On The Internets 08.12.2010

• R.I.P. Dan Rostenknowski. The once powerful member of the House of Representatives from Illinois died yesterday at age 82.

• This explains so much. According to a new Pew poll, only 1/3 of Americans know the truth about the bailout of Wall Street. Two thirds of Americans incorrectly believed that Barack Obama was president when TARP was implemented. He wasn't. Sadly, this ignorance is not just among Republicans (as it usually is). "Notably, there is no partisan divide on the question. Just 36% of Republicans, 35% of independents and 34% of Democrats know that the government bailout of banks and financial institutions was signed into law by former President Bush. And Democrats (46%) are just as likely as Republicans (50%) to say TARP was passed under Obama." Here are some facts: It was George Bush who signed the bailout into law, and it was the Democratic Party and President Obama that passed legislation to prevent it from happening again.

• A number of very lazy bloggers and reporters are jumping all over an appearance by Glenn Beck on Bill O'Reilly's show last night. During the appearance, Beck appeared to be okay with the idea of same-sex marriage by quoting Thomas Jefferson, "I believe that Thomas Jefferson said ‘if it neither breaks my leg, nor picks my pocket, what difference is it to me?’" To some, that statement meant that Beck supports marriage equality. He doesn't. Earlier in the show, he said that marriage is a "religious right." You see, that is his caveat. His religion is against the idea, so naturally, our secular government has to follow suit. His claim that marriage is only about religion ignores the very basic fact that one does not have to be religious to be married, and that the state issues the license to be married in the first place. That is how secular government works - the laws apply to everyone equally, and one person's religion cannot be used to discriminate against others. Beck does not support marriage equality. In fact, his view of marriage is even more limited than most, as he would deny the rights of atheists to marry. Or agnostics. Who knows, considering his track record on Muslims, he probably opposes their right to marry as well.

• John McCain is still hung up on his loss in 2008 to President Obama. He appears obsessed with Obama to such an extreme degree that he is even changing positions he has that are similar to the president's so he can attack Obama for having the position (i.e. immigration reform). In his current race for the Republican nomination for Senate, McCain has attacked Obama more than he has attacked his actual opponent, J.D. Hayworth. Talking Points Memo has assembled a number of examples of how McCain appears to be re-fighting the 2008 election rather than focusing on the present. (Note to McCain: if you are still upset at the loss, look to your choice of running mate. You lost a number of states because of her extremism and ignorance)

• We already know the liberal case for marriage equality: discrimination against gays is wrong. But there is a very strong conservative case for it, as well (it is just one that few conservatives seem to acknowledge). Fox News contributor Margaret Hoover has written a new column outlining that case and posted it (believe it or not) on FoxNews.com. "When an unpopular minority is denied the right to marry, it is indeed the role of the courts to protect the rights of that minority, especially when a majority would deny them. This is why Judge Walker’s opinion reads, 'That the majority of California voters supported Proposition 8 is irrelevant, as fundamental rights may not be submitted to [a] vote; they depend on the outcome of no elections.'" It's a good read from an unlikely source.

• I've long disliked actor/filmmaker Mel Gibson for his semi-frequent bouts of anti-Semitism, but his father, Hutton, is much much worse. In addition to being a Holocaust denier, TMZ now has a tape of Mr. Gibson attacking the Catholic Church as being completely corrupt, and claiming the Pope is gay.
  

• All right, people, this war between President Obama and Jersey Shore's Snooki has to end! Snooki started the battle by attacking the "tanning tax" increase in the health care law, Obama responded by saying that he had no idea who Snooki was. Well, that didn't sit well with the "guidette," and she has now accused the president of lying when he said he didn't know who she was. "I know he knows who I am. Why did he have to lie and say he didn't know me? He did say Snooki and JWoww about the tanning stuff and now he doesn't know who I am? He has to stop lying." Tough words from the pint sized know-nothing who is working on her first book, Snooktionary. In all fairness to Snooki, I think the president has a little more on his plate than memorizing all the talentless nobodies on reality TV.