Thursday, April 08, 2010

Today on the Signorile Show

Is it too late for April Fools? We're sure that's what VA Governor Bob McDonnell was hoping. We spent some time yesterday speaking about the governor's decision to declare April "Confederate History Month," noting "'all Virginians' honored the Confederacy’s sacrifice and, amazingly, included no mention of slavery or slaves." After a tsunami of outrage, McDonnell apologized for this "major omission" late Wednesday. He issued another proclamation on slavery, but the first one still stands, honoring the Confederacy. Isn't this just dressing up the ugliness a bit rather than expunging it? Will McDonnell be able to shed this offensive incident or will it hopefully plague his political career? We'll talk.

Obama does what Bush couldn't, again: Nuclear pact with Russia is signed.

Meanwhile, Sarah Palin, wingnut Congressmember Michele Bachmann and Sean Hannity spin out lies about how Obama's new nuclear policy is a like a kid saying "punch me in the face," and appallingly claiming the U.S. won't retaliate against any country that attacks it. We'll go through the audio and point to the twisted claims.

False Alarm! Last night, Mohammed al-Madadi, a Qatari diplomat, flying from Reagan International Airport was taken into custody last night in Denver. Apparently, al-Madadi had left the planes bathroom and air marshals approached him after they smelled smoke coming from the bathroom. Reports are that there was a "misunderstanding," but it looks like Mr. al-Madadi was just trying to have a cigarette on the plane. We'll discuss the story.

The past few days, we've been talking about the CNN segment dealing with the archaic California law of curing gays. Kyra Phillips, a CNN daytime host, brought on "ex-gay" Richard Cohen to discuss why the law shouldn't be taken off the books, and yesterday, I told you about CNN's response. Now GLAAD has issues an action alert, after being snubbed by CNN. We'll get into it.

The mother of teabagger who threatened Pelosi blames Fox News for getting her son "worked up."

A right-wing District Attorney in Wisconsin is warning sex education teachers that if they follow a new law mandating they instruct students on the proper use of condoms and other contraceptives they are going to be locked up! Surely you'll want to call in on this one.

Guest / 4:30pm EST - Diane Ravitch, noted education expert and author of The Death and Life of the Great American School System: How Testing and Choices are Undermining Education, joins us this afternoon to talk about her book in which she rejects some of her own long-held beliefs about school reform and offers a roadmap for getting our schools back on track.

Last week, Constance McMillen attended a prom. But it turns out it wasn't the real prom. Why was she sent to the fake prom, along with other special education students? Because she is a lesbian! But one of the cool kids, Lindsey Begley, a student at Itawamba Agricultural High School, wrote on her Facebook page that McMillen was, "playing the lesbian card to prove she ALWAYS gets what she wants.”

In a related story, Juin Baize, was a trans student who attended Itawamba Agricultural High School for a total of 4 hours. According to The Stranger, "Baize was given a suspension notice and sent home. When Juin returned to school after his first suspension, he was suspended again. 'Juin’s case was a situation where a transgender student wanted to attend school dressed in feminine clothing,' said Bennett, 'and the school district would not even let him attend school.' The reasons for a student's suspension are supposed to be noted on the suspension form, according to Bennett, but that part of Baize's suspension notice was left blank." What's wrong with this school?! We'll discuss this afternoon!

All this and more, today on The Michelangelo Signorile Show!

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