Kagan's FEC File Reveals She is a Big Old ...
... Democrat! Yes, according to Federal Election Commission records available at NewsMeat.com, Solicitor General Elena Kagan, President Obama's Supreme Court pick to join the Supreme Court, is an out-of-the-closet supporter and donor of Democratic Party candidates.
She has donated $12,050 to Democrats and $500 to ActBlue, a progressive org that supports Democratic politicians. Do the contributions reveal anything about her judicial temperament? No, but they sure do show her where her political leanings rest in federal races.
From FEC files:
Barack Obama (D)
President
OBAMA FOR AMERICA Won $4,600
Barack Obama (D)
President
OBAMA FOR AMERICA Won $2,300
Barack Obama (D)
President
OBAMA FOR AMERICA - $-2,300
ACTBLUE - $500
Judy M. Feder (D)
House (VA District: 10)
JUDY FEDER FOR CONGRESS Lost $500
Barack Obama (D)
Senate - IL
OBAMA FOR ILLINOIS INC Won $1,000
Jon P. Jennings (D)
House (IN District: 08)
FRIENDS OF JON JENNINGS COMMITTEE Lost $250
Barack Obama (D)
Senate - IL
OBAMA FOR ILLINOIS INC Won $1,000
Ira S. Shapiro (D)
House (MD District: 08)
IRA SHAPIRO FOR CONGRESS COMMITTEE Lost $200
John F. Kerry (D)
Senate - MA
KERRY COMMITTEE Won $500
Ira S. Shapiro (D)
House (MD District: 08)
IRA SHAPIRO FOR CONGRESS COMMITTEE Lost $250
Hillary Rodham Clinton (D)
Senate - NY
HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON FOR US SENATE COMMITTEE INC Won $250
DNC SERVICES CORPORATION/DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE (D) - $1,000
Al Gore (D)
President
GORE/LIEBERMAN GENERAL ELECTION LEGAL AND ACCOUNTING COMPLIANCE FUND Lost $1,000
Hillary Rodham Clinton (D)
Senate - NY
HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON FOR US SENATE COMMITTEE INC Won $500
John F. Kerry (D)
Senate - MA
KERRY COMMITTEE Won $1,000
Her donations' record while she lived in Massachusetts illustrates her deep commitment to the state Democratic Party and assorted candidates:
Friedman, David S.
$50.00
5/1/2002
Friedman, David S.
$50.00
8/3/2002
Patrick, Deval L.
$500.00
6/10/2005
Bonifaz, John C.
$500.00
8/2/2006
Democratic State Committee, MA
$500.00
10/10/2006
Murray, Timothy P.
$500.00
10/10/2006
Patrick, Deval L.
$500.00
2/28/2006
On top of searching Kagan's federal and Massachusetts donations, I also checked to see if she donated to any gay-related propositions in California and Maine, two states with recent props, and she made no contributions of any sort in the those states.
If Kagan is "hiding" the fact that she is a lesbian, then it hurts our efforts because she (and the White House) believe it needs to be hidden – like a defect or disease.
ReplyDeleteIf the risk is filibuster, we would (in the long run) be better with a "filibustered lesbian," than lies or encouraging more hiding in the "closet."
The "L" question is going to be asked. They should be preparing to answer it, instead of denying it. Most people who simply see a picture of Kagan conclude that she's a lesbian, fairly or not. It is an opportunity to be proud, not ashamed.
Having a lesbian on the Supreme Court is less important than having an honest, authentic conversation about her, including her sexuality – that IS who she is. If she is not confirmed because she is gay, that's the reality of life in America. But hiding the "stigmatized" fact that she is gay only promotes and perpetuates the problem.
The stigma doesn't end until we confront it – not hide it. None of this encourages "coming out," it suggests more hiding. That hurts us all.