[Disclaimer: I have no connection to Vermont CARES, never served on their Board, never worked for them, never used their services, never even volunteered. I’ve made an occasional donation, and I’ve written about the agency before elsewhere (see the link below). I wrote this because even a temporary shutdown due to a major but relatively short-term funding shortfall will leave clients with nowhere to go.]

1986 was a watershed year for the gay and lesbian communities in Vermont. Among other advocacy organizations founded that year was Vermont CARES (Committee on AIDS Resources, Education, and Services) — back when a lot of the stigma attached to AIDS was because of its spread among gay men. Democratic activist Terje Anderson was one of the founders, along with Keith Goslant, among others. They were the first group to offer “safe sex” information and workshops to Vermonters based on current medical fact rather than scare tactics.

Now Vermont CARES is in its 21st year, and has been serving people with HIV/AIDS way beyond the gay community for a long time. A couple of years ago, under then-director Kendall Farrell, the agency opted not to apply for federal funds for prevention because accepting the money meant also accepting intrusive federal regulations on data reporting and requirements for Bush-administration-beloved “abstinence only” education, among other things.

Today, Vermont CARES has scraped a pretty deep hole through and below the bottom of the barrel — to the tune of $100K. It’s not just because of the federal funding they opted to forego. Add to that the shift in funding by a few major foundations away from “service” to “policy,” and the decreasing attention to the domestic disease in public awareness, and you’ve got a “perfect storm” creating a huge hole where a budget used to be.

Three other factors: First, AIDS is no longer a death sentence — it doesn’t carry that tragic “zing” factor of young lives cut short. Now we’re looking at — and Vermont CARES is supporting — the survivors of the early years who are in their fifties and sixties and dealing with both the disease and the decade or more of side effects from anti-retroviral meds, the famous “cocktail.” 

The disease is about as sexy as Alzheimer’s, but mostly without so much dementia. Treatment side effects include lipodystrophy (migration of body fat in ways that might disfigure) and neuropathy (the often painful loss of sensation and sometimes of autonomic responses in the nervous system, typically hands and feet, but not always). Add in potential liver damage, cardiovascular stress, and clinical depression, and that’s a lot of now-chronic health issues to deal with that carry absolutely no zing.

Points two and three below the fold, along with what you can do to help, should you be so moved.

Second, most of the public’s limited attention for AIDS has turned overseas, specifically to Africa, which needs all the first world attention it can get, especially when that attention includes help with expensive medicines. It’s a good thing, and thanks to the William and Melinda Gates Foundation, among others, that help is happening. And, unfortunately, people here forget that they can have a positive impact two doors down the street as well as thousands of miles away on another continent.

Third, there are many more places in Vermont now where people at risk for HIV can get tested and treated without running a gauntlet of prejudice and  disapproval, particularly if they have health insurance. That’s another good thing. But what it means is that the insured now go to Fletcher Allen, for example, while the uninsured, disabled, and unemployed go to CARES. Something like 90% of CARES’ clients make less than $12k a year.

CARES runs the only specialized combined AIDS residence in the state — in Fort Ethan Allen in Colchester. It runs another ten scattered residences housing 20-25 people and subsidizes housing for another 30-40 people.

It was the first to offer rapid testing with results in 20 minutes instead of the two weeks it used to take, and that has resulted in many more people getting tested because they don’t have to live in uncertainty for days on end.

CARES fills in the gaps for people whose lives are full of potholes: whose electricity gets turned off because a medicaid payment was late, and the money for the electric bill was used to fill in; or whose choice is between paying for transportation to medical appointments and buying groceries. They subsidize food and actual meals for those who need it, and have partnered with the Intervale Society to provide organic veggies when available.

There’s way more to this story in terms of the services CARES provides, but let me close with one really important one: CARES makes it possible for Vermonters with HIV/AIDS — some of whom live in the back end of beyond, far away from Burlington or Montpelier or Rutland, in places like Highgate, Derby Line, Coventry, Montgomery, Eden, Troy, Middletown Springs, Fayston, Worcester, Corinth — to be able to talk to others in the same boat when they can’t talk to their friends and neighbors about the elephantine impact of this disease in their lives.

The agency has a plan for the future and a funding source that doesn’t kick in until the new fiscal year begins on October 1. In the meantime, I’m writing a check (scroll down for the address of the main office in Burlington) and asking friends and allies to do the same. If enough folks each help out some, the hole below the barrel will get filled in and the barrel bottom patched and waterproofed, with maybe a gallon or two to keep CARES going.

NanuqFC

In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act. — George Orwell

(Because impeachment really is too important NOT to ignore! – promoted by Brattlerouser)

Patrick Leahy, Vermont’s senior Senator recently replied to a constituent urging him to support impeachment efforts underway in the Congress to impeach Vice President Cheney. Consider these profoundly troubling utterances of Saint Patrick.

“Thank you for contacting me about Vice President Cheney From the time President Bush and Vice President Cheney first took office in 2001, many Vermonters have shared with me their concerns about the actions and policy priorities of this Administration. Along with Senator Sanders and Congressman Peter Welch, I share the frustration and anger of the Vermont Senate and many Vermonters. I have strongly objected to a number of the Administration’s policy objectives and am ready to restore checks and balances and close oversight of the Administration.”

What does it mean to “be ready” to restore checks and balances? As evidenced by Leahy’s inactions, it does not mean any investigation into unconstitutional actions taken by the President or Vice President. While the Senator is wasting weeks and months looking into the political firings of prosecutors by the Attorney General, Bush and company are unabashedly escalating troop levels in support of their occupation of Iraq, as well as issuing executive directives declaring that Bush will have control of the entire federal government if he deems it necessary.

We don’t need the Senator to share our frustrations and anger, we’ve got that pretty well covered as citizens. What we expect is remedial action by the Senators whose very job description is to provide checks and balances to executive power. “Strong objections” expressed in a photo-op does not cut it. If he’s ready to restore Constitutional balance, what is he waiting for, the President’s permission?

” I have been opposed to the war in Iraq from the beginning and I am committed to pressing for an end to the war & to bring our troops home. As Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I will continue to push for aggressive oversight into many of these issues, including the mass firings of U.S. Attorneys.”

What does your commitment entail Mr. Leahy? Commitment usually implies that actions will follow. Once again, your constituents are doing a fine job of voicing opprobrium; we look to you for action. Why are you not investigating that lies that were told by the President and Vice President in order to get us into this war? Why are you not investigating the roles of Bush and Cheney in making torture part and parcel of America’s intelligence gathering efforts? The firing of US attorneys is the only investigation that the Senator has thus far been willing to conduct. Mr. Bush must be quaking in his boots.

Read more below the fold.

” On April 24, Representative Dennis Kucinich of Ohio introduced H. R. 333, legislation calling for the impeachment of Vice President Cheney for high crimes and misdemeanors. This bill was referred to the House Judiciary Committee. As the Administration and Congress remain divided on many issues, I will look for ways to bring people together to make progress on issues facing the nation.”

You need look no further than to hold this administration accountable for its actions. An overwhelming majority of Americans are in agreement that this administration is taking us in the wrong direction. Bringing the truth out into the open is a way to unite, not divide politicians. As long as you are unwilling to let the debate proceed beyond opinion and conjecture, you will continue to have a partisan divide.

“An impeachment inquiry would be a highly divisive ordeal that would dominate Congress’ time and attention.”

While impeachment may start to crack the monolith that is the Democrat/Republican power structure that supports American hegemony over the world’s oil and over the Middle East, and which is willing to use military occupation as a means to realize this hegemony, the American public will support any inquiry that actually gets at the truth that has led us into our current untenable state. As the truth about Alberto Gonzales has emerged in your recent hearings, we have seen support for him lessen among Republicans, rather than see them circle the wagons in his defense. we would see no less as a result of investigations of the President and Vice President.

“Impeachment proceedings would likely compromise the ability of Congress to address the many issues that face our nation during the remainder of this Administration. With a closely divided Congress, the outcome of an impeachment proceeding is uncertain and the problems facing our country are numerous, Congress must set priorities to accomplish the most important tasks that the American people agree need to be accomplished.”

While the House Judiciary Committee was investigating and voting articles of impeachment against Richard Nixon, they also managed to raise the minimum wage, pass the Endangered Species act, initiate several new environmental programs and raise the minimum wage. the current Congress has not managed to do as much even without the “distraction” of impeachment.

Your assertion that we must set priorities implies that defending the Constitution as your oath of office requires not be one of them. The defense of our Constitution, and by extension the validity of the governance of the Republic is our first priority. Without Constitutional rule of law, we are a sham democracy and your participation in it nothing more than play acting.

Outrage plays well in the movies. Your job however, is to deal with real life and real issues. Histrionics and rhetoric do a disservice to your job and to the nation. We know that you can do better and we expect you to do so without further delay.

The Democratic Party is proving itself to be one of Bush/Cheney enablers. It is becoming depressingly clear that the continued occupation of Iraq is a Democratic policy as much as a Republican one. We gave you a mandate is November 2006. Do not continue to squander it.

“Thank you again for contacting me.”

No problem. You’re welcome.

Welch’s office issued this statement:

“I am deeply disappointed that there is no deadline for troop withdrawal in this bill and will therefore vote against it. Regrettably, the President continues to stubbornly dig in his heels and cling to a failed policy. He has led this country into a catastrophic foreign policy failure and he continues to thumb his nose at retired generals, the will of the majority of Congress, and the majority of the American people.

“While I am profoundly disappointed, I remain determined to end this war. This vote will not be the final say. Regrettably, the President continues to isolate himself on this war. The day of reckoning for this President is coming as more and more members of his own party find their voices and demand a change in course. I have great hope that in the coming months a veto-proof majority emerges in Congress that can stand up to the President to end this terrible war.”

( – promoted by odum)

Columnist David Broder says: “… the extremist elements in American society — the vituperative, foul-mouthed bloggers”

Time’s Joe Klein says: “[bloggers’] vitriol just seems uninformed, malicious and disproportionate”

and Dennis Miller says: “”And one thing I’ve noticed about these blogs is they’ve turned into the ideological equivalent of “Girls Gone Wild””

Hey, these bloggers must be a pretty great crowd to hang with, eh?

Well, here comes yer chance:

It’s the second annual Vermont Daily Briefing/Green Mountain Daily Hamburger Summit, open to bloggers, political types, and terrified (or mystified) observers alike. Everybody and anybody is welcome/encouraged/invited. Come on out, have burger and watch how the “regular” bloggers interact with their vituperative, malicious and foul-mouthed political counterparts. See and be seen, or just eat and run. Show up and we can all make fun of (presumable) no-shows such as kestrel and Kagro without them overhearing. Who knows, if we have enough beer, maybe we’ll impeach somebody!

It’s Sunday, July 15th
Burlington’s North Beach
1PM-5PM

We’ll have some drinks and grillables, but not a bad idea to bring something. Watch this space or Philip’s for details.

For as long as I can remember, Democratic Leaders in Washington – and to a large extent in the state legislatures that I’ve worked near – have been first and foremost motivated by a single emotion; fear. Fear of losing the next election. Fear of not coming through for their caucus. Fear of being painted as soft or weak in the media. Fear, fear, fear.

Fear has a couple important qualities. First, it’s viral. It doesn’t remain static – it grows and spreads. Within a lawmaker it spreads from fear of losing or looking weak. It becomes a deeper fear – that maybe, just maybe, all those nasty things Republicans say about progressive policies are true. Maybe these ideas are stupid, impractical, impossible. And when several people – especially leaders – share that fear, it becomes a culture of fear. Idealistic newbies stepping into the caucus for the first time become awash in it. And like any weakness or failing, we try to dress it up as a virtue. As realism. And sometimes we compensate in other ways. Fear creates weakness, but nobody likes to look weak. Thus do you get the Rahm Emanuels – all tough guy and blustery, but living in mortal fear that he’s gonna blow it (and ready to angrily blame everyone around him if he does – even pre-emptively).

The other thing about fear is that it’s reactive. If fear is your motivator, everything you do is in response to the thing(s) you’re afraid of. Pro-activity is just too scary. Fear keeps you in the safest possible corner, so as better to defend yourself.

This is not to say that all Democratic leaders live in fear, but the ones who don’t are often the most dangerous in the long term. The notoriously corrupt ones, such as John Murtha (who continues to work against ethics reform and support the croneyism culture in the US House) have stepped back from the policy game and have entered the self-enrichment game. Much less scary, and the lines aren’t so clearly drawn. That’s not to say such people aren’t incapable of taking a principled stand (such as his Iraq position), but when all is said and done, they are a deeper problem than the culture of fear.

And that’s because the culture of fear can be overcome, not just collectively through the democratic process, but individually. Case in point, John Kerry. He blew it big time running for the top job. He was actively working toward a second run, when he grudgingly read the tea leaves and realized he had no chance in hell. He wisely gave up.

But then a funny thing happened – he came to life like never before. No longer afraid of losing, disgusted by much of what he saw, John Kerry (of all people) has become one of the most consistently assertive and progressive of voices in the Senate. Why? Because there’s nothing left for him to fear – and as such, fear has become rather pointless for him. Again, that’s not to say he isn’t going to do things that will piss us off, but its clear we’re dealing these days with Kerry 2.0 – and it’s a big improvement.

What the recent negotiations over the war tell us is that the welcome pattern of engagement with the netroots by the Democratic leadership has not come about because they’re suddenly more with us than ever before. Sure, some of the rank and file caucus members are because of how we helped put them there – but that’s not the case from the leadership’s engagement with our community. The fact is, we’ve become something else they fear. And because of that, we’re now at the table. But whereas fear may get us to the table, at the end of the day we’re still not the ones they fear the most, so if we can’t win our battles quickly, this leadership will revert to form and go hide in the corner in terror.

Still, we are at the table and we are having an effect. Making the Dem leadership afraid of us may get us taken seriously, but it doesn’t get us off the hook on the long, slogging battle to  truly change the culture in Washington and in our state capitols.

But it’s a start.

The more things change, the more they stay the same. CNN is now reporting:

Congressional Democrats plan to send to President Bush a war-spending bill without a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq, two Democratic leadership aides tell CNN…

The bill is expected to include benchmarks that the Iraqi government would have to achieve. The bill is also expected to require the president to provide numerous reports to Congress before August 2007 on the Iraqi government’s progress, the aides said.

If the Iraqi government fails to meet the benchmarks, the aides said, reconstruction funds could be cut. The bill may also allow the president to waive the penalties for failing to meet the benchmarks if he feels they are necessary.

So Bush gets the money, and he can ignore the benchmarks. Perhaps they can add an amendment that lets him use Pelosi as a footstool, too. Pelosi has said she will not support the supplemental bill.  Mr. 28% looked at them and they’ve apparently blinked.

It seems as though that spine transplant that some thought the Dems had gotten turned out to be just a few vertebrae. Doctors now report that those few vertebrae actually have several herniated disks.

So, what now? You can start by calling Peter Welch’s office at (888) 605-7270 (in VT) or (202)225-4115 (in DC) and letting him know what you think. If Welch is serious about ending the war (and let’s not turn this into yet another impeachment thread, please), this is most definitely a make-or-break moment. Make sure he knows that.

crossposted at (http://evolvingworld…)

As the Vermont Legislature rapped up its session a week ago, news and opinions have dominated the prognosis of the recent energy bill and the last minute education compromise; however important agriculture legislation has barely received a bleep on the radar screen. THE VIABILITY OF VERMONT AGRICULTURE, H522 not only has passed the Vermont House and Senate but has just been signed by Governor Douglas.

There are many parts to this bill that deserve recognition but to many observers, this bill had one outstanding provision and that was in regards to poultry provisions. Thus to many, it was known as the Chicken Bill. As of today small scale Vermont farmers (producers of less than 1,000 birds per year), will be able to sell their poultry directly to consumers at the farm and farmers markets, as well as local restaurants without going through the high regulatory barriers of state inspection.

There’s more…

Myself as a vegetarian, am ecstatic about its passage for a number of reasons. As a personal reference, I began a vegetarian diet as a general disapproval of the large scale farm industry that has manipulated the raising of meats to a factory like setting. The meats consumers receive in a supermarket do not represent meats found in the natural world. Animals in a factory farm system are feed unnatural diets, injected with dangerous hormones and bred for specific genetic qualities. As well, in addition most animals are systematically confined to small areas for their entire lives and are forced to live an unnatural live. Even so called large scale “free range” produced animals are just given limited access to the natural environment. One could debate the philosophical questions of this practice, but as a consumer there are stark differences to industrial produced meats compared to those of naturally raised meats whether it is with taste or the health attributes.

In addition, to my ethical and health concerns of industrialized meats, the current large scale farming procedures are just not environmentally sustainable. The average American meal travels 1,500 miles and those added costs are producing higher levels of carbon. Current American trends of a fast food diet of 4,500 calories demands ten times as much energy in fossil fuels to produce. So what is needed is a more balanced sustainable approach to agriculture and that entails fostering a local and natural based agricultural system.

For farmers, the bill is a great economic boost. The high cost of processing birds just did not make sense for small scale producers. They were stifled by regulations set in place to protect the public from the harms of industrialized producers. Instead now with the advent of the bill’s passage farmers can diversify their farm and not only become more economically stable they can become more ecologically balanced. As a direct result farmers are given greater opportunities to profit while at the same time protecting our treasured rural landscape. Fostering local farms protect the land from being turned into sub developments since they are becoming more economically viable.

The passage of THE VIABILITY OF VERMONT AGRICULTURE is an important step forward in creating a sound environmentally sustainable environment. I hope that we see more proactive measures coming from our government in helping fostering ideas like this to move forward. Our food resources are as important as the air we breathe, so big thanks goes to the Vermont House and Senate Agriculture Committees for diligently working on these issues and for Governor Douglass signing the bill. Oh, yeah and yes I will eat chicken again, but only locally from a farmer I know.

Peace
Robb Kidd

“Were the walls of our meat industry to become transparent, literally or even figuratively, we would not long continue to raise, kill, and eat animals the way we do.” Michael Pollan, author of “The Omnivore’s Dilemma”

Today Bill Richardson made it very official — in Spanish, in California: he is a candidate for the Democratic nomination to run for president of the United States. And, in a campaign stop in Iowa,  reported by NPR’s Linda Wertheimer he said a lot of what I want to hear from EVERY Democratic presidential candidate:

Withdraw ALL the troops from Iraq — no advisers, no fudging.

Give active-duty vets a “hero card” which they could use like an insurance card to pay for health care at the provider of their choice.

Ending dependence on oil and cutting greenhouse emissions by 80% by 2040, and 50-mpg cars within 5 years.

Preventing nuclear proliferation.

National scholarships (remember Pell grants?).

And there is more that I can’t remember or access right now.

Even the Chicago Tribune agrees that he’s got “arguably the best resume” among the Democratic candidates: he’s been a member of Congress, is now a governor (the electorate likes executives for executive positions), was ambassador to the United Nations, was Clinton’s Energy Secretary, has done troubleshooting in North Korea and Iraq (while Saddam Hussein was running the place).

It’s way too early to commit. But at least he’s making the right noises.

NanuqFC

Welcome to Pottersville has a great Frank Rich piece today about the symbolic importance of Jerry Falwell’s death:

Though Mr. Falwell had long been an embarrassment and laughingstock to many, including a new generation of Christian leaders typified by Mr. Kuo, the timing of his death could not have had grander symbolic import. It happened at the precise moment that the Falwell-Robertson brand of religious politics is being given its walking papers by a large chunk of the political party the Christian right once helped to grow. Hours after Mr. Falwell died, Rudy Giuliani, a candidate he explicitly rejected, won the Republican debate by acclamation. When the marginal candidate Ron Paul handed “America’s mayor” an opening to wrap himself grandiloquently in 9/11 once more, not even the most conservative of Deep South audiences could resist cheering him. If Rudy can dress up as Jack Bauer, who cares about his penchant for drag?

Wasn’t the MSM coverage of Falwell’s passing kind of funny? Aside from from the obvious nutjobs, people were struggling to say something, anything nice about the departed Christofascist gasbag.

This weekend I was thinking about the impact of Giuliani not giving in on his pro-choice stance. Although I am quite certain he will not win the nomination (nor will the GOP win the presidency), I can’t help but wonder if it will have a larger ripple effect in terms of bringing those who would like to vote GOP but are nauseated by the theocrats back into the fold. Now, aside from the fact that he seems to be a major sleazebag, there’s still no getting past the simple fact that Giuliani’s worst thing is his unapologetic warmongering and his continual sodomizing of the corpse of 9-11. And although that kind of thing still impresses the 25% still supportive of Bush (whom I suspect would also be impressed and enthralled by waving a piece of string with a feather on it in front of them), I don’t think that’s going to play well with people who don’t buy into that kind of b.s. anymore.

I’m thrilled to death about the fact that the GOP is so utterly, unbelievably screwed on so many levels. It’s sickening (and revealing) that the main reservation about the war expressed to the Prez in that GOP meeting a week or two ago was how the war is hurting GOP chances in the next election. Wow, they’ve finally found a good reason to be against the war – self-preservation. How noble. Sit back and grab the popcorn, this is going to be an interesting show.

(Don’t read this over dinner — and hang in there until after the jump.
– promoted by NanuqFC)

Bill Lippert’s been on quite the emotional rollercoaster over the past week or so. There was the close of a tough legislative session for the House Judiciary chairman, and the O’Really? Factoid ambush over breakfast in the State House (Freyne has his original story with a link to O’Really?’s site and a followup with the Speaker and the Pres Pro Tem about their letter to Faux News. O’Really? has his own followup charging the Rutland Herald with being a “corrupt enterprise” in response to its publication of Democratic consultant Bill Lofy’s Op-Ed castigating Fox for its bigotry in choosing Lippert to harass [check out the “in case you missed it: Vermont Chaos! Vermont paper turns Jessica’s law into a gay issue!” on O’Really?’s site] There’s more follow-up, including an editorial from Randal Smathers about O’Really?’s attackdogs calling him to object. Got all that?)

Lofy covered some of the threats that Lippert received via email. But here are a few others from among those I asked him to send me during a phone conversation on Friday:

i couldnt even tell you were a transvestite when i saw you making such a douche of yourself on oreilly.  and your drag queen friends that were trying to protect you were classic.  are all you socialist liberal pieces of crap like that?  maybe you queens could rent a pair of testicles next time you are on television?

you are one disgusting person, i really dont know how you can live with yourself,keep on smiling,you could give a shit about children,i spread the word on your state,over the web,keeping people from visiting the state of v.t,and it works. do me a favor drive fast and reckless,

Lippert sucks muslim dicks and likes it. I hope you get the shit beat out of you on a regular basis.

One such email began with the subject line: “Bill Lippert go drown yourself you pedophile bastard” and continued:

I hope you die of natural causes like a heart attack you F’ing bastard for protecting fags, and doing nothing for Jessica’s law. f you you ugly old white trash. America will soon turn to a militia, after this keeps going on. Vermont is shit, with all white trash.

The story gets better below the fold — and by better, I mean less disgusting and more uplifting. I promise.

There were also a couple of stern but polite ones in the batch he sent, including this one, signed (as many of the more vitriolic ones were not) and from someone who identified himself as from Vermont:

Sir, I don’t agree with the way Bill O’Reilly and his reporters conduct interviews, but a reporter was allowed access to speak to you, and you didn’t answer his question. You had an opportunity to set the record straight and you dropped the ball. What really was more disturbing was all your fellow law makers could do was boo the reporter. That and your no reply answer makes Bill O’Reilly look good and Vermont look bad. I await your reply. [signed, with mailing address and email address]

Another of the more polite ones:

Sir, I was watching Bill O’Rilley last night.  You said Vermont just increased the sentencing terms for child predators. I also watched Keith Olberman and he said O’Rilley got it all wrong. I am just trying to learn the honesty of each of those “Talking Heads”.

Can you tell me what you meant when you said the laws were strengthen [sic]. Actually if you can give me a web site address that show the various laws, and you give me the law’s number, I can do the research myself.

Thank you for your guidance.

I wouldn’t want to lead GMD readers to believe that all Faux News/O’Really? watchers are as ill-informed and block-headed as the majority of the emails might suggest.

One of the 27 O’Really?-prompted emails Bill shared with me (which he had previously shared with Speaker Gaye Symington) was particularly nasty and blatant about its homophobia:

There has never been any correlation between homosexuality and Pedophilia, ……. Until now. […] Therapy is as successful conquering pedophilia, as it is with conquering  homosexuality.  The ONLY solution is incarceration or castration. […] If I were you,  I would seriously consider killing myself.

Now we get to the good part. Bill Lippert, whom I’ve known for 25 years, did an interview with Vermont Public Radio last Thursday to talk about the ambush, the reality of Vermont’s sex offender laws, and the emails he’d been getting.

Here are a few quotes from the 31 (plus) emails he got after that interview aired:

I was fortunate enough to listen to your segment on NPR [sic] regarding your Bill O’Reilly encounter.  I feel sad and scared to know that such people are in the public eye broadcasting such inaccurate and atrocious information.  I greatly appreciate all that you do for the state of Vermont and beyond.  I completely support your decision to  not support Jessica’s Law as I agree that its protocol would not protect the victims, properly rehabilitate the predators, or keep our communities safe. I was devasted to hear that you are receiving such emails as the one you read on the air today.  It’s scary to think how many intolerate, judmental [sic], and hateful people there are in the world.

I heard your interview on VPR this morning, and cannot refrain from writing you a letter of support.  It is appalling that these representatives of a foreign culture would come to Vermont to mount this kind of personal and baseless attack.  Your tolerance, intelligence, courage, and insight are evident in your articulate responses.
  I never am able to get over my surprise and sadness at the bigotry, ignorance, ugliness, and hate that seem to prevail in some quarters of our society.  I can assure you that most of us here in Vermont think that in fact it is you who represent the true and great traditions of our State, of our entire species, really, the traditions of open-mindedness, fairness, justice, tolerance, and compassion, which are the only values that stand between us and chaos.
  I know this episode must have been very hurtful.  Please know that there are a great many of us here who share a little fraction of that pain vicariously, and who hold you in the highest respect.  Your have made Vermont a better place for all of us.

I just heard your interview on VPR.  You are among the special, honorable people that make me proud to be a Vermonter.  Caring, intelligent, thoughtful and reasonable views like yours are notably lacking in our country’s public discourse.

I listened to you on VPT [sic] this morning and was so impressed with your composure, unwavering dedication and professional demeanor in light of what you experienced recently and in the past–in direct contrast to what you encountered eating breakfast at the state house.  I appreciate all that you are doing and have been doing and am so glad I live in Vermont so I can live next door to upstanding people like you.  The ignorance and hate that exists in this country and planet is too much sometimes to handle and gets overwhelming, but I hear you and remember that leading by example every day will hopefully make some change happen.

I caught your interview on VPR this morning – I hope you could hear my shout of “well done” from down the road in Williston. You did a great job explaining Vermont’s approach to the sex offender legislation.  You were measured and rational, such a sharp contrast to the hysterical attacks you were addressing.  The excerpt you read from the e-mail was chilling, and effective – who could fail to note the irony of the violence and immorality of the writer.  Allusion to suicide?!  I personally think we need to clone you.  I can only hope my four kids will take to heart the political and personal courage you have shown, you are an amazing role model for them.  You are my hero.

I have been following the story since Saturday, and have been enraged on your behalf– on so many levels. Thank you for your hard work on many critical issues facing Vermonters, but especially those related to the civil rights of members of the LGBT community. The courage it must require to withstand the persecution you have clearly faced as an openly gay legislator is truly inspiring.

There were many more in the same vein.

There’s one more piece, which can be read as a true example of how to be an ally, OR as a truly inspired political play — or both, as these things so often are (my view, not Bill’s, btw).

Bill told me he was called by a network television news local outlet for an interview on Tuesday, after O’Really?’s piece had aired over at Faux. “I just really didn’t want to do it,” Bill said. “And when I said that to Gaye [Symington], she said, ‘You shouldn’t have to do it, Bill. I’ll do it.'” And she did.

On the one hand, Gaye was among the legislators who supported civil unions from the beginning and maybe even went on one of the legislator speaking tours to talk about it. For a straight person to offer to take on a media interview on behalf of a gay beleagured colleague, essentially stepping into the target zone,  and do a creditable job is the mark of a true ally — just as has happened here on GMD when the homophobes stomp by.

On the other hand, how will Bill now feel about voting against the Speaker, as he did during the impeachment vote? Does Bill owe the Speaker something? or was what Gaye did the obligation of any decent person to one persecuted out of bigotry? And can Bill see it that way?

NanuqFC

In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act — George orwell