Rabid Yellow Dog

The Right Wing’s Assault on Obama and Carson

Since writing “It’s Not The Issues, It’s Your God,” I’ve been thinking about the similarities in the election campaigns of Barack Obama and Andre Carson. Both are being attacked because of their Islamic history (Barack isn’t a Muslim, and never has been, but has been attacked because of his middle name and being raised in an Islamic culture). Both are running on a campaign of hope and unity, both have a strong African American base, both are relative newcomers to the national stage, both have a mix of corporate and progressive (liberal and conservative) policy positions, and while both have stated that they are devout in their religious beliefs, both support GLBT equality.

Conservatives will settle on personal attacks because they don’t have a plan. Their “trickle down” economics has trickled down poverty, job losses, consolidation of power, and the destroyed America’s manufacturing sector. The gap between the rich and poor is verging on 1920’s proportions. Amazingly, the Republican’s answer to these problems is free market capitalism. Einstein’s definition of insanity rings in my ears when I hear them talk this line of shit. Unfettered capitalism has brought unfettered greed and unfettered corruption.

That all being said, I’m not shocked that the Republicans are attacking both Obama and Carson with islamophobic rhetoric and fear, it’s all they have.

It’s Not The Issues, It’s Your God

The Democratic candidate for Indiana’s 7th Congressional District is in law enforcement, sits on the City-County Council, and is the grandson of an Indiana political legend, Julia Carson. Andre Carson wants to end the Iraq War, is against privatizing Social Security, and supports strengthening homeland security against another terrorist attack. Andre’s link to the national party is strong, so much so that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has targeted Carson for financial support.

With all these positives, where is Carson’s Achilles’ heel? The headline this morning answers the question: ” ‘I am multifaceted’ Carson’s Muslim faith, Farrakhan’s funeral speech raise questions for congressional candidate. “ The Associated Press states it even more bluntly: “Muslim has eye on Congress”. I wonder if the Associated Press has ever written a story entitled “Baptist minister (or Mormon) runs for President” or  “Methodist runs against Andre Carson”? It seems that Andre’s religion only matters because of what religion it is.
Read more »

Indiana Equality Forum

Last night I attended a forum sponsored by Indiana Equality. The forum featured the three candidates (Andre Carson (D), Jon Elrod (R). and Sean Shepard (L)) running in the March 11, 2008 special election. This election will decide who will fill the vacancy created with the passing of US Rep. Julia Carson who represented Indiana’s 7th Congressional District.

Earlier in the week I wrote about how many in the Indy right wing blogosphere had chastised Andre Carson for a scheduling conflict, some even suggesting that he was afraid to debate Jon Elrod and Sean Shepard. Anyone that was in attendance last night knows just how much of a pipe dream that is. Read more »

Playground Politics In The Seventh

The Indy right wing blog machine is on fire (examples: here, here, here, here and here) because Andre Carson, candidate for the 7th district, had a scheduling conflict and missed a community forum. The ensuing drama that unfolded is nothing short of 4th grade playground politics.

Abdul Hakim-Shabazz, the most blatant of shit stirrers, titled his post “CARSON SKIPS OUT ON EASTSIDE FORUM” and said:

Apparently someone in the Andre Carson camp isn’t too keen on sharing the stage tonight with Republican Jon Elrod and Libertarian Sean Shepard.

Showing an obvious bias, Shabazz uses an inflammatory title that isn’t even remotely factual. Shabazz might benefit from an explanation of the difference between “skipping out” (which implies intent, and no warning) and “scheduling conflict” (of which there is no intent, and notice is given). According to the Indy Star:

Brad Klopfenstein, a former executive director of the state Libertarian Party, coordinated the event at Arlington Heights Baptist Church on the Eastside. Klopfenstein said Carson’s campaign agreed to appear several weeks ago but called about noon Tuesday to cancel because of a scheduling conflict.

When one “skips out” on rent, they don’t call and say “I ain’t payin’ “, they just don’t pay. You can call it a screwup , or a scheduling conflict, but it’s complete spin (see also:falsehood) to call it a “skip out”. Read more »

Mr. GLBT Friendly

It’s been said recently that John Elrod is “GLBT friendly.” If you listen to this clip from an interview of Jon Elrod by Hoosier Access Radio, I think it’s obvious that the rumors of John being a “friend of the community” is false. You be the judge.

 The following audio recording is owned by Hoosier Access Radio and is not affiliated with this website. The clip is used under fair use. 

 

 Exceprt from Hoosier Access Radio: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

It’s The Issues

This morning I woke up to find my email filled with folks arguing back and forth about the Republican candidate for the 7th district special election, Jon Elrod. The argument wasn’t centered around issues, but around the fact that Elrod is using the same web design company that Eric Miller (of Advance America fame) uses.

These kind of arguments frustrate the living hell out of me. So many people have talked about Elrod’s friendly GLBT positions, but I’ve yet to hear anyone talk about other important issues like:

• The Iraqi Conflict
• Raising the minimum wage
• Stopping corporate welfare
• Health care
• US Imperialism

I could care less who he used to design his website (unless I was competing for his business).  It isn’t important who the designer of his website is, but what it the website says of his positions! In typical Republican fashion, Elrod attacks the tax structure, while there is no mention of the war that is zapping 200 million dollars A DAY! He talks of the tax burden of the people of the 7th, but doesn’t address the fact that multi-million dollar corporate fat cat’s 17% income tax, while someone making $60,000 pays a rate of 30 percent.  He doesn’t address the fact that while the economy is growing, real wages are falling.

There’s enough wrong with Elrod’s positions on real life issues, that bitching about his web site designer is petty.

Oh No, Mr. Bil!

Something is rotten in Indianapolis, and I think it’s sour grapes. Recently Bil Browning, my editor at Bilerico Project, wrote about some suspicious goings on at Saturday’s special Democratic caucus to select a candidate for Indiana’s 7th Congressional district (The district is having a special election due to the death of the 7th’s Representative, Julia Carson).

Browning said:

Some of the events surrounding Saturday’s special Democratic caucus to elect the candidate for Indiana’s 7th Congressional District seat after the death of Rep. Julia Carson seem a little off. Julia’s grandson, Andre Carson, won the 8-way election on the first round of voting - a grand political coup for someone who’s never ran in an election against an opponent and whose only political background is being appointed to the City-County Council for a couple of months. I’m not one for a conspiracy theory, but usually where there is smoke there’s fire and there is a lot of smoke blowing around Indy right now. I’m not saying I have all of the answers, but I have lots of questions. It’s not clear if this election was fixed or botched or both, but something just isn’t right. Follow me after the jump and make your own conclusion.

I was also at the slating event but my perspective was a bit different. I don’t believe the election was fixed. I actually thought that the election was carried out with precision and skill (considering such an event hadn’t taken place in a very long time). It “felt” political to me, but that isn’t surprising considering the event. Read more »