We are down to the wire folks with only seven days until election day. In that seven days we can expect McCain, Palin and the GOP to throw as much slime and diversion as they can muster to try to scare, terrorize and fool voters into voting for them.

We can’t let them get away with it. Not this time. Not this year. Not when so much is at stake.

I know that some of you are just ready for this election to be over. But, we are at a transformative moment in our country’s history where we can make a break from the failed politics of fear, hatred and division as practiced by Bush, Cheney, McCain and Palin.

Rather than offer solutions to deal with the financial, healthcare, energy and climate crises we are facing McCain, Palin and their supporters have tried to convince us that Sen. Obama is a closeted Muslim who is BFFs with terrorists, hates America and wants to teach six year olds about sex. None of that is true, of course, but that’s what you do when don’t have proposals to effectively deal with the challenges facing our country.

On the issue of LGBT civil rights, the differences between Obama and McCain could not be more stark.

As I pointed out in my posts, Gays Won’t Let Friends Vote McCain, No Way. No How. No McCain/Palin. and The LGBT Case for Barack Obama:

Barack Obama:

• supports an inclusive ENDA
• supports the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act
• supports the repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell
• supports the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act
• opposes state constitutional amendments banning marriage, civil unions and domestic partnerships

John McCain:

• opposes basic civil rights protections for LGBT Americans
• supports the ban on openly gay Americans serving in the military
• opposes gay adoption
• would appoint Supreme Court justices that would overturn Roe v Wade

In these seven last crucial days, please help get out the vote for Barack Obama.

With a week to go before election day, Sen. Barack Obama delivers his “closing argument” as to why we should elect him as our next president.

John McCain, Sarah Palin and the GOP will throw every bit of slime and diversion they can muster to try to scare, terrorize and fool voters into voting for them. We have to expose their lies and continue to talk to voters about why a victory by Sen. Obama is so crucial for us as LGBT people and for the country.

Gird your loins folks because the political sh-t is really about to hit the fan.

Over the next next days we can expect the McCain campaign to unleash an unprecedented wave of slanderous attacks and lies aimed at attacking Sen. Barack Obama as un-American, terrorist-loving Muslim on a mission from Iran to destroy America. And, let’s not forget that Obama is BLACK.

McCain and his Rovian henchmen are hoping that by appealing to the most base fears of low-information white voters that they can squeak out a narrow victory or at the very seriously damage Obama should he become president. To lead this effort, McCain has hired three masters of political destruction who helped to torpedo McCain’s presidential campaign in 2000 by spreading the lie that McCain’s adopted daughter was really his love child fathered with a Black prostitute.

Here is McCain in an interview with Fox News’ Chris Wallace defending his campaign’s use of robocalls, a tactic McCain called “hate-filled” in 2000:

These calls are so offensive that Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine asked that the campaign cease running the calls in her state.

A group supporting McCain is now raising funds to air a radio ad targeting Black voters in swing states claiming that Sen. Obama is a slumlord who wants to “create a fund that gives his slumlord buddies $500 million a year.” This ad by the National Black Republican Association has no basis in truth, but as Sen. Obama pointed out a while back “the Straight Talk Express seems to have lost a wheel.”

The GOP effort to demonize the voter registration work of ACORN is already in full effect with McCain himself claiming that the group which is focused on building political power for low-income communities “on the verge of maybe perpetrating one of the greatest frauds in voter history in this country, maybe destroying the fabric of democracy. ” The GOP’s smear campaign against ACORN has resulted in the group receiving hate-filled messages like this:

Hi, I was just calling to let you all know that Barack Obama needs to get hung. He’s a fucking nigger, and he’s a piece of shit. You guys are fraudulent, and you need to go to hell. All the niggers on oak trees. They’re gonna get all hung honeys, they’re gonna get assassinated, they’re gonna get killed.

We have also seen the McCain campaign compare Sen. Obama to Hitler, a McCain supporter attack a reporter, an Obama-labeled ghost hanged in effigy in man’s yard and shouts of “kill him” when Sen. Obama’s name is mentioned at McCain/Palin rallies.

A recent New York Times editorial warned that the McCain campaign had moved “into the dark territory of race-baiting and xenophobia.” And that’s just the beginning of what we can expect. The next 15 days will see McCain with no sense of decency appeal to id of American electorate.

Josh Marshall of Talking Points Memo accurately points out:

Stripped down to its components McCain’s message to voters is this: “Don’t forget. He’s definitely black. And he may be a terrorist.” That’s the message. The nuts and bolts is a concerted effort to keep Democrats from voting — through intimidation, by striking new voters from the rolls, which is going to happen to lots of them, clogging polling stations to create delays that keep late day (predominantly) Obama voters from voting altogether. Smears in the air and voter suppression on the ground.

What we are fighting for is not just the election of Barack Obama as our next president. We are fighting to break the stranglehold that the right-wing extremist base that is the Republican Party has had on our national politics for far too long.

There has never been a presidential nominee from either political party that is as supportive of LGBT civil rights as Sen. Barack Obama, the Democratic nominee. He has long fought for civil and equal rights for minorities including the LGBT community. And, in the presidential campaign, Sen. Obama has included LGBT Americans numerous times in his speeches.

After the jump is a list of Sen. Obama’s positions on LGBT issues.

Sen. Obama’s strong support for LGBT civil rights did not begin with his decision to run for the presidency. As an Illinois State Senator, Senator Obama’s advocacy on behalf of minorities included championing the equal rights of LGBT people when he became the chief co-sponsor of the Illinois Employment Non-Discrimination Bill which eventually became Illinois law.

Here are Sen Obama’s position on key LGBT issues:

Sen. Obama supports passage of an inclusive ENDA and the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act

Sen. Obama wrote in A Call For Full Equality:

I will also place the weight of my administration behind the enactment of the Matthew Shepard Act to outlaw hate crimes and a fully inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act to outlaw workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. I have supported fully inclusive protections since my days in the Illinois legislature, when I sponsored a bill to outlaw workplace discrimination that expressly included both sexual orientation and gender identity.

Sen. Obama supports repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell

Sen. Obama wrote in A Call For Full Equality:

I will also fight to repeal the U.S. military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy, a law that should never have been passed, and my Defense Department will work with top military leaders to implement that repeal.

Sen. Obama supports the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act

Sen. Obama wrote in an open letter to the LGBT community:

While some say we should repeal only part of the law, I believe we should get rid of that statute altogether. Federal law should not discriminate in any way against gay and lesbian couples, which is precisely what DOMA does.

Sen. Obama has committed to developing a national AIDS strategy

Sen. Obama told the Washington Blade:

If elected, during my first year in office, I will develop and implement a comprehensive national HIV/AIDS strategy that includes all federal agencies. That strategy will reduce HIV infections, increase access to care and reduce HIV-related health disparities. Congress should pass the JUSTICE Act to combat infection within our prison population. And, as President, I will continue to confront the stigma — too often tied to homophobia — that continues to surround HIV/AIDS.

Sen. Obama supports civil unions with equal federal benefits for same-sex couples

Sen. Obama wrote in A Call For Full Equality:

As President, I will use the bully pulpit to urge states to treat same-sex couples with full equality in their family and adoption laws. I personally believe that civil unions represent the best way to secure that equal treatment. But I also believe that the federal government should not stand in the way of states that want to decide on their own how best to pursue equality for gay and lesbian couples – whether that means a domestic partnership, a civil union, or a civil marriage.

Sen. Obama opposes anti-gay state constitutional amendments such as those pending in California, Florida and Arizona

Sen. Obama wrote in letter to the Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club:

As the Democratic nominee for President, I am proud to join with and support the LGBT community in an effort to set our nation on a course that recognizes LGBT Americans with full equality under the law. That is why I support extending fully equal rights and benefits to same sex couples under both state and federal law. That is why I support repealing the Defense of Marriage Act and the “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy, and the passage of laws to protect LGBT Americans from hate crimes and employment discrimination. And that is why I oppose the divisive and discriminatory efforts to amend the California Constitution, and similar efforts to amend the U.S. Constitution or those of other states.

Sen. Obama voted against the Federal Marriage Amendment in 2006

Sen. Obama would appoint fair-minded justices to the Supreme Court

Sen. Obama’s positions are a stark contrast to John McCain’s long record of opposition to LGBT civl rights. For anyone who cares about LGBT people, it has to be clear that a vote for John McCain is a vote for discrimination against LGBT people.

That is the question that popped into my mind this morning while reading yet another story about the gutter style politics of John McCain. You remember The Grinch, right? He was dead set on stopping The Whos from celebrating Christmas.

Let’s look at the evidence after the jump…

1. The Grinch, as you may recall, tried to kill the spirit of The Whos by stealing their Christmas presents and destroying their decorations.

McCain is trying the desire of the American people for serious political change by unleashing a wave of negative attack ads. McCain and the RNC spent $11 million on ads attacking Barack Obama between September 28th and October 4th.

Nearly every TV ad Republican John McCain ran last week was negative, compared to just 34 percent of those by Democrat Barack Obama, according to an analysis released Wednesday.

The harsher tone in McCain’s ads mirrors the sharper attacks he and his running mate Sarah Palin have been making on the campaign trail as polls show Obama opening up a lead.

And, as Waymon pointed out, McCain and Sarah Palin are engaging in rhetoric that is inciting anger, hate and threats of violence.

2. The Grinch wore a permanent mask of bitterness and contempt because his heart was two sizes too small.

Here’s John McCain at the presidential debate on October 7th:

3. The Grinch had the nasty habit of raging against anything that smacked of joy, tolerance and community celebration.

McCain, in attack ads, speeches and interviews, has repeatedly made sarcastic reference to Barack Obama’s message of hope and progress and the desire of many Americans for political change.

But, unlike The Grinch who sneered at The Whos to their faces, McCain doesn’t have the courage to look Obama in the eyes while talking his trash.

Of course, this comparison isn’t 100% conclusive, but you have to admit that the parallels are striking.

You’re a mean one Sen. McCain….

Disgusting.

That is all that comes to mind when I heard Cindy McCain unleash yet another low blow attack on Obama while stumping in Pennsylvania. Funny how the campaign that kept screaming “leave families out of it” when it came to very valid discussion of Palin’s teenage pregnant daughter and abstinence only teaching is now using their children as political pawns. Here’s part of Cindy’s screed:

The day that Sen. Obama decided to cast a vote to not fund my son when he was serving sent a cold chill through my body. I would suggest that Sen. Obama change shoes with me for just one day and see what it means … to have a loved one serving in the armed forces and more importantly, serving in harm’s way. I suggest he take a day and go watch our fine young men…and women deploy, get on those buses and leave with a smile.

Video after the jump…

Wow. How low will this campaign sink?

Funny how Cindy didn’t mention her husband also voted against war funding because it included a timeline. Where was that cold chill then?

And no mention of Biden’s son going to war as well? Imagine that.

I am sick and tired of this party and their twisted “family values”- which apparently includes using their kids as props. From Palin bringing her kids (including her newborn and the father of teenage daughter’s baby- but don’t talk about them!) on stage every time to Cindy’s latest comments- not to mention their continued war on intellectualism and the continued push to incite violence and fear- it is clear that this campaign has no moral compass whatsoever.

I’m not sure how much more of these gutter politics I can take- and I’m not sure how much more our country can either.

A couple of days ago I wrote that gays won’t let their friends vote McCain and with less than four weeks before election day that message has taken on an increased urgency. This post the second is a series that I am writing urging LGBT people to talk to our family, friends and co-workers about why a vote for John McCain is a vote for discrimination against LGBT Americans.

John McCain and Sarah Palin have unleash a wave of negative attacks in speeches and ads against Barack Obama and our fight to change our country for the better. They have, as a New York Times editorial stated, moved “into the dark territory of race-baiting and xenophobia.”

What makes you think that if elected they will not turn that same mean-spiritedness and willingness to engage in divisive politics against us?

As LGBT people we have the responsibility to ourselves and to our friends and family to make clear to them just how much a McCain/Palin administration would hurt us and our families. We have to make them understand that McCain is in no way a “maverick” especially when it comes to LGBT civil rights and that Palin, despite the “folksy charm” that appeals to some, is even worse on LGBT issues. Palin has close ties to an anti-gay church that believes that LGBT people can be cured of our sexual orientation and gender identity through prayer and Palin believes that being gay is a choice.

McCain is already on record has strongly supporting the proposed constitutional amendments on the ballot in Arizona, California and Florida that would ban marriage for same-sex couples. In California, passage of Prop. 8 would nullify the marriages of more than 11,000 couples.

Speaking at the HRC National Dinner in Washington, DC on October 4th, Terry Bean, co-founder of HRC and the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, said:

It is time that we demanded that our family, our friends, the people closet to us consider our equality as they cast their votes. It is unacceptable that the people who say the love us vote for those that would demean us and consistently block our path to justice.

Some of that is our own fault. We cannot keep them for voting for our enemies. It is, at least for them, still a free country. But they most be told that doing so is an act of betrayal and will harm our relationships

That is where you come in.

By speaking to our families, friends and co-workers about how harmful a McCain presidency would be for us, we can give the people who love us an opportunity to support us.

This video gives examples of how young people are standing up for what they believe and speaking to friends and family about why it is so to elect Barack Obama as our next president. The video is not LGBT-specific, but if these kids have the courage to have “the talk” with their families, why can’t we?

Join Gays Won’t Let Friends Vote McCain on Facebook.