  SOUTH DAKOTA SENATOR APOLOGIZES FOR REMARKS South Dakota Senator Tim Johnson (D) apologized for remarks made at a campaign rally comparing the Republicans to the Taliban. Johnson had said, "'And how sweet it's going to be on June 2 when the Taliban wing of the Republican Party finds out what's happened in South Dakota. " Republicans were furious about the remarks, which they called "repulsive" and "an attack on the character of all Republicans in South Dakota. " Johnson quickly apologized, saying that he was addressing an outside group who had referred to Johnson as a "Saddam Hussein or Osama Bin Laden" during the 2002 election.
Source: Associated Press, May 27, 2004 Now, I don't really think that name calling is ever good form, but I love how the Republicans get so up in arms. I don't know how many interviews I saw with Republicans commenting on Johnson's remarks as if Democrats were the only ones capable of insensitve comments. I mean, please, let's forget about top Bush/Chenney '04 adviser Karen Hughes' insensitive and divissive comments likening pro-choice activists to terrorists on CNN's "Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer.
" In the interview, she said, "I think after September 11, the American people are valuing life more...and I think those are the kind of policies the American people can support, particularly at a time when we're facing an enemy, and really, the fundamental difference between us and the terror network we fight is that we value every life. " To date, she has never really offered a meaningful apology. So, basically...get over yourselves, Republicans, you can't ask for apologies without making sincere ones yourselves.
ASHCROFT CRITICIZED FOR TERROR WARNING On May 26, Attorney General John Ashcroft made an alarming statement implying that his Department of Justice had received new information about terrorist plots and warning Americans to be prepared for a major terrorist attack being planned by al Qaeda in the next coming months. Interestingly enough, Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge made a statement afterward saying that, despite the alarming news by the Justice Department, the terror level would remain at yellow instead of being raised to orange. Members of Congress and some members of the Bush Administration criticized Ashcroft's announcement as "overblown and caused unnecessary public concern. " Some criticized the lack of communication between the U.S. Justice Department and the Department of Homeland Security. While the Department of Justice noted that there was no new intelligence on terror attacks, it defended its actions.
Said Mark Corallo, a U.S. Justice Department spokesperson, "It's part of our strategy to defeat the bad guys. It puts them on edge. " Source: Associated Press, May 27, 2004 -- posted at 6:13 and 6:31 pm EST I'm sorry? It's part of our strategy to defeat the bad guys? Is the strategy to make terrorists believe that our key governmental offices are still lacking the ability to communicate with each other and send a consistent message? Is the strategy to panic all Americans? I don't get the strategy...will somebody please explain it to me?
FAMILY OF SLAIN TRANSGENDER TEEN SEEK POSTHUMOUS NAME CHANGE The family of Gwen Araujo, a Newark California teen who was brutally murdered in October 2002 for being transgender, are seeking to offficially change Gwen's name on her birth certificate. Gwen was born Eddie Araujo, but the family had known her as Gwen for years. After her murder, the media had a difficult time grasping how to report the name of a transgender person who hadn't had their name officially changed. "The courts serve as a voice for the people of California," Transgender Law Center's Christopher Daley said. "By filing this petition, we gave the people an opportunity to explicitly recognize Gwen as Gwen. " Superior Court Commissioner Thomas Surh called the move a "novel idea" and told Gwen's mother that he'd let her know a decision within a month.
Source: Associated Press, May 27, 2004 There will not be any humorous commentary here. I included this because I had once helped with media visibility around this case and saw the challenges with name identification. I applaud the Araujo family for honoring Gwen in this way. FOX SHELVES HOMOPHOBIC SHOW FOX cancelled its plans to run a two-hour reality show entitled (and I kid you not) Seriously, Dude, I'm Gay . The show revolves around two straight men who have to convince their families and friends (obviously, through use of offensive stereotypes) that they are gay. Early press materials for the show described it as "a heterosexual male's worst nightmare: turning gay overnight. " Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) Executive Director Joan M. Garry and Entertainment Media Director Stephen Macias refered to the show as "an exercise in systematic humiliation, with contestants referring to the experience as their 'worst nightmare' and complaining that they were 'trapped in gay hell. '" "This should serve as a model for other networks producing gay-themed programming," Garry said. "Such programming should be done well -- or it shouldn't be done at all. " Source: GLAAD Press Release, May 27, 2004 It's okay, straight men, it would really be my worst nightmakre turning straight overnight. Now, that would be hell to me, having to spit in appropriate places, work on cars and play contact sports where you eventually have to slap your male teammate on the ass.........er.......strike that last part as being hellish. 
