April 30, 2014

Fox News Allegedly Demoted Shepard Smith Because He Asked to Come Out as Gay

Gawker's J.K. Trotter reports today that "multiple sources" say Fox News anchor Shepard Smith approached network honcho Roger Ailes about the possibility of coming out as gay and was rebuffed. Smith subsequently was moved from prime-time to an afternoon slot, a move that one of the sources in the story called a "demotion."

Trotter's piece involves dramatic events at a picnic:

A few weeks before approaching Ailes about coming out, Smith surprised Fox staffers by bringing his boyfriend, a 26-year-old Fox producer named Gio Graziano, to a company picnic at Ailes’s compound in Garrison, New York. Held annually on Independence Day weekend, the picnic is a small gathering—only executives, on-air talent, and their frontline producers are invited—so Smith likely felt comfortable bringing along his steady partner.

Despite the intimate venue, the new couple put several Fox executives on high alert. According to multiple sources with knowledge of the picnic, the most dramatic reaction came from Bill Shine, the channel’s Executive Vice President of Programming. Shine “flipped out,” one source said, when Smith introduced Graziano to attendees. (Within and outside of Fox, Shine, who is 50 and grew up on Long Island, carries a reputation for insensitivity toward gay people. “He’s a major, major homophobe,” a Fox insider said.)

more
http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2014/04/30/shepard_smith_fox_news_coming_out_request_allegedly_led_to_demotion.html?

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It appears the above news info is, at best, incorrect. Further reading:

The Shep Smith story shows the failure of fact-checking

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024895815

April 30, 2014

People Distrust Corporations, Don't Know the Kochs, and Still Blame Bush for the Economy

PHILIP BUMP

A new poll from the Wall Street Journal and NBC reminds us of an important truism. For as much attention and time as some people (such as myself) pay to politics, many of the most volatile topics in punditry are nonvolatile mysteries to the rest of the country.

Much of the new poll doesn't do much to illuminate the dark corners of political thinking: Obamacare is still as unpopular as ever; Democrats and Republicans are about tied on the generic Congressional ballot. Fine, good. Here, instead, are the parts of the poll that struck me as being particularly interesting.

People haven't heard of several prominent political actors. If you read The Wire regularly — or, for that matter, any other site that talks politics — you probably not only have some sort of opinion of the Koch brothers but can articulate who they are, what they do, and what they advocate. That puts you, it appears, in a bare majority of Americans. Forty-nine percent of the country is not familiar with the Kochs. Twenty percent of the other half don't have a strong opinion about them.

The same goes for Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, the man who increasingly looks like he'll take over the reins of half of Congress next year. But 45 percent of the country isn't familiar with the guy.

more
http://www.thewire.com/politics/2014/04/people-distrust-corporations-dont-know-the-kochs-and-still-blame-bush-for-the-economy/361449/

April 29, 2014

Conservatives Ponder Sterling Trutherism: Did Magic Set Him Up?

CAITLIN MACNEAL – APRIL 29, 2014, 6:33 PM EDT

A few conservative pundits on Tuesday furthered a conspiracy theory that someone, possibly Magic Johnson, set up Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling's racist rant in order to buy the team.

Conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh on his show on Tuesday had a lengthy discussion with a caller about such a theory. Limbaugh attributed the theory to the caller, but seemed convinced that it was a possibility.

"Whoever set this up is really good. They covered every base. They've got the media wrapped around their little finger," Limbaugh said.

"This is a fascinating theory. And, Neil, I'm glad that you held on through the break so I could dig deep, explore further," he continued "You know, you got it."

more
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/conspiracy-theory-sterling-set-up

April 29, 2014

Dem Congressman Makes Shocking Racial Comments About Republicans, Clarence Thomas, Mitch McConnell

Democratic Congressman Makes Shocking Racial Comments About Republicans, Clarence Thomas, Mitch McConnell

He calls Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas an “Uncle Tom” and Mitch McConnell a “racist.”

posted on April 29, 2014 at 3:20pm EDT

Andrew Kaczynski
BuzzFeed Staff

A Mississippi Democratic Congressman says Clarence Thomas is an “Uncle Tom,” Mitch McConnell is a “racist,” and that Republicans are only anti-big government and anti-Obamacare because President Obama is black. Rep. Bennie Thompson was appearing on a New Nation of Islam radio program over weekend where he made the comments.

“I’ve been in Washington. I saw three presidents now. I never saw George Bush treated like this. I never saw Bill Clinton treated like this with such disrespect,” Thompson said. “That Mitch McConnell would have the audacity to tell the president of the United States — not the chief executive, but the commander-in-chief — that ‘I don’t care what you come up with we’re going to be against it.’ Now if that’s not a racist statement I don’t know what is.”

Thompson adds at 2:40 in the video that the governor of Mississippi was against expanding Medicaid through Obamacare “just because a black man created it.”

At 3:00 into the video, Thompson adds opposition to Obama is “all about race” and “when a black man comes with an idea [for Obamacare] there’s something wrong with it. Again, it’s race creeping into the picture.”

more
http://www.buzzfeed.com/andrewkaczynski/democratic-congressman-makes-shocking-racial-comments-about

April 29, 2014

Donald Sterling Tells Fox Reporter: The Clippers Are Not For Sale

ERIC LACH – APRIL 29, 2014, 4:01 PM EDT
Moments before NBA commissioner announced that Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling had been banned for life from the league, Sterling spoke on the phone with Fox News contributor and veteran sportscaster Jim Gray. Sterling's message to Gray: the Clippers are not for sale.

"I just spoke with Donald Sterling on the telephone just moments ago," Gray said on Fox News' "The Real Story with Gretchen Carlson" a few minutes before Silver made his announcement. "He is unaware of what is going to happen to him. He has not been notified. He also said that he really didn't want to comment on the record. However, the team is not for sale and he will not be selling the team."

At his press conference Tuesday afternoon, Silver also announced that he would urge the league's board of governors to force a sale of the team. The league would need to get 3/4 of the team owners to vote to strip Sterling of his ownership.

During his appearance on Fox, Gray said Sterling asked him to read the press coverage of his own fate. "He is unaware of what Adam Silver, the commissioner, plans to do," Gray said. "In fact, he asked me, and I read him the TMZ report."

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http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/donald-sterling-clippers-not-for-sale-fox

April 29, 2014

The GOP’s choice: The party of reform, or the party of mass deportations?

BY GREG SARGENT
April 29 at 3:15 pm

The other day John Boehner made a heretical admission. By mocking House GOP colleagues for moaning about the difficulties inherent in tackling immigration reform, he revealed them to be the true obstacle to movement on the issue.

That level of candor could not be allowed to stand. Today Boehner apologized to them for going too far, reverting to the stance that the real culprit is that Obama can’t be trusted to enforce the law.

Yet in the process, Boehner once again accidentally revealed the truth: The real obstacle to movement on reform is that Republicans have yet to show an ability to accept any form of legal status for the 11 million under any circumstances. The unvarnished reality of the situation is that Republican rhetoric on this issue has boxed the party into a place that is entirely incompatible with getting to Yes on on reform — despite Boehner’s professed desire to do so.

This is revealed in a story by Seung Min Kim, who talked to GOP Rep. John Fleming of Louisiana about Boehner’s meeting with Republicans today:

more
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2014/04/29/the-gops-choice-the-party-of-reform-or-the-party-of-mass-deportations/?wpisrc=nl_popns

April 29, 2014

NBA Commish: 'I Fully Expect' To Get Votes To Strip Sterling's Ownership (+ several more articles)

DYLAN SCOTT – APRIL 29, 2014, 2:46 PM EDT

NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Tuesday that he fully expects to get the necessary votes from the league's other owners to strip Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling of his ownership of the team.

Sterling was banned for life after his racially charged remarks, and Silver announced Tuesday that he would ask the other league owners to remove him as an owner.

The NBA constitution requires three-fourths of the league's 30 owners to vote to strip Sterling of his ownership, Sterling said.

"I didn't poll the owners. I spoke to several owners and I have their full support," Silver said Tuesday at the news conference announcing the sanctions. Asked again later, Silver added: "I fully expect to get the support I need from the other NBA owners to remove him."

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http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/adam-silver-strip-ownership-donald-sterling

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LA Mayor Thanks NBA For 'Bringing Down The Hammer'

IGOR BOBIC – APRIL 29, 2014, 2:50 PM EDT

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti thanked NBA Commissioner Adam Silver for "bringing down the hammer" by deciding to fine and ban LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling for life after he made racist comments to his girlfriend.

"I want to make clear that what we just heard today isn't just about basketball," he said in a press conference. "It stands for tolerance, diversity, it stands for civil rights, break-throughs, and most of all it stands for basketball excellence."

"We may be a two-team town, but today we're behind one team, and the players of the Los Angeles clippers who tonight we want to know that we love you, we are behind you, and that today we feel like justice has begun to be served," he added. "Today we say we will not tolerate this from anybody, from any company, least of all one that bears this great city's name. I want to thank commissioner silver for bringing down the hammer, for being as strong as he could be, for saying that none of us as Americans and certainly not as Angelenos will stand for the sort of racism that we heard articulated."

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http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/la-garcetti-sterling-hammer

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Kevin Johnson: Let Sterling Be An Example To 'Every Bigot In This Country'

CATHERINE THOMPSON – APRIL 29, 2014, 3:00 PM EDT
Former NBA All-Star and current Sacramento, Calif. Mayor Kevin Johnson said Tuesday that Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling's lifetime ban from the NBA should serve as an example to "every bigot in this country."

"It doesn't matter if you are a professional basketball player worth millions of dollars, or a man or woman who works hard for their family," Johnson said in an NBA Players Association press conference. "There will be zero tolerance for institutional racism, no matter how rich or powerful."

"I want to also say this is a very stark reminder that we still have a lot of work to do," he later added. "Yes, we have an African-American president. Yes, justice happened in a swift manner and forceful, yes, that occurred today. But these events remind all of us that hatred and bigotry are far from over. I hope that every bigot in this country sees what happened to Mr. Sterling and recognizes that if he can fall, so can you."

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http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/kevin-johnson-donald-sterling-an-example-for-bigots

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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 'Thrilled' With NBA Decision To Ban Sterling

CAITLIN MACNEAL – APRIL 29, 2014, 3:12 PM EDT

Basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on Tuesday praised NBA Commissioner Adam Silver's decision to ban Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling for his racist comments.

"I'm just thrilled with what Commissioner Silver did. He got on the case immediately and got to the bottom of whatever mysteries that there were involved in this, and figured out what the truth was and his actions and focus were so on the mark. It was unbelievable," he said in a press conference following the NBA's announcement.

"I think most of the players I've spoken to just since the press conference feel the same way, and we're looking forward to some very positive changes that will make this city an even more wonderful place than it already is."

On Monday, Abdul-Jabbar suggested in a blog post for Time that Sterling's racist rant was at least partially his girlfriend's fault.

-snip-

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/kareem-thrilled-sterling-banned

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NAACP: Sterling Sanctions Are 'Welcomed And Supported'

DYLAN SCOTT – APRIL 29, 2014, 3:09 PM EDT
The NAACP praised the National Basketball Association's decision Tuesday to ban Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling for life and seek to strip him of his ownership.

"The NAACP is pleased the NBA is taking swift and strong action against Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling for his racist and offensive remarks," the group said in a statement.

The scope of the sanctions -- lifetime ban, maximum $2.5 million fine and a vote to remove Sterling as an owner -- "is both welcomed and supported," it said.

The NAACP's Los Angeles chapter had attracted questions after Sterling's racially charged remarks were reported because it had been planning to give him a lifetime achievement award. After the remarks became public, the branch chose not to give him the award.

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http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/naacp-welcomes-sterling-sanctions

April 29, 2014

Local GOP Party Chair Compares Obama To Zebra-Donkey Hybrid Who Is All 'A**'

DANIEL STRAUSS – APRIL 29, 2014, 1:22 PM EDT

The chairman of a local chapter of the Illinois Republican Party called President Barack Obama an "a**" and said if the media focused about the offspring of a zebra and a donkey there would be two "living creatures" getting plenty of attention that is partially white and partially black.

The joke, by Winnebago County Republican Central Committee (WCRCC) chairman Jim Thompson, came in a regular newsletter sent out to supporters. It came at the end of the newsletter.

"Media update for the week: saw on the news this week the offspring of a donkey and a zebra, black and white legs, rest all donkey," Thompson wrote at the end of the newsletter. "Not sure why this is news: now if we can teach him to read a teleprompter, we could have two living creatures the media will fawn over that is part white part black and all a**!"

Thompson is referring to a baby zebra-donkey hybrid that was born at Mexico's Reynosa Zoo on Friday. TPM has reached out to Thompson for comment and will update when we hear back.

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http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/winnebago-gop-obama-zebra-donkey

April 29, 2014

Kenya Might As Well Be Uganda For Many LGBT Refugees

“I’m tired of this life, honestly. I feel like poisoning myself,” said one gay Ugandan living in a refugee camp in Kenya.

posted on April 29, 2014 at 11:19am EDT

J. Lester Feder
BuzzFeed Staff

NAIROBI — George fled his home in eastern Uganda when his aunt found out he was gay and called the police. He was 18 at the time. First he made his way to Nairobi, where he was forced to sleep on the streets. When he finally got to a refugee camp in northwestern Kenya, it was a relief.

But now, after several months in a desert facility that houses hundreds of thousands of refugees from countries including Ethiopia, Somalia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, George is too frightened to even go regularly for food and water. (George’s real name has been withheld to protect his safety.) People call him names, he told BuzzFeed from a borrowed cell phone, and throw dirt at him. A man recently struck him so hard in the stomach with a bottle that he wound up in the hospital. He is afraid of going to the police for protection — homosexuality is technically a crime in Kenya, and other LGBTI people in the camps have warned him that authorities will arrest him.

“I’m tired of this life, honestly,” he said. “I feel like poisoning myself.”
This is what refugee life looks like for many LGBTI people who have fled Uganda. Some activists from Uganda and other countries where anti-LGBTI sentiment is on the rise can quickly reach Europe or the United States if they have money or international connections, but most go to neighboring countries that aren’t much safer than where they left.

more
http://www.buzzfeed.com/lesterfeder/kenya-might-as-well-be-uganda-for-many-lgbt-refugees

April 29, 2014

Hannity Defends Palin's Waterboarding Comments: It's How 'America Rolls'

CAITLIN MACNEAL – APRIL 29, 2014, 11:53 AM EDT

Sean Hannity would also like to "baptize terrorists" with waterboarding.

The Fox News and conservative radio show host on Monday defended former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's (R) comment over the weekend that "waterboarding is how we baptize terrorists."

"Well what do you want to do with terrorists?" Hannity asked on his radio show before diving into a hypothetical in which someone kidnaps three kids. In his comparison, the authorities detain one of the kidnappers, but the kids are still missing.

"Let's see. Would you want to baptize by water boarding the guy who took your three children? I think would. As a matter of fact, it wouldn't really be much of a question. I think I'd baptize them again and again and again until I found out where my kids are," he said.

more + audio
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/04/29/pope-francis-is-a-far-cry-from-the-reaganist-pope-john-paul-ii-he-just-canonized/