I have made no secret of my support for my Mayor in his quest to become our next Congressman. This begins a series of postings explaining why.
John Callahan cares about me.
· John Callahan will co-sponsor the reintroduction of ENDA (Employment Non Discrimination Act) and he has vowed to actively support it.
· John Callahan will co-sponsor the legislation that died this week in the Senate to overturn Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.
· John Callahan has pledged to ensure the Matthew Sheppard Hate Crimes Legislation is enforced and will support its reauthorization.
· John Callahan will support legislation that grants same sex couples the same legal rights that heterosexual couples receive.
· John Callahan will work for equal treatment for the LGBT community with immigration issues.
Are these just promises? I think not.
This is what John Callahan has accomplished as Mayor of Bethlehem.
· Bethlehem under the leadership of John Callahan offers health care benefits to all city employees and their families. Not just the straight ones.
· Bethlehem allows the same-sex partners of city employees’ to be eligible as pension beneficiaries.
· John Callahan has introduced and anti-discrimination ordinance that will establish a Human Relations Commission which will protect my LGBT community. The Pennsylvania law will not protect me but my Mayor has decided that his city will.
Let’s take a moment to look at Charlie Dent’s record while not representing me in Washington.
· Charlie Dent voted against the Matthew Sheppard legislation
· Charlie Dent voted against ENDA. Because of Charlie Dent I can get fired because of who I love.
· Charlie Dent voted to amend the Constitution of the United States to define marriage. The constitution of this country grants rights Charlie Dent voted to amend the constitution to deny rights.
Let me say this very clearly:
CHARLIE DENT VOTED FOR DISCRIMANATION. CHARLIE DENT VOTED TO TREAT ME AS A SECOND CLASS CITIZEN. CHARLIE DENT SUPPORTS TWO TYPES OF CITIZENSHIP ONE FOR HIM AND ONE FOR ME.
This election is about me and I am supporting John Callahan for Congress and I ask you to do the same.
According to the Human Rights Campaign, ENDA passed the House in November of 2007. (http://www.hrc.org/sites/passendanow/timeline.asp) HRC’s website says the House passed the bill, 235-184 (Roll Call No. 1057). I looked up the vote and Dent was a YES vote. http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2007/roll1057.xml
ReplyDeleteIt looks like Dent also voted for the Matthew Sheppard hate crimes bill too. From Human Rights Campaign again – “On April 29, 2009, the House of Representatives passed hate crimes legislation (H.R. 1913) by a vote of 249-175.” Here is the vote with Dent as a YES: http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll223.xml The Matthew Sheppard bill apparently was put in a Defense bill that passed on October 8, 2009. Once again, Dent was a YES. Here is the vote: http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll770.xml
You should be sure you have your facts straight before you post something. You are entitled to your opinions but you aren’t entitled to your own facts!
Thanks for the feedback - I will double check my sourcing and your facts. I used to love your last line but now everyone is throwing it around that it has lost it's impact.
ReplyDeleteI wish I knew who you were it makes discussion much easier - but it is your right.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
Best Wishes
This elections is NOT about me, and that's why I'm voting for Charlie Dent.
ReplyDeleteDonald, I never make decisions about candidates on the basis of one issue, and to be honest, Dent's record with the gay community is actually pretty good. There is little difference between him and Al Gore on that topic. I'll bet you voted for Gore. I did.
Callahan is beginning to disgust me. He is now sending out attack mailers with photographs of blood-splattered soldiers. Pretty low. I have nothing against negative campaigning, but this is both inaccurate and inflammatory.
Bernie
ReplyDeleteEvery election is about me. I have to vote on what is best for me and my community.
This is not the only issue I am voting on - more to come. Though after this rash of young men killing themselves as me more in tune with this issue and has raised to the the top of my list.
Gore's views have changed over the years and have gotten more progressive.
I am researching my sources and will retract if I am in error about Dent. I think there is some I was for it before I was against kind of voting going on with Dent, trying to have it both ways.
Dent's campaign has taken the low road as well. Both campaigns are down and dirty and it is just going to get worse. You are just so biased that you don't won't admit it -
On another note are you really going to attend the Football/Cancer fundraiser in Dec.?
Why not? I'd like to get away from all the political bullshit for once and meet you in person.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait - Perhaps we should mmeet up for a post mortem with some others
ReplyDeleteAn Update -
ReplyDeleteCong. Charlie Dent has voted to extend hate crimes laws to cover the LGBT community - He was one of only 18 members of the GOP to do so in 2009
In 2007 Cong. Dent voted for ENDA legislation - The bill has not yet come up for a full house vote in this session of Congress
So two of your three arguments against Dent were completely false and you still havent changed your original post? Politics at its worst = partisanism masked as advocacy.
ReplyDelete