Cleaver Has the Gift

Congressman Cleaver was one of the speakers at the Missouri delegation meeting this morning.

Frequent readers to this blog know I have deep respect for this man. His politics are my politics, his theology is my theology, his beliefs are my beliefs. I am proud to have the only ordained minister in Congress as my congressman.

Cleaver's sermon, oops speech, this morning included a story about how he was out in rural Kansas for the Methodist church for a revival. He was, of course, the only African-American in town. He sat at the counter of the local restaurant and waited 30 minutes to get a glass of tea. He then had the audacity to ask for more sugar and the waitress said "I already gave you some sugar, stir what you got." So, he stirred what he had.

Cleaver said that that waitress was full of wisdom, that as Democrats we should stir what we got. We've got the candidates, we've got the issues, we've got the solutions. We need to all stir a little harder this time, harder than we've ever stirred.

That will preach.

Neat Program

For you folks who are interested in learning more about the presidential race, here's a neat program

This weekend on the BLOOMBERG TELEVISION® program "Conversations with Judy Woodruff," Woodruff interviews Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill and Representative Emanuel Cleaver. Both lawmakers discuss their endorsements of presidential candidates Senator Barack Obama and Senator Hillary Clinton, the role of race in the election and predictions for next week’s Super Tuesday in Missouri.

Senator Claire McCaskill is supporting Senator Barack Obama and Representative Emanuel Cleaver is supporting Senator Hillary Clinton.

"Conversations with Judy Woodruff" airs on Saturday at 11AM ET and is repeated throughout the weekend.

Bloomberg Television can be found on:
Charter Cable – Channel 120
Time Warner – Channel 227
Mediacom – Channel 128
DirecTV – Channel 297

Values = don't discriminate

Usually I get excited, frustrated (fill in the blank) about political stuff and post on this blog. Occasionally, I do silly things like write letters to the editor. This one was published in the KC Star this morning:

I would like to applaud The Star's Editorial Board for supporting the passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (9/24 editorial) .

Opponents of this legislation speak of the alleged horrors of gay marriage, preachers being sued and the end of times. The reality is that this bill has nothing to do with marriage, and it provides protection for religious communities that take issue with homosexuality.

The mantra of the civil rights era was to judge a person on character, and not on the basis of preconceived notions about certain groups. The Employment Non-Discrimination Act continues on that great tradition.

My wife and I were proud of Emanuel Cleaver, who spoke in favor of this bill. The only ordained minister of either party in all of the House and Senate, Cleaver, asked "how protecting an individual's right to pursue a job on an equal playing field with equal consideration is promoting homosexuality and hurting the values within their family."

Treating all Americans as equals does not hurt my family.

Allowing all people to compete for employment based on their merits is about as American as cherry pie.

Congrats to Congressman Cleaver for being a strong advocate for equal justice for all.

Cleaver Stands Up for Civil Rights for All

Rarely am I just proud - tickled pink proud - of an elected official. Most of the time they strive to do what is right, but I don't get excited. Congressman Cleaver makes me stand up straight and salute the flag proud.

Yesterday Congress debated whether you should judge people by the content of their character or if we should discriminate. The Bill was HR2015 "ENDA" and would have prevented work place discrimination based on sexual orientation. The only ordained minister in all of Congress - from either party - Rev. Cleaver, spoke in favor of the bill. Here are 3 paragraphs from Cleaver's speech

Before I was elected to Congress, I, very happily I might add, considered my only full-time job to be that of Senior Pastor of St. James United Methodist Church in Kansas City Missouri. Against all odds and Wesleyan Tradition, I have held this appointment for 30 years. However, now I have two full time jobs. I still remain Senior Pastor at St. James while I serve as the Representative of Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District. The role as pastor will never leave me, and I will never leave it. I am compelled to go home and preach every Sunday. I will pastor and counsel all people until I return to my maker. And I say here now, with absolute conviction and confidence, that an individual’s sexual orientation has nothing, absolutely no connection with my God’s issued mandate to minister to their needs, including their right to barrier-free access to employment. Three of the greatest sins, I believe, are indifference to, neglect of, and disrespect for God’s other sheep. I will not delve too deeply into the politico-ecclesiastical details of my position. Suffice it to say, none of the major world religions, certainly not the three monotheistic religions, believes that God endorses discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Opponents of this legislation argue that homosexuality and transgender identity are “unnatural,” “immoral,” or that someone else’s sexual orientation offends my religious senses. Let there be no doubt. I am certainly pro-marriage. As an ordained member of the clergy, I have performed more than 400 hundred heterosexual weddings and I have been happily and fortunately married to the same lovely woman for three decades. Nonetheless, to this I say, those opposing the legislation have their issue confused. We are not discussing whether a state should recognize an individual’s right to marry. That was, is, and shall, hopefully, always fall to the wisdom of the state legislatures around the country. Although it is much too often discussed in Congress, marriage is not a federal issue. Today we are trying to further extend the rights of individuals who have been marginalized and discriminated against and denied legal federal protection for an equal playing field when they seek employment.

Further, the opponents of ENDA are concerned about creating a protected class that promotes homosexuality and thus negatively impacting the institution of marriage and family values. They cite the profusion of local laws on the subject, and suggest that country-wide protection is unnecessary. Again, I ask how protecting an individual’s right to pursue a job on an equal playing field with equal consideration is promoting homosexuality and hurting the values within their family? Moreover, I say to these naysayers the current draft of this legislation goes beyond every previous incarnation of the legislation to protect small businesses and religious-based organizations and institutions that may preach against and hold tenants opposing same sex orientation. There are protections within the measure, so as to exempt these groups who have centralized these values of marginalization and separation.

How The Democrats Got Religion

I don't normally read Time magazine, but they have a great article entitled "How The Democrats Got Religion."


Democrats have figured out that social justice Catholics care about issues other than abortion. D candidates have finally figured out that Methodists, Christian Church - Disciples of Christ and even some Baptists believe that Jesus never mentioned the word "gay marriage." Main line Protestants focus on hunger, poverty and the environment as issues of faith. An op-ed piece was recently written in the Wednesday Newspaper about Country Club Christian Church conducting mission trips to South Africa and Nicaragua and developing lasting relationships; concluding that "Those who give receive best gifts of all." There is even a Democratic strategy group called Common Good, which focuses on helping Dems connect with faith communities. Heck, the only ordained minister in D.C. is our own Congressman Cleaver. In the 47th Missouri House District (Lee's Summit), Rev. Tom Haley ran against Rep. Grisamore and only lost by 190 votes. Rev. Haley would have been the only ordained minister in Jefferson City.

As a liberal, I don't want God jammed down my throat. I don't want the R's to act like God elected Matt Blunt (I heard the preacher from 2nd Baptist Church in Springfield say "God elected Matt Blunt") and I don't want the D's to start acting like Christians are just a source of new votes. The Time article quoted Howard Dean on the 700 Club as saying that Democrats "have an enormous amount in common with the Christian community." I would think so - BECAUSE I AM BOTH, you knucklehead. A political party should not hold God hostage; rather people of faith should work to achieve results focused on loving your neighbor.

Cleaver celebrates increase in Minimum Wage

Congressman Cleaver is celebrating a promise kept to the American people; an increased minimum wage.

The rally will take place on Monday, July 23rd at 10:30 at Mill Creek, by the J.C. Nichols fountain. That's the big fountain on the Plaza at the corner of 47th and Broadway.

Several unions, ministers and working men and women from Missouri will be there to celbrate the Democratic majorities in Congress following up on a promise to increase the federal minimum wage.