Many of us missed this particular video in the run up to Prop 8 and is perhaps one of the most offensive, with high production value appealing to young voters. This video among others was presented as evidence in court today. Watch:

More on homophobic pastor Miles McPherson here.

Paul Haggis, who directed 2006’s Oscar winner “Crash” has quit Scientology after 35 years over the church’s position on gays and lesbians and Proposition 8. In a letter to Tom Davis, who is spokesman for Scientology’s head David Miscavige, Haggis gives his reasons for leaving the often maligned and ridiculed church.

As you know, for ten months now I have been writing to ask you to make a public statement denouncing the actions of the Church of Scientology of San Diego. Their public sponsorship of Proposition 8, a hate-filled legislation that succeeded in taking away the civil rights of gay and lesbian citizens of California – rights that were granted them by the Supreme Court of our state – shames us.

I called and wrote and implored you, as the official spokesman of the church, to condemn their actions. I told you I could not, in good conscience, be a member of an organization where gay-bashing was tolerated.

In that first conversation, back at the end of October of last year, you told me you were horrified, that you would get to the bottom of it and “heads would roll.” You promised action. Ten months passed. No action was forthcoming. The best you offered was a weak and carefully worded press release, which praised the church’s human rights record and took no responsibility. Even that, you decided not to publish.

The church’s refusal to denounce the actions of these bigots, hypocrites and homophobes is cowardly. I can think of no other word. Silence is consent, Tommy. I refuse to consent.

I joined the Church of Scientology thirty-five years ago. During my twenties and early thirties I studied and received a great deal of counseling. While I have not been an active member for many years, I found much of what I learned to be very helpful, and I still apply it in my daily life. I have never pretended to be the best Scientologist, but I openly and vigorously defended the church whenever it was criticized, as I railed against the kind of intolerance that I believed was directed against it. I had my disagreements, but I dealt with them internally. I saw the organization – with all its warts, growing pains and problems – as an underdog. And I have always had a thing for underdogs.

But I reached a point several weeks ago where I no longer knew what to think. You had allowed our name to be allied with the worst elements of the Christian Right. In order to contain a potential “PR flap” you allowed our sponsorship of Proposition 8 to stand. Despite all the church’s words about promoting freedom and human rights, its name is now in the public record alongside those who promote bigotry and intolerance, homophobia and fear.

Tom Davis also appeared on ABC’s Nightine last week, where he stormed out of an interview with Martin Bashir when questioned about Xenu the galactic overlord and souls living in volcanos. Clip below:

And you thought the Mormon church was cooky.

In a largely partisan vote, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved the nomination of Judge Sonya Sotomayor to the Supreme Court by a margin of 13 to 6. From the NY Times:

As expected, all 12 Democrats on the judiciary panel voted for Judge Sotomayor, after praising her intellect, character and inspiring personal history. But among the seven Republicans on the committee, only Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina voted in favor.

The committee action sends the nomination to the full Senate, where her confirmation by a comfortable margin seems to be assured. setting the stage for a full Senate vote next week.

…

Republican critics of the judge expressed displeasure with her rulings as a member of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, as well as with some of her public comments. The rulings and comments show that she is a judge who is too “activist” and liberal and has too little commitment to the rights of gun owners, the critics complained.

Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama, the committee’s leading Republican, said just before the vote that he was compelled to oppose the nomination because in some important cases the judge’s decisions were “unacceptably short” and showed a “liberal, pro-government ideology against the individuals asserting their constitutional rights.”

Pior to the vote, freshman Senator Al Franken (D-MN) pledged his support to Sotomayor, hoping her presence would counter the judicial activism of the Supreme Court.

While we should all be proud that a wise, experienced woman of color is on the cusp of becoming a Supreme Court Justice, I am frankly embarrassed by the sexism and racism on display by Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama during Judge Sonia Sotomayor’s confirmation hearings.

Here we have two white southern males, one afraid to come out of the closet, the other wearing his hypocrisy on his sleeve. First watch Senator Graham question Sotomayor’s temperament.

Graham is clearly talking down to Sotomayor, insisting that he “likes” her, and that she should appreciate that. He goes on to quote anonymous criticisms as if they were fact: she is a bully, angry, excitable and aggressive, terms often used by men afraid of strong women. Graham’s questions coupled with his statement yesterday, that “Unless you have a complete meltdown, your’re going to get confirmed,” how can you not reach the conclusion Graham’s remarks weren’t sexist? Can you imagine him questioning a man, particularly a white man, the same way? Nope. Don’t think so.

Next up… Senator Sessions questions why Sotomayor doesn’t vote like other Puerto Ricans of whom he approves, like Puerto Rican Judge Cabranes.

Sessions also said Sotomayor was “unsuitable for the bench” due to her past affiliation with an “extremist group” called the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund (PRLDEF). Strangely enough, the previously mentioned Judge Cabranes also happens to be a board member. Tell me, why is he so preoccupied with her race?

Oh well. Perhaps it’s just sour grapes. Sessions was once nominated to serve as a federal judge, but was eventually shot down by the committee on which he now sits, because he had a problem with people of color, having once said to a white civil rights lawyer that he was a “disgrace to his race” for litigating voting rights cases. The New Republic has a thorough rundown on the fine racist, I mean Senator, from Alabama.

As I said before, I am simultaneously proud and embarrassed by today’s hearings. But not surprised. The South has a long history of devaluing women and people of color. And some unfortunately carry on the tradition, even today.