By Jonathan Miller, on Mon May 16, 2011 at 12:00 PM ET
Today, I’m thrilled to announce that I have joined the contributing team of writers at one of the most popular and prominent Web sites in the country — The Huffington Post.
I will write regularly on national issues for their site and cross-post those pieces here at The Recovering Politician.
My first piece is a big one: I’m coming out of the closet to support gay marriage. As you will read, it is a very important personal moment for me, but also a challenge to others to make the same admission, or to consider changing their mind on the issue.
I conclude by urging the nation’s most prominent fence-sitter to join me publicly on the side of marriage equality.
Here is an excerpt from my essay:
Yep, I’m for gay marriage.
I’ve lived a lie for most of my adult life. As a statewide elected official in Kentucky — an inner notch of the Bible Belt — I understood that coming out of the closet for gay marriage was tantamount to political suicide: an overwhelming majority of my constituents opposed it.
But now as a recovering politician, I feel both liberated and morally compelled to holler from the cyber-rooftops: I’m proud as hell, and I’m not going to fake it any more!
Growing up in Kentucky, gay marriage was never a topic of discussion.
But late nights of philosophical experimentation in college helped me discover that I’d been for marriage equality all my life. With a father who’d marched with Martin Luther King, Jr., and a mother who’d been a statewide force for women’s rights, the notion that we were all created equal was absurdly obvious. As a Jew growing up in the South, I knew what it was like to feel discriminated, to be other. And that same faith taught me to “love your neighbor as yourself” and to “judge not, lest you be judged,” making marriage equality a natural extension of my core beliefs.
Of course, as always, I would like to hear your comments, particularly if you disagree with my position and/or you wish to critique the timing or substance of my admission.
Please use the comments section below to share your opinions and stories.
By Jonathan Miller, on Fri May 13, 2011 at 12:00 PM ET
Our newest Friend of RP, Abigail Miller, made quite an impression when she made her TV debut at the ripe old age of 22 months. As you will see at the very end of the Friday Video Flashback below, Abby sits quietly as her older sister — then 4 year old, Emily — steals the spotlight with her adorable bravado, yelling “I’m for Daddy!”
Abigail actually had a unexpected speaking role that wound up on the editing room floor. After about the seventh take, Abby started to mimic her sister. Unfortunately, with the pacifier in her mouth, all that came out was “Mmm mmm mmm m!”
Abigail also appeared in an earlier commercial. Sitting in her high chair while her father recited his lines, Abby went to work on a chocolate popsicle for about 20 minutes. After the tenth take, popsicle fully ingested, Abby lifted her arms and yelled: “All done!” The director knew better than to rebuf his star, so shooting was shut down for the day.
Another cute aside: In the following ad, the little “future Democrat” holding the Miller for Congress sign about 5 seconds into the video is Conrad Bandaroff, son of the RP’s good friends, Holly and Craig Bandaroff, thoroughbred horse farmers who bred and co-owned Animal Kingdom, winner of last weekend’s Kentucky Derby. Unfortunately, the RP didn’t learn this fact until after he placed his wager on Derby Day.
By Jonathan Miller, on Thu May 12, 2011 at 2:15 PM ET
The political blogosphere is abuzz with the news of family strife within a bi-partisan family dynasty: the separation of former California Governator Arnold Schwartzenegger and Kennedy scion Maria Shriver.
The mainstream news and political media want to know why, and they’re making their best guesses: Read here and here and here and here.
My response?
It’s None of Your Freaking Business!
Yes, he’s an international movie star who served two terms as Governor of our nation’s most populous state. Sure, she was a national news broadcaster, and a member of the most influential and popular modern American political dynasty. Of course, a long time ago, they both voluntarily submitted themselves to public scrutiny.
But as I argued a few weeks ago concerning three-year-old Trigg Palin, I believe that every one of us — even the richest, most powerful, and most famous — have a discrete zone of privacy which the responsible press should not disturb. And as long as their separation did not involve actions that were criminal or a violation of the public trust while Arnold was in office, the mainstream media should leave them and their family alone.
Of course, I am a passionate First Amendment advocate, and I certainly don’t believe in laws to restrict such reporting. But I believe that the Fourth Estate bears a special responsibility to the public to draw ethical lines every so often and not cross them. This is one of those occasions.
Okay, just in case you needed a reminder, if you look at porn on your employer’s computer—at work, no less—even for just a nano-second and even if you say it’s for research, you can and will be fired!! [Wired]
In some good news for both immigrants and lovers, Attorney General Eric Holder vacated an immigration decision this week that would have deported Paul Wilson Dormain based on the AG’s review of the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act. [Poliglot]
In the icky, weird Mother’s Day story of the week, did you see the Stanley Thornton story this week on National Geographic’s Taboo? This guy (and his “mother”—actually his roommate) really gives infantilism a bad name. [Daily Mail]
And finally, a poignant, timely article on motherhood, with all of its flaws. Don’t forget your mother this weekend, dear readers!! [Salon]
By Jason Atkinson, on Mon May 2, 2011 at 2:15 PM ET
Today is reopening a wound for many yet we as Americans know this is healing. Today will be history tomorrow. Ten years later, we can start to walk away.
I find it difficult to be happy today, however, my thoughts are heavy with the families who lost loved ones at the hand of this wicked man. He embodied pure evil.
Late last night our forces embodied pure courage. We Americans are proud of justice and our collective resilience. Like the unity that swept the county right after 9-11, today we stand united again as Americans.
By Jonathan Miller, on Mon May 2, 2011 at 9:30 AM ET
I wrote earlier that today is a today of celebration.
But perhaps it is even more a day of remembrance. Let us never forget the thousands of Americans — of nearly ever race, creed and ethnicity — who perished on 9/11 because of Osama bin Laden’s conspiracy of mass murder.
Did you lose a friend or loved one? Did someone you love narrowly escape death?
Please use the comments section below to share your stories:
UPDATE:
A reader, Daniel Solzman, reminded me that today is the Jewish holiday, Yom Hashoah, the Day of Remembrance, the day on which we solemnly remember the 6 million Jews and millions of others who perished during the Holocaust.
And then my daughter, Emily, reminded me that yesterday was the 66th anniversary of the day on which the world learned that Hitler had died. (May 1, 1945.)
As my wife, Lisa, constantly preaches, there are no coincidences.
You know, dear readers, that the American Experiment has been in cultural decline for many, many years—especially if you’ve paid any attention to some on the lunatic fringe over the last few decades. Remember (way back in 1992) when Pat Robertson declared that a state Equal Rights Amendment for women in Iowa was part of a “socialist, anti-family political movement that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism and become lesbians”? You’ve gotta love this guy. Capitalism seems to still be hanging around, but he really does have a problem with lesbians. [Salon]
Michael Scott, you will be missed. Love, Michael Scott style. [The Proposal]
And if you’ve never seen the original UK version of The Office with Ricky Gervais as the half-witted, self-absorbed git of a boss, check out Free Love on the Free Love Freeway. Absolutely barmy! [David’s Song]
And, finally, by the time you read this the pomp, paparazzi and millions of pounds will be fizzled, flashed, and spent on this morning’s Royal Wedding between William and Kate. So what better time to examine Royal Divorces through the ages—starting with Henry VIII on none other than the Official Website of the British Monarchy. Enjoy! [Royal.gov.uk]
By Lisa Miller, on Wed Apr 27, 2011 at 12:00 PM ET
Behind every man is a good woman.
And behind every good woman is a great woman.
In 1975 when Jane Curtin, Gilda Radner, and Lorraine Newman were the feminine faces of Saturday Night Live, the late great John Belushi made it his mission to sabotage their success.
No kidding.
John Belushi and Jane Curtin
Jane Curtin said as much on Oprah Winfrey’s April 14 tribute to SNL. According to Curtin, Belushi apparently believed that “women were fundamentally not funny; and if a woman had written a piece for John, he wouldn’t read it during rehearsal, he’d whisper it.”
She went on to explain that this type of disrespect wasn’t at all an unusual feature of the workplace experience in the 70’s. A working comedienne (terrifically talented at that) in New York, on the most exciting new show on television, and Jane Curtin, as a self-employed woman — “could not even get a credit card.”
Why bring this up now?
Because I thought of this super good title while walking the dog three days ago. And I decided this piece can’t be about my life as an RP spouse as I had originally planned. That’s because watching Tina Fey sit with Curtin on Oprah’s famous couch illustrated how far women have come in 36 years. And that was deeply inspiring.
Today, Tina Fey is lauded as one of the most brilliant entertainers in T.V, and she is indeed a woman with a credit card — as well as loads of respect. Here’s what Oprah says:
“Tina Fey is the creator, writer, and star of 30 Rock — and former head writer of SNL — she is one of the smartest women on our planet right now.”
I wonder if she’s the smartest woman on all of the planets. She might be, and do you wonder too how she got to be so all that?
Fey said simply, “I was 5 when the show started, and I studied it all the time.” There it is, nourished by the brilliance of women before her, Fey now stands on the shoulders of those who blazed the trail. (For the purpose of this spiffy blog article, I wish she’d have been more specific in that sound bite about emulating women in particular. But maybe that’s exactly what she meant, eh?)
Anyway, it was a powerful statement when she said later about her own trail-blazing time on SNL that “the more women in the room to laugh at pieces written by women, the more everyone would agree to put it in the show.”
While the scary, loathsome dynamics of middle school girls might lead us to believe that girls will always and forever scratch each others’ eyes out, most adult women have each other’s backs. There is no doubt that we help one another in ways that make us cry with gratitude.
Consider all the stories of women all over the world: WomenforWomen.org, which helps women survivors of war rebuild their lives; United Prosperity, which guarantees loans to female entrepreneurs in developing countries; the nameless thousands of women volunteers who stand on call in the middle of the night at rape crisis centers across the world; or the women in your own family and in my family who say to each other, “I know your heart is breaking, and I know you will get through it because I did.”
Click on Tina to review and/or purchase
Whether we realize and appreciate them or not, new generations build on the successes of their ancestors. It’s why the indigenous people pray that their current actions be “for the good of the children and the children’s children.” And it’s why Tina Fey can now be queen of comedy in an industry that is still predominately male.
I plan to read her new book, Bossypants, this weekend by the way. In it are many stories of her road to empowerment, success, and hilarity. Can’t wait.
And because I’m always looking for fantastic role models for my girls, they are each getting a copy.
Now it’s your turn: Whether you are female or male, tell a brief story below about the awesomeness of a woman in your life.
By Loranne Ausley, on Wed Apr 27, 2011 at 8:30 AM ET
My name is Loranne Ausley and I am a recovering politician. At least that’s what they tell me… I am not sure I have actually recovered yet, but you can decide.
Let me start out by saying that I never have liked to be called a “politician.” I have always preferred the term “public servant.” Whatever you want to call it the truth is that I come by it honestly. As a 6th generation Floridian, I was at least the 4th generation to serve our state in some capacity. After 8 years in the Florida House of Representatives, term limits sent me on my way, but I wasn’t ready to throw in the towel quite yet. Even after a tough statewide campaign in 2010, I’m still not sure I am ready to throw it in. In all honesty, I am truly struggling with how to “create meaning in my post political life.” I am hoping that this exercise will help.
Dog Island, Florida
So I started out by reading Tom Allen’s post about his “Blissful Recovery” and found myself thinking… that should be me. Consider the following: I am writing this from one of the most beautiful places in the world, Dog Island Florida where I am celebrating 11 years of marriage to a wonderful, smart and supportive husband who I love very much. We have a happy healthy 8 year old son who is an all around great kid and amazing superstar drummer even though he was never expected to make it out of the hospital after his premature birth at 22 weeks weighing just over a pound. I had the privilege of serving 8 great years in the legislature, took a gamble and ran statewide. Anyone watching will tell you it was a smart, scrappy campaign, but it was 2010…I was a Democrat… in Florida. We lost, but ran a good campaign, maintained civility in the process, raised over $ 2 million and got almost 2 million votes… no regrets.
Anyone who is looking at my life from outside would say that my life is blissful, or that I am pretty ungrateful if I claim otherwise. By all accounts, I am living the life… I am a “stay-at-home mom” which means I finally have time to do all those things I have put off.
Here I sit on a remote barrier island on a gorgeous day surrounded by the people that I love… WHY AM I NOT BLISSFUL?!?
For starters, it is past the halfway point of the legislative session and I am watching from afar as all of the things I care about are dismantled. I run into public employees and police officers at the grocery store who are terrified about changes in their pensions. I run into children’s advocates at church who are dismayed about savage cuts to children’s services, and every day at my son’s elementary school I am stopped in the halls by a teacher or a parent with grave concerns about what is really happening and how it is going to affect our kids.
I found some solace in Lisa Borders’ post and tried to take to heart her realization that we don’t have to be players on the field to impact the outcomes. As much as we laugh about the lack of normalcy amongst “our types” and our addiction to crowds and the sound of our own voices and the applause that follows, in all seriousness we entered this arena because we care about our communities, our states and our nation, and we are committed to be the dynamic force of change that we want to see. Let’s face it – we all believe that it is our responsibility to leave this place better than we found it and ultimately that is why we are here… The other stuff is the icing on top.
So maybe this is why I can’t quite yet describe my recovery as blissful… I haven’t yet figured out how to make an impact from this side of the fence.
So I hope that Tom Allen is right that while some of us may be recovering from our losses, that none of us are recovering from politics/public service. And I hope that someone out there can help me make the transition… stay tuned!
By Jonathan Miller, on Mon Apr 25, 2011 at 12:45 PM ET
One of my favorite columnists/bloggers/ whatever-you-want-to-call-hims, Andrew Sullivan, has been on an extended rant, raising questions as to whether Sarah Palin is the legitimate birth parent of her now three-year-old son Trig.
A conspiracy theory, formerly consigned to the ranks of far-far-left bitter partisans, is being very seriously and very publicly scrutinized by an often-conservative, almost-always-thoughftul member of the media Establishment.
While generally speaking, I will side with Sullivan over Breitbart 102 times out of every 100, and while I certainly dispute Breitbart’s characterization of Sullivan’s motives, I rise to defend Sarah Palin in this instance.
Let’s suppose the accusations are true — that Palin is lying about the baby’s maternity. And let’s make an even bigger leap of credulity: that Sarah Palin could turn around her disastrous — and sinking — poll numbers and emerge as a legitimate contender for the White House.
I believe that even in the most powerful position in the world; even with someone who has voluntarily subjected herself to the ultimate measure of public scrutiny; and, yes, even with an individual who has pushed her family out front and center in an effort to win voter sympathy — I still believe that a public official should retain a limited, but still discrete, zone of privacy.
Read the rest of… The RP: In Defense of Sarah Palin
