Obama Must Keep Kevin Jennings and Fight Back Against the Rightwing Bullies
The rightwing is after another progressive Obama appointee, and it’s past time for Obama to stand his ground.
The appointee in question is Kevin Jennings, who is the Assistant Deputy Secretary of Education for the Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools.
Jennings, whom I’ve met and greatly admire, was the founder of GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network.
For years, he and his organization worked to make our schools safe from homophobic bigotry, which can devastate kids.
He knows the schools inside and out.
He has extraordinary experience with administrators.
In short, he’s perfect for the job.
But they don’t like him because he’s an advocate for gay rights.
So the reactionaries on Fox News and at the Washington Times have been waging a campaign against him.
They haven’t been able to find anything on him except that he, as a teacher, once advised a 15-year-old student in a relationship with an older man to use a condom, which in itself wasn’t bad advice.
This week, 53 Republican House members signed a letter demanding his ouster.
If the White House makes Jennings walk the plank like it did to Van Jones, that won’t satisfy the bullies from the right. They’ll just go after the next progressive they can find.
Obama must defend and keep Kevin Jennings.
You beat a bully by fighting back.
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ELECTION 2012 BLOG
Not everyone is voting in the Wisconsin recall election
Despite estimates this week that turnout for the June 5 recall election could top 60%, there are some Madisonians who do not plan to vote.
Latest Barrett poll has Walker up 50-48
The Wisconsin recall race is a "dead heat," says the Barrett campaign, which released the findings of a poll it conducted May 29 and 30, four days later than the Marquette poll.
The campaign's poll showed Walker up 50-48 over Barrett. The poll was of 821 likely voters and had a margin of error +3.5%. The Barrett campaign says the poll also indicated that the John Doe scandal was hurting Walker. It also noted that "Barrett leads Walker 56-42 among people who did not vote in 2010," so "turnout is key."
Join comedians Chris Lay and Alan Talaga for a Wisconsin recall debate live blog Thursday night
Two of Madison's sharpest political minds, stand-up comedians Chris Lay (@MrChrisLay) and Alan Talaga (@danpotacke), will provide the blow-by-blow analysis right here on Thursday night at 9 p.m. (CDT) during the second of two debates between Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett in advance of the historic recall election on June 5. The debate will be televised in Madison on WKOW, Channel 27, and we urge you to keep at least one eye on this blog while you watch it.
Citizen Dave: If the Milwaukee DA has anything on Walker, he should charge him now
Governor Scott Walker is now paying $160,000 for nothing. The governor has said repeatedly that he is not the target of a John Doe investigation in Milwaukee County, yet his campaign has transferred another $100,000 to his legal defense fund, bringing the total amount dedicated to defend him against nothing to $160,000.
Feingold Revs Up Crowd for Barrett
“I’ve never met a more decent person in or out of politics.” Former Sen. Russ Feingold revved up a crowd at a fundraiser for Tom Barrett on Wednesday night in the recall battle against Gov. Scott Walker.
CURRENT ISSUE: JUNE 2012
Cecile Richards
| "Millions of women are counting on us for care. And if we're gone, there's no one else there," says the head of Planned Parenthood.
What's at Stake in Wisconsin
Much more than Scott Walker's future hangs in the balance.
The Mother of Midwifery
Ina May Gaskin has delivered more than 1,200 babies and revolutionized the field.
The ED Show - Bill Clinton heads to Wisconsin to campaign against Walker.
Come to Progressive Talks and Events
June 4, Madison, WI
Terry Tempest Williams on "The Power of Voice"
Ruth Conniff and Matthew Rothschild on
"What's at Stake in the Recall."
5:30-7:30 pm at the Lakeside St. Coffee House, 402 W. Lakeside St, Madison.
It's a fundraiser for The Progressive. Contributions are tax-deductible.
If you can't make it but would like to contribute anyway, please send your check to The Progressive, 409 E. Main St., Madison, WI 53703.
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