There are excellent developments to a story we posted last week on Republican-lead efforts to deny voting rights to homeowners facing foreclosures in Michigan. The story has gone national. The Barack Obama campaign, the Democratic National Committee and several Macomb County voters filed a lawsuit in federal court in Detroit to prevent the practice.

The injunction [would] prohibit the Macomb County GOP, the Michigan Republican Party, the Republican National Committee or anyone connected with them from challenging Michigan voters whose homes are on foreclosure lists.

Obama campaign general counsel Bob Bauer said during a conference call with reporters that the “lose your home, lose your vote” strategy, even if the challenges are unsuccessful, “creates an atmosphere of intimidation that could drive voters from the polls” because even people who aren’t challenged may leave without voting because polling gets bogged down.

Even better news: The despicable Republican foreclosure strategy is now becoming a campaign issue because “Obama was joined by running mate Joe Biden and a dozen other Democratic U.S. senators in calling on Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey to ensure that voters facing foreclosure aren’t harassed or intimidated at polling places.”

But wait there’s more. Macomb County Republican Party Chairman James Carabelli claims he did not say the state party would challenge voters whose homes are on foreclosure lists. The party boss claims he will sue MichiganMessenger.com for libel if they do not retract the story. ‘Cause, you know, the Republican Party never challenges or suppresses voters and they can prove that. Not.

Voting rights are a bedrock of the Democartic Party and it’s freakin’ fantastic the Obama campaign will challenge Republicans in Michigan over this sacred right. After weeks of lackluster campaigning and being off-message, it’s downright orgasmic to hear Obama will adopt this issue. As we said last week, this is a winning issue in Michigan for the Obama campaign.

UPDATE: It’s hard to keep up with the lies. Additions are below the fold. Jeebus H. Christ, from the man who needs his wife to surf the Internets, this breathtaking boast from a spokesbot:

Move over, Al Gore. You may lay claim to the Internet, but John McCain helped create the BlackBerry. At least that’s the contention of a top McCain policy adviser, Douglas Holtz-Eakin.

Waving his BlackBerry personal digital assistant and citing McCain’s work as a senator, he told reporters Tuesday, “You’re looking at the miracle that John McCain helped create.” McCain has acknowledged that he doesn’t know how to use a computer and can’t send e-mail, one of the BlackBerry’s prime functions.

Paging Al Gore…Ari Melber at the Washington Independent:

Within the hour, [Obama] chief spokesperson Bill Burton released a statement putting the falsehood in context: “If John McCain hadn’t said that ‘the fundamentals of our economy are strong’ on the day of one of our nation’s worst financial crises, the claim that he invented the BlackBerry would have been the most preposterous thing said all week.” Now let’s briefly correct this latest McCain campaign whopper.

McCain did not “help create” the “miracle” of the BlackBerry — he does not even know how to use email or a computer. The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee was not even pivotal: the BlackBerry was invented by a Canadian company, Research In Motion. So this claim is false and absurd, obviously, and it may seem like a distraction from the current debate over the candidates’ economic agendas.

And the damage control begins:

According to a McCain campaign pool report, senior aide Matt McDonald said that McCain “laughed” when he was told about Holtz-Eakin’s comment. “He would not claim to be the inventor of anything, much less the BlackBerry. This was obviously a boneheaded joke by a staffer,” McDonald said.

There’s already a Facebook group up, Thank You John McCain for inventing the BlackBerry!

The latest collection of lies, from the Obama fact checkers:

MCCAIN MYTH: I NEVER SAID I DIDN’T WANT TO HELP PEOPLE WHO WEREN’T ABLE TO PAY THEIR MORTGAGES.

ANCHOR: And out on the campaign trail, one of the things that links the problems on Wall Street and on Main Street, are of course mortgage obligations. Now you’ve said in the past, you didn’t want to do too much to help out people who weren’t able to pay their mortgages. Are you thinking about rethinking that now with the problems that we’re seeing?

JSM: Actually, I’ve never said that. [ABC, "Good Morning America," 9/16/08]

FACT: MCCAIN SAID, “IT IS NOT THE DUTY OF GOVERNMENT TO BAIL OUT AND REWARD THOSE WHO ACT IRRESPONSIBLY.”

Amid Housing Crisis, McCain Argued Against Government Relief, Blamed Homeowners Who He Said Acted “Irresponsibly.” On March 25, 2008, John McCain delivered a speech on the housing crisis. According to the New York Times, “McCain appeared to be trying to confront questions about his dexterity in dealing with the economy, a subject that he has admitted is not his strongest suit.” During the speech, McCain said, “I have always been committed to the principle that it is not the duty of government to bail out and reward those who act irresponsibly, whether they are big banks or small borrowers.” The New York Times reported, “Mr. McCain argued this week against a vigorous federal intervention to address the crisis, saying Washington should not bail out banks and homeowners who in his view had knowingly taken on risky mortgages.” [New York Times, 3/26/08; McCain Housing Speech, 3/25/08, emphasis added; New York Times, 3/28/08]

McCain Blamed Homeowners. According to the New York Times, “But in a departure from Democrats, who have focused on the lending industry’s role in the crisis, Mr. McCain suggested that some homeowners had also engaged in dangerous practices, including borrowing too much in hopes that a rising market would cover their mortgages. [New York Times, 3/26/08]

McCain Rejected “Activist Approaches” To Mortgage Crisis, Placed Blame On Homeowners. The Los Angeles Times reported, “John McCain said Tuesday that he understood Americans’ anger about the mortgage foreclosure crisis and was open to ideas for addressing the problem, but he rejected the sort of activist approaches proposed by his Democratic rivals for the presidency. … McCain – who has been trying to shore up his economic credentials – placed some of the blame on homeowners themselves, while also scolding ‘complacent’ lenders.” [Los Angeles Times, 3/26/08]

MCCAIN MYTH: MCCAIN WILL FIGHT FOR AMERICAN WORKERS BETRAYED BY GREED & CORRUPTION

JSM: I know that the American worker is the strongest, the best, the most productive and most innovative. They’ve been betrayed by a casino on Wall Street of greedy corrupt excess, corruption and excess that has damaged them and their futures. And we’re going to fix it. [ABC, "Good Morning America," 9/16/08]

FACT: MCCAIN HAS NOT BEEN ON THE SIDE OF WORKING FAMILIES

McCain’s Plan To Cut Taxes Leaves Out 101 Million Middle Class Households. “McCain’s plan is tilted toward corporations and the most affluent, neglects middle-class Americans and lacks immediate solutions, Obama’s advisers said today in a conference call with reporters held to unveil a report critical of the Arizona senator’s proposals. … McCain’s plan to cut taxes for the middle class by increasing the dependent exemption leaves out 101 million households without children, according to Obama’s report. His plan gives tax cuts to the nation’s wealthiest 2 percent and to large corporations, the report said.” [Bloomberg, 7/6/08]

McCain Has Voted At Least 19 Times Against Increasing The Minimum Wage. Since arriving in the U.S. Senate in 1987, McCain has voted against increasing the minimum wage at least 19 times. [2007 Senate Vote #23, 126; 2006 Senate Vote #179; 2005 Senate Votes #26, 257; 2000 Senate Vote #76; 1999 Senate Votes #94, 239; 1998 Senate Vote #278; 1996 Senate Votes #58, 184, 186; 1995 Senate Votes #344, 519; 1989 Senate Votes #29, 39, 68, 1988 Senate Votes #335, 336]

McCain Was The Only Senator To Skip A Key Economic Stimulus Vote That Would Have Made 20 Million Seniors and 250,000 Disabled Veterans Eligible For Rebate Checks. At a decision that “appeared to come last minute” on the tarmac in Washington, Senator McCain was the only Senator to skip a difficult Senate vote in February “on whether to make 20 million seniors and 250,000 disabled veterans eligible for rebate checks as part of a proposed economic stimulus package.” The Associated Press noted that the measure failed by only one vote, as Senator Reid changed his position at the last moment in a parliamentary move, and McCain was the only Senator absent. “The Arizona senator’s decision to miss the vote appeared to come at the last minute, after his plane had landed at Dulles International Airport outside Washington just before the proceedings opened on the Senate floor.” [Associated Press, 2/7/08]

McCain Repeatedly Voted Against Repealing Tax Breaks That Encourage American Corporations To Ship Jobs Overseas. In 1995, 2004, and 2005, John McCain voted against repealing the deferral clause in the U.S. tax code that has provided an incentive for American companies to locate production facilities outside of the United States. Under the current tax code, U.S. companies are required to pay a 35 percent tax on any income earned inside the United States. However, under the deferral clause, U.S. corporations can defer paying taxes on any active income earned by a foreign subsidiary until it is repatriated to the United States. And as USA Today has noted, these transfers “often don’t happen for years. General Electric, for example, has $62 billion in ‘undistributed earnings’ parked offshore, according to recent Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Drug giant Pfizer boasts $60 billion. ExxonMobil has $56 billion.” [USA Today, 3/20/08; Senate Vote #63, 3/17/05; Senate Vote #83, 5/5/04; Senate Vote #517, 10/26/95]

You can donate directly to the Obama campaign here.

This past week was historic for the nation as Sen. Obama become the first African-American presidential nominee of a major party at the Democratic National Convention in Denver. With all eyes glued to the happenings in Denver, you may have missed some of the great recent posts. So, here is a quick recap of the best that LGBT for Obama had to offer in the last week

Monday

Hope by Cyndi Lauper – Cyndi Lauper

Message to Log Cabin – “You Gotta Be Kiddin” – Terry Bean

Tuesday

Draft GOP Platform Calls for Constitutional Ban on Same-Sex Marriage – Michael Crawford

Video: Michelle Obama Speaks at the LGBT Luncheon

Wednesday

Family of Hate Crime Victim Ryan Skipper Speaks Out – Waymon Hudson

Hillary Clinton: “Obama is My Candidate and He Must Be Our President” – Michael Crawford

Barack Obama Nominated by Acclamation – Michael Crawford

Thursday

Sen. Obama’s Statement on the Death of Del Martin – Michael Crawford

“Friends” – LGBT People on Barack Obama – Michael Crawford

Friday

McCain Picks Alaska Governor Sarah Palin – Alex Blaze

Barack Obama’s Speech Included LGBT Community – Michael Crawford

Why This Election is Crucial to LGBT People – Michael Crawford

In his history speech last night accepting the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination, Sen. Barack Obama included the following line recognizing the LGBT community as a vital part of the American family.

I know there are differences on same-sex marriage, but surely we can agree that our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters deserve to visit the person they love in the hospital and to live lives free of discrimination.

Below is the full speech.

Last night I wept as I watched the Democratic Party nominate Barack Obama for President of the Alan_convention United States. All those trials and tribulations of the 1960’s in the struggle for freedom seem to have new meaning and new purpose. As Democrats we should be bursting with pride, as Americans we should celebrate our progress and as human beings we should all stand a little taller.

-Senator Clinton certainly wowed the Convention on Tuesday night and proved that she is committed to the Democratic Party and its principles. In a powerfully delivered speech she stuck to her journey while making a powerful case for supporting Barack Obama. Her supporters must be extremely proud and the party is very grateful. I believe her best line of the evening was:

Most of all, I ran to stand up for all those who have been invisible to their government for eight long years. Those are the reasons I ran for president, and those are the reasons I support Barack Obama for president. I want you to ask yourselves: Were you in this campaign just for me? Or were you in it for that young Marine and others like him? Were you in it for that mom struggling with cancer while raising her kids? Were you in it for that boy and his mom surviving on the minimum wage? Were you in it for all the people in this country who feel invisible?

-Speaking of Hillary supporters, the press seems to be having a field day interviewing those supposed “Hillary Supporters for McCain” outside the Convention Hall. There is not a doubt in my mind that they are NOT real Hillary supporters but McCain plants. Listening to them is like listening to the inmates who escaped from the asylum in the movie “King of Hearts”. They are nuts. Why the media keeps giving them time is beyond me. Are ratings really that important?

-The press seems to be desperate to know what the Republicans are thinking of our Convention and giving them enormous amounts of time to comment on our proceedings. Do we really need a commentator from the Christian Broadcasting Network being given tons of time? Give me a break, and please, God, give them the hook!

-The most sought-after couple at the Democratic Convention is Jeremy Bernard and Rufus Gifford. They are business partners and a couple in real life. The duo are the stars of the Obama fundraising machine in California. Every Democratic candidate is attempting to sign these talented fellas for the 2010 elections. Handsome, talented and sought after for business, somehow it is just not fair. They should have to struggle more!

-Speaking of the dynamic duo, Gifford and Bernard were seen at the MSNBC / Newsweek Party (Alter Party) at Scott Coors and David Harts. Tall, lanky Charlie Rose was there surrounded by awestruck fans. Howard Fineman, who appeared to be really enjoying the party, was giving opinions to anyone that would listen to what Obama must do (get nasty) to win the election. The party was filled with internet and blog people.

-Former Hillary Clinton supporter Congresswomen Loretta Sanchez says she hasn’t endorsed Obama yet because she hadn’t received a call from him yet. Will a telegram do, Loretta? Must make our troops feel good that the petulant Congresswoman is making a protocol call more important than the War.

-OK, someone has to say it and it might as well be me. John McCain’s appearance on the “Tonight Show” was disgusting. When Leno joked about his numerous homes, McCain’s answer was to go into the fact that he was a prisoner of war. Does this mean anytime there is a hot question that we will hear about his POW incarceration? No one wants to diminish that experience but it seems he is doing a good job of it himself. We should not accept him hiding behind that experience every time he makes a mistake. It dishonors him and all other POWs. His constantly played POW card is becoming dangerously close to failed candidate Rudy Guliani’s criminally self-serving 9/11 mantra. So there, I said it.

-Poor late Senator Eugene McCarthy, even in death he cannot get his due. Duing Tuesday’s “In Memoriam” segment honoring all the great Democrats who died since the last Convention, they placed the name “Senator Joseph McCarthy” next to his pictures. Joseph McCarthy was of course the horrible ‘red-baiter’ from the 1950’s!

-The Brown Palace Hotel has turned out to be the place to be seen at this Convention. Huddling in the lobby of the hotel were actor Sean Penn and Maria’s brother Robert Shriver. Would have loved to have had a hidden microphone on that conversation!

-Message to any poor pitiful gay person who is considering voting for McCain: The Republican Platform officially includes a plank supporting putting a marriage ban in the Constitution of the United States. Still feel all aglow for McCain? If so, let me suggest a therapist to deal with your self-hatred. Time for you Log Cabin Republicans to leave your back-woods and come into the light.

-On to the Speakers at the Convention – did anyone notice that Senator Mark Warner gave the keynote? It was so boring and so bad. Really Senator, you were so cautious that the delegates talked over your speech.

-Maybe the keynote should have gone to Governor Ted Strickland of Ohio who followed Warner! Strickland got the crowd going and gave a good old fashion “give them hell speech. ” The delegates came alive.

-Then there was the incredible speech and performance given by Montana’s rancher Governor Brian Schweitzer. The “prairie populist” hard-hitting, funny, sincere and intelligent. Where has the Democratic Party been hiding this man? He should be hitting the circuit for Obama this Fall! In some ways, he reminded me of the Texas Democrat Jim Hightower.

-Finally, one of my favorite speeches was by Congressman Dennis Kucinich. It was an old fashioned stem winder that had the crowd chatting, cheering and laughing to his “Wake Up America” theme. Strickland’s and Schweitzer’s speeches were in prime time but Kucinich was early in the day. In case you missed his speech, take a look at in the youtube.com segment below!

I walked into the convention hall today, on my way to the LGBT Caucus (and on my way to pick up a credential to get me into the Pepsi Center today), when I saw San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. After what he did in San Francisco, and what came of it on the California Supreme Court, I couldn’t just pass him by. (It didn’t hurt that he was taller and more handsome in person than he is in his pictures.) I had to stop and thank him.

I told him, I was just on my way to the LGBT caucus and that just wanted to stop and thank him. To which he responded “Thank you!” One of his aides overheard me say where I was going, and invited me to walk with them since they were going to the LGBT caucus too.

And then we stepped into the hall, and heard the announcement that Del Martin just passed away. She died quietly, surrounded by her family and friends. There was a gasp, and a moment of stunned silence.

And as I thought about Del, I realized that before she died she got to do something that perhaps she never thought she would: after 55 years together, she got to marry the woman she loved. Something Gavin Newsom helped happen, and something that some people with deep-pockets want to keep us from doing.

Mayor Newsom had only just heard of Del’s passing himself, and spoke of his experience meeting Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon, and helping them get married. I was typing as fast as I could, but I didn’t manage to capture of his words. Still, they are paraphrased below.

…They are two people who defined love and constancy, and defined ― to my mind ― what marriage is supposed to be about.

…They were able to ultimately live their life out loud. Now the questions is will we be able to offer the same chance to thousands of couples in California. They will do everything in their power to stop us.

[Now we face a vote on] whether [Del and Phyllis'] lives matter, and whether their marriage matters as much as mine. Let me assure you their lives matter as much, and so do the lives of millions of Americans like them.

…Let me just end by saying, we need your help. Massachusetts and its leadership, the LGBT community and its leadership … we need your help to defeat proposition 8 in California. We can’t afford to think about waking up disappointed the day after the election. This would be a monumental setback in our community.

…I believe this is the second most important election in the country, and some will argue that it may even be more important. This is bout basic human dignity.

Sitting here at the convention, I feel good knowing that there are people who are on our side, and ― I dare say ― have done more to prove it than John McCain and/or the Republicans have ever thought about doing. After her big speech at the convention, Michelle Obama’s next stop was to speak at the LGBT delegates luncheon. Last night I sat and listened to Hillary Clinton include gay rights in her speech.

And in Barack Obama, we have a nominee who stood with the majority in the Senate, and opposed attempts to bring a constitutional amendment against marriage equality to a vote. We have a nominee who supports a full repeal of DOMA. We have a candidate who opposes constitutional amendments like the one on the ballot in California. We have a candidate who supports full recognition of our relationships, and support adoption for our families.

Our other choice is a candidate who proudly led the effort to ban marriage equality in his state, and supports the amendment in California. Our other choice is a candidate who voted for DOMA. Our other choice is a candidate who opposes civil unions and full legal recognition of our relationships. Our other choice is a candidate who opposes adoption for our families. Our other choice is a candidate who would appoint justices to the Supreme Court who would almost certainly overturn Lawrence v. Texas.

Compare them for yourself, and the choice is clear.

And then ask yourself what I asked myself. What’s the best way to remember Del between now and November? How can we best honor and continue the work that she started and carried on for longer than I and some of the rest of us have been alive?

Again, I think the choice is clear.

Sen. Hillary Clinton delivered a powerful speech and a ringing endorsement of Sen. Barack Obama last night at the Democratic Convention. Her speech will go a long way towards unifying the Democratic Party and focusing our sights on a crucial goal: electing Barack Obama as our next president.

Hillary Rodham Clinton summoned the millions of voters who supported her in the primaries to send Barack Obama to the White House Tuesday night, and drew thunderous applause at the Democratic National Convention when she declared her one-time rival is “my candidate and he must be our president.”

“We don’t have a moment to lose or a vote to spare,” said the former first lady, writing the final chapter in a quest for the White House every bit as pioneering as Obama’s own.

The packed convention floor became a sea of white “Hillary” signs as the New York senator _ Obama’s fiercest rival across 56 primaries and caucuses _ strode to the podium for her prime-time speech. The signs were soon replaced others that read simply, “Unity.”

Here is a short video of reactions by women in Denver to Sen. Clinton’s speech:

H/T: HRC Backstory