Excerpted from the end of David Swanson's essay in the California Chronicle. (Murdoch hosted a breakfast fundraiser for Clinton in the morning, then attended a luncheon fundraiser for John McCain in the afternoon).

Here's a one-sentence paragraph about Murdoch's Breakfast for Hillary as buried at the very end of a New York Times story on Tuesday: "At a separate event yesterday, Mrs. Clinton also won support from another onetime critic-turned-ally, Rupert Murdoch, the owner of The New York Post, who was the host of a political fund-raiser for her in New York City."

NY Times

But when was he a critic, and what makes him an ally? And is he also a McCain ally? And do the majority of Americans, who oppose the war, have any allies?

Of course, they do. The media just doesn't tell you about them. Here is Jonathan Tasini, who is challenging Hillary in the Democratic Primary in the race for the Senate seat she now holds:

From the Washington Times.

Gay 'marriage' may affect Hillary
July 11, 2006

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton has faced clear pressure on the same-sex "marriage" issue from rivals on both the left and right since New York's highest court ruled last week that the state's marriage laws -- which do not recognize such unions -- are constitutional.

The battle over marriage rights for homosexuals emerged as a factor in the 2004 election, when ballot issues in Ohio and other key states helped motivate conservative voters. And the role of the issue in Mrs. Clinton's re-election campaign -- and her expected 2008 presidential bid -- could signal whether it will have a continuing impact in national politics.

In the wake of the New York ruling, Jonathan Tasini -- an anti-Iraq war Democrat who plans to challenge Mrs. Clinton in the Sept. 12 Senate primary -- said he was "appalled" by the decision. He said "many people in the gay community are very disappointed in" Mrs. Clinton for not supporting same-sex "marriage."

"Discrimination is discrimination, and Hillary Clinton obviously does not get it," he said.

Our intrepid volunteers have worked incredibly hard to get enough signatures to get Jonathan's name on the ballot, and we can't thank them enough. The signed petitions are still flowing into the office hourly, and some are accompanied by interesting notes. I thought I'd share this one with you, from Nick Albaugh of Hamden.

June 29

Dear Folks,

I am so sorry for this pitiful submission. [Editor's Note: Nick is unnecessarily modest - he submitted many signatures and we were very happy to get them.] Passing petitions was always a door to door proposition in this area, but it started well (no refusals) until the rains hit.

We are still under a state of emergency, all roads in the county closed. At my house we have no electricity or water, but are lucky we did not have to evacuate.

Kevin Downes writes in to tell us of his experience in trying to get an answer from Senator Clinton's office to a simple, yes or no, question:

Over the past month as I have petitioned to get Jonathan Tasini on the ballot, many people have asked me his position on same-sex marriage. I was able to answer simply and directly, “He’s 100% in favor. He’s for marriage equality, because he is against discrimination in any form.”

This led me to wonder how his opponent, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, would answer the same question. So I called her office. I was transferred to a staff member who said, apparently reading from a script, that Senator Clinton had voted against the cloture motion that would have allowed the Senate to consider an amendment to the Constitution banning same-sex marriage, because she is against writing discrimination into the Constitution.

I applauded that vote, but pressed: “But what is the Senator’s position on same-sex marriage generally?” The staff member seemed a bit off guard. I rephrased my question: “Does Senator Clinton support gay marriage? Does she support the right of same-sex couples to marry?” The staff member told me she would have to transfer me to the Legislative Desk. I was put on hold, and then after a few rings I got an answering machine. I left my name and telephone number and repeated my follow-up question. I also added another: “Does Senator Clinton support the Defense of Marriage Act and, if not, will she work to repeal it?”

One week later, on the day the New York State Court of Appeals issued its decision on same-sex marriage, a member of Senator Clinton’s staff returned my call. The response to my first question was that Senator Clinton is for full equality for all couples in legal relationships, whether marriage, civil unions or domestic partnerships. “But does she support marriage equality for same-sex couples?” I asked. The staff member repeated the initial statement. She then addressed my question on the Defense of Marriage Act, noting that this is the law and that when it was enacted and signed into law in 1996 by President Clinton, Senator Clinton felt it was important to support her husband.

So, after the course of one week, I got two carefully crafted and wholly unsatisfactory answers from Senator Clinton’s office. I still don’t know exactly where she stands on this issue. The answer should be simple and straightforward, like the answer I give to people when I’m asked where Jonathan stands on marriage equality. “He’s for marriage equality, because he’s against discrimination. Period.”

- by Kevin Downes

Hillary Clinton to visit Idaho this weekend

BOISE -- Senator Hillary Clinton will be in the Gem State this weekend as part of a fundraising campaign.

It’s predicted up to $100,000 could be raised. The money would be used to help the Clinton reelection campaign.

That's a mighty fancy barbecue! What the above report doesn't mention is that the event will be held at the ranch of Tom O'Gara, who in 2003 hosted a similar fundraiser for George Bush, with special guest Dick Cheney. Strange bedfellows. Equally strange is her fundraiser hosted by Rupert Murdoch, scheduled for July 17 in NYC.