Benetton Ad Withdrawn Same Day As Release

Life, News: 

(Vatican City) — The Benetton clothing company withdrew an ad Wednesday featuring a fake photo of Pope Benedict XVI kissing a top Egyptian imam on the lips after the Vatican denounced it as an unacceptable provocation.

Benetton had said its "Unhate" campaign launched Wednesday was aimed at fostering tolerance and "global love."

The campaign's fake photos feature a half-dozen purported political nemeses in lip-locked embraces, including President Barack Obama and Venezuela's Hugo Chavez, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak.

Anderson Cooper Calls Out Obama’s Gay Marriage Flip Flopping

Life, News: 

We just don’t know what to believe anymore but we will say, Obama sure has some explaining to do. 

Anderson Cooper called out President Obama on his Tuesday show for flip-flopping on gay marriage.

MORE: Bin Laden Is Dead, Obama Says

Obama is under increased scrutiny about his "evolving" views on gay rights in the wake of the battle for gay marriage in New York. Obama will be in the state on Thursday to attend a high-priced fundraiser with gay donors.

In his "Keeping Them Honest" segment, Cooper said, "New questions are being raised about what the president actually believes about gay marriage and whether his public opposition to it is real or just political posturing.”

He then ran through the by-now familiar tale of President Obama's stance on gay marriage, from his initial written support for it in 1996 to his stated opposition to it when he began running for national office. (Obama advisers recently told The Huffington Post that his current position on the issue is that it should be left up to the states.)

MORE: Obama Makes History Again 

Cooper played footage from the recent Netroots Nation Conference, where White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer was grilled about Obama's shifting statements about gay marriage.

"Hard to see how the president's position has changed so much," Cooper said. "The only thing that has changed is his need for a wider audience to vote for him.”

WATCH:

Cooper then brought on gay rights activist Cleve Jones and Democratic strategist Paul Begala to discuss Obama's flip-flopping. Jones called the president's moves a "political calculation, and sadly, I think it's the wrong one.”

"You know, Paul, Democrats attack conservatives for being hypocritical on issues that they're hypocritical about," Cooper said to Begala. "But I don't hear a lot of Democrats attacking their own president for hypocrisy.”

[Source: Huffington Post, Jack Mirkinson]

George W. Bush: US Has Sent An ‘Unmistakeable Message'

News: 

Former President George W. Bush says he has congratulated President Barack Obama after hearing about the death of Osama bin Laden.

In a statement Sunday night, Bush said Obama called that U.S. forces had killed bin Laden. Bush said he also congratulated the men and women of our military and intelligence communities who devoted their lives to the mission.

Bush said, "This momentous achievement marks a victory for America, for people who seek peace around the world, and for all those who lost loved ones on September 11, 2001." He also said the U.S. "has sent an unmistakable message: No matter how long it takes, justice will be done."

Nicely said, Bush. 

Now, hopefully the world will be just a little bit better.

MORE: Bin Laden Is Dead, Obama Says 

[Source: NY Post; Image: regularguyrant.com]

Bin Laden Is Dead, Obama Says

Life, News: 

WASHINGTON — Osama bin Laden, the mastermind of the most devastating attack on American soil in modern times and the most hunted man in the world, was killed in a firefight with United States forces in Pakistan on Sunday, President Obama announced.

Life: President Obama Makes History Again

President Barack Obama is creating monumental history yet again. History that will change the direction of America’s future and future genertions to come. Today, Saturday, December 18, 2010, the American senate approved a bill to repeal the 17-year-old law banning openly gay people from serving in the military. 

The bill repealing the discriminatory law only makes sense. You have able-bodied America’s willing to risk their lives, many significantly youthful, for their country. A country that for 17 years would disregard the value of their blood, sweat and tears solely because of their sexuality.  

Obama sent an email to supporters praising OFA Volunteers for their time, hard work, commitment that they have let to today’s vote to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” 

Obama writes: 

Moments ago, the Senate voted to end "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

When that bill reaches my desk, I will sign it, and this discriminatory law will be repealed.

Gay and lesbian service members—brave Americans who enable our freedoms—will no longer have to hide who they are.

The fight for civil rights, a struggle that continues, will no longer include this one.

This victory belongs to you. Without your commitment, the promise I made as a candidate would have remained just that.

Nicely said, Mr. Obama. 

For more on this story click here.

[Image via LGBTQNation]

U.S.A.

I'm am completely proud and excited to say that The United States of America has a brand new, amazing president! Sir. Obama will be taking over the White House in 2009 and we finally have someone with brains in our White House! It's been a while so I'm excited to have someone represent America that wants that same things I want for my people. Congrats Obama and we look forward to our next four years together. Do us well!



**ON ANOTHER NOTE:
Although more than half of Americans voted for Obama for president because they are seeking the same thing most of us are, change, California still manage to let the people down. Prop 8 was a big thing this year on the ballads...... making same sex marriage ILLEGAL. Weather someone is gay or not, to ever vote to take an Americans right away is wrong on so many levels. Do we remember segregation people? To say that two people couldn't marry because they were black? Well, now that we allow black people to marry the same as white people, segregation is BACK! Apparently we're ok with it this time around..... NOW, same sex couples that love each other are "not allowed to marry!" That is so awful. We're taking huge steps back to the days we were so proud to be past. We're still segregating and California, you look completely ignorant and should feel completely shameful. Weather you believe it is right be your religion and your God, remember what it says in the Bible.... TREAT THY NEIGHBOR AS YOU WANT TO BE TREATED! If you don't believe in same sex marriage...DON'T MARRY SOMEONE FROM THE SAME SEX! Wow, that's a lot easier than you thought huh? Good thing someone in this damn state has a brain.

I could go on forever...I would like anyone who voted, "YES ON 8" to watch this video clip from a very wise MSNBC reporter... you shouldn't be hesitant to watch the video if you're confident with your decision on prop 8..... matter of fact, lets all watch this video. He's a brilliant man.




STAY WISE AMERICA.