Blue Virginia - Social Issues

Video: Top Virginia GOP Donor Pat Robertson - Husband Cheated, but "He's a Man!"

lowkell — Wed, 15 May 2013 17:49:47 GMT

Nevada's Free Market Mental Health Care: Here's Your Free Bus Ticket

TheGreenMiles — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 21:02:23 GMT

Every time I think I couldn't be more shocked by the depths of how little Republican elected officials care about the weakest & most vulnerable in our society, people like Gov. Brian Sandoval (R-NV) come along and prove me wrong:
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Video: President Obama Responds to Senate Rejection of Background Checks

lowkell — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 02:08:23 GMT

On 6th Anniversary of VA Tech Shootings, It's Long Past Time for Action Against Gun Violence

lowkell — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 15:44:30 GMT

It's hard to believe it's been 6 years since that horrible day at Virginia Tech, when a deranged shooter with access to serious firepower killed 32 people and wounded 17 others. In some ways, what's even harder to believe is that 6 years after that event - and after other terrible incidents of gun violence - no serious action has been taken to stem this violence at the federal level, or here in Virginia. Clearly, it's long past time, and overwhelming majorities of Americans want action, yet the NRA and others with major financial interest in preventing such action have, so far, largely prevailed. That's unacceptable, and it's long past time we changed it.
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A Motley Crew Uniting Against Rape - Senators, Celebrities and Everyday Citizens

FisherShannon — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 17:57:07 GMT

International women's rights organization, UniteWomen.org, recently launched a rape awareness campaign, Unite Against Rape. An eclectic mix of notable names and average Joes and Janes are lending their voices to this campaign by submitting statements describing why they stand united against the growing societal epidemic of rape. The two most recent high-profile submissions were from Virginia's U.S. Senators, Tim Kaine and Mark Warner.
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Planned Parenthood VA PAC Statement on Passage of TRAP

lowkell — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 16:08:39 GMT

From Planned Parenthood of Virginia:
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General Assembly Votes to Ban Abortion in Health Care Marketplace

lowkell — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 23:15:32 GMT

From Planned Parenthood of Virginia:
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Sen. Mark Herring: Make Your Voice Heard on Reproductive Rights

lowkell — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 15:21:40 GMT

From Sen. Mark Herring, Virginia's next Attorney General (with your help of course)! :)
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A New Pope Emerges

KathyinBlacksburg — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 01:38:28 GMT

Today in Rome's Saint Peter's Square, over one hundred thousand people gathered to cheer a new pope. Argentine Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, a cardinal committed to social justice for the poor, became Pope Francis, most likely named after Saint Francis of Assisi, champion of the poor. Many Catholics rejoice in an American Pope, from Latin America. The first Latin American, first non-European, and first Jesuit is now the leader of the world's largest faith.
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NARAL Virginia: Radical Anti-Choice Group Pledges Support for Cuccinelli's War on Women

lowkell — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 15:52:33 GMT

From NARAL Virginia:

NARAL Virginia: Gov. McDonnell Plans Behind-the-Scenes Abortion Ban

lowkell — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 16:26:17 GMT

From NARAL Virginia (also see Julian Walker's scoop on this):
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The Importance of Drawing the Line on Weapons of War

AndySchmooklerforCongress — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 16:35:11 GMT

As the gun lobby says, only a small percentage of the gun deaths in America are inflicted by semi-automatic weapons. But the importance of fighting to ban these weapons goes beyond the number of lives that can be saved.
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Senate Republicans Continue Overreach, Defeat Virginia Dream Act

lowkell — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 20:02:48 GMT

Apparently, despite the drubbing they took in November, Virginia Republicans STILL aren't interested in the Latino vote. At least, they're not interested in the Latino vote if it means they have to stop their demonization of human beings they so tactfully and compassionately call "illegals." Instead, Republicans' idea of a "dream" is more what we'd call a "nightmare," at least if you're not super rich, a big corporation, a polluter, etc.
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A Few Photos, Video from Today's March on Washington for Stemming Gun Violence in America

lowkell — Sun, 27 Jan 2013 00:08:32 GMT

Abortion is like what?!? Sen. Dick Black is at it again

NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 21:46:15 GMT

Hey Virginia, remember Sen. Dick Black? You know, our favorite state Senator who as former Delegate became infamous for handing out plastic fetuses on the floor, dismissing the concept of marital rape and referring to contraception as "baby pesticides"? Well, he's back. And after his most recent comments, I doubt you'll forget him again.
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Please Join the Virginia Center for Public Safety 20th Annual Vigil & Advocacy Day

lowkell — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 14:32:22 GMT

Video: Lori Haas, Mother of Virginia Tech Shooting Survivor, Visits Newtown, CT

lowkell — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 21:09:54 GMT

More great work by filmmakers Annabel Park and Eric Byler, this time in their Story of America series. Here's Annabel's and Eric's description of the above video, an interview with Virginia Tech mom Lori Haas, who now works full time to stop the kind of gun violence her daughter experienced:
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Want to Understand the Pro-Gun Tribe? Watch "Death Wish"

TheGreenMiles — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 23:00:00 GMT

At Talking Points Memo, Josh Marshall has a long post up about being part of the "non-gun tribe." I'd call myself a member as well - I'm all for hunting, and if you feel safer with a well-secured handgun in your house that's your choice, but I personally don't feel safer in the presence of guns and see absolutely no reason for assault weapons or high-capacity magazines.
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Video: Del. Alfonso Lopez Speaks Out Against Military Grade Ammunition Magazines

lowkell — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 19:04:21 GMT

VA Senate Republicans Reject Efforts to Overturn Mandatory Ultrasound, Onerous Abortion Clinic Regs

lowkell — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 17:59:22 GMT