Fighting back against the right wing

Remember what Rush Limbaugh said about Obamacare back in 2010? Responding to a caller who asked him where he would go for health care if Congress enacts reform, Limbaugh replied, "I don't know. I'll just tell you this, if this passes and it's five years from now and all that stuff gets implemented -- I am leaving the country. I'll go to Costa Rica." It's 2015, and five years have passed! Send Rush a message. Tell him the make good on his promise, and to start packing his bags. (Oh, and to the good people of Costa Rica....um... sorry). (P.S. - Don't tell Rush, but Costa Rica actually has universal health care).

The situation in Ukraine is a highly volatile one, and as bad as it already is, the potential is there for it to get much, much worse. That is why level-headed leaders from all over the world are working hard to try to defuse it. Unfortunately, here in America, Republicans are undermining those efforts by shamelessly exploiting the situation for political purposes. John McCain, Sarah Palin, and other Republican leaders are spewing "tough guy" talk that ranges from irresponsible to outright unhinged. If this were simply a domestic issue, such talk would be par for the course. But in an international crisis, it is downright dangerous. Implying that the US needs to take a military response is the last thing needed in an already volatile situation. The US does not need another armed conflict, and these Republican leaders need to stop trying to egg us on into one. Send a message to the Republicans: Tell them to stop trying to push us into war in Ukraine.

In a move eerily reminiscent of Jim Crow laws of the past, the Republican-dominated Arizona legislature has passed a measure (SB 1062) that would allow businesses to deny service to customers who are gay. It now goes to Governor Jan Brewer, who has said she has not yet decided whether to sign it. Send a message to Governor Brewer, and tell her to veto this bill. It's shocking and appalling that in the year 2014 this is on the verge of becoming law. And it's shocking and appalling – though, sadly, not surprising – that nearly every Republican in Arizona's House and Senate voted in favor of it. State-approved discrimination has no place in America, and we need to speak out against it. Send a message to Governor Brewer, and tell her to veto this bill.

Breaking news from Texas: "A federal judge in San Antonio declared Texas' ban on gay marriage unconstitutional Wednesday. But U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia issued a stay along with the ruling, so the ban remains in place for the time being. Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott (R), who is running for governor against state Sen. Wendy Davis (D), is expected to appeal the decision." (click for full article) Speaking of Texas and marriage equality, Senator Ted Cruz is pushing a bill to ban marriage equality at the Federal level. Don't let him get away with it: Click here to take action against Cruz's bill.

Yes, no better way to close the gender gap than to have Ted Nugent appear on stage with you. Not to mention the sanity gap.

With the world's attention focused on Sochi for the Olympics, outrage is growing over the plight of Russia's LGBT community. A recently-enacted "gay propaganda" law has helped unleash a wave of anti-gay violence, and a proposed new law would actually remove children from the homes of LGBT parents. Tennis star Maria Sharapova has a unique opportunity to raise awareness about this oppression. She will be reporting for NBC from Sochi, where she lived as a child, and speaking about what life is like in Russia. As an internationally known sports figure, and as the athlete given the honor of carrying the Russian flag in the 2012 Olympics, Sharapova has the chance to make a profound impact with even a brief mention. But she has specifically said that she will not talk about LGBT oppression, responding to a question with, "I said everything I wanted to say there about it." (Source) Send Maria Sharapova a message, and tell her to reconsider this. No one is asking her to focus exclusively on LGBT oppression, but to ignore it completely isn’t reporting, it's PR whitewashing for the Russian government. And it's a missed opportunity to speak out against injustice when something can still be done about it, rather than once it's too late. Tell Maria Sharapova: Don't Ignore Russia's Anti-Gay Laws in Olympic Coverage Click to go to action

And in the category of "I can't believe we have to explain to these guys why this is offensive," we have this. Daiquiri Factory, a new bar in Spokane, Washington, is featuring a drink named: "Date Grape Koolaid" Really. They went there. And when it was explained to them why this might be extremely offensive, particularly to survivors of sexual assault, they claimed that it wasn't a big deal, wasn't "meant to offend," and that they had no intention of changing it. Even in the face of in-person protests from actual survivors. You know, we're all for creativity, and we've certainly been known to push the boundaries of taste, but a rape joke? That's not creative, and that's not funny. It's just wrong. Send a message to the Daiquiri Factory management. Tell them to do the right thing, and to drop this offensive name. (This effort was launched and organized by activist Taylor Malone. Click here and here to follow and support her ongoing effort)

When Congressman Michael Grimm didn't like the question a reporter was asking, he didn't just walk away, he physically threatened the reporter, got in his face, and said he would "break him in half" and throw him over the balcony (click here for video) This behavior is absolutely unacceptable, and a wishy-washy faux apology is not enough. Congressman Grimm must resign now. The dialogue between Grimm and NY1 reporter Michael Scotto is simply jaw dropping, and seems like it's straight out of the The Sopranos. Scotto asked Grimm about a federal investigation into his 2010 campaign fundraising, and this was Grimm's response: ...As the camera continued to roll, Grimm walked back up to Scotto and began speaking to him in a low voice. "What?" Scotto responded. "I just wanted to ask you..." Grimm: "Let me be clear to you, you ever do that to me again I'll throw you off this f-----g balcony." Scotto: "Why? I just wanted to ask you..." [[cross talk]] Grimm: "If you ever do that to me again..." Scotto: "Why? Why? It’s a valid question." [[cross talk]] Grimm: "No, no, you're not man enough, you're not man enough. I'll break you in half. Like a boy."There is room for heated debate and even heated rhetoric in Congress. But there is no room for an outright thug who physically threatens a reporter for asking a simple question. Congressman Grimm needs to go, and if he won't leave voluntarily, he need to be thrown out. Tell Michael Grimm to resign now.

Senate Democrats started 2014 by pushing to restore emergency unemployment insurance to over 1.3 million Americans. As usual, Senate Republicans are obstructing. It's time for Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans to stop blocking this legislation and act now to restore emergency benefits to those hardest hit by economic woes. Please join Left Action and the DSCC in thanking Senate Democrats for acting to extend emergency unemployment insurance benefits and demand that Senate Republicans end their outrageous obstruction. Use this form to add your name.

In a truly appalling move, hundreds of newly and legally married Utah couples have been told that their marriages are now "on hold until further notice" and will not be recognized by the state of Utah – even though they were sanctioned by that state. Governor Gary Herbert's office has ordered state agencies not to recognize these legal marriages performed over the past few weeks, following a court ruling that permitted them. That decision is now being appealed to the Supreme Court. Send Governor Herbert a message, and tell him to reverse his decision to effectively "unmarry" these legally married couples.