Liberals are for equality all the time, Conservatives only when it hits home

[louis c]

Last edited Fri Mar 15, 2013, 08:35 PM - Edit history (1)

I'm a life-long Liberal, who reached adult status in the late sixties and early seventies. I was born in 1952. I was always for equality. My Father was on Senator Ed Brooke's staff here in Massachusetts at a time when school integration was a hot topic in Boston.

I was brought up believing in equality for all. When gay rights was just becoming an issue, it was second nature for me to support that cause. Equal rights means equal rights, period. I don't have gay or lesbian siblings. If any of my friends are gay, I don't know it and I don't care. I just believe in equal rights and think that those who don't, have an unnatural philosophy. It makes no sense to me to pass judgment on people you don't know based on race, religion, ethnic origin, gender or sexual preference.

However, Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio), who once co-sponsored the Defense of Marriage act now believes in gay rights and same gender marriage. Of course the Epiphany is because Rob learned his son is gay. Welcome aboard the equality train, Rob. But where were you when the issue concerned other people's children?

Does anyone here at DU think for one moment that Dick Cheney would hold his enlightened position on gay rights and same gender marriage if his Daughter wasn't a Lesbian? Does anyone think that there is even one member of the "Log Cabin Republicans" who is straight or doesn't have a close family member who's gay?

See, the difference between us and them is that doing and thinking the correct thing comes naturally to us. It has to strike home for them to see the light.

[1StrongBlackMan]

1. Not only equality ...

but compassion, as well.

[louis c]

5. Compassion is the residue of the support for equality

Liberals always show compassion.

In fact, the opposition's derogatory phrase "Bleeding Heart Liberal" is in reference to Jesus' Bleeding Heart of Compassion when he confronted the sins of the world.

By the way I'm a pro-labor, equal rights, Bleeding Heart Liberal. And Damn proud of it.

[1StrongBlackMan]

6. I think most of us here are ...

There is a reason I separate out compassion from equality. With you being pro-labor, I think you will understand this.

Take the conservative view of Public sector emloyees ... conservatives current rally cry is that ublic sector employees are over-paid (not true) and have "secial rights" (e.g., Merit protection rules). Their solution is we can be equally oppressed, i.e., low paid, scant benefits, no defined benefit retirement; because they don't have it.

[louis c]

9. I can wright a 1,000 word essay on Public Sector Unions

I sit on councils with them, even though I represent a private sector union.

I know that the pensions that are so vilified by the Right are actually cheaper for government entities than a Social Security contribution. Public Sector Workers pay a higher rate into their pensions than private sector workers pay into social Security and public sector employers pay less of a rate into pensions than private employers pay into Social Security. The pension reserves themselves are deferred by the government entity, and there in lies the rub. If the payment to the pension fund was made mandatory, and not deferred, as it is in the private sector, and they failed to make that installment payment, they would go to jail.

But the point is, this is not a labor thread, but one of my rare threads on the issue of equality.

The Democrats are a coalition, and I usually defer to others who make the point on this issue far better than I can. I support the cause, but my life experiences are more consistent with labor issues.

But occasionally, I voice my opinion and support on issues that I believe in, but may not be as familiar with on a day to day basis.

[Swede Atlanta]

2. You are absolutely right....

Now, I am glad that when confronted with reality and with insight into a "real" human story these assholes come around, I do not and will never excuse their asshole-ness (is that a word) otherwise.

Reagan never mentioned the word AIDS. As a gay man living in that time I will NEVER forget that. I publicly announce that I celebrated when he descended into hell. He deserves it for his total lack of compassion or understanding of other Americans that were suffering a terrible disease.

But Portman deserves NO credit for his "epiphany". He just realizes that his hateful bigotry was hurting one of HIS OWN. He could care less if the person he was hurting was his neighbor, his co-worker, or someone he passed on the street.

Hate is GREAT until you are faced with it's consequences.

Senator Portman, if God is merciful you might avoid hell but as far as I am concerned, Roast baby roast!!!

[AngryOldDem]

3. This mom of a gay son thanks you.

I've been thinking about this all day, and (true to my screen name) the angrier I have gotten. Up until today, Rob Portman would have cheerfully denied MY son all the rights and privileges that he now wants for HIS son.

They can't see beyond their own situations, or their own interests. It's pathological.

I don't applaud Portman for this stand. It disgusts me, in fact.

[etherealtruth]

4. "It has to strike home for them to see the light."

Some of "them" never see the light on any issue ... I am glad Portman has seen it and I am glad he has chosen to acknowledge this.

At the very least his child deserves this ... at most we (society) deserve this!

[baldguy]

7. K&R

[RedCappedBandit]

8. Exactly.