A Word on Gay Marriage

As everyone celebrates the one-year anniversary of the historic election of President Obama a lot of us, especially here in California are sadly reminded of another anniversary this week. The anniversary of the passing of Proposition 8, which was made even more painful after a similar vote passed in Maine on Tuesday. Writing this, I still can’t wrap my mind around the one burning question that keeps haunting my thoughts. Why?

Why are people voting on the right for other people to marry? Why do people care? And why are people so stupid? Yes, I said stupid. Sue me.

One of my favorite books in high school was The Crucible. I’ve always loved the subject of the Salem Witch Trials. The part of the story that was always so fascinating to me was the people in the community who were so easily taken advantage of. People who let their fear and ignorance become a tool that was used to make fools out of all of them.

This is perfect analogy to me of the poor fools who continue to vote against gay marriage in California and Maine and  every church that preaches against it. These people continue to have their own fear, their religion, and their ignorance used against them to take a stance against gay marriage.

I joke about these people and their ignorance with friends, but in truth, it’s not funny. In fact it breaks my heart.

It breaks my heart because for me when I think of gay couples and their families, I don’t see “gay couples.” I see my friends. I see family members. I see other PTA moms who fight with their kids to do homework. I see soccer games, I see vacations, and I see kids growing up in loving homes, just like my kids. No different.

So to you, the people who keep fighting the inevitable legalization of gay marriage, I ask you to face the sweet young faces of the kids who are being raised in these loving homes by loving gay & lesbian couples and tell them why their family is different. Why their family breakfasts, their trips to the supermarket, and their Saturday T-Ball games with the family are any different than yours.

Tell them, explain it to them. And then tell me, because I’m totally clueless.

This is proudly Meghan Harvey’s inaugural post at MOMocrats. When she’s not working hard to find a cure for ignorance she can also be found blogging on her personal blog, Meg’s Idle Chatter. 

"Off With Their Heads!" (Hey, They Aren't Using Them Anyway)

I'm sure by now most MOMocrats readers have seen the video of Billionaires for Wealth serenading Bill McInturff as he speaks to America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP). But, if you haven't yet witnessed the spectacle, please feast your eyes:

I saw the video on Rachel Maddow. "Gleeful" might be too weak a word to describe my reaction. My husband, ever the professor, reminded me that I'd be all kinds of annoyed if someone interrupted a meeting of say, Trust for America's Health or the National Partnership for Women and Families.

I thought about that all evening. You know what? He's right. I would be FURIOUS. And if that makes me a hypocrite, so be it. I'm ready to fight for health care reform. 

A cry for help

Here's the letter I faxed to my representatives. I understand they pay more attention to handwritten letters than emailed or typed letters. Click for the large version. It's my last shot at trying to get them (especially Rep. Gallegly and Senator Feinstein) to get a clue about how desperate we are. $4,700 - colonoscopy. $500/mo, ongoing supplies/meds. Health care reform I can actually afford? Priceless. All we have now is a train wreck.

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Go Watch It: Rachel Maddow Takes on Americans for Prosperity

In August, I wrote about how astroturfing groups funded by big business and staffed by GOP political operatives and corporate lobbyists — like the Koch Industries-funded group Americans for Prosperity — are influencing the national debate on health care by helping to organize and promote Tea Party gatherings and town hall protests at the local level.

Last night on MSNBC, Rachel Maddow took on Americans for Prosperity President Tim Phillips in a scathingly direct interview. If you're concerned about the involvement of corporate lobbyists in the health care debate, don't miss this interview! Watch parts one and two below (part two is after the jump).

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Hear My Story: I’m insured (for now), but I want health insurance reform

MOMocrats are honored and happy to welcome successful author and advocate Melissa Stanton as a guest blogger covering the ongoing health care reform discussion. Today, the Senate Finance Committee is voting on the health bill. It's a landmark day, and hopefully the Senate will hear voices such as Melissa's on this topic. She offers the perspective so many of us can relate to: a "rags to riches to rags to riches. . ." history of on again/off again health care. Read on for Melissa's story. . .

I’m very lucky. I have health insurance through my husband's corporate job.

That coverage, though, requires that we pay several hundred dollars a month out-of-pocket toward the premiums, and of course for the deductibles, co-pays, etc. But, we didn’t have to apply for the insurance, and since it’s a group health plan, we couldn’t be denied coverage due to any pre-existing conditions. (Have you heard? A c-section can be considered a pre-existing condition.)

Although my family is currently blessed with decent employer-sponsored health coverage, I am a strong believer in health insurance reform, including a public option. Experience tells me that good fortune doesn't always last.

As a child in the mid-1970s, my father and stepfather were both unemployed at the same time due to corporate layoffs. Although my mother and my dad's wife worked, neither had jobs with health coverage. I remember being very sick (with some strange allergy that left me puffed up and covered in hives) and not being able to see a doctor due to our lack of health insurance, and money.

As an adult, my insurance fortunes have varied between near rags and comparative riches.

I landed a staff job with benefits soon after college. However, when the magazine I worked for folded, I spent $400 a month for medical and dental coverage premiums as an unmarried 25-year-old. My access to coverage came through COBRA, the federal law that allows workers to keep their employer-sponsored health benefits for 18 months after a job loss by paying the full cost of the premiums. (In response to the bad economy and the escalating cost of insurance premiums, President Obama signed legislation earlier this year enabling laid off employees to pay just 35 percent of the cost of coverage for nine months. While $350 a month in premiums sure is better than, say, $1,000, it's still a big bill to foot when you're unemployed. Not only that, the discount and the coverage expires.)

Fortunately, I immediately found work after that layoff; however, my new employer (one of the largest magazine publishing companies in the world) hesitated to put people on staff, lest it have to pay for benefits and absorb other employee costs. So I worked as a freelancer, or “independent contractor,” which meant I did the same work as staff members did, but without any insurance, paid vacation, 401-k or job protections. Marriage eventually supplied me with coverage, as did my eventual hiring as a full corporate citizen worthy of a fantastic package of employee benefits.

A decade later, when my husband lost his Wall Street-area, Internet-industry job due to layoffs and accepted a hard-to-turn-down consulting position in Maryland, I left my corporate career in New York. Although I redirected my work efforts toward freelance assignments and caring for our toddler son, because my spouse received no employee benefits (remember, he was a consultant), I sought out a family-flexible retail job that paid just $10 an hour but provided health insurance for a 30 hour week. (These days, with employers, and especially retail employers, slashing hours and benefits, such a work-for-the-insurance option might be nearly impossible to find.)

Soon after, I became pregnant with twins. I quickly became too sick to work and was put on bed rest. I had to quit the job. (I hadn’t been there long enough for disability leave.) We wound up paying nearly $1,000 a month for family coverage premiums through COBRA. We were lucky to be able to keep (and afford) the employer-contracted group coverage. If we'd been forced to shop for private insurance on the open market, the cost would have likely been higher, and my pregnancy would almost certainly have been deemed a pre-existing condition and excluded from coverage. By the time our 18-month access to COBRA expired my husband had become a staff employee, and with that change in status we were once again the beneficiaries of employer-sponsored insurance.

I Hate to Break it to the GOP, but We ARE in Our Place!

Oh those crazy people at the Republican National Congressional Committee!!  When there's something they're not happy about, they can't help themselves from saying something silly!

The RNCC tried to chide Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi with this:

If Nancy Pelosi's failed economic policies are any indicator of the effect she may have on Afghanistan, taxpayers can only hope [General] McChrystal is able to put her in her place.

Her comeback?

I'm signing up for the Speaker's next class on political zingers!

30 Senate Democrats Stand Firm for a Public Option in Letter

Thank you, Democratic Senators Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), Russ Feingold (D-WI), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Daniel Akaka (D-HI), Tom Udall (D-NM), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Roland Burris (D-IL), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Benjamin Cardin (D-MD), Al Franken (D-MN), Bob Casey (D-PA), Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Daniel Inouye (D-HI), Ted Kaufman (D-DE), Arlen Specter (D-PA), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Bob Menendez (D-NJ),  John Kerry (D-MA), Herb Kohl (D-WI) and Paul Kirk (D-MA), and thank you Bernie Sanders, the Independent Senator from Vermont.

Today, by signing a letter written by Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown supporting the inclusion of a strong public option in the Senate health insurance reform bill — a measure of health care reform that the majority of Americans support — you stood up on behalf of the American people and put the interests of ordinary working American families ahead of the interests of multimillion dollar insurance companies. You put people ahead of profits, put principles ahead of politics, and brought the United States of America one step closer to joining the other developed nations of the world in recognizing access to basic health care as a human right that should be granted to all of a nation's people.

You promoted the general welfare, just like the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution says our government should. Your mothers should be proud.

The MOMocrats extend our gratitude, and encourage more Senators to join you.

Readers, if you support the public option like nearly two-thirds of your fellow Americans, and your Senator has not yet signed this letter, please encourage him or her to do so.

Full text of the letter after the jump:

Breaking: President Barack Obama Wins the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize

Congratulations on the honor, President Obama!

UPDATED TO ADD:

From the Nobel Prize website's official press release:

...awarded to President Barack Obama for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples. The Committee has attached special importance to Obama's vision of and work for a world without nuclear weapons.

Obama has as President created a new climate in international politics. Multilateral diplomacy has regained a central position, with emphasis on the role that the United Nations and other international institutions can play. Dialogue and negotiations are preferred as instruments for resolving even the most difficult international conflicts. The vision of a world free from nuclear arms has powerfully stimulated disarmament and arms control negotiations. Thanks to Obama's initiative, the USA is now playing a more constructive role in meeting the great climatic challenges the world is confronting. Democracy and human rights are to be strengthened.

We'll have more on the international and domestic response to the world's most significant humanitarian award to President Obama as it develops.

Right wingnuttery: Impeach Obama because Republicans don't like him?

I  just got off the phone with far-right wingnut Floyd Brown and FOX Radio host Alan Colmes about Brown's newest campaign: impeachment of President Obama. Ordinarily I wouldn't give this guy any attention at all, but since he was on Alan Colmes' Fox Radio show, I figured it was my duty to put a bit of counterspin on the insanity this man spews all over the networks and Internet.

Who is Floyd Brown?  Simply put, Floyd Brown rests in the heart and bowels of the Republican party as the engine formulating the poison that is farted all over Fox News, astroturf sites, and so-called right-wing news sites. Wherever he goes, noxious fumes follow.

Just Being Alive Will Soon be a Pre-existing Condition

Domestic violence isn't a subject I talk about much, but it's something I feel very strongly about because I have a very personal connection to the topic.

I was a victim of domestic abuse.

Many, many years ago I was married for a very short time when I was an incredibly young (19) and stupid college student (while 19 might be a good age for some to marry, it was not a good age for me).

I was smart enough, however, to get out of that very brief marriage quickly before I suffered too many injuries. But it was scary -- I had bruises from being pushed down stairs and I was anxious about lying to cover up why there was a big hole in the wall (where my ex-husband kicked it in in a rage), among other things. When he pulled a butcher knife on me when I said I was leaving, I really knew it was the right choice to save my life. But I was terrified that he would come after me and hurt me more. He tried, but I was lucky that I had friends who sheltered me and kept me safe, even when I had to go to work.

Domestic Violence: Women Under Attack from All Angles Receive Support from President, Violence UnSilenced

This month is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. At a time when domestic violence facts are shocking -- 1 in 4 women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime, among other distressing statistics put out by the Domestic Violence Resource Center -- and many insurers are excluding domestic violence as a pre-existing condition, understanding domestic violence is crucial. Domestic violence is on the rise despite the 1994 Violence Against Women Act (co-sponsored by then Senator Biden).

On October 1, President Obama issued a proclamation (included in its entirety at the end of this article) for National Domestic Awareness Month 2009

During this month, we rededicate ourselves to breaking the cycle of violence. By providing young people with education about healthy relationships, and by changing attitudes that support violence, we recognize that domestic violence can be prevented. We must build the capacity of our Nation's victim service providers to reach and serve those in need. We urge community leaders to raise awareness and bring attention to this quiet crisis. And across America, we encourage victims and their families to call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE. Together, we must ensure that, in America, no victim of domestic violence ever struggles alone.

Initiatives such as Violence UnSilenced -- with its mission to shed light on the epidemic of domestic violence and sexual assault by providing online space for survivors and victims to connect, reach out and help one another as well as guidance for how to get help -- are important efforts to give women a voice, help them feel less alone, and get safe access to help and support.

Maggie, the founder and moderator of the Violence UnSilenced project, offered some insight and perspective in an interview about domestic violence and the awareness month.

Public Support For Health Reform Increases in September, Reversing Summer Declines as Congress Takes Up Legislation

From a Kaiser Family Foundation Press Release:

Survey Finds Support For New Proposals For Fees And Taxes on Insurance Companies to Help Pay For Overhaul

Public support for health reform ended its summer slide, reversed course and moved modestly upwards in September, according to the latest Kaiser Health Tracking Poll.

Fifty-seven percent of Americans now believe that tackling health care reform is more important than ever -- up from 53 percent in August. The proportion of Americans who think their families would be better off if health reform passes is up six percentage points (42% versus 36% in August), and the percentage who think that the country would be better off is up eight points (to 53% from 45% in August).

Despite the uptick, a substantial share of the public (47%) favors taking longer to work out a bipartisan approach to health reform, compared to 42 percent who would prefer to see Democrats move faster on their own. Meanwhile, the public continues to view the action in Washington with mixed feelings: The largest share (68%) said they were "hopeful" about reform, but 50% are "anxious" and 31% "angry."

"Opinion in the coming months is hard to predict, but as the focus shifted from the town halls and hot button issues to the President, the Congress and the core issues in the legislation that affect people the most, the summer downturn in support was largely erased," said Kaiser President and CEO Drew Altman.

Upswing in Support Driven by Changes Among Republicans and Independents

Republicans and political independents became markedly more pessimistic about health reform in August, but those viewpoints softened in September. While 49 percent of Republicans say their family would be worse off if health reform passes, this is down from 61 percent in August. The percentage of independents saying they would be worse off fell from 36 percent in August to 26 percent this month.

Democrats remain overwhelmingly in favor of tackling health care now (77%), while most Republicans say we cannot afford to do so (63%) and independents are more evenly divided (51% in favor and 44% opposed).

Fifty-seven percent of the public -- including 56% of independents -- say the GOP is opposing reform plans more for political reasons than because they think reform will be bad for the country.

Hear My Story: I Chose Sight for My Daughters Over Preserving My Own Vision

This story of a mother in Florida could be anyone unlucky enough to be born with the hereditary syndrome that makes her progressively blind. The family's health insurance can only pay for the mother's treatments, or that of her daughters. What a choice to make, eh?

To think that in developed countries all around the world, no other people are forced to make these kinds of unbearable choices. The full story's here, in the St. Petersburg Times.

Climate Crisis: If a Three Year-Old Gets It, Why Don't Republicans?

I've been both dreading and looking forward to the conversation I had tonight with my three year-old daughter. We bought a book at the Monterey Bay Aquarium a few months ago called Why Are the Ice Caps Melting? in preparation, but I wanted the right moment. Tonight, she got in bed early and then (predictably) had a second wind and started talking with me. Somehow we got on the topic of climate, so I decided to give her the 411, topped off with the book.

Knowing my daughter's sensitive nature, I expected she would be sad, a little scared and concerned about the animals and plants, but I didn't anticipate so many questions. The book explores all aspects of the problem - garbage, auto pollution, aerosol sprays, storms, rising water levels and the greenhouse effect - it's like a mini version of Al Gore's slideshow. That's a lot to digest, but it's all connected.

What fascinated me about the discussion was how quickly my daughter seemed to grasp the problem: Too hot, plants dying, animals and people dying, big storms, houses flooding = bad. And she already wants to help. [Proud mom moment.] Meanwhile, the national policy discussion is slowly turning to security and its connection with "climate change" (aka euphemism of the century) and only now are Republicans starting to listen. To the credit of whoever made the decision to turn this into a talking point, it's a powerful one. Keep it going.

But really, if a three year-old can understand that a sick planet = dead people and animals, I have little patience with Ivy League educated legislators who gloss over the problem. Sick environment = sick people = weak security = hostile takeover = imminent destruction. Sure, there are combinations and permutations of the equation that are more complicated, involving Anthrax, methane, CO2 poisoning, etc. but the bottom line is the same. People aren't stupid, but we can be lazy and spoiled. And although the Republican party line previously was to say there's no proof, the continuous mounting evidence is now irrefutable. I also think the state of the economy is such that now people have already started tightening belts and being frugal, it's a little easier for them to look at going green as part of the solution. However, some legislators are still afraid to vote their conscience and take serious measures in terms of environmental legislation. We're making progress, just not enough.

So now I'm wondering: do we need to send a copy of this book to every member of Congress and every Republican still dragging their heels? Yes, it's made of paper, but it's small and can be passed around, loaned out, reused. It takes ten minutes to read and it's easy to understand for anyone - including the minimally educated. It may be more on the level of a grade schooler than a preschooler, but it's no more complicated than a ballot. It may be a tough conversation to have with policy makers and kids alike, but it's a lot easier than the alternative. Fifty years from now, our kids will all thank us for it, and I'd like to be around for that conversation.

...

Sarah Granger also writes for the Huffington Post and her articles have appeared in ecofabulous, the Silicon Valley Moms Blog and Bay Area Parent. She formerly served as an Environmental Quality Commissioner for the City of Menlo Park, California.

Vanilla Iced

I love plain vanilla ice cream.  Love it.  My favorite is the soft serve vanilla at Carvel's.  The rest of my family doesn't understand my vanilla compulsion.  My husband is a ice-cream omnivore.  My oldest daughter favors the fruity sherbets, and my youngest has already demonstrated a strong disposition towards anything that includes chocolate.

I am simple, uncomplicated.  And to me, it is the simple, and uncomplicated repetition of vanilla that draws me to it again, and again, and again.  I know what I'm paying for, and I know what I'll get.

So needless to say, that I took it as a personal affront this week when my favorite comedian-politician, Barney Frank, announced that the House has revised the administration’s proposal for a new consumer financial protection agency by removing the requirement that banks and other financial services companies offer "plain vanilla products", like 30-year fixed mortgages and low-interest, low-fee credit cards.  My favorite comedian-secretary, Timothy Geithner, came around quickly, announcing the administration's acquiescence in the deletion.

On what planet does it make sense that I could walk into any ice cream store tomorrow and find out that vanilla is no longer available?