CNN and Lou Dobbs - His Time Needs to End

Many of us go to CNN because, well, FOX is way too right wing and anti-Obama and MSNBC is a little on the left side of things. When people want to know what is really going on, there is CNN. I think of CNN as being my reality check network. I love MSNBC, because it is slanted in the way that I am, however when I want objectivity, I go to CNN. They have usually been closer to fair and balanced than Fox ever will.

CNN recently did a "Latinos in America" segment, which had some good parts, but CNN has a big liability for Latinos and that is in the form of the anti-Obama anti-Latino Lou Dobbs. He is a wart on the face of a legitimate news network, and it is high time that wart is frozen off and removed. Check out this video:

Join the petition to CNN to remove Dobbs at: http://www.bastadobbs.com/video/

Obama signs Hate Crimes Bill, Lifts HIV Travel Ban

Well, if you're a loyal devotee of the worst gay political blog in the world, Queerty.com, you might have missed that it was a good week for Gays and people of the world with HIV. Althought this may not matter to you, it matters to me.

On Wednesday, President Obama signed an epannsion of the Federal Hate Crimes Law. It now protects the disabled, and people based on their sexual orientation or gender indentification. Some people don't understand the need for this. What they don't understand is that a crime perpetuated against one of these people is not just a crime against that person, it is the victimization of an entire community, an entire class of people.

Also this week, President Obama reversed a nearly 22 year old travel ban on people enterting the U.S. who were HIV+. In 1987, the U.S. health officials added HIV/AIDS to the list of communicable diseases that could prevent a person from entering the country. Congress, in 1993, codified the ban into law, which was signed by President Bill Clinton.

It was long past time for that to be lifted with all the education that now exists about the disease.

Good work President Obama. We're still waiting on DOMA and Don't Ask Don't Tell, and there are indications that things are going in the right direction on DADT (read here).

Yep, I am a card carrying member of the ACLU

"So long as we have enough people in this country willing to fight for their rights, we'll be called a democracy." - ACLU Founder Roger Baldwin

I am a "sustainer" of the ACLU. Yes indeedy. Ever since conservatives vilified the ACLU, I have wanted to literally fit that stereotype of what they call a "card carrying member of the ACLU". Well, now you can see that I am. And a proud one at that.

(from their site):

The ACLU is our nation's guardian of liberty, working daily in courts, legislatures and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties that the Constitution and laws of the United States guarantee everyone in this country.

These rights include:

•Your First Amendment rights - freedom of speech, association and assembly; freedom of the press, and freedom of religion.
•Your right to equal protection under the law - protection against unlawful discrimination.
•Your right to due process - fair treatment by the government whenever the loss of your liberty or property is at stake.
•Your right to privacy - freedom from unwarranted government intrusion into your personal and private affairs.
The ACLU also works to extend rights to segments of our population that have traditionally been denied their rights, including people of color; women; lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender people; prisoners; and people with disabilities.

If the rights of society's most vulnerable members are denied, everybody's rights are imperiled.

What kind of people would be against such a thing, and what does it say about their character and what they value about the United States of America and it's Constitution?

Keith Olbermann on Health Care Reform - and DEATH

You may or may not know that I am a strong proponent of Health Care reform, it is something that President Obama (and Hillary Clinton) campaigned on, it is something that the majority of Americans say they want - with a public option.  Recently, Keith Olbermann commited his entire 42 minute show to it:

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

A Change

Ok, I have decided I want to blog more, and that the focus of this blog is not going to be as politics oriented as it was when I started it. This is going to be a little more...whatever. It is going to be the "Camilo Post". and so it's just not known what Camilo will post, but it will be a post, and it will be from Camilo. It will still largely be political and current events, and whatever random thing I feel like ranting about.