THE PRESIDENT: I wanted to say a few words this morning about the passing of an extraordinary leader, Senator Edward Kennedy.
Over the past several years, I've had the honor to call Teddy a colleague, a counselor, and a friend. And even though we have known this day was coming for some time now, we awaited it with no small amount of dread.
Since Teddy's diagnosis last year, we've seen the courage with which he battled his illness. And while these months have no doubt been difficult for him, they've also let him hear from people in every corner of our nation and from around the world just how much he meant to all of us. His fight has given us the opportunity we were denied when his brothers John and Robert were taken from us: the blessing of time to say thank you -- and goodbye.
The outpouring of love, gratitude, and fond memories to which we've all borne witness is a testament to the way this singular figure in American history touched so many lives. His ideas and ideals are stamped on scores of laws and reflected in millions of lives -- in seniors who know new dignity, in families that know new opportunity, in children who know education's promise, and in all who can pursue their dream in an America that is more equal and more just -- including myself.
The Kennedy name is synonymous with the Democratic Party. And at times, Ted was the target of partisan campaign attacks. But in the United States Senate, I can think of no one who engendered greater respect or affection from members of both sides of the aisle. His seriousness of purpose was perpetually matched by humility, warmth, and good cheer. He could passionately battle others and do so peerlessly on the Senate floor for the causes that he held dear, and yet still maintain warm friendships across party lines.
And that's one reason he became not only one of the greatest senators of our time, but one of the most accomplished Americans ever to serve our democracy.
His extraordinary life on this earth has come to an end. And the extraordinary good that he did lives on. For his family, he was a guardian. For America, he was the defender of a dream.
I spoke earlier this morning to Senator Kennedy's beloved wife, Vicki, who was to the end such a wonderful source of encouragement and strength. Our thoughts and prayers are with her, his children Kara, Edward, and Patrick; his stepchildren Curran and Caroline; the entire Kennedy family; decades' worth of his staff; the people of Massachusetts; and all Americans who, like us, loved Ted Kennedy.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Monday, August 24, 2009
Wisconsin Proves It's Not About Marriage
The opponents of GLBT equality prove their argument is not about marriage, it's about what they find moral:
MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin's attorney general says he won't defend a law that grants same-sex couples spousal benefits.
Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen said Friday that a law extending legal privileges such as hospital visitation and inheritance to gay and lesbian couples is unconstitutional.
He said it ignores a voter-approved constitutional amendment that bans gay marriage and any "substantially similar" relationships.
The Wisconsin Family Council has asked the state Supreme Court to invalidate the law. Law supporters say Van Hollen, a Republican, is trying to make a name for himself.
Wisconsin was the first state to grant domestic partnerships to gay couples despite a constitutional ban. It also was first in the Midwest to legislatively provide some legal protections.
Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
They Are Massacring Us": GLBT Survivors' Voices within Iraq
Sometimes I wonder how many of our own American brothers and sisters would allow such a thing here in the states...
A Spreading Campaign
CLICK HERE for the rest of the story from its source.
A Spreading Campaign
A campaign of systematic killings gathered gradually in strength through the early months of 2009.
Militia attacks on men who look "effeminate," or who are shadowed by suspicion of engaging in same-sex relations, have been an intermittent aspect of the murderous climate in Iraq for at least five years. Yet the people we interviewed testified to a radically new intensity to these attacks this year-an expanded scope and reach of killings, and a monitory public purpose: to enforce "morality," or a brutal perversion of it, through murder.
Idris is 35 and a friend of Hamid. He has relationships with other men but also has a wife and children. He told us in April:
We've been hearing about this, about gay men being killed, for more than a month. It's like background noise now, every day. The stories started spreading in February about this campaign against gay people by the Mahdi Army: everyone was talking about it, I was hearing about it from my straight friends. In a coffee shop in Karada they were talking about it; on the streets in Harithiya they were talking about it. I didn't worry at first. My friends and I, we look extremely masculine, there is nothing visibly "feminine" about us. None of us ever, ever believed this would happen to us. But then at the end of March we heard on the street that 30men had been killed already.[24]
Bilal, 27 years old, a street salesman in the Karada neighborhood of Baghdad, says that he first sensed an atmosphere of mounting danger when "A friend of mine was killed three months ago."
He was very public, everybody knew he was gay. His family said his killers made a CD of how he was killed-they filmed it. They slaughtered him; they cut his throat. His family did not want to talk about it. And now they are killing people right and left in Shaab and al-Thawra. We heard 11 men were burned alive in al-Thawra. Everyone is talking about the numbers of people killed. And they just keep rising. [25]
Hussein, 27 and from the Mansour district of Baghdad, told us that, through the first months of the year, the violence metastasized from target to target, running through a roster of supposed signs of nonconformity. First "they went after people with long hair, so people got short haircuts right and left. A friend of mine was threatened: he had long hair: he lived in a Shi'a neighborhood, Abu Chir, next to Dora. Someone told him on the street that he had to cut his hair or they would cut off his head."
Then people started gossiping, saying, there are guys who wear sanitary pads to make their asses look bubblier-so anybody with tight jeans was a target. And then you heard that tight T-shirts meant you were a member of the third sex.
Everyone killed in the first period was in Shi'a neighborhoods-Hurriya, al-Bada', Sadr City. But not anymore. For instance, three days ago in my neighborhood, Hayy al-Jami'a, they found the body of a gay man who was decapitated. The common talk about him in the neighborhood had always been that he was gay. And this story spread like wildfire. It's a Sunni district. But the way they operate now is, it seems, they go into a neighborhood, kidnap someone, take him to Sadr City, and torture and kill him. And then they dump the body in Sadr City, or back where he lived.
CLICK HERE for the rest of the story from its source.
"Tea Baggers" Exploit Fear to Prevent Dialog on Healthcare
This is Congresswoman Nikki Tsongas trying to deliver answers to the crowd, but members of an organized effort that is all over the United States known as "Tea Baggers" won't let her.
Monday, August 17, 2009
GLBT Commissioner Chris Mason Needs Our Support!
Chris Mason is the Cambridge based GLBT Commissioner who is almost complete his journey across all contiguous 48 states promoting equality and video documenting what he sees. Here is a recent email from him that is a call to fellow GLBT community members and supporters:
The way we win full equality for LGBT people is by telling our personal stories. This has been proven again and again in states across the country.
Driving Equality has been collecting stories from lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgendered folks, straight allies, clergy members, and elected officials in every state. I will compile these stories in a documentary and use the film to push for full equality.
In the past two weeks I have collected stories from Montana, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, South Dakota, and North Dakota. In Montana I met Ken, a gay man who served in the military. It was his job to investigate and kick out service members for being gay. (Watch clip)
In Idaho I talked with Sam, a young man who, after coming out to his parents, was forced into aversion therapy to try to "cure" him. He was subjected to cruel psychological tactics and electroshock therapy. (Watch clip)
In Utah I met with folks at the Pride Center in Salt Lake City. I learned about the influence of the Mormon church, the real deal behind Prop 8, and the two boys that were arrested for kissing in the city. (Watch clip)
In Wyoming I stopped in Laramie and got to know the town where Matthew Shepard was killed. Then I spoke with Joe of Wyoming Equality, who grew up in the state and sees real progress being made for LGBT people. (Watch clip)
Next I hit South Dakota and met with folks at the Black Hills Center for Equality. I learned what it was like to grow up gay in a red state. (Watch clip)
Then it was off to North Dakota, where I had the opportunity to meet with Lieutenant Greg Lemke. Lieutenant Lemke serves as the Fargo Police Department's GLBT liaison officer. I was lucky enough to be in Fargo on the day that Lieutenant Lemke was teaching the sexual orientation diversity class to the local police academy. (Watch clip)
These are the kinds of stories I am collecting as I travel the country. You can read about them, watch the video clips, see the photos, and follow me on the road online at: http://drivngequality.com
These are the United States of America, yet for the LGBT community they are anything but. We can be considered equal under the law in one state, with employment, housing, and hate-crimes protections, even equal marriage rights, but if we travel just a few hours and cross state lines, our rights disappear. Legally, our relationships no longer exist. Drive a few more hours and we can be fired just for being who we are.
For the LGBT community, these are not the United States of America. Driving Equality will highlight the patchwork of laws and amendments that govern the unequal treatment of LGBT people in America.
Today, I need your help to complete the journey. I do not yet have enough funds to make it home. As it stands right now, I will be stuck in Ohio in just over a week. I need funds for gas, food, film, and lodging.
If you have not made a contribution yet, now is the perfect time to give. Every bit helps. If you have already made a donation, please consider giving just a bit more. This is the home stretch!
$15 buys food for a day and keeps my strength up.
$25 gets a campsite for the night and a hot shower in the morning.
$50 pays for five rolls of film.
$75 fills a tank of gas for the Driving Equality van.
$100 makes you a State Sponsor, with your name or organization listed on the website and in the final credits of the film, and helps ensure the production of the documentary.
$250 makes you a Regional Sponsor, with your name or organization listed on the website and in the final credits of the film, and helps ensure the production of the documentary.
$500 makes you a National Sponsor, with your name or organization listed on the website and in the final credits of the film, and helps ensure the production of the documentary.
$1000 makes you a International Sponsor, with your name or organization listed on the website and in the final credits of the film, and helps ensure the production of the documentary.
Please contribute today to help us tell our stories. This is how we win.
You can donate online here, or mail a check made out to Driving Equality to:
Driving Equality
c/o Tom Mason
51 Peninsula Drive
Lunenburg, MA 01462
Friday, August 14, 2009
Busting Propaganda Against Obama's Healthcare Reform Bill
There has been much republican effort to distort the facts behind the health care reform bill HR3200. I've received the same email (shown in full at end of article) from several members of my family concerned about some serious allegations so let's see if these complaints stand up to what they say when compared directly to the bill itself:
Pg 22 of the Health Care Bill MANDATES the Govt will audit books of ALL EMPLOYERS that self-insure!!
Page 21 line 23 to page 23 line 7 discusses a government study that uses the information to make suggestions to Congress that would modify efficiency.
Pg 29 lines 4-16 - YOUR HEALTHCARE IS RATIONED!!!
This claim really drives home just how ignorant republicans count on people to be. It is about out of pocket spending limits aka "cost sharing"; $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for families. Lines 17 to 21 clarify this as it explains how cost sharing is calculated using co payments and not coinsurance in all possible cases. These are things we pay, therefore the cost sharing limit can only be referring to OUR cost, not the government trying to ration our health care as accused.
Pg 30 Sec 123- THERE WILL BE A GOVT COMMITTEE that decides what treatments/benefits you get.
This gives the reader the impression that your particular case goes before a review board where people decide a course of action in your circumstance, possibly trying to skimp of services to save money. In actuality this is a diverse panel of many different viewpoints including health care professionals as well as recipients and the public. The purpose of this committee would be to advise on coverage level changes in the plans.
Pg 42 - The “Health Choices Commissioner” will choose your HC Benefits for you. You have no choice!
No where in the description of the commissioner's duties does it say anything about choosing individual's health care benefits as the statement above implies. This is a commission and is supposed to serve as a watchdog and advocate to subscribers ensuring they get the level of health care they deserve under law and is given authority to remedy unlawful activity by employers.
PG 50 Section 152- HC will be provided to ALL non-US citizens, illegal or otherwise.
Here's exactly what Section 152 says:
Did you see the part where we are paying for health services of illegal aliens? I sure didn't! As a matter of fact non-citizens aren't even mentioned, look for yourself, this is all there is to the section printed here word for word to see!!
I hope this exercise gives citizens the eye-opener they need to start verifying what they hear rather than becoming a danger to our country as an uniformed voter. The link to the 1,000+ page health care plan is provided at the beginning of this article, check what I've said and ensure you know your facts when this subject comes up.
Here is the full email I received:
TAKE THE TIME AND READ ALL OF THE BELOW.
If you’re young and healthy and will never get sick , not a problem… but anyone that gets sick or has a serious health issue better look out!!!
And… the older you get, the more expendable you are… LOOK OUT!!!
While we’re at it … if you voted for him is this something you approve of??? I hope NOT!!!
THIS THING STINKS WORSE THAN THE OBAMA STIMULUS PACAKGE … NO WONDER WHY THEY JUST WANT
TO RAM IT THROUGH AS FAST AS POSSIBLE BEFORE PEOPLE LEARN ALL ABOUT IT. (1,000 PAGES …. ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!!)
Since the "journalists" haven't read the 1,000 plus page long ObamaCare bill and all they want you to believe is that President Obama
is going to give everyone free cotton candy and ponies, then, due to their media malpractice, you may not know about the following atrocities in the Bill:
“Pg 22 of the Health Care Bill MANDATES the Govt will audit books of ALL EMPLOYERS that self-insure!!
Pg 30 Sec 123- THERE WILL BE A GOVT COMMITTEE that decides what treatments/benefits you get.
Pg 29 lines 4-16 - YOUR HEALTHCARE IS RATIONED!!!
Pg 42 - The “Health Choices Commissioner” will choose your HC Benefits for you. You have no choice!
PG 50 Section 152- HC will be provided to ALL non-US citizens, illegal or otherwise.
Pg 53- Severability (KEY GEM)
“If any provision of the Act, or any application of such provision to any person or circumstance, is held to be unconstitutional, the remainder of the provisions of this Act and the application of the provision to any other person or circumstance shall not be affected.”
Pg 58 - Govt will have real-time access to individual’s finances & a National ID Healthcard will be issued!
Pg 59 lines 21-24- Govt will have direct access to your bank accounts for electronic funds transfer
PG 65 Sec 164 is a payoff subsidized plan for retirees and their families in Unions & community organizations (ACORN).
Pg 72 Lines 8-14 Govt is creating an HC Exchange to bring private HC plans under Govt control.
PG 84 Sec 203 - Govt mandates ALL benefit packages for private HC plans in the Exchange
PG 85 Line 7 - Specs for Benefit Levels for Plans = The Govt will ration your Healthcare!
PG 91 Lines 4-7- Govt mandates linguistic appropriate services. Example: Translation for illegal aliens
Pg 95 Lines 8-18 The Govt will use groups i.e., ACORN & Americorps to sign up individuals. for Govt HC plan.
PG 85 Line 7 - Specs of Benefit Levels For Plans. #AARP members- Your Health care WILL be rationed
PG 102 Lines 12-18- Medicaid-Eligible Individual will be automatically enrolled in Medicaid. No choice.
pg 124 lines 24-25 No company can sue GOVT on price fixing. No “judicial review” against Govt Monopoly.
pg 127 Lines 1-16- RE: Doctors- The Govt will tell YOU what you can make.
Pg 145 Line 15-17 An Employer MUST auto-enroll employees into public option plan. NO CHOICE
Pg 126 Lines 22-25 Employers MUST pay for HC for part time employees AND their families.
Pg 149 Lines 16-24 ANY Employer w/ payroll $400k & above who doesn’t provide public option pays 8% tax on all payroll.
PG 150 Lines 9-13- Biz w payroll between 251k & 400k who doesn’t provide pub. opt pays 2-6% tax on all payroll
Pg 167 Lines 18-23 ANY individual who doesn’t have acceptable HC according to Govt will be taxed 2.5% of income.
Pg 170 Lines 1-3 Any NONRESIDENT Alien is EXEMPT from individual taxes. (Americans will pay)
Pg 195 -Officers & employees of HC Admin (GOVT) will have access to ALL Americans financial/personal records
PG 203 Line 14-15- “The tax imposed under this section shall not be treated as tax.” Yes, it actualy says that.
Pg 239 Line 14-24-Govt will reduce physician services for Medicaid. Seniors, low income, poor will be affected. Expendable.
Pg 241 Line 6-8- Doctors, doesn’t matter what specialty you have, you’ll all be paid the same.
PG 253 Line 10-18 Govt sets value of Dr’s time, professional judgment, etc. Literally sets the value of humans.
PG 265 Sec 1131-Govt mandates & controls productivity for private HC industries
PG 268 Sec 1141- Fed Govt regulates rental & purchase of power driven wheelchairs.
PG 272 SEC. 1145- TREATMENT OF CERTAIN CANCER HOSPITALS - Cancer patients - welcome to rationing!
Page 280 Sec 1151- The Govt will penalize hospitals for what Govt deems “preventable re-admissions.”
Pg 298 Lines 9-11- Doctors, treat a patient during initial admission that results in a readmission? Govt will penalize you.
Pg 317 L 13-20- OMG!! PROHIBITION on ownership/investment. Govt tells Drs. what/how much they can own.
Pg 317-318 lines 21-25,1-3: PROHIBITION on expansion- Govt is mandating hospitals cannot expand.
pg 321 2-13: Hospitals have opportunity to apply for exception BUT community input required. Can you say ACORN?!!
Pg335 Lines 16-25, Pg 336-339 - Govt mandates establishment of outcome based measures. HC the way they want. Rationing.
Pg 341 Lines 3-9: Govt has authority to disqualify Medicare Adv Plans, HMOs, etc. Forcing people into Govt plan
Pg 354 Sec 1177 - Govt will RESTRICT enrollment of Special needs people! WTF. My sister has downs syndrome!!
Pg 379 Sec 1191- Govt creates more bureaucracy - “Telehealth Advisory Committee.” Can you say HC by phone?
PG 425 Lines 4-12 Govt mandates “Advanced Care Planning Consultations.”
PG 425 the Federal Government will require EVERYONE who is on Social Security to undergo a counseling session every 5 years with the objective being that they will explain to them just how to end their own life earlier.
Pg 425 Lines 17-19: Govt will instruct & consult regarding living wills, durable powers of attorney. Mandatory!
PG 425 Lines 22-25, 426 Lines 1-3: Govt provides approved list of end of life resources, guiding you in death.
PG 427 Lines 15-24: Govt mandates program for orders for end of life. The Govt has a say in how your life ends.
Pg 429 Lines 1-9: An “advanced care planning consult” will be used frequently as patients health deteriorates
PG 429 Lines 10-12: “advanced care consultation” may include an ORDER for end of life plans. AN ORDER from the Government.
Pg 429 Lines 13-25 - The govt will specify which Doctors can write an end of life order.
PG 430 Lines 11-15- The Govt will decide what level of treatment you will have at end of life.
Pg 469 - Community Based Home Medical Services = Non profit organizations. Hello, ACORN Medical Services here!!?
Page 472 Lines 14-17: PAYMENT TO COMMUNITY-BASED ORG. 1 monthly payment to a community-based org. Like ACORN?
PG 489 Sec 1308: The Govt will cover Marriage & Family therapy. Which means they will insert Govt into your marriage.
Pg 494-498: Govt will cover Mental Health Services including defining, creating, rationing those services.”
PG 502 Section 1181 Center for Comparative Effectiveness Research Established. - Hello Big Brother - Literally.
PG 502 Line 5-18 Government builds the “Center” to conduct, support, & synthesize research to define our HealthCare Services.
PG 503 Line 13-19 Government will build registries and data networks from YOUR electronic medical records.
PG 503 Line 21-25 Government may secure data directly from any department or agency of the US including your data.
PG 504 Line 6-10 The “Center” will collect data both published & unpublished (that means public & your private info)
PG 506 Line 19-21 The Center will recommend policies that would allow for public access of data
PG 518 Line 21-25 The Commission will have input from HealthCare consumer reps - Can you say unions & ACORN?
PG 524 18-22 Comparative Effectiveness Research Trust Fund set up. More taxes for ALL.
PG 525-620 deals with the Government basically taking over nursing homes,
PGs 525-620 deals with the Govt basically taking over nursing homes, long-term care facilities (think assisted living) through regulations of the facilities, the owners of sd facilities, the employees of sd facilities and even the land owners of that sd facilities reside on. Additionally as you read these 90+ pages you can come to the conclusion that any Health related svcs will be determined and rationed by the Govt for our senior citizens and others in nursing homes. This one post should do enough to raise awareness of the control the Govt is exerting over the older population of American citizens.
PG 620 Line 1-9 The Government will define, prioritize, and nationalize your Health Care Services.
PG 621 Lines 20-25 Government will define what Quality means in HealthCare. Since when does Government know about quality?
PG 622 Lines 2-9 To pay for the quality Standards Government will transfer $$ from to other Government Trust Funds. More Taxes.
PG 624 “Quality” measures shall be designed to assess outcomes & functional status of patients.
G 628 Section 1443 Government will give “Multi-Stake Holders” Pre-Rule Making input into Selection of “Quality” Measures.
PG 630 9-24/631 1-9 Those Multi-stake holder groups including Unions & groups like ACORN deciding HealthCare quality.
PG 632 Lines 14-25 The Government may implement any “Quality measure” of HealthCare Services as they see fit.
PG 633 14-25/ 634 1-9 The Secretary may issue non-endorsed “Quality Measures” for Physician Services & Dialysis Services.
PG 635 - 653 Physicians Payments Sunshine Provision - Government wants to shine sunlight on Docs but not Government.
PG 654-659 Public Reporting on Health Care-Associated Infections - Looks okay.
PG 660-671 Doctors in Residency - Government will tell you where your residency will be, thus where you’ll live.
PG 676-686 Government will regulate hospitals in EVERY aspect of residency programs, including teaching hospitals.
PG 686-700 Increased Funding to Fight Waste, Fraud, and Abuse. You mean the Government with an $18 mil website?
PGs 701-704 Section 1619 If your part of HealthCare plan that isn’t in Government HealthCare Exchange but you qualify for Federal aid, no payment.
705-709 SEC. 1128 If Secretary gets complaints (ACORN) on HealthCare provider or supplier, Government can do background check.
G 711 Lines 8-14 The Secretary has broad powers to deny HealthCare providers/suppliers admittance into HealthCare Exchange.
Pg 719-720 Section 1637 ANY Doctor who orders durable medical equipment or home medical services MUST be enrolled in Medicare.
PG 722 Section 1639 Government Mandates Doctors must have face-to-face with patient to certify patient for Home Health Services.
PG 724 Lines 16-22 Government reserves right to apply face-to-face certification for patient to ANY other HealthCare service.
PG 724 23-25 PG 725 1-5 The same Government certifications will apply to medicaid & CHIP (your kids) Pg 735 lines 16-25 For law enforcement purposes, the Secretary of Health & Human Services will give Attorney General access to ALL data.
PG 740-757 Government sets guidelines for subsidizing the uninsured (That’s your tax dollars peeps) Pg 757-762 Fed Government will shift burden of payments to Disproportionate Share Hospitals (DSH) to States. (Taxes)
Page 763 1-8 No DS/EA hospitals will be paid unless they provide services without regard to national origin Pg 765 Section 1711 Government will require Preventative Services including vaccines. (Choice?)
Pg 768 Section 1713 Government - Nurse Home Visitation Services (Hello union paybacks)
Pg 769 3-5 Nurse Home Visit Services - “increasing birth intervals between pregnancies.” Government Abortions anyone?
Pg 769 11-14 Nurse Home Visit Services include-economic self-sufficiency, employment advancement, school-readiness.
Pg 769 3-5 Nurse Home Visit Services - “increasing birth intervals between pregnancies.” Government ABORTIONS anyone?
Pg 770 SEC 1714 Federal Government mandates eligibility for State Family Planning Services. Say abortion & State Sovereign.
Pg 789-797 Government will set & mandate drug prices, controlling which drugs will brought to market. Bye innovation
Pgs 797-800 SEC. 1744 PAYMENTS for grad medical education. The government will now control Drs education. PG 801 Sec 1751 The Government will decide which Health care conditions will be paid. Say RATION!
Pg 810 SEC. 1759. Billing Agents, clearinghouses, etc. required to register. Government takes over private payment system.
Page 820-824 Sec 1801 Government will identify individuals ineligible for subsidies. Will access all personal finances.
Pg 824-829 SEC. 1802. Government Sets up Comparative Effectiveness Research Trust Fund. Another tax black hole.
PG 829-833 Government will impose a fee on ALL private health insurance plans including self insured to pay for Trust Fund!
PG 835 11-13 fees imposed by Government for Trust Fund shall be treated as if they were taxes.
838-840 Government will design & implement Home Visitation Program for families with young kids & families expecting kids.
PG 844-845 This Home Visitation Program includes Government coming into your house & telling you how to parent!!!
Pg 859 Government will establish a Public Health Fund at a cost of $88,800,000,000. Yes thats Billion.
PG 865 to 876 The NHS Corps is a program where Drs. perform mandatory HealthCare for 2 years for part loan repayment.
PG 876-892 The Government takes over the education of our Medical students and Drs.
PG 898 The Government will establish a Public Health Workforce Corps. to ensure supply of public health professionals.
PG 898 The Public health workforce corps shall consist of officers of Regular & Reserve Corps of Service.
898 The Public health workforce corps shall consist of civilian employees of the U.S. as Secretary deems.
PG 900 The Public Health Workforce Corps includes veterinarians.
901 The Public Health Workforce Corps WILL include commissioned Regular & Reserve Officers. HealthCare Draft?
PG 910 The Government will develop, build & run Public Health Training Centers.
PG 913-914 Government starts a HealthCare affirmative action program thru guise of diversity scholarships.
PG 915 SEC. 2251. Government MANDATES Cultural & linguistic competency training for HealthCare professionals.
Pg 932 The Government will establish Preventative & Wellness Trust fund - intial cost of $30,800,000,000-Billion.
PG 935 21-22 Government will identify specific goals & objectives for prevention & wellness activities. Control You!!
PG 936 Government will develop “Healthy People & National Public Health Performance Standards” Tell me what to eat?
PG 942 Lines 22-25 More Government? Offices of Surgeon General -Public Health Services, Minority Health, Women’s Health - THIS MEANS TAX DOLLARS USED TO PAY FOR ALL ABORTIONS.
PG 950- 980 BIG Government core public health infrastructure includes workforce capacity, lab systems; health information systems, etc
PG 993 Government will establish school based health clinics. Your kids wont have a chance.
PG 994 School Based Health Clinic will be integrated into the school environment. Say Government Brainwash!
PG 1001 The Government will establish a National Medical Device Registry. Will you be tracked?
PG 1003 9-11 National Medical Dev Reg ‘‘(iii) other postmarket device surveillance activities” you WILL be tracked.
PG 1018 States give up some of their State Sovereignty.
PEOPLE, THIS IS IT. YOU CAN NO LONGER IGNORE THIS BLATANT TAKEOVER OF OUR COUNTRY.
This is not about health-care, it is about the POWER OF THE STATE. I beg you if you’ve never read Animal Farm, 1984 and Atlas Shrugged please, please, do.
IT IS TIME TO TAKE TO THE STREETS.
God help us all.
Continue reading to learn about the racial preferences mandated by this bill.
The Democrats’ health care bill creates a very significant financial incentive for medical schools and other entities to lower admission standards for “individuals who are from underrepresented minority groups” if that is what it takes to have the winning “demonstrated record”.
On page 879-880, the bill states that the Secretary of Health and Human Services:
“shall make grants to, or enter into contracts with, eligible entities . . . to operate a professional training program in the field of family medicine, general internal medicine, general pediatrics, or geriatrics, to provide financial assistance and traineeships and fellowships to those students, interns, residents or physicians who plan to work in or teach in the field of family medicine, general internal medicine, general pediatrics, or geriatrics.”
On page 881-882 the bill states:
“In awarding grants or contracts under this section, the Secretary shall give preference to entities that have a demonstrated record of the following: . . . Training individuals who are from underrepresented minority groups or disadvantaged backgrounds.”
-----------------------------
On page 883 the bill states:
“The Secretary shall make grants to, or enter into contracts with, eligible entities . . . to operate or participate in an established primary care residency training program, which may include-(A) planning and developing curricula; (B) recruitment and training of residents; and (C) retention of faculty.”
On page 884-885 the bill states:
“In awarding grants and contracts . . . the Secretary shall give preference to entities that have a demonstrated record of training . . . individuals who are from underrepresented minority groups or disadvantaged backgrounds . . . .”
---------------------
On page 887-889 the bill states that the
“Secretary shall make grants to, or enter into contracts with, eligible entities . . . to operate a professional training program for oral health professionals, to provide financial assistance and traineeships and fellowships to those professionals who plan to work in or teach general, pediatric, or public health dentistry, or dental hygiene, to establish, maintain, or improve academic administrative units (including departments, divisions, or other appropriate units) in the specialties of general, pediatric, or public health dentistry, to operate a loan repayment program for full-time faculty in a program of general, pediatric, or public health dentistry.”
On page 889-890 the bill states:
“In awarding grants or contracts under this section, the Secretary shall give preference to entities that have a demonstrated record of the following: . . . Training individuals who are from underrepresented minority groups or disadvantaged backgrounds.”
----------------
On page 908-909 the bill states: “The Secretary shall award grants and contracts to eligible entities” to do the same things for the field of public health as the Secretary can do for dentistry.
On page 909 the bill states:
“In awarding grants or contracts under this section, the Secretary shall give preference to entities that have a demonstrated record of the following: . . . Training individuals who are from underrepresented minority groups or disadvantaged backgrounds.”
http://rightsoup.com/twittering-obamacare-horrors-in-the-bill/
My response:
Pg 22 of the Health Care Bill MANDATES the Govt will audit books of ALL EMPLOYERS that self-insure!!
Page 21 line 23 to page 23 line 7 discusses a government study that uses the information to make suggestions to Congress that would modify efficiency.
Pg 29 lines 4-16 - YOUR HEALTHCARE IS RATIONED!!!
This claim really drives home just how ignorant republicans count on people to be. It is about out of pocket spending limits aka "cost sharing"; $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for families. Lines 17 to 21 clarify this as it explains how cost sharing is calculated using co payments and not coinsurance in all possible cases. These are things we pay, therefore the cost sharing limit can only be referring to OUR cost, not the government trying to ration our health care as accused.
Pg 30 Sec 123- THERE WILL BE A GOVT COMMITTEE that decides what treatments/benefits you get.
This gives the reader the impression that your particular case goes before a review board where people decide a course of action in your circumstance, possibly trying to skimp of services to save money. In actuality this is a diverse panel of many different viewpoints including health care professionals as well as recipients and the public. The purpose of this committee would be to advise on coverage level changes in the plans.
Pg 42 - The “Health Choices Commissioner” will choose your HC Benefits for you. You have no choice!
No where in the description of the commissioner's duties does it say anything about choosing individual's health care benefits as the statement above implies. This is a commission and is supposed to serve as a watchdog and advocate to subscribers ensuring they get the level of health care they deserve under law and is given authority to remedy unlawful activity by employers.
PG 50 Section 152- HC will be provided to ALL non-US citizens, illegal or otherwise.
Here's exactly what Section 152 says:
SEC. 152. PROHIBITING DISCRIMINATION IN HEALTH CARE.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as otherwise explicitly permitted by this Act and by subsequent regulations consistent with this Act, all health care and related services (including insurance coverage and public health activities) covered by this Act shall be provided without regard to personal characteristics extraneous to the provision of high quality health care or related services.
(b) IMPLEMENTATION.—To implement the requirement set forth in subsection (a), the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall, not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, promulgate such regulations as are necessary or appropriate to insure that all health care and related services (including insurance
coverage and public health activities) covered by this Act are provided (whether directly or through contractual, licensing, or other arrangements) without regard to personal characteristics extraneous to the provision of high quality health care or related services.
Did you see the part where we are paying for health services of illegal aliens? I sure didn't! As a matter of fact non-citizens aren't even mentioned, look for yourself, this is all there is to the section printed here word for word to see!!
I hope this exercise gives citizens the eye-opener they need to start verifying what they hear rather than becoming a danger to our country as an uniformed voter. The link to the 1,000+ page health care plan is provided at the beginning of this article, check what I've said and ensure you know your facts when this subject comes up.
Here is the full email I received:
TAKE THE TIME AND READ ALL OF THE BELOW.
If you’re young and healthy and will never get sick , not a problem… but anyone that gets sick or has a serious health issue better look out!!!
And… the older you get, the more expendable you are… LOOK OUT!!!
While we’re at it … if you voted for him is this something you approve of??? I hope NOT!!!
THIS THING STINKS WORSE THAN THE OBAMA STIMULUS PACAKGE … NO WONDER WHY THEY JUST WANT
TO RAM IT THROUGH AS FAST AS POSSIBLE BEFORE PEOPLE LEARN ALL ABOUT IT. (1,000 PAGES …. ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!!)
Since the "journalists" haven't read the 1,000 plus page long ObamaCare bill and all they want you to believe is that President Obama
is going to give everyone free cotton candy and ponies, then, due to their media malpractice, you may not know about the following atrocities in the Bill:
“Pg 22 of the Health Care Bill MANDATES the Govt will audit books of ALL EMPLOYERS that self-insure!!
Pg 30 Sec 123- THERE WILL BE A GOVT COMMITTEE that decides what treatments/benefits you get.
Pg 29 lines 4-16 - YOUR HEALTHCARE IS RATIONED!!!
Pg 42 - The “Health Choices Commissioner” will choose your HC Benefits for you. You have no choice!
PG 50 Section 152- HC will be provided to ALL non-US citizens, illegal or otherwise.
Pg 53- Severability (KEY GEM)
“If any provision of the Act, or any application of such provision to any person or circumstance, is held to be unconstitutional, the remainder of the provisions of this Act and the application of the provision to any other person or circumstance shall not be affected.”
Pg 58 - Govt will have real-time access to individual’s finances & a National ID Healthcard will be issued!
Pg 59 lines 21-24- Govt will have direct access to your bank accounts for electronic funds transfer
PG 65 Sec 164 is a payoff subsidized plan for retirees and their families in Unions & community organizations (ACORN).
Pg 72 Lines 8-14 Govt is creating an HC Exchange to bring private HC plans under Govt control.
PG 84 Sec 203 - Govt mandates ALL benefit packages for private HC plans in the Exchange
PG 85 Line 7 - Specs for Benefit Levels for Plans = The Govt will ration your Healthcare!
PG 91 Lines 4-7- Govt mandates linguistic appropriate services. Example: Translation for illegal aliens
Pg 95 Lines 8-18 The Govt will use groups i.e., ACORN & Americorps to sign up individuals. for Govt HC plan.
PG 85 Line 7 - Specs of Benefit Levels For Plans. #AARP members- Your Health care WILL be rationed
PG 102 Lines 12-18- Medicaid-Eligible Individual will be automatically enrolled in Medicaid. No choice.
pg 124 lines 24-25 No company can sue GOVT on price fixing. No “judicial review” against Govt Monopoly.
pg 127 Lines 1-16- RE: Doctors- The Govt will tell YOU what you can make.
Pg 145 Line 15-17 An Employer MUST auto-enroll employees into public option plan. NO CHOICE
Pg 126 Lines 22-25 Employers MUST pay for HC for part time employees AND their families.
Pg 149 Lines 16-24 ANY Employer w/ payroll $400k & above who doesn’t provide public option pays 8% tax on all payroll.
PG 150 Lines 9-13- Biz w payroll between 251k & 400k who doesn’t provide pub. opt pays 2-6% tax on all payroll
Pg 167 Lines 18-23 ANY individual who doesn’t have acceptable HC according to Govt will be taxed 2.5% of income.
Pg 170 Lines 1-3 Any NONRESIDENT Alien is EXEMPT from individual taxes. (Americans will pay)
Pg 195 -Officers & employees of HC Admin (GOVT) will have access to ALL Americans financial/personal records
PG 203 Line 14-15- “The tax imposed under this section shall not be treated as tax.” Yes, it actualy says that.
Pg 239 Line 14-24-Govt will reduce physician services for Medicaid. Seniors, low income, poor will be affected. Expendable.
Pg 241 Line 6-8- Doctors, doesn’t matter what specialty you have, you’ll all be paid the same.
PG 253 Line 10-18 Govt sets value of Dr’s time, professional judgment, etc. Literally sets the value of humans.
PG 265 Sec 1131-Govt mandates & controls productivity for private HC industries
PG 268 Sec 1141- Fed Govt regulates rental & purchase of power driven wheelchairs.
PG 272 SEC. 1145- TREATMENT OF CERTAIN CANCER HOSPITALS - Cancer patients - welcome to rationing!
Page 280 Sec 1151- The Govt will penalize hospitals for what Govt deems “preventable re-admissions.”
Pg 298 Lines 9-11- Doctors, treat a patient during initial admission that results in a readmission? Govt will penalize you.
Pg 317 L 13-20- OMG!! PROHIBITION on ownership/investment. Govt tells Drs. what/how much they can own.
Pg 317-318 lines 21-25,1-3: PROHIBITION on expansion- Govt is mandating hospitals cannot expand.
pg 321 2-13: Hospitals have opportunity to apply for exception BUT community input required. Can you say ACORN?!!
Pg335 Lines 16-25, Pg 336-339 - Govt mandates establishment of outcome based measures. HC the way they want. Rationing.
Pg 341 Lines 3-9: Govt has authority to disqualify Medicare Adv Plans, HMOs, etc. Forcing people into Govt plan
Pg 354 Sec 1177 - Govt will RESTRICT enrollment of Special needs people! WTF. My sister has downs syndrome!!
Pg 379 Sec 1191- Govt creates more bureaucracy - “Telehealth Advisory Committee.” Can you say HC by phone?
PG 425 Lines 4-12 Govt mandates “Advanced Care Planning Consultations.”
PG 425 the Federal Government will require EVERYONE who is on Social Security to undergo a counseling session every 5 years with the objective being that they will explain to them just how to end their own life earlier.
Pg 425 Lines 17-19: Govt will instruct & consult regarding living wills, durable powers of attorney. Mandatory!
PG 425 Lines 22-25, 426 Lines 1-3: Govt provides approved list of end of life resources, guiding you in death.
PG 427 Lines 15-24: Govt mandates program for orders for end of life. The Govt has a say in how your life ends.
Pg 429 Lines 1-9: An “advanced care planning consult” will be used frequently as patients health deteriorates
PG 429 Lines 10-12: “advanced care consultation” may include an ORDER for end of life plans. AN ORDER from the Government.
Pg 429 Lines 13-25 - The govt will specify which Doctors can write an end of life order.
PG 430 Lines 11-15- The Govt will decide what level of treatment you will have at end of life.
Pg 469 - Community Based Home Medical Services = Non profit organizations. Hello, ACORN Medical Services here!!?
Page 472 Lines 14-17: PAYMENT TO COMMUNITY-BASED ORG. 1 monthly payment to a community-based org. Like ACORN?
PG 489 Sec 1308: The Govt will cover Marriage & Family therapy. Which means they will insert Govt into your marriage.
Pg 494-498: Govt will cover Mental Health Services including defining, creating, rationing those services.”
PG 502 Section 1181 Center for Comparative Effectiveness Research Established. - Hello Big Brother - Literally.
PG 502 Line 5-18 Government builds the “Center” to conduct, support, & synthesize research to define our HealthCare Services.
PG 503 Line 13-19 Government will build registries and data networks from YOUR electronic medical records.
PG 503 Line 21-25 Government may secure data directly from any department or agency of the US including your data.
PG 504 Line 6-10 The “Center” will collect data both published & unpublished (that means public & your private info)
PG 506 Line 19-21 The Center will recommend policies that would allow for public access of data
PG 518 Line 21-25 The Commission will have input from HealthCare consumer reps - Can you say unions & ACORN?
PG 524 18-22 Comparative Effectiveness Research Trust Fund set up. More taxes for ALL.
PG 525-620 deals with the Government basically taking over nursing homes,
PGs 525-620 deals with the Govt basically taking over nursing homes, long-term care facilities (think assisted living) through regulations of the facilities, the owners of sd facilities, the employees of sd facilities and even the land owners of that sd facilities reside on. Additionally as you read these 90+ pages you can come to the conclusion that any Health related svcs will be determined and rationed by the Govt for our senior citizens and others in nursing homes. This one post should do enough to raise awareness of the control the Govt is exerting over the older population of American citizens.
PG 620 Line 1-9 The Government will define, prioritize, and nationalize your Health Care Services.
PG 621 Lines 20-25 Government will define what Quality means in HealthCare. Since when does Government know about quality?
PG 622 Lines 2-9 To pay for the quality Standards Government will transfer $$ from to other Government Trust Funds. More Taxes.
PG 624 “Quality” measures shall be designed to assess outcomes & functional status of patients.
G 628 Section 1443 Government will give “Multi-Stake Holders” Pre-Rule Making input into Selection of “Quality” Measures.
PG 630 9-24/631 1-9 Those Multi-stake holder groups including Unions & groups like ACORN deciding HealthCare quality.
PG 632 Lines 14-25 The Government may implement any “Quality measure” of HealthCare Services as they see fit.
PG 633 14-25/ 634 1-9 The Secretary may issue non-endorsed “Quality Measures” for Physician Services & Dialysis Services.
PG 635 - 653 Physicians Payments Sunshine Provision - Government wants to shine sunlight on Docs but not Government.
PG 654-659 Public Reporting on Health Care-Associated Infections - Looks okay.
PG 660-671 Doctors in Residency - Government will tell you where your residency will be, thus where you’ll live.
PG 676-686 Government will regulate hospitals in EVERY aspect of residency programs, including teaching hospitals.
PG 686-700 Increased Funding to Fight Waste, Fraud, and Abuse. You mean the Government with an $18 mil website?
PGs 701-704 Section 1619 If your part of HealthCare plan that isn’t in Government HealthCare Exchange but you qualify for Federal aid, no payment.
705-709 SEC. 1128 If Secretary gets complaints (ACORN) on HealthCare provider or supplier, Government can do background check.
G 711 Lines 8-14 The Secretary has broad powers to deny HealthCare providers/suppliers admittance into HealthCare Exchange.
Pg 719-720 Section 1637 ANY Doctor who orders durable medical equipment or home medical services MUST be enrolled in Medicare.
PG 722 Section 1639 Government Mandates Doctors must have face-to-face with patient to certify patient for Home Health Services.
PG 724 Lines 16-22 Government reserves right to apply face-to-face certification for patient to ANY other HealthCare service.
PG 724 23-25 PG 725 1-5 The same Government certifications will apply to medicaid & CHIP (your kids) Pg 735 lines 16-25 For law enforcement purposes, the Secretary of Health & Human Services will give Attorney General access to ALL data.
PG 740-757 Government sets guidelines for subsidizing the uninsured (That’s your tax dollars peeps) Pg 757-762 Fed Government will shift burden of payments to Disproportionate Share Hospitals (DSH) to States. (Taxes)
Page 763 1-8 No DS/EA hospitals will be paid unless they provide services without regard to national origin Pg 765 Section 1711 Government will require Preventative Services including vaccines. (Choice?)
Pg 768 Section 1713 Government - Nurse Home Visitation Services (Hello union paybacks)
Pg 769 3-5 Nurse Home Visit Services - “increasing birth intervals between pregnancies.” Government Abortions anyone?
Pg 769 11-14 Nurse Home Visit Services include-economic self-sufficiency, employment advancement, school-readiness.
Pg 769 3-5 Nurse Home Visit Services - “increasing birth intervals between pregnancies.” Government ABORTIONS anyone?
Pg 770 SEC 1714 Federal Government mandates eligibility for State Family Planning Services. Say abortion & State Sovereign.
Pg 789-797 Government will set & mandate drug prices, controlling which drugs will brought to market. Bye innovation
Pgs 797-800 SEC. 1744 PAYMENTS for grad medical education. The government will now control Drs education. PG 801 Sec 1751 The Government will decide which Health care conditions will be paid. Say RATION!
Pg 810 SEC. 1759. Billing Agents, clearinghouses, etc. required to register. Government takes over private payment system.
Page 820-824 Sec 1801 Government will identify individuals ineligible for subsidies. Will access all personal finances.
Pg 824-829 SEC. 1802. Government Sets up Comparative Effectiveness Research Trust Fund. Another tax black hole.
PG 829-833 Government will impose a fee on ALL private health insurance plans including self insured to pay for Trust Fund!
PG 835 11-13 fees imposed by Government for Trust Fund shall be treated as if they were taxes.
838-840 Government will design & implement Home Visitation Program for families with young kids & families expecting kids.
PG 844-845 This Home Visitation Program includes Government coming into your house & telling you how to parent!!!
Pg 859 Government will establish a Public Health Fund at a cost of $88,800,000,000. Yes thats Billion.
PG 865 to 876 The NHS Corps is a program where Drs. perform mandatory HealthCare for 2 years for part loan repayment.
PG 876-892 The Government takes over the education of our Medical students and Drs.
PG 898 The Government will establish a Public Health Workforce Corps. to ensure supply of public health professionals.
PG 898 The Public health workforce corps shall consist of officers of Regular & Reserve Corps of Service.
898 The Public health workforce corps shall consist of civilian employees of the U.S. as Secretary deems.
PG 900 The Public Health Workforce Corps includes veterinarians.
901 The Public Health Workforce Corps WILL include commissioned Regular & Reserve Officers. HealthCare Draft?
PG 910 The Government will develop, build & run Public Health Training Centers.
PG 913-914 Government starts a HealthCare affirmative action program thru guise of diversity scholarships.
PG 915 SEC. 2251. Government MANDATES Cultural & linguistic competency training for HealthCare professionals.
Pg 932 The Government will establish Preventative & Wellness Trust fund - intial cost of $30,800,000,000-Billion.
PG 935 21-22 Government will identify specific goals & objectives for prevention & wellness activities. Control You!!
PG 936 Government will develop “Healthy People & National Public Health Performance Standards” Tell me what to eat?
PG 942 Lines 22-25 More Government? Offices of Surgeon General -Public Health Services, Minority Health, Women’s Health - THIS MEANS TAX DOLLARS USED TO PAY FOR ALL ABORTIONS.
PG 950- 980 BIG Government core public health infrastructure includes workforce capacity, lab systems; health information systems, etc
PG 993 Government will establish school based health clinics. Your kids wont have a chance.
PG 994 School Based Health Clinic will be integrated into the school environment. Say Government Brainwash!
PG 1001 The Government will establish a National Medical Device Registry. Will you be tracked?
PG 1003 9-11 National Medical Dev Reg ‘‘(iii) other postmarket device surveillance activities” you WILL be tracked.
PG 1018 States give up some of their State Sovereignty.
PEOPLE, THIS IS IT. YOU CAN NO LONGER IGNORE THIS BLATANT TAKEOVER OF OUR COUNTRY.
This is not about health-care, it is about the POWER OF THE STATE. I beg you if you’ve never read Animal Farm, 1984 and Atlas Shrugged please, please, do.
IT IS TIME TO TAKE TO THE STREETS.
God help us all.
Continue reading to learn about the racial preferences mandated by this bill.
The Democrats’ health care bill creates a very significant financial incentive for medical schools and other entities to lower admission standards for “individuals who are from underrepresented minority groups” if that is what it takes to have the winning “demonstrated record”.
On page 879-880, the bill states that the Secretary of Health and Human Services:
“shall make grants to, or enter into contracts with, eligible entities . . . to operate a professional training program in the field of family medicine, general internal medicine, general pediatrics, or geriatrics, to provide financial assistance and traineeships and fellowships to those students, interns, residents or physicians who plan to work in or teach in the field of family medicine, general internal medicine, general pediatrics, or geriatrics.”
On page 881-882 the bill states:
“In awarding grants or contracts under this section, the Secretary shall give preference to entities that have a demonstrated record of the following: . . . Training individuals who are from underrepresented minority groups or disadvantaged backgrounds.”
-----------------------------
On page 883 the bill states:
“The Secretary shall make grants to, or enter into contracts with, eligible entities . . . to operate or participate in an established primary care residency training program, which may include-(A) planning and developing curricula; (B) recruitment and training of residents; and (C) retention of faculty.”
On page 884-885 the bill states:
“In awarding grants and contracts . . . the Secretary shall give preference to entities that have a demonstrated record of training . . . individuals who are from underrepresented minority groups or disadvantaged backgrounds . . . .”
---------------------
On page 887-889 the bill states that the
“Secretary shall make grants to, or enter into contracts with, eligible entities . . . to operate a professional training program for oral health professionals, to provide financial assistance and traineeships and fellowships to those professionals who plan to work in or teach general, pediatric, or public health dentistry, or dental hygiene, to establish, maintain, or improve academic administrative units (including departments, divisions, or other appropriate units) in the specialties of general, pediatric, or public health dentistry, to operate a loan repayment program for full-time faculty in a program of general, pediatric, or public health dentistry.”
On page 889-890 the bill states:
“In awarding grants or contracts under this section, the Secretary shall give preference to entities that have a demonstrated record of the following: . . . Training individuals who are from underrepresented minority groups or disadvantaged backgrounds.”
----------------
On page 908-909 the bill states: “The Secretary shall award grants and contracts to eligible entities” to do the same things for the field of public health as the Secretary can do for dentistry.
On page 909 the bill states:
“In awarding grants or contracts under this section, the Secretary shall give preference to entities that have a demonstrated record of the following: . . . Training individuals who are from underrepresented minority groups or disadvantaged backgrounds.”
http://rightsoup.com/twittering-obamacare-horrors-in-the-bill/
My response:
Mom,
Like I suspected, we are being lied to from the beginning to end of this email. Where there are not outright lies there are such severe misinterpretations as could only have been made by someone trying to sabotage the healthcare bill's success. Who would do such a thing? Big Medical companies of course! There are many people who profit from our healthcare system, that's where all the money goes... ;)
Love you!
John
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
STATEMENT FROM THE VICE PRESIDENT ON THE PASSING OF EUNICE KENNEDY SHRIVER
From the White House to all press affiliates:
Jill and I are deeply saddened by the news of Eunice Kennedy Shriver’s passing. Eunice was one of those rare individuals whose energy and spirit were contagious. She inspired everyone around her to be better, to see beyond themselves, and to experience joy in life through service.
Not long after her brother John became President in 1961, Eunice convinced him and their siblings to reveal a closely guarded family secret: that their sister Rosemary had an intellectual disability. I will never forget the groundbreaking and personal story she wrote about Rosemary for The Saturday Evening Post, in which Eunice brought to light the hidden lives, and the amazing untapped potential, of people with intellectual disabilities.
But that was only the beginning. Starting in her own backyard in Maryland, she opened summer camps all over the country so that young people with intellectual disabilities could engage in sports, make friends, and demonstrate to themselves and others what they were capable of — if only given the chance. And in 1968, at the first Special Olympics World Summer Games in Chicago, what was to become a global movement was born. Today, thanks to Eunice and countless other dedicated individuals she inspired, Special Olympics serves over 3 million athletes with intellectual disabilities in every corner of the globe.
Even that was not enough for Eunice. Special Olympics — her creation — today provides not only sports opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities, but also supports families, provides health screenings and services, educates and engages youth around acceptance and tolerance, and leads a cutting-edge research agenda aimed at improving the well-being of this population.
And yet that is only part of the extraordinary legacy Eunice leaves us. There is also her marriage of 56 years to Sarge — the love of her life and her life’s partner in their work to engage young people in service. That work spread across the globe, but it started in the Shriver home. Eunice and Sarge infused a deep commitment to service in their children — Bobby, Maria, Tim, Mark, and Anthony — each of whom continues her fight to give voice and power to the poor, disenfranchised, and forgotten segments of society around the world.
Our hearts are heavy but full of gratitude for these lasting gifts. Our thoughts and prayers are with her children, their father, and the entire Shriver and Kennedy families.
Jill and I are deeply saddened by the news of Eunice Kennedy Shriver’s passing. Eunice was one of those rare individuals whose energy and spirit were contagious. She inspired everyone around her to be better, to see beyond themselves, and to experience joy in life through service.
Not long after her brother John became President in 1961, Eunice convinced him and their siblings to reveal a closely guarded family secret: that their sister Rosemary had an intellectual disability. I will never forget the groundbreaking and personal story she wrote about Rosemary for The Saturday Evening Post, in which Eunice brought to light the hidden lives, and the amazing untapped potential, of people with intellectual disabilities.
But that was only the beginning. Starting in her own backyard in Maryland, she opened summer camps all over the country so that young people with intellectual disabilities could engage in sports, make friends, and demonstrate to themselves and others what they were capable of — if only given the chance. And in 1968, at the first Special Olympics World Summer Games in Chicago, what was to become a global movement was born. Today, thanks to Eunice and countless other dedicated individuals she inspired, Special Olympics serves over 3 million athletes with intellectual disabilities in every corner of the globe.
Even that was not enough for Eunice. Special Olympics — her creation — today provides not only sports opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities, but also supports families, provides health screenings and services, educates and engages youth around acceptance and tolerance, and leads a cutting-edge research agenda aimed at improving the well-being of this population.
And yet that is only part of the extraordinary legacy Eunice leaves us. There is also her marriage of 56 years to Sarge — the love of her life and her life’s partner in their work to engage young people in service. That work spread across the globe, but it started in the Shriver home. Eunice and Sarge infused a deep commitment to service in their children — Bobby, Maria, Tim, Mark, and Anthony — each of whom continues her fight to give voice and power to the poor, disenfranchised, and forgotten segments of society around the world.
Our hearts are heavy but full of gratitude for these lasting gifts. Our thoughts and prayers are with her children, their father, and the entire Shriver and Kennedy families.
Thursday, August 06, 2009
Exodus International Not All It's "Quacked" Up To Be
Perhaps the public should have been suspicious when the two founding leaders of Exodus International left their wives and ran off with each other, or when Wayne Besen exposed yet another leader to be pretending to have changed while cruising guys at a gay bar. All that matters is that we have credible information from which to make our opinions on. That information has just come from the American Psychological Association's most recent report on therapeutic attempts to change sexual orientation:
The article goes even further adding:
It's nice to see that science is offering some advice that works towards healing the long standing social stigma that plagues the GLBT community. I have always held that being who you are is not in and of itself damning or redeeming; judging your actions and intents is the basis of our justice system.
Associated Press
By DAVID CRARY (AP)
NEW YORK — The American Psychological Association declared Wednesday that mental health professionals should not tell gay clients they can become straight through therapy or other treatments.
In a resolution adopted by the APA's governing council, and in an accompanying report, the association issued its most comprehensive repudiation of "reparative therapy" — a concept espoused by a small but persistent group of therapists, often allied with religious conservatives, who maintain gays can change.
No solid evidence exists that such change is likely, says the resolution, adopted by a 125-4 vote. The APA said some research suggests that efforts to produce change could be harmful, inducing depression and suicidal tendencies.
Instead of seeking such change, the APA urged therapists to consider multiple options — that could range from celibacy to switching churches — for helping clients live spiritually rewarding lives in instances where their sexual orientation and religious faith conflict.
The APA had criticized reparative therapy in the past, but a six-member task force added weight to this position by examining 83 studies on sexual orientation change conducted since 1960. Its report was endorsed by the APA's governing council in Toronto, where the 150,000-member association's annual meeting is being held this weekend.
The report breaks new ground in its detailed and nuanced assessment of how therapists should deal with gay clients struggling to remain loyal to a religious faith that disapproves of homosexuality.
The article goes even further adding:
The APA task force took as a starting point the belief that homosexuality is a normal variant of human sexuality, not a disorder, and that it nonetheless remains stigmatized in ways that can have negative consequences.
It's nice to see that science is offering some advice that works towards healing the long standing social stigma that plagues the GLBT community. I have always held that being who you are is not in and of itself damning or redeeming; judging your actions and intents is the basis of our justice system.
Saturday, August 01, 2009
Chris Mason Catches Signature Gathering Fraud on Video
Chris Mason is a student at Tufts University who is touring the country promoting equality as a good will ambassador and GLBT Commissioner of Cambridge, Massachusetts. His tour includes filming for a documentary that covers his adventures across all 48 contiguous states and can be followed from his website drivingequality.com. While he was in Washington state he caught this man attempting in what seems like a clear attempt to deceive registered voters into signing the petition to prevent gay marriage by using tricky wording. Once caught he backtracks and makes more elaborations to his story. Now where have we seen this before? Oh yes, it was with knowthyneighbor.org in 2005 right here in Massachusetts.
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