A Middle Finger For Prop 8

Crossposted from Left Toon Lane, Bilerico Project & My Left Wing click to enlargeProp 8 is a measure in California that would amend the state constitution to ban gay marriage. If it is successful, it will be a major set-back for gay rights in America. In the spirit of "leave it all on the road," visit No On Prop 8 and get involved in this last day of campaigning against this awful proposition. There is a lot of hate this campaign season - just visit any McCain / Palin rally if you want to hear applause when someone yells "nigger." McCain's campaign is the most racist since George Wallace walked the earth. It is time to stand up for humanity.

“God Killed Him For Loving Fags!” (UPDATED)

Crossposted from Left Toon Lane, Bilerico Project & My Left Wing click to enlargeUpdating from Monday's DKos post... A guitar playing man who was supportive of same sex marriage passed out at my feet a little after 5pm. The medics gave him CPR for over 20 minutes before they moved him. He looked bad. The crowd was very compassionate about the man's condition except, of course, the crazy fundamentalist "Christians" on hand to protest. I asked on protester why wouldn't he pray for the guy instead of shouting about anal sex? He replied "God killed him for loving fags!" I thought the man died and the badgering by the fundamentalists really shook me up. But I have good news today. Petrelis Files and Pam's House Blend learned a lot more about the idiot yelling and the gentleman who collapsed. The fundamentalist is named Kevin Farrer and he has a website - Cry To God. He is a roofer from Fremont (Sonrise Roofing), according to the Golden Gate Xpress. It seems Farrer leaves a trail of hate wherever he goes - San Jose, Santa Barbara, and points east. The guitar player, Petrelis calls him Joni, is alive after suffering cardiac arrest and is in guarded condition at Saint Mary's Hospital. We are still casting the net out there for this man's real name. If anyone knows, please drop us an email. SPECIAL REQUEST FOR TCD FANS: The San Francisco Chronicle is pondering the addition of new cartoons for their paper - a process that seems to be initiated by Darren Bell, creator of Candorville (one of my daily reads - highly recommended). You can read the Chronicle article here and please add your thoughts to the comments if you wish. If anything, put in a good word for Darren and Candorville. I am submitting Town Called Dobson to the paper for their consideration. They seem to have given great weight to receiving 200 messages considering Candorville. I am asking TCD fans to try to surpass that amount. (I get more than that many hate mails a day, surely fans can do better?) This is not a race between the two of us, it is a hope that more progressive strips can be represented in the printed press of America. So if you read the San Francisco Chronicle or live in the Bay Area (Google Analytics tell me there are a lot of you), please send your kind comments (or naked, straining outrage) to David Wiegand at his published addresses below. If you are a subscriber, cut out your mailing label and staple it to a TCD strip and include it in your letter. candorcomment@sfchronicle.com or David Wiegand Executive Datebook Editor The San Francisco Chronicle 901 Mission St. San Francisco, CA 94103

Perils of Being a Jew

Crossposted from Left Toon Lane, Bilerico Project & My Left Wing click to enlargeA good friend of mine was telling me a story about some new people he met recently - he was the first Jew they had ever met. In their curiosity, they had a laundry list of questions based on anti-semitic comments they had heard probably their whole lives. "No, we do not own the media." It is good that uninformed people seek to find the truth, but in the 21st Century, one would hope this level of stuff would no longer be necessary. But alas, Rupert Murdoch is not Jewish. Steve Jobs, the largest share holder of Disney is not Jewish. Steven Spielberg is Jewish however, but he does not own the media - he is a filmmaker. Robert Rodriguez is also a filmmaker but he is not Jewish and neither of them run the Evening News. So my ultra-patient friend sat through the eye-rolling questions. No, they do not sacrifice babies. They do not have a secret base on the dark side of the moon. And no, Israel does not have a fleet of flying saucers.

Black Hate?

What is a hate crime? Howard Witt, a Chicago Tribune senior correspondent has written another article involving the issue of race and hate crimes. This time he is covering the issue of Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom, a young Knoxville couple out on an ordinary Saturday night date, was undeniably brutal. He reports on how the pair were carjacked, kidnapped, raped and finally murdered during an ordeal of unimaginable terror last January. It’s another must read article regarding hate crimes, race, media and crime in America. Here is a link to the story. Photo of Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom (below). Defendants Cobbins, Coleman, Davidson and Thomas. What is a hate crime? Special Report: Some are asking why there has been no media outcry over murders in which victims were white and accused killers are black. More HERE African American Opinion asks the same question. Why no media outcry? Why no Black blogger outcry? See our previous post regarding the Channon Christian-Christopher Newsom Murders.

Jerry Falwell Is Dead (4 Strips!!!)

click to enlarge When I heard the news, my head exploded with strip ideas. I couldn't decide which to do so I put them in a short series. One of the most hateful men in America is now dead. What are politicians saying? Dr. Falwell was a man of distinguished accomplishment who devoted his life to serving his faith and country." Sen. John McCain How did he serve? Teaching hate and intolerance to Americans under the guise of "religion." "An American who built and led a movement based on strong principles and strong faith has left us." Mitt Romney We all have great respect for him." Rudy Giuliani. Uh, Rudy, some of us don't. Do you also respect Pol Pot? David Duke? Fred Phelps maybe? Falwell will only be missed by the worst of us and you must be one of them. To see the all four strips in the series click HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE.

Christian Fundamentalists Move To Embrace Hate Speech

click to enlarge Remember, this is part of Bush's base: A hate crimes bill passed by the House yesterday, extending coverage to people victimized because of sexual orientation, gender identity or disability, is attracting opposition from an unusual coalition of Christian leaders. Proponents say the bill - similar to one the Senate is expected to pass in the next few weeks - is a moral imperative. But some Christians are depicting it as a "thought crimes" bill attacking 1st Amendment freedoms of speech and religion. A coalition of evangelical, fundamentalist and black religious leaders is mounting a furious assault on the bill, airing television ads and mobilizing members to stop its progress. President Bush has said he might veto the measure. If the bill, approved 237-180, were to become law, they say, a pastor could be held liable for giving a sermon against homosexuality if a listener later attacked a gay individual . Maybe preachers should stop with the Gay bashing? Hate crime is not a Constitutional right. The bill's supporters say that such an assertion is nonsense, and that a sermon could never be considered an inducement to violence unless it explicitly advocated it. In addition to broadening the federal definition of a hate crime victim, the law provides funds so that local authorities can request federal assistance for prosecutions in the aftermath of a hate crime. I think White Fundamentalist Christians are just mad because they can't lynch Blacks anymore. Oh, and the clincher: "This legislation strikes at the heart of free speech and freedom of religious expression," said Andrea Lafferty, executive director of the Traditional Values Coalition. When did murdering gays become religious expression?

Cheney’s dietary supplements

click to enlarge I have always felt when a politician brings up their relationship with God in a campaign, they are usually as far away from morality and their faith as they can possible get. I get that from Cheney and doubly so from Bush (maybe triple). They give great lip service to the Lord Almighty™ but are total failures in showing examples of their faith in their daily lives. I understand the need to keep diplomatic relations with an enemy nation, but Bush has constantly cozied up with some of the most atrocious people on the planet. His personal relationship, as well as his family's, with Middle East dictators has always been troubling. (Don't get me started on the whole Nazi nastiness) And the same goes for Dick Cheney and his Halliburton. So I hear Cheney talk about Christianity and know it is all a lie, so I must also conclude that all his positive, love-fest language about Jews is equally false. Israel doesn't have that much oil production, so why should Cheney give a shit about them?