Zach Walls Is Not Running For Office But He Has Written A Book

In April, I attended the GLAAD Media Awards here in New York where one of the best speeches of the night was given by 21 year old Zach Walls.  In early 2011, Walls shot to YouTube fame when he spoke before the Iowa Judiciary Committee about being raised by two lesbian moms and gave an impassioned defense of his upbringing, summarized in this line: "the sexual orientation of my parents has zero effect on the content of my character." At the GLAAD event, Walls spoke so clearly and passionately that the buzz at our table was wondering when this articulate young man would be running for office.

In an interview over at Queerty today, Walls says he has no plans to run for office right now and is focusing on finishing his college studies in environmental engineering.  But he has not ruled it out and, in fact, could be seen as taking the first major step for any political candidate these days--he has written a memoir.  MY TWO MOMS, out in time for Mother's Day of course, is about growing up with his now semi-famous family.  Each chapter is headed with one word taken from the Boy Scouts oath (thrifty, brave, reverent, etc.).  Now if that isn't a savvy politician in the making!  Let's hope the book, in stores today, becomes Zach's DREAMS FROM MY FATHER...and that we'll see him on the national stage in 2028.

Michelle Bachmann May Be Scarier Than Sarah Palin

Congresswoman Michele Bachman, a Republican from Minnesota, has been making the Iowa rounds lately, testing the waters for a possible Presidential run in 2012.  And from some of her recent statements, posted today on Towleroad, she might actually be scarier than Sarah Palin.

Railing against gay marriage, she went on a diatribe over state and federal judges referring to them as "black-robed masters".  And then there was this choice quote: "They are not put there to make decisions".   OK--I honestly don't care if you don't like the idea of gay marriage and think it's immoral and all that religious jazz.  But seriously, if you want to want to run for President, you should know that the judiciary branch plays a key role in our system of government, namely that of making DECISIONS.  To refer to them as sinister, mystical "masters" is not only bad rhetoric but it suggests a base ignorance of our constitutional form of government.

Rep. Bachman was a hit with the conservatives she aimed her remarks at. But she was also heckled a few times at a college event.  She can expect more heckling if she continues to spew not just hate but sheer ignorance of the government which she might aspire to run someday.