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Kevin and Darren live in Portland Oregon and are a gay, committed couple. We believe in life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all...regardless of sexual orientation, gender, race, nationality, financial status, and being. Erase man-made borders and "they" become "we". New Site: HERE.Friday, October 22
Defiant Barroso stands by anti-gay aide
[The Guardian]
David Gow in Brussels
José Manuel Barroso, the new European commission president, yesterday risked provoking an institutional crisis in the EU by defying MEPs' calls to dump Rocco Buttiglione, an outspoken opponent of gay and women's rights, as justice and civil liberties commissioner.
Armed with a half apology from Mr Buttiglione for any offence he might have caused gay people and women, Mr Barroso effectively challenged his critics within the European parliament to have the guts to vote him and his entire 24-strong team out of office on Wednesday - two days before the signing of the EU's new constitutional treaty.
The president, asserting his authority by taking personal charge of the EU's non-discrimination policies and assuming powers to sack incompetent or corrupt commissioners, made plain he was counting on splits among his opponents and abstentions to win an "absolutely convincing" majority next week.
But socialist, liberal, Green and other leaders warned Mr Barroso that he would have to make further, substantial concessions by early next week if he and his commission were to avoid a heavy defeat - or, at best, win such a slim majority his team would be left a lame duck for the five-year tenure.
Martin Schulz, leader of the 200-strong socialist group, accused the president of going back on his word after conceding on Tuesday that he would strip Mr Buttiglione, an Italian Catholic, of his civil liberties responsibilities.
He dismissed as "cosmetic" Mr Barroso's decision to set up a shadow team of commissioners, chaired by himself, to monitor his performance. Mr Schulz, whose group voted against Mr Barroso's appointment in July, said his members would vote as a bloc against the entire commission if there were no change of tack by the president.
David Gow in Brussels
José Manuel Barroso, the new European commission president, yesterday risked provoking an institutional crisis in the EU by defying MEPs' calls to dump Rocco Buttiglione, an outspoken opponent of gay and women's rights, as justice and civil liberties commissioner.
Armed with a half apology from Mr Buttiglione for any offence he might have caused gay people and women, Mr Barroso effectively challenged his critics within the European parliament to have the guts to vote him and his entire 24-strong team out of office on Wednesday - two days before the signing of the EU's new constitutional treaty.
The president, asserting his authority by taking personal charge of the EU's non-discrimination policies and assuming powers to sack incompetent or corrupt commissioners, made plain he was counting on splits among his opponents and abstentions to win an "absolutely convincing" majority next week.
But socialist, liberal, Green and other leaders warned Mr Barroso that he would have to make further, substantial concessions by early next week if he and his commission were to avoid a heavy defeat - or, at best, win such a slim majority his team would be left a lame duck for the five-year tenure.
Martin Schulz, leader of the 200-strong socialist group, accused the president of going back on his word after conceding on Tuesday that he would strip Mr Buttiglione, an Italian Catholic, of his civil liberties responsibilities.
He dismissed as "cosmetic" Mr Barroso's decision to set up a shadow team of commissioners, chaired by himself, to monitor his performance. Mr Schulz, whose group voted against Mr Barroso's appointment in July, said his members would vote as a bloc against the entire commission if there were no change of tack by the president.
posted by jikido # 10:55 AM 
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