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Anti-Gay Black Republican Rep. Tim Scott to Replace SC's DeMint

As expected, South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley will name Rep. Tim Scott to fill Jim DeMint’s Senate seat today, reports The New York Times. Scott made history in 2010 as the first Black Republican elected to Congress from South Carolina in more than a century

Scott will also become the only Black in the Senate. That accomplishment would allegedly be "a considerable boost to a party often criticized for its lack of diversity." adds MSNBC.

Scott is a Tea Party favorite who suggested last year that the President should be impeached if he raises the debt ceiling. Scott is stridently anti-gay and opposes a woman's right to choose, the labor movement and other progressive causes. Scott  opposes the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and repealing the Defense of Marriage Act and "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

The former state representative also supported the GOP-dominated state legislature's proposal to slash the state's entire HIV/AIDS budget, including funding to the critical AIDS Drug Assistance Program. South Carolina has the 8th highest HIV rate in the nation. New seroconversions in the Carolinas are disproportionately black and young black gay/bisexual men. With friends like these ...

Scott was named to the powerful House Ways and Means Committee two weeks ago. Scott represents the 1st District along the state's southern coast.  If appointed he would become the first Black Republican senator since Massachusetts' Sen. Edward Brooke retired in the late 1970s. To date, only six Blacks have ever served in the Senate. The last Black senator was Illinois' Roland Burris.

Scott is a bachelor and has never been married. South Carolina's other anti-gay senator, Lindsey Graham, is also a bachelor. Interesting.

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Anti-Gay Black Republican Rep. Tim Scott to Replace SC Sen. DeMint?

Two interesting political developments from South Carolina. Anti-gay social conservative Sen. Jim DeMint, described as a "favorite of the 'tea party' and Fox News", has announced that he will resign in January to head the Heritage Foundation, the right-wing think tank. The news was first reported by The Wall Street Journal.

Sen. DeMint was reelected to a second term in 2010. The 61-year-old senator had announced earlier that he would not seek a third term. DeMint said he is taking the Heritage job because he sees it as a vehicle to popularize conservative ideas in a way that connects with a broader public. "This is an urgent time," the senator said, "because we saw in the last election we were not able to communicate conservative ideas that win elections."

DeMint––who infamously has said that same-sex marriage is "destructive" to society and gays are "immoral"––led the opposition against  Mari Carmen Aponte, the Obama Administration's pro-LGBT ambassador to El Salvador. DeMint also vocally opposed Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor' confirmation––as well as that of Washington D.C. Superior Court. Judge Marisa Demeo, one of President Obama’s first openly LGBT appointees.

DeMint's resignation means that South Carolina Republican Governor Nikki Haley will appoint a replacement to "serve until a 2014 special election," adds The Washington Post.

DeMint "has made it known" that he wants to be replaced by Rep. Tim Scott, reports The Hill. Scott made history in 2010 as the first Black Republican elected to Congress from South Carolina in more than a century. Scott is an anti-gay Tea Party favorite.

Haley and Scott have a good relationship, according to sources, though it's unclear how willing she would be to listen to DeMint, who officially stayed neutral during her gubernatorial primary but quietly supported then-Rep. Gresham Barrett (R-S.C.) in the race. A spokesman for DeMint denied that the senator has pushed Scott.

Scott is stridently anti-gay and opposes a woman's right to choose, the labor movement and other progressive causes.  Scott  opposes the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and repealing the Defense of Marriage Act and "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

The former state representative also supported the GOP-dominated state legislature's proposal to slash the state's entire HIV/AIDS budget, including funding to the critical AIDS Drug Assistance Program. South Carolina has the 8th highest HIV rate in the nation. New seroconversions in the Carolinas are disproportionately black and young black gay/bisexual men. With friends like these ...

Scott was named to the powerful House Ways and Means Committee last week. Scott represents the 1st District along the state's southern coast.  If appointed he would become the first  Black Republican senator since Massachusetts' Sen. Edward Brooke retired in the late 1970s. Scott would also become the only African-American in the next Senate.

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Scott Suggests Impeaching Obama Over Debt
Tim Scott Wins SC Congressional Primary
Anti-Gay Black GOP Scott Poised to Win SC Primary
GOP Senators Block Ambassador to El Salvador
Senate Confirms Lesbian Judge Marisa Demeo
DeMint: Gays Are "Immoral"

DeMint: Soldiers "Fight" for Right to Hate Crimes

Serial Adulterer Gingrich Applauded for "Preserving Marriage"

The jokes write themselves. The  National Organization for Marriage congratulated former House Speaker Newt Gingrich on winning the weekend South Carolina Republican presidential primary.

NOM applauded the anti-gay and thrice-married serial adulterer for his work "preserving one-man one-woman marriage," notes Michelangelo Signorile at the Huffington Post. "Gingrich [headed] into the South Carolina primary facing allegations from his ex-wife that he wanted an 'open marriage.'"

The National Organization for Marriage "congratulates Newt Gingrich on his impressive come-from-behind victory in South Carolina." said the group’s president, Brian Brown. He also noted that Gingrich signed the group’s Marriage Pledge, which calls for investigating the organization's critics and passing a federal marriage amendment. Candidates Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum also signed the pledge,

"It is now clear that the Republican Party will nominate a candidate who is strongly committed to preserving marriage as the union of one man and one woman," Brown said. "We have succeeded in making the preservation of marriage a key issue in this race, and we will continue to do so throughout the primary season, and into the is one of the architects of the Defense of Marriage Act, which he pushed through Congress at the same time he was involved in an extra-marital affair with a staffer. That was the second of two marriages that ended after his adultery.

The former House Speaker is one of the architects of the Defense of Marriage Act, which he pushed through Congress at the same time he was involved in an extra-marital affair with a staffer. That was the second of two marriages that ended after his adultery. Apparently the "preserver of marriage" beleived the best way to preserve his marriage ... was to ask for an open one.

Gingrich Wins South Carolina

PHOTO: Getty

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has swept to victory in the South Carolina primary and has upended the Republican presidential nominating process.

Early statewide results show Gingrich with a substantial lead over the former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, the presumed front-runner. Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum and Texas Rep. Ron Paul are projected to be in third and fourth places, respectively. Gingrich has positioned himself to become the Republican alternative to Mitt Romney that Tea Party and social conservatives have sought for months.

This has been an epic week for the 2012 Republican presidential candidates. Late certification of results from the Iowa caucuses led to Romney's slight victory being given to Santorum. Texas Gov. Rick Perry dropped out of the race. And the second wife of the anti-gay thrice-married serial adulterer Gingrich revealed that her "family values" husband asked for an open marriage.

The Republican presidential campaign now moves to Florida which will host its primary on January 31.

LISTEN: Alvin McEwen on Social Media to Discredit Religious Bigotry

Alvin McEwen is the blogger behind Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters. The Columbia, South Carolina-based activist has become a thorn in the side of the National Organization for Marriage, using his blog to expose the "junk science" and "discredited theories" behind their anti-gay activism.

"I'm also concerned about the right-wing's inroads into Black churches and [hope] we can address this at Netroots Nation," he tells R20. "I'm hoping the Netroots Nation can give African-American gays and lesbians the tools to fight this. I'm also hoping to find [social media] tools to encourage African-American gays and lesbians to leave oppressive [church] environments."

This is Alvin McEwen's first Netroots Nation. Alvin is one of about 40 bloggers and activists recruited on a scholarship program developed by the fabulous Mike Rogers and Netroots Nation. Listen:

ALVIN MCEWEN

WATCH: Santorum Says "No Truce" on Gay Bashing at GOP Debate

Speaking at last night's "No Grown Ups Allowed" Republican presidential debate, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick "Frothy Mix" Santorum slammed Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels' call for a "truce" on social issues during the presidential primary season.

Santorum said he would "never" dial down his extreme views on abortion and gay rights to reach more moderate voters. Watch AFTER THE JUMP ...

South Carolina Gay Man Says Bar Mob Hit Him in Face w/ Beer Bottles

Police in Spartanburg, South Carolina are investigating an alleged vicious anti-gay bar brawl. WSPA reports a 22-year-old gay man says he was assaulted by five or six men—who struck his face, head and arms with beer bottles.

Vonte Fuller [was] hanging out at Sideline's Sports & Spirit's early Sunday morning and "minding [his] business." "This dude came out of nowhere and poured this whole pitcher of beer on me," Fuller said as he explained how the beating began.

From there, he said he turned around only to be hit in the head with a beer bottle. As more men joined in, they broke more bottles on his face, sliced his arm, and spewed anti-gay slurs. Fuller recalls them shouting, "I hate you faggots and ... you punks are sick. And all ya'll going to die slow."

Fuller said the club's security kicked him and the men from the bar, but he says they didn't call police, and instead, allowed the men to leave. The security, Fuller said, tried to make him leave, too. Instead, someone called an ambulance for Fuller, and he was taken to Spartanburg Regional where he said he was visited—briefly—by a Spartanburg Public Safety officer. However, that officer never took a report.

Fuller was hospitalized and now has "staples in his head and stitches on his arm."

"Lt. Regina Nowak said the officer, who has not been identified, will be investigated by the department’s office of professional standards for a violation of department policy," reports QNotes. "Nowak told qnotes via phone Thursday afternoon that some details of Fuller’s original account don’t match video surveillance and later statements he made to police. In particular, Nowak said there are some instances where Fuller might have antagonized potential suspects in the bar. She also said Fuller admitted to police that he taunted one potential suspect after he says the man called him an anti-gay slur."

Police have released video surveillance of the incident. There is no audio and it is defnitely edited with several jump cuts. Where is the raw footage?

Watch that video and WSPA's report WHEN YOU JUMP ...

SC Dem Senate Candidate Alvin Greene Accused of Anti-Gay Slurs

More drama for Alvin Greene, who rocketed from obscurity to become South Carolina's Democratic Senate nominee. Greene's former campaign manager now accuses the candidate of using racial and anti-gay slurs, reports Myrtle Beach's WMBF-TV.

Alvin Greene is denying using the words. Now former campaign aide Dottie Sue Maggart-Feldmen accused Greene of using the slurs in a voice mail to the York County man she says Greene was talking about. The message was left for local Democratic activist Will Bigger, who organized a forum in York Monday night in which Greene spoke and answered questions. In the message, which was obtained by WBTV news partner CN2, Dottie Sue tells Bigger she has resigned from the Greene campaign. She says on the way back from the forum in York Greene called Bigger a 'fat white f-----.' She also says he called Bigger anti-white slurs. 'That's not true,' Greene told WBTV by phone from his home in Manning, South Carolina, on Wednesday night. 'She is a troublemaker, and she is not with my campaign.' Bigger said he's not sure who he believes, but he says the whole thing is disappointing."

Also on the campaign trail: Greene was accused of showing pornography to a college student and recently indicted by a grand jury on obscenity charges. South Carolina's Jim Clyburn, the No. 3-ranking Democrat in the U.S. House, says he will not support and not vote for his party's nominee for the Senate.

Right-wing and rabidly anti-gaySen. Jim DeMint leads Greene by 44 points.

No Hate Crime Charges for Marines Accused of Brutal Gay Bashing

An update to the two Marines charged with battery after beating a gay man so viciously that he was left unconscious on the street in Savannah, Georgia. Cpl. Keil Joseph Cronauer, 22, and Lance Cpl. Christopher Charles Stanzel, 23, claim the 26-year-old gay man  "winked at them" and they felt "threatened." The two Iraq War vets will not face federal hate crime charges, the GA Voice reports.

Alicia Johnson, spokesperson for the Chatham County DA’s office, which includes Savannah, said the two Marines will only face misdemeanor charges for allegedly punching [Kieran] Daly. The decision was made weeks ago, she added. The two Marines will appear before a judge in state court on Sept. 9. The judge is expected to hear the case and render a verdict, Johnson said. The case has already been postponed twice.

After the alleged attack on June 12, LGBT activists in Savannah and Atlanta called for the FBI to investigate the incident under the federal hate crimes law. Johnson said after the FBI, the Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police Department and the DA’s office reviewed Daly's medical records and conducted further investigation, they determined this case had “no merit” to be considered a hate crime. "I can’t speak on the specifics because this is pending litigation, but for a crime to be considered a felony [which a hate crime is considered to be] there has to be proof of a sustained injury," Johnson said. "It’s my understanding Daly suffered only a punch. Based on his medical records we could not upgrade the charge from a misdemeanor to a felony."

The vicious assault of two combat-trained Marines against one civilian—described as "only a punch" by prosecutors—lead to Kieran Daly suffering bruising to the brain and two seizures. Daly remained hospitalized for a week and denied  coming onto the soldiers. "I was just standing here eating my pizza," said Daly. "The only thing I said to him, it was in a really relaxed tone was, 'No. I'm not winking at you.'"

Georgia is only one of five states without a hate crimes law,  which is why the Federal Bureau of Investigation was asked to determine if the Marines could be charged under the new federal hate crime statute. If convicted of a misdemeanor, Cronauer and Stanzel could face less than a year in jail and a fine of no more than $1,200.

If these Iraq War vets were "threatened" by a gay man allegedly "winking"  at them over a slice of pizza, it's amazing they were able to patrol the streets of Baghdad.

Some Background:
2 Marines Arrested After Vicious Assault on Gay Man
Marines Claim "Unwarranted Verbal Advances"
FBI Considers Hate Crime Charge in Brutal Marine Gay Bashing

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