Democracy Wire

Over 38 percent of state and congressional district maps drawn by politicians in the 2010-cycle were struck down by courts, compared to just 11 percent of those drawn by independent citizen commissions with partisan balance. This includes two maps struck down today by a federal Michigan court.

We call on all Americans to repudiate this political hate in each and every conversation with family, friend, and colleagues. We cannot ignore the racist and intolerant invective we see in politics, repeated by some news commentators, and flourishing online. Our own president needs to repudiate this hate speech and own his own very significant contributions to setting the tone that makes people think it is okay to vilify and attack politicians, judges, reporters and others who they don’t agree with.

The valedictorian at a Kentucky High School borrowed part of his speech from a presidential commencement address -- with a special twist for the audience.