A gay Romney supporter won’t be voting for him now – not after President Obama spoke out last week in support of same-sex marriage. And then Romney made a speech over the weekend stating again that marriage should be only between a man and a woman. And that really did it for Bill White – a gay man who’s a registered Independent and runs a New York based consulting firm.

I feel like Romney has declared war on my marriage. And I could just sit back and not say anything. Or I could do something about it. And I’ve chosen to do something about it.

So – he sent the Romney campaign a letter, demanding his $2,500 back.

Sex, love child, mistress, wife dying of cancer, and a whole lot of lies by a Presidential candidate – the jury in the John Edwards trial has heard it all. But what they might not hear is the most important part of the case. The Federal Elections Commission did a four year – yes, four years audit of John Edwards’ campaign finances and decided he didn’t do anything wrong. The million dollars donated to help hide his pregnant mistress from his wife and the public was NOT considered to be a campaign contribution by the FEC. The FEC saw that money as personal money. So, no crime, because no failure to report a campaign contribution or illegal use of a campaign contribution. But the jury may never hear this.
The FEC ruled this after the Justice Department already had indicted John Edwards. But Justice wouldn’t back off. They kept on coming with the case and they kept on coming Monday – convincing the judge to send the jury out of the room when the Edwards’ campaign chief financial officer testified. The judge ruled the jury won’t be told the FEC told the financial officer she didn’t have to report the money. (And have the appeals attorneys begun outlining their briefs?)
UPDATE: The Judge will allow in parts of the FEC report.
This was day one of Edwards’ defense and his lawyers also wanted to call the head of the FEC during the Edwards’ campaign. Prosecutors jumped right on that one – no way – and the judge said she’d send the jury home, and hear the FEC chief’s testimony herself, then rule if the jury could hear it. Tough day for the Edwards team. You’d think a home boy from North Carolina might get a little more legal love from his home state. Seems like the opposite is the case.
AND MORE…
Elizabeth Edwards didn’t want to just stay home and die, she wanted to keep going and help her husband win the White House, whether she’d ever live it or not. She had a temper that was volcanic and John Edwards was afraid of it. She called the shots – John Edwards took his orders from his wife. This was the very personal testimony from a former Edwards’ friend and campaign aide on Monday. Democratic pollster, Harrister Hickman was painting a personal portrait of Elizabeth Edwards for the jury with his testimony. It was definitely cringe worthy. She’s not here to defend her image – dead for a couple years now from the breast cancer that claimed her. Elizabeth Edwards was so popular – people loved the sweet faced mom, who’d lost a teenaged son in a car accident, bravely gave birth to two more children later in life, was an attorney, an author, and determined to campaign even after the breast cancer diagnosis.
But yesterday, we saw a different picture. Hickman said Elizabeth was furious about her husband’s affair, very angry that she would be humiliated and her children would be caught up in the scandal as well. We’ve already heard testimony Elizabeth thought the affair had ended when it hadn’t, and didn’t know about the pregnancy of Edwards’ mistress.
We also heard that Elizabeth wanted that affair hidden from the public, did not want her husband to quit the Presidential race, and was the one in charge – even while dying of breast cancer.

A new week – and Obama and Romney teams are going toe to toe. Yes, it’s on.
In the blue corner: The O team put up a new website and created a new TV spot that will be running in 5 battleground states tomorrow.
The key point is that when Romney’s Bain Capital moved in to invest and manage a steel mill in Kansas City, Missouri – workers lost jobs, health care and pension benefits Later – the company went through bankruptcy.

In the red corner: The Romney team came right back with a new web video about a successful steel company Bain Capital invested in -workers say the company is an example of the American Dream. The company workforce grew from 1400 to more than 6000 workers. The ad doesn’t mention the many millions in federal dollars pumped into the plant to keep it open – or state and country tax breaks that helped the doors open.

You can be stylish and powerful too – that’s Michelle’s advice. ~ President Barack Obama at Barnard Commencement Address

Destination: New York, New York for all things tech, virtual: Software, hardware and happy days and nights full of panels, parties and high tech royalty.This is Internet Week New York 2012. All the names you know have salons set up for you to visit, free. Just have to RSVP first – so let your fingers do the walking and tell them you’re coming. Headquarters for this fifth year of the big event is 82 Mercer in Soho. But there are events and showcases set up throughout the city. Arts, music, travel, media, fashion – see it all presented in ways you’ve never seen before. Need start-up cash to back the Next Big Thing that you’ve created? Investors are in the mix – just seek them out. And those who’ve already made it mojo big are in the crowd too – Buzzfeed’s CEO and Tumblr’s founder among them. 200 plus events to keep you in perpetual motion through the virtual world, all week. But – must confess – organizers say that getting to the very best events, panels, parties and people takes a ticket. Just $399. And they say they’ll sell out fast.
Tax deductible investment? Or just indulgence in a future fantasy come true today? You decide. But if you’re on a budget – well – take it free and easy. Enjoy!
#IWNY 2012