DSP

CNN Opinion: Young and Out in Mississippi

2013-05-09T23:16:00.000-05:00

CNN is featuring this short clip, which highlights the voices of several young LGBT Mississippians:

Mississippi Supreme Court Issues Stay of Execution for Willie Manning

2013-05-07T16:26:00.001-05:00

With only hours to left before his scheduled 6 p.m. execution today, the Mississippi State Supreme Court voted 8-1 to issue a reprieve for Willie Manning. His execution will be delayed while new DNA testing of previously untested evidence is examined. Justice Michael Randolph dissented.

The Innocence Project released a statement shortly after:

"Hopefully, Manning, who has spent 20 years on death row maintaining his innocence in the deaths of Jon Steckler and Tiffany Miller, will now have the opportunity to do DNA testing that could prove his innocence. This past week, the FBI notified the state that there were flaws in both the hair and ballistics evidence that was used to convict Manning."

Today, Mississippi Could Put an Innocent Man to Death, Despite New Evidence

2013-05-07T07:16:00.000-05:00

In mere hours from now – at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 7, 2013 – Willie Manning will be put to death for his role in the 1992 murders of two white MSU students, John Steckler and Tiffany Miller. At the time, forensic evidence matching hairs at the scene, a jailhouse "whistleblower"'s testimony, and the testimony of Manning's former girlfriend all seemed to seal the deal; Manning was clearly guilty. And so, to Death Row he went, with constant attempts for a new trial dismissed.

Willie Manning (Source: MS. Dept. of Corrections)

But doubt surrounds the case even now, as new evidence, technological advancements, the recanting of one witness, and the collapse of the credibility of another threatens our understanding of what happened on that December night in 1992.

Manning's case, it turns out, is part of a broad review of the FBI's handling of thousands of cases in the 80s and the 90s. The Justice Department sought to correct errors in forensic hair analysis done during cases at the time. The DOJ believes that there may have been many cases where the so-called hair "matches" were erroneous. Since there was no evidence directly linking Manning to the crime scene (and since fingerprints found in the car of one of the victims were not his), the "African American hair" that was found inside the car was of utmost importance in convicting him.

In April, the Mississippi Supreme Court ruled 5-4 against allowing Manning's lawyers to reexamine a rape kit, fingernail scrapings, hair, and fingerprint evidence in the case; DNA testing was never done to see if they could link Manning to the killings, or if they could possibly point elsewhere. The Mississippi Supreme Court's argument was that that, even if Manning's DNA wasn't present, it wouldn't overturn his conviction.

It is true that there is plenty of circumstantial evidence against Manning. There is plenty of testimony, too.

A Flimsy Case

Earl Jordan, a jailhouse informant, testified that Manning had admitted to him that he killed the two white victims. The Prosecutor, Forrest Allgood, even sought to boost Jordan's credibility by announcing that Jordan had offered to take a lie detector test. What Allgood failed to disclose, at the time however, was that Jordan had already passed a previous lie detector test while claiming to have seen a separate suspect with the victims.

Today, however, Jordan says that Manning "never said he killed them" and that, at the time, he thought he would receive "consideration" from the prosecutors for incriminating Manning.

There was also Paula Hathorn, who provided circumstantial evidence indicating that Manning may have been in possession of, and tried to sell, items stolen from the victims like Steckler's watch and class ring, just days after the killings. She also pointed to a tree where she said Manning had used for a target practice; the type of bullets were said to match those used in the killings. But Hathorn, it turns out, seriously misrepresented herself under oath. She claimed she received no favors for her incriminating testimony. But it was revealed later on that she was given, in exchange, a favorable plea deal on previous fraud charges in addition to an $18,000 reward in money for testifying. None of that was disclosed to jurors at the time.

Another witness, Manning's cousin, also testified that Manning had confessed to the killings. But he offered several versions of this story. In the first telling, the cousin claimed that Manning had committed the crimes accompanied by two other men. In the re-telling, the cousin said Manning had confessed to committing the crimes with only a second man.

If Allgood was happy to have the cousin's testimony, he certainly wasn't interested in pursuing a possible second or third suspect in the killings; once Manning was the target, there was never any interest shown in apprehending anyone else – not even an accomplice.

But there's also the fact that Manning was convicted of another double homicide, in the killing of two elderly women in their apartment in Starkville, Miss., in 1993. But even in that case, evidence was circumstantial, and Manning could not be directly linked to the crime. A bloody shoe print at the scene has never been connected to any suspect; the size of the bloody print was an 8, but Manning wears a size 11 1/2. It may seem even more incriminating to consider that Manning has been convicted of two double homicides, but remember, Forrest Allgood was the prosecutor in that case, too.

And from the beginning, Allgood had settled on Manning as the purveyor of the crimes.

Years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court case Batson v. Kentucky ruled that any sort of racial discrimination in jury selection violated the Equal Protection Clause. But when Allgood was selecting jurors for the Manning trial, he ensured an all-white jury, striking down jurors simply because they read "black magazines" like Jet. But even black perspective jurors who gave similar answers to white perspective jurors were given peremptory strikes by the prosecutor, who clearly sought to ensure that there would be no one on the Manning trial jury who looked like him.

If Forrest Allgood's reputation told a better story, we might be able to forgive a few oddities here or there. But Allgood has a history.

A Tale of Two Innocents

In 2008, the Mississippi Innocence Project was able to help procure the release of two men who had been wrongly accused of very similar murders and sentenced to death.

One of those men was Levon Brooks, a black man, who was convicted in 1992 of the rape and murder of his ex-wife's child. Courtney Smith was taken from her home and her body was later found in a pond. With the assistance of "bite expert" Dr. Michael West, a dentist from Hattiesburg, the prosecution was able to prove that Smith bore the bite marks of Levon Brooks, and Brooks was convicted for her rape and murder.

Then, in 1995, Kennedy Brewer, another black man, was convicted of a nearly identical crime that took place 18 months after the murder of Courtney Smith. Brewer's girlfriend's three-year-old daughter, Christine Jackson, was kidnapped, raped, and murdered.

Courtney Smith, the victim of a vicious 1990 murder. (Source: Screenshot / NPR)

Once again, the prosecutor brought in the same medical examiner who had performed the autopsy on Smith's body. Hayne, collaborating once again with the dentist West, found bite marks on the little girl's body. This time, West concluded that the bite marks were made by the teeth of none other than Kennedy Brewer.

And so Kennedy Brewer and Levon Brooks, in the span of just a few years, were convicted of identical crimes on the basis of Hayne and West's "forensic" examination. At this point, it's worth noting that, thanks to a system West had helped set up, Hayne was netting over $1 million a year at the time time, working for prosecutors across the state, performing six-times the number of autopsy "examinations" per year that a single examiner should.

But Hayne and West had such a strong working relationship with the lead prosecutor for the Brewer and Brooks cases – with District Attorney Forrest Allgood – that it didn't matter if their work might be less than in-depth.

In 2001, while Brewer was on death row, new DNA testing proved that the semen in the little girl's body was not his, meaning that he couldn't have been the one to rape her, making it highly unlikely that he was the one who killed her. Brewer's conviction was vacated and he was taken off death row, but Allgood signaled an intent to retry him for the murder and seek the death penalty yet again.

So for five years, Brewer sat in a county jail while Allgood twiddled his thumbs.

detector test; failed to disclose that Earl had previously passed such a test when claiming to have seen another suspect with one of the victims.

Then, the Innocence Project changed everything when, in 2007, it sought to represent Brewer in a new trial. Soon, the Innocence Project was aware of the strikingly similar sister case, the Brooks case. And through new examination, it was revealed that the "bite marks" on the girls' bodies weren't bite marks at all – at least, certainly not bite marks that could be traced back to any single man. They were marks consistent with two bodies that had been dragged, scraped, and left in the water with fish, turtles, and insects. Suddenly, the biggest part of the evidence used in trial against the two men was defunct.

With the help of the Attorney General's investigative team, the Innocence Project found evidence that pointed instead to 51-year-old Justin Albert Johnson. At the time of both of the murders, he had lived near the house of the victim. He was a predator with a history of attacking women and young girls. And he had been a suspect in both cases, but was ignored each time when Allgood decided to singularly pursue other men – Brooks and Brewer. Finally, DNA testing on evidence from the Brewer case matched Johnson's DNA profile, and in 2008, investigators from the Attorney General's office moved to arrest Johnson. Johnson then confessed to having been a lone actor in both murders.

Soon, with over thirty years of prison time between them, both Levon Brooks and Kennedy Brewer were set free from crimes they knew they had never, and would have never, committed. They were absolved of those heinous crimes.

And Allgood's response to all of this? "At least nobody died," he said. Well, no. Even if you ignore the fact that two innocent men had decades of their lives taken, a second little girl died who would've never been killed if prosecutors had gone after the right man the first time. If Justin Albert Johnson had been arrested and tried for the 1990 murder of Courtney Smith, he never would've had the chance to murder Christine Jackson years later. But because Allgood (a name dripping with such Rowling-esque irony that it shouldn't even be real) had locked in on a "bad guy" and staked his claim on Levon Brooks, a known sexual predator who lived right in the neighborhood was never seriously considered as a suspect.

But hey, "At least nobody died." Nobody, Mr. Allgood, except Christine Jackson.

Christine Jackson, who was a victim of a vicious murder in the early 1990s. (Source: Screenshot / NPR)

But Allgood's blood lust wasn't yet sated. With Brooks and Brewer still alive, he wanted to seek the death penalty, now, for the third man to be prosecuted for the murders. But when the families of the victims sent him letters asking him not to seek the death penalty for Johnson, he relented:

"My personal opinion is that anybody that rapes and kills a small child deserves the death penalty," Allgood said. "...Quite frankly, I would have preferred to have tried him and sought the death penalty."

Yes, Mr. Allgood, we know you would've. We know that you would love to fry anyone, guilty or not guilty, and if you make a mistake or two along the way, well, "Oops!" --At least nobody died, except, of course, the little girl who did die and the two men who had decades of their lives stripped from them.

Manning's Last Hope

Ultimately, the Willie Manning case does seem to have a lot more circumstantial evidence that points to his guilt. The evidence against Manning is certainly more compelling than it ever was against Brooks or Brewer. But even so, if there's even a chance that he's innocent, aren't we obligated to run those DNA tests? Aren't we obligated to reexamine those "Native American hairs" that were used in the trial against him to see if Allgood's "hair" evidence" is of any more forensic worth than his "bite mark" evidence? And, if there's any truth behind claims by Manning's cousin that there was someone else involved in the crime, shouldn't we be testing that evidence to ensure that, if anyone else was involved, they also see justice?

This isn't just about Willie Manning. This is about how we do justice in this country. This is about the thousands of others who could be wrongly imprisoned or put to death just because we didn't want to be thorough. What do we have to lose? If Manning is guilty, the evidence will show it. If someone else is guilty, then there's a strong possibility that, somewhere, another killer is running free. Are we really willing to send this man to his death amid all these doubts?

The only salvation for Willie Manning now is if Gov. Phil Bryant orders a stay of execution so that the testing – offered by the FBI – can be completed. As of Monday, Bryant was reviewing the case, but had yet to make a decision.

In a new post, the ACLU called on Bryant to make the decision to allow the testing to go forward – and to keep Manning alive until its results come forward:

"In the face of the evidence of innocence discovered since the trial, the Supreme Court of Mississippi failed to uphold its duty to serve justice. The Court decided that it would not stop Manning's execution to allow new DNA testing. Now, only a decision by Governor Bryant is likely to permit this crticial testing. Executions are not the place to act first and ask questions later. These grave questions of innocence should be answered before it is too late."

Whether or not Bryant will act remains to be seen. But with mere hours left, we'll know Manning's fate – and perhaps, in some part, the fate of our justice system – very soon. It's Allgood, you say? Hardly.

The following is an NPR report on the Brewer and Brooks cases:

Palazzo: Gays Have Bullied the Boy Scouts "Worse Than Any Group Has Ever Been Bullied Before"

2013-05-07T04:58:00.001-05:00

U.S. Congressman Steven Palazzo (R-MS) appeared on a Family Research Council webchat to speak out against attempts to remove the Boy Scouts of America's ban on gay scouts. Palazzo accused gays of "bullying" the Scouts and working to "corrupt" the organization. (Source: Screenshot / RightWingWatch)

With the possibility that the Boy Scouts of America might finally discard its ban on gay scouts, anti-gay groups like the Family Research Council are fighting back. The Family Research Council, which is a Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) designated hate group, held a "Stand With Scouts Sunday" web chat, where participants called the repeal of the ban a "sign of the end times" and warned it will cause America to "self-destruct."

Among the participants were Texas Gov. Rick Perry as well as U.S. Congressman Steven Palazzo from Mississippi's 4th District. Palazzo, who has fought for anti-gay policies in the past, expressed that he felt the Boy Scouts were victims of "bullying" worse than "any group or organization had ever been bullied." See for yourself:

"I'm not leaving any stone unturned on what I can do personally to protect the Boys Scouts from this popular culture, this liberal agenda that is being crammed down their throat. I feel like, in a large sense, that the Boys Scouts are being bullied, worse than any group or organization has ever been bullied before. They've been intimidated... They're being harassed, and at the end of the day they're also being ridiculed by some in the liberal media."

"If America cannot support the Boys Scouts of America, and telling them to stand strong, then what do we stand for as a country? And it's not just to defeat the policy that they're proposing, but also to remove the agitators that are trying to corrupt the Boys Scouts of America and bend to the popular culture."

Notice that Palazzo could not bring himself to say the word "gay" or even the colder "homosexual." The topic is so unsavory to him that he opted instead to allude to... them with "liberal agenda," "pop culture," and "agitators" (It's not an anomaly – he does this all the time when referring to gay people). So uncomfortable with gay people, Palazzo is, that he could not even bring himself to recognize them as people with lives, emotions, dreams, and yes, hearts. For him, gay people must remain a distant collectivized threat, a symbol of evil and, yes, corruption. Because if we admitted that gay people were actually people and not some scary cabal from the underworld, well, that might undermine our efforts to deny them the same God-given rights to justice, equal treatment, and basic human dignity that we recognize real people as deserving.

Because if gay people really are "people," then maybe we would also have to admit that they've endured far worse bullying than the organization that actively discriminates against gay kids will ever know. While the BSA tells gay kids that they are not worthy of joining unless they deny who they are, all anyone is asking the BSA is that they stop discriminating against gay kids, and that they stop crushing their hopes, their dreams, and denying them equal human dignity that every kid deserves.

There are bullies here, for sure. But it's not coming from the unmentionables. It's coming from cowards like Rep. Palazzo who don't have enough moral fiber to stand up for the weak and the outcast. Shame on you, Steven Palazzo.

See the shameful video of the cowardly Congressman below, courtesy of RightWingWatch. After the jump:

Photo Essay: The War Over Mississippi's Last Abortion Clinic

2013-04-30T23:52:00.000-05:00

This photo essay is the result of several months of photo documentation at Mississippi's last abortion clinic, the Jackson Women's Health Organization in Jackson. My goal in producing this essay was to tell the story of the daily conflict that takes place between the sidewalk, the parking lot, and the front door of the clinic. Women who arrive for health services are often met by loud yells, preaching, and singing from pro-life protestors who stalk the sidewalks, waiting for the chance to dissuade patients as soon as they arrive. Police cars, videographers and photojournalists (like me) are a common sight outside the clinic. While a fence alongside the front of the clinic helps women avoid some of the protesting, clinic escorts are also readily available to help navigate women from the parking lot to the clinic entrance.

I began this endeavor in January 2013, on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade ruling, which legalized abortion nationwide. From January through April, a flurry of activity surrounded the clinic. There was the "40 Days for Life" event held by protestors nationwide during the Lent season, during which pro-life activists vowed to keep protestors at clinics nationwide every day (not a problem for the protestors in Jackson). Then, of course, there was the question over whether or not Gov. Phil Bryant's TRAP (Targeted Regulations of Abortion Providers) law would result in the clinic being shut down as early as April (a court ruling in April provided that it the clinic would not be forced to cease operation so long as a legal challenge to Bryant's law was underway).

Because this is a debate that really should've ended long ago – on January 22, 1973 to be exact – I decided to shoot the essay using the same medium that was used at that time: black and white film. The photos were shot using a Canon SLR loaded with Kodak film. Because, really, I shouldn't even have the opportunity to shoot protests like the ones seen here – not in the digital age.

University of Southern Mississippi to Play Major Role in Boston Response

2013-04-16T15:03:00.001-05:00

Screenshot from the Boston Globe footage as the first bomb went off at the Boston Marathon.

April 15, 2013 / Credit: Boston Globe

The University of Southern Mississippi may not seem like an obvious place for counter terrorism operations, but in the wake of the Boston Marathon bombings, one on-campus institute is gearing up to play a major role in the response. The National Center for Spectator Sports and Security, known as NCS4, is a Department of Homeland Security linked institution that operates out of the Trent Lott Center on the Southern Miss campus in Hattiesburg.

It is the only institution in the country that focuses primarily on fighting against terrorist activity at sporting events through research and training initiatives.

Calling Southern Miss "a leader in the the area of sports safety," NCS4 Director Lou Marciano expressed response plans when I spoke to him last night:

“The University of Southern Mississippi will be a facilitator of the best information that facilitates the best practices and training,” he said. “Our role is to digest this issue, work with the field, work with those that manage these events and first responders, and gather all we’ve learned from this tragedy so that in the future people can feel free to go to events like this and feel safe.”

In 2010, I wrote a piece for the USM student newspaper, the Student Printz, that examined the institutions inside the Trent Lott Center in response to complaints that the building was a just a "$28 million paper weight" that housed no significant activities. At the time, of course, few people on campus knew what NCS4 was. While the rest of us were busy focusing on threats to airports and transportation, NCS4 was already highly concerned about the potential for terrorist attacks at sporting events. From the 2010 article:

"We cannot see any case except sports games where there are so many people in one place at the same time," said Young Lee, a visiting professor [and security expert] from Daebul University in South Korea. "So that's why terrorists are very interested in sporting events, because our airports are very secure right now."

Stacey Hall, the associate director for NCS4, wanted to make it clear that NCS4 looks at more than just international terrorism. "When people think terrorism, they think 9/11; they think international terrorism. But domestic terrorism is also a problem.

"For example, you have the bombing by Eric Rudolph in the ‘96 Olympic games, you have Timothy McVeigh and the Oklahoma City bombings, and even in 2006, at the University of Oklahoma, a student with a bomb strapped to his body prematurely detonated a bomb outside the stadium. Fortunately, nobody was injured, but he died. Those kinds of things are our concerns."

I didn't realize how prescient the concerns expressed in that article would be when I wrote it in 2010, but others at NCS4 did.

Obviously, Marciano said, NCS4 hadn't managed to prevent the Boston bombings. That's partly because, while NCS4 was concerned about open air attacks, their main focus had been on stadiums and sports arenas, where such an explosion could feasibly kill hundreds if not thousands. But when the fourth annual National Sports Safety and Security Conference is held in July this summer, NCS4 will come with renewed discussion about sports safety, with a heavy emphasis on preventing attacks like the one yesterday in Boston.

For Now, Mississippi's Last Abortion Clinic Will Stay Open

2013-04-16T13:58:00.003-05:00

Diane Derzis, the owner of the Jackson Women's Health Organization in Jackson, MS, places a pro-choice placard outside the clinic.
January 22, 2013 / Photo by Ashton Pittman.

Mississippi's last abortion clinic, the Jackson Women's Health Organization (JWHO), will remain open – at least for now – after a federal judge in Mississippi issued a temporary restraining order Monday blocking enforcement of Governor Phil Bryant's anti-abortion regulations.

The law signed by Bryant would've required clinic doctors to have admitting privileges at a local hospital in order to perform abortions. Here's the catch: In order to get admitting privileges, doctors must live in state. The doctors at JWHO come in from out of state to perform abortions. Practically, that would've meant it would be impossible for JWHO to continue providing abortion services.

In January, Bryant admitted that the law was intended to shut the clinic down:

“My goal of course is to shut it down,” Bryant told a group of pastors in video captured by WJTV on Thursday.

Last April, Brayant told Family Research Council President Tony Perkins that Democrats had tried to kill the abortion clinic bill because “their one mission in life is to abort children, is to kill children in the womb.”

TRAP laws like this one, or "Targeted Regulation of Abortion Providers,"are intentionally designed to make it difficult for clinics like JWHO to continue operating.

The judge's ruling Monday means that the law will not be enforced – at least until a future decision. Clinic supporters had feared that the clinic could be forced to cease offering services to patients as soon as this week.

"I was teary eyed when I heard the news," Laurie Roberts, a clinic escort who helps patients avoid harassment protestors as they enter the clinic, wrote on her Facebook. "If you had seen the worry on the faces of women today who thought that maybe Thursday there would be no clinic – or even tomorrow – they wouldn't be able to get their procedures, you would know why."

It's only a temporary reprieve, but at least for the moment, supporters and patients of the Jackson Women's Health Organization can breathe a sigh of relief.

On Marriage Equality, Mississippi Among the Most Supportive Southern States

2013-04-11T15:10:00.000-05:00

Support for marriage equality, state-by-state, in 2012. Credit: Williams Institute, UCLA School of Law

Mississippi may not be known for moving speedily if it all (or ability to move forward when it does move), but at least on the issue of marriage equality, Mississippi is one of the fastest moving Southern states.

A new report from the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law indicates that support for marriage equality for same-sex couples has more than doubled since 2004, when Mississippians voted 86%-14% in favor of a state constitutional amendment to ban gay couples from marrying. Today, 34% of Mississippians favor marriage equality – a rise of 16 percentage points in the past 8 years, the Clarion Ledger notes.

Nationwide, according to Gallup polling, that puts Mississippi at about where the nation was in 1999, when just 35% of Americans supported legalizing same-sex marriage. It puts Mississippi ahead of where Americans were nationally when the Defense of Marriage Act was signed into law in 1996; at that time, only 27% of Americans supported legalized same-sex marriage.

According to the Williams Institute, Mississippi is the most supportive southern state for marriage equality after Georgia, North Carolina, and Florida. But Mississippi is outpacing even those states, whose support for marriage equality grew 15%, 15%, and 12%, respectively.

At current trends, a majority of Mississippians could support marriage equality within a decade. Even the slowest moving states could have majority support within the next 20 years:

Yet, all states are presently experiencing a trend reflecting increasing popular support for marriage for same-sex couples; the rates of change across states averaged 1.7% per year and ranged from 1% a year to 2.6% a year. Therefore, even the two states with the lowest levels of support in 2012, Louisiana and Arkansas at 31%, if accorded even the lowest rate of present change, 1% a year, are still only slightly less than 20 years from each having a majority on this issue.

Mississippi's 16-point jump is above the national average of 13-points.

Thatcher Was Far More of a Socialist Than Barack Obama

2013-04-08T21:58:00.002-05:00

Margaret Thatcher was far more liberal than modern Republicans, and more of a socialist than Barack Obama ever could be. Consider:

She supported the National Health Service, a truly socialized health care system in the United Kingdom. Unlike the conservative "Obamacare," NHS was truly socialist, and Margaret Thatcher was "genuinely proud" of the system.

She believed in climate change and believed that all nations should take part in combatting it. At the time, she said that "no one" was disputing the causes of it. Today, a majority of GOP voters believe Global Warming is a hoax.

She announced support for gun control policies after a deadly rampage and, a year later, the government passed a law banning semi-automatic weapons, changing gun ownership requirements, and banning other firearms.

She also believed in evolution. It's sad I even have to put this, considering science isn't really something we have the luxury of "believing in" or "not believing in."

She bragged about raising the amount of money devoted to the UK equivalent of Social Security.

She lowered the top income tax rates to 60%, and then to 40%. Even at Thatcher's lowest rates, it is still higher than "socialist" Obama's top income tax rates of 39%.

She also raised taxes.

She also had no interest in meeting the American conservative "Grizzly Mama," Sarah Palin, in 2011:

One Thatcher ally told the Guardian: "Lady Thatcher will not be seeing Sarah Palin. That would be belittling for Margaret. Sarah Palin is nuts."

So please, conservatives. Unless passing anti-gay laws is enough to make you consider someone a "true conservative," Thatcher really doesn't fit your definition. By some counts, she is far, far more of a "socialist" than Barack Obama ever will be. But maybe that says more about American conservatives than it does about Obama or Thatcher.

If that upsets conservatives, they need to just wait til I give them the rundown on the real Ronald Reagan.

Magazine Capacity Matters, Even if America Doesn't Think Dead Children Do

2013-04-07T20:04:00.001-05:00

In Tucscon, Arizona in 2011, Jared Lee Lougher shot 18 people (including Rep. Gabby Giffords) and killed 7 using a semi-automatic pistol with a 33-round magazine. In the time he was attempting to load another 33-round magazine, a bystander was able to take the magazine from him while another bystander clubbed him in the back of the head with a metal folding chair, stopping him. Imagine if he had been limited to 10 rounds and those citizen had been able to stop him after only 10 shots. Would young Christina-Taylor Green still be alive?

In Aurora, Colorado in the summer of 2012, James Holmes injured 58 people and killed 12, shooting with, among other weapons, a semi-automatic rifle with a 100-round drum magazine. With the lethal combination of highly destructive weapons and high capacity mags, Holmes fired as many as 50 shots a minute during the massacre. Before the 1994 assault weapons ban was allowed by Republicans to expire in 2004, it would've been extremely difficult for Holmes to get, not only an AR-15, but such a high capacity magazine.

In Newtown, Connecticut in December 2012, Adam Lanza killed 20 school children and 6 adult staff members at Sandy Hook Elementary. Using 30-round magazines and a semi-automatic rifle, he fired 154 bullets in the less than 5 minutes in which the shooting occurred. 154 bullets--That's more bullets than many gun owners and hunters ever shoot in their entire lifetime. There were only two people hit who survived, and every single victim was shot multiple times.

One child, 6-year-old Noah Pozner, was shot 11 times. Reports indicate that one child's face had nothing left of it but his eyes and curly brown hair; the lower half was obliterated by the force of Lanza's multiple shots. Lanza carried 10, 30-round magazines. In the time it took him to reload once, 11 children were able to escape from the room at one point, according to Nicole Hockley, whose 6-year-old son Dylan was killed by Lanza. Now, imagine if the 1994 law had remained in effect and Lanza had been limited to 10-rounds, forced to reload at least 6 more times.

There's a common thread in all of these massacres. No, it's not necessarily assault rifles; Loughner used a semi-automatic pistol. It's magazine capacity.

None of these shooters were stopped by a "good guy with a gun," despite the fact that the U.S. has the best armed civilian population on the planet with an average 89 guns in the United States per 100 civilians. That's far ahead of second place nation, Yemen, which has 55 for every 100 civilians, and Switzerland, which has 46 for every 100 civilians. America sees far more gun violence than any civilized nation, with 60% of homicides committed using guns. Yet Wayne LaPierre and the NRA says that the solution is more guns, because "the only thing that can stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun."

Yet of the 62 mass murders (not spree killings) that have taken place in the last three decades, none were stopped by armed civilians ("good guys") with guns. Of the the three massacres highlighted in this post, the only time a massacre was stopped, it was stopped, not by a good guy with a gun, but by a good guy with a metal folding chair--which was smacked against the back of Jared Lee Loughner's head as he attempted to reload.

Oh, and of those 62 mass murders over the last 30 years? Nearly half have taken place in the 9 years since the assault weapons ban expired in 2004, lifting the 10-round magazine cap. In the shootings since 1982, 85% of killers obtained their weapons legally.

Clearly, something has gone seriously wrong since the assault weapons ban expired in 2004. Something has been wrong for 30 years, but it's getting far, far worse. Of those 62 cases of mass murder, 7 took place in 2012 alone.

And America, seduced by the fear mongering and lies of the PR wing of the gun manufacturing industry--the NRA and its rodeo clown Wayne LaPierre--is letting the issue slip away, until the next made-for-TV mass murder grips our short attention spans again, at least for a little while.

It's just too bad that the parents of Newtown don't have the luxury of forgetting the way the rest of America does.

Former Mississippi Governor Endorses Marriage Equality

2013-03-21T15:12:00.002-05:00

This certainly isn't a headline you see every day. The Clarion Ledger is reporting that former Mississippi Governor Ronnie Musgrove (a Democrat, of course) has endorsed marriage equality nine years after leaving office in a piece for the Huffington Post. Now, he says, he not only believes that was wrong, but he believes LGBT families deserve equal treatment in all respects:

Former Miss. Governor Ronnie Musgrove

In my own upbringing, my family lacked the ability to provide a stable, nurturing environment. After my father died when I was seven and my mother entered into an abusive relationship, I shuffled between houses -- staying with friends, families from church, and relying on the kindness of teachers and people throughout my community to help me grow up essentially without parents.

As I thought about this issue, I came to understand that in order to do everything possible to keep another child from growing up like I did, we cannot continue to blindly disqualify people from becoming parents -- just as we should not deny an entire group of people the basic civil right of marriage -- simply because many of us fear what we do not understand.

Like a majority of Americans in recent years, I came to understand that fear of homosexuality was leading our governments -- including the one I ran as Governor of Mississippi -- to deny the equal rights to an entire segment of our population that are afforded all of us under the Constitution.

Like Sen. Portman, my evolution on LGBT adoption came from intensely personal reflections on my own life. What is sad to me is that my understanding of this issue did not come until after I had left office and no longer had the power to right this wrong. This reality weighs heavily on me to this day.

Musgrove reminds readers that he was the governor who once supported a law in Mississippi that made it illegal for LGBT couples to adopt. He obviously deeply regrets that decisions.

Thank you, Governor.

Read more here.

Crystal Craven Has Died. Her Family Needs Your Help.

2013-03-13T01:23:00.002-05:00

Jessica Powell (left) and Crystal Craven (right) hold hands on their wedding day in Laurel, Miss.
Crystal wore a cowboy hat to conceal her surgery scars. Photo by Cassidi Bush.

In February, Crystal Craven married the love of her life, Jessica Powell, in Laurel, Mississippi. They celebrated their love in a wedding ceremony in front of family and friends, just like any other couple dreams of doing. Even the local controversy their wedding caused couldn't stop them from celebrating their love. But a month later after Crystal married the love of her life, Crystal would die from the stage 4 brain cancer she'd been battling for over a year. Crystal passed away Monday, March 11.

When I first blogged about the hateful backlash the Laurel Leader-Call received after the initial story about Crystal and Jessica's wedding, so many of you came forth with an awesome outpouring of love I can't even describe. You donated to the Laurel Leader-Call in droves, people from all over the world payed for subscriptions of a small Mississippi paper a world away just to say, "Thanks." Emails and physical letters poured in from around the world, so much, in fact, that in days the letters of love outnumbered the hate mail 500-1. You all did the global gay community – and the global love community – proud. Oh, and, did I mention, the Leader-Call is going to be nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for the bravery they showed in covering this story? The Laurel Leader-Call thanks you so, so very much, as do I.

But now, the Laurel Leader-Call has another request – this time for Crystal's family. From Laurel Leader-Call writer Cassidi Bush, who followed Crystal and Jessica's story:

"Crystal was only 34-years-old and she didn't have insurance, so her family will have a hard time paying funeral expenses. We really appreciated the new subscribers supporting us, but we would love to share that support with Crystal's family. Donations can be made to Colonial Chapel Funeral Home in Laurel, Miss."

You can send gifts, flowers, and cards through the funeral home page here. But what Crystal's family really needs are monetary donations to help cover funeral costs. You can do this by calling Colonial Chapel Funeral Home at 601-649-3342 or by contacting them at the address: 4593 Indian Springs Road, Laurel, MS, 39441.

For now, you can read a selection from this beautiful followup article written by Cassidi Bush earlier this month. In the article, Jessica explained why Crystal had made the choice to stop fighting her cancer:

Crystal Craven, 34, and Jessica Powell, 24, had a wedding ceremony in downtown Laurel on Feb. 2. Even though they're in a state that doesn't legally recognize same-sex marriages, they wanted to have a public celebration of their love. Craven, who has Stage 4 brain cancer, wore a cowboy hat to cover scars from recent surgeries and treatments.

About a week later – as an article about their "Historic Wedding" was on local newsstands – Craven was feeling weak on her left side and continued to have headaches. The couple went to the hospital and Craven's surgeon ordered a CAT scan. The results came back with bad news. The tumor on Craven's right side had come back, and there is a new one on the left side.

Craven had a decision to make: Should she try chemo again or live out her remaining days at home? The decision has been tough on both women.

"Crystal told me that she was tired of hurting, tired of being sick and tired of fighting," Powell said. "Of course we cried about it, but she decided not to do chemo again, and I have to respect that." [...]

"We have so much support from other states," Powell said. "The world can't get better unless change is in it."

"Powell said she and Craven were not trying to make a political statement – they were just trying to make a public expression of their love. [...]

Powell said she doesn't want to think about life without Craven, but faced with the realities of cancer, she knows she has to.

"After this is over, I'm going to do me and hang out with my son," Powell said. "I've already been with the person I was supposed to be with, and some people never get that chance. I'm grateful for the time I have spent with her."

She recalled their wedding day: "My vow to her was forever, not until death do us part."

How could you not cry? Please, if you have anything to spare – and I already know that many of you have huge hearts – please, one more time, help them out. They've been through a lot, but through it all, they shined a light in a state full of darkness. Let's shine our light right back at them as they go through this dark time.

Hospital's Chief Medical Officer Roasts Bryant Over Medicaid Expansion

2013-03-09T15:46:00.002-06:00

Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant.

Forrest General Hospital's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Joe Campbell, wrote a blistering op-ed in today's edition of the Hattiesburg American, blasting Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant for refusing to agree to the Medicaid expansion that, as part of the Affordable Care Act, would allow many poor and uninsured Mississippians access to healthcare at little cost to the state.

Campbell says he was no fan of the Obamacare, but argues that it makes no sense to refuse to accept the Medicaid expansion. In fact, he says, Bryant's actions will be highly detrimental to, not only the poor, but to the state's healthcare facilities. From the Hattiesburg American:

By deciding not to expand Medicaid here in the poorest and highest uninsured state, your tax dollars will be sent to Chicago and California among other places to fund their Medicaid program expansions.

Gov. Bryant must be proud.

He says that all of our poor working folks who have no insurance can get their “health care” in the emergency room.

While this may be true (we never turn anyone away) ... He doesn’t talk about who pays for this “care,” your local hospital.

He also doesn’t bring up the fact that these folks don’t show up in the ER until their problem is so bad that the cost to treat them is multiplied many times over.

Since I don’t think poor uninsured citizens of Mississippi are going to leave the state in large numbers, this will result in many smaller facilities closing and loss of services at the larger ones.

At a time when we have a severe doctor shortage in Mississippi, UMC and Forrest General Hospital (the two hospitals in the state with the most Medicaid patients) are facing many millions of dollars of cuts, which threaten the viability of the two medical schools in the state and the future supply of physicians here. (Read more)

Hopefully, as more medical professionals in Mississippi begin to speak out, the idiots running our state will start to listen to all that talking money. It seems to be the only thing that can ever get their attention – especially when proving how much their hate President Obama is their number one aim.

Girls Say Accused Killer of Marco McMillian Claimed Rape Defense

2013-03-09T15:04:00.000-06:00

Lawrence Reed, who is accused of killing

gay Clarksdale mayoral candidate Marco

McMillian last month.

Days after it was first revealed that the defense team for Lawrence Reed might be planning to use a "gay panic" defense in the killing of Clarksdale candidate Marco McMillian, two unidentified witnesses are now claiming that Reed told them he killed McMillian because he thought he was going to be raped:

However, the sisters say Reed told them everything. Just after midnight on February 26, their youngest sister received a panicked call from Reed. One sister says, "He called at 12:11am and he told her that the dude (McMillian) was trying to rape him. He was exposing himself to him, playing with himself, telling him to do things and then he'll take him home."

He told the girl he was on a back road and couldn't get away. A few minutes later a bruised, bloody and broken Reed showed up at their back porch. "He just looked like he had been through war..." one sister describes, "He was standing in the back, back here, telling God to forgive him. He didn't mean to do it, and he was saying that he just wanted to die."

She says when Reed couldn't get away from McMillian, he used the chain on his wallet to choke the 200 pound politician. "He was shaking real hard, he was crying real hard, he was circling, begging for somebody to talk to him."

The sisters say Reed was inconsolable and, they believe, suicidal. "When he left out, he just drove out, sped up and hit a white truck head on."

New details also emerged regarding a more accurate description of the condition of McMillian's body than previously reported:

On Sunday, McMillian's family released a statement saying the politician was dragged, beaten and burned. A source close to the investigation told abc24.com the family's description of the death was inaccurate. His face was swollen. He had a black eye, he was dragged by hand a few feet and there were burn marks on small areas of his skin.

Theoretically speaking on the basis of these reports, it's hard to imagine a scenario where a person who is faced with rape decides that, instead of attempting to escape, it would be easier to choke his "attacker" with a wallet chain, beat him, apparently burn him in some way, steal his truck, drag and dump his body, run cry to some friends, then leave again in his "attacker's" truck only to wreck it.

It seems that, if someone had the ability to do all of that, that person should've also had the ability to get away and call 911. Certainly, being in the same room as someone who might have been "playing with" himself isn't the same as being helplessly attacked by a rapist, and it wouldn't be any more of a justification for kill someone than, say, whistling at a white woman.

The story, as told by these two girls, simply doesn't add up. It'll be interesting to see if the story from the Lawrence defense team bears any resemblance.

Rand Paul Supported Use of Drones for Border Enforcement

2013-03-08T02:18:00.000-06:00

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Kentucky) led a 13-hour-long filibuster over the drone program on March 6, 2013.

While I've commended Sen. Rand Paul for taking a stand and finally getting answers from the White House on the topic of drones, and for standing against many of his Republican colleagues, I do now have a question for Rand Paul myself: If you are against the use of armed drones on American soil – and I believe you sincerely are – then why, in 2011, is it that you supported the use of drones as a border security enforcement measure? Uh oh:

That worry about drones is not universal for Paul, however, as he’s less concerned when it comes to enforcing border security via drone. Laying out his stance on comprehensive immigration reform, Paul published an op-ed in the Washington Times making clear that he felt that border security had to be addressed before a path to citizenship could be enacted:

"Border security, including drones, satellite and physical barriers, vigilant deportation of criminals and increased patrols would begin immediately and would be assessed at the end of one year by an investigator general from the Government Accountability Office."

Though he did not make it clear, it can be assumed that Paul was referring to drones of the unarmed variety, rather than advocating launching Hellfire missiles at immigrants attempting to cross the border.

Looks like somebody in Kentucky has got some explaining to do. I wonder if Mr. Paul would be willing to send over to Deep South Progressive an Eric Holder style response? I won't hold my breath.

No Healthcare for Poor Mississippians, Phil Bryant Insists

2013-03-08T02:05:00.002-06:00

Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant (R)

As the debate over Obamacare and Medicaid expansion rages on in Mississippi politics, Gov. Phil Bryant has taken a page from the national GOP playbook. When Democrats offered a compromise on the Medicaid expansion, Bryant chose instead to dig his heels in even deeper, the Hattiesburg American reports:

If the Obama Administration cuts payments to hospitals for treating the indigent, Gov. Phil Bryant says he won’t cave in on expanding Medicaid — he’ll sue.

“The first thing I’d do is sue (the federal government),” Bryant said Wednesday after state House Democratic leaders offered what they call a compromise to the governor and House GOP leadership on Medicaid expansion.

As some other GOP governors are backing down on their stance against expanding their states’ Medicaid programs as part of Obamacare, Bryant appears to be digging in.

“I do not see expansion of Medicaid in Mississippi as it exists today, with all its waste, fraud and abuse,” Bryant said. “Republican governors are looking at other alternatives — medical savings programs … other options. The Supreme Court said they can’t punish states for not participating in Obamacare. That’s exactly what (cutting indigent care payments) would be doing, punishing us. ”

The Mississippi Legislature is in a standoff over Medicaid. House Democrats want to expand it to cover hundreds of thousands of the working poor in the state, per Obamacare. The GOP leadership opposes expansion. Each side has killed measures to reauthorize Medicaid to operate for the coming year. Each side at this point lacks the number of votes to win the day.

Democratic lawmakers said Wednesday they want to craft a bill that would have a “trigger” mechanism for Medicaid expansion. If the federal government cuts hospital payments for treating the indigent — as was the initial plan with the 2010 Affordable Care Act — then the state would expand the Medicaid program. The hospitals and other medical lobbies, fearing the loss of millions in federal funds, are pushing lawmakers to expand Medicaid.

Democratic Rep. Steve Holland

When you're Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant, it is your duty, after all, to ensure that your citizens suffer the most. It's your duty to make sure they know that life is really, really, really bad under the Kenyan, socialist, secret-Muslim, also known as President Barack Obama. I mean, what else could we expect? Laws actually aimed at improving the lives of Mississippians? Ha. Perish the thought.

This all comes days after Rep. Steve Holland (D-Plantersville) responded to the Medicaid debate, writing to Bryant: "I think you're a fool for turning your back on the poor. Plus, you're a hypocrite to promote medical economic development and not have this means to pay for it. This is simple minded on your part. Get a life. :-)"

I love you, Steve Holland.

Because Christians Are So Persecuted in Mississippi, House Passes Prayer Bill

2013-03-08T00:51:00.004-06:00

Rep. Kevin McGee (R) supported
a school prayer bill because, he
said, "We all need to pray."

No one is stopping Mississippi schoolchildren from praying. But that isn't stopping the Mississippi House from passing another iteration of the "anti-discrimination" school prayer law that, not only "legalizes" activities that are already legal thanks to the First Amendment's guarantee of religious liberty, but also introduces very questionable language into law because, as one legislator said last year, "We all need to pray." The text of SB 2633, which is now headed to Gov. Phil Bryant's desk after it passed the House 108-6:

"An act to enact the 'Mississippi Religious Liberties Act of 2013'; to provide for voluntary student expression of religious viewpoints in public schools; to provide that public school districts shall allow religious expression in class assignments; to provide that public school districts shall provide students with the freedom to organize religious groups and activities; to provide that public school districts shall provide a limited public forum for student speakers at non-graduation and graduation events; to provide a model policy for voluntary religious expression in public schools; and for related purposes."

First of all, while gays, lesbians, transgender people, black people, Hispanic people, Native Americans and women face actual and structural discrimination in Mississippi, evangelical Christians most certainly do not. It's quite disingenuous for these people, who often advocate for and uphold discrimination against real minority groups, to pretend that Christians – of all groups – need some sort of special protection against discrimination in Mississippi. Sorry, a 108 vote majority says you're not eligible for a slice of the victimhood pie.

Secondly, unless something has seriously changed since I graduated high school in 2008, most of those things are already recognized rights. Students can pray in schools. In fact, at my high school, See You At the Pole was a regularly held prayer event in which students held hands around the flagpole to pray together, and students were given a "moment of silence" (translation: "Moment to pray to Jesus Christ") every morning. Students aren't penalized for airing religious viewpoints in class. Au contraire, my high school biology teacher was shouted down by my classmates for even attempting to broach the topic of evolution (she ended up teaching it as if it didn't pertain at all to humans). Students can already organize prayer groups and religious clubs. In fact, I was part of one – First Priority – in my high school, and there was at least one more – Fellowship of Christian Athletes. I'm not sure what "related purposes" entails.

What you can't do – and many schools in Mississippi violate this anyway without the need of a law – is force others to participate in a certain religious practice. You can't allow students to walk around, vocally projected loud, boastful, disruptive prayers. You can't make students listen to a reading of the Bible (even though that was a daily part of my primary school education, along with collectively saying the blessing at lunch). You can't give students special privileges to excuse them from the same curriculum as everyone just because they feel scientific reality is at odds with their religion (even though students at my high school obviously got away with it when it came to evolution). You can't force students to attend religious functions (even though students at my high school were given no option but to attend several religion-centered, school-hosted speaking engagements).

My point is, there are many things public schools in Mississippi already do that they aren't supposed to do Constitutionally, but that doesn't mean the Mississippi House should recognize, as a matter of law, blatant Constitutional violations. Certainly, it doesn't need to pass a law purporting to "legalize" religious freedoms that public school students already enjoy without question thanks to the Constitution.

Let's remind ourselves of the text of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.

Clearly, Mississippi Christians are not suffering the denial of the free exercise of their religious beliefs (although other religious groups probably are). But protecting Christians from that prohibition isn't the aim of the law, and it's not the goal of the lawmakers behind it. Rep. Kevin McGee (R-Brandon) explained the real motivation for the 'Mississippi Religious Liberties Act' when a nearly identical bill was introduced last year:

"We all need to pray," said Rep. Kevin McGee, R-Brandon. "Hopefully, if this bill passes, we will be able to do that in many different places."

You see, that's the true intent behind the law: "We all need to pray." So even if a student is atheist, agnostic, Hindu, or Muslim – the Mississippi Republican House wants that student to pray, and that's why they've passed the Mississippi Religious ~~Liberties~~ Requirements Act of 2013. Because the free exercise of religion shouldn't simply be "not prohibited"; it should be requisite.

Sadly, Rep. Kevin McGee couldn't join his colleagues in voting for the Religious Liberties Act of 2013. He resigned in November in order to avoid over $400,000 in fines after he was charged with ethics violations. Clearly, we all need to pray for him.

"Gay Panic" Defense May Be Used in Marco McMillian Homicide Case

2013-03-07T23:39:00.000-06:00

Left: Marco McMillian, slain gay Clarksdale mayoral candidate.

Right: Lawrence Reed, suspect in McMillian's homicide.

Even as local law enforcement continues to contend that the killing of gay Clarksdale mayoral candidate Marco McMillian likely wasn't a hate crime, the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs is reporting that the defense team for suspect Lawrence Reed may be considering a "gay panic" defense:

The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP) has learned that a “gay panic” defense might be used by the suspect in the homicide of Mississippi Mayoral Candidate, Marco McMillian. McMillian was found dead on Wednesday, February 27th near the bank of the Mississippi River just west of Clarksdale, Mississippi, the town where he had been a mayoral hopeful. Lawrence Reed was arrested for the homicide, and it is being reported that the two men may have had an intimate relationship during the approximately two weeks that they knew one another. It is also being reported that Reed, who identifies as straight, may have “snapped” as a result of sexual advances on the part of McMillian. Police have ruled out a hate crime in this case so far, something that some of McMillian’s friends and family members want reconsidered due to the brutal nature of the homicide. According to his family, McMillian had been beaten and burned. "Marco's death is a tragedy. He was a champion for justice and now he needs justice. State hate crime law in Mississippi does not include sexual orientation. To date, it appears his accused will not be charged with a hate crime,” said Dr. Ravi K. Perry, friend of McMillian and former advisor to his campaign. “This tragedy brings to light the inequitable protections for LGBT persons throughout various states, where literally you can cross states lines and lose rights. We need to ensure Marco's life and legacy is given the same attention he gave so many others' lives."

The "gay panic" strategy has been used in the past. If this strategy was used, it would essentially mean that the victim, Marco McMillian, would be put on trial and the defendant would be treated as a victim of unwanted homosexual advances. But if the defense did indeed use such a strategy, Mississippi law still doesn't consider crimes motivated by anti-gay sentiment as hate crimes.

However, reports also indicate that the FBI is considering getting involved in the case. If so, that could open the door to federal hate crime charges:

The agency "will assess evidence to determine whether federal prosecution is appropriate," Deborah Madden, an FBI public affairs specialist, said Wednesday.

Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., and the National Black Justice Coalition, both separately urged the federal government Tuesday to seek potential hate crime charges in a case that has grabbed national attention. Mississippi has a hate-crime law that covers race, religion and gender but doesn't extend to sexual orientation.

However, local and state agencies can seek assistance to pursue a federal hate crime under the Shepard-Byrd Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which does cover homosexuality. Or the FBI can come in to investigate at the request of an outside source, as in the McMillian case.

Marco McMillian, 34, was thought to be one of the first viable openly gay candidates to run for office in Mississippi.

Unprecedented: Republican Demands Obama Answer Question, Happy When He Gets an Answer

2013-03-07T23:04:00.001-06:00

Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul did more than simply defy the GOP's love of wimpy, behind-closed-doors, non-talking filibusters Wednesday. Indeed, not only was Rand Paul's old-fashioned, 13-hour long, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington style filibuster the first of its kind since Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) did it in 2010, he followed it up the next day with actions that seemed to repudiate a tactic the GOP has relied on for the past four years.

What did he do? Well, when he actually got a response from the White House, Rand Paul acknowledged it instead of pretending that no response had been given. Not only did he admit that he'd gotten an answer, he said he was "quite happy" with the answer he got.

Wednesday, Attorney General Eric Holder responded to the ninth longest filibuster in Senate history with the following letter:

"It has come to my attention that you have now asked an additional question: 'Does the president have the authority to use a weaponized drone to kill an American not engaged in combat on American soil?' The answer to that question is no."

Rand Paul responded:

"Hooray!" Paul said on Fox News, where he learned of the letter and its contents. "For 13 hours yesterday, we asked him that question. So there is a result and a victory. Under duress, and under public humiliation, the White House will respond and do the right thing."

Shortly after, Paul said during a CNN appearance that he is "quite happy" with Holder's response, and that he only wished it didn't take so long to get an answer.

It's quite sad when it's shocking to see a Republican demand something and then not deny reality when the president gives him exactly what he asked for. "Quite happy"? Amazing.

That's a far cry from the worlds inhabited by people like Republican senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham. Ever since the Benghazi attacks, they have constantly demanded that President Obama give them "answers on Benghazi." But every time President Obama has given them "answers on Benghazi," they have completely ignored his answers, instead using each answer as another opportunity to demand "answers on Benghazi."

In fact, John McCain missed an intelligence briefing on Benghazi back in November because of a scheduling conflict in which he was too busy standing at a podium blasting Obama and demanding "answers on Benghazi" to attend a briefing that would've provided him with... answers on Benghazi.

Incidentally, John McCain and Lindsey Graham, neocons who think that every day is a new opportunity to invade another country and to spread freedom and democracy with bombs and bullets, were both displeased with Rand Paul's filibuster. They accused Republicans who participated in the filibuster of attacking Obama for mere political reasons. Oh, really? For sure, some of those who suddenly feigned concern about drone strikes were just hijacking the filibuster for another opportunity to attack Obama and couldn't care less about Rand Paul's concerns. But, really Madame Graham – Pot, meet kettle.

If more Republicans and conservatives would actually acknowledge it when the president responds to their concerns and questions (which he often does), it might encourage a better working relationship with the White House and more substantive, constructive cooperation. But most Republicans aren't concerned with answering important questions or doing something productive – they're just concerned with politically undermining the president at any and every opportunity.

As much as I often find myself disagreeing with Rand Paul and as much as I often think he can be a colossal jerk, good on you, Rand Paul. Good on you for acknowledging the reality that you honestly did get an answer. Good on you for seeming to appreciate the answer, instead of moving the goal posts in search of endless political games.

And good on you for reminding us that, unlike the GOP's petty behind-closed-doors filibusters of recent years, there is power in a real talking filibuster that comes from genuine conviction.

Although I don't think anyone should be thanked for something that should be common practice in politics, thanks. Sen. Paul.

Rand Paul's Old School Filibuster on Brennan Nomination Over Drones

2013-03-06T18:22:00.001-06:00

Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul (R), son of Ron Paul, is currently doing an old school style, speaking filibuster against the nomination of John Brennan as CIA Director. You can watch the filibuster LIVE here.

Personhood Mississippi Announces New Personhood Amendment: "Life at Conception Citizen's Initiative"

2013-03-05T15:05:00.003-06:00

The "Life at Conception Citizen's Initiative" was announced today in a press conference call with Personhood USA Communications Director Jennifer Mason. The Life at Conception Citizens Initiative is the followup to 2011's failed Personhood Amendment, also known as Initiative 26. The new amendment is improved and "based on science and technology," according to Les Riley of Personhood Mississippi. The text of the amendment is as follows:

"Be it enacted by the people of the state of Mississippi: Article 14 of the Mississippi Constitution of 1890 is hereby amended by the addition of a new section to read . . . The right to life begins at conception. All human beings at every stage of development are uniquel, created in God's image and shall have equal rights as persons under the law."

According to Steve Crampton, Constitutional Attorney for the Liberty Council, the new Mississippi Personhood Amendment "does little more than recognize that life is created at conception." Personhood USA said that the initiative won't ban in-vitro fertilization or contraception, pre-empting arguments they expect from opponents.

However, Mason said in response to a press question, "what that means with in-vitro [is that] if that baby is created, that baby should not be killed." She said the amendment would outlaw in-vitro practices that involve the use of multiple fertilized eggs, wherein multiple eggs are fertilized to increase the chances of a pregnancy resulting. Doctors, she said, "would be cautious and not put quite so many [fertilized eggs] in there." The amendment would mean that the number of fertilized eggs would be limited to "just the number of babies that a woman is comfortable with being pregnant with."

The problem is, as Deep South Progressive explained during the debate in 2011, this is exactly the process that is used in order to give in-vitro fertilization a reasonable chance at resulting in a pregnancy:

[T]he process of in-vitro fertilization involves multiple microscopic eggs being fertilized in a lab in order for a couple to have a reasonable chance at getting pregnant. After three-to-five days, some of the eggs are transferred to a woman's uterus with the hope that one will implant and result in a pregnancy. But in the process, extra fertilized eggs are often left over; these eggs are frozen and stored in the event that further attempts at implantation are necessary. Some are damaged in the process, many are never used. But since the Personhood Amendment would define a fertilized egg as a legal 'person,' anything that endangers them, such as freezing, could be considered a criminal violation.

Earlier today, Parents Against Personhood warned that even an amendment like the one now being proposed could not be implemented without essentially outlawing effective in-vitro.

Another problem involves the definition of "conception." Jennifer Mason clarified that, while "eggs aren't people," Personhood USA considers a fertilized egg a person even before implantation:

"We use the scientific definition for conception, which is the moment of fertilization, not implantation. At the moment of conception there is a new unique individual human being with eye color, hair color, gender, and much more determined. That human being exists before implantation."

As the New York Times points out, there is no pregnancy until a fertilized egg implants. In fact, most fertilized eggs don't result in pregnancies. So by Personhood USA's definition, and by the implications of this new law, you would indeed have a person before you would have a pregnancy. This was a central problem in the previous debate, and it appears it will continue with this amendment, too.

Les Riley said that, even if the Jackson Women's Health Organization, Mississippi's last remaining abortion clinic, is closed because of Gov. Phil Bryant's recent laws that intentionally make it difficult for it to continue operations, the Personhood Amendment is necessary. Why? Riley explains:

"We understand that Planned Parenthood spent nearly $2 million in out of state funds to defeat this previous amendment . . . Now it's become more clear with the fact that the Hattiesburg Planned Parenthood operation has expanded their clinic and it appears they're planning to do clinical abortions in Hattiesburg if the Jackson clinic closes."

It's an "insidious plot," Riley said.

Mississippians Against Personhood responds:

Ultimately, the wording of this amendment differs very little from the failed Initiative 26. It doesn’t “clear up any confusion”, at least not in the sense that the organizers mean. Voters didn’t oppose Initiative 26 because they didn’t understand the wording about “fertilization or the functional equivalent” — they voted against it because they had serious concerns about its unintended consequences for infertility treatment, pregnancy complications, and birth control.

By pointing at the enacting legislation as evidence of their intentions, Personhood Mississippi has made it perfectly clear that these are not “unintended consequences”, and that the new initiative would do exactly what we’ve always claimed Initiative 26 would have done: restrict doctors from being able to treat patients with infertility or serious pregnancy complications, and potentially impact some forms of birth control.

We appreciate their clarification of these important issues, and look forward to discussing them in depth with Mississippi voters over the next 18 months as we work to defeat this initiative.

In 2011, the Personhood Amendment was defeated by a 58%-42% vote via ballot initiative. Jennifer Mason expects the initiative to appear on the 2014 election ballot, which is the earliest possible date it could be voted on. The 2013 deadline has passed.

Dem Lawmaker to Gov. Phil Bryant: 'You're a fool' and a 'hypocrite' for 'turning your back on the poor'

2013-03-05T13:25:00.003-06:00

Mississippi State Rep. Steve Holland (D-Plantersville)

The front page of the Hattiesburg American this morning featured one of the more delicious headlines from Jackson as of late: "Dem: Miss. gov a 'fool' not to expand Medicaid." Those words were said by Rep. Steve Holland (D-Plantersville), who is the former chairman of the state's House Public Health Committee. Holland held no punches:

He said expanding Medicaid would provide coverage for people who work hard but can’t afford insurance. He also said expansion would support thousands of health care jobs.

“I think you’re a fool to turn your back on the working poor,” Holland said in a hand-written note he was delivering to the governor Monday. “Plus, you’re a hypocrite to promote medical economic development and not have this means to pay for it. This is simple minded on your part.” Holland closed the note by saying to Bryant: "Get a life."

Holland's signature included a smiley face, which he often uses on official documents, but he said the criticism is serious.

Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant.

Holland is right – Bryant is a bitter fool and a hypocrite. While we already know that Bryant and other Republicans hate the Affordable Care Act (colloquially, Obamacare), the act is in place regardless and it appears that it's there to stay.

Under the act, states have the option of expanding Medicaid so that it includes people making as much as 138% of the federal poverty level, which means that Mississippians making up to around $15,000 a year would be eligible. Considering the fact that the current cutoff is about $5,500, this would mean that many previously uncovered, lower income adults in Mississippi – which has some of the worst healthcare results in the nation – would now have health insurance.

With that in place, accepting the expansion of Medicaid is a no-brainer. Even Republicans in other states who were staunchly opposed to Obamacare, including Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, have agreed to the Medicaid expansion. Why would they agree to this? Won't this cost their states more money? Not really, as the Hattiesburg American points out:

"The 2010 law says the federal government would pay 100 percent of medical expenses for the newly qualified enrollees from 2014 to 2017. The federal share would be reduced to 90 percent by 2020, with each state paying the balance."

That's why accepting the Medicaid expansion is a no-brainer for sensible governors like Chris Christie and even normally senseless governors like Jan Brewer. Unfortunately, when it comes to Mississippi's governor, "no-brain" might be the operative term: Gov. Phil Bryant, staunchly opposed to Obamacare (ostensibly as a matter of principle), continues to refuse to accept the expansion that would save and improve the lives of thousands of his state's citizens. Because, when you're the Republican governor of Mississippi, opposing anything and everything Barack Obama does is the only acceptable action – even if the poor in your state suffer because of it.

Steve Holland has it right: Phil Bryant is a fool and hypocrite. :)

Slain Gay Candidate Beaten and Burned in 'Hate Crime,' Alleges Marco McMillian Family

2013-03-05T11:24:00.000-06:00

The family of Marco McMillian wants the death investigated as a hate crime, according to the front page of the Clarion-Ledger today. McMillian, who was running for mayor in Clarksdale. He is thought to have been one of Mississippi's first viable openly gay candidates.

McMillian's family said Monday that he was beaten and burned before his body was found dumped alongside the Mississippi River. His Godfather, Carter Womack, said that the information came from the Coahoma County corner, but the coroner and the Sheriff weren't available for comment.

“We know that Marco was brutally murdered. His body was found on Wednesday, February 26, 2013, beaten, dragged and burned (set afire). This was reported in our meeting with the local coroner on two occasions. We were informed that the official autopsy report could take two to four weeks to complete.

“We feel that this was not a random act of violence based on the condition of the body when it was found. Marco, nor anyone, should have their lives end in this manner."

According to the statement, McMillian had previously shared concerns for his safety with family members before his death.

Lawrence Reed, who is charged with
Marco McMillian's murder.
(Source: Reed's Facebook)

"He was very concerned about his safety; people had tried to talk him out of the race," Womack said.

The family called for a "full and thorough" investigation that would include the possibility that his death was a hate crime.

That might be difficult, however, because Mississippi law doesn't recognize crimes against gay people as hate crimes. Even if it could proved that his death was the result of an anti-gay attack, Mississippi law would not classify it as a hate crime because Mississippi hate crime law only covers race, religion, and gender. Local and state law enforcement could pursue federal hate crime law, which, under the 2009 Matthew Shepard & James Byrd, Jr. Act, does cover sexual orientation. So far, however, local and state agencies have declined to do so.

The man charged with his murder, Lawrence Reed, 22, was found after he crashed McMillian's SUV. According to Chris Talley, whom Reed crashed into, family members of Reed's girlfriend said that Reed had confessed to murdering McMillian over the phone.

Personhood Mississippi Set to Announce Filing of New Personhood Amendment

2013-03-04T21:56:00.000-06:00

Two years after Mississippi voters soundly defeated Initiative 26, the so-called "Personhood Amendment" that would've banned, not only all forms of abortion, but also certain types of birth control and even in-vitro fertilization, Personhood Mississippi is set to announce Tuesday the filing of a new Personhood initiative in Mississippi via telephone conference.

Initiative 26 sought to enshrine, within the Mississippi State Constitution, a definition of person that would include "every human being from the moment of fertilization, cloning or the functional equivalent thereof." Since a fertilized egg isn't even a pregnancy until it implants, this would've meant that, under Mississippi law, you would have a person before you even had a pregnancy. The extremity of this measure was what, ultimately, killed the Personhood Amendment, even in Mississippi.

While Personhood USA says the new Personhood Amendment will have a different sponsor, it's not clear how the new Personhood Amendment will differ from the old one. But when we find out during the telephone conference tomorrow at 2:30 CST, I'll be the first to let you know.

Former McCain Aid: Smart Young People Don't Want to Work for a Bigoted Party

2013-03-04T12:19:00.000-06:00

In an appearance on Bill Maher's show, former McCain 2008 campaign aid and GOP tactician Steve Schmidt offered a blistering explanation for why the GOP has a difficult time catching up with technological advancements and recruiting smart, young people who know how to politic for the 21st century: Bigotry.
Quoting Steve Schmidt:

If you look at your first guest on talking about brilliant young people in computers who understand all this stuff [and] be at the cutting edge, it's difficult to make the case to work for a political party that wants to discriminate against their friend who happens to be gay. So we have an enormous problem because of some of our issues in the Republican party that are so out of step whether its with regard to women, gays, the anti-immigrant rhetoric, and it makes it difficult to attract the best and the brightest in this space."

Schmidt, of course, was famously at odds with McCain's VP choice, Sarah Palin, in 2008, despite having helped recruit her. The icy relationship is detailed in both the book and the film "Game Change."

Source: Towleroad.