Civil Rights

Dick Morris and Eileen McGann sure know how to rain on a Thanksgiving Parade.

In a recent column on the 2010 elections, Morris and McGann note the fact that Democratic candidates lost ground among women voters this year and assert that it is because the abortion issue has lost its “saliency.”
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Some of the nation's top political commentators, legislators and intellectuals offer insight into the biggest questions burning up the blogosphere today.

Today's question:

Will the Pentagon's study of removing "Don't ask, don't tell" lead the Senate to repeal the law?

According to a recent AP-Univision Poll, Hispanics outpace America as a whole in the value placed on achieving higher education. 87 percent of survey takers say a college education is extremely or very important, compared with 78 percent of the overall U.S. population. Read more...

When I was a child in Afghanistan, no one questioned the daily routine of injustice against women and girls. My own grandmother believed that girls must not eat meat, because that would make them so strong that they would question and disobey the family's men. The only way to guard a family's honor was to keep girls under strict control.

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As a member of the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, I agree with Defense Secretary Robert Gates's position that the discriminatory policy known as "Don't ask, don't tell" must end during this Congress. I believe strongly that the U.S. Constitution, specifically the 14th Amendment, requires the government to apply our laws equally. That is why only negative conduct, not one's sexual orientation, should be grounds for dismissal from the armed services.

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Our nation is actively engaged in combat around the globe and our military needs every man and woman with the willingness and ability to serve to be able to do so. But the “Don’t ask, don’t tell” law bans openly gay men and women from serving in the U.S. military. It undermines unit cohesion and military readiness by forcing gay soldiers to live a lie. It is a failed policy that Congress should repeal immediately.

On November 11th, our nation will observe Veterans Day. On this day, let us recall its historical significance and focus our attention on the important purpose of Veterans Day: A celebration to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.

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Over the past few months we’ve seen plenty of news stories about celebrities going in and out of jail and fed-up flight attendants. But America’s 24-hour news cycle missed a painful story here in Montana.

I want you to know about this story because it reminds us that as we invest in rebuilding our economy, we still have a long way to go to improve life for kids struggling in some of our country’s most challenged communities.

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Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights advocates will be working in a new federal landscape come the next Congress after Republicans regained control of the U.S. House and Democrats retained a majority in the Senate.

The shift in the balance of power will very likely slow advancement of any legislation in Congress, including LGBT rights legislation. Does this mean a blockade on LGBT rights? Not if we can help it. Fact is, our community has always had to fight — and fight hard — for equality. This is nothing new to us.

In the wake of Tuesday's election, political analysts are busily predicting what the outcome means for Congress and the country. With Republicans now in the majority in the House of Representatives, many policies will probably change radically. What must not change, however, is work on immigration reform.