The Celebrity Couple Otherwise Known As McFreed

Florigan!: The Lawsuit

nobody@vox.com(Sean & Stefan) — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 06:30:34 -0700

Sean reports...

Well as the Democratic Party continues to shoot itself in the foot over stupid decisions and rules, I found this story that makes a lot of sense to me but in the end may mean nothing. To me the Democrats have a point on being a private entity but when they are utilizing resources from the state doesn't taht factor into having to abide by legal statute? Enjoy!

Attorney: DNC violating Constitution

Posted: 04:45 PM ET

ATLANTA (CNN) — The Democratic National Committee is violating the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment by allowing only four states to hold caucuses or primaries before the first Tuesday in February, a Florida attorney argued Monday before a federal appeals court.

Attorney Michael Steinberg filed suit in August on behalf of Democratic Party activist Vincent Dimaio after the DNC said it would not seat Florida delegates at the national convention because the state party defied party rules and scheduled its primary for January 29.

A federal judge in Florida dismissed the lawsuit in October, but Dimaio appealed.

"You can't treat the citizens of some states differently than other states," Steinberg told reporters after the hearing. "What I tried to assert is that the DNC has the right to make rules … but the rules have to be the same for all the states."

According to party rules, only Iowa, South Carolina, Nevada and New Hampshire can schedule their primaries or caucuses prior to the first Tuesday in February. Steinberg argued that the 14th Amendment, which bars states from denying individuals equal protection under the law, should prohibit the DNC from creating rules that make the votes of the citizens of those four states "paramount to the rights of the voters in Florida."

Joe Sandler, attorney for the DNC, told the three-judge panel that the committee is a private entity and "is actually exercising its own constitutional right by not seating delegates."

"The point we were trying to make in court today is that it's up to the parties themselves to determine the best means of selecting delegates to the convention, and it's not really a matter for a court to resolve," he told reporters later.

Dimaio, who referred to himself as the "little guy" who speaks for Floridians, told reporters that it is unfair for only four states to be allowed to hold primaries or caucuses in January.

"If you go before February 5, you're basically screwed because you get no delegates," he said. "We've lost 210 delegates. We're the fourth largest state in the nation and we have zero delegates."

"I'm not asking for a penny, I'm not asking for a dime in this action," Dimaio said. "I'm just asking for my vote to count."

The appellate court is not expected to deliver a decision until next month. Steinberg, who is handling the case pro bono, said that if the ruling goes against Dimaio, he will appeal to the Supreme Court.

– CNN Correspondent Rusty Dornin

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The McFreeds Vote

nobody@vox.com(Sean & Stefan) — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 09:14:01 -0800

Sean and Stefan announce...

Hillary Clinton

Well after Sean endorsed John Edwards a few weeks back only to have him withdraw from the Democratic Party race and Stefan being undecided up to the very end, The McFreeds finally made their selection, and voted in the Maryland primary last night. We both voted for Hillary Clinton. It was a long and tortuous decision (Sean's mom noted that this is the first time since he discovered politics as a passion that he had not selected a candidate before going into the voting booth); but in the end we voted with our minds and not our hearts.

Clinton convinced us that she is the best person to tackle the hard facts of Washington DC, not with oration, but with her sleeves rolled up ready to work on Day One. America needs a working President, not just a cheerleader. Our faith in her comes from her grit and determination in tackling mountains over her entire life, not just career. As a leader and a woman, she has overcome so many things you cannot deny her respect for figuring out how to survive and take it all - good and bad - in stride. She has made some mistakes and learned from them. But it is her commitment that can never be questioned. If elected, she will always have health care, education, and the family checkbook on her agenda. She has been consistent in that mission and in her desire to bring all Americans together to make our nation work for everyone. This is why we made the decision we did and why we hope she will eventually win the nomination.

This is not to say this that this was an easy decision. Barack Obama would make a better president than any of the the Republicans running, including the remaining foes John McCain and Mike Huckabee. Obama is an amazing speaker and personality. It is no wonder his fresh words and his very picture of change as the first truly viable African-American, or any minority for that matter, (with all do respect to Jesse Jackson and Shirley Chisholm) to have a real chance at being our nation's president. But for us, he just hasn't sealed the deal. There is substance lacking here. And if he does win the nomination, his ideas will be scrutinized in the general election harder than now. Sure the website is impressive in words. Obama's mention of gay and lesbian issues on it and in his speeches is most welcoming. Clinton's lack of mention on her website is discouraging, but her public words cancel that out. We know both of these people will do what they can for us, but it is really up to the states to make the changes we need, along with a federal cheerleader to hold the nation's hand as we make that change. But we choose a President for the whole package and this round she won with both of us.

Barack Obama

Everyone wants a John F. Kennedy this year to sweep us into the wonder of a fairy tale; but lest we forget that even Kennedy had a tough fight to his election as well because of questions about his substance. Up until 2000, the 1960 election was the last election where it was too close to call. Richard Nixon was the candidate of substance that year. The whole reason Kennedy went to Texas that faithful day in November 1963 was to start his push for the 1964 election because it was going to be a tight one. But as it worked out, Kennedy's strong vision and Lyndon Johnson's initial brilliance at working the Congressional machine gave America the progress it needed to make major changes in how we dealt with ourselves. Unfortunately it took his death, Martin Luther King Jr's death, and his brother Robert Kennedy's death as well as many other martyrs to a greater cause of equality and economic championship for this to be accomplished. But what if Kennedy lived? Would his vision have become a reality? Would he have compromised like he did in the first 2 years? We will never know. But this true look at history gives at least Sean pause when considering Obama. It is right to wonder if the emperor has new clothes when considering a President. And if anything Obama hasn't made his case in this first test to us.

Granted Obama won last night and this weekend, but whatever the media pushes does not silence the fact that it is still dead-even on delegate count. It will be on this division of opinion that the ability of our standard bearer to unify a party will make our choice either stronger or weaker when the time comes. We concede that who ever the nominee is for the Democrats will be our candidate in the general election, but our voice as well as others too should be heard to at least force Obama or Clinton to learn from why we didn't choose them the first time, not matter the size or % of the opposition. Because, if anything, we Democrats want to win in November, and we want to make sure we are united after the convention ends.

We are sure many of you will have opinons about our vote and our reasoning. Please be respectful as we are of your choice. Many of you showed us your passion and commitment to your choices up to this point and we are amazed at all of your dedication. Sean's friend Keith gave an impassioned plea in particular for Obama; Keith's trips to New Hampshire and South Carolina are truly something to be admired and celebrated. Stefan's brother, sister-in-law, and parents lobbied us hard on our vacation in Florida for Obama as well. Their arguments made it even harder to choose. And Sean's Mom and sister gave their own reasons for voting Hillary. We wish we could have mentioned you all that spoke including fellow bloggers (Quest and Wayward Son in particular) but the excitement about it all truly is encouraging that people are thinking and involving themselves in the right to vote in 2008.

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A true leader leaves the race...

nobody@vox.com(Sean & Stefan) — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 21:41:04 -0800

Sean says sadly...

John and Elizabeth Edwards with their children

It was only 5 days ago that I announced that I would be voting for John Edwards in the Democratic Presidential Primary. Sadly, John Edwards announced his withdrawl from the race today, January 30, 2008. He returned to where it all started, New Orleans, in order to honor his commitment to a new war on poverty. All the comments I have heard both from friends and commentators alike is that he was a principled, decent guy who had great ideas. I guess respect of the mind is a great way to be remembered as you leave. What I find sad is that a man who was a leader on issues in this campaign was beaten by celebrity and oration rather than true facts and strong solutions. A bitter comment, of course; but a bitter reality of how our system works. Americans ask for change but in the end we vote for who is familiar and who is the better show horse even if that horse can't run. With that here is a clip of John Edwards saying thank you to his supporters as he departs the race, not the political scene we hope.

John Edwards says Goodbye and Thank You

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A McFreed Endorses a President - John Edwards

nobody@vox.com(Sean & Stefan) — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 14:09:17 -0800

Sean says...

John Edwards is my choice for the 2008 Democratic Party Presidential Nomination.

Change is not something you represent, it is something you do. This election season we Americans have the opportunity again to make a change in who is president of our nation. The challenge to select a candidate in 2008 is to choose one for who they are rather than who they are not. The other candidates physically represent change, but are they a change from the norm? Is what they are saying a strong vision? Are they offering valuable solutions to America's problems that are innovative or even correct?

Edwards has always swayed me since 2004 with his talk of the Two Americas. Under President George W. Bush, our nation has focused on national security issues because of the reaction to the horrible disaster on September 11, 2001. However, the struggle of every American to realize their American dream economically immediately took a back seat. It took the tragedy of New Orleans to expose us to the tragedy of our own economic strata. And it has taken the collapse of our housing market nationwide to realize that Americans are thinking more about consumption than future. It is Edwards who saw this in 2004 and he continues to build on it as the nation and the world is ravaged by economic change. He is the true inheritor of Robert F. Kennedy's mantle.

John Edwards Announces For President

Bobby Kennedy said once, "Some men see things as they are and say 'Why?' I dream things that never were and say, 'Why not?'" I beleive John Edwards emulates this visionary statement George Bernard Shaw penned and Bobby Kennedy strived to make us follow. Bobby was struck down before his moment was realized, but its John's time now. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are the exciting candidates of the media and are unfortunately catching the curiosity of the camera. But John is still there fighting. It is his belief in his own message, himself, and the nature of the discriminating voter that John Edwards will build his coalition and take the prize.

John Edwards - Why he is change

Why does John deserve to be OUR president?

1) An economic plan that makes sense and is integrated with real numbers and real goals that meshes agriculture, energy, health care, and trade into a sensible idea that includes all Americans.

John Edwards - Why it matters!

2) A renewed call for a war on poverty to improve ours and our neighbors lives and opportunities for our children's future. (If you watch any clip this is the one to help you decide if he is good enough.)

John Edwards on Poverty

3) A strong commitment to ending the war in Iraq.

John Edwards on Iraq

But how does he help families like Stefan and mine? Edwards is for civil unions but understands that our issues are more than just some sort of legal partnership, dare I say legally recognized marriage. It is about job discrimination and financial security that our gay and lesbian community require to also survive not unlike the greater community does. But what about his "journey" and comfortability with gay and lesbians in general that many have asked questions about? How does he differ from the other candidates? He differs because he is questioning his own faith and soul about the issue of marriage in general. How many presidents really have said that? And with the fact that he surrounds himself with people like his wife Elizabeth and others who support our causes, I beleive he is getting closer in his decision. But in the overall stance on our issues, my own faith tells me that he will be the one to lead our nation into changing more than the others. Humility of self is more important in my president.

John Edwards at HRC/Logo Debate

We all have to make a choice. Some might feel that Edwards should just give it up based on recent results. But we still have many states to go through and many tests to meet over the next month. Great oration without substance does not a great president make. Edwards has the oration and substance to inspire us and lead us to greatness. It is recognizing that leadership over the directing of who matters in this race by the media that will lead to change. I hope you will change with me and vote John Edwards for President.

...my campaign for Edwards now begins by trying to convince Stefan who is still undecided.

John Edwards on Education

John Edwards - Health Care Plan Comparison

John Edwards - The Grown Up

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Nevada Democratic Debate Part II

nobody@vox.com(Sean & Stefan) — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 07:09:54 -0800

Sean says...

As I posted before here, Stefan and I are trying to figure out who to support on the Democratic side and so we have been watching the debates when we can. Hence, we watched the Democratic debate in Nevada this week. I could post the whole debate here to be a little more inclusive, but I will be "bad" and do some editing on my own. I thought this was a great debate in terms of telling what the candidates are about. I am reposting about it to link the parts of the debate I felt moved me toward Clinton and Edwards and further away from Obama. I will say I will support the Democratic nominee regardless, unless an viable independent alternative is made available. Stefan, I believe, will as well.

This is the part of the debate that I think really swayed my thinking. Unfortunately, you can't forward to the specific parts easily so start the first video at the 3 minute mark and let run. Start the second video from beginning. The points bridge across the end of Part 3 and the beignning of Part 4 of the segments. (Further segments are also available on YouTube.) These parts deal with how these three would run the country. Perspective and method are big failings of our current commander-in-chief and I think we need to ask these questions about how he or she will approach the position and judge for ourselves, like in an interview, who is the best candidate to hire.

Part 3 Nevada Caucus Democratic Presidential Candidates' Debate 1-15-08

Part 4 Nevada Caucus Democratic Presidential Candidates' Debate 1-15-08

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Why are we not excited and impressed yet?

nobody@vox.com(Sean & Stefan) — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 09:00:00 -0800

Here is what we (Sean and Stefan) both think!

Sean says...

Well the Iowa Caucuses are over and Democrat Barack Obama and Republican Mike Huckabee won. It's now on to the New Hampshire Primary.

Huckabee is the intimate candidate (who I usually say when talking to Stef) has the "crazy" (although some might say unconventional) ideas. He gave a great victory speech tonight that truly drew you in and made you like him. I am impressed by his delivery and his ability to communicate without seeming like the loon he truly is.

Obama gave the speech of a leader. Surrounded by adoring crowds he gave the speech from a pulpit that talked about hope, history, and change. Why did it still leave me unimpressed? I feel like I am missing something about Obama (despite MANY emails from my friend Keith as to why I should be on the Obama train). Now I won't be voting for Huckabee of course because well he believes being gay is a choice, that being homosexual is ok as long as we don't practice it, and that creationsim is a valid theory. But Obama has a shot at my vote and I am not running to jump on his band wagon for some reason. My earlier post which really dismissed his impact is proven wrong of course and that is ok because this is one contest. But with Chris Dodd and Joe Biden dropping out now and the field winnowing, what do I do to get excited about someone I am just not getting into?

I am excited that in the Democratic race alone there are viable female, African-American, and Hispanic/Latino candidates! And I think this is where a lot of people are getting excitement because truly race is being conquered as a barrier in our time in an arena where there truly was a barrier based on personal choice. However, is because the potential of historic significance a reason to vote for someone? I remember being in 7th grade and being excited about Jesse Jackson (yes I was in 7th grade now so it makes good sense since I didn't understand what was wrong with Jesse at the time) in 1984. Jesse I believe finished 3rd in Iowa that year which was truly a break through. Hillary Clinton finishing third is a break through as well since she basically has finished better than any female presidential candidate has done ever as well.

But in the end I just don't have Obama fever. I really haven't caught any one candidates fever actually. So what can anyone do, say, or argue to sway me toward the light of political hysteria for any of the Dems still standing? Is it just me? As I age am I becoming harder to impress and excite? Do I need political viagra?

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Stefan says...

Romney scares me because his beady-eyed stare is too Ted Bundyesque.

Huckabee frightens me because he is an eloquent, dynamic speaker, who conveys authority...whose ideas and messages are dangerous.

Richardson blew it for me during his performance at the debate on Logo a few months ago.

Obama concerns me because of his youth and inexperience, despite his charimsa and likeability.

Edwards looks the part (he is certainly shiny and handsome), but I'm still not convinced...yet.

Clinton has the intellect and the experience, but I worry about her electability (of course, that's a little bit like a run on a bank, isn't it?)

Who is left? Well, as long as they are left, and not right... :-) 381 more days until Dubya is outta there! http://www.backwardsbush.com/

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The 2008 Presidential Campaign Officially Begins!

nobody@vox.com(Sean & Stefan) — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 08:45:53 -0800

Sean says...

My political past has me all in a tizzy today about the 2008 Presidential Campaign beginning in Iowa today, but it also finds me still wondering who is worth my vote. Obviously, Stefan and I will be voting Democratic. Stefan's parents would only expect that choice with only my (Sean) dad questioning where I went wrong. But who should we choose?

A few friends keep pointing me toward Barack Obama, but I feel as luke warm to him as I did when he got started last year. As a political junkie, I am one of those who continuously look up the candidates online and follow those political shows once and a while. But I find myself feeling famished after Obama speaks. Sure he is very articulate and an exciting orator. But having been in the "business," he leaves me unimpressed.

2008 Democratic Candidates

Hillary Clinton is an admirable person. She has worked hard and taken her lumps. I believe she wants to help the world, the question is can she lead it? I like her point that the president cannot be a neophyte to the "game" that is Washington. Being that I work next to the White House and am aware of the "game" in town, she has a point and knowing how to go through the minefield is much more valuable than saying the easy line of Washington needing to be "taken back." Bureaucracy is better tamed than challenged in my experience and the strategy to take it on is picking your battles and bunching small victories together strategically in order to force true change. And I think this is where Hillary is going; her vision is one I can agree with. The question though is "she the one to lead the change and can she?" That is what I am uneasy about and that is why I am not on her bandwagon yet.

John Edwards is one I thought I wouldn't fall behind but according to this Washington Post Questionnaire he should be my man... in the presidential race that is. Edwards has something the others are not truly exhibiting now, a man with humility willing to show strength of conviction as well as his thought process on things he is not sure of. Gay rights and marriage is my "clever" issue this year (for good reason - and Bill Richardson felt it squarely on his head back this summer after saying being gay is a choice); and Edwards has shown great growth and strength of character in how he has shown his journey in understanding it. That is the kind of president who will help the nation truly become comfortable with this group of issues rather than an outright supporter. The best way to phrase it is by saying Richard Nixon was the right one to open China to the West. Elizabeth Edwards ceratinly is on "our" side, and showing his comfort with working with a diverse set of opinions and allowing them to be voiced certainly gives me hope of moving passed the stubborn, one-mindedness of our current failure.

But what is truly rallying me to Edwards cause is his ideas on economic diversity. Hillary and he have it right, a piecemeal approach is the right course of action. But Edwards has a terrific focus on poverty which is reminiscent of Bobby Kennedy, my personal political hero. And in fact that comparison has hit me time and again with Edwards since 2004. Kennedy was a skeptic who with exposure evolved and became a stronger visionary because he embraced humility as well as honed his vision of a better world. Now Edwards isn't all the way there yet but he is moving that direction. But yet I am still not sold because of some of his strident comments and criticisms about others. "Can he get people to work with him even if he disagrees with them?" is my question for him.

Lastly, Joe Biden has impressed me with his brilliant mind. However, as a leader I do not know if he can inspire and truly show the way. He knows what he is talking about but his manner and temper just turn you the wrong way. He would be a truly wonk president but I see a potential Jimmy Carter malaise speech coming out of him in a cardigan sweater some night in October.

Well we will see who breaks out of the pack tonight and then see who stays in to fight on. In the end its strategy, money, and on the ground success that will truly pull our next president through to the end. I hope we just pick a good one, we are totally due.

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