Connect with us

News

Is Joy Reid Homophobic? (No.)

Published

on

OK. Let’s talk about Joy Reid. As many know, an amateur sleuth on Twitter who has previously unearthed some anti-gay remarks about Florida politician Charlie Crist has supposedly unearthed old blog posts right-leaning websites like Mediaite are publishing. The posts are supposedly screenshots of Reid’s old blog, in which she supposedly wrote anti-gay remarks, and which she says she shut down in 2011.

Reid also says that the newly unearthed anti-gay posts are not hers, that she did not write them. She also says she was hacked, and hired a cyber security expert who issued a report that states her blog was breached.

NBC News reportedly is not taking Reid off the air, and is allowing the law enforcement process to take place – Reid says she notified law enforcement last year when she found the fraudulent blog posts.

There are also some tweets that some are calling anti-gay, anti-trans, anti-LGBT, homophobic, transphobic, etc.

On the right, some are demanding NBC/MSNBC fire Reid, some are asking about an advertiser boycott, some are insisting she be punished – mostly because the left has been so effective at holding actual wrong doers accountable. The countless corrupt politicians/political operatives/fundraisers, etc. associated with the RNC and the Trump team have come under scrutiny from the left because of the wrongdoing, immoral, and possibly illegal acts that we see unfold literally every day.

The right sees this as payback.

But let’s do a few things. First, as far as the blog posts are concerned, Reid says she did not write them. A security expert says her site was breached. And she’s contacted law enforcement. Also, former Salon editor-in-chief Joan Walsh, who previously published Reid’s work from her old blog, says “none of us ever saw the kinds of homophobic posts she’s now accused of.”

“Also, to my knowledge, the offensive posts had no comments on them, while the posts she acknowledges had some lively comments debates,” Walsh adds.

Others have spoken out in support of her and her work:

We also should look at who’s pushing the “Joy Reid is a homophobe” lie:

I have no idea if Joy Reid wrote the blog posts Mediaite supposedly claims she did, and I’m not going to focus on them, as many others have.

But, the credibility of those who are “unearthing” these likely fraudulent blog posts should be questioned at this point, not Reid. She says they’re not hers, she was hacked, she has an expert supporting that statement, she contacted law enforcement when she found them, and a well-respected editor familiar with her work says she never saw homophobic posts. At this point the onus is on her accusers to prove their allegations.

Because the ones who are pushing this story is the anti-gay right. Fox News. Breitbart. The “alt-right” media outlets and “reporters.”

Now, there’s a lot that’s been written about the posts, not a lot that’s been written about her tweets.

So let’s look at some of the tweets some have characterizing as appalling.

And yes, a few are offensive. But many people on the right are pointing to are not.

Remember, these are from 2010 and 2010.

Yes, this is offensive:

This is not:

(For those who don’t know, George Rekers built an entire career out of attacking LGBT people. He made a fortune testifying in court on the “dangers” of gay people. Until he was caught returning from a European vacation with a gay male prostitute.)

Is this homophobic? No. Accurate? I have no idea nor reason to think Rush Limbaugh is gay, but apparently Reid did. Was she disparaging gay people in this tweet? Doubtful.

Last year in December Reid apologized for calling Charlie Crist “Miss Charlie.” He accepted her apology. Here’s a portion of what she wrote:

“In the years since I went from blogger to opinion journalist, I have also learned, through brilliant friends and allies in the LGBT activist community, how to better frame my critiques of those who challenge people’s right to love who they want, marry them, and walk in the world as fully free people.”

“Re-reading those old blog posts, I am disappointed in myself. I apologize to those who also are disappointed in me. Life can be humbling. It often is. But I hope that you know where my heart is, and that I will always strive to use my words for good. I know better and I will do better.”

If anyone has evidence of recent attacks on LGBT people Reid has made, let’s take a look at those.

The point is, if Reid were making anti-LGBT remarks today, absolutely we should hold her accountable. But there’s no evidence of that, and there’s plenty of evidence of her work supporting the LGBT community.

She has more than proven herself to be an LGBT ally today, and in the years since she made her questionable comments.

Does the LGBT community want the anti-LGBT right to decide who and what is anti-LGBT and homophobic?

Does the LGBT community want to take down our allies? That would leave us in a very lonely place.

Continue Reading
Click to comment
 
 

Enjoy this piece?

… then let us make a small request. The New Civil Rights Movement depends on readers like you to meet our ongoing expenses and continue producing quality progressive journalism. Three Silicon Valley giants consume 70 percent of all online advertising dollars, so we need your help to continue doing what we do.

NCRM is independent. You won’t find mainstream media bias here. From unflinching coverage of religious extremism, to spotlighting efforts to roll back our rights, NCRM continues to speak truth to power. America needs independent voices like NCRM to be sure no one is forgotten.

Every reader contribution, whatever the amount, makes a tremendous difference. Help ensure NCRM remains independent long into the future. Support progressive journalism with a one-time contribution to NCRM, or click here to become a subscriber. Thank you. Click here to donate by check.

NCRM

Trump Promises to Lower Drug Costs as House GOP Tries to Cut $880B From Medicaid

Published

on

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday aimed at cutting drug costs. Meanwhile, his fellow Republicans in the House are trying to gut Medicaid.

Trump’s executive order, “Delivering Most-Favored-Nation Prescription Drug Pricing to American Patients,” is an attempt to “equalize evident price discrimination,” allowing Americans to pay the same price as other “comparably developed nations.”

“This abuse of Americans’ generosity, who deserve low-cost pharmaceuticals on the same terms as other developed nations, must end.  Americans will no longer be forced to pay almost three times more for the exact same medicines, often made in the exact same factories.  As the largest purchaser of pharmaceuticals, Americans should get the best deal,” the EO reads in part.

READ MORE: ‘Pushed Up to the Edge of the Cliff’: GOP Proposals Would Kick Millions Off Health Care

Prior to the announcement, Trump posted to Truth Social that “DRUG PRICES TO BE CUT BY 59%,” but did not provide details on where that figure came from. It is also unclear if the White House has the authority to enforce this order, according to NPR.

PhRMA President and CEO Steve Ubl dismissed the executive order, saying that it was other countries paying such low prices that drives up costs for Americans. Ubl implied that the executive order may require those countries to pay more.

“The Administration is right to use trade negotiations to force foreign governments to pay their fair share for medicines. U.S. patients should not foot the bill for global innovation,” Ubl said. “Importing foreign prices from socialist countries would be a bad deal for American patients and workers. It would mean less treatments and cures and would jeopardize the hundreds of billions our member companies are planning to invest in America – threatening jobs, hurting our economy and making us more reliant on China for innovative medicines.”

While Trump was promising to help American health care consumers on Monday, the night before, his colleagues in the House revealed legislation that would cut over $880 billion in Medicaid funding. Republicans say that the cuts will result in savings to the average American, but Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) said “millions of Americans will lose their health care coverage,” according to the AP.

“Hospitals will close, seniors will not be able to access the care they need, and premiums will rise for millions of people if this bill passes,” Pallone continued.

Not all Republicans are on board with this bill. Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri wrote a guest essay for The New York Times condemning the legislation. He called the bill “both morally wrong and politically suicidal.”

“If Republicans want to be a working-class party — if we want to be a majority party — we must ignore calls to cut Medicaid and start delivering on America’s promise for America’s working people,” Hawley wrote.

Image via Reuters

Continue Reading

NCRM

US Lifts Ban on Afghan Deportations, Despite UN Warning of ‘Escalating Crisis’

Published

on

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced Monday that the ban on deporting Afghans had been lifted due to improvements in their home country. The United Nations has warned this isn’t the case, and deportees could be in danger.

The about-face is yet another example of the Trump administration reversing a Biden-era policy. Beginning in 2022, Afghan refugees were granted Temporary Protected Status (TPS), according to NPR. In addition to stopping deportation, TPS also gives refugees authorization to work in the United States.

Noem said the decision to rescind TPS was due to improving conditions in Afghanistan, citing an “improved security situation” and “stabilizing economy,” according to The Hill. The TPS designation expires on May 20, and becomes effective July 12, 60 days after the announcement is scheduled to be officially published in the Federal Register.

READ MORE: Trump Team Pushing ‘Utter Propaganda’ on Deportations to Create ‘Climate of Fear’: Experts

Despite Noem saying Afghanistan is safe for refugees, the State Department still gives the country a “Do Not Travel” designation. The State Department warns “travel to all areas of Afghanistan is unsafe,” according to NPR.

The United Nations also disputes Noem’s claims. A report published by the U.N. last month refers to an “escalating humanitarian crisis” in the country, and say increase deportations could further destabilize things. Iran and Pakistan have forcibly deported 96,000 Afghan refugees in April alone, the U.N. reported.

Afghan refugees in America—even those with green cards—say they’re afraid to return.

“It doesn’t matter just how you got here,” Muhammad Amiri, a Afghan refugee with legal permanent residency, told NPR. “We don’t feel safe, and we don’t feel good because now, we feel threatened, if they send us back to our country, it will be the same story. [We] feel threatened to be tortured, maybe be killed by [the] Taliban.”

Though Amiri has a green card, the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration has many worried. Amiri’s fiancée is in Afghanistan, and he told NPR he was afraid to visit her, due to fears he may not be allowed back into the country. Amiri’s fears are not unfounded; Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers at airports have already turned away or detained those who come to the United States legally, according to The Verge.

The Taliban,a militant Islamic fundamentalist group, is still in control of Afghanistan. The Taliban bans women from working or being educated. This week, it also banned chess, according to the Telegraph. The Taliban has been in control since the 2021 withdrawal of U.S. forces from the country, ending the longest war in which America has been involved.

Image via Reuters

Continue Reading

CORRUPTION

Karoline Leavitt Says Qatar Won’t Expect Anything in Return for Deluxe Jet

Published

on

The nation of Qatar has reportedly promised to give President Donald Trump a new deluxe jet for use as Air Force One—but White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that it isn’t a quid pro quo situation, as they know not to expect anything in return.

This weekend, ABC News broke the story that Qatar’s royal family is planning to give the Defense Department a Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet. The jet is reportedly so tricked out that it’s been called a “flying palace,” according to ABC News. After Trump leaves office, the ownership of the plane will transfer from the DoD to the Trump presidential library foundation.

Some might see the gift as an attempt by the Qatari government to curry favor with the American president. But on Monday morning, Leavitt denied that the jet would earn the country special privileges.

READ MORE: During Aviation Crisis Trump Is Shopping for Used Luxury Jet to Replace Air Force One

“They know President Trump and they know he only works with the interests of the American public in mind,” told Brian Kilmeade on Fox News, adding saying the Trump administration and DoD had “[committed] ourselves to the utmost transparency and that the gift was fully legal.

Qatar’s gift to Trump has been controversial with many Americans, including some members of Trump’s base. The far-right influencer Laura Loomer—a longtime ally of the president—called the acceptance of the gift “a stain on the admin” in a post to X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday.

Other critics have said the gift violates the Constitution’s Emoluments Clause, which requires government officials to reject gifts unless they get explicit approval from Congress. While a president may accept small, token gifts from leaders, a federal law puts a cap on politicians from receiving gifts worth more than $480.

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) said the gift is in clear violation of the emoluments clause, and called on Trump to seek Congress’ approval to take the gift, according to The Hill.

“The Constitution is perfectly clear: no present ‘of any kind whatever’ from a foreign state without Congressional permission,” Raskin said on X. “A gift you use for four years and then deposit in your library is still a gift (and a grift).”

During President Joe Biden’s administration, Trump pushed a conspiracy theory that Biden had offered loan guarantees to Ukraine in exchange for the dismissal of a prosecutor investigating the Burisma energy company. The then-president’s son, Hunter Biden, was a board member of Burisma.

While Trump’s claims were repeatedly debunked, Trump’s first impeachment was over proven reports that Trump blocked a $400 million military aid package to Ukraine—already approved by Congress—in an attempt to get the country to investigate Joe Biden and damage his presidential campaign.

That is not the only time Trump has been accused of making quid pro quo—latin for “this for that”—deals. Earlier this year, comments made by “border czar” Tom Homan on Fox News implied an agreement was made to drop federal charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams  in exchange for his support.

 

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2020 AlterNet Media.