Bloop! DNC files motion against RNC over Intimidation of Minority Voters

This is some tea.

For a while, Donald Trump has been telling his legion to watch folks at the polls, mostly in areas with lots of people of color. Then, the DNC jumped in and found enough evidence that Trump was up to no good. So now, they are coming for his ass.

The DNC is asking a federal court to hold the RNC in contempt of court for allegedly violating a decades-old consent decree limiting so-called "ballot security" activities at poll places.

Here's more:

The Democrats' filing Wednesday, among other things, ask that the consent decree -- which is set to expire Dec. 17 -- be extended for another eight years. The DNC is also asking the court to block any coordination between Trump and the RNC as it relates to Election Day poll monitoring activities that many fear will amount to voter intimidation.

The legal move by the DNC comes in response to Donald Trump's calls for vigilante "poll watchers" to come out in force nationwide on Election Day. The RNC had hoped to be freed from the consent decree as soon as next year, and Trump's actions now threaten to hobble the GOP for nearly another decade, if Democrats have their way.

As Trump has amped up his rhetoric claiming a "rigged elections" and urged his supporters "go over and watch" voting sites in "certain areas, the RNC has tried desperately to distance itself from the campaign's poll monitors efforts, given the consent decree. But Trump campaign hasn't made that easy. Wednesday's filing cites comments made by Gov. Mike Pence (R-IN), Trump's running mate, at a town hall event and by Kellyanne Conway, Trump's campaign manager, to the Washington Post suggesting collaboration with the RNC on anti-voter fraud activities.

(Conway later told the Washington Post she was mistaken and the RNC at the time also denied collaboration).

"Although certain RNC officials have attempted to distance themselves from some of the Trump campaign’s more recent statements, there is now ample evidence that Trump has enjoyed the direct and tacit support of the RNC in its 'ballot security' endeavors, including the RNC’s collaboration on efforts to prevent this supposed 'rigging' and 'voter fraud,'" the DNC's court filing said.

The filing also points to the activities of state party leaders who are also members of the RNC that appeared to be inspired by Trump's comments. The Pennsylvania GOP -- led by chair Robert Gleason, also an RNC member -- recently sued to allow for poll watchers to monitor voting sites outside their own precinct, which is currently prohibited by state law. Michigan Republican Party Chair Ronna Romney McDaniel, an RNC member, said last week that the party's attorneys were preparing "a massive statewide anti-voter fraud effort."

It's about to get bad for Trump, and I'm excited about it.

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WATCH LIVE: Democratic National Convention Day 3

DNC's Statement on North Carolina's Hate Bill

Upon news that North Carolina Republican Governor Pat McCrory will sign a discriminatory anti-LGBT bill into law tonight, the Democratic National Committee has released the following statement.

When the Charlotte city council expanded protections for transgender people with a new ordinance last month, Republicans in the North Carolina state legislature were so disgusted that they announced they would take the unusual step of convening a special session today in order to block it.

But for one of the most extreme legislatures in the country, dragging one city backwards wasn’t enough. Instead of destroying just one progressive ordinance in one city, the legislation they passed in today’s special session blocks all LGBT non-discrimination ordinances passed by any local government across the entire state, and protects businesses that discriminate based on sexual orientation and gender identity. But they didn’t stop there. State lawmakers took the opportunity to overreach even more by forbidding North Carolina cities from raising the minimum wage with living wage ordinances.

“This is sadly unsurprising from a party that seems determined to stay stuck in the Stone Age on LGBT equality. From their refusal to accept marriage equality as the law of the land, to their disingenuous ‘free speech’ and ‘religious freedom’ justifications for discrimination, Republicans are hurting Americans who deserve the full and equal protection of the law. Now the same state lawmakers who pretend to love limited government are steamrolling over local officials just because they had the courage to stand up for transgender rights. Our friends in the LGBT community deserve better and so do all the people of North Carolina,” said DNC Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz.

“While Republicans in DC refuse to do their job in confirming a Supreme Court justice, Republicans in North Carolina are calling a special session to repeal every local non-discrimination law protecting the LGBT community across the entire state. They’d rather spend the taxpayer’s money to take away the rights of North Carolina’s citizens than deal with the massive cuts to education they have also forced on families,” said Earl Fowlkes, chair of the LGBT Caucus of the Democratic National Committee.

“What we’re seeing here is a more extreme version of the radical ‘Right to Discriminate’ laws that have failed in other states like Indiana. Rather than requiring a ‘religious objection’ to discriminate, which is already bad enough, this wholesale repeal of all municipal non-discrimination laws in the entire state is a new low. This proposed bill gives businesses, like hotels and restaurants, a license to discriminate against gay and transgender people with total impunity. And that is simply wrong,” said Ryan Butler, chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party’s LGBT Caucus.

This follows recent actions in Republican controlled legislatures in Georgia, Kentucky, and Missouri to pass Indiana-style 'Right to Discriminate’ laws that would permit businesses and others to discriminate against LGBT people.

DNC launches #FillTheSeat Campaign - VIDEO

The Democratic National Committee's new media campaign, #FillTheSeat, will address the importance of getting a new Supreme Court justice. This campaign will touch on different reasons and topics.

Today's focus is LGBT

HRC notes LGBT Inclusion at the Democratic Convention

WATCH President Obama's Speech at the DNC

Sasha is Throwing Shade

Zach Wahls tells Mitt Romney: "My Family Is Just As Real As Yours."

WATCH: NoMoreDownLow.TV coverage of 2012 DNC

The team over at NoMoreDownLow.TV, gives a Black LGBT perspective of the 2012 DNC.

Please watch

Interesting Quote: Barney Frank

Frankly I’ve been appalled to see the Log Cabin club, in the face of this worse and worse record on public policy by Republicans on our issues. Mr. Cooper said, ‘Well at least they’re not saying bad things about us.' That’s just extraordinary. Again, 30 years ago when we were emerging from the vice of prejudice, I understood that. But no, we shouldn’t be accepting a kind of second class citizenship, [and saying], ‘You can treat us badly as long you don’t yell at us.’" 

“They’re accepted on [the GOP's] terms. They’re willing to be accepted with no rights -- no right to marry, no right to serve in the military, no right to be protected against hate crimes, no right to be protected in employment. I’ll be honest: For 20 years now I’ve heard how the Log Cabins are going to make Republicans better, but they’ve only gotten worse. I now understand why they call themselves Log Cabin: their role model is Uncle Tom.”

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WATCH the Full Bill Clinton Speech at the DNC

Bill Clinton put in on the table last night at the DNC. It was long, but powerful on the point. It felt real good to see him go to bat for Obama.

Watch after the jump

READ the Official Democratic National Platform addressing Marriage Equality

From the Democratic Party platform

Freedom to Marry. We support the right of all families to have equal respect, responsibilities, and protections under the law. We support marriage equality and support the movement to secure equal treatment under law for same-sex couples. We also support the freedom of churches and religious entities to decide how to administer marriage as a religious sacrament without government interference.

We oppose discriminatory federal and state constitutional amendments and other attempts to deny equal protection of the laws to committed same-sex couples who seek the same respect and responsibilities as other married couples. We support the full repeal of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act and the passage of the Respect for Marriage Act.

Fascinating!

Betty White talks to Mitt Romney

DNC begins with a Protest against Corporate Influence

The DNC convention begins with a protest. Protesters hit the streets pointing out corporate influence in politics.

Please watch

READ the Draft Language supporting ENDA in the Democratic Party's Platform

More platform news! BuzzFeed has gained the draft language for an ENDA inclusive plank.

Please read

We know that putting America back to work is job one, and we are committed to ensuring Americans do not face employment discrimination. We support the Employment Non-Discrimination Act because people should not be fired based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.

President Obama and the Democratic Party are committed to ensuring all Americans are treated fairly. This administration hosted the first-ever White House Conference on Bullying Prevention and we must continue our work to prevent vicious bullying of young people and support LGBT youth. The President’s record, from ending “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” in full cooperation with our military leadership, to passing the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, to ensuring same-sex couples can visit each other in the hospital, reflects Democrats’ belief that all Americans deserve the same chance to pursue happiness, earn a living, be safe in their communities, serve their country, and take care of the ones they love.

Hopefully, this language will be approved and I love that it includes gender identity.

READ the Draft of the Marriage Equality Plank for the DNC Platform

Chris Geidner reports that the Democratic Platform Drafting Committee has the language for adding Marriage Equality in the party's platform.

This is just a draft, but it will most likely look like this:

We support the right of all families to have equal respect, responsibilities, and protections under the law. We support marriage equality and support the movement to secure equal treatment under law for same-sex couples. We also support the freedom of churches and religious entities to decide how to administer marriage as a religious sacrament without government interference. 

We oppose discriminatory federal and state constitutional amendments and other attempts to deny equal protection of the laws to committed same-sex couples who seek the same respect and responsibilities as other married couples. We support the full repeal of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act and the passage of the Respect for Marriage Act.

Another committee will need to approve the language this weekend before it goes to the convention.

Chris Matthews and Barney Frank Spar over DNC Marriage Equality Plank - WATCH

Chris actually had some great points

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My Rant: Did we Read the Same Post?

In my latest piece in Bilerico Project, I wrote about full equality, not just marriage equality, should be our focus as a community. However, some folks got lost with my statement here:

  While gay marriage is cute for a privileged few, it is not a priority to many others.

My use of "cute" really bothered some people. They thought I was dismissing gay marriage, but the thing is, I wasn't. My statement "gay marriage is cute for a privileged few," was meant to point out how it's a privilege to not worry about your employment, housing, or benefits and you can only focus on marriage.

And speaking of "a privileged few", that's me. I am that PF. I have a job that allows me to talk freely about my partner, put him on my insurance and to reap my benefits; and he can do the same at his job.  They are many out there who don't have these opportunities. I want to make sure that they do. With a full equality plank, all in our community can reap the benefits.

I thought it was clear I was talking about full equality, but these folks just read what they wanted to read.

The interesting pieces to their rants against me proved 2 things:

1. They didn't read the full article, they got caught up with the word "cute" and they totally missed the message.
2. They proved my point in my post. They are so focused on gay marriage, they can't see anything else.

I appreciate opposing views, but to claim that I'm trying to divide the community or that I'm being dismissive is far from the truth.
If they can get past their own foolishness, they will see that I want the same thing they want. Full equality.

Real Talk: Full Equality, not Marriage Equality, should be on the DNC Platform

My Post from Bilerico Project

Okay, okay, enough with this Evolve Already gay marriage plank business. Yes, I get it, we want Obama to support gay marriage and open the doors to marriage madness all over the country. But have we sat back and truly thought about this? We are trying to make someone evolve on our timetable versus when they are ready. Can you tell me how and when that actually works?

I hate to say it, but I believe this marriage equality plank initiative has clouded our thinking. Let's take a minute to process this notion. Out of all of the LGBT issues, marriage is the main subject we want the DNC and President to support overall? No. That's not a smart plan at all. If we are creating a LGBT plank to be included in the DNC platform, it needs to be inclusive of our entire community; meaning everyone in the L-G-B-T family.

Our needs are very diverse within the LGBT community. While gay marriage is cute for a privileged few, it is not a priority to many others. For most people in our community, matters like job security, healthcare or housing takes top shelf. When you are faced with social and economic disparities, the idea of marriage may not be on the forefront. In other words, how can I think about marriage when I can be fired for even talking about my partner at work?

Then, we have to think about anti-bullying laws. An additional piece to our LGBT plank should be safe schools and anti-bullying enforcement. Our children need a safe space to fully develop into their own person. No child should be subjected to consistent bullying and harassment in the classrooms.

So to wrap this up, I'll just be real; marriage equality is not the LGBT priority, full equality is. This is the main initiative our community should be putting on the President's table. A full equality plank will showcase all our needs as a community.

SU wanted to speak to Valerie Jarrett before HRC Dinner

Servicemembers United sent out a press release in order to get Valerie Jarrett to met with them before her speech at the HRC Gala

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Servicemembers United, the nation’s largest organization of gay and lesbian troops and veterans, today called on White House Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett to meet with gay and lesbian veterans to talk about the administration’s inaction on “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” before appearing at a black-tie fundraising gala for the Human Rights Campaign tomorrow in Washington, DC. Jarrett’s appearance at the gala fundraiser was announced today by the Human Rights Campaign, which also called both Jarrett and the president “strong supporters of those of those of us fighting for LGBT rights.”

“We certainly do not feel like the White House is a ‘strong supporter’ of gay and lesbian troops and veterans right now,” said Alexander Nicholson, Executive Director of Servicemembers United and a former U.S. Army human intelligence collector who was also discharged under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” “Before she appears at a black-tie fundraiser to tout the administration’s ‘strong support,’ Jarrett should meet and talk with those who have actually been impacted by this discriminatory law and who continue to fight this uphill battle for the lives and livelihoods of gay and lesbian troops. To ignore the reality of the administration’s choices, a reality manifested in our daily lives, while appearing at a party hosted by an organization that has given cover to this administration would be incredibly insulting.”

Nicholson added that a top-notch group of recent gay and lesbian veterans who are also involved in the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal movement are ready to meet with Jarrett for a respectful dialogue on Friday or Saturday.

For more information about Servicemembers United and “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” please visit www.ServicemembersUnited.org.

Then there was another post on Huffpo wondering if Valerie would actually speak to them. Now, I know they want some answers, but do they really think Valerie is going to meet with them first?

Well, she didn't. I don't think she blew them off, but many will think otherwise.