Pages

Monday, October 8, 2018

Taylor Swift Finally Breaks Political Silence With Instagram Post Against Republican Senate Candidate Marsha Blackburn



Lauren McCarthy
On Sunday evening, Taylor Swift posted a lengthy Instagram post about the upcoming midterm election.
Taylor Swift has been plenty vocal about many things over the course of her career: men who have wronged her, her love of cats, her distaste for Kanye West among them. But one thing that has never made the list: her political views. That is, until now.
On Sunday evening, just 24 hours after accused sexual abuser Brett Kavanaugh was sworn in to the Supreme Court of the United States of America, Swift broke her political silence with a lengthy Instagram post denouncing Marsha Blackburn, a Republican Senate candidate running in Swift's home state—and voting location—of Tennessee.
Written under a pensive black and white polaroid photo of herself, Swift began the caption by addressing the fact that she has, until this point, stayed quiet about her politics, often to the point of criticism, as was the case when she did not endorse either Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election. "In the past I’ve been reluctant to publicly voice my political opinions, but due to several events in my life and in the world in the past two years, I feel very differently about that now," she began. " I always have and always will cast my vote based on which candidate will protect and fight for the human rights I believe we all deserve in this country. I believe in the fight for LGBTQ rights, and that any form of discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender is WRONG. I believe that the systemic racism we still see in this country towards people of color is terrifying, sickening and prevalent. I cannot vote for someone who will not be willing to fight for dignity for ALL Americans, no matter their skin color, gender or who they love."
Swift went on to get specific—namely, her distaste for Blackburn's views. "As much as I have in the past and would like to continue voting for women in office, I cannot support Marsha Blackburn," she continued. "Her voting record in Congress appalls and terrifies me. She voted against equal pay for women. She voted against the Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which attempts to protect women from domestic violence, stalking, and date rape. She believes businesses have a right to refuse service to gay couples. She also believes they should not have the right to marry. These are not MY Tennessee values."
The singer made note that she will be voting for Phil Bredesen for Senate and Jim Cooper for House of Representatives before urging her fans—including those who have just turned 18, and thus can now vote for the first time—to educate themselves on the candidates and to register to vote for the midterm elections. Fittingly, she ended the post with a rainbow emoji.
Guess what she said about the Old Taylor being dead really was true. Read the full post, here:

Sign in again to post a message.
  • Interpol president resigns amid Beijing probe
    News
    The Canadian Press

    Interpol president resigns amid Beijing probe

    Interpol says a Chinese official who was reported missing has resigned as head of the international police agency. The update came after Beijing announced Meng Hongwei was under investigation in China. Interpol said Sunday night that Meng had resigned as president of the agency's executive committee, effectively immediately.
    8
  • Caucus caught off guard by Pallister's carbon tax decision: CP source
    News
    The Canadian Press

    Caucus caught off guard by Pallister's carbon tax decision: CP source

    Brian Pallister's abrupt about-face on a carbon tax came after the Manitoba premier felt like he was being used as a prop by Ottawa, and sources say it was a surprise to most in his own caucus. The move, which aligned Pallister's Progressive Conservatives with other Canadian conservative leaders, came after months of his insisting that a Manitoba-made tax that met the federal Liberals halfway was better than having a levy imposed by Ottawa. Pallister gave no indication at the time, but on Wednesday he suddenly announced he was dropping his plans for a carbon tax and said he did not appreciate Trudeau's comments.
    124
  • Trans Mountain pipeline shut down in Surrey, B.C., to investigate odour
    News
    CBC

    Trans Mountain pipeline shut down in Surrey, B.C., to investigate odour

    The Trans Mountain pipeline has been shut down in Surrey, B.C., while crews investigate an odour complaint and a gasoline-like substance found in a ditch. The pipeline has been turned off as a precautionary measure and the company is monitoring the situation from the air, according to a statement from Trans Mountain. Surrey Fire Services responded to a call at around 11 p.m. Saturday and found the petroleum-like product, according to Assistant Chief Shelley Morris.
    16
  • Box office: 'Venom' launches to $80 million, 'A Star Is Born' draws $42.6 million
    News
    Reuters

    Box office: 'Venom' launches to $80 million, 'A Star Is Born' draws $42.6 million

    Tom Hardy's superhero tale "Venom" grabbed $80 million at 4,250 sites for Sony and Marvel while the Lady Gaga-starring remake of "A Star Is Born" earned an estimated $42.6 million at 3,686 locations for Warner Bros. -- well above pre-weekend forecasts. "Venom" smashed the record for an October opening, topping the $55.8 million launch of "Gravity" by 43%. "Venom" also dominated at the international box office with $125.2 million, setting an international record for an October opening.
  • Apple tells Congress it found no signs of hacking attack
    News
    Reuters

    Apple tells Congress it found no signs of hacking attack

    Apple Vice President for Information Security George Stathakopoulos wrote in a letter to the Senate and House commerce committees that the company had repeatedly investigated and found no evidence for the main points in a Bloomberg Businessweek article published on Thursday, including that chips inside servers sold to Apple by Super Micro Computer Inc allowed for backdoor transmissions to China. "Apple’s proprietary security tools are continuously scanning for precisely this kind of outbound traffic, as it indicates the existence of malware or other malicious activity. Stathakopoulos repeated Apple's statements to the press that it never found malicious chips or vulnerabilities purposely planted in any server or been contacted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) about such concerns.
    1
  • Gravelbourg gathers for College Mathieu centennial celebrations
    News
    CBC

    Gravelbourg gathers for College Mathieu centennial celebrations

    It has been almost 100 years since College Mathieu opened its doors. The community of Gravelbourg celebrated the school in style this weekend as performers, musicians and community members alike gathered to mark the centennial. People were treated to tours of significant locations in and around the community and things were topped off on Sunday with mass and a brunch.
  • Cosby lawyers ask court to void conviction, prison sentence
    News
    The Canadian Press

    Cosby lawyers ask court to void conviction, prison sentence

    Bill Cosby's lawyers have asked a Pennsylvania court to overturn the actor's conviction and three- to 10-year prison sentence because of what they call a string of errors in his sex assault case. The defence motion argued that trial Judge Steven O'Neill erred in declaring Cosby a sexually violent predator who must be imprisoned to protect the community. Lawyers called the sentence more punitive than necessary, given the standard two- to three-year guideline range for the crime and the fact Cosby is 81 and blind.
    3
  • 'We're ready to have one:' film director would love NBA to return to Vancouver
    News
    CBC

    'We're ready to have one:' film director would love NBA to return to Vancouver

    Spoiler alert: Former NBA Grizzlies star Bryant 'Big Country' Reeves does get found in a documentary showing at the Vancouver International Film Festival.
  • Llamas in costume compete for prize money at Norfolk County Fair
    News
    CBC

    Llamas in costume compete for prize money at Norfolk County Fair

    Clothes make the llama, as they say, and a number of nattily dressed llamas took part in a colourful costume competition this weekend at the Norfolk County Fair. The seven-day fair, which prides itself as being the oldest in Ontario, ends on Monday.
    1
  • News
    The Canadian Press

    OMA president takes back comments that recreational cannabis is a 'gateway drug'

    The president of the Ontario Medical Association is taking back her comments that recreational cannabis is a "gateway drug" to harder substances. Dr. Nadia Alam says she "misspoke" during an interview on CBC Radio earlier this week, in which she also said recreational cannabis can cause anxiety and withdrawal symptoms for people who become addicted. "It can lead to the use of other, more serious drugs like crack cocaine," Alam said in the interview.
    7
  • 'To us, it's a miracle': Churchill residents celebrate repair of railway washouts
    News
    CBC

    'To us, it's a miracle': Churchill residents celebrate repair of railway washouts

    It's a great crew," said Rhoda de Meulles, a Churchill resident who owns the town's hardware store with her husband. "People are just ecstatic," said Joe Stover, a longtime Churchill resident, who called the news a significant milestone for the community.
    1
  •  
     
    'We do this work with all our hearts'
    BBC News

    'We do this work with all our hearts'

    The massive earthquake in the Indonesian city of Palu has created devastation - but alongside the misery, there are some stories of bravery too. Annisa is the only woman on her search and rescue team. Christine was the only nurse on duty at a local hospital when the earthquake struck. Video produced by Sofia Bettiza, Nick Beake and Ade Mardiyati.
    1
  • This Yukon First Nation has lots to be thankful for this weekend
    News
    CBC

    This Yukon First Nation has lots to be thankful for this weekend

    It marks the end of the first harvest at the farm, after the First Nation government bought it last fall and moved onto the property May 1. While the First Nation has had community gardens and a few chickens in the past, this farm on the former Branigan property is the start of the First Nation government's foray into food security and sustainability for its citizens. Farm manager Lloyd Lintott says the impetus for starting the farm was the Alaska Highway washout in June 2012.
    3
  • Northerners flock to Fort McPherson as Chase the Ace prize reaches $98K
    News
    CBC

    Northerners flock to Fort McPherson as Chase the Ace prize reaches $98K

    Sierra Daley says she's never been involved in something this big before. At one point on Friday, she said, there were about 52 trucks lined up to take the ferry into Fort McPherson, N.W.T. "Every 45 minutes or every hour-ish we'll get an influx of people, and that's how we know that there's another round of people that just came off the ferry and made it into town to come and buy tickets," Daley said.
  • Confronting housing and homelessness in Canada's smallest city
    News
    CBC

    Confronting housing and homelessness in Canada's smallest city

    Both issues have become issues in the upcoming municipal election. Three of the four mayoral candidates vying to replace current mayor Phil Kent in Duncan joined Gregor Craigie, host of CBC's On The Island, to talk about what they would do differently for the Vancouver Island community. "[Housing] is a real problem, the vacancy rate is extremely low," said mayoral candidate Martin Barker, a chiropractor who served on council from 2011 to 2014.
    5
  • Giving up plastic is not as hard as it sounds, when you have a plan
    News
    CBC

    Giving up plastic is not as hard as it sounds, when you have a plan

    Waves of Change is a CBC series exploring the single-use plastic we're discarding, and why we need to clean up our act. You can be part of the community discussion by joining our Facebook group.   
    9
  • Canadian Medical Association resigns from world body amid plagiarism accusations
    News
    CBC

    Canadian Medical Association resigns from world body amid plagiarism accusations

    The Canadian Medical Association says it has resigned from the World Medical Association, accusing the international group's incoming president of plagiarizing his inaugural speech. In a statement released on Saturday, the CMA said it discovered that part of Dr. Leonid Eidelman's speech was taken from a former CMA president's speech in 2014. Current CMA president Gigi Osler said she and a Canadian delegation were in Iceland this week for the WMA's annual general assembly, where major issues and topics in medicine are discussed.
    5
  • Scientists trying to save B.C.'s western rattlesnakes from becoming roadkill
    News
    The Canadian Press

    Scientists trying to save B.C.'s western rattlesnakes from becoming roadkill

    British Columbia's rattlesnakes may not get much respect, but scientists are working to change that — and in the process, save a diminishing species. University and government researchers have been focusing on one population of western rattlesnakes in a fairly pristine basin where there hasn't been much development. "Then on top of this you throw a high death rate due to vehicles, you've got a recipe for disaster and that's what you're seeing," Larsen said.
    6
  • Acts of extreme violence strip away ability to live normal life, say Sask. victims of crime
    News
    CBC

    Acts of extreme violence strip away ability to live normal life, say Sask. victims of crime

    Sharlene Lange said it took just a few minutes for an act of violence to send her and her son's life into a tailspin. "My son was brutally brutally beaten, brain damaged like someone in a high speed car crash," Sharlene said of the 2003 beating of her son Kutler Lange. "How do you live with a deliberate act of such extreme violence, that took everything from you?" asked Sharlene, who has long advocated for changes to how victims of crime are compensated.
    6
  • Team addresses thorny ethical issues raised by genomic sequencing
    News
    The Canadian Press



No comments:

Post a Comment