PhotOh! Shannyn Moore's excellent sighting

By GottaLaff

My Twitter pal Shannyn Moore snapped a photo that I had to share with you:

The fun doesn't end. Shannyn has more here.

Anti-choice license plate battle may end at Supreme Court

By GottaLaff

Can I have a license plate that says, "Muslims rock!" or "Abortion is legal"?

From the Guardian:

...That has prompted political and legal battles in states that are refusing to adopt them, as well as demands for plates in support of abortion rights in states that permit the Choose Life version. The arguments look increasingly likely to end up before the supreme court.

In North Carolina, anti-abortion supporters last month put a bill before the state legislature for the eighth time to add a Choose Life plate to the 130 specialised ones already on offer. (They include designs celebrating fox hunters, a police motorcycle club, and shag dancing, a regional form of the jitterbug.) Approximately 400,000 of the state's eight million registered vehicles carry specialist plates, which cost an extra $30 with a portion of the fee going to the cause on display.

The bill was introduced by a Republican member of North Carolina's legislature, Mitch Gillespie, who says he cannot see why anyone would object to a Choose Life plate. "We are not going to unveil a tag that would have something on there that is offensive to anybody, that would show a foetus or something like that," he said.

Oh, well then, so long as we don't see a plethora of plates emblazoned with, "I heart [graphic of fetus]"...

The problem, IMHO, is where the money goes via vehicle registration, not the message. But freedom of speech issues prevail:

In January, Arizona lost a suit filed after it denied a similar request for a pro-life license plate. The plate was ruled free speech, according to the San Francisco Chronicle [...]

Virginia became the most recent state to add a pro-life license plate design, joining 22 others which have adopted similar plates.

The group pushing "Choose Life" plates have been at this for quite a while, starting in Florida 12 years ago. It seems this little 501(c)(3), agree with 'em or not, has managed to be effective.

There's something unseemly about anti-choicers trying to push their message on the fronts/backs of a cars and trucks. Pushy, aren't they?

Illinois Obama license plate sales break record

I think it's pretty cool that they've raiser over $70k for state libraries.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Special Illinois license plates featuring Barack Obama have set a record, and officials expect sales to keep going strong.

Illinois sold more than 1,800 of the Obama license plates during a 60-day period this spring. The secretary of state's office says the previous record was 800 plates featuring the Illinois Police Association.

The plates were official but temporary. They've expired now, but the state is still selling them solely as memorabilia.

A spokesman for Secretary of State Jesse White says the $50 plates are now attracting buyers from around the country and as far away as Germany.

If you want one, you can get them here.

Tim Kaine Signs Bill Creating 'Choose Life' License Plate

By GottaLaff

The chairman of the DNC is calling it a freedom of speech issue. Will we see a license plate with a pro-choice message?

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine came under fire Monday for signing a bill to create a "Choose Life" license plate, a move that abortion rights activists say runs afoul of his obligations as chairman of the Democratic National Committee.

Kaine, a Catholic who personally opposes abortion, said he considers such license plate messages a matter of free speech and added that the move was "in keeping with the commonwealth's longtime practice of approving specialty plates with all manner of political and social messages."

"If Planned Parenthood . . . or another similar organization ever chooses to seek a specialty license plate in Virginia, I believe the constitution would require the state to approve that plate to protect against any viewpoint discrimination," he said.

Well then. Planned Parenthood? NARAL? Where's your plate design?

But the decision -- and the reaction that followed -- illustrated the challenge Kaine faces in trying to balance elected office with his new national political job.

"It is unfortunate that, even after receiving thousands of messages from Virginians and pro-choice activists across the country, Gov. Kaine has opted to sign a bill that advances a divisive political ideology at the expense of women's health," said Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America.

Victoria Cobb, president of the Family Foundation of Virginia, said "the Choose Life plate will provide private-sector funding, not tax dollars, to organizations that support families caught in crisis situations. Everyone should agree that is a good thing for the commonwealth."

After the first 1,000 plates are sold, $15 of the $25 annual fee would go to Heartbeat International, a Christian pregnancy resource organization, which would distribute the money to about 40 centers in the state that meet the group's standards.

Obama license plates raise $50,000 in one month

Pretty impressive considering it's only a 60 day plate.

More than 1,400 specialty license plates featuring an image of President Obama have been purchased in Illinois in the last month.

The 60-day plates, which sell for $50 a pair, have raised $50,000 for the Illinois Library Association's 2010 summer reading program.

The plates, which read "Illinois Salutes President Barack Obama," went on sale Feb. 17 and are valid through April 17. After that, people across the country can purchase the plates as collectors' items.

President Obama has a full (license) plate

By GottaLaff

Poetic license:

Months after being deluged with calls about a commemorative plate, Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White unveiled an "Illinois Salutes Barack Obama" temporary license plate Friday.

The plates, featuring President Obama's smiling face on top of a waving American flag, can be used for 60 days, beginning Feb. 17 and ending April 17. They cost $50 and all proceeds benefit state libraries.

Go here to order a set. But remember, on April 17, when the clock strikes twelve, they disappear. Poof.

Obama plate might give Illinois state budget a boost

Screw Illinois, I say every state should start offering an Obama plate, g-d knows we need the income.

Illinois' license plates proudly boast we're the Land of Lincoln. Now, we're the Land of Obama, too. So what would happen if state leaders gave drivers the option of buying a special license plate to commemorate Barack Obama's historic inauguration as president?

Judging by calls to Secretary of State Jesse White's office and an examination of state records, the idea might offer a boost for the state's cash-strapped budget.

The secretary of state has been getting 10 to 15 calls a day since Obama's Nov. 4 victory asking if an Obama commemorative plate is in the works, White spokesman Dave Druker said.

Specialty plates bring the state millions of dollars each year. An Obama plate -- priced higher than normal plates, of course -- might bring in money that could be used for any number of purposes.