That’s why I’ve taken up the late Senator Ted Kennedy’s mantle and fought to protect every American worker by passing the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) in the United States Senate last fall.

Shamefully, Republicans in the House of Representatives have refused to hold a vote on the bill. The House Republicans may be blocking ENDA, but the president can make a big difference by signing an executive order banning federal contractors from discriminating against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans.

That’s why I started my own campaign on CREDOMobilize.com, which allows activists to start their own petitions. My petition, which is to President Obama, says the following:

It is wrong that American workers in many states can be fired from their job because they’re gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. Please sign an executive order barring federal contractors from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

Tell President Obama: Sign an executive order barring federal contractors from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

President Obama has pledged to make 2014 a “year of action” and to use his executive authority to make progress where Congress refuses to do so.

For nearly 75 years, since President Roosevelt signed an executive order banning discrimination in defense contracts in 1941, presidents have used their executive authority to end taxpayer-funded discrimination in the workplace. Presidents Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy and Johnson took similar actions to expand workplace protections. Now it is President Obama’s turn.

Millions of Americans work for federal contractors. By signing an ENDA executive order, President Obama can ensure that taxpayer money does not go to employers who discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

Will you join me and add your name to my petition urging President Obama to sign an executive order to end anti-gay discrimination by federal contractors?

Thank you for your support.

Senator Jeff Merkley

They heard this on the “liberal media” so, it’s probably actually much worse.

Of course Obama fails on that score. Bush “won” but it was all pretending and Cheney being so “strong”–that means willing to shed other people’s blood to impress other men.

It only takes a one-second look on the map to understand the strategic importance of Crimea. If one wants Putin to be playing a game then the game is Stratego not Chess.

Putin is walking a strategic tightrope that is only a couple of inches off the ground. If he missteps he only has to readjust and get back on the next offer.

It’s the talking points that are going crazy. Now the XL pipeline should be approved to put pressure on Putin “doncha know;” you betcha, wink.

and the encourage their their sons and daughters to sign up for military service to the USA for a change.