The Times, They Be Cambiando

UPDATE: Readers have informed me that in Google Feedreader RSS, this post has Russian Erection Pill spam or something at the top. Please ignore, as I would never promote a pill that Rush Limbaugh has been caught sneaking into Thailand. And speaking of the ole boy himself, I now give you this very nonsexy video:

UPDATE 2: I’ve added, at bottom of post, the reaction video of Billo Riley hatin’ on Presente.Org. It’s kinda sweet. However, I advise against any actual viewing of him or listening to his voice for an extended period of time as it is damaging to human sanity. Use a mirror, or something. One of those milk carton doodads.

SO YESTERDAY AND TODAY have been the SCOTUS hearings on Judge Sonia Sotomayor’s nomination to the Supreme Court. I have no doubt that she’ll shatter the small stereotype some of these ailing senators like Jeff Sessions hold in their brittle minds, and it may hurt. I also have no doubt she will rock the process in general, and we shall see her on the Supreme Court before long.

On the Limburger video, I’m just not sure what more I can add about old white rich men who call a Latina JUDGE a “racist,” except to sigh and point out that this is a tired trick that Rove thought he’d make his bones on (and instead buried his reputation under). It’s what we call in the trenches, “insanity.” Some call it “perversion of truth,” and in the therapeutic field is known as “projection.” And this dynamic of the Madding Right has been covered again and again, so I won’t waste any time on that. But it is funny how disturbing it is to some that we refer to Latinas not as “the help,” or “hot and spicy” or “emotional” or “crazy,” but WISE. Whoa. Now that is just OUT OF CONTROL!!!! Ay Dios Mio! Next thing you know, they’ll be trying to put a darkie into the White House.

That we have a black president who is appointing people of color to positions of power is a wonderful thing. This is what the myth story of the USA is all about. It would be less of a myth and more of a legend if entrenched white powers didn’t spit on the fable as it turned to flesh; didn’t call it uglynames, didn’t project their own fear and revulsion on the changing times. But I expect it of them. I can only paraphrase Bobby D at this point and say, hey Rush, Jeff, Pat and the rest of yaz—your old road is rapidly agin’. So get the hell out the new one if you can’t lend a hand! SING IT WITH ME

Below is the transcript of the Rush Limburger video as well as Presente.Org’s announcement and campaign to support Judge Sotomayor, whom I endorse.

—————
From Presente.org:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, July 13, 2009

Spanish-Language Ads Slam Republicans for Racist Sotomayor Comments
Presente Action launches Florida radio ads calling out Republican politicians for refusing to denounce Rush Limbaugh’s attacks

Online activism will keep ads on the air: www.DenunciaRush.com

FLORIDA — As Judge Sonia Sotomayor’s confirmation hearings begin this week in Congress, Presente Action — a Latino online advocacy organization — announced new radio ads in Florida supporting Sotomayor’s nomination and slamming Republican politicians for refusing to denounce Rush Limbaugh’s racist attacks on Sotomayor.

The Spanish-language ads will run the first two days of the hearings in Orlando and Tampa, cities rich with Hispanic voting populations.

They target Republican Congressmen John Mica (Orlando) and Adam Putnam (Tampa), who Presente Action called in June and asked to denounce Limbaugh’s remarks calling Sotomayor “a bigot and a racist.” They both insisted on staying silent.

“Judge Sotomayor’s nomination is an important moment for our community, and her intelligence and fair-mindedness will be on full display this week,” said Gabriel Rey-Goodlatte, a spokesperson for Presente Action. “Our ad campaign is a warning to national Republican politicians. This week, if they pile on to attacks on Sotomayor and refuse to denounce the hateful, offensive rhetoric from Republican leaders like Rush Limbaugh, Latino voters will hear about it just as Putnam and Mica’s constituents are hearing about it today.”

The Progressive Campaign Change Committee (PCCC), which works to elect bold progressives to Congress, has endorsed the ad campaign and is helping to raise money to keep it on the air at www.DenunciaRush.com. The site includes an English-language YouTube version of the radio ad.

Orlando-area Congressman Alan Grayson (D-FL) quickly issued harsh words for Limbaugh when asked for comment by Presente Action.

“We are one America. We are united not by race, or by religion, but by our common values. We have an African-American President and, soon, a Puerto Rican Supreme Court Justice. I’m proud of that. You’re proud of that. And if Rush Limbaugh doesn’t like it, that’s just too bad.”

An initial buy will saturate the two largest Spanish-language radio stations in Mica’s and Putnam’s districts — WYUU in Tampa and WRUM in Orlando — which reach hundreds of thousands of people each day. Additional buys will happen as money is raised online.

Presente Action is an advocacy organization affiliated with Presente.org, a new online organizing organization focused on Hispanic and Latino issues. It has over 25,000 members. A number of prominent national progressive bloggers have endorsed this ad campaign including:

Manuel Guzman, Latino Político
Adriana Maestas, Latino Politics Blog
Kenneth Quinnell, Executive Director, Florida Progressive Coalition
Chris Bowers, OpenLeft
Howie Klein, DownWithTyranny
John Amato, CrooksandLiars
Alison Berke Morano, Chair, Florida Democratic County Chair’s Association
John Aravosis, AmericaBlog
Joe Sudbay, AmericaBlog
Digby, Hullabaloo
Eric K. Ward, Imagine 2050
Kyle de Beauset, Citizen Orange
Nezua Limón Xolagrafik-Jones, The Unapologetic Mexican

###

Script below. Hispanic voting populations here:

Orlando media market:
FL-08: Grayson (D), hispanic pop 18%
FL-24: Kosmas (D), hispanic pop 10%
FL-03: Brown (D), hispanic pop 8%
FL-07: Mica (R), hispanic pop 7%

St. Petersburg media market:
FL-12: Putnam (R), hispanic pop 12%
FL-11: Castor (D), hispanic pop 20%
FL-10: Young (R), hispanic pop 4.4%
FL-09: Bilirakis (R), hispanic pop 8%

Stats here:
http://www.techpolitics.org/congress/110fh1.php?sort_field=State&sort_order=asc

Translation
In Spanish:

“Sonia Sotomayor is set to be the first Latina, and the first Puerto Rican, to serve on the US Supreme Court. It is a proud moment for our community. Yet Republican leaders insist on attacking her:”

In English:

“She doesn’t have any intellectual depth. She’s got a — she’s an angry woman, she’s a bigot. She’s a racist.”

In Spanish:

That’s Republican leader Rush Limbaugh calling Judge Sotomayor a racist and a bigot.

It’s insulting to all Latinos and Americans.

We asked Republican Congressman Adam Putnam if he would denounce Limbaugh’s words. He refused to reply. Let’s put a stop to the hate. Call Congressman Putnam today at 863-534-353 and tell him to condemn this language.

This ad was paid for by Presente Action

Mica Translation

[Only the bottom section is different]

It’s insulting to all Latinos and Americans. We asked Republican Congressman John Mica if he would denounce Limbaugh’s words. His response? Silence.

Let’s put a stop to the hate. Call Congressman Mica today at 407-657-8080 and tell him to condemn this language.

This ad was paid for by Presente Action

Putnam As It Sounds

Sonia Sotomayor esta apunto de ser la primera latina y la primera puertorriqueña a servir en la Corte Suprema de los Estados Unidos. Es un momento de orgullo para nuestra comunidad. Sin embargo, los lideres republicanos insisten en atacarla.

“She doesn’t have any intellectual depth. She’s got a — she’s an angry woman, she’s a bigot. She’s a racist.”

Eso fue el lider Republicano, Rush Limbaugh diciendo que la Juez Sotomayor es racista y prejuiciada. Esto es un insulto a todos los Latinos y Americanos.

Le preguntamos al congresista Republicano Adam Putnam si denunciaría las palabras de Limbaugh. El se negó a responder.

Pongamos alto al odio. Llame hoy al congresista Adam Putnam al 863-534-3530 y pidale que condene este language.

Este anuncio fue pagado por Presente Action

Mica As It Sounds

Le pedimos al congresista Republicano John Mica si denunciaría las palabras de Limbaugh. Su respuesta? Silencio.

Pongamos alto al odio. Llame hoy al congresista John Mica al 407-657-8080 y pide que condene este lenguage.

Este anuncio fue pagado por Presente Action

UPDATE 2: