WHICH IS WORSE: USING THE WORD, "CRAP" OR THE WORD, "NEGRO" ...

WASHINGTON - The chairman of the Republican National Committee on Saturday admonished one of his potential successors for giving his fellow Republicans a CD featuring a song called "Barack the Magic Negro."

Apparently someone named Chip Saltsman, who is seeking the Republican National Committee(RNC) chairmanship, sent potential committee members a 41-track CD by conservative comedian Paul Shanklin a Christmas message that included a song to the tune of "Puff the Magic Dragon." It is about President-elect Barack Obama and was entitled "Obama the 'Magic Negro'".

I can not be the only person who thinks this kind of rhetoric is beyond the pale. And I can only hope that more eloquent "word smiths" than I will condemn Misters Saltsman, Shanklin and others who claim such disgusting, trash talk is simply a "sense of humor."

The question I have is why does this type of thing come from fundamentalist Christians, conservative Republicans, and/or folks who claim to "love America"? I just don't get it. I just don't get it!

HOLIDAY PROTEST ...

This picture was taken at another holiday protest against the passage of Prop 8. It was supposed to be a quiet, no signs event. We had enough people to cover the four corners of two historic main streets in town. What is surprising me are the number of str8 people who show up at these events ... And young people too; perhaps that is the best part ...

NOTE: tiny little battery candle in my hand ... no more wax on the hands! the times are changing.

FREE AT LAST ... ALMOST

Few things have shaped my political life like Los Angeles Times political cartoonist, Paul Conrad. For thirty years he shaped the Op/Ed page of the Times thanks in large part to the last and only progressive member of the Chandler family of editors.

Conrad's time at the Times spanned several in a line of the greatest evils in American politics. Until now the worst was a man named Nixon.

Trying to use words to explain his art is never easy but because one of his drawing has always been so important to me, I will try.

On the very last day that former President Richard M. Nixon left office, Conrad drew a picture of two black hands, from the wrist up, hands reaching upward. Around each wrist was a hand cuff. But as those heaven sent hands reach upward, they broke the links of those cuffs between them.

Under that drawing was printed the words, "Free at last, thank God Almighty, free at last!"

When even an even greater "evil" leaves office this January 20th 2009, I will once again remember Conrad's art and pray those words, as I did then: "Free at last, thank God Almighty, free at last!"

Free at last! Thank God almighty!

PASADENA PROP 8 DEMONSTRATIION

"If Prop 8 is allowed to stand, it goes much beyond the issue of marriage equality and puts all of our rights at risk," said San Francisco city attorney Dennis Herrera, who is leading the legal fight.

Ashton Kutcher on Prop 8

Ashton Kutcher appeared on Real Time with Bill Maher last night. They discussed Prop 8.