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WATCH: Lt. Dan Choi, Cpl Evelyn Thomas at White House DADT Rally

Image: GetEqual Flickr

We weren't able to post much over the weekend so here's an update on the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" rally that was held across the street from the White House in Lafayette Park.

Six protesters were arrested after they chained themselves to the White House gates. And: Gov. Howard Dean made a surprise appearance at the rally. Very significant because Dean is the former Democratic National Committee Chairman—and his 50 state strategy is partially responsible for the Democratic congressional majority and president. 

Lt. Dan Choi, Cpl Evelyn Thomas (below), Capt. James Pietrangelo and the recently-discharged Sgt. Robin Chaurasiya were among those who spoke, lending their powerful and emotional stories of courage, watch AFTER THE JUMP ...

Dean Responds to Lieberman's Threat to Filibuster Health Care

Former Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean responds to Sen. Joe Lieberman's (I-Aetna) threat to support a Republican filibuster of health care reform if bill includes a public option. Via Americablog: Dean says Lieberman should resign as chair of the Senate Homeland Security Committee if supports the obstructionist move.

"I think that [Lieberman] is a very complicated guy," said Dean. "He does [confuse me] because he says he's a principled guy but there's nothing principled about holding up a bill... If he was a principled guy he'd resign his chairmanship. If you are with a caucus you don't owe the leader any vote on any substance," Dean added. "I have no problem with him voting against the public option... You owe it to Harry Reid to allow him to run the Senate. And if you're not willing to do that the proper thing to do is to step aside."

Support the bill or don't support the bill. If the Senator from Prudential wants to block the bill then he should removed from his committee chairmanship. And it's about damn time, too.

UPDATE: HuffPo chronicles the shifting rationale behind Lieberman's opposition to the public option. What will he say next?

Pelosi and Democrats Introduce House Health Care Reform Bill

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi unveiled the a newer version of the Affordable Health Care for America Act (HR 3962). The bill will cost $900 billion over 10 years and extends health coverage to 36 million Americans. That's 6-7 million more than the Senate Finance Committee’s version. The 1900-page bill includes a weakened public health insurance option but an historic expansion of Medicaid, the Washington Post reports.

The bill includes a version of the "public option" preferred by moderates and raises Medicaid eligibility levels to 150 percent of the federal poverty level for all adults, a steeper increase than in earlier drafts....The House legislation aims to provide health insurance of one form or another to 96 percent of all Americans at an expected cost just below $900 billion over 10 years, without increasing the federal budget deficit for at least 20 years, House Democrats said. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says he will include a similar public provision in the Senate bill with an "opt out" clause for states that don't want to participate.

Four page summary here. The full text here. The top 14 provisions that take effect immediately here. The implementation timeline here.

The stronger, Medicare plus 5% provision was solidly backed by House progressives but lacked enough votes to pass. WaPo adds: "Rural Democrats strongly opposed that approach because of the potentially ruinous effect on doctors and hospitals in their districts, where Medicare rates are generally well below the national average."

While Medicare +5 would have been stronger, negotiated rates are not the worst thing. But many progressives are not enthused and question if too many concessions were made.

 

Via MSNBC, watch Pelosi introduce the bill, Howard Dean on Olbermann critique the bill and fabulous Rep. Alan Grayson on The Ed Show support the plan AFTER THE JUMP.

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Michelle Obama in "Manner Aktuell"

Achtung, baby! First Lady Michelle Obama is profiled in the Pride issue of Männer Aktuell, the glossy German homostyle magazine. The pdf (en Deutsch) is here.

As best as we can determine, the article discusses her style, the new German translation of Liza Mundy's Michelle Obama, A Life, and the first lady's efforts on gay rights. There's also discussion on M. Obama's much-applauded "From Selma to Stonewall" speech at last year's DNC's Gay & Lesbian Leadership Council Gala where she was the keynote speaker.

In related news: San Francisco-based activist Michael Petrelis reports a conversation during the First Lady's recent trip to the Bay Area. Mrs. Obama assured a married gay couple the Defense of Marriage Act "will" be repealed soon. The Justice Department's recent highly offensive motion to dismiss a DOMA challenge has served as a lightning rod for recent activism. Numerous high profile gays—and now former party chairman Howard Dean—have announced they will not attend this year's benefit.

PDF (en Deutsch) here.

Howard Dean: Obama DOJ Made a "Huge Mistake" and "Went Too Far"

There are a number of new developments on the Obama Administration's highly offensive motion to dismiss a challenge to the Defense Of Marriage Act. Last night, MSNBC's Rachel Maddow covered the controversy.

Former Democratic National Committee Chair and Vermont governor Howard Dean was Maddow's guest. Dean said the Department of Justice brief was a "huge mistake," "offensive" and you "cannot talk about gay Americans the way they were talked about in this brief." Dean doubts President Obama saw the brief but says he will have to "dig himself out of this." Dean concludes: "It wasn’t a little too far, it was a lot too far."

WHEN YOU JUMP, watch it.

Dean Urges Vermont Legislators to Pass Marriage Equality

As the Vermont House prepares to likely vote for a same-sex marriage bill—and Republican Governor Jim Douglas promises to veto the legislation—former Gov. Howard Dean spoke at the Vermont Democratic Party reception in Burlington. The former chairman of the Democratic National Committee urges legislators to support marriage equality, reports the Burlington Free Press.

"Vote your conscience, not your district. Stand up for doing the right thing; for being a human being. Put human rights above politics—because if you don't, you'll regret it for the rest of your political career."

Dean adds: Conservatives should note that the first American soldier to "take a bullet" at the onset of the current war in Iraq was a gay man.

Meanwhile, Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas' mailbox and e-mail has been "flooded" with messages. Reports the Associated Press: "In the first two days after he pledged to veto a same-sex marriage bill, Vermont Gov. Jim Douglas' [received] about 1,500 letters and messages." An example of one of the many critical messages: "Your choice to veto is a slap in the face and a firm reminder that in your opinion, my partner and I are worth less than others simply because we are of the same gender," wrote a South Burlington man, saying he refuses to be "a second class citizen in this state."

WCAX-TV reports the state house has also been "flooded" with thousands of messages: "The House Judiciary Committee adjourned its afternoon hearing early to allow lawmakers to read some of the communication. The committee's chair said much of it appears to be from out-of-state, part of an orchestrated campaign to sway legislation here. 'I'm most interested in Vermont communications from Vermont residents, Vermont families, who are telling their stories about why this is an important piece of legislation or telling their story about what their concerns are about this legislation. I am most interested in the Vermont stories,' said Rep. Bill Lippert, D-Vt. House Judiciary Committee Chairman. "

The House Judiciary Committee should vote on the bill this afternoon. It is likely to pass and a full vote on the House floor is expected later in the week.