Andy Birkey is having problems telling the truth

Andy Birkey's journalistic integrity has reached a new low in his piece regarding Tom Prichard’s blog post of September 28^th. Birkey creates false statements by lifting words and phrases from Prichard’s post and dropping them into his own biased sentences.

See for yourself.

In his post, Prichard reported that some parents said Justin Aaberg committed suicide because he was distraught over his male lover having an affair.

“It’s been argued that Justin committed suicide, because he was harassed for being homosexual. I talked to parents of students in the district and the word among students is that Justin was distraught over his male lover having an affair. Whatever the exact reason for Justin’s suicide it’s an enormous tragedy that shouldn’t be manipulated for ideological purposes which is what’s being done now.”

Now compare that to what I Birkey reports: “Prichard asserts that the suicide death of 15-year-old Justin Aaberg was not due to anti-LGBT bullying.”

C’mon Andy, we can agree to disagree without resorting to mendacity.

Apparently a believer in “the bigger the lie the more they believe it” Birkey says "Prichard wrote last week that ‘homosexual activists’ share in the blame when LGBT students commit suicide because ‘they’ve embraced an unhealthy sexual identity and lifestyle.’”

Birkey’s quote is pure fabrication. He just made it up.

Birkey's lack of journalistic integrity would be laughable if weren't for the fact that when kids are committing suicide we owe it to them to tell the truth.

MFC urges Christian parents to encourage their children to emulate Christ in John 8:3-11 and stand up to the bullies in school

Is Oberstar at risk of losing? Will the Iron Range go Republican?

Here's an interesting column by Michael Barone on what the polls are saying about the anti-incumbent sentiment across the country, translated anti-democrat sentiment. He points to a number of races across the country showing how previously safe democrats are at risk of getting defeated in 2010.

One example is Jim Oberstar in Minnesota's the eighth congressional district.

But we do keep seeing poll results from surprising districts that tend to support the Gallup results. Last week I pointed to a poll (from a pollster I don’t know) showing an even race in North Carolina 7 between Republican Ilario Pantano and 14-year Democratic incumbent Mike McIntyre, who won his 2008 race, in which he had an active Republican opponent, with 69% of the vote. Now Ed Morrissey directs our attention to a poll by Public Opinion Strategies, a highly respected Republican firm, in Minnesota 8 showing 36-year incumbent James Oberstar leading Republican challenger Chip Cravaacke by only 45%-42%, within the margin of error.

John McCormack has a good post in the Weekly Standard’s blog on this. Oberstar was first elected in 1974, he is Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and has brought public dollars to an economically chronically ailing district. He was reelected in 2008 with 68% of the vote. But this is also a district that, despite containing the Democratic strongholds of Duluth and much of the Iron Range (both in St. Louis County) that voted only 53%
for John Kerry in 2004 and Barack Obama in 2008. However, at its southern end it includes Isanti and Chisago Counties, exurban counties in the Twin Cities metro area, which despite a Democratic heritage have trended away from Democrats in recent elections—toward Jesse Ventura in 1998 and toward Republicans between 2000 and 2008, when they both voted for John McCain.

Minnesota 8 has a certain historic resonance for Democrats. It was one of only two or three districts (I am away from my desk where I have my papers and sources on this) which in the Republican landslide year of 1946 switched from a Republican to a Democratic congressman. This was a move away from progressive and isolationist Republicans (like Alvin O’Konski in the
adjoining then-10th District of Wisconsin) toward labor-backed Democrats (completed in the Wisconsin case by the victory of young Democrat David Obey over O’Konski when they were redistricted together in 1972). Only two Democrats have represented Minnesota 8 ever since, John Blatnik, first elected in 1946 and for whom Oberstar worked as a staffer, and since 1974 Oberstar; only one Democrat, David Obey, has represented what is now Wisconsin 7 since 1969. For Oberstar to have a serious challenge, much less to be in danger of defeat, is quite astonishing. If these numbers are right—and like all poll numbers they are subject to some degree of doubt—they tend to confirm the Gallup likely voter numbers.

It's hard to imagine that happening on November 2nd. But Barone also alludes to the 1896 election when democrats lost 100 seats out of 350. It will be interesting whether we're approaching a once in a 100 years sort of election.

Evidence of gay activists motivation in Anoka-Hennepin School controversy. Looks like they want homosexuality promoted in district.

A call from the Star Tribune reporter on the Anoka-Hennepin sexual orientation policy controversy got me digger a bit deeper. I found an interesting February 2009, Star Tribune article on the change in its sexual orientation policy, to its current form. The new policy includes neutral language regarding discussion of sexual orientation by school personnel.

Back then gay activists praised the policy change.

From the February 2009 Star Tribune story.

OutFront Minnesota and the Midwest Office of Family Equality Council, two of the state's leading gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) advocacy groups, praised the vote.

Phil Duran, a staff attorney for OutFront, said since the policy was enacted 14 years ago his office has received several inquiries from students and parents who said it led to censorship in journalism assignments and GLBT awareness training for teachers.

"It was a very odd situation," Duran said. "We're grateful the board put some thoughtful effort into moving forward and balancing the district's obligation to serve all students and recognize there was some sensitivity about this issue."

The old board policy "made teachers nervous," said Mary Pedersen, a Champlin Park High School teacher who advises the school's gay-straight alliance. "They didn't want to overstep the boundary of that board directive."

What's changed? I think it's quite clear they want homosexual advocacy in the district.