like the idea of dynastic rule nor someone literally being handed a senate seat by virtue of her genes, I'm getting used to the idea and think it actually might be best.
First off, the "you knows" didn't bother me that much. As a talk show host who spends four hours on the radio, I've been chastised all too often for too many "you knows," "umms" and similar repetitions. That quirk is not a reflection of her intelligence or experience, just a a bad speech pattern that can be altered with practice.
I'm glad that Paterson interviewed Danny O'Donnell, and I'd love to see Rosie's brother become the first openly gay U.S. senator, but even O'Donnell says this is a long shot. I guess I'm thinking more as a New Yorker and as gay activist when I say Kennedy could be very good in that, right now, in this economic crisis, New York City would do well to be represented by a U.S. senator to whom the president owes a lot and who is on very close terms with the president.
This goes for the issue of marriage equality. We've now seen, with the Rick Warren controversy, how Obama operates and how he'll too quickly dump on gays. Caroline Kennedy would not only be one of a small handful of senators who support marriage for gays and lesbians but she would be one of an even smaller group -- that, as far as I can tell, only includes her ailing uncle, Ted Kennedy -- who is very close to Obama and also supports full marriage rights for gays. She could influence him to change his mind (or rather, public position) on that issue, perhaps, and she could be pressured to speak out when he pulls Rick Warren-like scenarios -- if she did, it would go further than perhaps any other senator speaking up. And perhaps she'll be open to gay activists in this regard. She'll certainly need and want the LGBT vote to win an election. And of course, if we don't like her, we can always vote her out when she has to run to finish the term in 2010. I know, I know -- that will be harder to do. Anyway, discuss.
A Bush Comeback?
Just when we're getting rid of George W. Bush, Pam points in the direction of desperate Republicans' attempts to make Jed Bush the next Florida U.S. senator and then, possibly, put yet another Bush in the White House.
The Washington Times suggests that Jeb is "the remedy" for what ails Republicans. You've got to be kidding:
It's a desire to be part of leading the movement and the party out of the wilderness," said a source familiar with Mr. Bush's deliberations who pegs the odds at "60/40" in favor of running. "The only unclear part is, do you do that better in the Senate or out of the Senate?"
Thursday, January 01, 2009
Happy 2009! Election Retrospective Continues
I hope you all had a great one. What did you do? How did it go? What are you expecting for 2009? Any resolutions? I have a million, and you'll likely here them all on the show next week. But for this week, we're still off from the live show and running my special election retrospective 2008, which I've only now learned is titled in all the press releases, A Year in the Life of a Campaign.
Today, Day 4: The General Election. This includes our coverage of the Democratic convention in Denver, and the Republican nutfest in St. Paul!
