We saw an extreme example of the polarization this week when Republican Congressman Joe Wilson yelled out “you lie” during President Barack Obama’s speech Wednesday  night to a joint session of Congress.

It was indefensible just in terms of its complete lack of respect to the office of the president and to everyone else in that chamber and watching from home. But, as Keith Olbermann points out in detail, it is Wilson who is the liar. Olbermann also points out that Wilson never yelled out “You Lie!” to the previous administration even though  literally hundreds of statements have been shown to be untrue and many decisions made that cost thousands of American lives were based on information that was not true.

It’s outrageous. No excuse.

PETITIONING FOR MILK: The crusade to pass the Harvey Milk Day bill — which would create a day of recognition in California on May 22, Harvey’s birthday — continues.

On Thursday, Equality California’s Executive Director Geoff Kors and Government Affairs Director Alice Kessler, along with California Senator Mark Leno (pictured above) and National Center for Lesbian Rights Executive Director Kate Kendall, delivered 40,000 petitions in support of the Milk bill to the office of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger who has twice before vetoed recognizing Milk in this way.

The bill calls for a “day of special significance” in honor of the slain civil rights leader and seeks to educate Californians about the former San Francisco City Supervisor, who became the nation’s first openly lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) person elected to political office in a major city. Tens of thousands of phone calls have also been made from across the state in support of the bill.

Recently, President Barack Obama posthumously honored Harvey Milk with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, and Governor Schwarzenegger announced that the global icon will be inducted into the California Hall of Fame, which was conceived of by First Lady Maria Shriver.

We are now waiting for the governor to decide whether he will sign or veto the bill for Harvey Milk Day. His decision is due within the next couple of weeks. The bill has, once again, passed through both houses of the California Legislature.

People who want to encourage the Governor to sign can still call 916-445-2841 or tweet @schwarzenegger.

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