election 2008
GRITtv: Celebrating Justice on Proposition 8
In the nearly two years since Proposition 8 passed in California, putting a blot on the progressive victories of Election Day 2008 by taking marriage rights away from gay and lesbian citizens, there have been plenty of protests, arguments, and court cases. But when a judge appointed by George H.W. Bush struck down the law as unconstitutional on August 4, citing the Due Process and Equal Protection clauses of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, celebration broke out around the country. The fight is, of course, far from over--the decision was stayed in expectation of inevitable appeal, and will probably end up before a conservative Supreme Court. But New York Assemblyman Daniel O'Donnell and comedian Kate Clinton are optimistic about eventual victory. Clinton joins us via Skype and O'Donnell in studio to discuss the victory, the decision, and the country's evolving view of equality.
Email this pageGRITtv: Aug. 5 2010
In the nearly two years since Proposition 8 passed in California, putting a blot on the progressive victories of Election Day 2008 by taking marriage rights away from gay and lesbian citizens, there have been plenty of protests, arguments, and court cases. But when a judge appointed by George H.W. Bush struck down the law as unconstitutional on August 4, citing the Due Process and Equal Protection clauses of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, celebration broke out around the country. The fight is, of course, far from over--the decision was stayed in expectation of inevitable appeal, and will probably end up before a conservative Supreme Court. But New York Assemblyman Daniel O'Donnell and comedian Kate Clinton are optimistic about eventual victory. Clinton joins us via Skype and O'Donnell in studio to discuss the victory, the decision, and the country's evolving view of equality. The aftermath of the earthquake that rocked Haiti six months ago had faded from the headlines when Haitian-American hip-hop artist Wyclef Jean announced that he would run for president of the country. Meanwhile, most Haitians are still struggling to rebuild, lacking basic necessities and sometimes succumbing to despair. Marie St. Cyr and Rodney Leon have both been working to help rebuild Haiti; St. Cyr with MADRE and the Lambi Fund of Haiti, and Leon as an architect, designing and helping to implement "soft houses" as interim solutions for those left homeless by the quake. They both returned to our studio to discuss the ongoing need for attention to Haiti's problems, and whether Wyclef's campaign will help or hurt.
GRITtv: Generation Obama: Where Are They Now?
After years and years of listening to pundits bemoan the lack of engagement among America's youth, the kids finally came out for Barack Obama. Many of the volunteers and organizers that put Obama in the White House were young and working on a political campaign for the first time. From the Iowa caucuses to Nov. 4, a new generation worked day and night to change their country. A year later, we round up a few of them and ask whether they're still involved. Lana Wilson, founder of Obamaerobics, Mike Jones, NYU sophomore and Obama 2008 campaign volunteer, and Ebonie Johnson Cooper, campaign organizer in Ohio and Pennsylvania, join Elizabeth Mendez-Berry, who wrote about the Obama youth organizers and what they're up to now for an upcoming issue of The Nation, to talk about what they've done and how Obama changed their generation.
