Using Public Office for Political Gain

Our lovely Secretary of State, no doubt enamoured with the recent vote in neighboring Washington State and the legalization of gay marriage, sent out a message to supporters. Only it wasn't sent as a private citizen, it was sent with her official title as Secretary of State. Her message was one of joy and support, and even asking for financial support for a political action committee in Oregon that promotes gay marriage.

This is the same Office, the very same Secretary of State, that oversees administrative rules, which regulate state agencies. The same Secretary of State that oversees elections. That oversees ballot initiatives.

How can I have faith that she will fairly and objectively manage the state's affairs. Suppose a ballot initiative comes her way that runs counter to her beliefs. What trickery or bias is there.

Here in the Oregon bubble. Since this is so blatantly political, I will attach the email here:
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To: bro@basicrights.org

From: Kate Brown (at bro@basicrights.org)

There is a lot to celebrate – just earlier this week, Governor Gregoire signed Washington State's newly-passed marriage bill! This victory is an important reminder, especially on this day of love that we all need to do our part to ensure one day soon Oregon will see the day where no one is discriminated against because of who they are or who they love.

I'm forwarding you this email because Basic Rights Oregon is kicking off a great campaign to build equality across Oregon. You can help make equality a reality for every Oregonian.

Please support Basic Rights Oregon. Any amount can help send staff across the state, from Portland to Pendleton, Beaverton to Bend – to expand our work and touch more lives. And they have a donor ready to match all contributions up to $7,000 so let's help them raise $14,000 right now!

Join me in supporting equality across Oregon!

Kate

Kate Brown
Oregon Secretary of State

----------------------------------------Forwarded Message----------------------------------------

Dear Courtney,

This is an exciting time. Momentum is growing for the freedom to marry and public awareness is building on the important issues of transgender health care and racial justice.

That's why we're not letting the grass grow beneath our feet in 2012. We are taking equality across Oregon! Given that 48% of Oregonians live in towns of under 20,000 people, we cannot fulfill our mission of ensuring that all Oregonians experience equality unless our work reaches every community in the state.

We'll be traveling the state this year, building a majority for marriage, increasing the number of employers who provide trans-inclusive health care, and sharing the unique experiences of LGBT people of color through the Our Families project.

We can't do it alone. To build equality across Oregon, we need your help to raise $7,000 today!

Your dollars go directly toward our work in the field: training volunteer leaders, meeting with legislators, recruiting equality-minded business and community leaders, hosting video screenings, and attending community events where we can connect with new volunteers.

And this just in – Basic Rights Oregon Board Member Al Machemehl and his partner John Harrell have graciously offered to match all contributions up to $7,000 – this means we can raise $14,000 with your support!

You can also help us by building a political majority this election year, by registering yourself and your friends to vote and supporting pro-equality candidates. In this election year, we plan to send the message that pro-LGBT voters are here to stay in Oregon, and our numbers are only growing.

We'll be tallying the miles to let you know how far we travel. See you on the road!

In solidarity,

Jeana Frazzini
Executive Director
Basic Rights Oregon

Never Say Never

Power right - amend the Constitution or we won't pay the bills

Power left - must get re-elected

Is it too late to be from Canada? Right now, I live in a banana republic. But, no free bananas.

This debt limit deal - its not about rational compromise, or "revenue" or "no taxes" or "corporate jets" or even "federal spending". Sorry if you thought that.

Don't listen to any of the words that are tossed out. For the tea party - its all about gaining control. They get what they want, and they want some more. It never ends. Thats the way it is with freshmen!

Well, when I was in college, most of the freshmen that spend that year, newly away from home - running up and down the hall, doing drugs all hours. Most of them didn't make it to Year 2. Went back home.

For the Democrats, did you think "oh, we don't want to have to raise the debt limit *again*" was some sort of real story? As CNBC said, in their finest British accent, "Americans can't do maths" - pointing out that Reagan, the Republican overlord, raised the debt limit 18 times over 8 years. Over and over (and over and over and over and over and over and over... you get the idea). Now just *why* would those Dems not want a debt limit that stalls out in December 2011, but one that defers stalling out till December 2012? Oh! There is that Presidential election in November 2012.

Just about power - on both sides. Using the federal budget as a tool in their political play.

Today I am a Progressive. I wonder who the Progressive Party will run for "Oregon1" - the 1st Congressional District of Oregon, to replace Wu. Once they vote on the debt deal, our congressman will be stepping down. New candidates wanted. No one who has ever worn a tiger suit that was photographed need apply.

I can hear TV Highway from my front porch

Today on c-span I learned some new phrases, and no it was not foreign language instruction (not Russian, for instance, and no I cannot see Russia or even Washington from my porch). Things like "D-Triple-C", or "NRCC", or "Mississippi 4", or "knock her out".

For a moment I might have thought it was ESPN, but why would that be one of my presets? Unless my husband had surreptitiously stolen into my car, now that it is nice and clean and not disgusting, amazing that Windex can clean absolutely any plastic surface! Even the champagne that was not supposed to open when placed in a bag in the back seat, or the multitudes of snack crackers that had fallen next to the seats, or the melted candy canes (who would know that a satellite radio receiver would generate heat?!)

Oh! It is campaign season, and they had the national executive directors from each of the 2 primary parties (Dem, Republican, not anyone from the national Progressive party, if there is such a thing, actually they should be international lets not stop with petty country politics).

How is campaigning like sports? I was starting to space out. Sort of like basketball - watching it live is fun, but on satellite radio, not so much. Do politics have more of an impact on my life than sports? Hmm. It depends on where you live.

In Oregon there is not much in the way of sports to chose from (marching band doesn't count anymore, sorry Em). No afternoon watching the Cubs with a good friend and a brewskie at Wrigley Park. Defining your identity as a north-sider (Cubs fan) or south-sider (Sox fan). Not to mention da Bears, Blackhawks, and of course the Bulls.

Maybe politics are more interesting in Oregon cause there are precious few other sporting teams to route for.

Sigh, we need major league soccer. The Timbers will be ours come 2011! I read on a sister blog that they already have a shirt sponsor (Alaska Airlines), which only half the major league soccer teams have. This will propel them to winning-hood for sure! Rah! Time to be a soccer fan (next year, for this year, there is still politics).